Bicycling is not only a great way to stay fit and save money on commuting, but it also possesses significant environmental benefits that are often overlooked. While the transportation sector plays a significant role in global greenhouse gas emissions, cycling is an effective way to reduce the carbon footprint and preserve the environment. Here are some surprising environmental benefits of bicycling:
Reducing Greenhouse Gas Emissions: The transportation sector is one of the leading contributors to greenhouse gas emissions. According to the United Nations Environment Programme, transportation accounts for approximately 23 percent of global carbon dioxide emissions. By choosing to ride a bicycle instead of using a motor vehicle, you are reducing your carbon footprint significantly. The production of a bicycle is much less carbon-intensive than a car, and you are not releasing any emissions while cycling.
Improving Air Quality: Air pollution is a massive problem in many cities worldwide. According to the World Health Organization, outdoor air pollution is responsible for over four million premature deaths each year. Bicycling can help reduce air pollution, which has youth substantial environmental and health benefits. Using a bicycle instead of motor vehicles decreases the number of emissions released into the air, leading to better air quality.
Reducing Noise Pollution: Riding a bicycle can also help bring down noise pollution levels. Motor vehicles are a significant source of noise pollution, and it can cause hearing impairment, heart disease, and high blood pressure. Choosing to cycle instead of riding a car can reduce the overall noise pollution in urban environments, resulting in a calmer and more relaxing atmosphere.
Reducing Traffic Congestion: Traffic congestion is an issue that many urban areas face. As cities become more congested, motor vehicles’ efficiency decreases, leading to increased energy consumption and emissions. Bicycling can be a solution to this, especially for short journeys. By cycling, you reduce traffic congestion, allowing cars and other motor vehicles to move more freely, which helps save energy and reduce emissions.
Cost-Effective: Using a bicycle can save you money on transportation costs. Unlike other motor vehicles, bicycles don’t require fuel to run, and they don’t need regular maintenance. Therefore, owning and maintaining a bicycle is much cheaper than owning a car. This reduced economic cost means that investing in a bicycle for commuting is an excellent option for anyone who wants to save the environment while saving money.
In conclusion, cycling is an effective way to preserve the environment and improve our wellbeing. It benefits both the environment and individuals by improving air and noise pollution, reducing greenhouse gas emissions, and providing us with cheap, accessible transport. Therefore, bicycling should be a preferred mode of transportation, and we should focus on increasing bicycle infrastructure to create safer cycling conditions, which will encourage more people to switch to a sustainable mode of transport.
