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Bicycling Benefits
People of all ages can combine transportation, recreation and fitness by bicycling. Cycle for pleasure. Make it part of your life whenever you can. Many short trips made by car are ideal for bicycling, like a trip to the store, a sporting event, a friend's house, or for your commute to work. The benefits you create or receive include:
Physical Activity – Health professionals recommend 30 minutes of moderate exercise daily to prevent many diseases, including those related to obesity and overweight. Like all regular aerobic exercise, bicycling improves personal fitness, enhances energy levels, reduces stress, and stimulates the immune system.
Economic – Maintaining and operating a bicycle is generally far less expensive than a motorized vehicle. You will save on fuel costs, and reduce dependency on fossil fuels.
Enhanced Quality of Life – Bicycling requires less space, produces less noise and allows us to interact with neighbors and our environment. Bicycling also enhances our community by reducing traffic congestion and pollution.
Improved Water Quality – Bicycles do not leak pollutants, and they require less of the paved surfaces that produce stormwater runoff, thereby reducing harm to water quality and aquatic life.
Improved Air Quality and Climate Protection – Use of motor vehicles accounts for over half of all air pollution and 60% of greenhouse gas emissions in our area. Bicycling for transportation can substantially reduce air pollutant emissions. Travel by bike also lessens the local contribution to global warming.
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