Biking to work is becoming increasingly popular as people look for ways to stay active, save money and reduce their environmental impact. Biking is a fun and affordable way to get to work and offers numerous health benefits that can improve your overall well-being.
From boosting your cardiovascular health to reducing stress, there are many reasons why more people are biking to work every day.
1. Save Money
Biking to work is a cost-effective alternative to driving or using public transportation. The average cost of commuting to work all year is $8,466. By choosing an electric city bike, electric mountain bike or a affordable electric bike for under $1,500, you can click here.
Electric bikes also require less upkeep than traditional vehicles. Driving a new car just 15,000 miles a year can cost you around $10,728 in ownership and maintenance, compared to just $308 spent on maintaining your bike.
You can also apply for the government’s Bicycle Subsidy Benefit Program, which enables you to receive reimbursement for your commuting costs if you travel by bike to work.
2. Boost Heart Health
Cycling is an excellent form of cardiovascular exercise, helping strengthen your heart and lowering heart disease risk. By biking to work, you get a daily workout that promotes heart health without hitting the gym.
A 2017 study found that people commuting to work on a bike had a significantly lower risk of developing heart disease and cancer and a reduced incidence of risk factors for those diseases, like hypertension and diabetes.
While some people may consider electric bikes less effective at providing cardiovascular exercise, they can still offer numerous health benefits. A 2021 study found that riding an e-bike provides a moderate-intensity workout, increases your heart rate and produces significant cardiovascular benefits.
3. Improve Muscle Strength
Biking to work on an electric city bike is a great way to tone your muscles and improve your overall strength. Cycling engages your core, glutes, quads, hamstrings and calf muscles, essential for maintaining a strong and healthy body. Building muscle from biking works by resistance provided by the pedaling mechanism when you sprint or climb hills.
You’ll notice increased muscle tone and improved balance by riding to work every day, making daily activities easier and more enjoyable.
4. Lose Weight
Cycling is an effective way to burn calories and shed unwanted pounds. By incorporating cycling into your daily routine, you can create a calorie deficit that helps you lose weight and maintain a healthy lifestyle.
Cycling burns between 240 and 355 calories per hour, depending on your weight and the intensity of your ride. Since you need a calorie deficit of 3,500 to lose a pound of body mass, biking to work every day for two weeks can help you lose one pound of weight.
5. Lower Risk of Diabetes
Regular exercise, such as biking to work, can help prevent type 2 diabetes by improving your body’s ability to regulate blood sugar levels. Cycling increases insulin sensitivity, allowing your body to process glucose better and reduce the risk of developing diabetes.
A 2023 study found that increased levels of physical activity showed a decrease in the prevalence of diabetes among participants. Cycling, in particular, showed a beneficial effect on reducing the risk of diabetes over fast walking by as much as 24 percent.
Electric bikes make maintaining a regular cycling routine easier, ensuring you receive regular exercise’s health benefits.
6. Enhance Mental Health
Biking to work can positively impact your mental health by reducing stress, anxiety and depression. For example, taking your electric mountain bike on scenic trails can benefit cognitive functioning.
Physical activity and exposure to fresh air and nature release endorphins that boost your mood, reduce stress and promote well-being. Electric bikes provide a low-impact, enjoyable workout that allows you to reap the mental health benefits of exercise without overexerting yourself.
7. Strengthen Your Immune System
Cycling strengthens your immune system and helps your body fight infections and diseases more effectively.
A 2022 study found that various cycling routines at varied intervals positively impact different immune system cells. Exercise training can increase myeloid cells, neutrophils (a type of white blood cell) and dendritic cells. Just 20 minutes of continuous cycling at 80 percent of your maximum oxygen consumption can increase B cells by 60 percent and dendritic cells by 150 percent.
Biking to work on an electric city bike or electric mountain bike is an easy way to incorporate daily exercise into your routine and improve your overall health.
8. Better Quality Sleep
Physical activity promotes better sleep by regulating your body’s circadian rhythm and reducing stress hormones. According to a Sleep Foundation survey, people who reported exercising less than three times per week slept less than six hours per night and struggled with falling and staying asleep.
By biking to work, you’re engaging in regular daily exercise that can help improve the quality and duration of your sleep. Better sleep leads to increased energy levels and improved mental and physical health.
9. Reduce Your Carbon Footprint
Choosing an electric city bike or mountain e-bike bike as your primary mode of transportation helps you lower greenhouse gas emissions, decrease air pollution and reduce your reliance on fossil fuels.
The National Science Foundation found that compared to a control group, e-bikers reduced carbon dioxide emissions by between 87 and 144 kilograms per year. A separate study found that if Americans used e-bikes for just 50% of short-distance car trips, they could save 273,000 metric tons of carbon dioxide daily.
By switching to an eco-friendly form of transportation, you’re actively combating climate change and promoting a more sustainable future for our planet.
10. Explore Your Community
Biking to work offers a unique opportunity to explore your local community and discover new places you might not have noticed while driving. As you pedal through neighborhoods and parks, you’ll gain a deeper appreciation for your surroundings.
Electric bikes make it easy to cover more ground and venture further afield. For example, most e-bikes have between 300Wh and 500Wh battery capacity, allowing for around 20 to 40 miles of cycling on one charge. This lets you fully immerse yourself in your local area and develop a stronger connection to your community.
Change to a Healthier Lifestyle
Biking to work daily using electric city bikes, folding e-bikes or mountain e-bikes offers numerous benefits for your well-being and the environment. Biking to work is an investment in yourself and the planet. As you consider the many advantages of commuting by bike, remember that it’s never too late to make a positive change and embrace a healthier, greener lifestyle.
