Why bike?
There are numerous reasons why different people ride a bicycle. I ride a bicycle because it's fun!
I ride a bicycle because it's a quick way to get around town, it's cheap to maintain a bicycle, and it's great way to get to know my community. When I'm on my bicycle I often say friendly "hello's" to my neighbors, people walking their dogs, and other people who are just out and about on foot. I feel more connected to a place when I bicycle and walk around. I like engaging with people, animals and the physical environment around me -- this is why I like being outside of a car.
I ride a bicycle because it's a quick way to get around town. If a location is less than 10 miles away, I always say, "I can bike there." The best advice for anyone who is interested in bicycling is to go explore on a Sunday. Sundays tend to be the day of the week with the fewest cars on the roadways. This makes it safer for you to explore streets in a calmer, relaxed environment. Oftentimes the best bicycle route will not be the most direct route. Look for quiet, neighborhood streets. These streets tend to be easy places to bicycle because there are fewer cars and slower speeds. One of the best things about biking is that you don't have to worry about finding a parking space. Even without bike racks, you can always find a pole to lock up your bike. Bicycling is also a great way to maintain daily physical activity (don't forget to get your recommended 30 minutes per day!). If you ride a bicycle for about 4-5 miles at a leisure pace, you will easily be physically active for 30 minutes.
I ride a bicycle because it's cheap to maintain a bicycle. Did you know that owning a car typically costs $10,000 per year?! Yep, and that's according to the American Automotive Association. The costs of bicycle ownership is only a $300 a year (depending on how much you spend on tune-ups). That's a teeny-tiny fraction of the cost of car ownership. I'd rather spend that extra dough on a great seaside vacation.
