GAY NEWS
The Conscious Commuter: How Your Trip to Work Can Build Your Muscles and Save The Planet
By Russ Klettke
Published May 17, 2009
Published May 17, 2009
The first time I commuted by bicycle from home in downtown Chicago to my workplace in Deerfield, Ill., a 27-mile ride, a coworker gave me a puzzled look and asked, “did you do that on the Edens?”—referring to the section of Interstate 94 that one typically drives between these two points. Her question was absurd (bicycles are illegal and dangerous on interstates), but it illustrates a point: most people are locked in a car culture mentality. My co-worker didn’t grasp that by bicycle I could enjoy a scenic cruise through leafy North Shore suburbs on roads less traveled, all while getting in about an hour and twenty minutes of exercise.
That was a number of years ago, before the gas price spikes of 2008 and a heightened awareness of climate change. The bicycle alternative to commuting is more common and accommodated, as Chicago and dozens of other major cities have invested in designated bicycle lanes and public education programs. The New York City Department of Transportation reported in October that commuter bicycling increased 35 percent in 2008 and doubled since 2004.
Bicycle commuting trends are a matter of both personal fitness and environmental sustainability. It’s happening in greater numbers everywhere, as illustrated by this map of bicycle friendly communities in the U.S. compiled by the League of American Bicyclists. Portland, Oregon is considered one of the top cities in the world for biking, followed by Seattle, Chicago, San Francisco and Boulder, Colorado, according to rankings by Bicycling magazine. Some of the best examples for how to do it are in cities such as Amsterdam (where bicycles account for 40 percent of all traffic), Copenhagen, Sandnes and Trondheim, Norway, Berlin, Barcelona, Paris and Basel, Switzerland.
Fewer pounds on you—and in the air
What are the benefits of biking to work in place of driving? In terms of pure calories, the prototypical 185-pound male, biking at 16 to 19 miles per hour, would burn 522 calories in a 30-minute ride, according to a terrific online calculator. All other dietary and exercise factors remaining equal, if you bike just a little further (to achieve a 600 calorie expenditure) each day you would drop ten pounds in three months.
That same calculator tells us that rollerblading for 30 minutes burns 305 calories, running is 435 calories, and walking at a 15 minutes-per-mile pace requires 196 calories—all reasonable modes of transportation. In some locales, you might be able to canoe or kayak to work, both of which would consume 386 calories in a half-hour. Each of these leaves virtually no carbon footprint.
Not represented in the bike calculation is the additional benefit of muscle development from bicycling, primarily in the hips, hamstrings, quads, calves and gluteus maximus. Any new muscle mass raises the metabolism for an overall increased caloric expenditure. The incremental effects of these and all other exercises diminish when no new muscle is built—unless the individual increases intensity (with speed, opting for hillier routes, etc.).
Fewer pounds in the air
All well and good for personal health. But the benefits to the earth could be considered weightier. The climate crisis is by definition hard to wrap our minds around; it is all-encompassing. So here are a few statistics to, so to speak, bring it down to earth:
To some, it may not seem realistic to substitute a bike for a car because of the nature of one’s work and workplace, the distance from home to work, or a lack of routing options. However, more people than ever used public transportation last year. The American Public Transportation Association reported that Americans rode buses, subways and commuter trains 10.7 billion times in 2008, a four percent increase over 2007 and the largest number since the Federal Aid Highway Act of 1956—which created the Interstate highway system and bolstered development of our car culture.
Can you commute even if the train stations are distant from your home or office? Just like everyone born before Henry Ford, you could consider walking. Which brings up the category known as “hybrid transportation,” the use of multiple modes of transport, some of which qualify you as “green.” For example, drive with your bike on or in your car to a location where you can park and bike the remainder of the trip. Many public transportation systems (Chicago, San Francisco, Seattle, Detroit, St. Louis, et al.) allow bikers to carry their two wheeled-vehicles onboard trains or on bus racks. This allows the bicyclist to plan around inclement weather, or avoid a morning schvitz and instead save it for the end of day.
Of course, buses, trains and subways still use fossil fuels to power their vehicles. This online calculator helps you identify the carbon footprint reduction that you can still achieve by leaving your car at home.
And if that little problem related to perspiration from biking, rollerblading or walking is a barrier, there is good news on that front. The Bike Commuter Act of 2008—passed as part of the TARP (Troubled Asset Relief Package) bill—provides incentives for employers to accommodate employees who commute by bike. This can include covering costs associated with lights, bike maintenance, raingear, panniers, parking/locker rental and changing facilities—which would include showers.
There is another option as well: the electric bike or trike. If your commute is 10 miles or more, or if you just really don't like to work that hard at, well, getting to work, you can get a little electrical assistance. An electric bicycle is not a motorcycle—it's a motor that assists in powering the bike. So, you will still pedal, but can use a throttle on the bike to get additional power. In most cases, you can retrofit your existing bike to be electric by attaching a rechargeable battery pack. You can also invest in one of the new models, which include a convenient folding version, ideal for carrying on the train or subway. And if two-wheeled transport seems scary, you can try out a trike—an increasingly popular three-wheeled cycle that runs on a battery. Trikes are very stable going straight, but they don't corner as well as bicycles, so they are not able to go as fast. On the other hand, they are very stable going straight ahead, and provide a feeling of security to anyone not ready to hit the roads on a two-wheeler.
Slowly but surely, we are shaking off the shackles of car-centrism. You can’t say there aren’t options.
About Russ Klettke: Russ Klettke is a Chicago-based business writer, ACE-certified fitness trainer, and author of “A Guy’s Gotta Eat, the regular guy’s guide to eating smart” with Deanna Conte, MS RD LD (Marlowe/Da Capo Press, 2004). His blog www.HumanCurrent.com explores the connections between exercise and energy conservation.
That was a number of years ago, before the gas price spikes of 2008 and a heightened awareness of climate change. The bicycle alternative to commuting is more common and accommodated, as Chicago and dozens of other major cities have invested in designated bicycle lanes and public education programs. The New York City Department of Transportation reported in October that commuter bicycling increased 35 percent in 2008 and doubled since 2004.
Bicycle commuting trends are a matter of both personal fitness and environmental sustainability. It’s happening in greater numbers everywhere, as illustrated by this map of bicycle friendly communities in the U.S. compiled by the League of American Bicyclists. Portland, Oregon is considered one of the top cities in the world for biking, followed by Seattle, Chicago, San Francisco and Boulder, Colorado, according to rankings by Bicycling magazine. Some of the best examples for how to do it are in cities such as Amsterdam (where bicycles account for 40 percent of all traffic), Copenhagen, Sandnes and Trondheim, Norway, Berlin, Barcelona, Paris and Basel, Switzerland.
Fewer pounds on you—and in the air
What are the benefits of biking to work in place of driving? In terms of pure calories, the prototypical 185-pound male, biking at 16 to 19 miles per hour, would burn 522 calories in a 30-minute ride, according to a terrific online calculator. All other dietary and exercise factors remaining equal, if you bike just a little further (to achieve a 600 calorie expenditure) each day you would drop ten pounds in three months.
That same calculator tells us that rollerblading for 30 minutes burns 305 calories, running is 435 calories, and walking at a 15 minutes-per-mile pace requires 196 calories—all reasonable modes of transportation. In some locales, you might be able to canoe or kayak to work, both of which would consume 386 calories in a half-hour. Each of these leaves virtually no carbon footprint.
Not represented in the bike calculation is the additional benefit of muscle development from bicycling, primarily in the hips, hamstrings, quads, calves and gluteus maximus. Any new muscle mass raises the metabolism for an overall increased caloric expenditure. The incremental effects of these and all other exercises diminish when no new muscle is built—unless the individual increases intensity (with speed, opting for hillier routes, etc.).
Fewer pounds in the air
All well and good for personal health. But the benefits to the earth could be considered weightier. The climate crisis is by definition hard to wrap our minds around; it is all-encompassing. So here are a few statistics to, so to speak, bring it down to earth:
- Most ozone pollution is caused by motor vehicles—that's 72 percent of nitrogen oxides and 52 percent of reactive hydrocarbons measured at ground level.
- Every gallon of gas consumed spews 20.4 pounds of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere.
- Every mile of car travel puts 3.75 pounds of pollutants into the air.
- Traffic congestion wastes 3 billion gallons of gas each year in the U.S.
- Substituting a bike for a car to travel just 16 miles a week saves 54 gallons of gas per year (that's over 1,100 pounds of carbon dioxide).
- Motorcycles and scooters (the other mode of “biking”) are more fuel efficient than cars, but with higher concentrations of oxides of nitrogen, they are actually ten times more polluting per mile traveled than cars.
- Global carbon dioxide levels are now the highest in 160,000 years.
To some, it may not seem realistic to substitute a bike for a car because of the nature of one’s work and workplace, the distance from home to work, or a lack of routing options. However, more people than ever used public transportation last year. The American Public Transportation Association reported that Americans rode buses, subways and commuter trains 10.7 billion times in 2008, a four percent increase over 2007 and the largest number since the Federal Aid Highway Act of 1956—which created the Interstate highway system and bolstered development of our car culture.
Can you commute even if the train stations are distant from your home or office? Just like everyone born before Henry Ford, you could consider walking. Which brings up the category known as “hybrid transportation,” the use of multiple modes of transport, some of which qualify you as “green.” For example, drive with your bike on or in your car to a location where you can park and bike the remainder of the trip. Many public transportation systems (Chicago, San Francisco, Seattle, Detroit, St. Louis, et al.) allow bikers to carry their two wheeled-vehicles onboard trains or on bus racks. This allows the bicyclist to plan around inclement weather, or avoid a morning schvitz and instead save it for the end of day.
Of course, buses, trains and subways still use fossil fuels to power their vehicles. This online calculator helps you identify the carbon footprint reduction that you can still achieve by leaving your car at home.
And if that little problem related to perspiration from biking, rollerblading or walking is a barrier, there is good news on that front. The Bike Commuter Act of 2008—passed as part of the TARP (Troubled Asset Relief Package) bill—provides incentives for employers to accommodate employees who commute by bike. This can include covering costs associated with lights, bike maintenance, raingear, panniers, parking/locker rental and changing facilities—which would include showers.
There is another option as well: the electric bike or trike. If your commute is 10 miles or more, or if you just really don't like to work that hard at, well, getting to work, you can get a little electrical assistance. An electric bicycle is not a motorcycle—it's a motor that assists in powering the bike. So, you will still pedal, but can use a throttle on the bike to get additional power. In most cases, you can retrofit your existing bike to be electric by attaching a rechargeable battery pack. You can also invest in one of the new models, which include a convenient folding version, ideal for carrying on the train or subway. And if two-wheeled transport seems scary, you can try out a trike—an increasingly popular three-wheeled cycle that runs on a battery. Trikes are very stable going straight, but they don't corner as well as bicycles, so they are not able to go as fast. On the other hand, they are very stable going straight ahead, and provide a feeling of security to anyone not ready to hit the roads on a two-wheeler.
Slowly but surely, we are shaking off the shackles of car-centrism. You can’t say there aren’t options.
About Russ Klettke: Russ Klettke is a Chicago-based business writer, ACE-certified fitness trainer, and author of “A Guy’s Gotta Eat, the regular guy’s guide to eating smart” with Deanna Conte, MS RD LD (Marlowe/Da Capo Press, 2004). His blog www.HumanCurrent.com explores the connections between exercise and energy conservation.
SportingChance wrote:
I just this Spring started biking to work once or twice a month just for fun. The distance is easy - 4 miles - but the people driving to work in the morning will practically bump your rear tire with their license plate in order to express their anger at you for daring to be on THEIR road. And of course here in Texas, at least 40% of the vehicles on the road are half-ton pickup trucks with outsized wheels and poorly proudly inoperative emissions control. Some mornings I wonder if the cardiovascular benefits of biking are canceled out by the cardiopulmonary damage done periodically inhaling an enormous cloud of Small Penis Truck exhaust.
May 21 1:50 AM
RussKlettke wrote:
Great comments, all. Allow me to provide additional thoughts and information:
Commuting attire vs. business attire. Clearly, this is a matter of individual circumstances. In my last (very last) corporate job, I had a closet where I kept my clothes and dry cleaners who delivered. The company provided a gym membership a block away for showers, however I really didn't need one (a little sponge bath in the rest room sufficed). You have to creatively work out your own system – again, break free from a car-centric paradigm.
Typical vs. prototypical. In fitness, we know that there is no typical person. Physiological variables are too numerous, which is a weakness of most online calculators including the one provided. That said, a prototype provides an example useful for illustrating the point (but perhaps a bad idea for husband hunting).
Need for better biking legislation and funding. Chicago is blessed in this regard, as are Portland, Palo Alto, Seattle and many other municipalities detailed in the map link in the third paragraph. Biker advocacy has been very effective in recent years, so if you want to learn more about that, visit the website for the League of American Bicyclists at http://www.bikeleague.org/ . While doing volunteer lobbying on Capitol Hill for HRC a few years ago I met some of their lobbyists and found them to be inspired, smart ... and cute.
Going car-free: I have managed to live without a car at various times over many years, although truth be told I reluctantly own a car today. When I don't own one, I think I save about $6,000-10,000 per year.
Status symbols of cars vs. bikes. The phenomenon is hardly limited to the UK. It's alive and well in the U.S., and the biggest growth market for autos (including prestige brands) are India and China – which has disturbing environmental implications. The biker has to be comfortable in his or her skin enough to override this cultural influence, and it doesn't have to be an absolute car-no car propo
May 20 1:57 PM
Red_Vespa wrote:
In addition to the electric bicycles shown in the article's link, Giant bicycles makes a line of hybrid electrics sold in the US. http://www.giant-bicycles.com/en-US/bikes/ebike/ I'd like to have seen more discussion about how to tackle the problem of wearing commuting attire versus needing business attire at one's destination.
Mention was made that US employers now have TARP incentives to provide locker & shower facilities, but those can be years away and are not mandated, Plus how does one get the clothes to work in a clean, dry and wrinkle-free manner? In the summer (or here in the Miami area year-round) you can't pedal at 85 degrees F in a business suit.
And regardless of clothing, before we can commute we need redesigned roads and bike paths. Most US cities are a dangerous nightmare for bikers. This is another area where TARP money could rebuild the urban infrastructure to make bike commuting safer and more practical.
On a semantic note, I was amused to read about "the prototypical 185-pound male." I haven't seen that model yet, but am looking forward to when it goes into regular production. The "typical" 186-pound male, perhaps?
May 19 9:47 AM
cyclist_78 wrote:
I agree with this article! I just got rid of my car (due to problems with motor) and commute to work and everywhere else on a daily basis, rain or shine. Once you start, you get used to going everywhere by bike, especially finding new and faster ways of getting there. I find myself competing with myself on how much I can improve my travel time by cycling just a little bit faster and shortening my trip in the long run. It is good to be independent from having a car as well as having to maintain one. Also, you adapt to have to plan your day more efficiently and pack things you need through out the day before you leave your house.
May 19 12:23 AM
Bunjamon wrote:
Governments need to invest more money is biking lanes and places to store bicycles in order for people do be able to commute this way. It's a fantastic idea, though.
May 18 11:35 PM
NotThatOld wrote:
Bicycling is a good way to travel short distances, for example five miles each way. It saves money on petrol (gasoline), Road Tax, MOT, maintanence, the cost of new parts and repairs, as well as the paperwork needed to own a car. On the other hand, cycling is not only cheap, it bestows fitness as well.
Unfortunately, here in Britain, owning and driving a car is not just for transport. Rather, car ownership is a status symbol, and it matters what make and model of car is owned. Nobody would drive a Schoda without embarrassment, on the other hand, a Porche was the ultimate yuppie status symbol, especially in the 1980s.
We have a good cycle path system in our town. But seldom is it used for cycling. Rather, groups of pedestrians use it to walk side by side, blocking the entire width of the path. They also sprinkle broken glass over it, to make our lives a misery with flats, for their own pleasure.
The British are out and out anti-cycling. Too much hard work and lack of social respect. Despite our Government's encouragement for us to "go green" - cycling will never take off here in Britain.
May 18 10:26 PM