Tel: 01 283 4303
Apparently it is safer to ride to work on your bike, contrary to the beliefs of the Dublin public who feel commuting by bike is inconvenient, not enjoyable due to the wet climate, and is dangerous.
Public initiatives in cities around the world are trying to convince more people to drive less and bike more. This is not an easy task according to a new study in the Journal of Public Policy & Marketing, co-authored by a Marius C. Claudy from UCD. The authors point out that despite the public view about the weather, Dublin actually has a drier climate than many cities in the Netherlands, a country having a strong bicycle-commuter community.
The positive reasons in favour of converting from 4 to 2 wheels include cost-saving, improved physical fitness and health as a result of being more active as well as reducing C02 emissions.
It seems the authors believe that the strongest motivator is the sense of community bikers can share, aided by perks in the workplace such as special parking, showers and changing rooms, etc.
Personally, I swapped my bicycle for my two feet many moons ago. I feel greatly privileged to be able to walk back and forth to the clinic each day. The route is more optimal for walking than it is biking, for me anyway. The study compared Dublin and London as being two cities where bicycling is the most underused form of transport yet we are fortunate to have a considerably better network of cycle lanes than London does have or possibly ever could have.
I'm very much in favour of any public initiative that promotes more physical activity in our everyday lives. It’s no coincidence that we run exercise classes every day in our Pilates studio and prescribe specific exercise as part of our Physiotherapy service.
As we've said before - exercise is probably our best medicine.
Take care, keep active!
Simon.
Image courtesy of ‘Sura Nualpradid' / FreeDigitalPhotos.net
