According to Dublin City Council statistics 12,000 cyclists cycle into the city on any given day to get to the office. More and more people are adopting “sustainable transport” for their commute, i.e. walking, cycling and public transport, as opposed to sitting idly in private cars. Here’s a few reasons why you should think about joining the masses on a saddle each morning.
You’ll be healthier
In today’s hectic world it can be easy to neglect our physical health. It’s a lot easier to sit at home and binge a box set than get up and trudge to the gym a few times a week. Choosing to dust off your two wheeler and hop on each morning means you get to tick off some daily exercise to start the day.
More money in your pocket
If you drive to work, have you ever sat down and really calculated how much driving to work costs you? Between buying the car, taxing it, insuring yourself, fueling it, we’re talking thousands of euro a year. Plus when you break it down you’re still paying for it just sitting outside the office for 8 odd hours, paying your car to sit and wait. Let’s treat it like a person, as some people do with their whacky names, would you be happy paying someone to sit in the car park all day while they’re of no use to you? Probably not. Cycling requires an initial investment, yes. Buy the bike, get the gear and keep it roadworthy. In the long run you could save enough for a few extra holidays a year. There’s even a scheme to help you buy your bike, Bike to Work Scheme.
You’ll be happier
I’m sure you have colleagues who cycle into the office, ever notice how they stroll around the office with a smile while you’re currently sipping coffee #2 trying to shake the remnants of sleep. According to research published in the International Journal of Workplace health Management those who cycle arrive less stressed than those who drive to work. An active commute is sure to wake you up more than sitting idle in traffic while clearing your mind for the day ahead.
You’ll be smarter
No, cycling to work won’t turn you into Albert Einstein overnight but research shows daily exercise can sharpen your mind. Your overall brain performance will improve, your ability to learn and retain information will rise, and you’ll be a better worker both in and out of the office.
A cycling commute of course isn’t for everyone, perhaps you live too far away from the office or need the car on a daily basis, but if you can then you absolutely should. Even in Dublin cycling can often be the quicker mode of transport. You can get from Malahide to the city centre in under an hour and as far as Bray in about an hour and ten. I’m willing to bet a few reading this are much closer. So there you have it, just some of the reasons to adopt a sustainable commute. Once you realise how great the advantages are you may decide to do away with the car altogether and on the occasion you need a car we’ll be waiting with over 200 on demand cars throughout Dublin and many more across the country.
