Possible Downsides to Cycling?

As a writer, I refuse to be one sided. Although I am biased towards a bike friendly world, I do not want to hide the dangers and downsides of cycling. 

In America, cycling has caused 667 deaths in 2011, and over 61,000 injuries. Despite the large numbers, they only make up for 2 percent of all traffic accidents. Biking is dangerous, but statistically, driving is far worse.

To reduce the likelihood of these accidents, I have a few good tips to follow.

1) Always wear a helmet: It may seem like common sense, but you would really be grateful if you got into an accident while wearing one compared to just your skull!

2) Assume that you're invisible to drivers: Never assume that people in cars can see you, never put yourself in front of a car until you make eye contact with the driver. Also, use lights at nighttime! Its extremely hard to spot a biker in the dark.

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Cycling in China, not for the faint of heart

Although China is considered to be one of the top countries in the world for cycling, it is also one of the deadliest. A few decades ago, everyone biked, the streets were littered with bicycles. That was a different time, a time when a car could not be afforded. But with China currently leading the modern industrial age, cars have become more accessible.
Now that numerous Chinese people own vehicles, bike have been bumped down on the "foodchain." It has been reported in a article I read here, that cars very seldomly pay any attention to stop signs or red lights, leaving bikers in quite a dangerous predicament. If you go cycling in China, sure its beautiful, but at the cost of a possible injury or even worse, fatality. My opinion is that China needs all the environmental help it can get, and should not be ostracizing its faithful bikers, but instead setting aside protecting laws.

Economic Benefits of Adding Bike Lanes to Cities

In the article titled, "Bike Lanes May Benefit Small Businesses," NBC news contributor Tanya Mohn brings up the positive consequence of cities adding bike lanes to their streets. Although great effort would have to be put forth to add them, the benefits could prove to be worth it in the long run.

Tanya begins the article by giving insight about small businesses in America gaining more business from bikers. When people commute by bikes rather than cars, they tend to visit local venues, and spend more money on average than car drivers.

I agree with the author when she writes,"In addition to the substantial health benefits resulting from the cardiovascular exercise of cycling, “biking can save individuals up to three months’ worth of salary,” that is used to buy, insure, drive, park, repair, and maintain a car. “It’s a tremendous cost for the average American, about $10,000 a year per car," said Pucher, who is co-author of “City Cycling,” published earlier this year by The MIT Press." When I am out biking, I know how much money I am saving by not paying for gas, and the rare times I have to maintain my bike it typically costs under twenty dollars, making it significantly cheaper than automobiles.

Source: http://www.nbcnews.com/business/bike-lanes-may-benefit-small-businesses-1C7488581

Cycling and the Enviroment

Most people with a shred of reason would agree with me when I say that biking is a greener alternative to driving cars. But for those who dont, a article from Bicycle NSW proves my claim. In the writing, it mentions that cycling isn't just good for your body, but also for the earth. Bikes do not put out any smog emissions and actually saves around 1.3 tonnes of the harmful greenhouse gases per year (a tonnes is equal to 1,000 kilograms). In comparison, driving cars results in between 900 and 2000 early deaths per year from pollution alone, and over 4,500 cases of bronchitis in urban settings. If the whole world switched to biking as a way to commute, how much better off would the world be from pollution and global warming?
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European Cities That Have Already Implicated Bike Lanes

Unlike America, several places in Europe have bike dominant roads. Some of them dont even have streets for cars, and are exclusively used for cycling. I would love to see this where I live, but California is so deep into debt its the least of our worries.
Posted on an About.com Amsterdam travel guide I saw online, it mentions the insane number of bike only routes the city has to offer. Stretching a vast 400km, or roughly 249 miles, Amsterdam completely blows CA out of the water when it comes to cycling lanes.
From the viewpoint of locals, the bike lanes are a good thing, it helps them cut across the city with ease and reduces the car-on-bike related accidents.
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Why Cycling Is Good For Your Body

It's common knowledge that cycling is a form of exercise, but how good is it for your body and which areas does it affect? A recently posted article from the Discovery Channel website investigates just that.

Titled,"The Top 7 Health Benefits of Biking," the article briefly summarizes each benefit. Its a interesting read (you can look at it here) but I will repost the list here and give my take on each example.

1) Cycling is good for your heart- When I go biking, my heart begins to race, and I could definitely could see the positive impact.

2) Cycling is good for your waistline- When I am finished doing endurance riding, I can feel the burn on the sides of my torso, which is a good indication of building muscles.

3) Cycling is good for your lifespan- I cant give a specific example for this one, but ill take Discovery Channel's word for it.

4) Cycling is good for your muscles- This one is a given. If you put forth effort into your ride, you will reap the increased stamina and muscle tone.

5) Cycling aids in coordination- "Moving both feet around in circles while steering with both your hands and your body’s own weight is good practice for your coordination skills."

6) Cycling is good for your mental health- Riding a bike has been linked to improved mental health.

7) Cycling is good for your immune system- Cycling can strengthen your immune system, and could protect against certain kinds of cancers. Im all for this one, although I ride for fun, its always good to know the health benefits for motivational purposes. 

Source used: http://news.discovery.com/adventure/the-top-7-health-benefits-of-cycling.htm

Spain

One day I wish to go biking through Spain, but until then I can only read the numerous shreds of positive feedback it receives. Its so accommodating and beautiful that cyclists visit just for the sake of biking there, and they bring their bike along with them.
The streets aren't too crowded, the weather is hot year round, and the scenery is unlike any other country in the world. If that wasn't enough reasons to go tour Spain, I dont know what is. They aslo have incredible food, historic land marks and museums to go see.
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