Bicycles are used by a vast number of individuals all over the world. It’s believed that people have been riding bicycles for a long time to travel from Point A to Point B in the United States and beyond.
Bikes are pretty convenient and relatively simple to use and maintain. Even though some more sophisticated and faster modes of transportation like vehicles and motorbikes are popular nowadays, bicycles are still relevant and have advantages that their users can enjoy.
To help you learn more about bicycles, here are some of the benefits and drawbacks of bicycles as transportation.
Benefits Of Bicycle Transport
Bikes are used by people because of their perceived advantages. They include:
- You Don’t Need To Worry About Traffic
Riding your bicycle to work makes sense on so many fronts. Because bikes are agile, you won’t have to worry about getting stuck in traffic. Some areas have space for cycling lanes.
But even if your area doesn’t have cycling lanes, you can navigate a traffic jam much faster than if you’re in a car. Hence, for those who live in bigger cities, using your bicycle to commute may make more sense since it’ll allow you to skip the traffic jam. \
- No Need To Worry About Parking Fees
You may have to pay for parking if you have a car and want to park somewhere. Unfortunately, it’s not always easy to find perfect parking spots. So having a car can be burdensome in that regard.
Yet with a bike, you don’t have to worry about parking spots or tickets, unlike with a car wherein you’ll need guidance from a New Jersey bicycle lawyer in case of legal issues like bike injuries.
- Riding Bikes Helps To Maintain Fitness
Using your bicycle for transportation can help you keep your fitness level up. Your bike may not be a direct replacement for the gym, but riding your bike will undoubtedly help you stay in shape, especially if you do it frequently.
Furthermore, some people may genuinely dislike going to the gym. Bike riding can be a fantastic alternative to going to the gym for those individuals.
- Bikes Have Fewer To No Emissions
Cars are a significant contributor to air pollution. With the vast number of automobiles in American cities, it’s no wonder why the air quality in some areas is so poor. Thankfully, the move toward electric vehicles is gaining traction.
But bike owners don’t have to worry about any emissions regulations being imposed against them because bicycles are free of emissions. So, by simply switching to a bike, you’re helping reduce environmental emissions.
- They’re Cheap And Easy To Maintain
Bicycles are cheap to buy and maintain as opposed to motor vehicles. Cars typically require regular maintenance to stay in top shape. Bikes need regular upkeep too. But keeping a bicycle in good condition is much cheaper than a car.
For example, if a car breaks down, you’ll likely have to employ a mechanic to fix the issue. But with bicycles, it’s possible to do-it-yourself (DIY) a problem which is much cheaper. So over time, you can save significant amounts of money by switching a bike as your mode of transportation.
Drawbacks Of Bikes For Transport
Although they have generally positive feedback from users, using bikes has negatives. Some of them are:
- They Lack Speed
While bikes are agile and can help you stay fit, they’re relatively slower compared to other alternative modes of travel. Bicycles aren’t as fast as motorcycles or cars. So, if you want to get somewhere quickly, bikes may not be your best alternative; they’re only handy when you’re traveling relatively short distances.
- Using Bikes Can Be Unsafe
One of the most significant drawbacks is the lack of safety.
Unlike cars with airbags and other mechanisms that can help reduce the effects of an accident, cyclists don’t have much protection when riding a bike. So, it’s said that bike users are at significant risk of suffering severe injuries if they get into an accident. You’d hope that no accident leads to a fatality. But it’s still a possibility. Moreover, in the event that you suffer injuries and wish to claim damages, you’ll have to find a personal injury lawyer to help you with the entire process.
- They Can Be Easily Stolen
Bicycles can be stolen very easily. And once they’re stolen, bikes can be hard to retrieve. Therefore, if you have an expensive bike, getting bike insurance and installing a tracking device are probably a wise idea.
- Using Bikes Can Be Very Physically Taxing
While cycling can be great for exercise, it can also lead to exhaustion. Cycling is perfect for short-distance travel. However, there are better alternatives if you intend to travel great distances. You’ll eventually become exhausted if you opt to ride your bike for long distances.
So, unless you’re passionate about cycling, you may end up losing the motivation to continue using your bike frequently. Remember, not everyone may have the fortitude required to abandon car travel in favor of cycling.
Conclusion
Bicycles have fantastic advantages. The most notable ones are that they help maintain fitness and are cost-efficient. Nevertheless, they have limitations you need to know about. Bikes aren’t a perfect mode of transportation. But if you’re going to be traveling shorter distances, perhaps, the bicycle could be the ideal transport option to take.