Global Sports: City Bike: Best Urban Transportation?

Friday, November 9, 2012

City Bike: Best Urban Transportation?

By Ken Godberson


I was born and raised in the suburbs. Most of the places I have to get to are usually a decent drive away even with a car. I do own a bike, but the only times I use it are either exercise or when I want to go around the neighborhood to try and clear my head. However, I have seen potential in bikes. Recently, I attended New York Comic Con in, well, New York City, and because I am not rich, I could not afford a hotel. I took the train in and out for three days and walked to the convention. In those walks, I noticed something. Many people were using bikes as transportation!

As I continued to see them, I began to think that this made a great deal of sense. For quite a while now, the method of urban building called transit-oriented development has begun to be seen more and more. With such a degree of emphasizing public transportation use, characteristics such as narrower streets and minimal parking lots are common with this model. This makes traveling by bike not only practical, but even preferable.

Of course, there is the health benefits to city biking. Apart from helping you burn a great deal of calories, biking helps increase the heartbeat rate, strengthening it. The foot and legwork required in biking not only strengthens your leg muscles, but the circular motion also helps improve your coordination. Several studies have also shown that commuting by bicycle can also help strengthen mental performance.

So, which city bike is perfect for you? The answer to that is that there is no right answer. Honestly, it all depends on personal preference. Find a local bicycle shop or browse online. Just consider your own necessities. Do you need a bike with a gear shift? Do you carry things when traveling and need a basket? Do you have a child and need a seat attached to the back? Those are all your choices.

City bikes show a massive amount of potential as a main form of transportation when you consider the traffic in cities, the new methods of community development, and the health benefits. You should get a bike and give it a try. Who knows, you might come to enjoy it!




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