1. It's too unsafe. Yes, there's authentic hazard associated with bicycling. Cyclists do crash and get slamed by vehicles. But how unsafe is biking in comparison with other methods of transportation and with our judgement of the risk? A suprisingly less than you might assume.



Think on the reckoning of a business that undertakes safety and failure testing, once known as the Failure Group and now called Exponent. The business researched a selection of activities and determined that the number of fatal accidents per million hours of exposure was 0.26 for biking, 0.47 for motoring, 1.53 for living (all causes of death), and 8.80 for motorbiking. That is to say, they found that the hazards of biking were about half that associated with driving and 15% of that associated simply with being alive.

Unfortunately, the precise methods Exponent used are proprietary, and the complete paper is not available to the general public, but beleive us this is not a fly-by-night cyclists' advocacy organization that is faking the numbers. As Exponent reasons on its site, it has been relied on to scrutinize high-profile accidents such as the destruction of the federal offices in Oklahoma City.

So, for the point of discussion, let's claim that Exponents study is an understatement and consider another inclusive study that measures the risks using a negligibly different yardstick?the count of fatalities per billions of kilometers traveled rather than per hour of exposure. The Rutgers University scientists who actioned this study concluded that, per kilometer traveled, cycling fatalities are eleven times as high as automobile occupant fatalities. Seems pretty grim for biking until you review what the same review revealed about walking. Pedestrian fatalities per kilometer walked were 36 times as high as driving fatalities, implying that walking is more than 3 times as risky as pedaling.

However, there's still more that riders can do to take accountability for our safety. A disturbing 24 percent of deadly bicycle accidents involve an drunken cyclist. Work shows that cyclists get into many minor accidents that could be prevented. Various articles have shown that the failure to use lights at night or a helmet hugely increases a biker's risk. Finally, newer riders should be really careful about cars opening doors and making turns, and about pedaling on the sidewalks.

The bottom line: It's not that biking doesn't have risk, but with some consideration is in required, especially when you begin to allow the number of health benefits that biking enables.

2. It's too far. The ride may well take too long or take too much energy if you live more than, say, 11 miles from work. But consider ways to grow your maximum distance. Many commuters, for example, use foldable bikes so they can go half way on a commuter train.

3. Cycles are not cheap. Untrue. You should be able to buy a new or used cycle perfect for simple commuting for less than $500. Find a good, close bike shop with a knowledgeable staff, explain the route and distance of ride you're thinking of, and they'll help you select the proper frame and amount of gears you will need.

If you're just starting out, you may want to hunt for a functional, commuter bicycle with mud guards to save your pants, a kickstand, and a comfortable saddle. And, if you're really looking for a easy ride, take a gander at the new class of ?coasting? bikes that are designed to reconnect people with worryfree recollections of biking as a child. They feature pedal brakes?called coaster brakes?instead of hand brakes and an automatic shifter, and while they are not designed for speed, they're a terrific way to get back into the saddle, says Doyne.

4. It's impossible to tote the stuff I need. If this is what you think, you're toting far more than the average cyclist to work or you do not own the correct bag or features on your bicycle. A good basket or touring panniers will mean you can easily carry a computer, spares clothes, lunch, paperwork, a handful of binders, and any other gadgets you usually carry.

5. There's nowhere to scrub up. Jeff Peel of the League of American Bicyclists says that most cyclists do worry about this, but that there are many alternatives beyond simply showing up at the office stinky and sweaty. First, look to make sure that your building doesn't have a full bathrooms somewhere. If it doesn't, look for close gyms or fitness clubs. They often offer shower-only memberships for bike or running commuters.

6. Riding will make me sterile. This is a charge that has circulated since the mid 1990s, and there's a tiny amount of fact to it. There is evidence that long distance bicycle riders may experience short-lived and maybe long-lasting problems if they cycle many hours on a racing saddle that doesn't fit well. But there are now lots of saddles with specifically designed cutaway grooves that take the pressure off the important arteries and nerves. As long as your saddle fits correctly and you're not riding as much as somebody training for the Tour de France, biking is more likely to lower your odds of erectile dysfunction than increase them, as riding will help keep cardiovascular disease'a major cause of erectile dysfunction?away.