No matter how young or old you are, riding a bike is one of the best types of all-around exercise. Not only does it get you out of doors into the fresh air and sunshine, allowing you to enjoy the local scenery, but you’ll also find that it’s a great way to spend time with time with friend and family and meet new people as well.

With the cost of gasoline ever increasing, and no doubt only continuing to rise, many people are already trading in some driving time for a bicycle. However, if you happen to be on the fence about taking up cycling, here are a few good reasons to hopefully persuade you to get started.

Health Benefits

Riding a bike provides a great many positive health benefits, including:

• Lowering your risk of hypertension, heart disease, stroke, diabetes and even certain cancers.
• Riding a bike elevates the heart rate and exercises major muscle groups.
• Enhances your mood and leads to more social interaction, which may contribute to a lowered risk of depression.
• Preserves and promotes overall physical fitness and an independent lifestyle.
• Riding a bicycle is low impact, having a minmal amount of stress on the joints compared to other types of exercise.
• Increases and strengthens muscle, bone and joint tissue while lowering the risk of fall-related injury.
• Cycling for half an hour each day can reduce your risk of obesity and diabetes by as much as 50%.

Age is Not a Requirement

Even if you feel uncertain about your ability to operate a bicycle, there are safer alternatives available, such as getting a tricycle, or “trike”. There are a variety of high-quality trikes on the market which make keeping your balance, maintining confidence and safety easier while at the same time allowing for all the pleasures and benefits that cycling provides. Since cycling is also low impact and easy on the joints, it makes an ideal form of exercise no matter what your fitness level or age.

Fun for the Whole Family

Get fit and spend some quality time with the family all at once! Go on a picnic at a nearby park, take a tour of the local scenery or ride out to pay a visit to friends or other family members. Cycling is a perfect and fun way to get everyone in the family into tip-top shape.

Easy on the Wallet

Purchasing a bicycle provides a fantastic return on investment.  You get transportaion, fun and fitness all at once, and when you compare the cost to maintain a bike versus an automobile, it’s a no-brainer way to save some cash.

Freedom!

The freedom to go about on your own that cycling provides can give a big boost to your sense of independence. Make a plan to get outdoors and enjoy the nearby sights and scenery, see a friend or cycle to some local shops.

Increase Quality of Life

Rather than playing video games and seeking entertainment indoors, riding a bike is an enjoyable alternative for kids that gets them outdoors in the fresh air. When kids realize they can have fun exercising, it will encourage them to lead active and healthy lifestyles.

Green Transportation

Riding a bike is not just a smart choice for you, it’s also good for the environment. By riding a bicycle you are helping to cut noise pollution and greenhouse gases caused by automobiles, as well as reducing the amount of traffic on the streets.

Changing the Future

Adults can teach kids the proper and safe way to cycle and how to interact with other cyclists and pedestrians. Having a strong foundation at an early age may help encourage kids to use bicycles in the future as a common form of transportion.

Give Confidence a Boost

For information on cycling safety and guidelines, visit the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) website for bicycle safety tips.