1 World, 2 Wheels.

If you've been too busy getting bombarded by ads for the new Indiana Jones movie, May is National Bike Month. In honor of that, I thought I'd throw some interesting info your way about the benefits of local cycling. It won't take long to read and you just might be moved to action (after you swallow the vurp that comes up from reading some of it).



Why Bike? For your health, for the world, for our future, for 2 miles or less. With the world facing skyrocketing obesity rates, escalating traffic congestion and the concerns of global climate change, the bicycle is an underutilized solution.

For your health
> The average person loses 13 lbs. their first year of commuting by bike.
> Just 3 hours of bicycling per week can reduce your risk of heart disease and stroke by 50%.
> A 140-pound cyclist burns 508 calories while pedaling 14 miles in an hour.

For the world
> The U.S. could save 462 million gallons of gasoline a year by increasing cycling from 1% to 1.5% of all trips.
> Each U.S. rush-hour auto commuter spends an average of 50 hours a year stuck in traffic.
> In 2003, cars idling in traffic wasted 5 billion gallons of fuel.

For our future
> In 1964 50% of kids rode to school and the obesity rate was 12%…in 2004, 3% rode to school and the obesity rate was 45%.
> Between 1960 and today the average weight of a 6-11 year old has increased 11 pounds.

For 2 miles or less
> 60% of the pollution created by automobile emissions happens in the first few minutes of operation, before pollution control devices can work effectively.
> 24% of all trips are made within a mile of the home, 40% of all trips are made within two miles of the home, and 50% of the working population commutes five miles or less to work.

If you'd like to read more or get the fancy version, all of this info was found at http://www.1world2wheels.org. This initiative and organization was started by the Trek Corp.