As pollution levels increase and climate change becomes even more of a dire problem than it is already, many people are looking for ways to reduce their carbon footprint. They know that they can’t solve this problem entirely on their own. But there are things that individuals can do to try to improve the situation in incremental amounts.
One thing that you may be considering is using your bike more than you use your car. Perhaps you first began thinking of this as a way to save money or to get exercise. But is it also a good way to reduce your carbon footprint?
Cutting carbon admissions by two-thirds
Certainly, cycling is a great way to reduce your own carbon footprint. Some estimates claim that a person riding their bike just once per day, when they otherwise would’ve driven their car, can cut back on their emissions by about 67%. You don’t have to stop using your car entirely to make a big difference.
Is it a realistic goal?
Some people will say that there’s no way they could ride their bike this frequently, but the reality is that it’s probably not as difficult as you think. After all, remember that more than 50% of the trips people take in cars every day do not exceed three miles. People are simply driving to the grocery store, dropping children off at school or doing something else close to home.
Three miles is an excellent distance for a bike ride, especially if you’re just getting started. It’s not too difficult, and it is honestly not going to take much longer than it would take you to drive the same distance. But it can still have a drastic and positive impact on the environment, especially if you make it a habit to do this every day.
What if you get injured?
One of the potential problems with cycling is that you’re at risk of being injured in an accident with a negligent driver. Because injured cyclists tend to sustain devastating harm as a result of crashes, you’ll want to make sure that you’re proactively aware of your legal options so that you’re prepared in the event that the worst should happen.
