There is a saying that the hardest thing about bicycle commuting is taking the first ride. Once you begin, and fit it into your life, the positive aspects are overwhelming. In the last election, a transportation plan was voted in that included more and safer bicycle lanes. This has let elected officials know that Flagstaff is ready for alternative transportation. Bike commuting is a wonderful way to get back and forth to work, and is especially easy if you live in town, because Flagstaff is a such a compact community.

I know we’ve heard a lot recently about the difficulties on the roads with both cyclists and motorists sharing the same space. While it is true that this town could use improvements when it comes to being bicycle-friendly, with a little research you’ll find there are easy ways to get around town while keeping traffic problems to a minimum. More than likely the route you travel by automobile will not be the same route you will travel while riding a bicycle. Trails and side roads can easily be accessed and take you to your destination in about the same amount of time, or ten to fifteen minutes longer, on a four to five mile commute. You get to work refreshed, alert and much more relaxed than had you spent the last twenty minutes sitting in a line of cars.

According to the League of American Bicyclists, autos are the single largest source of pollution in the United States. A four-mile trip, which is fairly common in Flagstaff, will put nearly 15 pounds of pollutants into our atmosphere. Some of the chemicals emitted include benzene, cyanide, lead, carbon monoxide, sulfates and ozone. Every mile you cycle helps contribute to pollution prevention.

Flagstaff was recently honored as one of the best cities in the nation for air quality. When my family first moved back to town, after being gone for 10 years, I asked my husband what smelled so good. He replied “fresh air.” Those two words have never been so important as Flagstaff continues to grow. Instead of trying to figure out where to put more roads and parking lots, maybe we should take a fresh approach, get out of our cars, and try alternative modes of transportation.

There are also positive economic aspects for those who use cycling as a means of transportation. You may be able to save as much as 25 percent of your income if you are able to replace one of your vehicles with a combination of cycling, walking, public transit and an occasional taxi. Parking costs, fuel and auto maintenance are just some of the expenses incurred in auto ownership. The largest part of your expenses are paid up front in insurance and monthly payments. The price of a bicycle and its maintenance is just a fraction of the cost of an automobile. Any well-maintained bicycle, no matter how old, will serve as a commuter bike.

Many Americans today are striving for improved health and weight loss. Our children are being diagnosed with high cholesterol, diabetes, and having weight difficulties at an early age. Inactivity is one of the contributing factors to these health problems. Technology has improved our society in many ways, but has also lead to a more inactive lifestyle. Cycling can trim pounds, improve cardiovascular fitness and muscle tone, as well as improve mental health and save time and money spent on costly health clubs. People who exercise regularly cut their risk of heart disease and take less time off of work or school for sickness. We can instill an active lifestyle in our children at an early age by bicycling with them to school. The long lines that form when parents drive their children to school can be avoided, time is used more constructively and frustration is minimized.

These are just some of the many reasons that cycling makes sense. Not everything can be accomplished on the seat of a bicycle, but I’m sure if you evaluate your lifestyle, you will be able to fit cycling into many of your activities and enhance your daily life.

Right now I’m sure many excuses are running through your mind as to why you need your car to accomplish all you have to do during your day. Next month I will eliminate some of those excuses by reviewing common sense ways to commute to work including taking care of your child’s needs, being socially acceptable once you get to your destination, and what you will need to make your commute safe, easy and fun. Once you take that first ride, you’ll find that bicycle commuting actually can fit into your lifestyle and improve it in ways you never dreamed possible. Happy riding everybody!

Joanne Gullyes returned to Flagstaff from Oregon about a year and a half ago.  She relies heavily on her bicycle for transportation.  She works at the Fronske Health Center at Northern Arizona University.