There has never been a more true statement.
I recently bought this patch (above) from Microcosm Publishing. They have many great patches, and I highly encourage checking them out if you live in Portland. This patch lines up with what I have been feeling more and more. It is a feeling in which I predicate my level of joy based on whether or not I ride my bicycle. If I do ride it, I feel great; if I do not, I feel depressed. This feeling led me to make the statement, “I will never own a car ever again in my life.” Some people say this is crazy, but I believe it is only doing now what everyone will have to be doing in 50 years when oil reserves run out. Thus, in a way, it is a prophetic act. The feeling of freedom from being on a bicycle is incredible, and it is this feeling that will keep me on one forever. Nevertheless, if this is not reason enough, here are some other great reasons for riding a bike.
- AAA estimates that the cost of owning a car averages out to almost $9,000 a year (not including SUVs or minivans).
- That means, without a car, you could:
- Eat out at a restaurant 3 meals a day at $8 a meal.
- Pay $750 in rent per month for a year.
- Buy 9 $1000 bicycles, one for you and 8 friends.
- Pay student loans.
- Save up to buy something more useful, like a house.
- Use it for your food budget, meaning, $750 a month, making organic and other healthy foods incredibly affordable
- Cars are the number one leading cause of death amongst teens in the U.S.
- Cars release 14% of the carbon dioxide emissions, worldwide, in a year.
- For the average U.S. female, riding a bicycle one hour a day between 10-12 mph will burn 450 calories and for the average U.S. male it will burn 520 calories.
- Car accidents cost $166.7 billion a year in the U.S., coming to just over $1000 a person.
- Owning a car takes a lot of time and energy; owning a bike takes a fraction of the work and stress.
Bicycles are amazing. Please, get one. It will make the world a better place and you a fitter, happier person!
messes of ben 