It is healthy, quick, easy, affordable, and, best of all, does not harm the environment while traveling from point A to point B.
Why Bike?
The average gas-fueled car emits about 4.6 metric tons of carbon dioxide in a year. This is equivalent to the greenhouse gas emissions avoided by 1.6 tons of waste being recycled instead of going to the landfill or the carbon sequestered by 76 tree seedlings grown for 10 years. This emitted carbon dioxide, a greenhouse gas, is a major contributing factor to climate change. Driving an electric vehicle is a better option; however, not everyone can afford to purchase an electric vehicle, and there are still some challenges that need to be addressed, such as charging these vehicles from residences without garages or driveways. One solution that has been around for over 200 years and has many advantages is biking!
Biking is a fantastic, sustainable mode of transportation that does not require the burning of any fossil fuels. It is not only beneficial for the environment, though; the exercise that someone gets from a bike ride improves their health and can boost mood and energy. It is a time that can be used to think or, conversely, to clear the mind. It is a time to be present, take some deep breaths, and enjoy the fresh air. Biking is sometimes just as fast as driving, if not faster, particularly in traffic-congested streets of a city like Baltimore. It is a quick way of getting to a destination that is too far to walk to and is still a reasonable distance for biking. Bikes can be parked almost anywhere, which is very helpful in a city where parking spots are limited — and there is no need to deal with parallel parking. Bikes are affordable; even electric bikes are significantly cheaper than cars, especially when compared to the cost of electric cars. Biking is a win for our planet and a win for you, too!
Some may have hesitations about biking. Biking as a mode of transportation can be better suited for urban settings where everything is built densely. City biking can be intimidating, so here are tips for biking in urban areas. Some cities, like Baltimore, do not have the most developed infrastructure to support biking. Baltimore is lacking in bike lanes connecting all parts of the city, which can lead to unsafe conditions for bikers. The more bikers there are, the greater the demand will be for bike lanes. We must speak with our officials and emphasize how important bike lanes are for safety, particularly protected lanes. Apart from large-scale changes, personal actions that you can take to protect yourself are always wearing a helmet, being aware of your surroundings, and biking defensively. Another concern people may have is bike theft. U-locks are sturdier than cable locks, and you can add a cable to the U-lock that can be looped through your bike’s wheels. Try not to leave your bike parked at an insecure spot overnight. On UMB’s campus, there is a bike cage in the Pratt Street Garage with another opening at the Grand Garage in the coming months.
The next time you are commuting to campus, consider using a bike. It is healthy, quick, easy, affordable, and, best of all, does not harm the environment while traveling from point A to point B.
Biking Resources for the UMB Community
Biking is a priority of the UMB Office of Sustainability. We want to support bike commuters to the best of our ability and with that in mind, we have set up a few resources on our campus.
- For a map of bike parking and fix-it station locations, visit the UMB Sustainability Map.
- We have created a Bike Commuters Teams page where bikers can share tips and best routes, find commute buddies, and more. Join the community here.
- There will be a bike maintenance workshop taught by Velocipede Bike Project held in February that is open to all members of the UMB community. For more information and to register, please visit bit.ly/UMBBikeWorkshop.
There are other projects in the works, so stay tuned! The best way to stay up to date is through our monthly newsletters, which you can join by filling out this form. The Office of Sustainability looks forward to making UMB a more bike-friendly place!