by Randall S. Hansen, Ph.D.
As an avid walker and bike-rider, I have to admit that I am biased in my views about biking
or walking to work -- but I am also an excellent case-study of someone who has become
much healthier since taking up biking and walking several years ago. I also spent the last
year biking to and from my job at a local university.
So... why should you buy those new walking shoes or invest in a good bike? Here are
my six reasons for riding a bike or walking to work:
1. It's efficient. Biking or walking to work allows you to accomplish two things
with the same activity. First, choosing to bike or walk solves the issue of how to get to
work. Second, by biking or walking you improve your health, fitness, and mental outlook.
In fact, biking or walking to work is both efficient and effective.
2. It's healthful. There's no question that walking or biking to work at a decent
pace (no need to set records here) provides excellent cardiovascular exercise, offering
many health benefits, including weight loss, muscle tone development, as well as lowering
your blood pressure and stress levels while also reducing your risk of heart attack,
hypertension, osteoporosis, and type II diabetes.
3. It's cheap. Consider the gas, tolls, parking, and upkeep on a car or the monthly
bus or train pass you are currently paying versus the cost of walking or biking to work. You
may need to invest in a new pair of walking shoes or a better bike, but once you've made that
purchase, you have minimal additional costs. And if you're really lucky and work for an
organization that has a workplace wellness program, you may even be able to get the shoes
or bike at a reduced price -- or even free.
4. It's rewarding. Besides the psychological benefits of feeling better about yourself,
walking or biking to work also offers very clear mental benefits -- from adrenaline and endorphins --
that boost your mood and provide you with a sense of well-being. Because it's often a solitary
experience, walking or biking also provides opportunities for deep thoughts that tap into your
creative side, leading to new ideas and ways to solve problems.
5. It's green. You don't have to be a diehard environmentalist to appreciate that by
walking or biking to work you are doing something to personally reduce the negative impact of
other forms of transportation. One expert states that for every four miles ridden on a bicycle
(or walked presumably), you are keeping 15 pounds of pollutants out of the atmosphere.
No fossil fuels, no ozone depletion, no deadly pollutants.
6. It's fun. Driving to or from work is often stressful (or at best boring), while biking or walking is
always an adventure. It's relaxing -- especially on the way home -- to know you have had another
good day at work and are now helping yourself live a longer and healthier life by biking or walking.
And no matter where you live, you're bound to encounter people or things in nature that make you
appreciate life.
Final Thoughts
Learn how to get started biking or walking to work by reading these articles:
Questions about some of the terminology used in this article? Get more information (definitions and links) on key college, career, and job-search
terms by going to our Job-Seeker's Glossary of Job-Hunting Terms.
Dr. Randall S. Hansen is founder of Quintessential Careers,
one of the oldest and most comprehensive career development sites on the Web, as well CEO of
EmpoweringSites.com. He is also founder of
MyCollegeSuccessStory.com and
EnhanceMyVocabulary.com. He is publisher of
Quintessential Careers Press,
including the Quintessential Careers electronic newsletter,
QuintZine. Dr. Hansen is also a
published author, with several books, chapters in books, and hundreds of articles. He's often
quoted in the media and conducts empowering workshops around the country. Finally, Dr. Hansen is
also an educator, having taught at the college level for more than 15 years. Visit his
personal Website or
reach him by email at randall(at)quintcareers.com.
Have you taken advantage of all the tools and articles on the workplace in our
Workplace Wellness Resources?
