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SHEALTH
Cycling is an activity that anyone can practice at any age, and it does not demand an excessive effort from the heart. As opposed to motorized means of transport, and to our sedentary customs, clinical and epidemiologic studies have proved that cycling is clearly beneficial and can be a prevention measure not only for cardiovascular illnesses, but also for respiratory problems, and other illnesses associated with obesity.
Moderate exercise also has many physical and mental benefits:- It helps regulate the amount of sugar in the blood, and prevents high blood pressure.
- It compensates the absorption of harmful cholesterol.
- It reinforces the immune system. It strengthens heart, muscles, and bones.
- It reduces the risk of diabetes, bony fragility, cardiovascular illnesses and cancer.
- It reduces stress, tension, anxiety and benign forms of depression
From a social point of view, if we improve the health of the individuals, we improve our Public health.
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ENVIRONMENT
The bicycle does not produce atmospheric nor acoustic pollution; it does not generate any type of residue such as oil or corrosive acid.
- ECONOMY
The bicycle is very cheap means of transportation, not only regarding the actual acquisition of a bike but also its maintenance. It is within everybody’s reach, and it does not need fuel.
The use of the bicycle among wide sectors of the population and its effects in Public health would diminish sanitary expense. On the other hand, its social and environmental effects are impossible to calculate. As for the expense necessary in order to have adequate infrastructures, there is an enormous difference between the bicycle and the motorized vehicles.
- CITY
TRAFFIC AND SAFETY
A decrease in the number of motorcars that circulate in the city and an increase of the use of the bike, would improve, no doubt, the fluency of the traffic and it would diminish the amount of traffic jams. The bicycle is not a dangerous way of transport, although the current circumstances of the motorized traffic, and the need for specific infrastructures that allow a safe use of the bike in the city (such as a track) could make it somewhat dangerous.
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AUTONOMY AND TIME
The bicycle is easy to handle at almost all ages and in all physical conditions (there is only an estimated 10 % of the population who is not able to cycle in acceptable conditions of safety). The physical and mental condition needed to move around by bicycle can be maintained till a very advanced age. Statistics in countries with a strong cycling tradition indicate that persons over 65 can travel almost 3 kilometers daily by bicycle.
As for the time spent in going from one place to another, access to a bicycle needs little time, and traffic jams can be avoided. It has been proved that the bike is the most rapid means of transportation for a distance of 4 or 5 kilometers within the city.
- OCCUPATION OF SPACE
A bike needs much less space than a car, both when in movement and when parked. While a bicycle in movement needs 8 square meters, a car needs 8 or 10 times that. Evidently, an exact comparison between equal situations on a bike and in a car, are impossible to do.
As for parking the comparison is much simpler; in a parking space for a standard sized car you can fit almost 20 bicycles, but with enough space to access them, we may fit 10 or12.
