We are a nation of bikers. From the smallest toddlers to white haired senior citizens we love to ride our bikes. That's a good thing for a number of reasons. Obviously it is great exercise and can help to keep us fit and active. We see an increased number of riders in brightly colored cycling jersey on streets and country roads throughout this land who have made cycling their primary physical activity. Cycling has become increasingly popular as a form of transportation for many thousands of people. Besides getting them where they want to go, it is also a way of getting out of the house, away from the electronics that tend to consume our lives and enjoying a little fresh air and varied scenery. Many people find that it is their preferred way to get to and from their jobs thus avoiding excess money spent on gasoline, jammed roadways and long waits.
The findings of a recent census undertaken by the Census Bureau showed that the number of people who are using their bikes for transportation to their employment rose by a whopping sixty percent over the last decade. The report also surveyed the number of those who walk to work and that number remained pretty much stagnant over the same period of time. The estimate of the number of bikers commuting to their jobs was in the range of 780,000 plus. Naturally, that number pales to the amount of people who drive to work - upwards of 2l5 million- but even so, it is a significant jump and a step in the right direction. Although this growing number is less than a mere 1 percent of total commuters it still indicates a trend moving toward the direction of those who enjoy more physical output and perhaps less of a carbon footprint in their travels.
Many large cities have incorporated a system of bike sharing in their downtown areas that allows people to grab a bike from a sharing station and pedal to their destination. This lessens the traffic grid caused by high numbers of automobiles in such areas and provides a means for physical activity as well. It has proven quite popular, especially since most of these cities have also become quite bike-friendly and have carved out bike lanes to make it safer for the bikers.
Another growing trend is the "bike train" which is made up of commuters who ride bikes to their jobs and in doing so have formed routes where many other bikers join up. They may end up biking with the same people every day over such routes much like those who commute on trains to their place of employment.
