10 Mar 2023
The average UK driver spends almost four years behind the wheel in their lifetime, with eight months of this waiting in traffic*. That’s a lot of time that could be better spent doing the things you love. Whether travelling to work, to the station or to the shops, next time you pick up your car keys, take a moment to think whether riding a bike may be the better way to get you from A to B. We’ve put together a few reasons as to why it is:
Enjoy the view
Sick of sitting in back-to-back traffic staring at endless number plates? Dust off that bike, pump up your tires and don your helmet for the road less travelled. Wales is home to some of the most scenic cycling routes in the world and cycling through parks, along canals and via side-streets is a much better view than jam packed traffic. Not sure which route to take? Check out Sustrans’ National Cycle Network, a UK-wide network of paths and routes for walking, wheeling and cycling, getting you where you need to go – car free. You can sort by distance, region and traffic conditions to find the best route for you.
Instead of sitting in a car, get active!
We all know that keeping fit and healthy is a must but sometimes it’s hard to find time to be active with a busy lifestyle. It’s recommended that adults take part in 2.5 hours of moderate activity a week (roughly 30 minutes a day), with research showing that keeping physically active can reduce the risk of heart and circulatory disease by as much as 35%†. An easy way to achieve this target is to choose to cycle to work, or for short distances, which you’d usually take the car. It’s a simple way to build exercise into your daily routine, allowing you to gain the health benefits of an active lifestyle.
Looking to hire a bike? Ovo bikes are a great way to commute or explore the city. With many docking locations to choose from, find your closest bike location here.
Good for the body, and for the mind
The last few years have shown us how important it is to not just take care of our physical health but also our mental wellbeing. Exercise like cycling can help lower the body’s levels of cortisol, the stress hormone, whilst increasing our endorphins (feel good hormones). Research shows that bicycle commuting helps to reduce the feelings of stress with bicycle commuters having a significantly lower risk of being stressed than non-bicycle commuters ††.
If you’re travelling around Cardiff and Newport make sure to check out The Bike Lock and Newport’s Spokesafe, two incredible social initiatives providing coffee, a warm space and a safe location to store your bike.
A sustainable way to travel
Not only beneficial for us, sustainable travel options such as cycling play a huge role in reducing the vast quantities of CO2 produced from motor vehicle use, with fewer cars on our road helping to reduce air pollution, congestion and carbon emissions.
Catching the train or bus? Many of our stations provide bicycle storage so you can cycle, instead of driving, to your nearest station and leave your bike to continue your journey with us – not only saving money on parking and petrol but also helping the planet!
† NHS Physical Activity Guidelines
