Beat the traffic - be the traffic
"Nothing compares to the simple pleasure of a bike ride."
John F. Kennedy
Cycling is an ideal form of transport for short journeys and is particularly suited to a small island like Jersey, where the roads are narrow and parking spaces can be hard to come by.
Cycling cuts out the hassle of going round in circles looking for a parking space and you don't have to worry about rushing back to it when a paycard runs out. You can fit several bicycles in the space occupied by a single car. The more cyclists there are on the roads, the less congested they will be. They will also be safer for other road users, including pedestrians.
Cycling provides freedom, independence and the opportunity to fully experience Jersey's beautiful landscape and wildlife. The cycle home can help you shake off the blues after a hard day's work much better than sitting in a traffic jam. Even cycling in the rain can become a pleasure once you get used to it.
Cycling is an excellent form of exercise, even if you're not that fit, as the bike takes most of the strain. Steady cycling burns around 300 calories per hour. Cycling for just 30 minutes a day will give you a regular cardiovascular workout that will burn fat and improve your general level of fitness. If you keep it up for a year you will lose around 11 pounds of fat. Regular cycling will make your thighs and bottom firmer and tone your abdominal muscles, helping you to achieve a flatter stomach.
Your body will not only look better but should also feel better too. According to the British Heart Foundation, if you cycle twenty miles or more a week, you are 50 per cent less likely to contract heart disease than someone who does not take regular exercise. If all short journeys were taken by bike, it is estimated that the rates of heart disease nationally would fall by between 5 and 10 per cent.
Cycling is one of the cheapest and most efficient forms of transport there is. There are no charges for registration, road tax, licenses or fuel. Parking is free and convenient - no other form of transport could take you literally door to door.
Bicycle technology is fairly simple and most components are accessible and serviceable by the rider. A good quality bicycle will last for years with a minimum of maintenance if well looked after. When things go wrong, it is usually possible to repair them simply and cheaply. The cost of maintenance is around £50 a year.
"Whenever I see an adult on a bicycle, I no longer despair for the future of mankind."
H.G. Wells
The manufacture of bicycles uses fewer raw materials and much less energy than most other forms of transport. They do not emit any harmful greenhouse gases and make very little noise compared to other road vehicles. Cycling is also much safer than other forms of transport, both for the rider and for pedestrians too.
Interested in cycling but don't know where to begin? The Why Cycle website provides novice cyclists with information on choosing your first bike and some useful riding tips.
There is a network of cycle routes in Jersey which avoid the busier roads and make the most of the island's green lanes. You can download a map of these routes in PDF format from the cycling pages on the Jersey Tourism website (Adobe Acrobat Reader required).