[{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org\/","@type":"BlogPosting","@id":"https:\/\/smart-motoring.com\/blog\/switching-your-car-for-a-bike\/#BlogPosting","mainEntityOfPage":"https:\/\/smart-motoring.com\/blog\/switching-your-car-for-a-bike\/","headline":"What you\u2019d miss if you switched your car for a bike","name":"What you\u2019d miss if you switched your car for a bike","description":"Cycling is on the up with more of us ditching the car in favour of a pushbike and tight lycra than in recent memory. Some 6.5 million Brits aged over 18 (or 13 per cent of the adult population) ride a bike at least once a week, with 1.5 million cycling every day, according to the latest available figures. Cycle traffic has increased almost every year since 2008 and one in six motorists cycle more than twice a month, while […]","datePublished":"2017-05-18","dateModified":"2017-05-19","author":{"@type":"Person","@id":"https:\/\/smart-motoring.com\/author\/isabelle-lawrence\/#Person","name":"Isabelle Lawrence","url":"https:\/\/smart-motoring.com\/author\/isabelle-lawrence\/","identifier":30,"description":"Max Wheeler is a leading motoring journalist and classic car specialist at Smart Motoring, renowned for his sharp insight and infectious passion for all things automotive. With years of experience covering motoring news, supercars, and the enduring legacy of classic cars, Max brings stories to life with style and authority. Whether it\u2019s the roar of a Lamborghini, the elegance of an Aston Martin DB5, or the cultural impact of vintage motoring icons, he delivers expert commentary that inspires enthusiasts and collectors alike. Dedicated to celebrating the heritage and future of driving, Max Wheeler is your trusted voice for classic car news and beyond.","image":{"@type":"ImageObject","@id":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/8d331506e3c530b5ec4930c30a01ed8cc29b0537227573ae5da98f559e681401?s=96&d=mm&r=g","url":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/8d331506e3c530b5ec4930c30a01ed8cc29b0537227573ae5da98f559e681401?s=96&d=mm&r=g","height":96,"width":96}},"publisher":{"@type":"Organization","name":"Smart Motoring","logo":{"@type":"ImageObject","@id":"https:\/\/smart-motoring.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/smart-motoring_news_logo_g-e1765846726493.webp","url":"https:\/\/smart-motoring.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/smart-motoring_news_logo_g-e1765846726493.webp","width":600,"height":60}},"image":{"@type":"ImageObject","@id":"https:\/\/smart-motoring.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/05\/cyclist-feature.jpg","url":"https:\/\/smart-motoring.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/05\/cyclist-feature.jpg","height":520,"width":1200},"url":"https:\/\/smart-motoring.com\/blog\/switching-your-car-for-a-bike\/","about":["BLOG"],"wordCount":782,"keywords":["Bikes","cars","cycling","National Bike to Work Day"],"articleBody":"Cycling is on the up with more of us ditching the car in favour of a pushbike and tight lycra than in recent memory.Some 6.5 million Brits aged over 18 (or 13 per cent of the adult population) ride a bike at least once a week, with 1.5 million cycling every day, according to the latest available figures.Cycle traffic has increased almost every year since 2008 and one in six motorists cycle more than twice a month, while four in five cyclists hold a driving licence.This Friday (May 19th) is National Bike to Work Day – the one day of the year aimed at promoting the notion of getting into the office on pedal power alone.It should be little surprise that the vast majority of us at Motor-Vision drive into the office, so it got us thinking, what would we miss if we biked it in instead?Wet and sweatyAs sure as night follows day, March marks a notable uplift in the number of cyclists on British roads as the weather improves and mornings get lighter with the switch to British Summer Time.However, even in the spring and summer, you\u2019re not guaranteed the weather and look at the downpours we\u2019ve had recently.You\u2019d ride into the office looking like a nearly drowned cat! Not a good look.Say you escape the rain, you\u2019re still not guaranteed to arrive at work bone dry due to getting hot and bothered and ewww, sweaty.No sat-navSome motorists can\u2019t drive a mile down the road without putting their desired destination into a sat-nav, and while it may be highly likely you know your route into the office, what happens if you need to divert for whatever reason? Or if you\u2019re heading somewhere else afterwards?How on earth are you meant to know where you\u2019re going without your sacred sat-nav?No boot spaceSimilarly, what if you have to bring a load of stuff back from work? It\u2019s unlikely you have a bike trailer lying around and stuffing all that gear into a backpack will make for an uncomfortable ride home.With a car, you can just chuck it all in the boot or on the back seats and worry about it later.No companyIf you carpool or have kids to drop off in the morning, then switching to a solitary bicycle will make your commutes a pretty lonesome affair. You\u2019ll have nobody to chat to, joke with or sing along to the radio with, speaking of which…No tunesJust the sound of surrounding traffic and your tyres on the road. Some cyclists stick their earphones in but blocking out the sound of nearby cars isn\u2019t exactly the safest idea when you\u2019re already a vulnerable road user.AdvantagesIn the interest of fairness, there are many advantages to riding into work.ExerciseVegging out in your car may be the most appealing way of getting into work but it doesn\u2019t burn many calories. By pedalling in, you\u2019ll get the blood pumping nice and early, arriving bright-eyed and bushy-tailed, ready for the day.CheaperRunning a bike is a lot less financially demanding than what goes into running a car.You can pick up a decent bike for around \u00a3500 new, while extra kit like helmet, lights and a pump won\u2019t set you back much more than \u00a340 altogether.Most cars priced at \u00a3500 in the classifieds are nasty rustbuckets with error lights waiting in the wings to sting you at your local car repair garage.QuickerAs the number of cars on UK roads continues to grow every year, it can actually be quicker biking it in. I actually halved my overall commute time by cycling in, plus I don\u2019t have to wait for a stinky, cramped bus.It\u2019s safer than everDespite the number of lunatics on the road, riding a bike is actually very safe and since 2010, the number of cyclists killed on UK roads has fallen to its lowest level on record. Drivers are more aware and careful around cyclists today than ever before.However, in 2015, some 3,337 cyclists were killed or seriously injured in Britain – that\u2019s nine every day.SummaryCar makers are constantly cramming even more fancy gadgets into their models and interiors are becoming increasingly more refined.Driving is generally more convenient and practical, so it\u2019s a tough ask to try and coax motorists out of their plush mechanical cocoons.But there are myriad benefits to cycling into work and we hope at least some of you explore these options this National Bike to Work Day. Source: http:\/\/www.cyclinguk.org\/resources\/cycling-uk-cycling-statistics"},{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org\/","@type":"BreadcrumbList","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"name":"Blog","item":"https:\/\/smart-motoring.com\/blog\/#breadcrumbitem"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"name":"What you\u2019d miss if you switched your car for a bike","item":"https:\/\/smart-motoring.com\/blog\/switching-your-car-for-a-bike\/#breadcrumbitem"}]}]