Friday, July 13, 2012
Heatwave burnin' in my heart
Posted by Katelyn Coyne on Fri, Jul 13, 2012 at 7:00 AM
Fireworks have been canceled; water is limited across the state; lawns are as crunchy as the dreadlock-wearing hippies we see on the rainbow bridge in Broad Ripple. The heat is here to stay, and unfortunately many are pointing to rising greenhouse gas emissions. While riding two wheels can help combat this drastic environmental change, record highs seem to give us one more reason to just buckle-up and drive.
In an attempt to psych myself (and all of you) up for an afternoon of hot asphalt, here are some reasons why two wheels will always be better than four, regardless of the temp:
Commuting to work by bicycle can qualify you for tax credits
That's right! In 2009, the IRS added the Bicycle Commuter Benefit to the tax code. Though, there is a snag. The Bike Commuter Benefit is an employer benefit that your employer must elect to offer. If they do, you can receive a tax-free bonus of up to $20/month for each month that you commute primarily by bike. Talk to your employer; gang up with fellow cyclists/co-workers and demand your hard work be recognized! Hey, it never hurts to ask. For more information.
Biking is more efficient that driving
This one takes some math, so get your abacus, calculator or whatever out. If you look at a calorie chart, it shows a ratio of roughly 1:2 between your weight and the amount of calories burned while cycling at about 10 miles per hour. If a 175-pound person cycles for one hour, they burn about 350 calories during an hour. A gallon of gasoline contains 31,000 calories. If a person could drink gasoline and burn that fuel like a car, they could bike 885.7 miles.Now that's efficient! Too bad your car can only go around 30 miles per gallon. (Note: Yes, this is a hypothetical scenario. No, people should not drink gasoline. Yes, cars weigh more than bikes. No, I don't care if you disagree with my math.)
Bikes are cheaper
It's way easier to finance and maintain a new bike than it is a car. These days it's nearly impossible to get any kind of loan. But for the price of one car payment, you can own a brand new bike. Consider the money you pay for gasoline, insurance and repairs. For a fraction of that, you can trick-out a bike (or even a Pedego) and ride in real style. Not to mention, most bike repairs are DIY and can be made with a few simple tools and affordable parts.
People who bike are cool, even when it's 100+ degrees outside
Okay so this one is a bit of an opinion, a corny one at that. But, if you have the balls to bike back and forth to work each day... To stick to your environmentally friendly "guns..." To refuse to let the heat sway you from your mission to make the world better one pedal at a time... My love for you, well to quote Martha and the Vandellas, "it's like a heatwave burning in my heart." And I hope that keeps you cool.
How are you dealing with bicycling in the heat? Share your stories! And remember to drink lots of water. Plus, here are some helpful tips on how to keep cool while riding this Summer.
More by Katelyn Coyne
-
Gears shifting into perspective
A bicycle shop scene offers perspective after a year of biking and blogging.
- Apr 5, 2013
-
Review: The Lyons at Phoenix Theatre
Diane Kondrat is funny and heartfelt as a matriarch nearing the end of a 40-year stint in a loveless marriage in 'The Lyons,' making its Midwest premiere at the Phoenix.
- Mar 5, 2013
- More »
Top Commenters
Recent Comments
-
Re: Dealing with angry drivers in the spring
@MichaelRousseau. Did you completely miss the point of this blog entry? Cyclists can (and should)…
-
on April 30, 2013
-
Re: Dealing with angry drivers in the spring
Sorry to hear you are suffering the indignities of becoming a real cyclo-commuter Katelyn. As…
- on April 26, 2013
-
Re: Dealing with angry drivers in the spring
What difference does gender make?!?! Who cares. The problem I have with some cyclists is…
- on April 25, 2013
-
Re: Dealing with angry drivers in the spring
Before Indy made any efforts to become bike friendly, people threw rocks a couple of…
- on April 25, 2013
-
Re: Dealing with angry drivers in the spring
I'm a dude and I've had nearly the same exchanges as you but substitute "fucking…
- on April 24, 2013
- More »
