The benefits of cycling to work
If you want to get more active in 2023, the benefits of cycling to work mean that it’s one of the easiest ways to achieve your goal and introduce more movement into your lifestyle.
Cycling is an excellent way of improving your cardiovascular health, and the low-impact nature of the sport makes it easier on your joints than running. Regular cycling can lower cholesterol, help you lose weight, improve your lung capacity, and strengthen your legs. You’ll start noticing an improvement in your health after just a month of regular exercise, achieved by cycling to work a few times a week.
It’s not just good for your physical health either - regular exercise is great for your mental health so getting in that 30-minutes of cycling to and from work will make a positive difference to your overall mood. The average UK cycle commute is 5 miles, a journey which you can make in about 30 minutes at a leisurely speed – and a short 30-minute ride will leave you feeling much better than a 30-minute train journey will! Your morning ride will get your blood flowing and prepare you for a productive and inspired working day. Cycling is also much better for the environment than driving, so you can head into the office every day knowing you’re doing your bit to make the world a greener place.
The cost of buying a bike is miles cheaper than the cost of a train season ticket or the cost of petrol, even with maintenance included. If you don’t have the space to store a bike at home, try hiring a Santander Cycle from just £1.65 for 30 minutes. It’s simple - head over to a dock near you, hire a bike, and ride! The live map tells you how many docking spaces and how many bikes are available at each stop, so you won’t show up and be disappointed.
With 10 Santander Cycle docking stations around Stratford and Hackney Wick - including one at Stratford Station and one at the London Aquatics Centre - you can leave your bike in one of these docks and walk the short distance to the IQL offices. If you find yourself using the bikes often, purchase a membership for £20 a month or £120 a year.
Sometimes getting into cycling is the hardest part so, if you’re not sure where’s safe for you to cycle to work, take a look at TfL’s open and proposed cycle routes, known as cycleways. For advice on how to be safe on the cycleways, visit the TfL website. You’ll be confident on your bike in no time.
If you live in the area and would like to head out on your bike at the weekends, take a look at our blog on cycle routes in Stratford.