1. It's too risky. Yes, there's tangible risk associated with pedaling. Riders do collide and get knocked by vehicles. But how risky is riding in comparison with other forms of transit and with our understanding of the risk? A less than you might presume.



Consider the reckoning of a corporation that undertakes safety and failure testing, once called the Failure Group and now called Exponent. The corporation examined a range of past-times and determined that the number of fatalities per million hours of exposure was 0.26 for riding, 0.47 for motoring, 1.53 for living (all causes of death), and 8.80 for motorbiking. In other words, they discovered that the risks of riding were roughly 50% that connected with driving and a sixth of that associated purely with being alive.

Unfortunately, the precise methods Exponent used are proprietary, and the complete article isn't available to the public, but rest assured that this isn't a fly-by-night cyclists' advocacy organization that's making up the numbers. As the company reasons on its site, it has been relied on to scrutinize high-profile catastrophes such as the sabotage of the federal offices in Oklahoma City.

So, for the sake of discussion, let's accept that the Failure Associates analysis is an underestimation and review another extensive report that measures the risks using a slightly different metric?the count of kills per billions of kilometers traveled instead of per hour of exposure. The Rutgers University researchers who undertook this study concluded that, per kilometer traveled, cycling kills are 11 times as high as automobile occupant deaths. Seems quite bad for biking until you look at what the same review revealed about walking. Walking kills per kilometer traveled were 36 times as high as driving deaths, suggesting that walking is more than 3 times as risky as cycling.

That said, there's always more that bikers could do to take accountability for our protection. A disturbing 24 percent of deadly bicycle accidents involve an intoxicated rider. Work shows that bikers get into many smaller accidents that could be prevented. Numerous articles have shown that the failure to use lights in the dark or a helmet hugely increases a biker's risk. Finally, riders starting out must be especially careful about cars opening doors and taking turns, and about riding on the pavements.

The bottom line: It isn't that riding doesn't have risk, but some perspective is in order, more so when you begin to allow the number of health advantages that cycling provides.

2. It's a long way. The ride may well take too long or take too much energy if you live further than, say, 11 miles from work. But consider ways to grow your potential distance. A lot commuters, for example, use foldable bicycles so they can go partway on a morning train.

3. I'll need an pricey bicycle. Untrue. You should be able to buy a new or used bike perfect for basic commuting for below $500. Find a great, local bicycle store with a experienced staff, explain the terrain and distance of commute you're considering, and they'll help you select the proper frame and number of gears you'll require.

If you're just starting out, you should hunt for a functional, commuter bike that has fenders to protect your pants, a stand, and a comfortable saddle. And, if you're really looking for a easy ride, take a gander at the new type of ?coasting? bicycles that are designed to reconnect people with worryfree recollections of riding as a kid. They have pedal brakes?called coaster brakes?instead of hand brakes and an automatic shifter, and while they are not designed for speed, they're a great way to get reacquainted with the saddle, says Doyne.

4. It's not possible to tote the gear I require. If this is what you think, you're carrying way more than the normal cyclist to work or you don't own the proper bag or features on your bike. A sturdy basket or touring panniers will mean you can easily carry a computer, work clothes, food, a few books, a slew of folders, and whatever other gadgets you regularly carry.

5. There isn't anywhere to change. Jeff Peel of the League of American Bicyclists says that many cyclists are concerned about this, but that there are numerous alternatives beyond simply arriving at work stinky and sweaty. First, check to make sure that your workplace doesn't have a shower somewhere. If it doesn't, look for nearby gyms or fitness clubs. Some have shower-only memberships for riding or running commuters.

6. Biking will turn me impotent. This is a charge that has been doing the rounds since the late 1990s, and there's a kernel of fact to it. There is proof that long distance bike cyclists can experience short-lived and even long-lasting problems if they ride lots of hours on a racing saddle that isn't fitted well. But there are now many of saddles with specifically designed cutaway slots that take the pressure off the key blood vessles and nerves. As long as your saddle fits properly and you don't ride as much as a professional rider training for the Tour de France, cycling is much more apt to lower your odds of erectile dysfunction than increase them, as cycling will help keep cardiovascular disease'a major creator of erectile dysfunction?away.