When Barb Allan hops on her bike in the
morning, she knows she has the next 40 minutes to relax and soak in fresh
air, wildlife and scenery as she pedals 10 miles between home and
workplace.
The 39-year-old physical therapist says it’s the best possible way to
start her day — by getting her blood flowing on the way from her house in
northeast Fort Collins to her job at Performance Physical Therapy in the
southwest part of town. The exercise not only keeps her healthy but also
makes her feel more energetic and on top of things at work.
“It’s a great way to jumpstart my day and an easy way to get my exercise
in,” says Allan, who logs about 100 commuting miles per week. “I try to
plan my week so I can also do errands on my bike and not have to drive my
car around town too much.”
As a bonus, with the price of gas hovering around $4 per gallon, Allan
figures she saves about $100 a month by not driving to work.
Allan’s choice to leave car keys on kitchen table in favor of bike helmet
and clip-in shoes exemplifies what health professionals call “active
living.” Ample evidence points to significant health benefits from simply
being more active. And it doesn’t take a lot — regular daily activity of
even half an hour is enough to make a big difference.
Experts at the Health District agree. “Make your life your exercise,”
recommends Talisa Gula-Yeast, a physical activity counselor who works with
participants of the Health District’s “Healthy Weighs” classes.
You can get off to a good start by setting a goal of riding or walking to
work just one or two days a week, says Gula-Yeast. “I like to see people
set achievable goals, so they have immediate success,” she adds.
Once you have that routine down, then ratchet it up to three to five days
a week, and take pleasure as your health and pocketbook reap the many
benefits.
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Transform
Yourself into a Self-powered Commuter
If you’re new to bike commuting, start by getting the bike down off
the garage ceiling and pumping up the tires. Test it out on the many
bike lanes and trails around town. To make your commute safe and
convenient, shop at a bike store for items such as helmet, lights,
fenders, rack and panniers.
A list of local shops, along with numerous other cycling resources
(including clubs and events) can be found on the Fort Collins bike
program’s web page:
fcgov.com/bicycling.
For walkers, it’s even simpler — dig out your favorite pair of walking
shoes and hit the streets.
The best single resource for commuting options on the North Front
Range is SmartTrips:
www.smarttrips.org. |
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