Insightful Reasons Why Cycling Is a Solution to Climate Change
November 15 2019 – Rudy Marquez
Climate change is taking place at a rate at which the natural environment cannot counter. One of the major causes is the increasing use of fossil fuels. At this alarming rate, the need for solutions is nigh, and cycling is one of the effective ways to counter climate change the menace. This is because the mode is a pollution-free mode of transport so as to make the earth a habitable place.
A 2015 case study done by the Institute for Transportation and Development Policy concluded that there will be a dramatic increase (about 20% ) in cycling worldwide in an attempt to cut carbon dioxide emissions by nearly 11% in 2050. In addition, a 2010 research also showed that if 20% of the people used bikes instead of cars in Madison, Wisconsin and Milwaukee, there would be a decrease in about 57,405 tons of emitted carbon dioxide.
It Does Not Emit Carbon Dioxide
Carbon Dioxide is the primary cause of global warming and the remaining solution to curb is by use of bicycles because unlike cars produce zero Carbon Dioxide. This is because vehicles tend to consume much fossil fuels. Carbon Dioxide leads typically to global warming s it has a greenhouse effect. This means that it traps the sun rays not allowing them to be reflected to back to space. This leads to temperature rise on earth, causing the melting of polar ice hence higher water levels.
If you, therefore, join the public an accept cycling instead of driving this will reduce the amount of Carbon Dioxide produced up to 13 times as per the research conducted by the Cycling Embassy of Denmark. This will, therefore, make cities, which usually are prone to Carbon Dioxide pollution, more habitable for human life.
It Contains Fewer Pollutants
Unlike vehicles which take in more pollutants like lead which are ordinarily heavy metals and therefore very harmful to the environment. The minerals affect both animal and plant life which will contribute to an imbalance in the natural ecosystems resulting in climate change. Bikes only use grease for their day to day functioning, which is, in fact, a minor requirement. Bicycles are also made of iron and rubber, which can be recycled to make other products, therefore, making cycling tender to the environment. This, in turn, reduces the chances of global warming.
We cannot just sit back helplessly and watch the water levels rise, the ice melting and trees dying when we have the solution with us. What will happen when we will have polluted the last river? What will we breath after we have poisoned the last breath? It is time we open our eyes wide enough and see with environment pollution, we are losing beautiful places where we would otherwise enjoy nature and cycling. Check out this article to see which beautiful iconic places for cycling are being affected and changing due to climate change.
