Ride a Bike - Get Off Your Car
The bike is without a doubt the most efficient, fast, economical, healthy and ecological means of all those available. Cycling is fun, less tiring than walking or waiting for long public transport and allows an absolute freedom of movement, reducing the distances traveled, avoiding the busy, noisy and saturated streets of smog. Seeing is believing.
So why are there still resistance to its daily use?
The main factors are cultural. The car represents a consolidated identity and consumption model in the last century. Values such as success, strength and status symbol are linked to driving and holding a car. But even more important is the topic of safety and ease of use. The bicycle is perceived as a dangerous and inconvenient means to be used. To a large extent this perception is based on misinterpreted data and clichés and this page intends to provide useful information to frame the topic in the right perspective After a certain threshold of confidence, all those who have ventured into this change of lifestyle have become bicycle supporters.
Certainly, the presence of infrastructure for cycling as lanes or bicycle lanes, racks, public transport used to transport the bike, would make it even easier and more convenient to use this extraordinary means of transport, but fortunately the sensitivity on the topic and the initiatives are increasing. For this reason, Sapienza is investing resources on cycling to encourage the home work shift of all those who for work, study or any other reason must reach its various locations. The office of the Mobility Manager in collaboration with the CTL Sapienza and the Department of Architecture and Project of Sapienza and the second Municipality. of Roma Capitale, they are planning the 'tangenziale ciclabile' a path that unites the offices of Economics and Ingeneering in via Scarpa and via Castro Laurenziano with the Marco Polo building passing through the University City and cutting through the district of San Lorenzo.
On this page we will provide some news and a small handbook to facilitate the decision to change lifestyle, abandon the car and use the bicycle as a privileged means of transport to reach the Sapienza.
The bike and its clichés
Safety. Is the bike dangerous?
With simple measures and a little experience the risks can be reduced to zero. Respect the road signs, keep the right (not too close to the parked cars, however), always signal before turning and stop at red lights, etc. .. If you respect the Highway Code the risks are not greater than those that run at the drive a scooter or a car. Wear a high visibility jacket or reflective straps. If you have a foldable bike for the busiest stretches you can use public transport. Always wear a helmet when cycling, but above all, study the route well to choose the most protected and least exposed to traffic. If the road is too busy you can always get off and drive the bike by hand on the sidewalk and choose another route.
"The accident risks are the only theoretical disadvantage of the bicycle, but what is the actual situation? It has been shown that, for some age groups, the car represents a global risk that is significantly higher than the bicycle and that the positive repercussions of the bicycle on health and quality of life far outweigh the years of life lost in accidents ... That said, any bicycle policy must minimize the risks for cyclists By which means, are bike lanes always synonymous with safety? The experience of numerous cities and scientific research shows that cyclists can also be guaranteed safety on the carriageway. " Taken from CITTA’ IN BICICLETT - PEDALANDO VERSO L’AVVENIRE, drafted by the European Commission
Speed: Achilles will reach the turtle?
According to lSTAT in 2011 every day, in Rome, 84% of citizens live in Rome for study and work, travel less than 20 km and over half less than 5 km. A proximity mobility. Yet 61% use the car to travel these distances. On average, a pedestrian moves at a speed of 4 km / h, while on bike the average speed is between 12 and 18 km/h. Travelling 5km to go to the office requires 15-20 minutes without comparing the public transport speed. The average speed in the city of the car in urban areas the average speed is 26 km/h in the urban area and 31 km/h for motorcycles. However, the two wheels have the advantage of allowing door-to-door movements without time for long parking searches. This has to be added to the actual time of the transfer to the average speed of the car in the urban stretches’ collapses to comparable levels if not worse on some occasions with that of the bike.
Comfort: let’s learn how to ride
"I’m out of shape" is one of the most common excuses to avoid riding a bike. Actually, to ride a bike you won’t need any particular training. Riding a bike at an average speed helps you getting in shape within weeks. Try for a week to ride to work, to the university and search for the best roads for you.
"I can’t shower" is another commonplace. Most bikers don’t need to shower; riding at an average speed keeps you sweat free and fresh.
"I have to dress properly at the office"• Get well organized. Bring with you a change of clothes.
"I have some things to do"• A luggage rack and bags on the bike can significantly increase the carrying capacity.
Health: feeling ten years younger
Riding a bike is a physical activity with a low impact, not wearing for the joints, perfect for beginners. Pedaling makes you feel younger and reduces stress. Health experts agree: cycling regularly has a physical form equal to a person younger than 10 years. With an hour of pedaling on a flat road at a speed of 18 miles per hour (28 km/h), 555 calories are burned. (from the bike to work guide edited by ciclomobilisti.it)
There are several research on the topic. Read them on Mobility and Wealthness
Economy: a money-box on wheels
Any cost for fuel. Any cost for parking. Any stamp or insurance. Even if you use the bicycle occasionally instead of the car, you will have considerable economic savings. It has been calculated that using the bike 3 times a week instead of the car to go to work allows a saving of 15-20 euros per month (considering only the direct costs for an average route of 5/6 Km; long savings increase) and, compared to the bike, 10- 15 euros per month. Perhaps it is not clear to many, but to keep a car (considering the expenses necessary for the use and maintenance of a small car), it is spent between 15% and 20% of their income. It is therefore worthwhile to carefully reconsider the savings by evaluating your situation and the number of cars in the family.
An urban cyclist who rides for 8 km from home to the office and back, 4 days a week, saves 3220 km driving a car, 380 L of petrol and 750 kg of CO2. source: ecf.com
The annual savings can be estimated between € 1,200 and € 3,000
Cube Store Agreement
The Rome Cube Store, with offices in Via Antonio Carruccio, 39 (GRA exit Ardeatina) and Via Mura dei Francesi (Ciampino), reserve, to employees Sapienza who buy a bicycle, (road, mountaine bike, electric pedal assisted) the right to receive a free package that includes:
- RFR computer counts Km by bike autostart, distance marker, average distance, clock and temperature indicator (value € 24.90);
- "cube store" personalized tool bag (value € 6.90);
- a spare Cube inner tube (value € 5.95);
- Tire lever tools (value € 3.50);
- Cube water bottle holder (value € 5.95);
- Cube water bottle (value € 5.95).
Value of the package: € 53,15
Moreover, a professional assistance treatment is guaranteed directly by the Cube technicians within the structure.
To take advantage of the facilities it is necessary to show the badge or other documentation suitable to certify the belonging to Sapienza University of Rome.
Further Information
Tel. 06 71383088
cubestoreroma@gmail.com