Recent changes in laws and policies, as well as the introduction of bike-sharing apps have made cycling more commonplace in Singapore. And as long as safe cycling is practised, this is good for the nation as a whole. According to a five-year study of 250,000 commuters in the UK, published in the British Medical Journal, cycling to work halves the risk of cancer and heart disease. Aside from being good news on a personal level, this would mean a healthier and more productive nation.
The cyclists in the study cycled about 50km per week. The further they cycled, the greater the health benefits. This is in line with existing findings that exercise keeps a myriad of health complications away. After all, cycling is also a wholesome form of exercise, but best of all, it can be worked into your daily routine. You may come up with a hundred and one excuses to drag yourself off to the gym. But if cycling is part of your commute to work or school, surely, you can't skip out on it!
Cycling is as intense as you want it to be; even the elderly and those with joint problems can enjoy it as it remains a low-impact activity if you do not cycle too hard or fast. Nevertheless, if you are unable to cycle, walking is good as well. You would have to walk at about 10 km a week for the health benefits to kick in. Essentially, as long as you work some form of physical routine into your daily routine that's sufficiently intense to get your perspiring and panting. While other personal mobility devices like the e-scooter and kick-scooter are also convenient and quick means of commuting, they expend comparatively less energy and effort. Unless you have mobility issues that impede you from cycling, the bicycle is obviously the healthier mode of transport. It may make you sweaty getting to work, but the satisfaction and increased metabolism you get from the cycling trip will be worthwhile.
Moreover, if you do not wish to own a bike, you can make use of bike sharing mobile apps in Singapore. There are currently three of them - Mobike, ofo and oBike. Renting the bicycles is hassle-free; they can be parked and ridden from just about anywhere (HDB void decks and MRT stations are popular spots to find a bike considering the high levels of activity), making it much more convenient than the conventional bicycle rentals where you had to return them to a specific location.
Currently, it is not possible to cycle all the way to work as current road infrastructures do not support safe cycling. Usually, one would have to cycle to an MRT station and then take the train from there. But the government has been planning for more cycling towns and the implementation of cycling paths. It will not be too far off in the future when everyone will be able to cycle all the way to work or school.
Nevertheless, it would be imperative to don the appropriate safety gear and obey traffic rules. Otherwise, you risk shortening your lifespan rather than prolonging it!