Who needs a car when you’ve got a bike? Gas prices are climbing and they’re expected to reach $5 per gallon or more. That’s just crazy. And I’m sure you’ve heard of another little thing that’s going around called global warming. What’s going on with our environment is just crazy too. So lock up your cars and do some stretches. You’re about to be schooled in how you can change your life by simply busting out your trusty bicycle.
You’ve most likely seen someone on campus biking or skateboarding around (heck, I live in the snowiest city of the US and I still see kids biking in blizzards). Maybe you’ve made fun of them for taking up the road or for having a goofy looking bike. Perhaps you’ve mocked their helmet hair or saw them get almost hit by a bus and had a mini heart attack—and don’t let this turn you off to bike riding; only the bikers not paying attention get in the way of a bus (crazies!). Laugh all you want because those foot pedalers are saving green in more ways than one.
Bike riding is good for you and the environment. You’ve likely heard all this before. Oh, I can build some muscles if I ride my bike for half an hour today. I won’t pollute the earth if I leave behind my car for this shopping trip. You think you can’t really make a difference. You think biking won’t really make a difference in your life. Err, wrong!
For starters, riding a bike can make a test day tolerable. By cycling to class on a fine morning, your stress will noticeably diminish. And if you keep this up every day for the week, your anxiety and any depression you feel will greatly reduce. It gives you time to take in nature—or, you know, all the buildings between your apartment and campus—clear your head, take in fresh air and relax. So, really, a bike ride is like taking a mini mental health day.
By riding your bike to class, you will actually make time to exercise. It can be hard to find time to go to the gym or sign up for a workout type elective. Between homework, internships or jobs, poor campus food and a lot of your day spent sitting behind a desk, those pounds will add on without you even noticing. Biking will give you a chance to tone up your legs, get in the cardio, increase your mobility, and just make you feel better about yourself.
If you’re concerned about leaving a carbon footprint, bike riding can haul that worry away. Not only will your car not be sputtering out harmful pollutants, you’ll also use less gas overall, which is a definite benefit with the world’s problems right now. With a four mile trip, you save us all 15 pounds of pollutants. Imagine if you and everyone you knew contributed to that! Also, instead of needing new roads and driving routes, you can take a scenic route and stick to the sidewalk, helping to save materials and keep nature as it should be—without a highway cutting through it. Plus, supplies for bikes don’t require the deforestation necessary for rubber plants and bio-fuels used in other transportation methods (aka the car).
Biking can also become a great way to meet new people and enhance existing relationships. Some people don’t like to drive to a store alone. So get them to bike with you instead. Believe it or not, just seeing you bike ride every day will inspire your neighbors and others to lower their environmental impact and work out on their way to work or school. You’ll be like a modern day gang…without the bandanas and violence.
And if that wasn’t enough to convince you, think of all the traffic you can avoid, alternate routes you can take, animals you can save (especially if you’re not a good driver), and the excuse to wear tight biking shorts without feeling like a total weirdo.
Oh, yeah, and it’s the third most popular activity in England, so if you want to pick up a cute Brit, biking could break the ice!
-ToonyToon
I’m reading A History of Western Art
This weekend, people across the country will be celebrating Memorial Day. Memorial Day is a U.S. holiday to honor members of our military community including veterans and those still serving. If you’re taking summer classes you will probably be off, with that in mind we thought we would provide you with a list of awesome things to do with this beautiful 3-day weekend.
- 1. Pool – Most pools around the country open on memorial day, so suit up and do some swimming. Don’t like swimming? Take a book and do some laying out. It’s going to be nice. Find your local pool at
- 2. Cycling/shopping – Great weather means great biking, but just think if you could do some shopping at the same time. Try building the hippest new thing in cycling, the Buggy-Bike, and your set.
- 3. Picnic/Grillin’ out – Have a nice picnic, go to your local park or anywhere you can think of and enjoy the day with some good eats. Most parks have charcoal grills built in near most shelters, don’t be afraid to use them but we would recommend covering them with some foil or at least a nice dousing of Purell. Find a nice park near you using
- 4. Music festival – Who doesn’t like some live music? Use FestivalFinder.com to find one in your area go jam. From
Sacramento Jazz Festival & Jubilee
- to
- in Chillicothe, Illinois to
- in Louisville, Kentucky there’s something for everyone.
- 5. Camping – Memorial Day weekend is one of the biggest camping weekends of the year. So go out and make some friends, hit the trail, have a good time. Nothing compares to being outdoors with amazing weather.
SeanJohn
I’m reading Management
How To be a CheapSkate
As I’ve finally reached my senior year in college I get a chance to look back at some of the extremes I have gone to save a little extra cash (anything helps!). I’ve always made any effort to save that seemed like a decent option. With that said I’ll let you in on a few tips for making it out of college with some cash.
Firstly, don’t eat out if you can avoid it, you can save tons by just going to the grocery store and you can create anything you want.
Buy or even rent your textbooks online at eCampus.com you can often save over 50% and you never have to wait in a line or even leave your couch.
Ride a bike, don’t get caught spending 200 dollars for a parking pass when you can ride, get exercise, and usually park right next to the door you’re entering.
Find the cheap or free entertainment options around your campus. Concerts, comedy shows, and free movies are often part of your campus’ activity schedule. Also rent movies if your trying to save its either $9 a person or $2.50(or FREE from your library!) for the movie, you decide.
Use Freeware instead of paying for software when available, programs suites such as OpenOffice (similar to MS Office) are compatible and work well. Downloading freeware can be dangerous though so research thoroughly before downloading.
The best tip I have to offer any college student trying to figure out money problems is to BUDGET. Set a plan and stick to it. Try something like Judy Lawrence’s The Budget Kit: The Common Cents Money Management Workbook. It will help you get your spending under control and create a budget, and trust me the sooner the better.
SeanJohn
I am reading Communicating at Work
