Thanks to the County of Arlington Commuter Services for a timely suggestion for my New Years Resolution. Their website gives excellent long and short term encouragement to keep fit, save money and reduce your carbon footprint. Short term it provides a free book and a T shirt,(sorry only if you apply in person at their transit offices). Long term benefits are trackable with the website and a blog gives support for anyone who wobbles.
One member of the Arlington group, Peter Beers, wrote in to say that since he's started cycling to work he found he was more productive and happier. He has estimated that he's saved driving 10,000 miles last year and has lost 50lbs in weight.
Here's a picture of Mr Falls on his bike. Notice the excellent cycle lanes that they have on their freeways.
Since the programme started in Arlington, almost 7,000 people have registered and 126,000 brochures, maps and schedules have been given out. The authority has extended their message by signing up partners - employers and other companies - between them they have organised 183 events.
For those of us who live in Europe I've taken the data from this site to make a really simple ready reckoner which you can use yourself. Try it and see - and do tell me if it works for you. All you need to do is make a simple pledge on one or two of your regular journeys. Regular journeys are important because they will mass-up to a lot of miles and thus a lot of calories over time. I suggest that if you don't happen to live in the County of Arlington that you get a buddie to work with you, so that you can take advantage of that all important support. I've enrolled Mr Coffeeinthesquare to be my buddy. We are both going to record out progress.
Happy New Year everyone and good luck!
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UPDATE
Just collected the morning bread and clocked up my first mile of extra cycling. That's 42 calories! This could really work. Cycling on central London's empty streets first thing on a Sunday morning is a pleasure.
Posted by: Wendy Shillam | January 01, 2012 at 09:35 AM