Tuesday, January 13, 2009

Bicycle commuting

Bicycle commuting is the act of commuting to a place of work or education by bicycle, a common form of utility cycling. Bicycling is the dominant mode of commuting in countries such as India and China and is also common in many European countries (though rare in most parts of the United States).

In the West it is common to combine bicycle commuting with public transport (also known as mixed-mode commuting). Folding bicycles are used if space, fees or restrictions interfere with taking full size bicycles along. Another alternative is to have a bicycle parked at a station.

Worldwide the bicycle is probably the most common commuter vehicle, and the second most common form of commuting after walking. While the absolute number of bicycles in existence globally may not be known, it is clear that significantly more (about twice as many) bicycles are produced than automobiles.

While different hardware serves different users in different countries, the following features are useful to many: a rear rack or panier, lights (preferably driven by an axle dynamo), disk brakes, fenders (also called mudguards), a chain guard, Hub gears, and an upright sitting position.



http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bicycle_commuting

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