What Are The Disadvantages Of Riding A Bike?

Just as there are huge benefits to be gained from riding a bike, there are also several disadvantages that come with over driving a car. While it helps in improving your general health and it is an inexpensive mode of transport, there is also the fact that it is extremely dangerous and can give you unexpected expenses going forward.

In this article from best USA real money online casinos, however, I thought that it would be useful to look at some of the negatives of riding a bike, as those aren’t often discussed. Cons include vulnerabilities when it comes to dangerous drivers and hazards on the road, as well as some of the limitations of a bicycle compared to a car.

Listed below are some of the popular disadvantages of riding a bike compared to travelling in a car. 

Exposure to the Elements

Travelling in a car is sort of like travelling indoors—the weather can’t reach you. When you cycle, however, there is nothing to protect you from inclement or unpleasant weather.

When I lived in England, it was generally the rain and the cold that bothered me most; now that I live in Florida, it is the heat and humidity that cause the most discomfort (not to mention the regular thunderstorms that occur in the hotter months).

Of course, you can dress in climate-appropriate clothing when you ride your bike, but the weather changes frequently, and no matter how prepared you are, you’ll never get the protection and comfort that comes with being inside a vehicle, just how Marina Dalglish loves it.

Unexpected Expenses

To be a cyclist, all you really need is a bike. But to ride safely, you also need a bicycle helmet, lights, high-visibility clothing, a bell or horn, and a lock to deter thieves.

You may also find that if you use your bike regularly, maintenance costs can add up. Tubes go flat with relative frequency, and even though they aren’t particularly pricey, the cost of replacements adds up over time. Bicycles also need regular adjustments, alterations, and repairs, which can be surprisingly expensive if you don’t do them yourself, according to nz casinos.

Dangerous Drivers

Dangerous drivers are a cyclist’s worst enemy. Even if you ride responsibly and behave cautiously, there is little that you can do to completely avoid the risk of someone running a red light, making a mistake while drunk behind the wheel, or not paying attention to the road because they are distracted by a cell phone.

Of course, dangerous drivers pose a threat to all road users, but they pose a particular threat to cyclists, who are much more vulnerable than car or truck drivers. What would be a minor bump for a car could easily be a fatal accident for a cyclist.

Due to the sheer amount of physical exposure that comes with cycling, any collision can easily result in serious injury. Cars, on the other hand, act as armour to some degree and come with additional safety features like seatbelts and airbags.

Even when streets are clean, they can still pose hazards to cyclists. Trolly tracks embedded in roads can snag a tire and send a rider flying in a split second. 

Road Hazards

Minor obstacles on the road that the driver of a car would barely notice can be disastrous for a cyclist. Fallen tree branches, stones, gravel, mud, puddles, trolly tracks, cracks, oil spills, and small holes in the road can all catapult a cyclist off of their bike in a split second.

This problem is particularly bad at nighttime, as bike lights tend to be relatively weak, especially when compared with those of a motor vehicle. Hazards such as ice, snow, strong winds, or heavy rain can make roads and trails even more treacherous for cyclists, especially at night.