|
Greener homes are in the spotlight these days but as many people spend huge chunks of their time in offices, it makes sense to green these workplaces up as well. There are a number of easy changes which you can do to make your office a greener and healthier environment to work in. Often in a workplace situation there needs to be a person who is driving these simple changes, perhaps you could be that person... |
Green home » transport CyclingCycling is fun; it will save you money on fuel and its kind on the environment. Give up your expensive gym membership and take up cycling to work, in no time you will have ‘buns of steel’. To get started, buy a second hand bike or wait till your local bike shop has a sale. It’s not worth buying an expensive model if you find you don’t use it. Cycles for the serious is a bit like fashion, they desire the latest bells and whistles. This means that often modern, top of the range cycles, which are only a few years old, can be bought for a song. Making Sense of the terms Racing bikes/Road Bikes- These suit serious cyclists who want speed not strength. You can only ride on sealed roads or paths. They have seriously lightweight frames and skinny tyres. They get punctures easily. Touring Bikes- More robust than racing bikes. Make a good choice for commuting or recreational rides on standard road conditions. Mountain Bikes- Robust with wide knobbly tyres. They have ‘granny gears’ for riding uphill. Can be ridden off road on dirt and other unsealed tracks. Has more drag so you do need more energy to ride one. Hybrid Bikes- These bikes combine elements of touring and mountain bikes. They have fatter wheels than touring bikes. Often they have more gears and have straight handlebars. They are good for commuting and weekend riding with the family. They can go off-road comfortably. Trailer Bike- This is a one wheeled bike which is attached behind the seat of an adult bike. This bike allows a child to be pulled along by an adult. The child can pedal or sit back and enjoy the view! Electric Bikes- If you need to commute further than 10km each morning consider an electric bike. These are green and convenient! Powered by a nickel-hydride battery these bikes can travel about 25km without being charged. Top speed is 20-25 km/hr. These bikes are great when you need that extra help peddling up hills. Keeping Safe - Use bike paths or use quieter back roads to afford busy roads. - Always wear a helmet. - Wear reflective clothing. Use lights from dusk and during raining weather. - Watch out for people in parked cars opening doors in your path. - Buy a sturdy lock and use it. - Don’t ride two abreast on busy streets. - Learn how to change a punctured tyre. - Keep tyres pumped up to reduce drag and chance of punctures. |
|
