What are the social costs of an environment that enforces auto dependence.
https://m.theatlanticcities.com/commu...-science/4624/

That is interesting... kind of. I have a friend who has Parkinson's and he claims his cycling keeps it somewhat in remission. I also notice that my son, who is schizophrenic, seemed more relaxed and at peace while he rode a bike.

Having said that, I suspect there are many cures and opportunities for remission. We just have to let them happen.

I've had a personal experience of the power of bikes to get wounded people moving again, even when they can barely walk. After a car accident, my son was in a coma for several weeks, then had a difficult and lengthy recovery. His walking gait was excruciatingly slow and unsteady, even with a walker. But he was able to ride his bike at good speed and with confidence. I know that riding gave him the exercise and self confidence he needed in order to recover.

The video referenced in the article is really something... and like they say, there really needs to be more research in this area. I've certainly noticed that cycling is a huge factor in "keeping my mind right," instead of feeling like I'm trapped in the bottom of dark gloomy pit like I used to all the time, which is a big part of why I'm happy to remain car-free, even though living that way in a suburban town like mine comes with its disadvantages.

Tonight I went to the grocery store, but coming out discovered that I had mis-timed my return home and that it was raining heavily.

So I hung out in front of the store waiting for the storm to pass. A very heavy man noticed my Specialized Hard Rock utility bike and started asking me a lot of questions about it. He told me that he works at the VA, doing PTSD counseling for Iraq/Afghanistan vets and suicide prevention. I got the feeling that he was eating the stress of his job. He told me about the bikes that he had as a kid.

So we talked a bit more about bikes. I let him know that the LBS across the parking lot could let him know what size bike he needed. I also told him about the Clydesdale forum, and how there were guys there as big as he was who rode bikes and understood the issues. His wife had joined us by then, and she also asked me to repeat the URL for it. You could tell he was going to get a strong push from her.

As the rain diminished I took off for home. The skies were clear in the direction I was going and the sunset was amazing.

I note that they didn't actually mention anything specific to cycling that other forms of exercise do not also provide. Not that I don't think cycling is beneficial, but this article makes a very broad topic sound very narrow. There is quite a bit of research out there on the effects of exercise... all of which can apply to biking.

Interesting article, Thanks for the link.

I think my passion for bicycle riding is strong, partly because of its effects on my brain....it calms me down and allows me to focus.

My favourite paragraph in the article is this:

What effect has our dependence on the automobile had on our collective mental health? What role does passive transportation play in mood and attention disorders, especially for children? What therapeutic effects could a shift to more active transportation modes have for people who suffer from these disorders? What are the social costs of an environment that enforces auto dependence? Does cycling have special benefits that other exercise modes don’t?

You might have missed this highlighted section of the article:

or this part, also highlighted:

My ride to work prepares me for "battle". My ride home flushes the workday carnage out of my mind. There is a lot of very new brain research that is beginning to explain why this happens. Therapists can teach it to their clients - substituting a pleasant thought for an unpleasant one that is tumbling and tumbling in their head. Obviously, there is a lot more to it than just that. A good start is the book "Train Your Mind, Change Your Brain" and also "Buddha's Brain: The Practical Neuroscience of Happiness, Love, and Wisdom"

The ability we now have to actually "look" into a working brain has yielded phenomenal results. We don't have to dedicate our lives to the monk's lifestyle to change our brain STRUCTURE for the better. I am sure in time someone will discover why cycling is so "magical" for many people.

I have a relative with some form of narcolepsy. She can fall asleep while chewing food. But she can cycle with me 50 miles and never fall asleep on the bike. Take a ten minute snack break and I am not surprised to see her nod off. Studies do need to be done.

Seems like it is the cerebellum in the basement of the brain that controls balance. Maybe when all the action is down there, the rest of the brain is on high alert.

I kind of don't believe that however. My mind can wander all over the place when I'm riding down a quiet trail.