I was miserable.

I was travelling for three long hours on public transport to work each day. Seriously. Three. Hours.

Walking to the tram stop. Waiting for the tram. Getting off that tram. Waiting for the next tram. Then walking to work from the tram. That all adds up to 1.5 hours each way.

On the days I drove, it was three and a half.

When I wasn’t quietly sulking about the ever-increasing cost of bus tickets, I was taking deep breaths to quell the motion sickness I inevitably got.

I needed to make a change.

Enter: shiny red bike with a hipster-basket to boot.

I feel I need to mention now, the bike gets a bad rep. Many believe that riders are risk-taking criminals whose sole intention is to get in the way of drivers’ otherwise pleasant commute.

This is all kinds of wrong. There are 6 very good reasons why bike riding trumps both public transport and driving every single time.

1. I am getting free and practical exercise.

Dimity on her bike.

I used to go to a gym to ride on a bike to nowhere. They call this “spin-class”. I call it “try not to pass out from exhaustion and sweat class”.

Now by merely going to work, I am exercising. Two birds, please meet my stone: the bicycle.

2. I am saving money.

This is exactly how I feel about having more money.

No longer am I spending $36 a week on bus tickets like a sucker. Neither am I spending $30 a week on petrol like a fool. I’m even saving money on my car insurance, like a genius.

All this extra money is going into buying myself fancy jewellery and expensive clothes.

Or food. It’s going on food.

3. It is quicker than driving and/or public transport.

Face it. Crowded public transport is no fun for anyone.