Spokes UP! Bicycle Commuting | Sanelma Heinonen | TEDxYouth@AnnArbor

Riding bicycles is not only healthy for the mind and the body; it's healthy for our planet. This talk discusses the benefits of transportation by bicycle.
Sanelma Heinonen is a senior at Pioneer High School where she runs cross country and plays in the orchestra. Sanelma also loves competing in triathlons and spending time outdoors. Her family lived without a car for the first thirteen years of her life during which Sanelma learned the value and joy of commuting by bike. She is excited to share this passion in the hope of inspiring others to help their health and the beautiful planet.
This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organized by a local community. Learn more at ted.com/tedx

[@Stepjer75]

As one cyclist to another, what a wonderful speech... Thank you for sharing.

[@StephenNu9]

The physical benefits alone are worth biking. I'm 63 yet, as told by a physician, I have the cardiovascular system of someone in his 20s. My physique is limber and strong. Comparable people my age ( and younger) who don't exercise are almost painful to watch -- the quality of life issues alone seal the deal.

[@RikuLeppanen]

Very inspirational talk. Here in Germany biking is growing annually at a very high pace. Biking is the future!

[@topofthegreen]

I gave up a car and bike ride to my amazon warehouse job at age 59, im in awesome health, the bicycle saved my life.

[@patr10t762]

A bicycle is the ultimate sovereign transportation system. No taxes, no asking the government for permission, no insurance. A cyclist doesn't need to possess a license or ID while traveling in most jurisdictions. Talk about freedom from tyranny!

[@ccqwert1]

I like your name. ;) I don't think that your troll is suitable here though. (In case of you not being a troll; Car fatalities > Bike fatalities)

[@cyclingdiabetic9573]

Cycling is still the most dangerous physical sport you can engage in, especially on the racing side.

[@tomolas1]

Nope.. it's still the cars that make is dangerous. Cycling itself is super safe. The missing infrastructure makes it dangerous.

[@cyclingdiabetic9573]

While you are right that cars make it a danger, falling from a bike can always lead to injury. Dogs running into your path can cause you a broken neck. There is just no end to the possible injuries, really. If you are cycling alone then the problems can be compounded. So, cars are not the only problem.

[@RoerDaniel]

those MotaFukars where chasing me for a whole week ticketing me for failing to yield in a green light (red for pedestrians) riding with headphones (cars have sound shielding) riding on sidewalk! my bad!! the road was close due to a sewage work!! failing to stop to a police car (non marked Nissan Altima) there is a lot of people riding in that street because you will need to take 2 buses for a 1 mile trip so is faster to ride.... we where easy targets

[@robertcook2680]

I started biking again a couple of months ago after not having been on a bike in 35 years. My girlfriend said we should start biking to work, about 6.5 miles each way, (she works a few blocks south of me), so we got two bikes. We don't ride every day, as sometimes weather or other matters prevent us from doing so, but we do bike it several days a week. It is really empowering to be able to get yourself from one place to another under your own power!

[@enosunim]

Riding in bad weather is much more interesting, than in normal conditions. At first people will laugh at you. But after 10-th time they start to fear you )) And each time you feel more powerful. Civilization made people weaker, they start to afraid simple things like water. They start afraid to wet their noses )) When you ride a bike on everyday basis the illness will avoid you. 'Cause your health will be stronger, and also 'cause you will not use social transportation where ill people are at most. I live in Russia, and ride every day in any weather, cold or hot, wet or dry. I am just too lazy to go on foot. ))

[@Zaloomination]

Totally agree, plus we always get the best "parking spot" - right outside the door!

[@kolloduke3341]

There are multiple choices in all weather gear to allow you to ride in almost all conditions .lol

[@jasonramsey9770]

Seeing a young person outside biking like you makes me happy. Good job!!!

[@jerroldwilliams1034]

I started commuting by bike about a year ago. I've always loved riding but when I became "an adult", I didn't think it was cool and drove a car everywhere, I then got a motorcycle. After having a motorcycle accident , I eventually got back on my pedal bike as a primary source of transport. At first, I was embarrassed to be an older guy on a bike and would park where people couldn't see me. Now, I park anywhere, I walk with my bike helmet and I'm proud to be a bike rider. Lol, I'm 45 and lost about 35 lbs so far so I look better than most my age from the exercise. I wished I never stopped riding all those years trying to look cool. I try to convince others.....they are stuck in the "comforts" of always driving a car......their bellies get bigger yearly too😂

[@pappy9473]

Jerrold Williams shame you were so concerned about other's views of you. Glad to hear that's over. Oh . Helmets are for mountaineering, snowboarding and CAR RACING and other such high risk activities. Cyclists wearing helmets gives the perception that riding a bicycle is dangerous. It is not. Hence the expression '.... it's just like riding a bicycle ....' . If governments spent 25% of transport budgets on well designed (not engineered) cycling and pedestrian infrastructure urban and rural living would be transformed and safer. Regards Dónal

[@morosis82]

Donal Mahon, as always, it depends. I ride my bike in traffic at up to 40mph, I'm not doing that without a helmet. If you ride around at ~15mph, sure go ahead. You can still hurt yourself, but it's less risky.

[@blizzbee]

You’re doing the right thing.

[@Zaloomination]

@@morosis82 40 mph?? Good for you! I top around a measly 25

[@morosis82]

@@Zaloomination I can do about 35 fairly readily for short sprints on a smooth flat road, but 40 is not all that difficult with a nice gradual descent - there's one on the way to work that fits the bill when I'm up to it and traffic isn't too crazy. I'm a big guy with big legs, so flat and down is good for me... lets not talk about hills :P I love the looks sometimes when I'm passing cars in traffic at fairly high speed, a couple kids the other day were gawping out their window at me but I had to slow down as the lane I was in was ending and I didn't have enough time to get around the car. Gave them a wave, they smiled big time :) Never tried an all out sprint, though I doubt I'd get much past 40 as I'm not great at high cadence.

[@DutchKid121]

In the Netherlands,everyone bikes. It's amazing how exhilarating a bike ride can be. Going downhill with wind blowing through your hair, swallowing gasps of fresh air. It never gets old, everyone should try it once.

[@kevinlove4356]

Where in The Netherlands is "downhill"?

[@namefinder]

"downhill" is what they call when going down from the bridge you just cycled over ;-)

[@TheAegisClaw]

Dutch Downhill is a tailwind.

[@seeker119]

Yeah I lived in NL for almost 9 years, bike to me was everything everything, I bike ever.y where to work and grocery shopping and leisure and visiting friends, , bike was part of me

[@jacc88888]

Is that downhill with “Dutch Hills”? i.e. with a strong wind behind you on the flat? Seriously, wish UK had more cycle lanes like the Netherlands.

[@Patrick94GSR]

Nice talk! I started cycling again in 2012 at the age of 32. I can remember riding bikes all over in the 80's and 90's, but like so many kids I put away the bike at age 16. I'm so glad I found it again. My commute to work is 31 miles round trip so I only do it twice a week. But that's 62 miles and 5 hours of physical activity per week that I wouldn't get otherwise.

[@cook7772]

Does KZbin just send to all videos you watch?? :) Why not slowly increase your days you bike to work?

[@Patrick94GSR]

I need to drive to work Mondays and Fridays to take stuff to and from the office. And I wouldn't be able to handle 3 days in a row of riding. At one time I did 3 days a week M/Tu/Th, but then my Monday morning schedule changed and it's not really feasible anymore. Plus there's the time commitment, more time away from my family.

[@JohnSmith-oe9nh]

Patrick94GSR a

[@Patrick94GSR]

Actually now that I have my e-bike I do ride to work at least 3 days a week. I usually ride my road bike one day, and my e-bike 2 days a week. I've been trying for 2 and 2 but I'm still just tired after riding 3 days a week.

[@tarico4436]

A very similar story over here, back in the late 90s early Aughts. 17.5 miles each way. Twice a week commute, weather permitting. If rainy all week, then I'd do a fun ride on the weekend, like 20 miles. Time consuming, yes, but so's the gym.

[@clivecaldeira2656]

way to go Sanelma good for you i also bike to work in India - 27 miles a day lost 20 kilos in a year and i am not going to stop ever

[@401SNelson]

I commute nearly every day, over 100 miles a week.

[@lloid6619]

Scott Nelson Same here and I'm in my mid fifties, feeling all the better for it.

[@RishabhGKoenigseggRegera]

Get a motorcycle?

[@henkoosterink8744]

Rishabh G Get a bicycle.

[@gautthammohan]

Scott Nelson I do 45miles a day ;)

[@morosis82]

Yep, about the same. Can do much more than that when I'm training. Rishabh G, how would a motorcycle help? It's a bit faster, but otherwise has all the safety downsides of a bicycle.

[@victorsantana162]

I'm 63 and love mountain biking. The more you ride the better you feel and your body keeps demanding more activity. I admire this young woman's vision of what we all can do to stay in shape and help the environment.

[@Zaloomination]

Thank you for this video - this is just the kind of encouragement I wanted to hear, especially about the mental health benefits. Im a nursing student, I work in an ED, and have been struggling with anxiety, and felt that biking the 40 minutes to work would help. This is my first week, but good talks like this get me pumped to keep it up!

[@pibk7932]

Couldn't agree with you more Sanelma. Nice speech. I'm a cyclist and I also have a car and oh yes! sometimes I go completely nuts in order to find a spot to park the car. Riding a bike is the best. keep up the good work! Greetings from Buenos Aires, Argentina.

[@NuckinFuts80]

I'm a daily commuter also , no car and ride 10+ miles a day , biking is way more enjoyable than driving and more affordable than a car and healthier 👍✌

[@stephendenison6984]

Trey Peeples I

[@velobey7832]

Very valuable speech to hear. Bicycle is needed for every country to rise up awareness in people overall.

[@justinmiller7422]

I like this person. More people should be like her

[@WildOutdoorLiving]

We ride our bikes every where and it adds so much to our lives. You make me feel a bit old though, I was already riding 5-10 miles a day by the time you were born.

[@bene8168]

hey! I also bike to school all the time, despite the weather or condition, really helped me with being healthy, I started just middle of last year, and my bike commute to school is what I look forward to most everyday, I'm glad to know that I'm not the only one in my school that bikes (one of my close friends also cycle to school!) despite that, it's only 10-25 students over the massive thousands of students in my school, I hope people will start to bike more to commute, just like you, me, and all the cyclists out there, it's not impossible, I mean, look at Amsterdam, I highly support cycle commutes, it's healthier, and makes you happy :)

[@DerickLawson]

They'll all regret it when she's still gorgeous 10 years later and they're all dealing with diabetes

[@HomersIlliad]

Update: "Do you have *D I A B E T U S* ? Then buy your testing supplies today!"

[@mwbpo1]

Love it. I wish more people here in the UK would watch this.

[@lennyharp]

I used to commute and race and have more than 100,000 miles by age 45. The next 20 years I rode much less and gained weight. Now at 66 I have had a stroke and had no explanation except weight and sub par health, I had quit because of work and persistent back pain. I gained enough weight that I was embarrassed, because I new better. I got to 275 lbs and then I lost 40 lbs between age 60 and 65. I still had a stroke and may die from one, but not without working at my health again. I ride 40 to 90 miles a week which gets me loosing weight, again now about 220 lbs. I also need to strengthen core as back issues are constant. I use yoga and gym membership as a solution. I am a lifetime advocate of commuting and healthy living. Do your best and educate yourself.

[@brucewmclaughlin9072]

Lennyharp You might have a look at recumbent bikes vs what almost everyone else rides . You may find that you will be far more comfortable and do far better distance because of that comfort level. If you have to lift your head up at all as you cycle now, you will not have to do that on a recumbent. Less strain on body parts , better visibility , and smiling becomes the norm. Yup you still get tired muscles , you just can't get around that but you will have sore nothings!

[@mochammadhusnirizal235]

Great job Sanelma ! To be able to share an important idea in a young age, I find it amazing ! I am just 25 and the only thing I remember, when I was I child, is that I used to bike several blocks after schooltime. Just to feel the fresh air in the afternoon. Since I knew how to ride motorbike, I had been riding on it practically everywhere, everytime, regardless of the distance. Today, it has only been 3 weeks since I bought my new bike, and I love each moment when I am riding it ! I am not looking back, I will bike everywhere I want to go now !

[@Larstig81]

I like cars and I own a small car, but I use the bicycle every day. I start learning biking when I was three years old I think, like almost everyone in my country, The Netherlands. It is the best way to stay healthy and to clear your mind after work or school.

[@meibing4912]

Best reason to bike is that its simply great fun. Its not a morale crusade. People who bike to work/school are simply happier!

[@effyleven]

This was a good talk, crisply and clearly delivered. It deserved considerable applause, but there was none.

[@kenkrausse3624]

Ive traveled for 38 years now and i have rode my bike in allmost every state keep on biking

[@TheFedericohiguain2]

I cycle and run as well, I haven’t had a health problem in years, my doctor tells me he got people of my age(26) who don’t exercise at all and sometimes smoke coming to his office like once a week for different issues. I only go to the doctor once a year as recommended and haven’t had any surprise. Cycling and running give me freedom and helps me think through problems.

[@ChrisRedfield--]

Come to the Netherlands and be amazed every one on bicycles.

[@villeikonen6221]

Hyvä Sanelma! Niin siistii nähdä suomalainen TEDittelijä ja vielä niin mainio aihekin vielä. Kiitos.

[@davidzeledon61]

I truly love my mountain bike, fresh air, beautiful colors and knowing that I'm the engine powering my bike, it's pretty cool.

[@edgardocordova324]

Please continue with this movement … Its also about freedom

[@christosandreev6392]

Sold my car 5 months ago to just commute on a bicycle. Never look back!

[@002device]

Cycling = happiness, mental stability, social freedom and fitness. Is it strange that I feel something is missing when I can't go out on my bike?

[@Cappy609]

We need more like her.

[@paxvid]

I endorse this Sanelma's message ❣️

[@saxmandave1]

I agree that we would all be a lot better off if we all got on our bikes and gave the old car a break. I went for a 25 miler today with a friend and I feel so invigorated and joy filled. Thanks for the great video.

[@dncsmedia]

Thank you so much! I loved your talk. Raise your brake levers up a bit, will make braking much more comfortable on your hands. 🚲🚲🙌🏼🤙🏼✌🏼❤️

[@davidlamse]

Nice job, Sanelma! Bravo and congratulations!

[@sanelmaheinonen2842]

Thanks David! Great to hear from you

[@DanPLC]

Great talk! This is exactly how I feel about biking.

[@super-sim1665]

We have to stop paying for oil and kick cars out of city's

[@spanykreil6]

In South Africa , bicycle commuting is very popular , particularly the coastal cities . Such as Cape Town, Durban and East London. The main reason is that the weather is always very nice in the coast cities in South Africa. This is one of the most popular sport in my country.

[@smahane5664]

I hope there is more bike lanes in future so people can feel more confortable riding in the street.

[@Patrick94GSR]

I hope for more education to teach cyclists and motorists alike that roads are for people, not just cars. Bike lanes give motorists more ammo for harassing cyclists to "get out of my way" or "get off my road" or whatever. Not to mention how it makes cyclists less relevant and more likely to get hit by an inattentive motorist.

[@STEALTH1USA]

90's baby here as well! God I want a girl that cycles 😍 Cycling is truly life-changing, since buying my first bicycle since my early years, I've cleaned my diet and lost 56 pounds. Haven't felt better in all my life. My hope is that more US cities improve biking infrastructure.

[@DavidEdge-ch3bc]

One word, RESPECT...

[@DavidEdge-ch3bc]

8yrs later, has anything changed for you?

[@jambojambo313]

You do feel happier thats for sure.

[@declanfaughey8471]

I cycle everyday ( around 180km pre week) and my bicycle is the only transport I have and need, my bicycle means I can afford to live in a nice apartment. Not to mention that cycling is the fastest way to get around Dublin City. Time to work on the bike 20 minutes, time to work by car 50 minutes.

[@disgruntledtoons]

TED: Please take this down and re-post it with the sound levels where they belong. It's barely audible without turning everything all the way up.

[@officialclownbusiness7788]

you mentioned the cost savings. I love custom cars, but I'll probably never have enough money. however, I can build a sweet custom bike out of the garbage, usually at close to zero cost, and proceed to feel like captain awesome cruising around on something unique.

[@WildOutdoorLiving]

No kidding! When people complain about higher dollar bikes I always say, "do you want a really cheap car or one of the nicest bikes on earth?" When an equally cool car can cost over$200,000 almost any bicycle is a bargain.

[@christopherderrah3294]

As a cyclist in Seattle, I fully agree with everything she said.

[@beichenxu5214]

My home stay lives in the north shore, and there is a bridge between north shore and CBD. However, the bicycle are not allowed on the highway, and if you want to ride a bike to school, you can ride very far and very unsafe.

[@GerHanssen]

What you really need is a bike light to turn green. Have a look at how traffic is organised in the Netherlands, Denmark or Germany and you will realise that not only brave girls like you should feel safe enough in traffic, but anyone. I mean anyone, like old ladies and gents or even the disabled in a wheelchair. Could you imagine?

[@pappy9473]

Well done nice talk. But i cycle to work and almost everywhere else in Dublin, Ireland because it makes sense. It's the quickest most reliable way of travelling.

[@IELTSteve]

Great point Patr.... my students completely agree with you.

[@lromeroyt]

You are A W E S O M E...!!!! very inspiring!

[@meibing4912]

Best of all: cycling is plain fun - and people who bike are happier (fact).

[@Fetucinee]

Here's why entrenched interests are not actively forwarding a bicycle-centric agenda: it's next to impossible for big business to profit from such an initiative. All those points Sanelma Heinonen discusses are facts everyone's heard before: bikes are liberating, empowering; they're cheap and clean; they're healthy, fun and efficient (of energy and space req'd) -- in many ways they're the ideal urban vehicle. They're also notoriously difficult to make a buck off and that's a major obstacle for them becoming the American way. Which seems to relish more profit through ill-health and a transportation culture that elevates an incredibly expensive and, for big business, lucrative vehicle, i.e., the private automobile, to the pinnacle of its priorities.

[@misterfunnybones]

I'm not sure that's true: I can buy a Honda 500 with an engine, electronics, hydraulics, & suspension for $7000, or a Trek Madone 9.9 for $17,000...who's making the profit here? It's an extreme example, but the trophy bike is a thing now.

[@Fetucinee]

By the nature of your analogy I'm not sure you take my point. What I'm referring to extends much beyond the price and profit of the product itself: the automotive industry buttresses the hydrocarbon industry, the insurance industry and a host of ancillary spinoffs from lube shops to fast food joints, etc. Indeed, if you live in a post World War II suburb, odds are your lifestyle and the very structure of your community is based around the access and amenity afforded by automobility. This is an industry that's largely responsible for the creation of the middle class and the nature of our built habitats and it's hard to overstate how vested we are in the arrangement. This fact makes my point succinctly: "Yearly [Canadian] ownership costs for an average compact car are about $9,500, while the average Canadian spends $5,400 on groceries a year (figure provided by Statistics Canada)."

[@morosis82]

misterfunnybones, comparing an average, utility motorcycle with a 'trophy bike' is disingenuous at best. Of course you can pay more for a pushy than a motorcycle, but it will be a top end pushy compared to a utility motorcycle. It's also aimed at a totally different market in their respective demographics - ie. service different purposes. I wouldn't drag my kids around on a Trek Madone 9.9, I'd use a cheaper utility bike, the equivalent of your $7k motorcycle, which would cost me probably under $1k for a nice example.

[@disgruntledtoons]

If they're not profiting, then we're pocketing more money. We're going to spend that money somewhere. Someone will profit off of whatever that is. The reason we don't have a bike-centric agenda is because the lack of one hasn't caused anyone to lose an election.

[@nassersaeed2453]

Hi Sanelma I agree with your point but in my country UAE people no cycling because people prefer to use their own cars because in my country the weather too hot.

[@davideldred.campingwilder6481]

I am a delivery 'boy' on a bike from the UK working in Lithuania. I deliver fast food to all sorts including people in lockdown. Fit as a fiddle, I'm earning more this year delivering than I did last year teaching. Teaching is a profession, beaten by a simple delivery job. I'm astounded by that. And I just work three hrs a day (These hrs I choose) And I ain't got a boss...

[@bikelanez7376]

She’s awesome!!!👍👍👍👍

[@a.r.profile273]

i love bicycling

[@CopperCityPatriot]

Great speech! I been a hermit cyclist for over twenty years. 365 days a year. With over 200k miles on my pedals. Why do I do it? Mainly it is cost. Cost of a car. The fuel. Maintenance. Insurance. Saves me quite a-lot. I also get to eat whatever I want. However much I want. Cycling keeps your brain very fit & active. The best is when I see gridlock traffic, and I can confidently pedal by them in the bike lanes and trails. And you notice so much more when pedaling, that you miss when zooming by in a car. It is my peace-of-mind. My Zen. My drug. I need it everyday. No matter the weather. And if I need to take a pane...yip. My two trusty mountain bikes travel with me. No need for a car rental or taxi. My goal? To circumnavigate every nation (even North Korea), by pedal'n.

[@shriaingnama]

if you go to North Korea, they might make you into sausage

[@freddixon]

Cool, thank you. I did not buy a car until I was my 30s' and only because I moved from L.A. to Denver (snow) but then I found that I like to bicycle in the snow too, lol. Thanks for sharing!!

[@hellosunshine1090]

Great talk by a lovely young lady ! We have 3 cars out front but 9 bikes in our garage. My wife & our children ride every week or multiple times per week, many thousands of miles per year. We do it for fun, for health, to enjoy the wonders of Gods Creation, much more real on a bike ! I try to schedule a 'bike event' each year, a Tour, T-Shirt ride or Race (see me at the back of the Peloton !) to keep things fun ! And we do all that in a rural area & near a city with little or no 'biking infrastructure' - we wear helmets, flashing lights & interact respectfully & carefully with motorists. We've reaped many health benefits- no doctors visits just 1 hand sprain from, you guessed it, falling while riding ! So that's our story I appreciate hearing hers. What's your 'cycling' story ? David in Texas

[@TheOfficialDJAVI]

Great talk Salenma, I wish I could ride to school but it is very unsafe to do so where I live! :(

[@itssinkingin]

Great story. Ride on and ride safe.

[@lennyappleton2840]

Dude, I run track for my high school and maaaaannnnnn I’m on par with the folks who do NOTHING BUT RUN for hours a day. I’m a district champion for the 200m and 200m relay. Biking is just too cool, and way more fun than running.

[@MrMezmerized]

Biking is fine, but a true sprinter shouldn't do real endurance cycling. It makes you slower and once you lose top speed, there is no getting it back. Take it from an ex pro high hurdler turned coach.

[@camperhonsa8633]

I couldn't imagine a single situation you described in the beginning, might be because I'm 15 and bike every day, I dunno...

[@chainsherlock6268]

We like this.

[@IELTSteve]

Although you make some really impressive points Sanelma, in some countries the traffic itself is the problem of cycle commuting. For example, in Auckland cars and buses drive very close to cyclists and serious accidents have happened. There are cycle lanes but only in some places and not on the narrow roads where they are really needed, which obviously compounds the problem.

[@abdulazizal-jassasi7657]

IELTSTEVE I absolutely agree with you, In addition, in Oman we are suffering from hot weather and High temperatures ,so it might be difficult to as to use bicycles.

[@jackyngai4827]

IELTSTEVE absolutely I'm agree your opinion. In Hong Kong there are not enough space to develop cycle commuting

[@rachelxu7081]

IELTSTEVE Absolutely,I agree with your ideas .In my country,China, traffic routes are particularly complex, many cyclists are not very safe, often have a lot of traffic accidents.

[@victorialo9080]

IELTSTEVE i agree with you,not every country can allow every people cycle . For example in Hong Kong, people will not have time to cycle back to work or to home because people have to rush back to their office or home and don't have extra time to cycle.

[@vathasinhsayavong5369]

I agree with you IELTSTVEVE, in mu country the traffic and the behavior of people is very bad , you might get accident or crash easily.

[@FrettieFingers]

You are smart. Thank you.

[@rbruce63]

Outstanding!

[@notanomad9320]

Cars are necessary bad but not enough people ride bikes for transportation. I use my car to drive 9 miles, park in a nice parking lot and then ride the remains 9 miles into work. Part of the problem now is kids in the inner city are put on buses and transported to a public school miles and miles out of their neighborhood, very few of them walk or ride a bike in my city. We sent our kids to a private school where they could walk just like I did when I was young.

[@twiston43]

I don't know why, but to me, people who workout outside look much healthier than the ones who go to the gym. Oh yeah, and way too many cars in the city.

[@D0olzBeatz]

twiston43 I honestly can't stand working out facing 4walls. Gotta be outside either cycling or at the park on the monkey bars.

[@raymondpeter4827]

I like bicycle and this girl is Wow!

[@stevechance150]

Her hair is like spun gold! Luminous, shiny, beautiful!

[@Howbee]

Hyvä esittely!

[@tesstikles3225]

Well when you go shopping for groceries or go buy furniture it's pretty difficult to carry all that on panniers and climb hills that are 30%- 40% gradient in San Francisco California, I'm always in pain and not smiling. That's were my Ford F-250 comes into play, then I'm happy and get it done much faster 😁

[@saileshbabut9696]

its really inspiring

[@mylaidbacklife]

I used to live inn army cantonments and every single day for 10 years i biked to school!

[@koraybiber652]

excelent speech

[@pjotter07]

Why not try a cycling holiday in the Netherlands, Belgium or Denmark after your studies Sanelma? I'm sure you'd love it. Being Dutch I should promote the Netherlands, but there are more countries now with excellent bicycle infrastructures as a simple search on youtube will show you.

[@johnmausteller]

Cannot ride a bike , and be depressed , simultaneously 💙

[@domsau2]

Sound is too low!

[@atvoriginals]

*I cycle and it feels great!* 🚵

[@changwkb]

The idea benefits environment apparently. However the place I live, Hong Kong, where is a tiny city with high population, moreover the pavements are not designed for riding bicycles.

[@boyd-versegames6097]

there should be bike lanes in every city and neighborhoods that way its safer for riders and more people will want to ride.

[@paulsingh9043]

Recently fell back in love with cycling after a mad love affair with v8’s!, I now cycle 25/30kdaily, have lost 15.5 kilo in weight and have got the wife doing it as well!....I get a real Adrenalin kick out of it!

[@po-ichen6448]

There are several benefits for cycling , but in Taiwan people who ride a bike fight over the road using rights , the drivers and bikers have lots of traffic accident and dispute , probably we can ride a bike to school or work easily

[@ormsk954]

Humanities best ever invention.

[@adhikkaputrasagala]

looking good and comfortable outifts, salute!

[@parshvajhaveri1920]

I love biking and I support it but I want to share something that stops many people in Mumbai from using bicycles as a means of daily transportation: the extremely hot and humid weather which makes you sweat so much that by the time you reach the office/ school, you'll have to change. Anybody here has a solution to this annoying problem ?

[@1966johnnywayne]

A bicycle culture where showers at the office building is a prerequisite for a building permit.

[@therealdutchidiot]

Do tell, how do you get to claim a bicycle is great for transporation when you ride in on one that's anything BUT that? Just asking.

[@RussellCambell]

I think she had very cool parents

[@joel-gb2xx]

How can anyone NOT LIKE bicycle riding? No gasoline to buy no insurance /no license needed and no car payments. You need to only pay to get a bicycle only once and no more recurring payments unlike car that you’ll need to keep on dumping money by gas insurance tuneups and maintenance. I also read somewhere that the bicycle is the most efficient machine ever invented/made by man so much so that in order for any car to be as effective as bicycles? A car should travel 1,600 MPG in order to compare itself to a bicycle.

[@peizhiyang2584]

The points are wonderful however if some people’s home are far away from where they work, cycling to work or school is very impractical.

[@marcbeaupre7668]

I do not understand this, I sold my house and moved closer to work and bought another house.

[@marcbeaupre7668]

Moving was cheaper than buying car to go to work. I bike to work every day that I can.

[@min-yishen9324]

In California, theoretically bikes require registration with DMV. The beautiful part of the bike license plate is that it makes cops easier to give you a ticket. Also there are bike haters all over.

[@shannonburke275]

biking in a rural area where it will take you over an hour to get to and from the grocery store is just not feasible to many of us. LOL this girl is nuts! Sorry, I don't want my perishable foods to spoil on my trip home from the grocery store as I ride my bike on roads that are far too dangerous to ride on where cars tend to speed between 60 - 80 mph.

[@IELTSteve]

Please all my awesome students in Class "A", what might be some problems about cycling to school or work?

[@noshaaljhani9100]

IELTSTEVE Yes Sanelma you have a good points about cycling to school. However, it’s unrealistic to cycle in my country [Saudi Arabia] because the weather is extremely hot.

[@zhengzhang5825]

IELTSTEVE some accidents such as traffic accident and bicycle damaged.

[@fionayu3895]

IELTSTEVE In my country, bicycles are very popular.We have sharing bicycles on the road , but this kind of bicycles are too much and people stop at the roadside,. It affects image of the city.

[@xiaoqilin8473]

IELTSTEVE Bikes are more dangerous in the road, because Bikers will get bigger hurt if they have accidents with cars.

[@martink.7268]

Xiaoqi LIN, By your logic you just said that cars are dangerous, because accidents happen almost exlusively with cars. Bikes are not dangerous. Do you feel like threatening someone's life when riding on a bike in the street? I don't think so. Cars are the problem. They are heavy (usually 1.2 to 1.8 ton), fast and they cannot stop in the instant like bikes averaging 15 km/h can. Well not in the instant, but it takes certainly less distance to stop a bike than a car. What I think is necessary to add when building a cyclist infrastructure, is the right cycling behaviour. That can be done in schools. School practice on how to ride a bike is very necessary. People often don't know how to brake effectively, where are the limits to adhesion on their tires. How to ride responsibly when going past the cars and so on. Cars are here to stay for some time. It's necessary to take precautions on how to get along with them safe. But overall, I don't know what's so great about having a car. It's expensive. In the times young people (myself included) are struggling to buy what they really need (a roof to sleep and live under, a thriving community, healthy food), we buy cars which further make us poorer and poorer. You have to fuel it, pay for the fuel. Insurance it and pay for it. Any random failure in tech is extremely costly compared to any bicycle part. They isolate people, cause 1.2 mil injuries or deaths every year. What's so great about a car? I mean yes, some of them look very attractive, but... you know, you're sitting behind the steering wheel so you don't see your car anyway.

[@johnthompson9602]

She is smart, cute and right.