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You likely already know that sitting in traffic an hour per day doesn’t earn you any environmental bonus points. Depending on how long your daily commute is and what kind of car you drive, a typical gas-powered passenger vehicle emits about 411 grams of CO2 per mile, which equals 4.7 metric tons of carbon dioxide per year. That’s equivalent to 5,142 pounds of coal burned and 529 gallons of gasoline per year.

To dwindle your commuter carbon footprint (and have fun while doing it), grab your helmet and try biking to work. According to Project Drawdown, an organization that finds solutions to reducing carbon emissions, upping global transportation by bicycle just 2 percent by the year 2050 could avoid 2.3 gigatons of carbon dioxide emissions—the same energy that could power 225 million homes in one year.

There are other positive effects of biking to work, too. A 2017 University of Glasgow study found that people who cycle rather than drive to work have a 46 percent lower risk of developing cardiovascular disease. Other research from Portland State University suggests that people who bike to work are happiest with their commutes; those who drive alone during commutes are least happy. If it seems intimidating to bike commute, keep in mind that it doesn’t have to be all or nothing. Try biking one day per week to your office, or if you live far away from work, bike rather than drive to public transportation. Carry natural body wipes in your bag to freshen up when you arrive at the office.

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