As part of their English Language IGCSE, students explore a range of different writing styles and writing formats. Our students have recently been looking at how to write a persuasive magazine article, about a variety of issues. Take a read of these two contradictory pieces on cycling to help form your own opinion.
When in doubt, pedal it out!
Save the Earth, Save Ourselves
According to statistics, cycling has a wide range of benefits. Environmental benefits, when you cycle, you reduce the need for new parking lots and roadways, and you save valuable green space from development. Another benefit is no emitting of greenhouse gases! You reduce the air pollution everyday, so be aware of the environment and try including cycling in your everyday life!
Health is Wealth – Keep this treasure Safe
The next benefit, which should be your number one priority is your own health of course. Regular cycling stimulates and improves your heart, lungs and circulation, and reduces your risk of heart diseases. It strengthens your muscles, same as it burns calories so if you're looking for an efficient way of burning a few calories, don't wait and hop on your bike! On the side one more thing to mention, statistics are saying that cycling to work was associated with a 41% lower risk of dying overall compared to travelling by car. So next time you get into your car, maybe consider your decision!
Mental health is preserved wealth
By cycling you are not only improving your physical well being, but also your mental wellbeing! Your mental wellness plays an everyday role in our lives, and you should try to include everything that benefits it. There are so many ways in which cycling can boost your mood, there’s the basic release of adrenaline and endorphins, and the improved confidence that comes from achieving new things or goals you have set for yourself. You combine physical exercise with being outdoors and exploring new views of nature and get some vitamin D from the sun, what's more?!
A fact which is also considerable these days is the Pandemic. Socialising is not easy due to the restrictions and many people may have developed social anxiety. But cycling? It's the safest way of socialising, you can keep the distance of 6 feet between each other and you are in open spaces with fresh air. Get your small circle of friends and hop on your bikes, you won't regret it.
By Julie, Year 10
Roads are for Cars - Not Bikes
As cities develop, modes of transportation are becoming practically infinite. People have gained the option of driving cars, hopping on a bus or train, riding a motorcycle or a bike, even an electric scooter. With the pressure on natural resources and traffic on roads, some have decided to retreat to the more traditional transportation methods, one of them being cycling. Yet some cities do not have biking paths, meaning that many cyclists take over roads meant for cars placing themselves and other drivers into unnecessary danger.
Train tracks for trains, roads for cars
To start with, we have roads for cars, train tracks for trains, sidewalks for people, and biking paths for bikes. As you may have noticed, bikes were not made to be used on roads filled with cars. Roads are wide enough to fit cars, and enable them to reach high speeds relatively safely, however, when bikers decide to take over part of the road this can lead to serious danger to both the driver and the cyclist.
Too cool for safety
Often cyclists, especially teenagers don’t decide to wear a helmet. With a car driving at around 60km/h and a cyclist lacking proper equipment, or any bright colors and lights there is quite a high chance for a bike on the road getting hit by a car and severely damaged. Usually drivers of the cars are blamed for not paying enough attention despite it often being the fault of the cyclist who confidently bikes even on the center of the road. Their confidence, and their feeling of being the king of the road they are conquering a territory that belongs to cars and buses placing themselves and others at risk.
Use your own paths
Cyclists have their own paths, but they prefer taking shortcuts and squeezing themselves onto roads. In nearly every city there are several biking trails constructed, and governments should aim to construct more in the future. What many cyclists don’t consider is they could construct a journey solely out of cycling tracks. Most, however, find roads more convenient as they would arrive at their destination faster than they would on biking trails. Little do they think of the inconvenience they cause for drivers on that road.
By Julia, Year 10
