With the average American commute time increasing to 26 minutes one-way, it’s no wonder that people are looking for ways to diversify their drive to work. Sure, you can pop in podcasts and your favorite playlists for entertainment, but if you already sit at your job all day, more sitting isn’t the best way to start and end the day.

Biking has skyrocketed in popularity as a commute tool—increasing by 46% annually on average in the U.S. Why biking? We’re glad you asked.

Efficiency. Cycling is the single most efficient method of travel; more so than walking! This is based on the amount of energy expended by the rider during a trip compared with other modes like driving, walking, etc.

Carbon Footprint. Energy-wise, bikes beat out every mode of transportation. Cars eat up hundreds of dollars of gas and oil per month. This is without even factoring in the issue of fossil fuels.

Biking can even be up to five times more efficient than walking.

Productivity. Instead of squeezing in a workout before work or after you arrive home, use that commute time to get fit. Biking your commute is a great way to burn 300 calories without taking much away from your personal time.

Bike shares. You can get good, inexpensive bikes, but if you’re still not ready to commit, bike shares have you covered. Most bike shares have single ride trips for about $3, day passes for about $10, and varying rates on monthly and annual passes. Opting for an annual pass could cost nearly as much as a cheap bike, but it’ll be higher quality and you’ll never worry about repairs.

Accessibility. Cities are seeing the good that cycling brings and increasing bike lanes, making more bike-friendly laws, and innovating with things like bike rooms to meet bikers’ needs. A list of the U.S.’s most bike friendly cities reveals that this change isn’t just happening in one area. The top five on the list—Philadelphia, Tuscon, Austin, Denver, and Portland—span the country.