My brother, who is two years older than I, got his license when I was a freshman, yet would not drive to school except on rainy days or mornings when it was below 50 degrees. I bitterly biked to school freshman and sophomore year. Half a year and a driver’s license later, I appreciate his adamant insistence that we bike to school.

After driving to school for a couple of weeks I realized he was right; driving really is a waste when biking is much more viable. Palo Alto is not a large city, and it is broken up into boundaries to ensure that students attend schools nearest to them. According to the PAUSD boundaries and Google Earth, most people live at most 1.42 miles away from Paly. So why are the Paly parking lots practically full, and the bike racks far from that?

There are many reasons why biking or walking instead of driving is more feasible, especially in biker-friendly Palo Alto. In big cities such as San Francisco and Manhattan biking is unpractical, and in many cases, impossible.

So, here are few reasons why biking or walking is better than driving:

1. Traffic: Biking or walking is a great way to miss morning traffic. It is scientifically proven that biking to Paly takes the same time as driving to Paly on typical morning. (Well it wasn’t so scientific, but I once got a ride to school and my brother biked and we left and arrived at the same time.)

2. Exercise: Biking is a great source of aerobic exercise. According to the Palo Alto Medical Foundation, teens should exercise for at least 20 minutes a day, and biking or walking is a great way to do that. Plus, it feels good.

3. The combination of brisk air and a light sweat is a good way to wake up in the morning.

4. High school is a good time to bike. Later in life full time jobs may require longer commutes, and biking may not be an option, so take advantage of it now.

5. It’s cleaner: Unlike cars, bikes don’t pollute and don’t emit exhaust and gases. Biking or walking is better for the environment.

6. It’s cheaper: Gas is expensive so why spend when you could just save by biking or walking?

7. Palo Alto is beautiful, and what’s not a better way to enjoy the trees and flowers than to walk or ride among them?

The list is endless. So, unless it is raining, freezing, too far away, or you are physically unable to walk or bike to school, there is no acceptable excuse.

In college it is unrealistic to drive between classes, rather biking and walking are the common modes of transportation. College-bound students are going to have to bike or walk sometime in the near future, and with spring around the corner and warmer weather on the way, now is a great time to start.