Spring Forward: Myths and Facts About Daylight Savings
For many cyclists, Daylight Savings is the unofficial start to the riding season. More daylight means more time for riding, especially for commuters who prefer the warmth and safety of natural light. And this year, Daylight Savings started earlier than ever. It's as if someone wants us to spend more time on our bikes. However, truth be told, Daylight Savings was not created for cyclists. But if not for cyclists, where did it begin and why?
Daylight Savings has many myths to it origins. My informal survey revealed that most believe that Daylight Savings was started to help farmers in the US have more time to work their fields. Not true. Others believed that the primary purpose of Daylight Savings was to reduce energy consumption. Wrong again. In truth, Daylight Savings was first suggested to promote summertime leisure activities, not reduce energy consumption. Here are some interesting facts about Daylight Savings:
- Daylight savings was first proposed in 1905 by Englishman William Willett because he wanted more time to play golf and pursue other outdoor leisure activities in the summer
- To popularize this idea, proponents argued that Daylight Savings would reduce evening usage of incandescent lighting - the primary use of electricity
- Daylight Savings was first instituted in the US in 1918 during WWI, but was repealed after the war in 1919, only to be reinstated during WWII, but again repealed afterward
- Daylight Savings has now been used in the US continuously since 1966
- Daylight Savings was disliked by farmers
- Arizona and Hawaii are the only two US states that don't observe Daylight Savings
Although the US has been observing Daylight Savings continuously for over 40 years, it has not been without controversy. Countless energy usage studies have been performed, as recently as 2008, to measure the effects on energy usage during Daylight Savings. The results have been mixed; many studies have even showed higher energy usage during daylight savings due to rising cooling costs during daylight hours. Similar results were found on studies studies related to Daylight Savings and public safety. These studies have showed no significant reductions in traffic accidents, violent crimes or fires during Daylight Savings periods.
In fact, there is a growing population opposed to Daylight Savings. Opponents argue that it causes unneccesary complexity on computer systems, potentially affecting medical services, transportation and business operations, as well as other incoveniences to individuals and businesses.
What about William Willett's original ideas for increased health benefits by providing us with more time to spend outside enjoying healthy activies away from work? Unfortunately, studies on individual health have been contradictory as well. Although many studies have shown increased time spent on leisure and exercise during Daylight Saving, these studies have also cited the risks associated with longer daylight hours, including increased exposure to dangerous UV rays, effects on eyesight, and disruptions to sleep patterns.
With unclear benefits from Daylight Savings, you might wonder why we still obseve it. Some opponents claim it is partly political, citing the mid-1980's when the Daylight Savings was controversially extended due to the backing of retailers (who benefit from having more time for consumers to shop), and a pair of Idaho senators who believed it would help fast food restaurants sell more french fries made from Idaho potatoes. Other opponents call it Daylight Slaving Time, suggesting it only benefits businesses and employers.
So who does benefit from Daylight Savings? This year, I hopes it's cyclists.
