There are several reasons to make biking your go-to exercise, notes a study published by the University of Montana. It found that cycling provides individuals with numerous physical and mental health benefits while causing less strain and fewer injuries compared to other exercises.
Cycling also benefits the environments where cyclists choose to ride. According to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the average passenger vehicle emits roughly 4.6 metric tons of CO2 annually. Another study from UCLA Transportation revealed that commuting by bike instead of by car just once a day reduces the average person’s carbon emissions from transportation by more than 67%.
Whether for exercising, commuting to and from work, or running errands, if more people biked, it would lead to fewer internal combustion engine vehicles (ICEVs) on our roadways. That, in turn, would lead to cleaner, healthier air for everyone. Cleaner air and improved physical and mental health partly explain the excitement behind National Bike Month.
Participating in National Bike Month can also bring attention to the need for improved infrastructure to support safe cycling in our cities. Car and bike collisions are far too common. Some common causes of these accidents include, driver distractions, motorists failing to yield, lack of designated bike lanes, and impaired driving.
What Everyone Should Know About National Bike Month
For those unaware, May is National Bike Month, a campaign promoted by the League of American Bicyclists and celebrated in communities nationwide. It is a time-honored tradition that dates back to 1956, and since its inception, the goal has been to make more people aware of the health and environmental benefits of biking. Some of the health benefits include the following:
- Decreased stress
- Healthier, stronger bones
- Improved cardiovascular fitness
- Improved joint mobility
- Increased muscle strength and flexibility
- Prevention or management of disease
- Reduced feelings of anxiety and depression
- Weight loss
Along with lowering carbon emissions caused by driving, biking reduces traffic congestion. In addition to longer commute times, traffic congestion can frustrate drivers and increase the risk of road rage incidents, which puts everyone in harm’s way. Also, if more people traveled by bike instead of by car, it would reduce the need to build new parking lots and roads. And that would leave more room for parks and recreational areas. Also, biking instead of driving helps reduce noise.
What To Expect During National Bike Month in 2024
Celebrating National Bike Month this year will be similar to past celebrations. It will revolve around extolling the benefits of biking and getting more people to jump on the proverbial bandwagon. For 2024, that includes rides and events, a mix of communities organizing group rides, safety workshops, and other events. Rides and events are great opportunities for new and seasoned cyclists to explore new routes, brush up on their biking skills if needed, and meet fellow cyclists. Other National Bike Month events include the following:
- Bike to Work Week – For 2024, National Bike Month will include bike to work week, which will run from May 13th through May 19th. The goal is to motivate as many people as possible to swap their car, truck, or SUV for a bike commute. Many employers across the U.S. have already signed up to offer incentives and provide support to workers who commute to work via bike during this week.
- National Ride a Bike Day – May 5th, 2024, will be recognized as a day to enjoy casual rides with friends and family and maybe even forge closer bonds. The League of American Bicyclists launched National Ride a Bike Day in 2021, and it has become increasingly popular over the last 2 to 3 years.
In summary, National Bike Month is an excellent time to celebrate the benefits of biking and to encourage others to share in that celebration. To learn more, consider visiting the League of American Bicyclists today.