Spring is an exciting time for cyclists and bike commuters, both seasoned and beginner, as May has been declared National Bike Month. You may not be aware, but the month consists of Bike to Work Week, spanning May 13-17, and culminates with Bike to Work Day on Friday, May 17, 2013.
If you’ve thought about biking into work, but haven’t done it yet, Bike to Work Day is the perfect time to give it a try. Cities that host Bike to Work Day events offer many marked pit stops where riders can stop for a break and pick up some fun give-aways. Other cities offer corporate challenges where local companies compete with each other for the highest percentage of bike commuters during the month. It’s a great incentive to ride!
Whether you’re biking for exercise, fun, or transportation, there are many benefits to be gained. You can save money, burn calories, lose weight, improve your physical and mental health, help the environment, and have fun!
Here are a few quick facts to consider:
- The average person loses 13 pounds in the first year of commuting by bike.
- People who bike to work regularly experience positive benefits such as better blood pressure, greater feelings of excitement, high levels of self-confidence, increased stress tolerance, better insulin levels, and more.
- Depending on your weight, you can burn between 215-500 calories during a 30-minute bike ride.
- Just 3 hours of biking per week can reduce your risk of heart disease by 50%.
- The average annual operating expense of a bicycle is just $308, versus more than $8,000 for a car.
- Half of the U.S. population lives within 5 miles of their workplace.
For more on the benefits of biking to work, check out the infographic below:
Infographic courtesy of FitnessforWeightLoss.com
