When is National Bike to Work Day?
The third Friday in May is National Bike to Work Day.
What is National Bike to Work Day?
Morning traffic is the worst. What a stressful way to start the day. Why not skip it altogether with a bicycle? National Bike to Work Day says yes. It’s a day to leave the car at home and establish a rhythm of biking to work.
Bicycling does the body good. It helps the heart and circulatory system, boosts our energy levels, and even improves balance and coordination. That fresh air sure does our lungs a favor too.
It’s not all about the body though. Daily exercise, like biking to work, can sharpen our memory and enhance our learning capacity. It can also balance our brain chemistry. That improves our moods and self-confidence.
So grab a bike, leave the house a bit early, and catch the wind in your face on National Bike to Work Day. It’s practice for the rest of the year. (Pro tip: don’t bike to work in a blizzard.)
Fun facts about National Bike to Work Day!
- Of all the trips the average American makes in a year, 40% are shorter than 2 miles.
- Car ownership—just a simple sedan—costs about $8,500 per year in 2016, according to AAA. But a bike? A bike costs about $300 a year. What a steal.
- A bike does not require a 10-minute parking space search.
- The League of American Bicyclists created National Bike to Work Day all the way back in 1956.
How to celebrate National Bike to Work Day:
- Research the cost of your commute. Then count up all the money you’ll save by not driving or taking public transit.
- Plan the safest route to work. Then, take your bike on that route to see how long it takes. Give yourself a small buffer, and you have your ride time to work.
- Take care of yourself. Purchase good biking shoes, a decent commuter bike and good safety gear, including reflectors in case you ride home from work in the dark.
What’s the hashtag for National Bike to Work Day?
Use #BikeToWorkDay on social media to get your friends in on the bike commute.