Winter Garden Magazine May 2018 | Page 31

NATIONAL BIKE MONTH! Sponsored by the League of American Bicyclists (LAB) and celebrated in communities from coast to coast, National Bike Month is a chance to showcase the many benefits of bicycling — and encourage more folks to giving biking a try. Hundreds of American communities have been successful in increasing bicycle commuting by providing Bike to Work Week  and  Bike to Work Day events. In fact, among the 51 largest U.S. cities, 43 hosted Bike to Work Day events in 2010. That effort makes a difference: Many people who participate in their Bike to Work Day promotion as first- time commuters become regular bike commuters. But Bike Month is more than one day — or week! From fashion shows to group rides, local groups find unique ways to celebrate their diverse bike cultures and community pride. Whether you bike to work or school; ride to save money or time; pump those pedals to preserve your health or the environment; or simply to explore your community, National Bike Month is an opportunity to Strap on your helmets, raise your celebrate the unique power of the kickstands, and join the thousands bicycle and the many reasons to ride.  of students, families, community partners, and elected officials all around the country who will be National Bike Month is: participating in this year’s Bike to a celebration of bikes School Day on May 9. a reminder to get rolling again a gateway to riding more often a time to evangelize the beauty of Participants kicked off last year’s ride in record breaking numbers! bikes and much, much more! Thousands of students pedaled their Since 1956, May has been recognized way to school during the 2017 Bike as National Bike Month, and the LAB to School Day celebration! Over has sponsored this celebration of 3,000 schools across the country, bicycling for decades. National Bike from D.C. to Hawaii participated. to Work Week, held the week of May 14–18, and Bike to Work Day, May With growing cultural awareness 18, are cited as the month’s flagship around health and wellness, sustainability and economic savings, events.  bicycling is being seen by new and 40% of all trips in the U.S. are less broader audiences as a simple solution than two miles, making bicycling to many complex problems, from a feasible and fun way to get to reducing obesity rates to increasing work. With increased interest in mobility options. This year, the LAB healthy, sustainable and economic wants to hear from riders like you. transportation options, it’s not With so many reasons to ride, what’s surprising that, from 2000 to 2013, the yours? Use the hashtags #WhyIRide number of bicycle commuters in the and #BikeMonth on social media and U.S. grew by more than 62 percent. also tag @BikeLeague! 40% OF ALL TRIPS IN THE U.S. ARE LESS THAN TWO MILES, MAKING BICYCLING A FEASIBLE AND FUN WAY TO GET TO WORK. WITH INCREASED INTEREST IN HEALTHY, SUSTAINABLE AND ECONOMIC TRANSPORTATION OPTIONS, IT’S NOT SURPRISING THAT, FROM 2000 TO 2013, THE NUMBER OF BICYCLE COMMUTERS IN THE U.S. GREW BY MORE THAN 62 PERCENT. IN 2018, BIKE TO WORK WEEK WILL BE MAY 14–18, WITH BIKE TO WORK DAY ON MAY 18. MAY 2018 | WINTER GARDEN MAGAZINE |   31