bike

May is National Bike Month

May 15^th is Bike to Work Day!

Why Ride your Bike?

For your health, for the world, for our future, for 2 miles or less
With the world facing skyrocketing obesity rates, escalating traffic congestion and the concerns of global climate change, the bicycle is an underutilized solution.
For your health
The average person loses 13 lbs. their first year of commuting by bike.
Just 3 hours of bicycling per week can reduce your risk of heart disease and stroke by 50%.
A 140-pound cyclist burns 508 calories while pedaling 14 miles in an hour.
For the world
The U.S. could save 462 million gallons of gasoline a year by increasing cycling from 1% to 1.5% of all trips.
Each U.S. rush-hour auto commuter spends an average of 50 hours a year stuck in traffic.
In 2003, cars idling in traffic wasted 5 billion gallons of fuel.
For our future
In 1964 50% of kids rode to school and the obesity rate was 12%…in 2004, 3% rode to school and the obesity rate was 45%.
Between 1960 and today the average weight of a 6-11 year old has increased 11 pounds.
For 2 miles or less
60% of the pollution created by automobile emissions happens in the first few minutes of operation, before pollution control devices can work effectively.
24% of all trips are made within a mile of the home, 40% of all trips are made within two miles of the home, and 50% of the working population commutes five miles or less to work.

I got this from a fellow teacher yesterday. He emailed it to everyone in the school. Made me happy to know that I rode my bike to school the first day of May without any knowledge of May being national bike month. I love biking!