Bike To Work Month is observed in New Zealand throughout the month of February. This is an attempt to encourage more individuals to participate in this physical exercise while simultaneously reducing their carbon footprint. Some organizations also challenge riders with friendly competitions where they can win rewards based on the distance they cycled or the number of hours they biked. Bike To Work has grown in popularity over the years, and cyclists look forward to the event each year. As discussions about green transportation gain traction, Bike To Work Month reminds us that the solution has always been close at hand.
History of Bike To Work Month
Bike To Work Month was founded in New Zealand with the simple goal of encouraging more people to ride their bikes to work. When the strategy was put into action, organizers realized that Bike To Work Month is also a great method to meet sustainability and public health goals while making cities more accessible places to live.
You may believe that the bicycle is a relatively recent creation, however, this is not the case. Gian Giacomo Caprotti, a pupil of Leonardo da Vinci, drew the first primitive bicycle in 1500 A.D. Some 300 years later, Frenchman Comte de Sivrac is believed to have developed a form of bicycle that he demonstrated in front of the French king in 1792 — the invention didn’t gather much attention and people continued traveling animal-driven carriages and horseback. However, in 1820, a wooden draisine was regarded as the first two-wheeler to have been invented. Since then the bicycle has undergone several modifications and with each addition, more and more people warmed up to the vehicle.
Cycling grew in popularity in Europe and Asia while declining in popularity in the United States. Because of the advent of affordable vehicles and the expansion of the American middle class, many Americans were able to buy cars and abandon their bicycles. Thankfully, cycles have evolved with the years, and today sports bikes, mountain bikes, cruiser cycles, and other models meet the needs of every cyclist.
Bike To Work Month timeline
It is the era of bicycles with an extra set of wheels.
Philipp Moritz Fischer adds pedals to bicycles.
Hosea W. Libbey invents electric cycles.
Mountain bikes are mass-produced.
Bike To Work Month FAQs
What are the benefits of cycling?
The benefits of cycling include increased cardiovascular fitness, increased muscle strength and flexibility, improved joint mobility, decreased stress levels, and improved posture and coordination.
Is cycling better than jogging?
Running burns more calories than cycling because it uses more muscles. However, cycling is gentler on the body, and you can do it longer or faster than you can run.
How many minutes should you cycle a day?
Ride your bike for at least 30 minutes a day to stay fit.
How To Celebrate Bike To Work Month
Bike to work
Even if you don’t live in New Zealand, you can celebrate Bike To Work Month. All you have to do is ditch your regular mode of transport and bike to work instead.
Get others involved too
Encourage your coworkers and friends to join you in the adventure of biking to work. In fact, you may even request that your employer observe Bike to Work Month.
Teach a child to ride a bike
Learning how to bike is a landmark event of everyone’s childhood. If you can, teach a child how to ride a bike on Bike To Work Month.
5 Facts About Cycling That Will Blow Your Mind
Tandem cycling can get extreme
The longest tandem bicycle seated 35 people.
Bicycles are very compact
15 bicycles can fit in the same space as one car.
Biking is a hit in China
China has more than a half-billion bicycles.
They can save the world
Bicycles save over 238 million gallons of fuel every year.
Biking is also pocket-friendly
It is 20 times cheaper to maintain a bicycle than a car.
Why We Love Bike To Work Month
It’s fun
Biking is a fun activity and what can be more fun than riding a bike first thing in the day! Bike To Work Month is all about having fun while also getting your daily dose of physical movement.
A way to go green
If you, like the rest of us, are looking for ways to go green— then this is it! You can even choose to bike to work for the rest of the year and contribute to cutting down your carbon footprint.
It’s a way to win rewards
Many organizations reward their employees for biking to work. This is a good way to win accolades and cash prizes while having fun.
Bike To Work Month dates
| Year | Date | Day |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | February 1 | Saturday |
| 2026 | February 1 | Sunday |
| 2027 | February 1 | Monday |
| 2028 | February 1 | Tuesday |
| 2029 | February 1 | Thursday |
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