Bike to Work Day is a day that falls on the third Friday in May, when people are encouraged to take their bicycles to work. Studies have shown that bicycling to work is not only good for you and a whole lot of fun, but it also increases your happiness level and helps your brain function better.

And besides that, it allows you to save all the money that would otherwise be spent on gas or bus fare. So strap on your helmet, jump on your bike, and enjoy a nice leisurely ride to work. It’s the only way to travel.

History of Bike to Work Day

The origins of this day go all the way back to 1956 when the League of American Bicyclists suggested it as an addition to Bike to Work Week. Bike to Work Week is located in the month of May, which just so happens to be National Bike Month.

The Benefits of Bicycling to Work

Bike to Work Day has quite a few benefits for a person both physically, mentally, and emotionally. Below are just a small sampling of some of these benefits:

Fitness

Riding your bicycle to work has quite a few benefits for you physically. One of the main benefits is that it burns calories. Of course, just how many calories you burn will depend on a number of different factors, which include your body weight and height, how far you have to travel, how fast you ride your bike, and the terrain you are navigating.
Cycling burns just as many calories as jogging but has less of a negative impact on your joints. Biking also boosts your energy, lowers your blood pressure, builds muscle, improves aerobic fitness, and improves coordination.

Mental Functioning

Riding your bike to work also improves your mental functioning. Research has shown that moderate daily exercise not only prevents cognitive decline that happens later in life but can also improve memory, learning, and even boost your brain’s overall performance. Which just might make you better at doing your job once you get to work.

Money

Let’s face facts, riding your bike to work does indeed save you quite a bit of money. In 2015 alone, the average American household was forecast to spend almost $2,000 a year on gasoline and motor oil. If you add on vehicle maintenance, insurance, and the price of parking, you can see how driving your car to work can get really expensive.
A bicycle, on the other hand, is a whole lot cheaper. You don’t have to pay for gas or motor oil, and maintenance is a whole lot cheaper. Which means you can save about $7,000 to $9,000 just by riding your bike around town.

Convenience

Bicycling is often a whole lot more convenient than driving a car. Don’t believe me? Well, then let’s take a look at some of the things that make driving a car inconvenient: getting stuck in traffic; having to look for a parking spot; having to deal with sudden mechanical problems such as a dead car battery, and worrying about whether you need to buy gasoline or not.
With a bike, you have none of those problems. You can pedal right through most roadblocks or traffic jams; your parking spot is wherever the nearest pole is to chain up your bike; you don’t have to worry about dead batteries or throwing a rod, and you never need to buy gas for your commute to work or home from work. Sounds easy-peasy, doesn’t it?

Entertainment Value

Riding your bicycle to work on Bike to Work Day is a whole lot of fun as well. It allows you to get fresh air, be closer to your surroundings, and see the world as you ride through it. Plus, it’s not as stressful as driving your car to work. Therefore, it’s much more fun to hop on your bike and pedal to work than it is to ride your car through traffic every day.

Safety

Yes, I know what you’re thinking: How is bicycling safer than driving a car? Well, that’s because studies have shown that the more bikes there are on the road, the safer biking is for everyone. This is because as people become more familiar with seeing bicycles on the road, they actually begin to change their driving behaviors to accommodate bicyclists.

The Environment

Unless you’re driving a new electric car or hybrid, then cars are terrible for the environment. Car emissions pollute the environment. Riding a bike is a lot better for the environment than driving a car—especially if your car is older than 10 years old.

Observing Bike to Work Day

By now, you already know how to observe Bike to Work Day. All you have to do is jump on your bike and pedal to work and then home again. That’s all there is to it. And by choosing to ride your bike to work on this day, you are making a decision to be healthier, happier, more productive at work, and save money—all at the same time.
Not to mention the fact that you’re preventing carbon monoxide from being pumped into the air, at least for that day. It’s a win-win for everyone. Another benefit to observing this holiday is that in some areas, bicyclists get free breakfast on this day.
Yes, you read that correctly. On this day, a number of Bike to Work stations open up in many areas to give cyclists free breakfast and/or free coffee. Just another benefit to riding your bike to work to add to an ever-growing list.