May 14, 2020

May is Bike Month: Pledge to Pedal for Wellness

by Anthony Ahn

May is National Bike Month so let’s celebrate the many benefits of bicycling! Even though we’re staying home, it’s essential that we still engage in physical activity and biking is a great way to exercise and get some fresh air while practicing safe social distancing.^* Physical benefits of cycling include weight loss, better lung health, improved balance, posture, and coordination, among many other pluses. Cycling can also improve your mental wellness. Being that May is also Mental Health Awareness Month, you should know that biking can boost your brain power, your self-esteem, and your mood, among much more.

Other biking benefits include:

• Positive start to your morning
• Builds muscle
• Better sleep
• Reduces the risk of heart disease and cancer
• Strengthens your immune system
• Core workout
• Grows your social circle
• Improves mental well-being
• Improves navigational skills
• Gives a new perspective
• Builds community

Given all of the mental and physical benefits of biking, goDCgo encourages you to pledge to “Pedal for Wellness” by June 30, 2020. By taking the pledge, you’ll be entered into our raffle for the chance to win a collapsible commuter bike or $500 bike gift card package so you can keep pedaling for a better you!

To support your better biking habits, we developed resources to help meet your needs based on skill level. Build up your biking confidence by reviewing our Basic Biking Guide featuring all of the biking basics you need to know to get rolling. If you’re a confident cyclist, we’ve got an Experienced Biking Guide to help you discover more ways to get your roll on in Washington, DC.

Our nation’s capital supports the biking lifestyle, too! Did you know the District of Columbia has 150 miles of bike lanes and trails to explore? As a gold-level bicycle-friendly city, Washington, DC has achieved a high level of success in creating a safe and convenient biking environment that continues to grow. In fact, the District Department of Transportation aims to add 20 new miles of protected bike lanes by the end of this year. Not only was DC the first large eastern city to reach gold-level, we were also the first to provide a bikeshare service, which we all know and love as Capital Bikeshare! In addition to Capital Bikeshare, you can rent dockless bikes through Jump and Helbiz by downloading the providers’ mobile apps. By the way, Capital Bikeshare e-bikes are expected to launch soon so be on the lookout for those while you’re out riding!

^*Be sure to wear a face mask and maintain at least six feet of distance between you and other cyclists and/or pedestrians so we can all stay healthy while staying safe.