So far, our fine May weather is more than cooperating with National Bike Month, the annual celebration of bicycling. The highlight of the month is usually “Ride Your Bike to Work Day,” a wonderful tradition that focuses on the benefits of making your commute on a bike (often with the assistance of public transportation.)
Those people who already ride their bikes to work are an inspiration to others who are contemplating a change in mode of transportation for their commute. People like Robert Stiles of Edmonds, who commutes to his job at the U.S. Coast Guard in Seattle five days a week, all year long. In April, Community Transit named Stiles the “Curb the Congestion Champion of the Year” award winner. Last year he encouraged friends and coworkers to participate in the Bike Month Challenge, in which participants, in friendly competition, try to ride as much as possible during May.
While an inspiration to other riders already comfortable in the saddle, such feats might also intimidate would-be or novice bike riders. (It also intimidates bike riders who are scared of riding in traffic.) So in the spirit of Bike Month, here is an easy challenge, sans competition, to people not comfortable on bicycles, but maybe would like to be: Get on a bike. Borrow one, or buy one, but just get on one. Preferably in an empty, flat parking lot. If you’ve ridden before, take your time, pedal around, and it really will come back to you.
If you’ve never ridden, it’s never too late to learn. One can pay for lessons, or learn from a friend or family member. Riding a bike is really fun, and that is motivation enough to learn. If someday you turn into a bicycle commuter, that’s great, but the reason to challenge yourself to get on bike is for the joy of it, and your own good health.
Snohomish County offers hundreds of wonderful places to ride, and lots of places to purchase bikes and gear. For individuals and families that see biking as just another expensive sport they can’t afford, the Sharing Wheels Bike Shop in Everett offers all sorts of ways to get bikes to people who want them. For example, the annual Kid’s Bike Swap is set for June 7, when children (accompanied by an adult) can trade in their old bike for a new one that fits them. (Sharing Wheels also donates bikes for kids each year through Christmas House.) The Work for Wheels program allows low-income adults to get bicycle repairs done by committing volunteer hours in exchange for repairs completed.
Get on a bike, and you’ve already met the challenge, which is to have some fun. When you’re ready, you can reward yourself with a trip such as, “Snohomish County Bikes: Will Bike for Pie.” (As one writer/rider recounts on the Washington Bikes website.)
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