NATIONAL BIKE TO WORK WEEK
Join your fellow sweaty coworkers who make the effort to bike to work during National Bike to Work Week. In the United States, it is always the week of National Bike to Work Day and is part of National Bike to Work Month. In Canada and Europe, it is later in May or June. So, it’s likely with successful promotion, on this week you could see a marked uptick in the number of people on squeaky bikes with their helmets on backward.
The central aim of the event is to help the environment and exercise in a fun and social way. Ultimately, as people try it for one day or one week, they’ll hopefully bike to work more often.
National studies show that more companies are promoting physical activity such as bicycling to work. A story in Harvard Business Review states: “Johnson &Johnson’s leaders estimate that wellness programs have cumulatively saved the company $250 million on health care costs over the past decade; the return was $2.71 for every dollar spent.”
HOW TO OBSERVE #BikeToWorkWeek
If you’re not a bicyclist but are driving during commuting hours, watch for more bicycle traffic than usual. Do not block bicycle lanes on the roadway.
If you are a bicyclist, before starting out and getting into traffic, check your bike:
- Are the tires inflated to the pressure listed on the side of the tire?
- Is there at least ¼ inch of padding on your brakes?
- Are the brakes full engaged before you handbrake lever is fully pulled?
- Are the cranks free to turn and not too loose?
- Is the chain free of rust and gunk?
- Does your helmet fit properly?
Follow on social media with #BikeToWorkWeek, #NBTWW, #BikeLeague.
NATIONAL BIKE TO WORK WEEK HISTORY
In the United States, the League of American Bicyclists is credited with starting the week observance and promoting celebrations in communities from coast to coast. Established in 1956, National Bike Month started the observance that then created National Bike Week.
In the United Kingdom, the first preliminary Bike Week was held in 1923 and the tradition was born.