National Bike to Work Day Comes to Town in May 2022
April 5, 2022
If you’ve been working from home over the last 12 months due to the pandemic, you might be looking to make improvements and develop a healthier lifestyle. As the resumption of in-person work gathers pace, you have an opportunity to take those first steps towards living a healthier life.
Biking to work is one of the simplest ways to work out, enjoy the scenery and travel to and from your workplace.
Cycling helps burn calories, improves aerobic fitness, builds muscles, lowers your blood pressure, improves coordination, and boosts your energy levels. Better yet, these exercises will have a positive influence on your tastes and diet. Exercise makes you more thoughtful about what you consume, so if you want to be more conscious about your health or lose a few pounds, biking to work is an excellent motivator.
Cycling also saves you money and cuts down your carbon footprint to save the environment. As we get closer to the bike to work day, this day can play a significant part in achieving your goal this year. Read on for more details.
What Day Is the Bike to Work Day?
The National Bike to Work Day will be on Friday, May 20, 2022. On this day, you and your community will have a chance to work out while heading back to work on a bike. The National Bike to Work day started in 1956 as an idea from the League of American Bicyclists. Bike to work was meant to encourage people to choose this option as an alternative to driving to work.
Historically, the emphasis on biking to work has been to reduce the impact of emissions in the environment. With people working from home due to the pandemic, cycling has also become a great way to exercise for a healthier lifestyle. Even though May has a specific day and week for cycling to work, you can start biking now to burn those extra calories.
How Far Is Too Far to Bike to Work?
There is no one-size-fits-all answer to this question. A reasonable distance many can bike to work is roughly 5–10 miles, which should take anywhere from 30-60 minutes.
Generally, this will mostly depend on:
- The geography of the commute route
- Your fitness level
- Type or model of bicycle
- The time you have to commute to work
You might be fit enough to cover the entire distance of your commute, or you may have to build it slowly. The critical aspect to keep in mind is how the miles add up. If you cycle about 30 miles, this will likely feel easy. But doing this for five consecutive days could be challenging for people getting back into an active lifestyle.
Ebikes Can Go a Lot Further and a Lot Faster
The technology in ebikes gives riders the extra push required to go at faster speeds and cover longer distances with less effort. Ebikes have a pedal assist feature that gives pedaling a boost. This reduces the impact on thighs and knees making it possible to arrive at work without needing to shower. Even when riding on hills and challenging inclines, this boosting technology will help you cover greater distances.
The motor in ebikes such as LMT’D or the Prodigy allows you to reach higher speeds than an average cyclist using a racing or mountain bike. In the United States, the law allows you to have a maximum power of 750w and assisted speed of 20mph. Max pedal assist speed under federal law is 28mph for Class 3 electric bikes, though riders should check with local authorities for their state.
Is It Necessary to Ride 2 Hours a Day?
Not all bike rides should take a significant chunk of the day to achieve health goals. Even so, a two hour bike ride can be beneficial. Many like taking long rides on the weekend, when there are fewer time constraints.
To achieve a good workout, it’s really the first 30–40 minutes of cycling that are required to make a significant impact on the body. Apart from the obvious biking benefits of strengthening muscles, burning calories and strengthening balance, regular bike riding helps people sleep better, achieve a greater sense of wellbeing and decrease stress.
Aerobic exercises are endurance-type exercises that increase a person’s heart and breathing rate over a sustained period. Anaerobic exercises involve short, intense bursts of physical activity. Both types of exercise are beneficial for a person’s cardiovascular health. They also provide mental health benefits.
What Is The Difference Between Aerobic vs. Anaerobic Exercise? | Medical News Today
How Long Will it Take to Ride a Bike to My Work?
Cycling to your workplace will mostly depend on the route you decide to use. Keep in mind that roadways are occupied with all kinds of vehicles, from trucks, SUVs, and cars. Therefore, finding a safe bike path to ensure you reach your destination safely should be a top priority before beginning.
Keep Off The Sidewalks
It is also important to be aware that sidewalks are not an option. Although sidewalks seem like a safer alternative, they can be incredibly dangerous, especially while riding alongside larger vehicles.
Sidewalks belong to pedestrians. It is not uncommon for cyclists to lose control or crash into pedestrians. Additionally, sidewalk surfaces are likely to be uneven. Riders can easily hit a bump or crack and go flying. Moreover, they may likely get hit by drivers backing out as they don’t expect to find cyclists on sidewalks.
Find Alternative Routes
While getting engaged in your community, take time to research the best routes and cities for safer cycling. Other bikers will be aware. Some cities that have invested in biking infrastructure include Chicago, Atlanta, Seattle, Philadelphia, Austin, Minneapolis, Baltimore, Portland, and Detroit. Biking communities can make a difference in their municipalities by championing the building of more commuter paths for cyclists. Several of the many cycling apps and websites that offer route and planning/navigation information for bikers are:
How Long Is a Standard Bike Commute Time?
The average bike commute time in the USA is approximately 21.2 minutes. When riding on urban routes with flat terrains and frequent intersections, a bike commute can take about eight minutes at a speed of 7.5 mph. When riding on uninterrupted bike paths, your speed can be approximately 13 mph or more.
Compare this to the average car commute or typical car trips that can be replaced by ebiking. These are usually between 5-10 miles. Many people can replace these short car trips on an ebike, especially when leveraging pedal assist and when using panniers to carry things such as work gear or items purchased at the store.
How Long Is an eBike Commute Time?
Electric bikes such as Roadster V2 and the 700 series are faster than standard bikes. Depending on the class of the ebike, the motor can help you reach speeds of 20-28 miles per hour. If you cover file miles to work, you can take 15 minutes on an ebike and 27 minutes on a conventional bicycle.
May Is A Bike Safe Month
May is a bike safety awareness month, created to remind the public of the importance of safety on the roadways. In fact, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) urges motorists and bicyclists to share roadways by respecting each other’s rights and obeying traffic laws. NHTSA also advises motorists to:
- Be vigilant of cyclists while reversing in parking lots or opening doors
- Not to drive when distracted or under the influence
- Respect bike lanes
- Check for cyclists at intersections and before making a turn
Will You Participate on Bike to Work Day?
If you are looking for ways to promote a healthy lifestyle, bike to work is the way to go. You don’t have to cycle for long hours to meet your goals, even two hours a day can still help you burn your calories and boost your fitness level. Biking to work is also a sustainable choice for the rider and the environment.
Ebikes like Core-5 and Café Cruiser make it possible for you to move at faster speeds and cover more distances because of the pedal-assist technology. Whichever ebike you prefer, we encourage you to get yours from Ride1up. Our models give you the greatest value for money of any ebike on the market. Contact our team today to learn more and start your journey to a healthier lifestyle.
