June 3 World Bicycle Day

06/02/2021

June 3: World Bicycle Day

The first World Bicycle Day was observed in 2019. In April 2018, the United Nations General Assembly declared June 3 as International World Bicycle Day. To observe, jump on your bike, ride as far as you can before you get exhausted. Then every week try to extend the distance you can ride!

Organizers created this event to promote the health and wellness that comes from cycling, both for our bodies and for our planet.  Cycling is a $50 billion industry, and that number is growing. Bicycling magazine ranks the best US cites for cycling, and right now Seattle is at the top of the list, based on safely, friendliness and a political climate that is in favor of bicycling.  Seattle revamped its transit system, which dramatically reduced the number of single-passenger auto trips and increased the use of public transit.  Bicycles often fill the “last mile” stretch of a commute to or from work, with people biking from bus or train to their home or office. Adding infrastructure to slow traffic and help make cyclists more visible also pushed Seattle to the top of the heap.

The Netherlands holds the title of the most bikes per capita of any nation on the planet.  Any visitor to Amsterdam can tell you there are bikes everywhere, as there are 1.3 bikes per person in the Netherlands. When you look at the incredible cycling infrastructure in the Netherlands, their top ranking comes as no surprise: the Dutch have over 20,000 miles of dedicated cycle paths nationwide, and that’s not including bike lanes on the road—they have over 34,000 miles of that!

So Happy World Bicycle Day. To quote the band Queen: “get on your bikes and ride!”