Celebrate National Cycle to Work Day
National Cycle to Work Day is a fantastic opportunity to embrace the countless benefits of cycling while reducing your carbon footprint and improving your overall well-being. Join thousands of people cycling to work on National Cycle to Work Day and be part of a global movement to promote healthy living and environmental awareness.
Jump to the following to find out more about National Cycle to Work Day and how you can join the movement:
- Origins of National Cycle to Work Day
- Why cycle to work?
- Preparing for your cycle commute
- Choosing the right bike for cycling to work
The Origins of National Cycle to Work Day
In 1956, the League of American Bicyclists founded Cycle to Work Day to promote the benefits of cycling to work. The event gained popularity and expanded to the United Kingdom in 2011. Today, Cycle to Work Day is celebrated in multiple countries, encouraging people to hop on their bikes for at least one day of the year.
To embrace the spirit of the day, all you need is a bicycle – borrowed, refurbished, or new! – and a desire to make a positive impact on your health and the environment. Join the celebrations by participating in bike rides, group rides and events organised for the occasion!
Advantages of Cycling to Work
Cycling to work offers many benefits. From boosting physical health to enhancing mental well-being, cycling has both health and environmental advantages. By choosing to cycle to work, you help to reduce air pollution, traffic congestion, and greenhouse gas emissions, ultimately making our world a cleaner and healthier place. Let’s take a closer look at some of the advantages!
Boosting Physical Health
Cycling to work offers numerous health benefits, including:
- Promoting cardiovascular health
- Aiding in weight management
- Reducing stress and anxiety levels
- Decreasing the risk of heart disease and stroke
These benefits make cycling a fantastic way to introduce exercise into your daily routine.
Mental Health and Stress Reduction
Incorporating cycling into your daily commute can do wonders for your mental health as well. Regular cycling has been found to reduce anxiety and depression, enhance mood, and help manage stress levels. In addition, cycling can even help to improve cognitive function.
Eco-Friendly Commuting
Opting to cycle to work is also an excellent way to contribute to a greener environment, with environmental benefits including:
- Reduced air pollution
- Decreased greenhouse gas emissions
- Less noise pollution
- Preservation of green spaces and wildlife
- Decreased fuel consumption
These factors make cycling a sustainable and eco-friendly choice for your daily commute. So why not join the movement and make a positive impact on the environment by cycling to work?
Preparing for Your Commute: Essential Gear and Safety Tips
Preparation is key to ensuring a safe and enjoyable Cycle to Work Day experience, and safety is paramount. To ensure a safe ride, it is important to:
- Wear a helmet
- Use lights for visibility
- Follow the rules of the road
- Ride with traffic
- Use hand signals
- Obey traffic lights and signs
- Be aware of your surroundings
- Wear reflective clothing
Rules of the Road
Adhering to traffic rules and effectively communicating with other road users is crucial for a safe cycling experience. When cycling to work, remember to:
- Use cycle lanes and tracks whenever possible
- Never ride on the footpath
- Stop at red lights
- Signal with your arms before changing lanes or turning
It’s also a legal requirement to have two efficient braking systems independently operating on the front and rear wheel when riding a bicycle on a public road.
Cycling Beyond the Commute
By incorporating cycling into other daily tasks and errands, you can celebrate Cycle to Work Day more often and enjoy the benefits of this eco-friendly mode of transportation in your daily life. Whether running errands, meeting friends, or exploring your local area, cycling offers a fun and healthy way to get around beyond the daily commute.
Investing in the Right Bike: Tips for Choosing Your Perfect Ride
Selecting the right bike is crucial for a comfortable and enjoyable cycling experience. When choosing a bike, consider the type of riding you’ll be doing, your budget, and the size of the bike that best fits your needs.
With the right bike, you’ll be well-equipped to tackle the challenges of your daily commute and fully enjoy the benefits of cycling to work, for Cycle to Work Day and beyond.
The Cycle to Work Scheme
If Cycle to Work Day has got you interested in the idea of commuting by bike, then it’s well worth looking into the Cycle to Work Scheme. This UK scheme allows you, as an employee, to purchase a bike and any necessary accessories to be used for your commute to and from work, as well as for leisure.
The Cycle to Work Scheme is part of an employee benefits package, with the bike purchased through a salary sacrifice scheme. There are no limits to the type of bike you can purchase via the scheme, so you can decide whether a road bike, mountain bike or e-bike is best suited to your needs.
It’s a great way to save money on your commute, can have positive tax benefits due to the salary sacrifice scheme, and it can help to reduce your carbon footprint.
Join in with Cycle to Work Day
National Cycle to Work Day offers a valuable opportunity to improve your physical and mental health, contribute to a greener environment, and build a supportive community of cyclists. With the right preparation, gear, and enthusiasm, you can embrace the countless benefits of cycling and inspire others to do the same. Join the celebrations on August 3rd 2023 and discover the joys of commuting by bike.
Find out more about the Cycle to Work scheme offered by Urban E-Riders and you can enjoy great savings on a bike for commuting.
