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!”