Biking to the Parks, Playgrounds and Around Town: All About Cycling

Good health requires physical activity, as getting regular exercise can help to protect you from serious ailments related to a sedentary lifestyle. Bicycling can be a great option for healthy physical activity, especially for those who don't find exercise enjoyable. It's a low-impact form of exercise, which means that it's easy on your joints and people of all ages can enjoy it, either on their own or together. All you need to get started is a bike and a helmet, which can last for years, making biking a relatively affordable way to get out in nature and exercise. A few hours a week doing this aerobic activity means that your heart, lungs, and blood vessels all get a good workout, which can improve your overall health and fitness. Health benefits of bicycling can include better posture, better coordination, improved joint mobility, increased cardiovascular health, increased strength and flexibility for your muscles, lower stress levels, lower body fat levels, improved mental health, and stronger bones.

While its health benefits can be vast, that's not the only reason to get on a bike. Cycling also comes with a positive environmental impact. By replacing a few car trips with bike rides, whether it's to work, to visit friends, or to the grocery store, you can help reduce the number of harmful chemicals that pollute the air. Cars can produce harmful emissions that contribute to climate change, but bikes don't release any harmful emissions. If more people switched primarily to riding bikes instead of driving their car, that could also lead to fewer roads being built; fewer roads means less groundwater pollution caused by runoff from highways.

No matter what your reason is for getting invested in cycling, it's a smart choice. Bicycling is a hobby that's not only good for you but good for the environment as well. If you're looking for a way to get out of the house and explore your surroundings or even looking for a new way to get to work, you may find that cycling is a great option.

General Bicycle Safety

• Bicycle Safety

• Ten Smart Rules for Bike Safety

• The Smart Route to Bike Safety

• Which Helmet for Which Activity?

• Bike Safety for Kids

• Seven Tips for Safe and Fun Bike-Riding

• Bike Nice Guide

Bicycle Commuting and Advocacy Information

• Bicycling Commuting Tips

• Learn the Ins and Outs of Commuting by Bicycle

• Encourage and Promote Safe Bicycling and Walking

• Daily Commuting Tips

• Bike to Work

• Pedestrians and Bicyclists

• Benefits of Bicycle Commuting

Historical Bicycle Information and Bicycle Museums

• History of Bicycling: A Revolution in Parks

• Evolution of the Bicycle

• Science of Cycling: History of Bicycle Frames

• Bicycles and American Culture

Cycling Magazines, Forums, and News Websites

• Bicycling Magazine

• Cycling Weekly

• CycleChat Cycling Forum

• Adventure Cyclist

• Gran Fondo Cycling Magazine

• Bike Forums

Hand Cycling

• Becoming Familiar With Hand Cycling

• Hand Cycling: Is it Right for You?

• Hand Cycling

• The Boston Marathon Handcycle Program

• How to Go Hand Cycling on Trail and Pavement

• Hand Cycling

Health and Environmental Information for Bicycle Riders

• Why Riding a Bike Is Good for You

• Bicycling and Your Health

• Biking for Transportation: Health and Economic Benefits

• Accessible Play for All

• The Potential Health and Environmental Benefits of Cycling in the U.S.

• Benefits of Biking

• Playgrounds and Parks

• The Major Health Benefits of Cycling

Edited by: Ben Thompson