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Remember your first bike, streamers, training wheels, and all? What a feeling to know you could go almost anywhere— your first taste of freedom and adventure! And even though everyone's tastes change as they get older, biking is still a favorite activity among Americans both young and old.
But when it comes to traveling to work or school, most Americans hang up their bicycle helmets and grab the car keys. Why? It just doesn't make sense. Biking is fun; it saves on gas; it's better for the environment; it helps keep you fit and you don't get stuck in traffic. The League of American Bicyclists has declared May to be National Bike Month to encourage people to get back on their bikes. As part of its month-long event, the league promotes Bike-to-Work/School Week during the second week in May. So if you think you'd like to take part in this event, talk to your parents and teachers and make a plan.
Now you may be asking yourself, "Why should I bike to school when
I can take a bus or catch a ride?" Consider this: Right now, 1 out
of every 5 American kids is overweight. That's not a big surprise
when you think about how much time kids spend in front of the TV
and all the junk food they eat. So what's the solution? You probably
already know the answer: that's right, diet and exercise. But here's
something you might not know: Biking burns calories, big time! For
example, if a 130-pound person bicycled 12 miles per hour for one
hour, he or she would burn about 480 calories, which is about the
same amount of calories you take in when eating a cheeseburger.
So whether you're in the market to lose weight or just stay fit,
try bicycling! It's fun, and it gets you where you need to go.
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