Just in case you needed an extra reason to get out and pedal (aside from gorgeous, springtime weather); Bike Month has officially arrived in Folsom.
National Bike Month was established in 1956 and is celebrated in communities from coast to coast. There are a tremendous amount of benefits to participating in Bike Month, and plenty of opportunities to get involved all throughout the month of May.
Here’s how you can take part in Bike Month around Folsom this spring.
#1: National Bike to Work Week
National Bike to Work Week will be held from May 15 - 19, 2017. If you can’t commute by bike all week long, National Bike to Work Day is May 19, 2017.
Bicycle commuting is on the rise. Bike commuting has grown 62% from 2000 to 2013 in the United States. In bicycle friendly communities, growth in bike commuting has grown 105% during that same time. Why has commuting by bicycle become increasingly popular?
The health benefits of active transportation (ie biking or walking to work) are undeniable. Studies have shown that people who commute by bike reap the following health benefits:
- Gain less weight compared to people who commute by car
- Reach the 60-90 minutes of daily exercise recommended to avoid obesity
- Healthier levels of most cardiovascular risk factors
Biking to work isn’t just good for your health; it’s also good for the planet. According to the League of American Bicyclists:
Biking is Green: Biking curbs your carbon footprint, reduces air pollution and reliance on fossil fuels.
Regularly commuting by bike is also good for your bottom line. Biking cuts parking, gas, and other driving costs while reducing traffic congestion.
Can’t bike the entire way to work during Bike to Work Week or Bike to Work Day? Get creative!
Leave your car at home and take public transportation to get you and your bike closer to work, and then pedal the remaining distance. Many regional buses, light rails, and trains have bike racks that allow commuters to combine bike commuting with public transit.
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#2: 50 Corridor Thrive Rides
50 Corridor is kicking off Bike Month with a series of Thrive Rides during the first week of May. These short neighborhood rides are staged all along the 50 Corridor and are open to anyone who wants to participate. When you RSVP for one of the Thrive Rides, you also reap the benefits of a light lunch or ice cream sundae for participating.
#3: Great Scott Bike Ride
On Sunday, May 7, 2017, the annual Great Scott Bike Ride is taking place in Folsom. For seven hours, 30-miles of country roads will be limited to cyclist and pedestrian traffic only. The event is free and open to the public. Experienced, faster riders are encouraged to get to the ride early and access the course from 8:00 am, to 10:00 am. From 10:00 am, to 3:00 pm, the speed limit on the course will lower for family-friendly riders.
Food trucks will be stationed near the Rancho Cordova and Folsom entrances from 11:00am to 1:00 pm, and there will be plenty of fun for the whole family, such as live music, contests, and giveaways.
#4: Folsom Ride with the Mayor
On May 11th, the annual Folsom Ride with the Mayor brings local cyclists together with Mayor Steve Miklos for a free, non-competitive ride. Riders will meet at Karen’s Bakery and Cafe in Historic Folsom at 7:30 am for free coffee and pastries, and depart at 8:30 am. The ride is approximately 30 miles long from Historic Folsom to Discovery Park, where riders can expect a catered lunch. After lunch, the ride continues to the State Capitol to join Capitol Bike Fest.
Riders can either return back to Folsom by bike with the group or take advantage of a free light rail ticket issued for participants.
#5: Johnny Cash Folsom Prison Blues Bike Ride
The Johnny Cash Folsom Prison Blues Bike Ride is back on May 28, 2017. The last Sunday of the month, join riders for an 8-mile ride that passes by Folsom Prison along the Johnny Cash Trail and across the Johnny Cash Trail Overpass Bridge.
The ride begins in Historic Folsom, first crossing the Historic Truss Bridge and takes riders onto the American River Parkway on the north side of the lake, then crosses over the Johnny Cash bridge and takes riders past the prison on the Johnny Cash trail before returning back to Historic Folsom. Gather at Historic Folsom at 9:30 am for refreshments, the ride starts at 10:00am.
Register for the Johnny Cash Folsom Prison Blues Bike Ride
And, of course, wear black to honor Johnny!
If you live in or near Folsom, there are so many ways you can participate in Bike Month this May. Whether you choose to join one of the official rides or races we listed above, or simply want to take your bike out to experience Folsom’s many miles of scenic, multi-use bike trails for a casual ride, there’s no better time than now.
