Celebrating National Bike Month

Happy National Bike Month! If you’ve been following our social media channels, you’ve likely seen that we’ve been celebrating this month by highlighting North Carolina’s vibrant cyclist population. From meet-ups to advocacy groups, bikers play an essential role in leading the charge in carbon neutral transportation.

Within our own office, there are several employees who use alternative forms of transportation for their daily commute. Kelsy Green (on left), project manager at our parent nonprofit, Advanced Energy, is an avid cycler and regularly rides her bike to the office. For the past two years, she has started and ended her day with a three-mile ride on Raleigh’s Greenways and Centennial Campus. Kelsy recounts, “I was really excited when I purchased a house close enough to the office to ride my bike in. I really enjoy getting exercise, and it wakes me up on my way into the office!”

Over the past decade, North Carolina’s capital city has brought intentionality to creating a more bicycle-friendly city with connecting greenway paths and accessible bike lanes. With a new 64 individuals inhabiting Wake County every day, city planners recognize the fast-growing need to accommodate how our expanding population will traverse the city.

In conjunction with these efforts to alleviate daily commute congestion, several companies offer incentives to employees who utilize alternative forms of transportation to commute to and from the workplace. Company-branded bike share programs that are open to the general public have been popping up across US cities. Options such as this are great introductory ways to get into cycling. Kelsy states, “You don’t have to be a serious athlete to ride your bike to work. I use an older mountain bike that I have had for more than 10 years. I also don’t have a ton of fancy gear, I just use regular workout clothes and bring a change of work clothes in my backpack. It doesn’t have to be as intimidating as it sounds.”

Thinking of hopping back on your bike but not sure where to start? BikeRaleigh offers events, programs, resources, and maps to help you figure out your safest commute. Finally, always remember to wear your helmet. Safety never goes out of style.

Find a National Bike Month event in your city: https://bikeleague.org/bikemonth