May is National Bike Month and Sustainable Concord is excited to highlight the climate and health benefits of bicycling as well as a number of bicycling activities, groups, and resources for celebrating bike month.
Almost 40% of Concord’s greenhouse gas emissions are the result of transportation, mostly from vehicles driven by Concord residents. Biking can be a recreational activity, but it is also a great way to reduce the polluting emissions of our daily commutes.
Aiyana Currie is one of those cycling advocates who loves to bike for exercise. Learn more about Aiyana’s love for cycling in our earlier blog post where we featured her as one of Concord’s sustainability champions!
Need resources? Concord’s got them!
The good news is that there are many resources and initiatives to help you feel good about biking more and driving less in Concord.
- Take advantage of several nearby bike trails - Minuteman Commuter Bikeway, Assabet River Rail Trail, and the Bruce Freeman Rail Trail.
- Concord Bikes is a volunteer community group that promotes bicycling as a heathy and environmentally positive means of transportation and recreation. They sponsor the annual Concord Bike Fest and advocate for safe cycling throughout the town.
- Bike-to-School Concord organizes regular bike-to-school days, provides safety tips, routes, and events for kids and parents biking to school. In the fall of 2020, the group organized Bike-to-School days and safety trainings. During the peak day, over 65 bikes were parked at Alcott Elementary school! In total, the fall initiative saved thousands of car trips, cutting carbon emissions. This spring the initiative is under the umbrella of the state’s Safe Rides To School program. Join this spring’s Bike-to-School days for Thoreau (May 11th) and Alcott (May 12th).
Whether you are commuting by bike to work or school, or you are biking for recreation or exercise, Concord has a thriving bike-lovers community that is living life on two wheels!
Tips for Bike Safety
Of course, bike safety is of the upmost importance. Here are 4 top safety tips for biking to school, work or around town:
- Whether walking or biking, always remain alert and be aware of any traffic around you.
- Cross carefully. Wait on the sidewalk until you make eye contact with the driver before crossing.
- Wear bright or light colored clothing when walking or biking to ensure you are seen.
- Always wear a proper fitting helmet when riding a bicycle.
Drivers should also be careful and be respectful of cyclists. Be especially careful and watch for children who may be walking or bicycling to school in neighborhoods with school zones, when backing up, and during the time of day when school starts or ends.
Choosing active transportation like biking can help Concord make progress toward its sustainability goals and is a great way to get some exercise and enjoy nature. We hope you’ll join us in celebrating bike month by going for a ride.