EAST LANSING, Mich. — The City of East Lansing is excited to announce that it is a flagship city for the nation-wide Life is a Cycle bike event.
My City Bikes has teamed up with 18 cities nation-wide, including the City of East Lansing, to host the Life is a Cycle beginner-friendly bike ride series throughout the month of May, which is National Bike Month. Life is a Cycle gives local residents the opportunity to bike on area streets, paths and trails in the safety of a group. Participants will get hands-on experience and confidence pedaling around town that will make a lasting impact on their physical activity levels. Event proceeds will benefit the American Heart Association.
What: Life is a Cycle is a group bike ride that teaches community members where to bike commute and the need-to-know essentials for biking transportation. The East Lansing ride distance will be seven miles.
Who: The event is open to the public. Registration is $1.50 before the ride and $5 on the ride day. Proceeds are donated to the American Heart Association.
When: Friday, May 12, 2017 at 6 p.m.
Where: Patriarche Park (route is available at www.lifeisacycle.bike)
Why: Every mile that a person bikes for transportation can reduce their risk for heart disease [1], save a pound of pollution from going into the air [2] and put 48 cents back in their pocket [3]. Biking to work has increased by 60 percent across the United States since 2000 [4]. Participants will learn about bike commuting from the experts who build their local bike infrastructure and will learn about strategies for blended commuting with a car or public transportation.
Life is a Cycle is an event for anyone who has ever been curious about bike commuting and is a rare opportunity to experience active transportation in a group setting. The event also allows beginner bike commuters to experience the community’s bike lanes, paths and shared-use roads with a group and local ride leaders. The event is brought to the community by the City of East Lansing, KIND and My City Bikes. Visit www.lifeisacycle.bike for more information and to register for the East Lansing event.
SOURCES
[1] Recreational, commuter biking linked to lower cardiovascular disease risk: http://newsroom.heart.org/news/recreational-commuter-biking-linked-to-lower-cardiovascular-disease-risk
[2] New Study Compares Bicycling's CO2 Emissions to Other Modes: http://bikeportland.org/2011/12/12/new-study-compares-bicyclings-co2-emissions-to-other-modes-63536
[3] Average Operating Cost of Bicycle: http://vault.sierraclub.org/pressroom/downloads/BikeMonth_Factsheet_0512.pdf/ Commuter Driving Statistics: http://www.statisticbrain.com/commute-statistics/
[4] Biking to work increases 60% in past decade: http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2014/05/08/bike-commuting-popularity-grows/8846311/