Bicycles are a fabulous mode of transportation. With the weather becoming milder, I’ve seen many more people riding their two, three, and four wheelers–the four wheelers being bikes with training wheels. I’ve yet to spy a unicycle in recent months, but I know you talented riders are out there.
If not of the motorized variety, bicycles are also a great full-body exercise with the primary muscles used, you guessed it, in your legs. Outdoor cycling, versus indoor stationary bikes, promote a greater core and upper body workout to maintain balance. Another muscle that may not come to mind when thinking of the benefits of biking is your heart. In 2016, the journal Circulation reported the results of a study which showed that people who regularly participated in leisurely bike riding had a lower risk of coronary heart disease (CHD) compared to those who did not ride. Additionally, initiating or continuing the practice was also valuable in the prevention of CHD.
Bicycles also are revered for recreation. John F. Kennedy said, “Nothing compares to the simple pleasure of a bike ride.” Our local legend, Jack London, on biking: “Ever bike? Now that’s something that makes life worth living.”
A bike is a vehicle
Whether you’re riding to get you where you need to go or just because it’s fun, please remember—and teach your children—the proper rules of the road when on a bike. When I moved to Alameda years ago, I took a course from Bike East Bay on bike safety. Up to that point, I had lived most of my life in San Francisco and we mostly used our bikes for recreation on the occasional ride through Golden Gate Park. I saw a grand opportunity for my bike to become a source of transportation in Alameda.
The course, Bike Safety, was about wearing the proper gear while riding, basic bike maintenance, and most importantly, how to be safe on the road. The biggest “aha!” was the emphasis that a bike is a vehicle. Allow me to clarify. Unless you are younger than school age, do not ride your bike on the sidewalk. Once my children were proficient at riding, I had them ride in the bike lane with me. As the rider of a vehicle, you are required to obey the rules of the road as a vehicle should. When crossing intersections, you must stop if there is a stop sign. If you use the crosswalk, you must dismount and walk your bike as a pedestrian. Learn and use hand signals. There is so much more, but these are the things I see riders failing to do the most.
Share the road
Auto drivers and bikers need to mutually acknowledge that each has a right to be on and use the road. When there is a bike lane, it should be used, both for the safety of the rider and for the consideration of drivers. Drivers need to be careful when moving into the bike lane to turn. The bike lane is not a lane to drive in. Bikers have very little to protect them if it comes down to car versus bike. For the safety of all, share the road.
Tune ups are not just for cars
Bicycle maintenance is a must. We are in the internet era, where you can learn how to tune up your bike online, but Bike East Bay offers a variety of resources for hands-on learning. Some workshops are even free.
Let’s all watch out for each other. I may be on my bike or I may be in my car. Regardless, I’ll see you on the road. Stay safe everyone!
Contributing writer Denise Lum is a Health and Fitness Coach raising her family in Alameda. Contact her via [email protected] or FitnessByDsign.com. Her writing is collected at AlamedaPost.com/Denise-Lum.
