Whether you’re a bicycle enthusiast or a novice, National Bike Month is a perfect time for people to celebrate, enjoy the warm weather, and consider the benefits of regular bike riding. This May take a moment to consider how riding a bike can have a positive impact on your finances, health, and the environment.

In honor of National Bike Month, there are tons of events being held across the country. There are bicycle parades and rodeos in states like Minnesota. States like Hawaii are hosting “Bike to Work Day.” complete with energizer stations at local stores. Looking for bike classes? In New York, there are bike-riding classes for kids and in South Carolina, there are safe traffic maneuvering classes. There are tons of other ways to get involved in your local community.

Facts for National Bike Month

To celebrate National Bike Month, check out some of these are some Mindful Living biking facts.

1. Tons of health benefits. Riding a bike can do wonders for your health. Bicycling can help you burn calories, tone muscles, improve mental health, boost your immune system and even lengthen your lifespan.  And the best part is that it doesn’t take long to reap the benefits. Riding consistently throughout the week (to work, the grocery store, etc.) can help you lose 13 pounds in your first year.
2. Save money. One of the great things about riding a bike is that it saves you money. The price of gas has gotten lower, but it can still drain the family finances. Paying to maintain a car is far more expensive than caring for a bike. And fewer cars on the street also mean less road wear (like potholes), saving taxpayer money.  In all, it’s been reported that bicycling could save Americans $4.6 billion.
3. Protect the environment. Limiting the amount of CO2 into the air is one of the biggest environmental benefits of using a bike. Cars and other motor vehicles make up 31 percent of the total carbon dioxide emissions in the U.S. and “a short four-mile bicycle trip keeps 15 pounds of the pollutants out of the air.”
4. Strengthening a community. National Bike Month events aren’t the only ways bikes bring communities together. Some neighborhoods or schools host community bicycle events for the kids. There are also groups that bicycle to work together. Thinking about training for a bike race? There are local training groups you can try.
5. Great for the kids. With the pleasant weather we’ve been having recently, National Bike Month may be the perfect time for adults to give young kids their first bicycle lesson. It’s a fun, bonding experience too. And with childhood obesity have doubled in the past 30 years, it will also be a great way for kids to get exercise.