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Saddle up! It's National Bicycle Month

Dust off those bicycles and embrace the power of the pedal during May. Friday, May 17, is Bike to Work Day, the largest concurrent bicycle commute in America. Bike to Work Week is May 13-17 and is part of May’s National Bike Month.

Bicycling to work can save money, improve health and help the environment, so ITD encourages people to “Think outside the car” and use May as an opportunity to celebrate the unique power of the bicycle and the many reasons people bike.

ITD reminds motorists to expect bicycles on the roads and that drivers should yield to bicyclists, don’t honk at them, and give them space when passing.

Bicyclists need to obey traffic laws, ride single file with the traffic, avoid riding on sidewalks and be predictable. They should use head- and taillights at night and wear light, bright colors to be seen.

Bicycle riders also should beware of the “door zone” to avoid getting hit by a parked car’s opening door.

Approximately $5 can be saved for every 10 miles bicycled rather than driven. Because bicycling improves health, money may be saved on ever-rising health costs. Using bicycles to commute also reduces congestion and saves gasoline expenses. A four-mile round trip by bicycle keeps approximately 15 lbs. of pollutants out of the air.

Learn more about bicycling in Idaho at itd.idaho.gov and click on Bike/Pedestrian.