By Kyle Loring

May is National Bike Month! And on Saturday, May 15th, a Share the Road community bike ride will take to the streets of Friday Harbor, and then Cattle Point Road, to spread the share-the-road message for bikes and autos. So why should you join others in that ride, or just go for a ride yourself as spring weather turns to summer? Well, here are just a few of the reasons:

It benefits your health with:

• Decreased risk of heart disease.
• Reduced risks from diabetes.
• Easier weight management.
• Muscle toning.
• Decreased stress, anxiety, and depression.

And as if that weren’t enough, here are a few of the environmental benefits:

• The WorldWatch Institute calculates that a 4-mile round trip by bicycle keeps about 15 pounds of pollutants out of the air we breathe.
• Of all air emissions in the U.S., motor vehicles emit 31% of total carbon dioxide, 81% of total carbon monoxide, and 59% of nitrogen oxides. (The Green Commuter)
• More trips by bike means less wear and tear on the roads, meaning less road construction and repair and all of the materials used for those activities.
• Riding a bike rather than a car reduces oil in our stormwater (anyone who has cycled our roads during a rain storm can tell you that they carry a LOT of oil).
• By avoiding gasoline, bicycles avoid the substantial pollution involved in gasoline production.

Cycling does add weight in one area-the wallet. The League of American Bicyclists estimates that a bicycle costs only $120 a year. In contrast, AAA estimates that the cost of operating a sedan for one year is $7,800. Of course, anyone who has made a couple trips to a bike shop can tell you that $120 may be a low estimate, but the trade from $3/gallon gasoline to the occasional chain grease or bike tire definitely keeps more cash in the pocket, and not in the hands of far-off oil barons.

So get on out and ride!