This year, August 3 is Cycle to Work Day in the United Kingdom, and it’s a pretty big thing. As summer gives way to autumn, citizens hang their vehicle keys on a hook and instead grab a helmet so they can vary their morning commutes. The joy of pedalling to victory as a youth need not be relegated to the past with this event on the calendar. It’s beneficial for you, the environment, and that garage-bound bicycle. Get on the road!
The background of Cycle to Work Day
The League of American Bicyclists originated the idea of designating one day a year to ride a bicycle to the office in 1956. What began as a single day quickly grew to encompass an entire week, and then an entire National Bike Month, which is now celebrated annually in May. As for the more accessible Cycle to Work Day, the United Kingdom adopted the concept in 2011 and gave it a significant community boost. They even established a holiday-based organisation.
During World War II, the United States and many other nations experienced a gas shortage among civilians as a result of the high demand from active military organisations. This resulted in the materials being rationed, preventing people from hopping into their cars whenever they required transportation.
In response to a petrol shortage, a large number of residents adopted walking and bicycling as alternative, fuel-free modes of transportation. So, when the League of American Bicyclists established the concept in 1956, they were attempting to resurrect a healthier era by encouraging citizens to brush off their bicycles from the previous decade and begin pedalling.
Today, the term “Cycling to Work” has an entirely new connotation. As greenhouse gases undermine the balance of the Earth’s environment, the consequences of driving vehicles powered by petroleum are much more dire. By eschewing automobiles in favour of bicycles, people from all over the world can work together to reduce the emission of greenhouse gases while maintaining their own physical health.
World MotorCycle Day 2023: Date, History, Facts, Activities
5 BICYCLING FACTS THAT WILL INSPIRE YOU TO TRY
Bicycle maintenance is 20 times less expensive than automobile maintenance.
When bicycles were first made available to the public, they were referred to as velocipedes.
Each year, bicycles save 238 million gallons of petroleum.
Cycling is recommended by physicians to reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease and stroke.
Humans can cycle three times faster for the same quantity of energy expended walking.
CYCLE TO WORK DAY DATES
| Year | Date | Day |
|---|---|---|
| 2023 | August 3 | Thursday |
