| | Bikes are more than fun, they change lives - all the time, everywhere.
People ride bikes for transportation, recreation and sport. At last count there were one billion of us worldwide, or one in seven persons. Most people ride bikes for transportation and half of all riders live in China. There are 50 million riders in the USA, or one in six persons, and most ride for recreation. Bike riding is well represented across ethnic, gender and age groups everywhere it's found.
Bikes let HIV/AIDS outreach workers reach 50% more beneficiaries in Ghana. Four fifths of all urban USA police departments use bikes to reach crime scenes quickly, resulting in 50% more daily arrests than motorized officers. In the Netherlands, bikes account for half of all trips taken in some cities. Similarly, one third of all people commute to work by bike in some Swedish cities.
Riding bikes makes you healthier and feel better. Just 20 miles per week reduces coronary heart disease and diabetic insulin dependence by half. It increases bone density and improves memory recall among persons over 55 years. Moderate riding burns 450 kcal per hour, reducing body fat and fighting obesity. Anxiety, stress and depression are all alleviated bike riding.
Bike riding greatly enhances personal mobility, contributing to increases in income and access to education. And it's just plain fun! | | | |  |
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