Start Your Day the Joyful Way — Ride Your Bike!

What words come to mind when you think about your commute? Maybe: Traffic. Delays. Rush Hour. Stress.

But what about: JOY?

Bike to Work Week is May 11–15. Biking is a great way to see the city, to experience things you don’t notice when you’re behind a windshield and to feel JOY, a feeling not commonly associated with the morning commute.

Bike to Work Week comes during Bike Month in Des Moines, an opportunity to highlight the benefits of taking the two-wheeled option to get to work, school, and play – and spend money along the way. The City of Des Moines kicked off Bike Month with the Mayor’s Annual Ride and a proclamation signing. There are more events happening throughout May across the metro including bike rides, meet-ups and activism opportunities. Find a full list here.

Bike to Work Week Benefits

Business owners, employers and housing providers that support active transportation options stand out from competitors. The benefits are many:

• Riding a bike to get to work reduces congestion, lowers emissions, wear on our streets, and eliminates the need for parking.
• The cost of car ownership is increasing. Monthly payments, insurance, maintenance and gasoline are making owning a vehicle unsustainable for many. Using a bike to get to a job provides a low-cost option for those hit hard with vehicle ownership expenses.
• The health benefits to employees are great. Cycling gets your legs and heart pumping, giving a boost of energy to start the day and a stress reliever on the way home. Healthier workers bring lower absenteeism, increased happiness, and better mental and physical health.
• With the cost of health insurance coverage and premiums increasing, opportunities to support a low barrier to entry physical activity like biking can improve the bottom line.

We love it when property owners and employers provide secure indoor bike storage for employees and residents of multi-family housing. A modest investment in a bike room with adequate bike racks shows support to folks who choose a sustainable route to get around.

One great example of this comes from the City of Des Moines. The new City Hall, and Municipal Service Centers 1 & 2, all offer indoor bike storage for employees, with City Hall even providing a shower. We encourage others to follow their lead.