May marks the return of National Bike Month, a celebration especially relevant this year.

Cycling is a perfect socially distanced activity, and because of the pandemic, bike sales increased in 2020. The nationwide trend holds true in North Texas says Heather McNair, president of BikeDFW.

“Within a month of the pandemic starting, people were looking for a way to get out, get some exercise and some fresh air,” McNair said. She also notes that bike shops and retailers like Walmart and Target were frequently sold out of bikes. “It’s been a huge boom for bikes,” she said.

BikeDFW wasn’t able to hold in-person education classes during the pandemic. Now, at the start of National Bike Month, the group will make some stops around the region to teach about the benefits of bike riding: reducing traffic, reducing heart disease, saving money and more. 

On Friday, BikeDFW will celebrate Bike to Work Day, a day for people to consider the bicycle as a mode of transportation. The organization encourages people to ride their bikes and use the hashtag #BikeThereDFW and join them at Merit Coffee Co. in Deep Ellum for discounted drinks in the morning. 

“I don’t think anybody could have predicted exactly how big cycling would play into [the pandemic], but it’s just been so cool, particularly in the early days of the pandemic when traffic was much lighter and you’d see whole families out on their bikes in the middle of the day,” McNair said.

McNair said that more people have realized bicycles and e-bikes can be used for quick errands, commutes to work or pure enjoyment. 

Through education classes and informational resources, BikeDFW hopes to keep the “bike love” momentum going. 

Take a look at some of the events bike groups will celebrate for National Bike Month and beyond:

BikeDFW:

• Friday, 7-9 a.m. –  Bike to Work Day
  
• Tuesday, 8-9 a.m. – Virtual Bikes & Coffee with BikeDFW
• May 28, 6:30-11:30 p.m – Dallas Critical Mass/End of Bike Month Celebration

Dallas Bicycle Coalition:

• Wednesday, 6:30-8:30 p.m. – Ride of Silence Grand Prairie

   Bike Friendly Fort Worth:

• May 29, noon-2 p.m. – Friendly Ride

Bike Denton:

• Saturday, 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. – Bike with the Mayor

DORBA – Dallas Off-Road Bicycle Association:

• May 25 at 6:30 p.m. –  DORBA Drop-In: Corinth
• June 22 at 6:30 p.m. – DORBA Drop-In: Katie Jackson
• July 17 at 6 a.m. –  Judgment Day 2021
• July 18 at 6 a.m. – Judgment Day 2021

Got a tip? Email Mia Estrada at mestrada@kera.org. You can follow her on Twitter @miaaestrada.

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