| 04/30/2002 | Contrary to popular belief, it is possible to lose weight and have fun at the same time. The proven method: ride your bike.
Recreational bike riding is a safe, low-impact, aerobic activity for Americans of all ages; not only that, it’s fun and gets you where you need to go. A 150-pound cyclist burns 410 calories while pedaling 12 miles in an hour—almost the equivalent calories of a McDonald’s Quarter Pounder®. A 200-pound cyclist burns 546 calories while going 12 miles per hour—almost the equivalent of a Big Mac®.
Increasing the number of trips Americans make by bike could be a serious antidote in the fight against overweight and obesity. According to the 1995 Nationwide Personal Transportation Survey, 25% of all trips are made within a mile of the home, 40% of all trips are within two miles of the home, and 50% of the working population commutes five miles or less to work. Yet more than 82% of trips five miles or less are made by personal motor vehicle.
The President, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the Surgeon General, and the Secretary of Health and Human Services have all recently expressed concern over America’s overweight problem. According to the CDC, 61% of adults in the U.S. are overweight or obese; 13% of kids aged 6 to 11 and 14% of kids 12 to 19 are overweight. Obesity is second behind tobacco in U.S. health risk factors, contributing to 300,000 deaths a year.
President Bush, introducing Surgeon General Dr. Richard Carmona, said, "The doc and I are going to encourage all our country to either run or walk or swim or bicycle for the good of their families, for the good of their own health, and for the good of the health of the nation."
The year 2002 marks the 46th consecutive year the League has declared May to be National Bike Month. The League is also promoting Bike to Work Week from May 13 - 19 and Bike-to-Work Day on Friday, May 17. The League invites communities, corporations, clubs, and individuals to join in bicycling activities during May to increase awareness and acceptance of bicycling throughout the country.www.bikeleague.org
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