March is Florida Bicycle Month, which serves as a celebration of the many benefits of cycling for transportation, exercise, and enjoyment. As both a transportation engineer and longtime Florida resident, I believe we should fully embrace this month as an opportunity to promote bicycling throughout Palm Beach County.
Bicycling is an excellent form of exercise that can help address our obesity epidemic. The CDC estimates that 27.5% of Floridians are obese, ranking us 29th nationally. Regular cycling can help people lose weight, improve cardiovascular health, and prevent chronic diseases. And what better way to get in shape than by simply using your bicycle for transportation needs! Even short rides to work, the store, or friends’ houses can make a big difference over time.
Beyond physical health, bicycling also provides mental health benefits. Pedaling along neighborhood streets or scenic trails helps reduce stress and anxiety. And cycling with friends or family can provide an enjoyable social activity too. With Florida’s year-round warm weather and mostly flat terrain, there’s never a bad time to go for a relaxing ride.
For many Palm Beach County residents, especially in our more urban neighborhoods, bicycling can also be an efficient, affordable transportation choice. When safe infrastructure like bike lanes and trails exist, people can opt out of costly and stressful car commutes in favor of bike commutes. This also reduces air pollution and traffic congestion. Safe, connected bike infrastructure also serves to connect people to jobs and school, creating opportunity for all. Events like Florida Bicycle Month help raise awareness of cycling as a viable transit option.
As a signature Florida activity, bicycling deserves our full support. This March, I encourage everyone to pedal into a healthier, happier lifestyle. Try riding to new destinations or leading a family bike trip. Or simply take time to appreciate Palm Beach County’s beauty from two wheels. Our future depends on creating bicycle-friendly communities that provide transportation choices. Florida Bicycle Month is the perfect time to move in that direction.
Uyen Dang, PE, is a traffic and transportation engineer with expertise in mobility planning, cycling infrastructure design, and quick-build implementation. She is the former City of West Palm Beach traffic engineer, creator of FloridaBicycleMonth.com, and founder and principal of DDEC, an engineering, planning, and design firm with offices in Delray Beach, Tamarac, North Miami, and St. Augustine.
