At the request of Be Well Barton County, a coalition of folks promoting access to convenient and safe active transportation for all county residents, the County Commission Monday  morning adopted a proclamation marking this as National Bike Month.

 According to the League of American Cyclists, National Bike Month has been recognized since 1956, and the League has sponsored this celebration of cycling for decades, as a means to advance the movement to build a bicycle-friendly America for everyone.

National Bike to Work Week and Bike to Work Day are often cited as the month’s flagship events, occurring the third week and third Friday of May, respectively. This year, Bike to Work Week will be May 11-15 and Bike to Work Day will be May 15.

These are simple, inexpensive, ways to observe this important event.

Here are some numbers.

So far this year, nationally, 57,645 riders taking part in the National Bike Challenge have ridden 3,722,636 miles, burning over 125 million calories, saving over $450,000 and preventing over 740,000 pounds of CO2 from entering the atmosphere.

Closer to home, the 43 NBC bicyclists of Central Kansas riders (from Barton, Ellsworth and Russell counties), have ridden over 3,000 miles, buring 169,000 calories, saving $186 and preventing 297 pounds of carbon emissions.

But, there is more to the story.

The bicycle is an economical, healthy, convenient, and environmentally sound form of transportation and an excellent tool for recreation and enjoyment of Barton County’s scenic beauty and Barton County’s extensive road and trail system attracts bicyclists each year, providing economic health, transportation, tourism and scenic benefits.

Creating a bicycling-friendly community has been shown to improve citizens’ health, well-being and quality of life, growing the economy of Barton County, attracting tourism dollars, improving traffic safety, supporting student learning outcomes, and reducing pollution, congestion, and wear and tear on our streets and roads.

It is important to acknowledge all that has been done by local governments in the support of cycling. The County Commission approved the installation of a bike lane and bike signage on West Barton County Road out to the Great Bend Hike and Bike Trail trail head and recently, it approved a series of signs on rural blacktops cautioning motorists that they must pass a cyclist by at least three feet.

The City of Great Bend, too, had installed signs and bike racks, and painted sharrows.

All those involved need to be thanked as county residents look forward to a continued partnership. 

So, everyone needs to sign up for the bike challenge and discover, or rediscover, for themselves the joys of riding a bike.

Dale Hogg