BEG Bicycles is a British company with a superbly charming website. The biking images used in this post are pure joy; unfiltered happiness for our hearts. Of course biking is nostalgic but it’s also a high-priority mode of transportation in some of the world’s happiest (translated wellbeing) countries like the Netherlands and Denmark.

Some American cities promote biking, making safety and ease of getting around town a high priority. Yet, inspite of all we know about the health benefits of biking and fast walking, we Americans are getting fatter and remain generally unwilling to get on a bike, compared to other countries.

Ride With Sophie

Biking in America Good News

The vision of bikers as rugged, lycra-wearing guys has given way to women riding in dresses and pumps, along with casual attire. In New York City, bicycling was up 66% from 2007-2009, and injuries are down 50% with more bike lanes and respect for bikers among auto drivers.

New York has encouraged biking around town with new bike lanes and safety measures. In four American cities — Eugene-Springfield, OR; Fort Collins-Loveland, CO; Missoula, MT and Boulder, CO about 5% of people bike to work. Here in Philadelphia, the 2009 percent was 2.16 with an unusually high mix of female riders. Bicycle commuting increased 151 percent from 2000 to 2009 in Philadelphia.

Biking in America Reality Check