Biking has a big economic impact on my life. I feel like I save a lot of money by not using my car, and I think there are definitely economic benefits to better long term health! I enjoy it immensely and I’ve enjoyed planning my bike rides around completing errands.
Why I Bike
Every cyclist has a story. What’s yours?
RI Bike’s ‘Why I Bike’ stories are a great way to learn about our cycling neighbors and to show all the ways people bike in Rhode Island. If you’d like to share your story, let us know.
[This is 'Why I Bike']
Betty B.
Riding my bike is fun and satisfying, economical and eye opening and educational and you can eat all you want all day.
John D.
I have a project that I’ve been working on for a while now, a map of Rhode Island generated entirely by the GPS data from bike rides that I’ve done. With that in my head, I’m always looking for new roads to ride, and different routes and shortcuts get prioritized. It’ll keep me busy for years.
Kelsey
I learned how to ride a bicycle when I was around 7years old. My father taught me how to ride on a red Raleigh. I lived on a very busy road and in order to gain more independence and ride further than my driveway, I picked up the skill quickly.
Bronxie
My human tells me that riding a bike reminds her of when she was a kid, and she loves how freeing and energizing it is. She really enjoys getting some exercise along the way, too.
John S.
Biking is an integral part of my life. Whenever I run into a friend or acquaintance, the first question I am always asked is, “did you bike here.” More often than not the answer is yes.
Stevie
Cycling has been very important to me, it’s gotten me through the lowest parts of my life and if I couldn’t do it than I would probably become intolerable. Experiencing new places on a bike is bliss to me, I’ve done it in 3 different countries now and it’s my favorite way to get around.
Bart
Biking gave me the opportunity to be friends and interact with folks of all walks of life.
Gonzalo
Biking has been a part of my life forever. As a young kid in the 80s, a bicycle = freedom. I don’t ride nearly as much as I’d like to, but I am steadily increasing my biking time.
Daria
15 years ago, I needed to find exercise I liked. I went from “i don’t bike” to “100 miles a week” over the course of 2 weeks.
Molly
The fresh air and simplicity of riding my bike is what keeps me coming back to the two wheels. I bike to work year round and try to do as many errands by bicycle that I can. I enjoy getting out of the city and getting on the bike path when I can but I equally appreciate just wandering on back roads in Providence and Pawtucket.
Barry
I joke I went from 8 million (NYC) to 8000 (Davis CA) in 1961 just as the U of California was planning a vast expansion fully incorporating bicycling and discouraging cars. I didn’t have a car so did all my travel by bike as did most others.