May is National Bike Month, where communities coast to coast celebrate the many benefits of cycling and encourage more people to give it a try. For 2021, the theme for Bike Month is #BikeThere, so get out for a ride this month, and don't forget to inspire others by sharing and tagging your ride.
5 Ways to Celebrate Bike Month in Sacramento
Ready to participate in Bike Month in Sacramento? Here are 5 ways to do it:
Pledge, Log, and Win!
At mayisbikemonth.com, join the bike your city challenge to replace car trips with bike trips. Make a pledge for how many trips you'll make by bike for the month, log your rides, and you could win e-badges and prizes.
Join SABA Events
Sacramento Area Bicycle Advocates is offering a series of rides for you to enjoy. Most are virtual or RIY (ride it yourself) events to encourage safe, socially distanced rides this year.
Get out and RIY with this week's SABA Mural Tour activity! Ride to the murals around Sacramento and take a selfie. Tag your pictures with #mayisbikmonth #sacbikes2021 and #sacbike to earn swag.
Follow May is Bike Month on Instagram for more virtual events and challenges throughout the month.
Bike to Work
According to Bikeleague.org, California is the #4 rated bike-friendly state in the nation, with Sacramento earning a Silver ranking on its bicycle-friendly report card. Help us get to Gold by commuting by bike this month!
Commuting by bike supports healthier, greener communities by removing CO2 emissions from the air. But that's not all; commuting by bike supports healthier residents, too.
A British Medical Journal published a study confirming what most cyclists already know to be true: cycling to work is really good for your health. According to the study, people who bike to work (compared to those who drove or took public transit) had a substantially lower risk of cardiovascular disease, cancer, and death from all causes.
If a bike commute feels out of reach, then look for ways to swap out car trips for bike trips when you're closer to home, such as biking to a store, grabbing lunch or coffee, or even biking your kids to the nearest park.
Discover the Best Sacramento Bike Trails
Sacramento has a wide range of incredible bike trails in the region. Whether you're looking for a trail to help you commute to work, or simply for a recreational activity, Sacramento bike trails are simply the best.
From the Sacramento River Parkway Trail to the American River Trail and everything in between, Sac bike trails showcase the natural beauty and history of the region.
Check out 7 Swoon-Worthy Sacramento Bike Trails to Love and 5 More of the Best Bike Trails in Sacramento to find a trail to ride this month!
Explore Outside the Sacramento Region
If you've biked all of Sacramento's trails, it may be time to start exploring outside of Sac! Sacramento's proximity to the Bay Area, Napa Valley, and Sierra Nevadas mean endless cycling adventure opportunities.
Take the family to the Auburn Bike Park in Auburn, CA, for a fun day of pump tracks and mountain bike trails for all skill levels.
Experience the Napa Valley Vine Trail that takes you past Oxbow Public Market to Yountville. It's a ride full of scenic vineyards, murals, sculptures, parks, and river views.
Get some fresh coastal air and sweeping ocean views on the Half Moon Bay Coastal Trail, a 10-mile roundtrip. This paved trail is an easy ride with plenty of opportunities to get off your bike and put your feet in the sand.
The Sierra Nevadas offers so many opportunities to bike through Lake Tahoe and its surrounding areas. The Arnold Rim Trail is a mid-elevation path in the central Sierra Nevada Range offering breathtaking vistas and panoramic views stretching from Mt. Diablo in the East Bay area to snowy Mt. Lyell on the high eastern slopes of the Sierras near Yosemite.
For serious road cyclists, the ride from Bishop to Rock Creek is a must-ride. California's highest paved road puts this climb on any serious cyclist's bucket list. Bishop is surrounded by an infinite network of star-studded mountain bike trails as well.
May in the Sacramento region offers ideal conditions to get on your bike and ride. So enjoy the warm weather, gorgeous natural views, and celebrate Bike Month, Sacramento-style.