Are You Up for the "Iowa Goes By Bicycle" Challenge?

by Audrey Wiedemeier, Program Coordinator
Iowa Bicycle Coalition

The Iowa Goes By Bicycle Challenge is nearly underway! If you haven’t already heard, the Iowa Bicycle Coalition has launched a statewide wellness campaign called Iowa Goes By Bicycle. Iowa Goes By Bicycle aims to promote bicycling as an effective way to combat the plague of inactive lifestyles in our state. Lack of physical activity is leading to increased health consequences for Iowans, but by simply replacing short trips by car with a bicycle, each of us can reap the benefits of a healthy, active lifestyle. Fit exercise into your daily routine by commuting to work, running errands, or taking a weekend hiatus all by bicycle. In the process, you’ll not only experience a satisfying workout, but you’ll also be saving money on gas, benefiting the environment, and contributing healthier Iowa.

The Iowa Goes By Bicycle Challenge, an invitation for any citizen of Iowa to take part in a 5-month commitment to ride a bicycle more often, begins in only a few days. From seasoned cyclists to those who are learning to ride for the first time, anyone can take part in the Iowa Goes By Bicycle Challenge. This challenge is not just for avid bike riders, but is for anyone who is willing to set aside those car keys and improve the quality of life in our state.

The Challenge officially begins on Saturday, May 2nd with National Bike to Work Month and continues through the summer and into the fall, ending on October 14th. Simply sign-up, opt to ride your bicycle more, and log the minutes online. As incentive for those of you who may be hesitant, IGBB is also giving prizes of useful bicycling gear to a Challenge participant each week. Log five trips of any length during a week or a total weekly distance of 50 miles, and you’re automatically entered into that month’s raffle drawing.

For those of you who are new to biking, Iowa Goes By Bicycle has published the Iowa Goes By Bicycle Guide, a how-to bicycle manual. The guide provides beginners with the information necessary to start riding and also compiles a list of great biking spots in Iowa for cyclists of all calibers. The guides have been distributed to many local bicycle shops across the state but you can also request a guide online. 

Iowa Goes By Bicycle asks experienced cyclists to spread the word about the Challenge, form a team at your workplace, encourage friends and family to sign up, and mentor a beginning rider. As a seasoned bicyclist, you already know how fun and rewarding biking can be. We hope that you find time to share your love of bicycling with others and teach them the basics so that they can enjoy the benefits of a healthy, fulfilling, and fun lifestyle as well.

Iowa Goes By Bicycle is designed to help Iowans develop active transportation as a life habit and also show them the joys of bicycling. So go ahead. Grab a friend, get on your bike, and join the Iowa Goes By Bicycle team as we move to make Iowa a healthier place to live.

Sign-up or request the Guide at: iowagoesbybicycle.com

Have a bicycling story to share? Check out the “My Bike Story” link on our website.

Audrey Wiedemeier, Program Coordinator
audrey@iowabicyclecoalition.org

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