Published May 17, 2022

Celebrate Bike Month this May

Heads up! This article was published 2 years ago.

May is National Bike Month, and Dayton has a lot to celebrate. Home to more than 340 miles of paved trails — the nation’s largest paved trail network — the Dayton region is the perfect place to explore on two wheels.

It takes a village to help connect people to these amazing amenities, which is why Five Rivers MetroParks teams up with Bike Miami Valley to advocate, promote and provide cycling opportunities for people of all ages.

MetroParks also manages portions of six paved recreation trails and works to fill the gaps in the paved trail network at high-priority areas, such as along the Wolf Creek Trail.

Whether you are ready to tackle cycling to work or are just dusting off your bike, there are many reasons to start cycling this May:

Get in shape while getting to work: According to the Atlanta Bicycle Coalition, those who opt to bike to work will lose an average of 13 pounds their first year commuting.

Cost savings: Those who opt to cycle instead of drive can save about $10 per round trip on average.

Fight climate change: According to Bike Hint, 1.2 billion cubic yards of polluted air and millions of tons of solid waste are produced simply by manufacturing cars. A passenger car produces about 0.96 pounds of carbon omissions, whereas bikes produce 0.074 pounds – and that’s only because of human respiration!

Smart cyclers: According to Momentum Mag, research has proved that moderate, daily exercise – such as cycling – can prevent cognitive decline and sharpen memory and learning.

Skip getting stuck: Those who live in urban area understand that traffic can be a challenge. Cyclists are rarely affected by traffic jams and other delays. Plus, it’s easy to find somewhere to park a bike, especially with ample (and free) bike parking in downtown Dayton.

Celebrate Bike to Work Day at RiverScape MetroPark

The annual Bike to Work Day Pancake Breakfast returns to RiverScape MetroPark on Friday, May 20, from 7 to 9 AM Bike to RiverScape MetroPark before heading to work to enjoy flying flapjacks, live music, cycling expo and more. Pre-register your ride as a team or individual for the chance to win cool prizes. Learn more and pre-register.

Riding resources

Covering all things cycling in the greater Dayton region, MetroParks’ Get Out & Live Facebook Page and Get Out & Bike Facebook Group are a great resources for those who are interested in getting comfortable on a bike and riding as a form of transportation. Other great resources include:

Mountain Bike Rentals: MetroParks Mountain Biking Area (MoMBA) offers mountain bike rentals most weekends throughout the season. MoMBA offers nine miles of mountain biking trails for little ones and new riders to the most advanced mountain biker. Equipment rentals are for all ages and include safety gear. Reservations can be made online by visiting metroparks.org/mombarentals.

Link Bikes: A program offered by Bike Miami Valley and the Greater Dayton RTA, Link Bike Share offers bike hubs located throughout the greater downtown Dayton area. The Link system was recently expanded in early May with seven new hubs located at Deeds Point MetroPark, Welcome Park and elsewhere. Link offers standard and electric-assist bikes, making it easy to rent a bike to travel between hubs so you can opt to bike instead of drive to your favorite downtown-area destinations. Learn more at linkdayton.org.

MetroPark’s Virtual Bike Month is presented by: