70th Annual Bike Month! Biking to Cleaner, Healthier, and More Connected Communities

05/22/26

This year marks the 70th anniversary of National Bike Month, first established by the League of American Bicyclists in May 1956. Today, communities across the country  celebrate each May by highlighting the importance of improving sustainable biking infrastructure and promoting the health and community benefits of riding a bike.

Bike Month in the San Diego region typically features events such as Bike Anywhere Day, a daylong celebration with pit stops, snacks, giveaways and raffles for riders. Group rides and community events are also organized and hosted across the region by SANDAG, bike clubs, advocacy groups, businesses, and planning agencies.

Key activities during this month include classes on bike safety and skills, bike commuting, rules of the road, and riding tips that can strongly encourage people to choose biking over driving. San Diego County also plays a strong role in Bike Month through SANDAG’s Sustainable Transportation Services program (formerly known as iCommute).

Individuals with bikes at a tabling booth

Bike Month also supports the County of San Diego’s (County's) Climate Action Plan (CAP) and its overall goal of reducing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. Specifically, CAP Action 5.1 focuses on improving County roadways by implementing the County's Active Transportation Plan to install 345 miles of sidewalk and 315 miles of bikeways by 2030. The objective is to encourage alternative modes of transportation, such as bicycling, to reduce vehicle miles traveled (VMT) in the unincorporated area. This is especially important because the Built Environment and Transportation sector is the largest source of GHG emissions in the unincorporated area.

Biking helps reduce VMT by serving as a form of zero-emission travel. Every trip taken on a bicycle instead of a gas‑powered car reduces exhaust emissions, and even short trips add up to meaningful GHG reductions over time! Bicycling can also help reduce traffic congestion. Fewer cars on the road mean less traffic, lower pollution, and added health benefits for individuals and communities.

Ultimately, Bike Month is more than a celebration, it's a reminder of the role we all play in creating a healthier San Diego County. Every time someone chooses a bike over a gas‑powered vehicle, they help promote cycling as a safe and convenient transportation option while supporting the County’s CAP goals. These individual choices encourage shifts toward sustainable travel and help build momentum for local policy and community advocacy.

To stay up to date with CAP initiatives, please visit the CAP website, sign up for our monthly newsletter, and follow us on Facebook, Instagram, and X.