We close our series of PeopleforBikes research-based advocacy talking points posts with one of the most important points we can make: biking is good for kids’ health!.
There are obvious reasons why any bike advocate would want to see more kids on bikes, including the fact that youth are our communities’ future riders and the next generation of community leaders.
What’s less often talked about are the holistic health benefits bicycling offers children.
Aside from the obvious physical benefits of increased activity, young people who engage in regular physical activity report fewer depression and anxiety symptoms, have higher self-esteem, and also perform better academically than kids who are inactive.
Additionally, Outride’s “Riding for Friends, Fun, and Fitness” report highlights how youth who ride regularly report higher levels of mental well-being and spend fewer hours in front of screens.
We’re fortunate in Fairfax County to have a solid Safe Routes to School program, non-profit groups like Trails for Youth, and efforts such as the Herndon Middle School Bike Shop to promote youth bicycling. But, in a county of more than 1 million residents, we should be doing more.
Want to help promote better youth bicycling? Join FABB today!
