Riding for our future: A Pathway to Climate Action, Mental Health, and Resilient Communities

This article is part of a new series “What are we waiting for?” where we address things we can all do today to improve our well-being and help protect the environment. 

BY Mira Molthen

Climate change can evoke feelings of complex anxiety, with global and US surveys showing especially high levels of climate distress in young people. Engaging in activities that support being connected to nature and taking collective action has been shown to benefit our mental health. Active transportation, such as biking, walking, or using a wheelchair, is an excellent example of an activity that has the potential to benefit our physical, mental, and environmental health and also strengthen community connections that support collective action. 

Let’s take a look at some long-term benefits of active transportation: 

Reduce Carbon Emissions: 

One study found that cyclists had 84% lower CO2 emissions from all daily travel compared to those who do not cycle. As transportation makes up the largest portion of annual greenhouse gas emissions, participating in biking and other forms of active transportation provides a way to significantly reduce these emissions. E-bikes and scooters are also significantly reducing demand for oil, even compared with electric vehicles. It is important to note that busing and car sharing also reduce CO2 emissions. Reducing these emissions helps to reduce the global annual temperature increase. This, in turn, helps to mitigate and stop the long-term effects of climate change. 

Establish Biking Culture: 

When we participate in active transportation, we are paving the way for the future, not only by mitigating GHG emissions but by creating and supporting infrastructure that will be sustained for many generations. Infrastructure that will benefit mental, physical, and environmental health. Sustainable practices are fundamentally linked to caring about youth. Active transportation is considered the most sustainable form of transportation. Community involvement in active transportation can be experienced by all ages. Take, for example, the bike bus, an activity that transforms communities and the planet “through the simple act of riding bikes to school together.” Another way to commute may involve adding innovative “cargo” seats that support the transportation of kids, groceries, and other materials via bike. Although it may seem like a big investment at the moment, an electric bike also allows for swifter transportation while remaining environmentally friendly.  

Dr. Howard Frumkin, the Director of the National Center for Environmental Health/Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry at the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, believes: we should approach the climate crisis with hope. He proposes that this hope entails a “virtuous cycle,” in which hope leads to activity, which, in turn, leads to more hope. What are we waiting for? Incorporating active transportation into our lives is a way to practice this cycle. Not only are we actively paving the way for a sustainable future, but we are also creating cycles of wellness and community care. 

We recognize that not everyone has the opportunity to participate in active transportation. There are also different ways to get involved in advocating for active transportation and environmental health awareness in your community. The Safe Routes to School initiative advocates for active transportation to school, and is a great way to get involved in sharing the benefits of biking! Check out People for Bikes for ways to advocate for biking. If you live in Wisconsin, the Bike Federation and Bikes for Kids are also local organizations where you can get involved. Linked here is a program that provides kids with free helmets in Wisconsin.