Why Biking to Work Is One of the Best Commute Choices You Can Make

May is Bike Everywhere Month and there’s never been a better time to get on your bike and head to work. Biking isn’t just good for the planet. It turns out it’s good for your wallet, your heart, and your mental health too.  

Biking Is One of the Most Powerful Things You Can Do for the Environment

Transportation is the largest source of greenhouse gas emissions in the United States, accounting for 28% of total U.S. greenhouse gas emissions in 2022, which is more than any other sector. The biggest driver of that? Personal light-duty vehicles like passenger cars, SUVs, and pickup trucks. Biking is one of the most direct ways to cut your personal transportation emissions to nearly nothing.

According to research from the University of Oxford, switching just one trip per day from car driving to cycling reduces your carbon footprint by about 0.5 tons over a year, which is a substantial share of average per capita emissions. You don't have to go car-free to make a difference. Even swapping your commute a few days a week adds up fast.

Over the long run, biking produces up to 30 times fewer greenhouse gas emissions per commuter than driving a typical gas-powered car, and that figure includes bike production and maintenance.

Biking Has Great Health Benefits

Think of your bike commute as a workout you're already doing anyway. The research backs this up in a big way. A landmark 18-year study published in BMJ Public Health tracked over 82,000 commuters in Scotland and found that, compared to non-active commuters, cyclists had significantly lower risks of death from all causes, hospitalization for any reason, and hospitalization or medication for cardiovascular disease.

The mental health benefits are real too. According to the 2024 Seattle Commute Survey, conducted in partnership with the University of Washington, bike commuters reported the highest commute satisfaction of any mode (+33 NPS). Drive-alone commuters reported the lowest (-43 NPS). The survey used a Net Promoter Score (NPS) to measure how likely commuters were to recommend their mode to others, and the gap between cyclists and drivers was striking.

Biking Is Extremely Cost Effective

Car ownership is expensive. As of 2025, AAA estimates that the total cost of owning and operating a vehicle at $11,577 a year. Biking has minimal annual costs, reducing that number significantly. Routine maintenance like tire tubes, brake pads, and the occasional tune-up add up to relatively little, and an e-bike's electricity costs are nearly negligible. According to a survey by eBikes.org, bike commuters reported saving an average of $48 per week by not driving to work, adding up to nearly $2,500 a year.

What That Looks Like in Bellevue

The Eastside has a growing network of trails that make bike commuting accessible. The Eastrail, the SR-520 Trail, the East Lake Sammamish Trail, Sammamish River Trail, and the I-90 Trail all offer traffic-separated routes connecting major employment corridors across Bellevue, Kirkland, Redmond, and Issaquah. And with the 2 Line now open across the lake, bike-to-transit connections have never been more practical. Ride to a station, hop on the train, and park your bikes at a bike locker available at most transit stations across the region. You can also load your bike onto any King County Metro and Sound Transit bus, and let transit carry you the rest of the way.

Not ready to go all-in? You don't have to. Even biking a couple of days a week counts toward real health gains, real savings, and real emissions reductions.

How Choose Your Way Bellevue Can Help

Choose Your Way Bellevue Rewards Program

Every bike trip in/out and around Bellevue counts toward your Choose Your Way Bellevue Rewards program. Log your rides at bit.ly/cywbtriplog and earn local gift cards just for commuting sustainably.

• Log 16 non-drive-alone trips (8 round-trips) and earn a $10 local coffee shop gift card while supplies last.
• Log 20 non-drive-alone trips (10 round-trips) for a chance to earn a $50 local grocery store gift card.
• Log 30 non-drive-alone trips (15 round-trips) for a chance to earn a $150 local restaurant gift card.

Business Resources

If you're an employer looking to support your team's commute choices, we have free resources including commute program consultations, ORCA Starter Cards, transit pass rebates, Mini Grants, and more. Reach out to us at info@cywb.org to get started.

E-Bike Rebates: Two Programs to Know About

Thinking about getting an e-bike? May is a great time to explore two active rebate programs available to Eastside residents.

The WE-Bike Rebate Program is open to Washington residents ages 16 and up and offers rebates of $300 or $1,200 depending on income eligibility. Applications are accepted through March 2027, with monthly selections already underway. Apply at ebikerebate.wsdot-sites.com.

The Pedal Forward Eastside program is coming this summer, offering residents of Bellevue, Redmond, and Issaquah up to $2,000 off the purchase of a new e-bike at a local bike shop. Applications will open in the summer. Fill out the interest form now to be notified when it opens.

This Bike Everywhere Month, Give it a Try

In Bellevue, you have the infrastructure, the incentives, and the rewards to make biking to work more doable than ever. Whether you're a seasoned cyclist or someone who hasn't ridden since childhood, Bike Everywhere Month is the perfect time to give it a try. All you have to do is get on the bike.