Information

What are the benefits of cycling?

Cycling is good for you, your community, and your wallet.

Good for you:

  • Cycling improves cardiovascular health and lowers risk of obesity and diabetes;

  • Cycling to work and school reduces stress and allows you to connect with your community at street-level, on a human scale;

  • People who bike to work and school report being more alert, attentive, and productive;

  • Cycling provides an added sense of freedom and mobility for most people; and

  • The benefits of cycling far outweigh the risks!

Good for your community:

  • Every bike on the road means one less car, which reduces congestion and commuting time for motorists;

  • With a lighter frame and smaller space requirements, bikes produce much less wear-and-tear on roads than cars and trucks would normally;

  • Lower healthcare costs for society and a positive impact on the economy;

  • Increased cycling and addition of bike lanes are good for property values and good for local businesses.

Good for your wallet:

  • Bikes are far cheaper to own and maintain than motor vehicles

Getting Started

Do you want to start riding to work or school on your bike? Making the shift is much easier than most people think! Follow these easy steps and you will be on your way:

Get a bike

Do you have an old bike? Does a friend or family member have a bike that is sitting in their garage collecting dust? Chances are with some care and maintenance, these bikes can be road-worthy once again! Consult our Bike Maintenance section for some tips on basic bike maintenance and care to get you started.

If you can’t get your hands on a bike, Regina is serviced by two experienced bike shops (LINK) who will be more than happy to help you find the right bike for your travel needs. These bike shops also offer bike maintenance and repair services in case you can’t fix your old bike on your own.

Practice riding

Practice makes perfect! Those who haven’t been on a bike in many years may benefit from some practice on quiet neighbourhood streets or cycle-friendly multi-use pathways. On the weekend, try practising your route to work at a manageable pace, or try riding your bike to your favourite lunch or coffee spot with a friend.

Educate yourself

When you are ready to start riding more, become familiar with the laws and rules of the road that are applicable to you as a cyclist. Note that under City of Regina Bylaw No. 9900 and The Traffic Safety Act of Saskatchewan, bikes are considered vehicles when on public streets and are required to follow all the same rules as cars do. Consult our [rules of the road] section for more information.

You may also want to start thinking about the safest route that you can take to work. Safe routes are usually roads that feature low vehicle volume and intersections that are controlled with traffic lights and/or stop signs. Google Maps is an excellent resource for both beginner and seasoned cyclists to virtually test their route before riding. If you have a friend, family member, or colleague who rides their bike to work, you can also ask them what are some routes and bottlenecks to avoid.

Get more comfortable riding

Once you are familiar with your route and become comfortable with riding on the road, work your way up to riding your bike to work once or twice a week and more as you get more comfortable. If you can, try to plan your route so that you can bike with a friend or colleague! Use a backpack or rear panniers to carry a change of clothes, essential toiletries, your lunch, and your work material.

Learn More

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