Ernest Hemingway wrote: "It is by riding a bicycle that you learn the contours of a country best, since you have to sweat up the hills and coast down them." Any person who rides a bicycle will agree with that statement. We feel and understand the landscape, how it determines where we live, how we use it, and how imperceptible birds, wildlife, and other features arises on the way. Additionally, to the imperceptible factors, there is enough scientific evidence linking various health benefits with biking.

Biking improves mental well-being, spacial awareness, and navigation skills; promotes weight loss, muscle strength builds, cardiorespiratory health improves, boost brain power, among others. In addition to the benefits biking can bring to one's health, the environment also receives many other benefits. Biking reduces air pollutants, noise pollution and traffic congestion. Biking also decreases the need for new parking lots and roadways, saving valuable green space from what we call “development”. But unfortunately, not every person can bike and enjoy the good cascade of biking benefits can bring to one's health.

Scientific literature reveals that in developed nations bicycles are used more by younger people, men, people with higher income levels, well educated people, ethical majorities, people who reside closer to bicycle infrastructure, and those without disabilities. In developing nations, there are two scenarios: One, like the one described above and another one where majority of bikers have minimal or no education, survive with low-paid jobs, lives in remote areas and their commute takes a very long time. Also, there is not a bike infrastructure nearby. Despite Campinas' (a Brazilian municipality in São Paulo State) position of wealth and social economical opportunity, the city also concentrates many health problems and social disparities. Community based research and cross-sectional studies have shown higher prevalence of hypertension, circulatory problems, obesity, mental disorders, and visual impairment among people with lower education and low paid jobs living in Campinas, when compared to focus with higher education and higher wages living in the same region.

So, we decided TO ACT upon those statistics. In collaboration with Ecogrella's headquarters founded in Brazil in 2018, we developed the BIKE HEALTH project. Through our activities we support individuals and organizations to achieve better health through the practice of conscious and independent cycling. Check it out to see how your support and generosity has been inspiring healthy lifestyles, breaking social barriers, building self-esteem, and promoting grassroots impactful research in the region of Campinas, São Paulo, Brazil.