Bicycles are good for our mental health: Building Social Connection

One of my favorite things to talk about is social connection. It’s the primary thing that motivates me and brings me joy. I love interacting with people, whether it’s family, friends, or ‘strangers’ in line at the market. Whether it’s at running group or at the coffee shop. I can be fairly shy, but once the first word is spoken I transform into a bubbly ball of friendliness. I think I appreciate relationships, any kind of relationship, so much because I basically spent my entire childhood friendless, unless you count my fictional friends from the Hundred Acre Wood. It is a little tough to maintain a mutual friendship with cartoon characters. I was into my thirties before I really started making more meaningful connections, partly because I moved around so much in my twenties but also because I was so guarded it was difficult to really connect. It took some time to kind of figure out who I am, and I think that has helped me to form the beautiful friendships I have today. And many of those friendships were formed through shared interests and hobbies.

Social connection is not only nice, it’s pretty essential for us humans. Maybe the amount of social connection a person needs varies among individuals, but we all need it at some capacity. Feeling connected to others has strong benefits both for our physical and for our mental health (of course it impacts both, since our minds and bodies interact in a sort of feedback loop). You can find a lot of information on this topic, including this study. But here’s a short summary of the benefits of social connection:

·      Higher self-esteem

·      Stronger ability to feel empathy for others

·      Lower depression and anxiety

·      Increased feelings of acceptance

·      Stronger immunity

·      Better physical health and higher rates of longevity (up to 50% !)

I’ve mentioned this in previous posts, but running, like cycling, is a huge part of my life. It took me a long time before I had the courage to share in that passion with others. When I finally joined a trail running group it quite literally changed my life. When I’m at home and taking a break from travel, it is the highlight of my week. The friends I’ve made through the group are some of the kindest and coolest people I’ve ever known. As my passion for bicycles continues to grow, it seems obvious that I can make similar connections by joining local cycling groups and social rides. In fact, I’m currently traveling in Alaska and I’m hosting a #CoffeeOutside event on the Kenai peninsula this weekend. I hope I make some new cyclist friends!

Cycling is a fantastic way to nurture social relationships. Most obviously, cycling gets us out of the house and around people. Even if you’re indoor cycling for exercise, there are many studios and gyms where you can make new friends while you’re exercising. I also happen to be attending a weekly Bike Boot Camp at Studio 49 in Soldotna, Alaska. It gets me out of the house I am sitting while my hosts are on vacation, and gets me around people. In the Phoenix metro area in the States, there are several bicycle groups and social rides, including Critical Mass, which is a bike ride event, usually taking place weekly, that is meant to draw attention and send the message that there are many people who use bicycles for transportation and bicycles belong in our cities. It’s also a way for cyclists to come together and create a sense of safety on the roads. Critical Mass exists in many cities throughout the globe, and they advertise heavily on Instagram, so it’s worth doing a search to find if there is a group or ride in your area. Though I don’t use MeetUp, that might also be a good place to find groups and social rides. You never know what kind of connections you’ll make, and you already have a love of cycling in common!

Critical Mass gathering in Phoenix, AZ

I do want to take the opportunity to acknowledge that people who live in more rural or suburban areas may find it a little challenging to find options for groups or rides, and cycling is different in these areas than in urban areas. For obvious reasons, it’s easier to connect with other cyclists and the opportunities to utilize bicycles in urban areas is different than for folks in rural and suburban towns. With that said, it’s not impossible. The U.S., where I’m from, is a very car-centric country and we have very car-centric policies (and car companies put a lot of money into keeping it this way). This can be a real barrier for many reasons, of which I’m not going to get into here because that is not what this particular post is about. But there are other countries that address these barriers effectively, and even plan their infrastructure around bicycles and public transportation. It’s no secret the U.S. has very poor planning around this. Despite these barriers, there are still so many ways you can enjoy bicycles with other people in your community. If you live in a rural town or a suburb where there aren’t currently any social groups for cyclists, you can think about starting your own! If there is a park in your neighborhood, maybe you can host an event, like #coffeeoutside, for cyclists. Just keep in mind that it takes time to build a community, so be patient and consistent with getting the word out, and eventually they will come! There are many other ways you can still enjoy cycling with others even in smaller or more rural areas, sometimes it takes consistency and creativity.

So… you love riding your bicycle? Get out there and share that joy with others! It’s just another way that bicycles are good for our mental health.