This past month, the Bicycle Coalition Better Bike Share team and Indego hosted their second Bilingual Featured Ride Recorriendo a la Salud Mental in partnership with the Health Window of the Consulate of Mexico in Philadelphia and Humanity United 4 Global Support (H.U.G.S.) to bring awareness about mental health. To read this blog in Spanish, click here.
This ride featured a route around Philadelphia’s public green spaces in south Philadelphia, including the Vare playground and Grays Ferry Crescent Skate Park, and a conversation during the mid-way of the ride, where participants met with Dr. Emma Villa from H.U.G.S.
H.U.G.S. is a nonprofit organization whose mission is to promote the right of everyone, especially immigrants, to have a dignified and whole life with equal opportunities. Dr. Emma Villa shared the importance of bike riding for the community with participants:
We have to encourage, motivate, and incentivize our community to bike more. Biking helps us mentally and generates essential hormones such as serotonin and dopamine, which are great for our body to help with stress and depression and boost our self-esteem.
During the ride, participants shared how the bike ride alone had boosted their day and felt more energized. Participants like Jose Jaramillo shared that he was motivated by the event’s name. He shared,
It’s essential to be mentally healthy. It’s important to continue bicycling for physical and mental health. That is why I used Indego; I would encourage others to come out on group rides like these; it helps to build confidence and feel safe while riding around the city.
We at the Bicycle Coalition would like to continue our work in creating connections and services like this one where participants share great experiences and continue to take up the challenge of riding more in Philadelphia streets while creating awareness.
Find out more about our Featured Rides by clicking here!
The Better Bike Share Partnership is an effort led by the City of Philadelphia that works to ensure that Indego bike share is accessible to all Philadelphians. The Bicycle Coalition of Greater Philadelphia is a nonprofit advocacy and education organization working as part of the Better Bike Share Partnership to support bike share and biking education. The Better Bike Share Partnership is funded by The JPB Foundation.
It’s a useful and wonderful activity. Thanks for sharing. For me to bicycle is a very important thing in my life, it heals my soul. When I feel tired, stressed, and depressed, I reach for my bike and ride it everywhere. My soul becomes lighter and more relaxed. Cycling is actually great not only physically but mentally as well. I also want to spread this positivity to more people like your organization. So meaningful and helpful.