The University of Houston Office of Sustainability and BikeHouston will host the second annual Bike to UH Day on Friday, May 6.

Faculty, staff and students who bike to campus can stop by Butler Plaza from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. and get treated with snacks and refreshments by representatives from the Office of Sustainability and BikeHouston. Representatives will also hand out information about cycling in Houston and biking maps, and there will be a social ride leaving from Butler Plaza to Hermann Park at 1 p.m.

“May is National Bike Month, and UH is celebrating with the second annual Bike to UH Day,” said Sarah Kelly, sustainability manager for the Office of Sustainability. “We’re encouraging UH folks who live close enough to group up and bike to campus together, using some of the improved bike paths in Houston.”

In recent years, the City of Houston has devoted more resources toward making bicycling safer and more convenient in the city. In February, the city released the Houston Bike Plan, a comprehensive blueprint to greatly enhance Houston’s biking infrastructure by 2026. The plan will create hundreds of miles of new bike-ways around the city. In addition to providing an alternative transportation option, cycling has many health benefits.

“Cycling is more than just a sustainable way to commute,” said Kelly. “It’s also a low-impact exercise that can significantly improve coordination, mental health, muscle tone and cardiovascular health. Beyond that, biking is just plain fun, especially with a group of fellow Coogs!”

Those interested in participating in Bike to UH Day can visit the BikeHouston website to find other participating cyclists who live nearby and sign up for a “bike-pool.” Cyclists at all skill levels are welcome.