Bone and Joint Health Bulletin #2: Healthy Ride

Want to try a fun workout while seeing Pittsburgh from a new perspective?

Now that summer has officially begun, it is time to enjoy Pittsburgh’s beautiful scenery again! There are plenty of ways to get around Pittsburgh, but one of the most fun is bicycling. Last year, TRIB Live wrote an article noting that Pittsburgh was named a top 20 city in the United States for bicycling. However, owning and maintaining a good bicycle can be expensive. Luckily, Pittsburgh has a great compromise.

Many major cities across the country have implemented bicycle sharing programs, and Pittsburgh is no exception. Healthy Ride is Pittsburgh’s bike share system, offering a total of 100 stations across the city. With 550 bikes available, there will never be a shortage. You can start at any station and return your bike at another station if you choose for no extra fees.

Healthy Ride is simple and easy to use, and there are several ways you can get started. To register, you can simply download the “nextbike” app, visit healthyridepgh.com, visit a Healthy Ride station kiosk, or call the Healthy Ride customer service line. After you register, just enter your phone number on the bike keypad, and you are good to go!

The fees are a lot less than you would think. The basic, “pay as you go” plan is ideal for visitors and occasional riders. At $2 per 30 minutes, you can ride for an hour and pay slightly more than the current average cost of a gallon of gasoline in Pittsburgh! Healthy Ride also offers subscription plans, including a plan that gives riders unlimited 30 minute rides as well as an option for unlimited 60 minute rides. However, if you are already a Pittsburgh Port Authority Connect Card user, you can access unlimited 15 minute rides for free!

Bicycling is a great activity for your bones and joints. There is very little stress on your joints while bicycling as opposed to other exercises. The constant movement helps to lubricate your joints as well. You can read more about the positive impact that biking has on your health in this article.

Even though biking in the city can be intimidating at first, you don’t need to be experienced to get started. As long as you are careful and obey traffic rules, you will be just fine. Enjoy the ride! Your bones and joints will thank you for getting them moving!