To celebrate National Bike to Work Day, Reading Hospital hosted a community-wide bike ride Friday morning taking participants on a six-mile loop starting and ending at the Reading Hospital 7th Avenue parking lot, through West Reading, the City of Reading, and along the Schuylkill River Trail.
The annual Bike-to-Work-Week Ride, sponsored by the Reading Hospital Community Wellness Department, Commuter Services of Pennsylvania, and Penske Racing Shocks, encourages community members to consider alternative modes of transportation and promotes safe bicycling habits.
Courtney Powers, Director of Community Engagement at Reading Hospital, said, “It is imperative to Reading Hospital that we are involved within our community, especially when it comes to improving the health and wellbeing of Berks County residents. It is events like these that draw us together to share and promote safe, healthy habits to our community.”
In recognition of “Bike to Work” Week, event sponsors announced a joint donation of two state-of-the-art Trek Electric Bicycles to the West Reading and Reading Police Departments by The Friends of Reading Hospital. Over the years, the event organizers have donated seven pedal bikes to various Berks County police departments.
Each department received one electric bicycle designed by Trek specifically for those who serve others: police, EMTs, fire department personnel, park rangers, and forest service employees.
Sharon Keating, President, The Friends of Reading Hospital said, “We are proud to participate in the Bike-to-Work Week Ride and support our local police departments through the donation of e-bikes in an effort to address 2022 Community Health Needs Assessment Implementation Plan strategies, which include green commute and violence prevention.”
Benefits of Commuting by Bicycle: Bicycling is a low impact exercise that is easy on the joints. Cyclists save money on fuel. Bicycling reduces carbon emissions resulting in cleaner air.
