San Francisco Women's Cycling Lowers Breast Cancer Risk

October is Breast Cancer Awareness month. One of the most important things a woman can do to reduce her risk of developing or having a recurrence of breast cancer is to stay physically active. Biking is one of the best ways to do that. It's low impact on the joints, there are as many different styles of biking as there are personalities they suit, and it's one of the most affordable solutions for fitness or transportation there is. Yet women are outnumbered by men on the bike by 2:1.

The majority of bicycle owners between 18-27 years old are women, yet the U.S. Department of Transportation reports that just 24 percent of all bicycle trips are made by women compared to 76 percent that are made by men. The lower rate of women's cycling also ripples out through the family. National data show that women are less likely to cycle now than they were in 2001, and in the same time frame the prevalence of any cycling amongst U.S. children declined by 1.5 percent.

A study of 30,548 women published in the European Journal of Epidemiology found that, compared to women who exercised less than once a week on average, women who exercised two or more times per week significantly reduced their risk of breast cancer. Women in the same study who reported commuting by walking or cycling also had a lower risk of breast cancer than women who drove or worked at home.

Biking is a low-impact activity that women of any age, skill level or physical ability can do. Just 20 minutes on the bike each day -- whether at a leisurely pace, commuting from here to there, or pedaling hard on a mountain or road bike -- will make a difference in the health of each individual woman and set the tone for her family and friends' fitness.

The San Francisco Bikes app created in partnership between My City Bikes and City Cycle, Everybody Bikes, Huckleberry Bicycles, Ocean Cyclery and Sports Basement is a free beginner's guide to local biking throughout San Francisco. San Francisco Bikes can be downloaded for Apple or Android devices on the iTunes or Google Play app stores. Beginner friendly experts at City Cycle, Everybody Bikes, Huckleberry Bicycles, Ocean Cyclery and Sports Basement can be accessed through the local San Francisco Bikes app for advice and support.

They specialize in gear just for female riders, including bicycles designed specifically for women and girls' unique physiology. All of these resources come together with growing local infrastructure to make San Francisco an increasingly great place for women to ride.

My City Bikes powered by Interbike is the first and only public health campaign for beginner cyclists. The web- and mobile- campaign benefits communities by providing simple, localized mobile resources and media advocacy to facilitate cycling.

"No one is exempt from the basics of biking," and that is why My City Bikes nurtures, supports and inspires the culture of beginners in biking. Whether for fun, fitness or transportation, My City Bikes is the official guide to beginner biking opportunities. Along with its network of beginner-friendly bike shops and municipal partners, My City Bikes is connecting communities with their basic but essential beginner biking resources to empower individuals to improve their health by simply pedaling a bike.

Join the biggest bike team in the world! Download your free local My City Bikes app at http://mycitybikes.org to find local entry-level rides, need-to-know DIY bike maintenance, and beginner-friendly bike shop experts in your neighborhood.

For more information and to access the local app, visit http://www.mycitybikes.org