Exercise your right to bike

Biking is one of the easiest and quickest ways to reduce your carbon footprint, and we live in a town uniquely suited to it: in 2025, Princeton was awarded a Silver-Level Bicycle Friendly Community award by the League of American Bicyclists for the 12th year in a row. And yet, many PHS students ignore this amazing part of life in Princeton.

In recent years, various local efforts have worked to promote this eco-friendly mode of transportation. Walk & Wheels Wednesdays, a community initiative, encourages walking and biking to school on a weekly basis. For many parts of the country, including areas just outside Princeton, car dependency makes this difficult or nearly impossible.

But in Princeton, the combination of quiet, suburban streets and bicycle-protecting measures on busy roads makes biking much easier and safer. The Municipality has taken measures to improve bike safety on traffic-heavy roads such as Witherspoon Street, Hodge Road, Valley Road, Hamilton Avenue, and Harrison Street by widening sidewalks, not allowing parking in certain areas, and adding bike lanes.

By biking to school, students not only help the environment by lowering their carbon emissions, but also get to exercise in fresh air. Regularly cycling improves cardiovascular health, reduces stress, and boosts mental well-being — benefits especially important for PHS students managing busy academic schedules. According to a 2024 study by Hossain et al., biking leads to a release of endorphins and stimulates increased blood flow, resulting in more oxygen and nutrients reaching the brain to support cognitive function. These chemical boosts can cause people to feel more energized and happier.

Biking also offers the chance to connect with nature, naturally reducing screen time by acting as a positive distraction. In a 2022 study, Loebach et al. found that by spending more time outside, individuals can boost their productivity and strengthen their problem-solving skills. Additionally, choosing to bike instead of drive helps reduce traffic congestion around PHS, making drop-off and pick-up times safer and more efficient.

PHS students should take advantage of the unique opportunities that come with living in a bike-friendly community. Whether it’s going to school, going to town, or just pedaling around the neighborhood, consider skipping the drive and going on a bike ride.