Here at LimeBike, we believe the best way to celebrate the Earth is by exploring and appreciating all that it has to offer.

While Earth Day is April 22, we're celebrating our beautiful home planet throughout the entire month of April.So this month, we challenge you to explore the natural world around you wherever you may be: that includes the nature that exists right in your own backyard.

To help, we’ve put together our shortlist of some great, simple suggestions for environmentally friendly rides that you can find in every city!

1) Rivers, Lakes, Ponds & Marshlands

70% of the world is made up of water, but only 2.5% of that water is fresh. Of that 2.5%, a majority is locked away in glaciers and snowfields, leaving only 1% of the world's water to fill our lakes, rivers and streams. All the more reason to celebrate our access to these incredible natural resources!

Luckily, many cities have invested in infrastructure to support and provide active mobility around fresh water. From the Arizona Canal Trail in Scottsdale to Charlotte's Little Sugar Creek Greenway, these scenic waterside pathsmake for an ideal bike ride and an awesome way to appreciate the other -- and more important -- 1%.

2) Public Gardens

Whether it’s D.C.'s National Arboretum or Sinnissippi Parkin Rockford, Illinois, public gardens are great places to go for a ride. Fun fact: scientists know of 391,000 species of vascular plants in the world, of which about 94% are flowering plants.Why not take the pedal to the petal and check out these springtime seasonal blooms in your city?

3) Boardwalks & Beaches

If you’re lucky enough to live in a coastal town, a boardwalk or beach-side bike ride is the way to go. Destinations like San Diego's Embarcadero or Bill Baggs Cape State Park in Key Biscayne are favorite Lime riding destinations (for obvious reasons). In fact, our data shows that, while all water attracts bike rides, coastal water does so most of all.

If you want a soundtrack to your ride, we suggest this song by Florence + The Machine.

(Photo byGabriel SantiagoonUnsplash)

4) City Parks & Nature Trails

Public parks have been linked to health benefits such as lower obesity rates and anxiety relief, as well as an overall increase in quality of life. Just take a ride through Seattle's famed Gasworks Park or along LA's Wilmington Waterfront to see the positive impact a beautiful open greenspace can have on a neighborhood.

All told, there are 7,453 miles of bikeway managed by park agencies in the U.S. That means there are7,453 miles of bikeway to take advantage of leading up to Earth Day! Grab a helmet, hop on a LimeBike, Lime-s or Lime-E and go explore the parks in your city!

5) City-Scapes

Maybe au naturale isn’t quite your look, and you want to hit the city streets. Hey, humans are a major part of nature, right? And while, in our humble opinion, skyscrapers might be a poor substitute for towering trees, there's something beautiful to appreciate about skyline views like the one from Dallas' Ronald Kirk Pedestrian Bridge.

On that note, cities like Chicago, San Francisco, Portland and NYC are paving the way forward for bike infrastructure... literally. These cities are investing in hundreds of miles of protected bike lanes, bike boulevards and dedicated paths to make two-wheeled mobility safer and more accessible for everyone. We can ride to that!

IN CONCLUSION:

Whatever you do, don't overthink it. Even a 10 minute ride can refresh your lungs, your heart and your mindset! Whether you are drawn to flora or fauna, fresh or salt water, just go!Download LimeBike, then put your computer down, get outside and explore the natural beauty that is waiting all around you!