To bike means to ride a bicycle. When you bike to school, you're pedaling your way there instead of walking or taking the bus. You might bike around your neighborhood with friends, bike up a steep hill (which takes real leg strength!), or bike along a trail through the woods.

A bike is also the vehicle itself: a short, friendly word for bicycle. People say things like “I got a new bike for my birthday” or “Let's take our bikes to the park.” Mountain bikes have thick, knobby tires for riding on rough trails. Road bikes are built light and fast for riding on pavement. BMX bikes are small and sturdy, designed for tricks and jumps.

Biking became popular in the late 1800s and gave people a new kind of freedom to travel distances under their own power. Before cars filled the streets, bicycles were everywhere. Today, millions of people bike for exercise, transportation, or pure enjoyment. Some cities have special bike lanes to help keep riders safe. Whether you're biking for fun or getting somewhere you need to go, you're using one of the simplest, most efficient machines ever invented.