May is National Bike Month, and to celebrate, Florida’s State Surgeon General and Secretary Dr. Celeste Philip sat down to talk about one of her favorite ways to stay active and enjoy Florida’s beautiful scenery.

How did you become interested in biking?

Like a lot of people, I first started biking as a kid. I had a black mountain bike—a boy’s bike like the one my older brother had because I thought it was cool—that I would ride around my neighborhood. Since then, my interest in biking never left, but now I’m not limited to staying in my neighborhood.

How would you describe your cycling style – commuter, strong & fearless, path-using, weekend-warrior or leisure?

I would describe myself as a path-using leisure cyclist. I ride for fun and exercise, and I sometimes bike to the office on the weekends. I love to take my bike with me when I’m traveling for work; it’s a fun way to see more of Florida and decompress after a long day.   

What’s your favorite place to ride in Florida?

I enjoy biking in Central Florida. There are so many connecting paths and trails that make it easy to ride for long stretches and experience our diverse surroundings in Florida.

If you had the opportunity to tell girls why it’s cool to cycle, what would it be? And, why?  

Cycling is an enjoyable activity to do as a group or by yourself, no matter your age. It’s good for your health, but to me it doesn’t feel like exercise because it’s fun! Plus – it’s good for the environment!

What is the most important safety feature on your bike? 

I made sure to install front and rear lights on my bike because visibility is so important when you’re cycling. You want to make sure that everyone can see you, especially at dawn and dusk or when there is heavy fog.

And last but not least, if you were given the chance to share one piece of information with drivers that you feel would improve the safety of cyclists, what would that be?

Drivers should be alert at all times, even if there aren’t any cyclists or pedestrians around. Pay attention to the road, not your phone. If there are cyclists, it’s crucial that drivers give them enough room and share the road.