Bike Stamps

For 2012, the USPS is releasing a 4 stamp set depicting bicycles.

The stamps are set to be released sometime next year.

This isn't the first time the postal service has recognized bicycling in stamp form, but I believe that it is the first time that they have shown different facets of cycling, from a kid with training wheels, to a fully-loaded commuter(cyclo-tourist?), to racing (triathlete?) and BMX.

With the issuance of these stamps, the U.S. Postal Service celebrates bicycling, one of the most popular outdoor activities in the country. Each of the four colorful se-tenant stamps features a different kind of bike and rider: a young child just learning to ride with training wheels, a commuter pedaling to work, a road racer intent on the finish line, and an airborne BMX rider.

Recent surveys indicate that Americans enjoy approximately 2.5 billion bike rides a year. Bicycling organizations around the country report increased participation in local biking activities, and nearly half of all Americans say they would like more bicycling resources, such as trails and bike lanes, in their communities.

Bicycling is a low-impact aerobic activity that just about everyone — from young children to retirees — can enjoy. The health benefits are impressive: Riding a bike lowers the risk of obesity and heart disease, while improving muscle tone and strength. Bicycling can also lower stress. Whether riding along a lakeside path or through the bike lanes of a bustling city, bicycling is therapeutic and just plain fun.

Art director Phil Jordan designed the stamps using illustrations by John Mattos.

you can see more about the stamps at Beyond the Perf.