May 14th is Bike-to-Work Day
Posted by Matt Kelly | Filed under alternative transportation, bicycling, mass transit
Bike-to-Work Week kicked off May 11th encouraging all Americans to, you guessed it, bike to work. Originated by the League of American Bicyclists in 1956, the event is in turn part of National Bike Month and promotes bike commuting, environmental awareness and healthy transportation.
As part of the celebration, Bike-to-Work Day is held on the third Friday of May across the United States and Canada. Leading up to Bike-to-Work Day, national, regional, and local bicycle advocacy groups encourage people to try bicycle commuting as a healthy and safe alternative to driving by providing route information and tips for new bicycle commuters. On Bike-to-Work Day, these groups often organize bicycle-related events, and in some areas, pit stops along bicycle routes with snacks.
One company helping publicize the event is RentaBikeNow.com, a coast-to-coast bike rental network started by avid cyclists (who frequently bike to work). With nearly 200 bike rental locations, prospective cyclists can visit their website and reserve a rental bike to participate in Bike-to-Work Week. The RentaBikeNow.com website enables rental bike reservations at participating shops, from the comfort of your home or office, and includes road bikes, mountain bikes, comfort bikes, recumbents and more.
“A rental is a great way to try an increased commitment without the investment and to re-discover the joys of cycling,” says RentaBikeNow.com President, George Gill. He adds Bike Month celebrations should remind people to visit their neighborhood bike shop for a quick tune-up or to explore the latest models.
The company offers some tips to success:
-First of all, try it. Set a specific day to start and commit to riding your bike to work several days that week.
-Drive the course first and try some less traveled streets - what’s right for a car may not be right for a bicyclist.
-Try different routes, often the shortest route isn’t the quickest or most comfortable. Consult the internet since bike mapping websites and bike route information is readily available.
-If distance is an issue, incorporate mass transit into your Bike-to-Work plans.
-Take is easy. If you keep your efforts and pace in check, you’ll arrive cool and dry. And of course, it gets easier after a few commutes.
-Just in case, keep a spare set of clothes at work with a box of baby wipes for a quick way to freshen up.
-For bike parking, ask your employer if there is a safe room for you to store your bike - you’ll be amazed at how often they say “Yes,” and your employer learns that you are an energetic employee.
-Talk to other cyclists. Almost every office has a bike commuter, and they are usually more than willing to share their personal tips and tricks.
-Wear bright colors when riding, always wear a proper fitting bike helmet and obey traffic laws.
Here in Los Angeles, Bike-to-Work Day will be celebrated on Thursday, May 14th. The Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority will be offering free rides all day and manning pit stops with free refreshments and sponsor giveaways.
For more information, visit www.metro.net/projects_studies/bikeway_planning/biketowork/default.htm
Tags: bicycling, bike, Bike_to_Work, metro