Press Releases

For Immediate Release

Bay Area Gears Up for National Bike Month

Organize Bike Challenge Teams; Nominate Bike Commuter of the Year

CONTACT:
Cole Portocarrero, Bike to Work Day Event Coordinator, 415.246.8078

OAKLAND, Calif., April 2, 2007… With May, the designated National Bike Month, just a month away — and the Bay Area’s 13th annual Bike to Work Day celebration little more than six weeks off — the Metropolitan Transportation Commission (MTC) and the Bay Area Bicycle Coalition have begun accepting nominations for the region’s 2007 Bike Commuter of the Year and are encouraging cyclists to participate in this year’s Team Bike Challenge.

“With the great spring weather and gas prices back over the $3-a-gallon mark, a lot more Bay Area residents are switching to a bicycle commute,” observed Cole Portocarrero, Bike to Work Day Coordinator for the Bay Area Bicycle Coalition. “Bike to Work Day is a celebration of bicycling as a healthy, fun and viable form of transportation. This year’s event is May 17, and we want to honor every kind of bicyclist — from veteran commuters to new or leisure cyclists — throughout May. To make that happen, we’re getting an early start.”

Team Bike Challenge: Bike to Work Day organizers are bringing back the Team Bike Challenge, and online registration is open now at 511.org. The Team Bike Challenge encourages bicycle commuters to recruit their colleagues, friends, and neighbors to bike for transportation throughout the month of May. Participants in the Challenge form teams of two to five individuals, think of a creative Team name, register at 511.org, and track each day they make a trip by bicycle. The team with the most points at the end of the Challenge wins a bike rack to be placed in a public space of the winner’s choice in their county. Novice cyclists receive double points for participating.

“The Team Bike Challenge is more than just a contest,” explained Portocarrero. “It’s a great opportunity to show how many different trips can be done on bike – from commuting to shopping to errands.”

Nominations for Bike Commuter of the Year: MTC and the Bay Area Bicycle Coalition are also seeking nominations for the 2007 Bike Commuter of the Year Awards. Winners will be announced in each of the Bay Area’s nine counties. Do you know someone in your county who is committed to making every day a “Bike to Work Day”? Just visit 511.org and share his or her story. Nominations are due by April 27, 2007.

The Bike to Work Day 2007 celebration is being organized by county congestion management agencies and hundreds of local volunteers, as well as the Bay Area Bicycle Coalition and MTC. The event is presented by MTC and Webcor Builders. For more information on Bike to Work Day and other cycling resources, visit 511.org or call 511 and say “bicycling” at the first prompt. Hop on your bike and go!

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