Press Releases

For Immediate Release

Bay Area Celebrates Bike to Work Day May 17th

Local Events Planned During National Bike Month

CONTACT:
Cole Portocarrero, Bay Area Bicycle Coalition Executive Director & Bike to Work Day Event Coordinator, 415.246.8078

OAKLAND, Calif., April 18, 2007… May is National Bike Month, and Thursday, May 17 marks the San Francisco Bay Area’s 13th annual Bike to Work Day, a celebration of bicycling as a healthy, fun and viable form of transportation. 

On the morning of May 17, volunteers at hundreds of Energizer Stations will be located along bike commute routes in all nine Bay Area counties to provide free beverages, bike-related giveaways, snacks and encouragement to bicyclists.  And, during the month of May, dozens of exciting local events will take place throughout the Bay Area to promote bicycle commuting. 

According to Census data, approximately 36,000 Bay Area residents use a bicycle as their primary means of getting to work each day — a number that Bike to Work Day organizers expect to climb to as high as 100,000 on May 17.  Cole Portocarrero, Bike to Work Day event coordinator, says, “The regular bike commuters represent only a fraction of the number of people throughout the Bay Area who could ride a bike to many places they need to go.  We hope Bike to Work Day will inspire lots of them to hop on their bikes to commute, connect to transit, go shopping, run errands, or just to ride for fun.  Bicycling is good for you, and for the environment.”

Due to its success last year, Bike to Work Day organizers are also bringing back the “Team Bike Challenge” to encourage existing bicycle commuters to recruit their colleagues, friends, neighbors and local ‘honorary’ figures to bicycle to work, school and other destinations during the month of May.  Participants in the Team Bike Challenge form teams of five individuals and register on the Bicycling page at 511.org.  During the entire month of May, participants track their trips made by bike as they compete against other teams.  More about Bike to Work Day and the Team Bike Challenge, including information on how to register, nominating a Bike Commuter of the Year, finding bike routes, and more can be found on the Bicycling page at 511.org. 

Bike to Work Day 2007 is presented by Webcor Builders and promotions are being organized by the Bay Area Bicycle Coalition, the Metropolitan Transportation Commission, county congestion management agencies, local bike coalitions and hundreds of local volunteers.  For more information, visit  511.org or call 511 and say “bicycling”.  Get your bike tuned up now, and get ready to shift gears!

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