Search title image

TRANSACTIONS NEWSLETTER ONLINE

June/July 2008

Numbers Surge for Bike to Work Day 2008

Spurred on by skyrocketing gas prices, concerns about global warming and the fact that it was also an official “Spare the Air” day, a record number of cyclists turned out for Bike to Work Day on May 15, 2008.

Volunteers staffing the 220-plus Bike to Work Day Energizer Stations around the region — where participants could refuel with drinks and snacks, and pick up giveaways — counted close to 115,000 cyclists who either stopped by or whizzed by during the morning commute period, a significant increase from prior years.

“And if we factor in the untold number of people who pedaled to work on May 15 but didn’t pass by an Energizer Station, we can estimate that participation could have been in the 140,000 to 150,000 range,” said Cole Portocarrero, executive director of the Bay Area Bicycle Coalition (BABC), which coordinated the event with major sponsorship by MTC.

For some residents, Bike to Work Day punctuated a month-long bicycling marathon known as Team Bike Challenge, also sponsored by MTC and BABC. Friends and coworkers formed more than 400 teams who bicycled to and from work and errands throughout May in an effort to log the most points.
— Brenda Kahn

See the Team Bike Challenge results at bayareabikes.org/btwd.

Click images to enlarge

Photo: Noah Berger

Photo: Noah Berger

Photo: Karin Betts

Photo: Paisley Strellis

Photo: Garlynn Woodsong

Photo: Noah Berger
 

Photo: Noah Berger

  

Contents