Hundreds of thousands of residents are hitting the saddle as the region gears up for the San Francisco Bay Area’s 19th Annual Bike to Work Day on Thursday, May 9.
Photo by David Beaty
Published: May, 2013
Hundreds of thousands of residents are hitting the saddle as the region gears up for the San Francisco Bay Area’s 19th Annual Bike to Work Day on Thursday, May 9. Bike to Work Day encourages residents to opt for a healthier commute and experience the benefits of cycling firsthand. In addition to burning calories, bicycle commuting saves on fuel and parking costs, decreases stress and helps reduce traffic congestion, air pollution and greenhouse gases.
Bike to Work Day 2013 is presented by 511, the Bay Area’s premier traveler information service, the Metropolitan Transportation Commission (MTC) and Kaiser Permanente. Over the past 19 years, Bike to Work Day has put more people on the road to bicycle commuting than any other event in the Bay Area. Participants who register and pledge to ride on Bike to Work Day are also eligible to win prizes. This year’s grand prize is a commuter bike from Public Bikes. To register, visit youcanbikethere.org.
Bike to Work Day 2013 is the largest of many Bay Area events happening during National Bike Month in May. Energizer stations will be set up along popular bike routes throughout the region, rewarding veteran and novice cyclists alike with refreshments, giveaways and encouragement. Energizer stations will be open during morning commute hours and some will re-open during the evening commute. A full list of energizer stations is available at youcanbikethere.com/energizer. To plan your bike route, call 511 or visit bicycling.511.org.
Bay Area Bicyclists will also team up with coworkers, friends and neighbors for the month-long Team Bike Challenge and Company Bike Challenge competitions. Bicycle teams compete by traveling via two wheels throughout the month of May, with each bicycle trip earning points for the team or company. Teams with the most points win prizes in various categories. Companies that promote bicycling among employees receive the benefits of healthier, more productive employees while also saving money by reducing demand for vehicle parking.
Last year, Team Bike Challenge had 4,425 registered participants on 664 teams affiliated with 245 companies. Riders racked up a total of 701,710 miles throughout the region.
