The month of May commemorates the love of the bicycle with National Bike Month featuring Bike to Work events across the country. And while telling a bike commuter that it’s Bike to Work day is like telling Stephen King it’s National Write a Novel day, cycling advocates are welcoming the opportunity to spread the word about the benefits of bike commuting. Bike Month also helps educate motorists about the rules of sharing the road with cyclists. Sponsored by the League of American Bicyclists, Bike to Work Day grows every year with even more communities promoting the event.
The League of American Bicyclists is the largest bicycle advocacy organization who started in 1880 as the League of American Wheelmen. The league was responsible for the advancement and improvement of the road system in America years before the automobile came along with the Good Roads Movement. The league recently announced the winners for Bicycle Friendly Communities to kick off National Bike Month. See if your city made the list here. For 2011, Bike to Work Day is May 20 and Bike to Work Week is May 16-20. On the LAB website you can find Bike to Work events in your city as well as a guide to planning events in your area for next year and tips for getting started in commuting by bike.
Of course Bike to Work Day isn’t limited to biking to the workplace. According to the Nationwide Personal Transportation Survey, 25% of all trips are made within a mile of the home and 40% within 2 miles. So if you’re still on the fence about getting to work by bike, start out by taking the bike to the grocery store, bank, or your favorite coffee shop. The obvious benefits of bike commuting include savings on gas and car repairs, kindness to the environment, and improved health. Bike commuting can also be a highly satisfying experience with the knowledge that you arrived to work under your own power and in many cases, can take less time.
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