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May's the month to combine business with pleasure -- that is, the business of work and the pleasure of bike riding. May is National Bike Month, and May 15 is Bike to Work Day this year -- so depending on how bike-friendly your town is, cycling celebrations will happen for a day, a week, or throughout May -- with fun events, rides, and giveaways happening for green commuters.
Don't know what's happening in your 'hood? The League of American Bicyclists has a long list of special events planned across the country. Here's a taste:
New York: The Big Apple's celebrating the bike all month, with more than 150 bicycling-related events planned over the 31 days. Highlights include Bike To Work Day on May 15 when commuters on bikes will get snacks and an "extreme commuter bag" at stops around the city, a Commuter Race on May 21 that pits the automobile, subway, and bike against each other, and a Car-Free Saturday in Crotona Park on May 30, a "day filled with music, and fun activities."
Los Angeles: Bart Simpson, my favorite alternative transit cartoon hero (since he's always on his skateboard), will kick off Bike to Work Week on May 11 by doing a bike-bus combo trip at Olvera Street in Downtown Los Angeles. And on May 13 will be a “Bike to Work Downtown L.A. Ride,” a public, a 25-minute group demo ride that shows how to get to all areas of downtown LA via bike.
Then Angelenos will celebrate Bike to Work Day a day early on May 14, when bicyclists will get free rides on most public buses and trains, receive snacks and giveaways at more than 40 bike pit stops around the city, and be entered into contests for prizes ranging from a 2-night stay for two at the Red Mountain Resort & Spa in St. George, Utah, to a hybrid electric bike from Currie Technologies.
Chicago: Oddly, the Windy City's pushed back its Bike to Work celebrations to June 13 - 19. Still, the events -- which include a bike commuter challenge and bike commuter stations with free coffee and bike tuneups sound fun.
So if you've thought about biking to work but put off the four to two wheel swap, now's the time to start getting some gym-free exercise and saving gas money to boot. For inspiration, check out these great women's bike blogs:
>> Bikes and the City's meligrosa bikes and blogs in San Francisco
>> Alaska Bike Girl blogs about "riding, writing, and life in the city on the edge of Alaska."
>> Charlotte of Chic Cyclist wants you to feel good, do good, and look good -- all while cycling.
Image via bikemonthnyc.org
BlogHer Contributing Editor Siel rides a pink townie and blogs at greenLAgirl.com.
