any plans for bike to work day?

[Trek420]

My ride to work is very short, from West Tennyson (Chabot
College area) to South Hayward Bart then get off at Lake Merrit
and ride into downtown Oakland. I could make it longer, say get
off at MacArthur and ride in or on the other end, ride to Castro
Valley or Hayward Bart....hmmmm more bike schwag.

I ride to work about 1/3 of the time and take BART (our rapid transit) every day. I don't get to see the wildlife you do unless you count homeless and wine'os ;-) The route is very urban but it's a great way to get miles in and has its own kind of beauty.

[CorsairMac]

I bike to work everyday (12 miles total) and use my lunch hour to get in another 12-14 mile ride depending on the wind. I just read somewhere that it is Bike to Work week next week?...and tips on how to do it! After my lunchride yesterday, how could somone Not ride to work?.....I rode along the Rio Grande and saw road runners galore, had races with the geckos (lizards), ducks, pheasants, and even a coyote. I didn't wanna go Back to work!
Hmmmmm....maybe on bike to work day I should drive???

[newfsmith]

I manage to bike to work 70% of my work days year round here in New England. It accounts for the majority of my 3000 miles per year. It is about the only way I can fit riding in. Since my lunch hour is non-existent, it is my only chance to get outdoors for a significant amount of time on a regular basis. In terms of commuting time, it really isn't that different from driving, 40 minutes cycling one-way, vs. 20 minutes driving one-way. My route goes through a wildlife sanctuary, I've seen flying squirrels swooping across the road nights, deer and turkeys are almost daily occurances, the spring brings salamander migrations, woodcock courting displays, the frog chorus, migrating ducks, geese, and warblers. I've found interesting road kill: 2 saw-whet owls, a Luna moth, a least weasel, garter snakes, and of course innumerable chipmunks, squirrels, and mice. The predators are shy, I've only seen 2 fox and 1 coyote in 5 years. I like the self reliance of riding and coping with the weather changes, it makes me feel like I really live in the world rather than watch it. Yes, I will be riding next week, as usual.

[nuthatch]

Our bike to work week here in Chicagoland has been set for June 11-17 (probably because of iffy weather) and I volunteered to be a team organizer for my office (through the Chicagoland Bicycle Federation). This will be a challenge because almost everyone at the office is way over 55 and lives at least 10 miles away! They see me in my kit each day commuting in and think I'm nuts (in a nice way, of course)

I love my daily commute - I don't get to see all the wildlife that you do, Newfsmith, but it's still fun! It's the way I get most of my miles, too. I get right cranky if I can't ride each day!

[JanT]

I haven't done much commuting this year. I was moved to a tiny classroom with no room for my commuter bike, so I parked it in the student bike racks, against my better judgement. And unfortunately, my fears were justified when some kids damaged it one afternoon after the bike cages were unlocked. I haven't ridden to school since. The good news is that I am moving to a new school a few miles further down the road, and I will have a large classroom with room to store my bike. I will get the commuter bike fixed and next year can ride a couple times a week. I'll probably ride on the street all the way there, and go through the desert for a short-cut on the way home. I love commuting! It reminds me of when I was a kid and rode my bike to and from school. I feel carefree while riding, and energized when I get to work. However, as a teacher, I always have a lot of "stuff" to take to and from school, so several days I need to do that hauling, and ride on the days I can fit everything into the panniers.

[yellow]

There is a special push to record a "Million Mile May" in conjunction with Bike to Work week. There is a website where you log your miles and if like me, you get prodded from someone at a sister agency, you can compare your miles to theirs. They have "celebrity" cyclists (hey...where's Bubba??), etc. It's pretty neat.

Check it out at www.bikecommute.com.

So far I'm the only cyclist from Hangtown Velo

I'll bet other areas of the country have similar things going.

Trek--I'd be surprised if there wasn't one for your neck of the woods!

[singletrackmind]

My commute is shortest-being a stay at home mom and all. Well, I'll just ride anyways. To show my support. Yeah, that's it. Nothing to do with selfish just wanting to ride or anything like that.

Ride your bike to work day May 20th.

[Deanna]

I bike to work 3-5 days a week, so my plans for the day are to recruit some co-workers. So far the only response to my reminder that the 19th was BTWD was "My bike won't fit in the trunk of my car".

[cindysue]

I'll be working that day out at the Pleasant Hill BART Station (Bay area) handing out goodies for BTWD and talking about one of the projects my research team is working on. The basic concept of the project is "the first and last mile" of your commute by transit. Using low-speed modes of transportation such as a bike, segway, or walking decreases the emissions from cold starting your engine only to drive 5 miles down the road.

If that didn't totally bore you,
http://www.innovativemobility.org/re...d_overview.htm

[singletrackmind]

May is National Bike Month™

Bike-to-Work Week is May 16 - 20, 2005 and Bike-to-Work Day is Friday, May 20, 2005.

http://www.bikemonth.com/

[Bike Goddess]

Hey CindySue- That's MY STATION you're talking about! Last year I got a bike light a bag, and some other goodies! How cool you will be there!

I thought it was Thursday May 19th, but Friday May 20th is fine too! I'll be sure to look for you! - I'll be in my "dress for work" clothes sans bike of course as I come to BART via public transit and walk from BART in SF to work. It was neat to see the folks last year, and even better this year!

Did you want some cookies while I'm at it?

[Crankin]

I will be riding to work on the 20th; I try to ride 1-2 times a week from the beginning of May to the end of school, which is around June 20th here in New England. My commute is short, 6.7 miles one way, but over beautiful back roads, by a wildlife refuge, pond, etc. It is up hill a good part of the way there. Being a teacher, I have to plan carefully, since there's no shower. I bring a supply of clothes to work on Monday and leave my toiletries at school so i can clean up. I'm not usually too sweaty from such a short ride. I have a big front bag and a smaller bag in the back, but if I have papers to grade, my lunch, and other stuff, I have to wear my Camelback/backpack that I use for x-country skiing. I hate riding with it.
This year I plan to put a flyer in everyone's mailbox and see if anyone will join in. There is one other teacher who rides. I might see if anyone wants to go on a short group ride Friday, after work.

[Barb]

I rode to work last Friday sort of as a test run. It's not pretty, lots of traffic, broken glass and sprinklers (I almost got soaked when a automatic set turned on!).

We have pretty cold weather and rain sceduled and well, I am a wimp. I'll try for Monday and Tuesday. I am definately leaving roadie home in favor of a more urban assault bike!!!

[Bike Goddess]

Yep, Barb, I'd leave my roadie home too! Maybe you'll need some rainwear for that automatic sprinkler. While you're at it, how about a broom! (I'd probably contact the city maintenance dept and see if they will do a clean up job- having glass isn't safe for anyone much less cyclists)

[mommelisa]

no plans for me, i work from home, so it would be a pretty short ride..