National Bike to Work Day is Friday - May 16

photo Be alert for extra cyclists on the road for National Bike to Work Day on Friday.

NEIGHBORHOOD RIDES¦ East Lake: Ride with Cycle Sports Concepts from East Lake Park, 3108 E. 34th St.¦ Highland Park/Ridgedale: Ride with Main Street Bike Co-op from Highland Park Commons, 1918 Union Ave.¦ Hixson: Ride with Owens Cyclery from the Hubert Fry Center at the Tennessee Riverpark, 4301 Amnicola Highway (park-and-ride option).¦ North Chattanooga: Ride with Trek Chattanooga from Renaissance Park, River Street (park-and-ride option).¦ Red Bank: Ride with Suck Creek Cycle from White Oak Park, 2 Midvale Ave., E.¦ St. Elmo: Ride with Hub Endurance from South Chattanooga Recreation Center, 1151 W. 40th St.¦ West Chattanooga/Southside: Ride with Bike Chattanooga from Finley Stadium, 1826 Reggie White Blvd. (park-and-ride option).DID YOU KNOW?Chattanooga Bicycle Club hosted its first Bike to Work Day in 1996.Source: GreenTrips Chattanooga

Don't be surprised if you see more cyclists in those designated bike lanes on your work commute Friday, May 16.

Bike Chattanooga, GreenTrips Chattanooga, Outdoor Chattanooga and community organizations such as BikeWalk Chattanooga and the Chattanooga Bicycle Club are planning several events in May, National Bike Month, to encourage riders of all cycling abilities to get on a bike.

Friday is the signature event, National Bike to Work Day, endorsed by the League of American Bicyclists.

"More than half of the U.S. population lives within five miles of their workplace, making bicycling a feasible and fun way to get to the office," says Philip Pugliese, director of the Active Living and Transportation Network, a local partner in National Bike to Work Day. "You get fresh air and exercise, save money on gas and see a whole new side of Chattanooga during your commute."

On Friday, a number of energizer stations will be set up at Miller Plaza, 850 Market St., during the morning rush hour (7-9 a.m.) to greet cyclists on their way to work with entertainment, free food and drinks. Local restaurants are offering 10 percent discounts at lunch for cyclists who bike to lunch and show their helmet.

Riders are welcome to go solo or join an organized group coming in from several neighborhoods. Three of those neighborhoods -- Hixson, North Chattanooga and West Chattanooga/Southside -- have park-and-ride options with Bike Chattanooga stations.

Bike Chattanooga will offer annual memberships at a discounted rate of $50 (regularly $75) to those who sign up during National Bike to Work Day, offering an incentive for downtown commuters to use the convenient bicycles for part of their commute or riding to lunch or meetings.

Bicyclists also can use commuting miles as part of the National Bike Challenge, a nationwide contest to log 30 million miles by bicycle between May 1 and Sept. 30. BikeWalk Chattanooga has challenged BikeWalk Knoxville to a mileage duel, with the winner getting a trophy.Visit BikeWalk Chattanooga on Facebook to sign up.

Other events this month include a Chickamauga Battlefield bike ride (see story Page 21) and the USA Cycling Professional Time Trials and Road Race on Memorial Day weekend.

Visit GreenTripsCha.org for details on times and ride start locations, a list of participating businesses in the discount lunch program, a comprehensive schedule of events and tips on preparing for your first bicycle commute and meeting other cyclists in the neighborhood.

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