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Earth Day is Next Week! Do Your Part, Ride a Bike!

041614 Bike Lane RESIZEDid you know that using a bicycle has virtually no carbon footprint and is the most energy efficient form of transportation ever invented?  Riding a bike instead of driving a car reduces the amount of paved surfaces needed for travel lanes and parking lots; reduces energy consumption; and reduces air pollution. A 4-mile bicycle trip keeps about 15 pounds of pollutants out of the air we breathe.

There are other good reasons to use bicycling as a form of transportation. Since it’s easier and cheaper to park a bike, your commute could be the best part of your day instead of the worst part of your day. You could save on the membership to a health club by getting your exercise bicycling to work, school, shopping, etc. It’s a healthy family and friends activity, and, best of all, it’s just fun.

Did you know May is Bike to Work Month? With all these good reasons to ride a bike, you may want to think about taking the Cascade Commute Challenge. Cascade’s Commute Challenge is a friendly and free competition that is open to anyone who is willing to bike just 4 commute trips during the month of May.

141714 BMP familyRESIZEIf you’re a new bike commuter, Cascade offers free classes and weekly information on safe bicycling practices. Team captains and fellow bike commuters are a fantastic resource as well.

If you’re an experienced rider, sign up to be a captain. You can be that person who introduces someone to the simple joys (and practical benefits) of bike commuting.

If you’re a transit rider or carpooler, you can have the best of both worlds. The commute challenge counts one-way or partial trips. Take the bus to work and bike home – it counts (the bike miles, that is)! Bus or carpool part way and bike the rest – it counts!

If you’re an employer, you can increase bike commuting at your workplace by simply promoting the commute challenge to your employees. The team captains will take it from there. You can do more, though. Check out Cascade’s Employer Toolkit for suggestions on how to make the most of Bike Month.

041714 Sara and Allison RESIZESo, what are you waiting for? Join in the fun and join a Bike to Work Team today!  Visit the Commute Challenge website for more information.

Are you a City of Seattle Employee?  Stop in at the “Getting Started” City Bike Expo on Thursday, April 24, 2014, at the Seattle Municipal Tower and learn about the City Employees’ Bike Commute Program and facilities. You can also sign up for the Commute Challenge, practice loading a bike on a bus rack, learn about good routes and equipment choices from coworkers, take a Bike Commute 101 class, and learn how to fix a flat. For more information about the Bike Expo, Bike to Work Day on May 16 and the Bike to Work Month Challenge, go to your My Trips website or contact Eric Mamroth at (206) 684-5420 or mytrips@seattle.gov.

For references and more benefits of bicycling, visit http://www.ibike.org/encouragement/benefits.htm.