Gearing Up for Bike Month

May is National Bike Month.  Bike Month is much more than 31 days for us, it's a celebration of bikes and an impetus to get rolling again after a long Upstate winter.  This year we are working with Bikeatoga again to sponsor a Bike to Work Day challenge for employers in Albany, Rensselaer, Saratoga, and Schenectady Counties.  It's our flagship Bike Month event that promotes bicycling as a viable mode of transportation and worthy option to commute to work.  Last year, almost 350 people registered for the challenge, amounting to over 3,500 bicycle miles, displacing 150 gallons of fuel, 2,900 lbs of CO2, and burning about 159,000 calories - that's equivalent to over 500 pizzas!

Gary from the NYS Office of Children & Family Services won
longest commute for Rensselaer County in 2014

Trophies, made from spare bike parts and donated from various bicycle advocacy groups in the Capital Region, will be awarded to teams in each county for longest commute, most riders, and highest percent of riders.  This year we will be holding mini Road Skill Commuter Workshops to prepare riders for the event.  These workshops give participants the opportunity to hear from experienced commuters and connect with bike buddies (safety in numbers!).  For details about the workshops and to register your team visit the Capital Moves Bike to Work Day Challenge website.

If you would like to organize a Bike Month activity or event in your own community we recommend reading The League of American Bicyclists' National Bike Month Guide.  It provides ideas for Bike Month and recommendations on how to promote them (get ready to hashtag!).

What's on tap in the Capital Region: 

Smart Cycling Class - May 1st & 2nd
For more information visit www.troybikerescue.com

Albany Bike Expo - May 3rd
Event details can be found at http://albanybicyclecoalition.com/

Bike to School Day - May 6th
Register your event at www.walkbiketoschool.org

Green Your Commute Day - May 15th
For more information visit www.dec.ny.gov/public/96405.html

Bike to Work Day Challenge - May 15th
For details about the free Bike to Work Day Commuter Workshops & to register your team visit www.capitalmoves.org/B2W518

Albany Spring Bike Counts - May 19th & May 21st
Volunteers needed, please email Ketura at KVics@albany.edu

Gearing up: 

Capital Region Bicycle Commuter Guide (NEW!)

Know your Pedestrian & Bicycle Laws

Bicycle Safety Tips

Where to park your bike