Overview
Bike to Work Week will be celebrated May 11-17 this year. It's the seven days beginning on the Monday before Bike to Work Day, which is the third Friday of the Month (and this year falls on May 15).
According to the League of American Bicyclists, 40 percent of all trips in the U.S. are less than two miles. That's hardly far enough for your car to get "warmed up," so why not make those trips by bicycle, instead?
The objectives of Bike to Work Day are to help the environment by reducing the use of your car and get some exercise in a fun and social way. Who knows, if you try biking to work for one day or one week, maybe you'll consider it more often. With gas prices on the rise of late, maybe it's not a bad idea to forgo the automobile commute at least for one day or more, if you can. If you think your commute isn't feasible by bike, try doing part of it by bike, perhaps taking it to your train station or bus stop. Lots of NJ TRANSIT train stations offer bike parking.
Of course, if you're new to the scene, it's always best to take some precautions before hitting the road on two wheels. For instance:
- Does your helmet fit properly?
- Are the tires inflated to the pressure listed on the side of the tire?
- Do your brakes have at least a quarter-inch of padding?
- Is the chain free of rust and gunk?