Join a national movement: Ride your bike to work this Friday

Between 2000 and 2008, bicycle commuting increased 43 percent in the United States. That’s a lot more bicycle commuters, to be sure. Still, there are millions more Americans, who could easily leave their cars at home. More than half of the U.S. population lives within five miles of their workplaces and this includes many Savannah residents who live within comfortable biking distance of their jobs. Now’s the time, friends and neighbors, to try bicycle commuting and enjoy the significant economic, health and environmental benefits.

The City of Savannah and the Savannah Bicycle Campaign will celebrate National Bike to Work Day on May 20 with refreshments in Ellis Square for bicycle commuters and a “State of Cycling in Savannah” announcements from city officials, which will include the latest updates on bicycle facilities. A group commute will depart from the Habersham Village Shopping Center at 7:30 a.m. First time bike commuters, who would prefer to ride in the company of experienced cyclists, are encouraged to participate in the group commute. All bicycle commuters can stop by Ellis Square for coffee and refreshments from 7:30 a.m. until 9 a.m.

National Bike To Work Day is celebrated by cities across the country as part of the League of American Bicyclists National Bike Month Andy Clarke, President of the LAB, said, “Biking to work is an efficient and fun way to get the exercise you need, without having to find extra time to work out. And this year, with gasoline prices as high as
they are, biking to work makes more sense than ever.”

It’s hard to argue with that.