Bike to Work Day is for everyone. Photo by Jess Maron
For many people, bike to work day is every day. But Bike to Work Day is also a time to celebrate, encourage others, share enthusiasm for biking as transportation, and sometimes pick up some fabulous free swag.
Cities throughout the state celebrate on different days, and in different ways. Below is a sampling of some of the celebrations so far this month.
Copenhagen Mayor Morten Kabell and Mayor Albrecht Schröter of Jena, Germany, gave the thumbs on their ride with Berkeley Mayor Tom Bates (left to right, front row). Photo: Kara ObergA happy group headed into downtown Oakland together. Bike East Bay counted more than 17,000 participating bicyclists throughout Contra Costa and Alameda counties, and gave away 10,000 BTWD bags-o-goodies. Photo: Abel GuillenA temporary parking-protected bike lane popped up in front of Berkeley's City Hall in Berkeley, complete with chalked-in sharrows. Photo: Melanie Curry/StreetsblogIn Oakland's Frank Ogawa Plaza, the Scraper Bikes put in an appearance. Their decorations are getting more amazing every year. Photo: Mary Ann BlackwellCounty Supervisor Jane Kim received her BTWD swag from volunteer Drew Taylor in front of San Francisco City Hall. The Market Street bike counter in downtown counted more than 4,000 bikes on Thursday--and that's probably an undercount, since there were many bikes passing outside the count zone. Photo: Jessica KuoCharlie Ream demonstrated one reason for low-stress bike facilities: coffee. He's riding on the new Polk Street contraflow protected bike lane in San Francisco. Photo: Jessica Kuo
More photos of more places after the jump.
In downtown L.A., Alta Planning offered bicyclists encouragement and refreshments. Photo: Joe Linton/StreetsblogIn Merced, some even got T-shirts. Photo: Merced Bicycle CoalitionMike and Kayla Kaiser brought their bikes with them on Metrolink. Their organization, bikecar101, is working to increase bike access on Metrolink trains. Photo: Mike KaiserVolunteers cheered on bike riders on Valencia Street in San Francisco. Photo: San Francisco Bicycle CoalitionIn Berkeley, participants had a chance to discuss the city's Bike Plan update. Photo: Jess MaronIn Redding, Streets Alive! events in May included Family Cycling day, a bike parade, and Bike to Work Day. Here, Heather Phillips, baby, and dog show the best way to get around. Photo: Nigel SkeetFriends gather to ride together. Photo: Melanie Curry/StreetsblogIn Modesto, whole families came out on bikes. Photo: Michael SacuskieTheir hearts are probably in the right place. Photo: Melanie Curry/StreetsblogFor many, biking to work is the most fun part of the day. Photo: Jess Maron
Streetsblog California editor Melanie Curry has been thinking about transportation, and how to improve conditions for bicyclists, ever since commuting to school by bike long before bike lanes were a thing. She was Managing Editor at the East Bay Express, editor of Access Magazine for the University of California Transportation Center, and earned her Masters in City Planning from UC Berkeley.
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