Newsgram

May is National Bike Month

 Established in 1952 by the League of American Bicyclists, May is National Bike Month and a great time for Trailnet to encourage new and veteran bicyclists to celebrate all the benefits of bicycling by ramping up the energy throughout the month.

 More than half of the U.S. population lives within five miles of their workplace, making bicycling a feasible and fun way to get to work. With increased interest in healthy, sustainable, and economic transportation options, it's not surprising that, from 2000 to 2011, the number of bicycle commuters in the U.S. grew by more than 47 percent. 

National Bike to Work Day is Friday, May 16 and Trailnet has organized refueling stations across the city designed to give people a good reason to try bike commuting. From 6:30 to 9:30 a.m., the stations will provide a welcome cup of coffee, free breakfast, an opportunity for about 500 cyclists to meet other bike commuters and Trailnet staff to talk to about routes, rules of the road, and getting motivated to be a part of a season full of biking activities and events. Trailnet staff and volunteers count all riders that day and use the information to showcase how many people DO ride…and what St. Louis could look like on a daily basis. Click here for more information and a list of Refueling Station Partners so you can plan your route to stop by one – or more! 

Beyond that, there is a full schedule of rides and events throughout May to appeal to everyone interested in riding – there are even activities designed to get you to dust off your bike and get back on. 

The month kicks off with a Safe Roads for All Press Conference on Thursday morning, May 1 at the Missouri History Museum. Trailnet, MoDOT, Metro Transit, and the St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department will come together for this third annual press conference followed by a bike ride. These agencies will share their progress on creating safer roads for everyone – drivers, bicyclists, and pedestrians.

A Bike Smart class, funded in part by the Great Rivers Greenway District, is offered on Saturday, May 10 at the Center of Clayton for anyone who wants to bike more but may not feel comfortable doing so. Or maybe you ride regularly, but would like to fine-tune your riding skills. Whether you're considering bike commuting or simply want to learn more about how to ride safely, Trailnet has a proven, hands-on class that teaches you how to ride as visibly, predictably, and safely as possible. This class will be led by two League of American Bicyclists' certified instructors and includes an optional one-hour fix-a-flat session.