This week, the League of American Bicyclists (LAB) is promoting Bike-to-Work Week from May 11-15 and Bike-to-Work Day on Friday, May 15.
Even if your commute prohibits you from pedaling to work, this week is still a great time to replace some of your car trips with a spin on the bike. If you need some help deciding on creative ways to celebrate this holiday, the LAB website has a national events calendar and a helpful step-by-step guide that can help you get started.
But we live in beautiful (and for the most part, blessedly flat) Colorado! We’ve got plenty of local, sustainable ways to celebrate the original form of alternative transportation.
Safety First!
Been a while since you took a seat atop the two-wheeled beast? A tune-up for your bike and a brush up on bike commuting safety might be in order. There are a plethora of bike shops around town ready to put a little elbow grease into your squeaky wheels, for a list of local bike shops and resources, visit the Local Bicycle Culture page on the City of Fort Collins website. (Keep in mind that Recycled Cycles is running a $59 tune-up special for all multi-speed road, mountain, adult and kids bikes until May 31st!). If you need a refresher course on the rules and regulation of riding out on the road, check out the Pedestrian and Bicyclist Information Center.
Share the Love
Are you a regular bike commuter? Know your way around a tire tool? Consider sharing your knowledge, skills and maybe even tools with others who might just be getting started. Run by volunteers, the Fort Collins Bike Co-op keeps bicycles out of the landfill, encourages community riding and bicycle education. A true community bike shop, they strive to get people on bikes. The Bike Co-op also refurbishes found and abandoned bikes in Fort Collins and also builds and maintains the fleet of FC Bike Library bikes. Contact the Co-op today to find out how you can help.
Take a (Bike) Hike
Does the idea of coasting down the street to work leave you wanting more? Want to get out and see the countryside with the wind streaming through your helmet? Well, you're in luck. Fort Collins is home to not one, but two great bicycling adventure outfits, specializing in guided tours throughout the Front Range. New World Sports offers half or full day trips to Horsetooth Mountain Park and Lory State Park, Pawnee Grasslands, and Estes Park just to name a few. Rolling Spokes conducts tours that promote awareness of community, connecting both locals and visitors with the greatest resources that Northern Colorado has to offer. Rolling Spokes tours include the Tour de Coop, Edible Urban Garden Tour, and Fort Collins Sustainability Tour.
Also, don't forget that Fort Collins celebrates its own Bike to Work Day on June 24th from 6 - 9 am, and bicyclists can enjoy free breakfast at stations throughout the city. Check fcgov.com for more info as the date approaches.
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