May 19, 2017 is Bike To Work Day in Central Oklahoma

May is National Bike Month in America. Everyday and around the country, including in Central Oklahoma, people will take to the streets and trails for various events. On May 19, several of our member cities will sponsor rides on Bike To Work Day. They include:

Oklahoma City

Edmond

Guthrie

Moore

Norman

The Village

Yukon

Tell everyone on Facebook that you plan to ride!

ACOG has designed a special poster for the event, which you can download here. You can also download a flyer for any of the aforementioned communities. (See below.) The flyers feature designated bike routes.

National Bike Month

According to the League of American Bicyclists, National Bike Month was established in 1956. May provides a chance to show the many benefits and legitimacy of cycling as a mode of transportation. Some people will ride for their wallet, others will ride for their health or the environment. Either way, Bike Month provides many occasions to celebrate the power of bicycling.

There are already several events scheduled for the month of May. Some of these events include the National Bicycle and Pedestrian Documentation Project between May 15-21, the Oklahoma Bike summit May 19-20, and Bike to Work Day on May 19.

National Bicycle and Pedestrian Documentation Project

The National Bicycle and Pedestrian Documentation Project is an opportunity to gain count data for cyclists and pedestrians. Cities in Central Oklahoma have been counting since 2014. Last fall, Chuck Mikkelson of the Oklahoma City Running Club organized volunteers to count at Lake Hefner. Based on calculations, ACOG was able to determine that approximately 1.3 million people visit the East Wharf at Lake Hefner. With this information, it is easier to show the need for bicycle and pedestrian related facilities.

The Oklahoma Bike Summit will be held in Muskogee and Tahlequah this year. On Friday, May 19, the event will be in Muskogee, where panel discussions will focus on cycling for healthy living and rehabilitation. On Saturday, May 20, the event takes place in Tahlequah and will feature bike rides, lunch, and shopping in downtown Tahlequah, as well as a discussion on how Tahlequah can better accommodate the biking community.

Bike To Work Day 2017

The big event in Central Oklahoma is Bike to Work Day, which takes place on May 19 this year. Several of the cities in Central Oklahoma have bike rides scheduled for this day. In the coming weeks, be sure to look at both ACOG’s Bike Month webpage as well as your local city’s website for information about events being hosted in your area.

Every year since 2005, ACOG has helped cities in Central Oklahoma prepare for Bike to Work Day. ACOG communicates with participating cities to obtain maps of the intended routes as well as ride start times and other information pertinent to the event. We promote local events on our Bike Month Calendar and create fliers for cities for their local events. This year also marks the 200th birthday of the bike. To celebrate, ACOG will host a series of blog entries surrounding this phenomenal machine. These entries will explore the history behind the bike, including how it influenced the automobile, and will discuss the bicycle’s influence on women’s independence. There will also be an entry for tips on how to ride the city safely and efficiently and another discussing how ACOG is helping to push Central Oklahoma to become more bike-friendly.

Join the Facebook Event

Please join the Facebook event and show your support for Bike To Work Day in Oklahoma City, Norman, Edmond, Moore, Yukon and Guthrie!