Events: Strava Global Bike to Work Day

(2016) When I was in junior high I regularly tried to organize street hockey games against the kids in town. The problem was getting everyone in one area to agree on a time, date, and place. Mind you, this was back before the conveniences of the interwebs, so everything had to be done by word-of-mouth. Of all the attempts I made to organize games, I think three went off, one of which I wasn’t able to attend. If only we had the webs.

Or maybe it’s just a common belief that like-minded people have to hear other possible participants to believe it, too.

Strava's May 10, 2016 feedback shows how many participants got out for Global Bike to Work Day.

Currently I commute one hour to work by car one way. Being that I take the most direct route, biking to work would take two hours at the minimum with essentially a full gas approach. Even if I did arrive to work on time I would be struggling to shake off the morning effort. Taking the roads with the feeling of safety is a whole different issue. Even though I see cyclists daily now, I feel the hammer motivation would come out of self-preservation.

On May 10, I was envious when Strava’s Global Bike to Work Day finally focused commuters for a day to provide information on route selection. According to the cycling app, nearly 80,000 people uploaded their commute to gain kudos and provide a glimpse in popular cycling routes. I am happy to say this area had a strong showing, even though I wasn’t one of the participants.

Here in the United States we are not just in the midst of National Bike to Work Week, we're pedaling through National Bike Month. For five work days, American cyclists are encouraged to roll out the door and head to work without the car. The culimation of the week is the specific National Bike to Work Day. If you haven't thrown a leg over the bike to get to work in the four days prior, Friday is the priority. The Bucks County area is forecasted specifically as "Sunshine and Beautiful." How often does the weather say a day will be beautiful?

Bowling shoes and single speed, clipless and road bike, no matter what you ride, try to keep the car parked Friday.

In the past decade around Doylestown bike lanes have been implemented on town roads as well as on the 202 bypass. That means someone is listening to the concerns that a more bike-friendly infrastructure is needed. With more bike lanes come more acceptances of motorists to follow Pennsylvania’s four-foot rule. Also with more bike lanes come fewer cars as citizens reach for the helmet and bike instead of the keys and gas card.

Hopefully next year I will be able to participate in Global Bike to Work Day, among the other days of riding into work. If it’s not possible to ride to the time clock daily, perhaps the one day a year of getting to work by human power will be prioritized. Even if I don’t get out there, Strava will be sure to record those who choose to upload their adventure, letting us all know we agree on a date, but the time and place is up to you.

According to the Leauge of American Bicyclists, National Bike to Work Week in the United States is in progress, ranging from May 16-20; National Bike to Work Day is on May 20, 2016. As Freddie Mercury once sang, "Get on your bikes and ride!"

Image from bikeleague.org/bikemonth