Monday May 12, 2008
New Online Information Helps Citizens Bike To Work
Mayor Abramson celebrates Bike to Work Week
In celebration of Bike to Work Week, a partnership with Louisville Metro's Bike Louisville program and Bicycling for Louisville, a non-profit organization helping to promote bicycling, is helping move people from horsepower to pedal power.
This week people can visit www.bicyclingforlouisville.org/commuting
to learn everything from commuting safely to cycling in bad weather. People may also
use a “cost calculator” to estimate how much money they can save by biking, rather than driving. The calculator includes the savings of gas, car insurance, maintenance, etc.
“With gas nearing $4 a gallon, some families simply can’t afford to drive anymore,” Mayor Jerry Abramson. “Now is the time to start biking. It saves money, it helps people stay fit, and it’s good for the environment.”
The new online information coincides with national Bike To Work Week, May 12-16. May is also National Bike Month.
Across America, people are setting aside their car keys and hopping on bikes for the daily commute. The website is a joint project between Louisville Metro and Bicycling for Louisville, a charitable community service organization that promotes and enhances bicycling through education, advocacy and research.
“Talking with fellow bicycle commuters, one thing comes across over and over — we keep riding to work because it feels good,” said Barry Zalph, executive director of Bicycling for Louisville “Biking it saves money and improves fitness, but it also starts and ends the work day with a fun activity that gets us outdoors and connects us with our neighborhoods. This website is about sharing the joy of bicycle commuting and helping people do it safely and enjoyably.”
Each day this week, the website will be updated with new biking information:
- Monday: Benefits of Bicycle Commuting, including a cost savings calculator;
- Tuesday: Commuting Safely by Bicycle;
- Wednesday: Equipment for Bicycle Commuting;
- Thursday: Clothing and Grooming for Bicycle Commuters;
- Friday: Commuting in Darkness and Challenging Weather.
The June issue of Bicycling Magazine names Louisville as one of the Top Three most improved cities for cycling, alongside New York City and Washington D.C. The magazine noted Abramson’s effort to build new bike lanes in Louisville and to create the 100-mile Louisville Loop, among other things.