Denver, June 15, 2017 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- If that bike has been sitting idle in the garage for too long, now is the perfect time to dust it off and get it in gear for Bike to Work Day on June 28. More than 30,000 riders are expected to participate, making our region’s event the second largest of its kind in the country.

 

Beginning at 6 a.m., breakfast stations across the region will be offering food and fun to riders making the trip on two wheels. Water stations, evening events and gatherings will occur after business hours to support the ride home and to celebrate the collective success. Last year, Bike to Work Day participants left 21,611 cars at home, biked 603,613 miles, burned 37.6 million calories and saved 137 tons of carbon dioxide emissions. In the days leading up to Bike to Work Day, registered participants can look out for chances to win prizes – including an electric bike and a cycling trip to Croatia.

 

“We create a fun and supportive environment for people to try biking to work, many for the first time, with the hope they’ll realize how easy and beneficial it is and continue choosing two wheels over four at least part of the time,” said Steve Erickson, DRCOG Communications and Marketing Director. “Last year, 37 percent of riders were first-timers and 38 percent of all participants said they were motivated to continue cycling after the event.”

 

This year’s slogan is bike today for a better tomorrow, bringing awareness to the many benefits of bike commuting.

 

“Not only is biking a healthy way to get to and from work, it also saves commuters money and stress,” said Erickson. “On a regional level, it reduces traffic congestion, improves air quality and helps the Denver region remain one of the best places to live.”

 

In addition to the obvious health benefits for individuals and for the region, participant registration data is used to demonstrate support for bike commuting – informing decisions on infrastructure projects such as bike paths and bike lanes and advocacy on behalf of all cyclists.

 

Community support is key to a successful event. More than 260 partners host breakfast stations and dozens of others have donated prizes and incentives for riders. Employers play a big role as well, with nearly 800 businesses and organizations forming teams to participate in the business challenge.

 

Bike to Work Day is an annual event organized by the Denver Regional Council of Governments’ Way to Go program, which encourages people to stop driving alone and choose commute options that reduce traffic congestion and improve air quality. To learn more about Bike to Work Day, locate breakfast stations, get information on prizes or to plan a route, visit biketoworkday.us. To learn more about Way to Go, visit waytogo.org.

About DRCOG

The Denver Regional Council of Governments is a planning organization where local governments collaborate to establish guidelines, set policy and allocate funding in the areas of transportation and personal mobility, growth and development, aging and disability resources.

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Attachments:

A photo accompanying this announcement is available at http://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/c474caea-b9dd-4c71-8cd4-245bb900d778

Winna MacLaren
Denver Regional Council of Governments
303-480-6743
wmaclaren@drcog.org