Bike to Work Day Denver

Image courtesy Pixabay

Denver is home to the second largest Bike to Work day celebration, so Happy Bike to Work Day, fellow Denverites! According to a March 2015 CBS 4 report, Denver bike commuting increased by 43% when compared to the previous year. Were you among the 20, 067 people who registered to "bike to work" today? If so, you may have taken advantage of free breakfast or other freebies, but just because you may have forgotten to register or ride, that doesn't mean you have completely missed out on the bike to work incentives. Here are some of the benefits of biking to work, from the official Bike to Work Day website.

• Exercise and commute combined - we're all busy, so why not multi-task?
• Save money - from filling up the gas tank to car insurance, driving adds up, and so does bus fare.
• Environmentally-friendly - riding a bike does not add pollutants to the air! 

If you cannot take part in any of this year's festivities, but would still like to consider biking to work as a transportation option, here are some things to consider:

• Map out a plan: Plan your route to work ahead of time, taking things like bike lanes and heavily congested vehicle traffic areas into consideration. It may be helpful to plot your route on Google maps and keep your smartphone handy as you ride (safely, of course).
• Check the weather: Nobody wants to arrive at work dripping in sweat or soaked to the bone from the rain. Perhaps bring a change of clothing and shoes.
• For additional tips on a smooth driving to biking transition, read this recent article from The Denver Post.

Another thing you can do to increase your involvement in biking is to register for an upcoming ride! Bike Denver is a useful resource on upcoming biking races and rides.

The Amaranth's location has a Bike Score of 90, meaning "flat as a pancake, excellent bike lanes!" Cheeseman Park, located just down the street, is a great location to practice biking if it has been a while since you have ridden. So, what are you waiting for! Summer is the perfect season to not only hit the trails, but hit the streets and refresh your methods of transportation!