Bike to Work Day Friday May 16th

Missouri Bicyclists--

Don't forget it's Bike to Work Day Friday, May 16th.

CBS news will be filming at TrailNet's Bike to Work Day Refueling Station in St. Louis at the Missouri History Museum at 6:00 AM:

There are events in lots of cities around the state--and of course there is nothing to stop you from just riding to work (or anywhere else) even if there is no organized event in your area.

Interesting Bike to Work Day news report from Reuters:

Kelson said there was no real alternative to her Dodge Charger -- which now costs her $65 a week in gasoline -- even for short trips to the supermarket.

According to the National Sporting Goods Association, the number of Americans who bike "frequently" -- 110 days a year or more -- fell almost 10 percent in 2007 to 3.7 million people.

Similarly, the number of people who ride bikes at least six times a year fell to 35.6 million in 2006, the lowest since the survey began in 1984, from 56.3 million in 1995.

Thomas Doyle, vice president of information and research at the association, said the decline was probably due to the aging population, reluctance by parents to allow children to ride bikes and more children using wheeled toys such as scooters and skateboards.

The proportion of personal trips made by bike is less than 1 percent, according to the League of American Bicyclists, a Washington-based advocacy group.

That compares with 27 percent in the Netherlands and 18 percent in Denmark, both of which have networks of bike-only paths, bike lanes and calm streets where people of all ages can feel safe riding.

And don't forget MoBikeFed's Report Card on Walking & Bicycling in Missouri, including the Highlights and Lowlights of the past year, and Recommendations and Action Items.

Happy commuting!