Every year in May, the nation celebrates the joys of bicycling. The entire month is dedicated to biking: from mountain trail riding to commuter bicycling and everything in between. Bike to Work Day is one of the better-known days of the celebratory month, and it encourages those who’d normally take the train or drive to work to bike instead. If you live in one of these six cities, you’re bound to have a beautiful commute this Bike to Work Day. Just don’t forget your helmet!
Venice/Los Angeles
You can’t really beat the bike commute in beachside Venice. That’s why, for Bike to Work Day, opt for a bike ride along the Boardwalk (we promise it’s less crowded in the wee hours of the morning), Main Street, or Abbot Kinney instead of your normal Uber ride. If you’re not on the west side, head downtown to the LA County Bicycle Coalition headquarters (634 South Spring St.) and grab your free HighBrew Coffee and breakfast at their Bike to Work Day event.
Boston
Hit the pavement and let your two wheels take you past centuries-old buildings, famous statues, and historical landmarks. Spring is one of the best times to be out and about in Bean Town, and Bike to Work Day is the perfect excuse to dust off your bike and begin thawing out from an undoubtedly cold winter. Bike with a convoy at one of the many meet-up locations so you can chat with other bike riders on your commute to the city-hosted Bike to Work Festival. Once you arrive, enjoy free breakfast bites and coffee as you stroll through an expo fair at City Hall Plaza.
Minneapolis/St. Paul
Ranked one of the most bike-friendly cities in the world (and the only U.S. city to make the cut in 2015), Minneapolis has made some drastic improvements when it comes to safer lanes and bike trails. It boasts 120 miles of “on-street bikeways” and 90 miles of off-street lanes, meaning you can bike safely for hours just within the city itself. The Midtown Greenway also offers 5.7-mile long corridor spanning from downtown Minneapolis to the Grand Rounds Scenic Byway, a 50-mile path. Use Bike to Work Day as a reason to explore a few of these bike-friendly miles, and get a free breakfast and snacks along the way. Choose the nearest pit stop and start biking alongside elected officials on your way to work, and continue the festivities at the Bike to Work Day Downtown Celebration.
Washington, D.C.
Spin past some of our nation’s most iconic buildings on your commute to work and breathe in that fresh, spring air. You’ll likely ride on some of the safest bike lanes in the country, thanks to the efforts of DC’s Capital Bikeshare, which pushed for the installation of more protected bike lanes. On Bike to Work Day, register for the free event hosted by Commuter Connections and the Washington Area Bicyclist Association. Be one of the first 20,000 to register and you’ll get a free t-shirt, refreshments, and your name will be thrown into a raffle for a chance to win a new bike.
Houston
Houston’s going all out for Bike to Work Day this year. Along with organizing an early morning ride beginning and ending at City Hall, the city will celebrate the day with music, food, and giveaways. The Houston Bike Plan, part of the City of Houston Planning & Development Department, has a mission of making the city a gold level bike-friendly city by 2027, and it’s well on its way to reaching that goal. During the Bike to Work celebration, the city’s mayor will speak about the improvements The Plan has made over the last year in an effort to make bicycling safer and more accessible for Houstonians.
San Francisco
San Francisco celebrated Bike to Work Day early (May 9th), but the news that came out of the festivities will make you want to bike to work every day. Mayor London Breed made a pledge to add 20 miles of protected bike lanes to SF streets over the next two years, and the San Francisco Bike Coalition couldn’t be happier. This nonprofit has been on a mission to “transform San Francisco streets and neighborhoods into more livable and safe places by promoting the bicycle for everyday transportation.” They’re a major reason San Franciscans can bike safely to work past Duboce Park, the San Francisco Bay, popular neighborhoods with picture-perfect aesthetics, and Alcatraz Island. This city has some great commute routes, thanks in part to the SF Bicycle Coalition, and adding more protected bike lanes is going to make them that much safer.
Make your move to one of these places, or another bike-friendly city, and get ready to make everyday Bike to Work Day. Find your next apartment on Zumper and get your bike tuned up so you’re ready to take on the city streets.
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