This event, part of National Bike Month, is a great chance to get out of your car and bike, skate, or walk to work. If you live a long distance from work, try driving (carpool if you can) part of the way, then walking, biking or skating the rest of the way to the office.
In celebration of this day, PACE of the Midlands is sponsoring a Bike to Work Day Corporate Challenge. What's the challenge? See how many of members of your organization you can get to walk, skate, or bike to work. Winning organizations will have the highest percentage of non-motor-vehicle commuters. Company-sponsored incentives are fair game.
To register for the corporate challenge, e-mail the following information to PACE of the Midlands:
-Name of your organization (government agencies, schools, & non-profits can all participate)
-Name, phone number & e-mail address of the contact person for your organization
-Approximate number of employees at your organization
-Any comments about what your organization does to help facilitate non-automobile commuters (such as on-site showers & lockers, bike racks, flex time, casual dress, etc.).
On Friday May 8th, get as many people as you can to bike or hike to work. Then let PACE know (phone, fax or e-mail), by Friday afternoon, how many from your organization turned out on bike or on foot. Winners will be announced in the May 13th issue of the Free Times.
To help with the Bike to Work Day commute, PACE is putting together a list of experienced riders and skaters to lead groups on common routes across the city. Contact PACE to find out if there will be a group ride on your route to work, or to volunteer to lead such a ride.
All cyclists must wear helmets on PACE-related rides to work. No exceptions.
The following organized rides have been scheduled so far:
-Rosewood to USC, meet at Midlands Tech Beltline 6:30 am, bike
-Shandon to USC/Capitol Complex, meet at the old Winn Dixie on Devine & Millwood, 8:00 am, bike
-Olympia to USC/Five Points/Main Street, meet at Springs Mills 7:30 am, skate
-Harbison to Downtown, meet at the Broad River Road entrance to Glenridge subdivision (1/4 past Harbison State Forest) 7 am, bike.
-Irmo to Airport/NCR/Midlands Tech, meet at the SCE&G North Recreation area, Lake Murray Dam 7:00 am , bike
-West Columbia to Airport, meet at Pineview Elementary (Leaphart Rd) 7:40 am, bike
-West Columbia to Industrial Drive, Lexington, meet at Pineview Elementary (Leaphart Rd) 7:00 am, bike
In addition Cycle Center, Outspokin’ Bicycles, and Jeff Price TS&S have several volunteers available to lead groups of cyclists or rollerbladers; contact PACE to set up an organized ride.