San Francisco Bay Area
celebrates the 30th anniversary with events and
Energizer Stations
SAN
FRANCISCO, May 15, 2024 /PRNewswire/ --Thursday, May 16th marks the
30th anniversary of Bay Area Bike to Work Day/Bike to
Wherever Day(s), which started in 1994 as a celebration of bicycles
as a fun and healthy way to commute. The event encourages both
regular bike commuters and those who typically do not cycle to
consider it as a transportation mode. Bike to Work Day also
advocates for enhanced bicycle infrastructure and safety throughout
the region. All nine Bay Area counties offer Energizer Stations for
cyclists, hold special events, and invite elected officials to show
their support.
Since its inception, Bay Area Bike to Work Day, has attracted
increasing participation from both new and seasoned riders.
Throughout May, Bay Area Bike to Wherever Days, our region's
counties are hosting a Bay Area Bike Challenge which invites riders
to log their trips and compete for one of eight different prizes.
"It is incredible to see how much has changed in the world of
bicycling in the last 30 years, thanks largely to the visibility
biking gets each year on this day. To mark the 30th
anniversary, we invited bikers to participate in a month-long goal
of logging 30,000 bike miles. This Bike Challenge has been a huge
success. After only two weeks, we have exceeded our goal. This is a
testament to the passion and hard work of cyclists across the Bay
Area," said Andrew Fremier,
Executive Director of the Metropolitan Transportation Commission
(MTC).
On Bike to Work Day, the nine Bay Area counties will set up
Energizer Stations where riders can pick up commemorative bags
filled with a host of giveaways, or refuel and re-energize on their
way to their final destination. These stations are coordinated by
local county bicycle coalitions or agencies and hosted by
businesses, cities, schools, and nonprofits, primarily run by
volunteers. "Part of what makes Bike to Work Day so special is the
broad participation. It is a real community event, spanning nearly
every community in the Bay Area," stated Marcella Aranda, MTC Public Information
Officer.
For the first time, all Energizer Station locations are on one
regional map here. The day before Bike to Work Day, the Bay Area
had hundreds of Energizer Stations across all nine counties, with
various events throughout the day and into the weekend. "We are
thrilled to see the deeper collaboration across the region. So many
of us start out biking in one county and end up in another. This
shows just how connected our region is," said Silicon Valley
Bicycle Coalition Executive Director Clarrissa Cabansagan.
A beloved hallmark of Bike To Work Day and Bike to Wherever Days
is the commemorative yellow, green, and blue tote bag given away at
Energizer Stations, featuring new art each year. San Francisco-based artist Patrick Sean Gibson has designed the artwork for
the commemorative bags since 2021. "I'm a huge fan of minimal color
palettes and super inspired by the poster art of the Fillmore back in the day...The background
design of this year's bag is loosely inspired by the flowy
Fillmore posters of the late '60s,
the general San Francisco trippy
vibe." said Patrick. Read more about what Patrick has to say about
the art here.
Additional information about Bike to Wherever Days and Bike to
Work Day is available on our website at www.bayareabiketowork.com.
Bay Area Bike to Wherever Days is presented by MTC (the
transportation planning, financing and coordinating agency for the
nine-county San Francisco Bay
Area), 511 (the region's traveler information system),
and Amazon. BTWD 2024 also receives support from the Bay Area Air
Quality Management District and BART, as well as from many sponsors
at the local level. Prizes for the Bike Champion of the Year
winners were donated by MTC , Sports Basement, and Mike's
Bikes.
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SOURCE Metropolitan Transportation Commission