Bike and Walk to Work Day is May 20. Leave your car at home!

Want to get in shape, reduce traffic congestion, help the environment and arrive at work awake and refreshed?

Bicycling is part of the solution to many of our nation’s problems: the high cost of gasoline, traffic congestion, air pollution, rising obesity rates and more. Over 22% of all motor vehicle trips Americans take are less than one mile long, and 50% of the working population commutes five miles or less to work, an easily bikeable distance.
It’s time for a change. It’s time you take part in New Hampshire’s 3rd Annual Bike/Walk to Work Day on Friday, May 20, 2005.

For 2005, Seacoast Area Bicycle Routes (SABR) is working in conjunction with the newly formed Granite State Bicycling Alliance, the NH Department of Transportation Bicycle Pedestrian Advisory Board and The Greater Piscataqua Community Foundation to expand Bike/Walk to Work Day activities to other communities around New Hampshire. Last year, more than 300 commuters left their cars at home and biked or walked to work.

This year, Bike/Walk to Work Day has expanded to include 14 communities across the state. There will be commuter breakfasts in Concord, Claremont, Dover, Durham, Exeter, Hanover, Keene, Laconia, Lebanon, Littleton, Manchester, Portsmouth, Swanzey and Stratham.

Win a Commuter Bicycle! Every person who rides or walks to a commuter event in any of these communities and signs in on an official registration sheet will be entered in a raffle. Up for grabs is a Fuji Absolute bicycle (a $600.00 value), a Bike the Whites bicycle touring vacation (trip for two on a four-day three-night B&B White Mountains adventure), a Bailey Works bag or a $100 gift certificate to Runner’s Alley.

The goals of Bike/Walk to Work Day are to promote bicycling and walking as healthy and safe ways to get to work, decrease traffic congestion, improve air quality, and raise public awareness of opportunities to improve bike facilities around the State. Biking or walking to work is a great way to stay in shape, and best of all, it’s fun!
To find an event in your area, visit www.seacoastbikes.org/biketowork.cfm or e-mail josh@seacoastbikes.org