Bike to Work Day promotes pedal power

Stations will be set up across Whatcom County

ZOE FRALEY - THE BELLINGHAM HERALD

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The bike lanes will be busy Friday, May 15, as county residents hit the road for Bike to Work and School Day.

More than 30 Celebration Stations will be set up throughout the county, where cyclists can get refreshments and stickers and sign up to win prizes, including Kona bicycles, cash cards and local goods.

"It's the highest participation bicycle event in Whatcom County annually," said Ellen Barton, bicycle program manager for Whatcom Smart Trips, which runs everybodyBIKE and partners with Mount Baker Bicycle Club for the event. "People routinely tell us that they feel it's a holiday festivity in Bellingham."

The event is in its 12th year, and last year about 7,500 people participated throughout the county.

"The day event creates a sense of a deadline: Well, why not try it this day as opposed to putting it off?" Barton said. "It also creates momentum. Friends talk to friends and they inspire other people to try it. Doing it once can sometimes be the initial push to doing it more often."

Local doctor Chris Covert-Bowlds has been riding his bike to work for more than 20 years, but he always loves seeing more people out on Bike to Work and School Day.

"I think it's the best day of the year," Covert-Bowlds said. "For me every day is bike to work day, but it's a great opportunity for people to try out something new with a lot of support."

Covert-Bowlds had a patient who lost 150 pounds in a year by riding and walking to work and back.

"I call it my mini vacation twice a day," he said of his commute. "Whatever is going on, it's always better when I hop on my bike. It clears the mind, gets your body going and it's a good way to reduce stress. My gym membership is my commute."

Bellingham Police Department Deputy Chief David Doll is an avid bike commuter, riding every day from his home north of Ferndale to Bellingham, and he's setting up a station at Northwest and Bakerview roads for the day. He's looking forward to meeting more people on his commute route, as well as first-timers thinking about changing their commuting habits.

"You'll start out small and realize this isn't so bad," he said of getting more cyclists on the road. "The more people see fellow bicyclists out there, the safer they are and the safer they feel."

Safety on the road is of particular interest to event organizers, whether it's for drivers or bikers.

"We urge bicyclists to follow the rules of the road," Barton said, citing everybodybike.com as a good source for bike safety advice. "Advice to motorists is to slow down and watch for cyclists so there is ample time and space to avoid any kind of collision."

MORE EVENTS

Other Bike to Work and School Day events include:

• Tricycle race at noon at Bellingham City Hall.

• Boundary Bay Brewery & Bistro party to announce count results for the event starts at 5 p.m.

• Kid-friendly party at Mallard Ice Cream starts at 5 p.m.