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22 Jun, 2015

June 24 Bike to Work Day: Pedal for a More Bikeable Region

DENVER, Colorado, June 17, 2015 –(BUSINESS WIRE)–On June 24, 2015 tens of thousands of commuters from across the region will choose two wheels over four to get to work. Hundreds of businesses will host company teams and encourage employees to leave their cars at home. And volunteers from across nine counties in the metro Denver region will operate nearly 250 bike stations.

Bike to Work Day (BTWD) has grown into the second-largest event of its kind in the nation. This year, organizers at the Denver Regional Council of Government’s (DRCOG) Way to Go program expect more than 30,000 participants and organizers are emphasizing the importance of registration.

“We are seeing more emphasis than ever on active transportation, with more bike and pedestrian projects a part of the mix,” says DRCOG Director of Marketing and Communications Steve Erickson. “Bike to Work Day registration numbers support bike advocacy and, as a result, bike infrastructure that impacts the entire region.”

Two significant regional bike projects include the US 36 Bikeway and the Arapahoe Street Protected Bike Lane. The first phase of the US 36 Bikeway opens in conjunction with Bike to Work Day, on June 24, and includes an 11-mile portion from Westminster to Broomfield, when completed it will be an 18-mile bicycle path between Boulder and Westminster. The Arapahoe Street Protected Bike Lane is part of a larger plan to create a network of safe, dedicated bike lanes throughout the downtown area of Denver.

More than 29,000 people participated in last year’s event, along with about 950 companies and hundreds of volunteers at more than 200 stations. The event has grown, along with Colorado’s bicycling population. Consider the following:

  • Denver ranks as the 4th most bikeable city in the United States Source (Source: Walk Score 2015.)
  • Denver metro area ranked as the 5th fastest growing bike-commuting region in the country between 2000 and 2011 (Source: bikeleague.org/reports.)
  • More than 35 percent of participants were motivated to continue to bike to work after the event (Source: Corona Insights 2014 BTWD: Survey Report.)

“In the future, we’d like to be known for our smart commuting population,” continues Erickson. “It’s easy to do, and if more people use biking as a means of commuting – even once a month – they can make a substantial, positive impact on their health and the environment.”

For Colorado’s greater Denver metro region, this impact starts with registering for Bike to Work Day.

About Bike to Work Day 2015:

Bike to Work Day is celebrated in many communities across Colorado, but the metro Denver area’s event is the largest in the state and second largest in the country.

Hundreds of Breakfast Stations will open from 6:30 a.m. to 9 a.m. around the region. At these stations, riders can enjoy free refreshments, giveaways and camaraderie on their way to work. Bike Home Stations will open from 4:30 p.m. to 6 p.m. for the trip home. There are also water stations open in the afternoon and bike parties in the evening.

For a comprehensive listing and map of Breakfast and Bike Home Stations, water stations, bike parties and group rides, please visit www.BikeToWorkDay.us.