Bike to Work Day - Friday, June 22, 2012

WINNIPEG - Committed to improving active transportation and promoting cycling in our city of opportunity, the City of Winnipeg joined partners from Bike to the Future, Climate Change Connection, Manitoba Cycling Association, the Green Action Centre, the University of Winnipeg Bike Lab and Health in Common to announce the 5th annual �Bike to Work Day Winnipeg� to be held on Friday, June 22, 2012.

Bike to Work Day celebrates the bicycle for everyday transportation. The event highlights the environmental, financial, and health benefits of cycling and advocates for continuous improvements to cycling safety and infrastructure in the city of Winnipeg.

Thanks to the support of the City of Winnipeg and continued community involvement this event has seen tremendous growth since its inception five years ago. This includes 37 �Bike Pit Stops� spread throughout the entire city where cyclists are encouraged to meet in the morning for free coffee, snacks and bike tune-ups on their way to work.

Pit Stops are open from 6:30 a.m. to 9:00 a.m. In previous years pit stops numbered between 5 and 22, but as more people learn about the benefits of cycling more organizations have become involved as hosts. About a quarter of these stops will be hosted by libraries, community centers, University of Manitoba and University of Winnipeg, and with groups like Fort Whyte Alive, Peg City Car Co-op, CAA, MPI, the Northwest Company, Downtown and Exchange BIZ, and a handful of bike shops also on board allowing Bike to Work Day to reach more commuters and cover more ground.

Pit Stops are especially dense in the downtown area and have inspired a group ride to connect them. Cyclists will meet at Assiniboine Park footbridge and cycle along the river, ending at Assiniboine Avenue and Main Street hitting four pit stops en route. Last year more than 3,000 commuters were counted cycling on event day, an increase of nearly 1,000 from previous years, and the number is expected to continue rising in 2012.

As Bike to Work Day is reaching cyclists at a younger age, enthusiastic cycling parents from Wolseley school are teaming up with the principal to host Bike to School Day on June 22 and teach kids how to cycle safely.

All registered cyclists are invited to the Forks at the end of the work day to wind down with local music and refreshments. A grand prize draw for bikes, bike trailers and vacation packages will add to the excitement. Bike Valet Winnipeg and Natural Cycle will be on site to park and tune-up bikes while cyclists celebrate the day and the dynamic cycling culture in the city of Winnipeg. There will be a free BBQ for the first 300 cyclists at the Forks beginning at 3:30 p.m. and 500 T-shirts given away at Pit Stops on a first come first serve basis. Prize draws are for registered participants.

More information and registration: www.biketoworkdaywinnipeg.org