Alliance Honors the Two-Wheeled Commute

By Jane Teeling

On Friday May 15, Alliance staff on both coasts participated in the 2009 Bike to Work Day. According to the League of American Bicyclists, bicycles currently save over 238 million gallons of gasoline annually – a figure that stands to increase as more and more cities embrace the biking lifestyle.

The Washington Area Bike Association (WABA) hosted pit-stops throughtout Washington, D.C., including one downtown at Freedom Plaza. Here, cyclists refueled on high-carb treats, collected sponsor prizes and heard from a number of local and federal policymakers who pledged to support cyclists within the broader transportation discussion.

Among them was Secretary of Energy Dr. Steven Chu, who biked in from Potomac, Md. – much to the chagrin of his security detail. "Keep biking," he encouraged the crowd, reminding them that biking empowers citizens to reduce their energy use.

Bike to Work Day is just one of many events taking place in 44 states during national Bike Month. Check in with the League of American Bicyclists to find out how your state is celebrating two-wheeled transportation this month.