Bike to Work Week Starts Monday, May 12

This Monday is the kick-off of “2014 Bike to Work Week”, culminating on Friday, May 16 which has been designated “Bike to Work Day.” According to recent studies, more than half of the U.S. population lives within five miles of their workplace. Apparently this fact hasn’t gone unnoticed by workers as bicycle commuting to places of employment has increased by 47 percent during the past decade. Michael Cachat, founder and CEO of Jenson USA, one of the nation’s largest retailers of bicycles, parts and accessories headquartered in Riverside, CA and a Board member of the International Mountain Bicycling Association (IMBA) said, “Bike to Work Week is an ideal opportunity for businesses to encourage their employees to try riding their bicycles to and from work. With escalating summer fuel prices and ever-increasing congestion on our roads and highways, bicycling is an attractive method of transportation. Not only is it a healthy physical activity, but it also saves people money and contributes greatly to a cleaner environment which is something we should all strive for.” “Bike to Work Week” is being promoted by The League of American Bicyclists (LAB) which was originally founded in 1880. “The League is a national organization working to create a bicycle-friendly America for everybody,” commented Cachat. “It promotes safe and responsible cycling at all levels.” In conjunction with Bike to Work Week, The League also initiated its National Bike Challenge on May 1 which runs through September 30, 2014. The National Bike Challenge has set a goal of 50,000 riders to pedal more than 30 million miles over the next five months. Cyclists are encouraged to register for the Challenge as an individual or a team at www.bikeleague.org. “As an industry, we’re working on many fronts to promote bicycling,” said Cachat. “National awareness campaigns like Bike to Work Week and the National Bike Challenge are just an extension of our concern for spreading the word about responsible cycling.” “As a Board member of the IMBA,” continued Cachat, “our mission is to create, enhance and preserve a great mountain bilking experience. We are an active advocacy group promoting expanded trails access with a commitment to conservation and the preservation of our environment. As cyclists, we are dedicated to being good stewards of where we ride.” The International Mountain Bicycling Association is a 501(c)3 non-profit educational association. For additional information, please visit www.imba.com.