Sacramento Region Kicks Off May is Bike Month

Bicyclists gathered to celebrate the official launch of Bike Month

West Sacramento, Calif. – On a beautiful day in the Sacramento region, over 250 people came out to River Walk Park in West Sacramento for the official launch of May is Bike Month, an annual campaign that promotes bicycling as a mode of transportation and encourages residents to swap car trips for bike trips. Bicyclists were greeted with pastries from Magpie Restaurant, coffee from Chocolate Fish Coffee Roasters, and music. Sac Bike Doc provided free basic bike maintenance.

As of 2 p.m., over 6,200 bicyclists had pledged over 1.2 million miles and 120,000 trips on MayisBikeMonth.com. Cyclists in the Sacramento region will now participate in a full month of friendly competition, events, safety classes, and prize drawings.

At the kickoff event, Bike Month Co-Chairs, West Sacramento Mayor, Christopher Cabaldon and City of Sacramento Council Member, Jay Schenirer, called on participants to ride their bicycles to all destinations. Lianne Dillon from the Strategic Growth Council touted the health benefits than can come from bicycling and showed just how easy it can be to bring your kids along for the ride.

“May is Bike Month reaffirms West Sacramento’s commitment to promoting bicycle use in our City. The array of activities and opportunities in West Sacramento and the greater Sacramento region empowers residents of all ages with the opportunity to explore cycling for their first time or incentivize bike commuting to work and school” said Mayor Cabaldon. “Bicycling not only saves residents money on gas and parking, but also provides cleaner air, reduces congestion and promotes overall livability.”

The region-which includes El Dorado, Placer, Sacramento, Sutter, Yolo and Yuba counties-is home to many bicycle-friendly communities and regional trails. “The Sacramento region has great bike lanes and trails for recreational riding, commuting, and enjoying the diverse communities we all call home,” said Jay Schenirer Sacramento City Council Member and SACOG Board Chair. “May has perfect weather for trying to replace your car trips with bike trips to the store, to work, to school or any other destination. And just in time for first-time riders, new protected bike lanes will be opened in the City of Sacramento.”

Not only does the region have perfect weather and great places for bicycling, but hopping on your bike is good for individual and environmental health. “Using a bike for transportation can help improve personal health and air quality,” says Dr. Olivia Kasirye, Sacramento County Public Health Officer. “As the Public Health Officer, I encourage residents to try an active alternative for transportation such as biking instead of a car.”

If reducing traffic, air pollution, and transportation costs don’t speak to you, the campaign also offers participants a chance to win a $600 Sacramento Staycation by logging bicycle trips throughout the month. Participants can help bring attention to the need for more bike lanes, trails, bike parking, and other facilities by logging their bicycle trips all month long. You can sign up and learn more about the campaign by visiting MayisBikeMonth.com.