Arlington, Texas – Bike to Work Week begins May 16, and there are many ways to celebrate the joys of two-wheel transportation, even if pedaling to the office is not an option for everyone.
The North Central Texas Council of Governments encourages residents to embrace active transportation, whether they are going to work, school or meeting a friend for lunch down the street. It is a safe, healthy and fun alternative to traditional transportation.
As the nation continues dealing with the effects of the pandemic, the League of American Bicyclists, which sponsors this annual event as part of Bike Month, is again asking participants to simply be active during the week, which culminates with Bike to Work Day on Friday, May 20.
Riding a bicycle to work is an option for many people, even in an automobile-centric region such as Dallas-Fort Worth, which offers nearly 800 miles of off-street trails that connect people to nature as well as places they want to go. And with the region’s public transportation providers allowing bicycles on their buses and trains, combining modes is an option for those who live and work near transit stops.
To help people still unsure about a more active commute, NCTCOG offers riders tips and other safety-related resources, whether they choose to try it once or make it part of their routine, at
www.nctcog.org/biketowork. Additionally, NCTCOG’s Look Out Texans campaign offers safety information on how residents can share the road, whether they bike, walk or drive. See the tips and other campaign information at
www.lookouttexans.org.
Whatever your comfort level is with bicycling or how often you ride, you can still use May as an opportunity to become more active.
Need to go to the store for a couple of items? Leave the car at home and ride there.
What about that trail you’ve been wanting to check out by your house? Get the family together after work and use a leisurely ride to unwind and experience the region’s natural beauty. Want to take a break during your day working from home? Go for a quick spin around the neighborhood to get your blood flowing.
To provide further encouragement to North Texans to get active, Bike DFW and Try Parking It, the region’s commute-tracking and ride-matching resource, have joined together for the
DFW Bike Month Challenge. Throughout the month, participants who sign up for the challenge can take their bikes to places they would typically drive or just ride more. Once they complete their trips, they can record their alternatives to driving and earn rewards. The top participants in the challenge can even earn some cool bike swag.
Whether you ride down the street or across the region, May is a great opportunity to get more active. For more on what is planned for Bike to Work Day and throughout the month, visit
www.nctcog.org/biketowork.
About the North Central Texas Council of Governments:
NCTCOG is a voluntary association of local governments established in 1966 to assist local governments in planning for common needs, cooperating for mutual benefit and coordinating for sound regional development. NCTCOG's purpose is to strengthen both the individual and collective power of local governments and to help them recognize regional opportunities, eliminate unnecessary duplication and make joint decisions.
NCTCOG's purpose is to strengthen both the individual and collective power of local governments and to help them recognize regional opportunities, eliminate unnecessary duplication, and make joint decisions. NCTCOG serves a 16-county region of North Central Texas, which is centered on the two urban centers of Dallas and Fort Worth. Currently, NCTCOG has 229 member governments including 16 counties, 169 cities, 19 school districts and 27 special districts.