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Ride a bike, save the environment, win prizesSTARTING MONDAY: Pedal away pollution for the eighth annual Bike to Work Week.By Judy Willens, Guest writer Monday is the start of the eighth annual California Bike to Work Week. In Ventura County, that means all residents have an opportunity to not only be eligible for lots of great prizes including bike gear and T-shirts but also to commute easier and healthier. The Ventura County Air Pollution Control District and the Ventura County Bicycle Coalition are coordinating this special week, which ends May 18, to promote bicycling as a real-world way of commuting. Bicycling is a viable form of transportation to work; it decreases traffic congestion and improves air quality. And the perks? Bicycling is not only healthy -- you can burn 280 calories in 20 minutes -- it's also smart, fast and fun. Even a commute of only five miles each way by car emits more than 100 pounds of air pollution each year. When you cycle, there's no gasoline, auto maintenance, parking fees or insurance to pay for. Many people comfortably can cycle five miles in 20 minutes or less. Bicycle commuters report feeling refreshed and invigorated when they arrive at work. A bicycle ride at day's end is a great way to relieve stress. And discovering routes on back roads through residential neighborhoods can be scenic and fun. For those whose commute may seem too daunting to perform entirely by bicycle, SCAT and VISTA offer bike racks on their buses. Last year county employers, such as Verizon, the city of Ventura and the Ventura County Air Pollution Control District, got into bicycle commuting in a big way during Bike to Work Week, by providing free breakfasts, T-shirts and other incentives for employees who biked to work. Ask your employer to promote Bike to Work Week. Whether your event is a small breakfast for cyclists or a company-wide luncheon, join us in celebrating this week. Here's how:
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Distribute and collect registration forms, or promote registration through the Internet. |
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Identify secure bike parking options for Bike to Work Week and every day. |
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Include articles about Bike to Work Week in your company newsletter, e-mails and memos. |
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Invite company management to participate. |
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Host a morning "Pit Stop" -- an energizing station where bike-riding employees receive free refreshments when they arrive at work. |
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Create a festive atmosphere by providing music and giveaway prizes. |
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Order Bike to Work Day T-shirts for your cyclists. |
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Useful Internet sites
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To register online and order T-shirts, visit bikelink.com/commuting.htm; |
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For a bicyclists' checklist, visit www.socalcommute.org/ bikechek.html; |
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For an online bike map of Ventura County, visit www.goventura.org/bikeways/genmap.htm; |
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For tips on cycling to work, visit www.bikelink.com/checklist.pdf; |
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For VISTA and SCAT transit schedules, visit www.goventura.org. |
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Bike to Work Week is a project of the Ventura County APCD and the Ventura County Bicycle Coalition. For more information, registration forms and routes, send e-mail to biketowork@vcbike.org or call the message hotline at 932-1302. -- Judy Willens is an air quality specialist with the Ventura County Air Pollution Control District. For more information, call 645-1424. May 9, 2001 Ventura County Star |
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Voice message hotline is at
(805) 932-1302 |
