SAN DIEGOSAN DIEGO — Local planning officials are adding a new event this spring to go along with Bike to Work Day, an annual countywide tradition that was rebranded Bike Anywhere Day last year.
Two days after the May 16 event, another one called Bike Local Day will encourage families and individuals to bike within their communities and take advantage of promotions from participating local businesses.
The county will be divided into six regions for Bike Local Day: north coastal, north inland, central, eastern, south county and north city.
Bike Anywhere Day encourages people to consider riding a bicycle to their job, an exercise class, a lunch date or any activity they would normally get to by car.
A tradition in San Diego for more than 30 years, the name was changed from Bike to Work Day last year to broaden its appeal and acknowledge that many more people now work from home.
Free T-shirts and refreshments will be available at roughly 100 “pit stops” organized by the county’s regional planning agency, the San Diego Association of Governments, which is sponsoring the event.
Pit stops will be open from 7 a.m. to 10 a.m., instead of the usual 6 a.m. to 9 a.m.
Encouraging people to experiment with bicycle commuting has become steadily more important for cities as they strive to lower greenhouse gas emissions that cause climate change.
For example, a revised climate action plan unveiled in 2022 by the city of San Diego sets a goal of having cycling make up 7 percent of commutes by 2030 and 10 percent by 2035.
Riding a bike to work can also be part of a commute that also includes either a bus, a trolley, a ferry or walking. Most buses and trolleys allow commuters to bring bikes on board.
This year’s event will include giving away three Velotric electric bikes by random drawing. Winners must be at least age 18 and must either live or work in the county.
SANDAG will also host a kickoff party and group ride on May 2 to recognize May as National Bike Month.
Bike to Work Day, which took a two-year hiatus during the pandemic, returned in May 2022 — the 30th time the event was held. This year’s event will be the 32nd time it has been held.
Attendance at pit stops sometimes sures 8,000 people.
For details, visit sandag.org/bikemonth.
