From Harford County government:
Each year, on the 3rd Friday in May, bike riders from across the Baltimore region celebrate Bike to Work Day, culminating a month long celebration highlighting clean commuting options. The Bike to Work Day Rally brings together all levels of cyclists to celebrate bicycling as a viable option for commuting to work.
May is designated Clean Commute Month by the Clean Commute Partnership to educate the Baltimore region about the relationship between driving and air quality, as well as about the available alternative forms of commuting such as bicycling, walking, carpooling, and vanpooling. In addition, Clean Commute Month is held in May as it is the beginning of the ground-level ozone season in the Baltimore region. The Clean Commute Partnership includes the Baltimore Metropolitan Council, the Baltimore Regional Transportation Board, MDE, MDOT, and Clean Air Partners.
This year on Friday, May 20, 2011, from 7:00 – 9:00 am, Harford County’s annual Bike to Work Day Rally will be held at the Harford County’s administrative office building located at 220 South Main Street in Bel Air. Participants of Bike to Work Day include the avid cyclists to the beginning riders representing a wide range of companies and agencies.
The 2011 rally will again feature the Cycle Smackdown (previously the Briefcase Challenge). Cycle Smackdown is a competition between Harford County businesses and agencies whereby employees from various sized companies compete against each other to get the most number of registrants from their company to bike to work on May 20, 2011.
The competition categories are defined by the number of employees at the business or organization: small (5 to 24), medium (25 to 99), and large (100+). Winning is based on who registers the most bikers to work that day. The winning company or organization in each category wins a trophy and bragging rights for the next year.
Last year over 230 registrants participated. Harford County Public Schools took the trophy in the large company category, SAIC retained their title in the medium company category, and the Highlands School took the trophy in the small category.
To participate in the Bike to Work Day Rally, register at www.Bike2WorkCentralMD.com. Those who register will get a free t-shirt, light refreshments, a chance to win $200 gift certificate to a Bicycle Connection Express as well as other prizes.
Sponsors of Bike to Work Day include the municipal governments of Aberdeen, Bel Air, Havre de Grace, as well as Harford County Government, the Harford County Sheriff’s Office, and Harford County Public Libraries. Also sponsoring the event will be Applebee’s, APGFCU, Gold’s Gym, Healthy Harford, Harford’s Heart, the Greg Krause Memorial Helmet Fund, Looney’s Pub, MaGerk’s, Peace Yoga, Siesta Therapy, and The Y of Central MD. In addition, WXCY, “The Country Station,” will be emceeing the event. For a full list of sponsors as well as to sign up for the Cycle Smackdown visit http://www.harfordcountymd.gov/Green/.
Additional events scheduled throughout Clean Commute Month include:
– May 2nd – 6:00 – 8:00 p.m., Bike Helmet Safety Awareness Program
The program will be held at seven of the Harford County Public Library branches: Abingdon, Aberdeen, Bel Air, Darlington, Edgewood, Havre de Grace, and Joppatowne libraries. Helmet fittings will be completed by police officers and volunteers from the Greg Krause Memorial Helmet Fund.
– May 3rd – 5:30 – 7:00 am, MARC Appreciation Day, Edgewood MARC Train Station
County Executive David R. Craig and representatives from the Baltimore Metropolitan Council will be at the station to greet and thank commuters who chose the MARC train to commute to work.
– May 6th – 5:30 pm & 6:30 pm, Bicycle Rodeo, Harford County Public Library, Abingdon branch
Harford County Sheriff’s Office’s Community Policing Unit will review bicycle safety training and test the skills of the registered participants on an obstacle course. This event is designed to teach children ages 5-12 year-old about safety practices while riding a bicycle. Registration is required. Please register at the Abingdon Library.
Harford county needs to begin work on an extensive bike/walking trail network, so all have the option of walking or biking to school, work, shopping, recreational activites.