About Bike to Work Day:

The Denver Regional Council of Governments (DRCOG) wants to encourage Denver residents to reconsider commuting. Instead of boarding a crowded bus or sitting in traffic in a stuffy car this summer, Bike to Work Day encourages Denverites to use pedal power to get to work on Wed. June 26. More than 25,000 people are expected to participate this year in the 18th-annual event, organizers say.


"Last year we had about 27,000 participants, registered and unregistered (survey results allow us to estimate unregistered participants), and we’re on track to match that this year," said Maya Geryk, communications specialist for DRCOG, in an email. "We may go over, but we’re always conservative on the estimates until we see how things turn out."

How to Participate:

Companies can sign up for Bike to Work Day, and individuals may also register even if their company is not participating at the Bike to Work Day website. The federally-funded event is also held in other cities across the country in May. Due to Denver's unpredictable weather, Bike to Work Day in the Mile High City is held in June instead.

Participants can map their route to work to take advantage of free breakfast stations from sponsors. More than 100 stations will be set up this year, handing out food and other freebies. For bicyclists who work downtown, there will also be exhibitors at Civic Center Park for Bike to Work Day.

Although it is difficult to estimate the amount of fuel saved by Bike to Work Day, the event does have a positive impact on the environment.

"The more accurate calculation is vehicle miles traveled, because fuel efficiency varies from vehicle to vehicle," said Geryk. "Last year on Bike to Work Day, registered and unregistered participants saved 287,169 miles of travel in their cars from 30,550 trips."

Commuting in Denver:

Bike to Work Day also encourages people with long commutes to bike for part of the way. RTD buses and light rail allow bikes to be transported with a paid fare. Bikes can be attached to the bike rack on front of buses or carried aboard the light rail. Nationally, Bike to Work Day has grown from a grass-roots effort to an event backed by the Department of Transportation.

"Our nation is working to reduce its reliance on oil. We also need to reduce our emissions. And, as our population grows, our roads are increasingly congested with cars," said Ray LaHood, the U.S. Secretary of Transportation, on his blog the Fast Lane. "When people choose to ride their bicycles, they help us meet all three of those challenges. At the same time, they also enjoy their commute and get a healthy dose of exercise."