Pump up your tires: National Bike to Work Day is May 15

The Case Western Reserve University community is invited to participate in National Bike to Work Day Friday, May 15, by riding a bike to campus instead of driving. Parties, events and discounted food specials are scheduled to encourage Greater Clevelanders to cycle to work. A bike-to-work party is planned from 7 to 9:30 a.m. at Corner Alley Uptown (11409 Euclid Ave.) with free coffee, food and giveaways including swag from Case Western Reserve University’s Office of Sustainability. Case Western Reserve bikers are encouraged to check in at the Corner Alley in the morning to be entered into the raffle. For those coming in from the West side, a morning party will also be held downtown at the Bike Rack (2148 East 4th St.) For those who live farther out, part of the commute for Bike to Work Day can be a free ride on the RTA's bus or Rapid. Bikes can be stowed on bike racks on the front of RTA’s buses. Learn more about putting a bike on a bus or the Rapid at riderta.com/racknroll. Showers are available any day at Veale Convocation, Recreation and Athletic Center or the Wyant Field House for those who want to shower after biking to work. On Bike to Work Day, 121 Fitness Center will also open early to allow those with a Case Western Reserve University ID shower. Two 45-minute spinning classes will be held at Veale Convocation, Recreation and Athletic Center—one at noon and another at 1 p.m.—for those who want to get extra exercise. Mary Ann Dobbins, Case Western Reserve’s new wellness coordinator, will teach the classes. Pre-registration is required. RSVP for the May 15 noon class or for the 1 p.m. class. Many local businesses will offer special discounts for those who participate in Bike to Work Day, including:

• Mitchell’s Ice Cream (11444 Uptown Ave.) will offer $1 ice cream scoops to cyclists.
• Happy Dog at Euclid Tavern (11625 Euclid Ave.) and its West Side location (5801 Detroit Ave.) will give out free hot dogs to those wearing bike helmets from 5 to 8 p.m.
• The Barking Spider (11310 Juniper Road) will offer discounted pitchers until 7 p.m. to those over the age of 21 arriving on bikes.

The Office for Sustainability sponsored the production of a Cleveland Heights, Shaker Heights and University Heights bicycle map, which contains recommended commute routes to University Circle. Stop by the Peter B. Lewis Building’s Fowler Center for Business as an Agent of World Benefit (Suite 110) during business hours to get a map. To plan your commute, view some of the following resources:

• Check out the Biking in Cleveland Guide to help prepare to ride at scribd.com/doc/178295593/Biking-in-Cleveland-Guide.

• Plan a route through the Northeast Ohio Coordinating Agency’s Cuyahoga County Bicycle Transportation Map at noaca.org/modules/showdocument.aspx?documentid=34.

• Bike the Heights also offers a biking map for Cleveland Heights and Shaker Heights and other nearby events in May at bikesintheheights.org/home/maps/.

• Visit the Greater Cleveland Bike to Work Facebook page for more ideas and updates at facebook.com/events/675248552585415/.

• Find a bike buddy through Ohio Ride Share at ohiorideshare.com/Pages/BikeBuddies.

All who participate in Bike to Work Day are encouraged to check out the National Bike Challenge at nationalbikechallenge.org/. Register and log miles anytime, to win prizes and awards. Participation also helps Case Western Reserve University (registered as a workplace and a school) win team awards and helps Cleveland to win the Rust Cup against Pittsburgh in the Rust Belt Battle of the Bikes. Read details of all area events and specials at bikecleveland.org/bike-cle/events/bike-to-work-day-may-15th/2015/03/.