CHICAGO – June 3, 2003 – In an effort to encourage commuters to turn of their engines and jump on their bikes, The Chicagoland Bicycle Federation (CBF) announces the kick-off of Bike to Work Week, June 7-13.

Bike to Work Week gives Chicagoans the opportunity to try out bicycle commuting with the help and support of America's most powerful bicycling advocacy group, the CBF.  “We encourage everyone to commute by bicycle during the week of June 7-13, even for just a small portion of their work trip and even if just once,” says Randy Warren, CBF Program Director.  To participate, commuters can visit www.biketraffic.org and click on the Bike to Work Week logo to register or call the CBF at (312) 472-3325. 

Commuters can either sign-up as an individual or corporate team.  Individual participants receive downloadable guides on commuting by bike, support materials, information on commuting classes and become eligible for a random drawing of prizes. 

As a corporate team, companies of similar size are invited to compete in the Corporate Commuter Challenge to see who can gain the highest percentage of employees to bike to work.  Categories include: business/non profit, public agency and bicycle-related business.  Awards will be given in each category for 5-24 employees, 25-99 employees, 100-499 employees and 500+ employees.  Companies that sign-up receive a complete packet of helpful items to encourage their fellow employees to ride their bikes to work. 

Included in the packet are such things as the Bike to Work Guide, Tips and Tricks for Biking to Work, discount cards for savings at great Chicagoland bicycle shops, bike maps, information on FREE showers, and more.

City of Chicago’s Bike to Work Day Rally/Breakfast
Bike to Work Week culminates on Friday, June 13 with the City of Chicago’s Bike to Work Day Rally/Breakfast and Media Commuter Challenge sponsored by Bank One, which will be held at Daley Plaza from 7:30 a.m. to 9:00 a.m. Hundreds of cyclists and local celebrities are expected to participate in this event.  Following the Rally, riders can safely park their bike with Bank One’s Free Bike Valet parking service at Bank One Plaza (one block away) and simply return with their claim ticket after work to retrieve their bicycle. 

Why Participate?

Ever feel stressed out on the way to work or on the way home? Bicycling can help that. Not getting enough exercise? Bicycling can help this too.  Sometimes you can actually save commute time by riding your bicycle.  Even if the commute by bike takes longer, you can still save time if riding lets you skip that hour at the gym.  By strapping your briefcase or lunch pail to a rear rack of a bike, you also help fight some serious problems, like:

· Global warming 
· Diminishing natural resources 
· Poisonous air 
· Runaway transportation costs

The mission of the Chicagoland Bicycle Federation is to improve the bicycling environment and thereby the quality of life in the region. The Federation does this with the help of corporations such as Bank One, by promoting bicycle safety, education and facilities, and by encouraging use of the bicycle as an energy-efficient, economical, and nonpolluting form of transportation and as a healthful and enjoyable form of recreation.