MEDIA ADVISORY                                                               Contacts:     Andrea White, 562.733.0106

Bike to Work Day Kicks Off a Cultural Shift in Commuting

Southern California’s only public bike-and-ride is hosting the 12^th annual Bike to Work day in effort to promote bicycling as a HEALTHY form of transportation to the workplace and to CELEBRATE those who bicycle commute regularly. Bikestation is the revolutionary start of bigger changes underway in American transportation in an effort to reduce fuel consumption and encourage healthier lifestyle trends.

WHEN:  Thursday, May 18th

• 6 a.m. to 9 a.m. Participating cyclists provided breakfast by Margarita Grille, goodie bags, raffle prizes and free, attended bike parking (until 6 p.m.)
• 8 a.m. Photo Opportunity with Long Beach Council Members at Bikestation Long Beach; press welcome throughout the day

WHERE:  221 E. First Street @ The Promenade, downtown Long Beach; tel. 562.436.2453

WHAT: Cyclists arriving to park their vehicles at the contemporary, solar-powered facility will be receiving goodie bags from REI, L.A. County Metro and OCTA. Those participating will also be receiving complimentary breakfast burritos and coffee from the Margarita Grille. There will be live music from the local band Common Ground and musician, Albert Parks.

Some of the prizes raffled will be from REI, Gladstones, Aquarium of the Pacific, Bikestation, as well as 50 helmets from Jones Bicycles in Belmont Shore. The Long Beach Armada’s mascot, ARBY I, will also be at the event to give away prizes and tickets to the opening night game on June 12^th.

An REI mechanic will be available for FREE safety checks and OCTA and L.A. County Metro will be providing bike maps and info to assist cyclists in planning their commute.

Bikestation is centrally located in the 1^st Street Transit Mall and the perfect locale for walking to local businesses or choosing from an array of public transportation options, including light rail, and Long Beach Transit’s shuttles and bike-rack equipped buses.

WHO: Local residents and workers are encouraged to participate. Bikestation also has rentals for those who want to participate and don’t own a bike.

WHY:  Studies show that by providing convenient bicycle amenities near transit and high-density areas, communities can increase trips made by bicycle and bike trips in conjunction with walking and taking public transit, contributing to less congestion and pollutants, decreasing demand for automobile parking and helping to foster a livable, human-scaled community.

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