The Month of May is upon us and with May brings National Bike Month. The month is meant to promote bicycle ridership throughout the country. Yesterday, May 15th marked Bike to Work Day, where thousands chucked their cars and avoided the packed trains for a bit of freedom. Yesterday was actually a record breaking National Bike to Work Day!! More people than any year ever glided their way to work. In fact the San Francisco Bicycle Coalition reported that more than 200,000 people in San Francisco alone, chose to ride their bikes as transportation yesterday!!! This figure is insanely impressive!

And even though yesterday marked the official Bike to Work Day, we are happy to spread the word that Bike Commuting is actually on the rise! Last summer’s gas crisis and growing Global Warming concerns may be fueling, no pun intended, the current rise in biking. Cities all over the country are starting to report an increase in bike ridership. San Francisco reported a 43% increase in ridership from 2006 and New York City reported an increase of 35% from 2007 to 2008. Even here in Boston, biking is all the rage, undeterred by the fact the city won “Worst City to Bike In” a few times and has landed on the Top 10 Bike Theft Cities (I can attest to this statistic, as my Bike was stolen this winter). Despite these labels, Boston has seen a bit of a biking Renaissance with Mayor Menino becoming a bicyclist himself, the hiring of a “Bike Czar” to revamp the cities bicycling laws, and an overall growing increase in commuting to work via Bicycle. It is clear bike commuting is on the rise in America, even in the “The Worst City to Bike In.”

On top of people choosing to commute on two wheels, companies are now starting to give incentives to their employees who ride in to work. Including companies such as Yahoo who provides employees bikes to loan, showers, lockers, and free tune ups. Or how about Clif Bars who offer employees $500 to repair an old bike or buy a new one if they pledge to use the bike a mere two times a month!  If that wasn’t enough, the first bailout passed last October included a monthly tax break of $20 per month per cycling employee for businesses. And recently The League of American Bicyclists has honored businesses who promote bicycle use through their Bicycle Friendly Business program. Check out the full list of bike loving businesses!

So why the sudden rise in bicycling? Well as we mentioned before, rising gas prices and environmental concerns seem to be the largest motivation. And these are valid worries as it has increasingly become clear that riding a bike for transportation services is probably the most eco friendly transportation around, well besides hoofing it! But when you take a hard look at exactly how bicycling benefits the environment, the facts are sobering to say the least. Bicycling is a healthy way to commute without the use of carbon emitting fuels such as gasoline and oil refining, cuts down water pollution emitted by cars, not to mention air and ozone pollution, and of course they emit no noise pollution! In fact you can calculate exactly how much money saved, CO2 reduction, and calories burned per mile on REI’s Bike Your Drive Calculator. With Americans and the world concerned about the state of Earth, as we should be: she is only home after all, bike commuting is an easy and simple way to go green! And why not, it also keeps you healthy, fit, and happy!!

Although, Bike to Work Day is over, National Bike Month continues for the rest of May. So check out the events in your area and jump on that two wheeled, zero emissions, exercise transport and get your Green on! And to all the avid bicyclists of the world, we thank you and keep up the encouragement. Times they will be a changing! 

Given that it is National Bike to Work Day, here are a slew of bikes to look at. Freeman’s Track Bike ($2,475).MashSF X Cinelli Track Bike ($850) – To be released soon. Only 1,000 though. Moof Bicycle ($600). This will probably be my next cycle purchase.TidalForce M-750 X 2.0 by E+ Electric ($4,500)Strida 5.0 ($799)Bridgestone Anchor Superbike ($?)Dutch Bike Company German Retrovelo ($2,139)

Get ready because Friday is Bike to Work Day. It

CAROLYN’S COMPOSITIONS

MAY CELEBRATIONS: Part II 

     May 11 is my day, Eat What You Want Day. Perhaps I should make Monte take me to that restaurant I haven’t been to, that serves prime rib and lamb chops. An exclusive place. And I have never been. This is what I want to eat on this day. What would you like to eat today? Of course, if you are trying to lose weight, you might find yourself in Twilight Zone Day, also May 11. I have always enjoyed watching the TV show, the Twilight Zone, which debuted October 1, 1959, and extended into 1964. Can you write a story or poem about eating all you want in the sci-fi genre? Try it and post it in the comment box at the end of this post.

      After eating all you want and writing a post in the Twilight Zone mode, you will need to step back and rest. Fortunately for you, May 12 is Fatigue Syndrome Day, which recognizes that life is just too tiring. I understand this—it seems to me that I experience chronic fatigue, often from not sleeping at night to attempting to maintain a full schedule, in spite of the fact that I keep trying to cut back. Again on this day, while resting, I will examine what activities I can release and schedule time to just relax and smell the roses—or look at the clouds to see what they picture. 

     For persons with sleep disorders, medical intervention may be necessary. As with other medical procedures, nurses are a key part of the healing profession. On May 12, International Nurses Day, honor the nurses who participate in your care. Perhaps you could write a limerick—since this is also Limerick Day, which celebrates the 1812 birthday of writer Edward Lear. To read limericks about hot dogs, click on HOT DOG LIMERICKS. When writing your limericks, remember that it needs five lines, with the first two lines rhyming with the fifth line, and the third and fourth lines rhyming.

     May 13 offers the opportunity to spend time with a child, or perhaps to experience your own inner child. How better to do it than to find a frog and have a frog jumping contest on Frog Jumping Day. You might have to be creative if you live in an area where frogs no longer exist. Dressing up as frogs, or making frog masks to wear, and having a jumping contest with prizes is a way to bring families and communities together. Either way, part of the festivities can include reading Mark Twain’s first short story, known under the title The Notorious Jumping Frog of Calaveras County.

     It was here in Southwestern Pennsylvania that I first discovered that the Chicken Dance is a necessary part of wedding receptions. Couples marrying on May 14 should include this dance at their reception, since it is Dance Like a Chicken Day. It’s fun to watch the dancers dance like a chicken, and even more fun to participate. A Swiss accordion player, Werner Thomas, created this day in the 1950s, with the original title of Der Etentanz (The Duck Dance).

     On May 14, 1686, Gabriel Fahrenheit, a German physicist, was born in Danzig, Germany. He introduced the use of mercury thermometers.

     On May 15, the exercise of National Bike to Work Day is counterbalanced by National Chocolate Chip Day. So, bike to work and indulge in your favorite chocolate chip recipe.

     In the Pittsburgh area, May 15, Police Officer’s Memorial Day, has special meaning. It was only on April 4 this year, 2009, when three city police officers were killed while on duty. It is followed by Armed Forces Day on May 16. Since it is also Love a Tree Day, perhaps you could plant a tree to commemorate the lives lost by police officers and military men, whose job it is to keep the United State’s citizen’s safe. Then, on May 16, Wear Purple for Peace (Day), in the hopes that no citizen will ever have to sacrifice his life for peace again, and to support all persons struggling to bring peace to our troubled world, country, community or family.

     It’s strange how many of the celebration of days suit me. May 17 is especially meaningful because it’s my daughter’s birthday. It is also Pack Rat Day. And yes, I am somewhat of a packrat. It comes naturally—I am artistic and creative, and deeply concerned about trashing something in landfills. And I see a use for everything. It took me two years to collect enough metal juice can lids that I used for my annual Christmas card ornament, and another two other years I collected residue from structure fires (our home we rented and a church where Monte was pastor) and created an ornament from it. Since, in every community in which we lived I did something different (child day care, a craft business, work with abused adults, photo-journalism for me, physics prof, pastor and politician for my husband) many files have accumulated. And since we moved often and I never knew what I would need in the next situation, I could not throw things out. I even entered, and lost, a messiest room contest. Thus, I am clearing out an accumulation of over forty years so that my children will not have to do it. It is a struggle to undo from pack-rated-ness. It is being done very slowly. I might have to clearing out some stuff on the 17^th, but will continue on the 18^th. Wish me luck!

     In 1792, the New York Stock Exchange was established by two dozen merchants and brokers. When the weather was good, they conducted business under a buttonwood tree on Wall street, but moved to a coffee house in inclement weather.

     May 18 gives a reason to reconnect with family, as it is Visit Your Relatives Day. Most of my visiting must be done by phone due to travel restrictions. It is also the day when, in 1804, Napoleon Bonaparte snatched the French crown from the hands of Pope Pius VII during his coronation service, and then crowned himself.

     Then, on May 20, you can celebrate Be a Millionaire Day. As for me, I do not want to be a millionaire—I’m happy with my situation, and don’t want the responsibility that comes with this much mucho-buckos.

     May 20, Pick Strawberries Day, reminds me of June 5, 1970, when a friend of mine and I went to a farm in Ohio and I picked thirty-five quarts of berries. Upon returning home, I received a phone call from the adoption agency saying we could pick up our new daughter the next day. I convinced them not to make us wait, so off to Pittsburgh we went. We returned home with the sweetest five-pound baby girl you ever did see. Were it not for the two students renting a room from us, the strawberries would have rotted. As it was, they prepared them for the freezer, so we had both our baby and our berries. 

     We’ve grown to enjoy eating out, and appreciate how difficult a job our servers have. Recognize your favorite server on May 21, National Waiters and Waitresses Day, with a word of thanks and an extra high tip.

      On May 22, 1859, Sherlock Holmes was born at Edinburgh, Scotland. Deeply interested in spiritualism, he created Arthur Conan Doyle,    

     May 25 celebrates a day I wish our nation didn’t need, National Missing Children’s Day.  No family or situation is immune to child abduction. Some are never found. To read one story, click on WHERE ARE YOU NOW?   (or visit The Beanery Online Literary Magazine at www.beanerywriters.wordpress.com and scroll down the folder WR/BW FRAN). The day was proclaimed in 1983 by Pres. Reagan. To protect your child, review and enforce protection and safety awareness techniques. As a parent or citizen, be constantly vigilant, establish neighborhood watch groups, report anything suspicious immediately, create fingerprint records and maintain current photo records on your children.

     One of my missing dreams was to learn tap dancing. Shortly after starting lessons, as an adult, I had surgery, which stopped me short. May 25, National Tap Dance Day, reminds me of my missed opportunity. It was created to honor tap dancer Bill “Bojangles” Robinson, born May 25, 1878. A United States Joint Resolution was signed into law by President George Bush on November 7, 1989.

     May 29 is a day waiting for a celebration. Any suggestions from my readers? Place your idea in the comment box below.

     On May 30, 1783, the Pennsylvania Evening Post began publication. It was the first daily newspaper published in American.

     May ends on May 31 with Save Your Hearing Day and World No Tobacco Day—both concerned with health issues. I once attended a Christian concert where the music was so loud that it could be heard several blocks away, even while the band played deep in the church, in the basement. There were a couple of infants in attendance. What does this do to their hearing? And no lecture on smoking here—all smokers know the effects of the habit. On the plus side, May 31, 1819, was the birthday of Walt Whitman.

     Thus ends May. Later we will see what June holds for us in terms of celebrations, but for now, enjoy May. For it will soon be June.

Today is National Bike to Work Day! Do you know anyone riding their bike to work today? I don’t and not just because it is raining out either!

People have very long commutes these days that take them on the highway. There is no job I have ever had that I could ride my bike to with maybe the exception of an after school job in high school. Because Americans commute so long I am not sure that it could ever work.

Some interesting facts about bike riding:

According to the National Sporting Goods Association, the number of Americans who bike “frequently” — 110 days a year or more — fell almost 10 percent in 2007 to 3.7 million people.

Similarly, the number of people who ride bikes at least six times a year fell to 35.6 million in 2006, the lowest since the survey began in 1984, from 56.3 million in 1995.

I think the fact that Americans cannot ride their bikes to work shows the need for better public transportation nationwide. Urban planners, state and local officials and businesses need to sit down and figure out how they can provide better options to their workers to get to work. Telecommuting can help in some ways but there are still alot of jobs that require us to actually go to the office, store…etc. We need to think of a better way to get us there so we can reduce emissions and save ourselves some money!

In preparation for National Bike to Work Day Friday, a couple of articles on How We Bike. Reuter’s says “Less”, in the last couple of years- but now that gas is getting more expensive, maybe “More”.

According to the National Sporting Goods Association, the number of Americans who bike “frequently” — 110 days a year or more — fell almost 10 percent in 2007 to 3.7 million people.

Similarly, the number of people who ride bikes at least six times a year fell to 35.6 million in 2006, the lowest since the survey began in 1984, from 56.3 million in 1995.

They think this may have to do with parents not allowing kids to bike on “unsafe” streets, and people getting older and being less physically active. A friend pointed out it may have to do with increased availability of public transportation. I think it may also have something to do with growing suburbanization. People are living further and further from work in all the new developments springing up, so it’s impractical to bike to where ever they work.

But I understand the national hesitation. It’s scary riding a bike down a highway, or through a city- our streets are designed for cars, and maybe pedestrians, but not bikes. The article mentions that when bikers are given lanes, the incidence of biking increases.

Tomorrow is the day to test it out. (Or Monday. Or any day! Any day you like!) There are detailed maps of Alexandria’s bike paths at the LocalMotion website- and they also have links to maps of bike paths in DC, Arlington, Fairfax, and a few other places in Virginia linked at the bottom. The Meet-up for Alexandria bikers is at Market Square- on King Street in front of City Hall- tomorrow, and you might also find some experienced bikers to ride with toward your destination there.

Maybe you already bike to work, though. Maybe you are ready to really get into biking rights, to get in those automobile’s faces and claim the roads. Take a cue from these people in LA, who’ve organized large biking groups to take the freeways at rush hour- given the state of transportation in LA, they move faster than the cars do. Sure, it’s technically illegal, but it’s certainly a statement. The bi-renegades are trying to raise awareness of the need for better transportation infrastructure, especially bike-safe roads. They’re catching flak from bikers who’d like to work with the city to change transportation systems, and from angry car drivers who consider them a menace. But they contend that the only way to drive change is to show how broken our systems are, so the illegal rides might continue.

There you have it. Beginner or bone-fide biking beast, have a great time tomorrow!

Tomorrow, some of us at FHL will celebrate Bike Month NYC  and National Bike to Work Day by riding in to the office.

[Patrick's sweet ride.]

For now, it looks like the rain won’t start until 10 or 11 AM tomorrow, so hopefully we can get to work dry - fingers crossed!

As a (still relatively) new employee at Friends of the High Line, I’ve been impressed at the number of people in the office who ride their bikes or walk to work, to meetings, and to our events throughout the city.  Robert, Josh, Katie, Danya, and Patrick have inspired me to at least think about making the 8 mile trek from Washington Heights down through the many sections of the Hudson River Park to our new office on West 20th Street. 

FHL staff rides to work from nearby (Chelsea) and kind-of-far (Brooklyn), and in their spare time, too.  Meredith and Peter ride on weekends, and Katie’s done longer cycling events, like the Ride to Montauk. 

FHL is going green in other ways, too.  We recently switched to a recycled paper stock, we’re working on an office composting program, and we used green materials like FLOR’s recycled carpeting squares to build out our new office space.