(PORTLAND, Maine) May 13, 2022 – Nearly a dozen organizations and businesses are teaming up to host a Bike to Work Day celebration in Congress Square Park on May 20, the Bicycle Coalition of Maine announced Friday.
The festivities will take place from 8 – 10 a.m., and will include bike mechanic demos, safe-cycling tips, safety gear giveaways, music, and free coffee, bagels, and donuts.
“We want to encourage Mainers to bike to work in honor of Bike to Work Day, Global Road Safety Week, and National Bike Month,” said Bicycle Coalition of Maine Mission Advancement Director Mariah Healy. “And we want to celebrate the ones who do!”
The organizations involved include the Portland Public Library; Friends of Congress Square Park; the Portland Gear Hub; Portland Bike Party; City of Portland Maine Parks, Recreation & Facilities Department; the Portland Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Committee; CyclingSavvy; and the Bicycle Coalition of Maine.
The free coffee, bagels, and donuts are being generously donated by Tandem Coffee Roasters, Rose Foods, and HiFi Donuts, respectively.
“Sustainability is one of the library’s core values, and we love finding ways to take that value—and our free resources—beyond the library’s walls,” said Aaron Rosenblum, the Portland Public Library’s Health & Science Librarian. “Bike to Work Day is a perfect opportunity to join with our many partners in building a community where an active lifestyle and a healthy environment are accessible to all.”
Bike to Work Day was launched by the League of American Bicyclists in 1956, and has since become a worldwide event that promotes the bicycle as a healthy, sustainable, and fun way to commute to work.
Global Road Safety Week is an annual United Nations-affiliated international event that is taking place from May 15-21 in 2022. The Bicycle Coalition of Maine has numerous free events planned across the state, including urban riding classes, Fix-A-Bike workshops, and bike rodeos for kids. For more information, visit bikemaine.org/global-road-safety-week-events/
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The Bicycle Coalition of Maine works to make Maine a better and safer place to bike and walk. Founded in 1992, the Bicycle Coalition of Maine has grown into the leading bicycle and pedestrian advocacy group in the state. The Coalition believes all Mainers should have access to bikes and bike education, and we envision a future where Maine’s roads, public ways, and trails are safe and accessible, resulting in cleaner travel options, improved health, and stronger economic benefits for Maine communities.