May is National Bike Month, a period of 31 days during which participants can learn to ride a bike, repair a bike, build a bike, bike to work, bike to vacation and mountain bike.

The cycling highlights of the month include National Bike to Work Day on May 20, DirtFest May 20-22 and Pedal Pittsburgh on May 22. The latter, part of Great Outdoors Week, invites participants to enjoy the city’s architecture, urban design and neighborhoods.

The Bike to Work Day is “an excellent opportunity for people new to bike commuting to give it a try,” said Lou Fineberg, program manager for Bike Pittsburgh, the nonprofit organization dedicated to making Pittsburgh a city that is “increasingly safe, accessible and friendly to bicycle.”

Mr. Fineberg said the organization is planning bike pools and a group ride led by seasoned cyclists to help first-time commuters learn about bicycling safely in Pittsburgh.

Bike Pittsburgh last month was named the “Advocacy Organization of the Year” by the Alliance for Biking & Walking of Washington, D.C., for its “hand-in-hand” partnerships with government and business leaders, its “friendly, energetic and welcoming” employees and its programs.

Car Free Fridays, a program now in its third year, aims to bring businesses, nonprofits and government agencies together to challenge commuters to get to work by public transit, car-pooling, bike-pooling or walking. Bike Pittsburgh has set up bike pools led by experienced cyclists from Squirrel Hill to Downtown, Mt. Lebanon to Downtown, East Liberty to South Side and Wilkins to Shadyside.

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Not a member of BikePGH? Join today! We need you to add your voice! Bike Pittsburgh works to protect cyclist’s rights and promote the vision of making Pittsburgh a safer and more enjoyable place to live and to ride. For more info, check out: www.bike-pgh.org/membership