Tuesday, 17 May 2011 09:42

Written by Diana Nelson Jones

Friday is “bike to work day,” BikePGH’s annual intro event to a season of Car Free Fridays, a challenge to get us off the fossil fuel habit for one day a week, with events, give-aways, free refreshments and retail discounts thrown in.

The idea, of course, is that the experience will lead to a regular habit among as many of us as possible.

If you’re on a bike, you can get some breakfast and liquids at these locations on Friday.

Market Square, 7.30-9:30a; Carnegie Mellon’s Merson Courtyard, 7.30-10a; Chatham University’s pond at Mellon Center, 7.30-10a; Whole Foods Market in East Liberty, 7:30- 10:30a; REI, South Side Works, 8-10 a.

At 5.30p, you can join the “Flock of Cycles Party Ride” at Dippy the Dino, 4100 Forbes Ave. (map)

The Party Ride is a slow group ride held every second-to-last Friday of the month. The group meets at Dippy and leaves by 6p, pedaling slowly through the city. It is designed for riders of all ages and capabilities.

As a casual bicyclist without many intrepid brain cells left, I bike through the park to the grocery store sometimes and ride around the park occasionally and through my neighborhood; I have ridden to work and found it stressful, in part because you cannot avoid cars and when we’re in our cars, let’s face it, we’re as#!ho&l*!s.

During the opening of the convention center trail spur (part of which is shown below) last week, Scott Bricker, BikePGH’s head honcho, said one of the organization’s priorities is to advocate for safe biking infrastructure for all: All people should be confident riding bicycles as commuters, he said. “You shouldn’t have to be brave to ride your bike.”

Read the rest of this article in the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

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