Bike Month Offers Free, All-Ages Fun

May is officially Bike Month in Lane County, so mark your calendars and get your bike ready to ride! Nationally celebrated since 1956 and in Lane County since 2014, Bike Month showcases the many benefits of biking and invites more folks to give it a try. Community members are encouraged to get out and ride for fun and exercise as well as for essential errands and trips throughout May.

This Bike Month, there are even more reasons to hop on your bike! Get ready for a kick-off party, bike-up discounts at businesses, fun passport with prizes, bike month challenge, bike film festival, yoga for cyclists, social rides and more. For a full calendar of FREE Bike Month events and activities, visit WeBikeLane.org

Bike Month event highlights include:

• Kick-Off Party - 5-7 p.m. May 1, Oakshire Public House
• Wheels By The Willamette - 4:30-6:30 p.m. May 2, River Path @ W. D St. entrance
• Learn To Ride - 1-3 p.m. May 4, Bethel Meadow View School
• Bike Share Social Ride - 5:30-6:30 p.m. May 15, Plank Town Brewing Co.
• Filmed By Bike Film Festival ($10) - 5-9 p.m. May 18, UO Straub Hall
• Better Ways Block Party - 1-5 p.m. May 19, Eugene Farmers Market Pavilion

Community members are also encouraged to grab the new-this-year Bike Month Passport to explore the all-ages events throughout the month. Simply pick up a passport at your local bike shop and start gathering passport stickers by attending Bike Month events. Turn in your passort to win prizes including bike bells, pins, mugs and bandanas, all designed by local artist Erick Wonderly.

Don't have a bike, but want to join in the fun? PeaceHealth Rides Bike Share is offering FREE bike share memberships during the month of May. Visit WeBikeLane.org for more information.

A few tips for enjoyable biking:

• Get your bike ready to ride - visit your local bike shop for a safety check
• Wear a helmet to protect your head - it's required for children under 16 in Oregon
• Follow the rules of the road - obey signs, signals and markings
• Ride predictably - ride in the right-most lane that goes the direction you're traveling
• Look before you change lanes - look, signal your turn and then act
• Plan your route - pick bike-friendly streets and paths when possible
• Follow path etiquette - keep right except to pass and give a warning when passing