Cycling, Sanity

Bike to Work Week: Events worth parking the car for

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I’m already running behind this week, even on the big news, which is … this is Bike to Work Week.

Since I try to keep these posts to a readable length, I will not attempt to extoll the assorted virtues of riding your bike to work. Of the money you’ll save on gas, of how a bike and its rider emit far fewer pollutants into the atmosphere than a car, of a wake-up call (the ride in) that’s even more effective than a triple Americano at jump-starting your day, of a great way to shake the “I-can’t-believe-I-work-for-the-guy-Dilbert-is-modeled-after” end-of-day blues, of getting a good workout with great health benefits to boot.

Instead, here’s a quick rundown of Bike to Work events going on statewide this week. If you know of more, let us know. Especially in Charlotte, where we couldn’t find one event.

Triangle

Carrboro & Chapel Hill

Tuesday, 7-10 a.m. – Go Chapel Hill-Carrboro Bike Workshop, municipal parking lot on Roberson Street and S. Greensboro (south of Open Eye Café). Food, giveaways, raffles, bike inspections, tune-ups.

Friday, early evening – Chapel Hill-Carrboro Bicycle Tour & Ride with Elected Officials. Meet at Wallace Parking Deck on Rosemary Street in Chapel Hill for an early evening ride through Chapel Hill and Carrboro, followed by food, beverages and music on the Deck.

In addition …
 bike shops in Chapel Hill and Carrboro are offering certain discounts during Bike to Work Week.

Durham

Wednesday, 5-7 p.m. Cyclists’ Social at Alivia’s Durham Bistro, 900 E. Main St. (corner of Main and Gregson streets). Free food, giveaways.

Thursday, 7-9 a.m. Bike-to-Work Breakfast at Five Points Plaza (corner of Main and Chapel Hill streets in downtown). Free food, coffee, prizes.

Thursday (and every third Thursday of the month though August), 5 p.m., 5 o’clock @ the Nott, parking lot of the Nottingham Building (4505 Emperor Blvd. near RTP, and the intersection of I-40 & 540). Beverages, live music, discussions re:Triangle Commuter Bike Path Initiative.

Sunday, 2-6 p.m., Bull City Summer Streets around Durham Central Park.
One mile of city streets near downtown will be opened to biking, walking and playing.

Raleigh

Tuesday, 6:30 a.m., North Hills. Park ‘n’ Pedal. Meet at North Hills REI to ride to work downtown. Return trip: 5:30 p.m.

Friday, 5:30-7 p.m. Cyclist Social at Porter’s Tavern, 2412 Hillsborough St.

Friday, 7 p.m. “Triplets of Belleville” screening, free. Witherspoon Hall, N.C. State Campus.

RTP

Tuesday, 5-7 p.m.  Bike to Work Week After Hours Get-Together at Serena.

Friday, 7-9 a.m., Bike to Work Week Breakfast at RTP Headquarters.

For more info on Triangle area events, visit GoTriangle.

Triad

Greensboro

Bike Refueling Stations: Greensboro DOT sponsors daily “refueling stations,” at different locations around town. Free coffee, food, other stuff (depending upon location). Dates and locations:

  • Tuesday, 7-9 a.m., Total Wine on Battleground Boulevard.
  • Wednesday, 7-9 a.m., Bike Refueling Station at MLK & Florida streets.
  • Thursday, 7-9 a.m., VF (Wrangler) on Elm St.
Thursday, 7-9 a.m., REI.
Friday, 7-9 a.m., Governmental Plaza.
  • Friday, 7-9 a.m., Spring Garden Bakery.

Also:

Thursday, 7-9 p.m., Bicycle Movie Night, Cycles de Oro.
Friday, 4:30 p.m, Bike FROM Work Celebration, Old Town Draught House, 1205 Spring Garden St.

Gibsonville

Saturday, 7 am, Gears and Cheers.

9 thoughts on “Bike to Work Week: Events worth parking the car for”

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  2. Great list Joe,

    But unless the GoTriangle site has it wrong, the Raleigh Bike-To-Work-Week social at Porters is on Friday, not Thursday, leading right into the Triplets of Belleville, which is a short ride from Porters.

    1. Ack. I must have been using my 1992 calendar when I made the translation: Yes, it is Friday. I’ll correct. And thanks for the keen, quick eye, Rob.

      1. There, fixed. And I also perfected the spelling of “Tavern” while I was at it. (Who proofreads this stuff?)

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  4. Joe, Thanks for the reminder about Bike-to-Work Week. Tomorrow is my first BTW. For other first-timers, I would recommend using Google Maps to find their best Bike-to-Work route. One of the Google map options is “Bicycling”. This is a great way to locate the official (and unofficial) bike paths leading to your workplace. Caveat: The Google Bike Maps are still in beta mode. So, double-check your Google directions and give yourself some extra time, just in case.

    1. Thanks for the note about Google Maps, Jeff. It should be noted that Jeff lives in Portland, where you can throw a dart and find a bike-friendly route. Here in North Carolina, Google Maps is a good starting point for finding a route. However, it tends not to discriminate well between a bonafide bike route and, say, Capital Boulevard here in the Triangle. I’d recommend GoogleMapping a route, then driving it before riding it.

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