Take part in Bike to Work Day May 16; receive free food, drinks and more

Case Western Reserve University students, staff and faculty are encouraged to leave their cars at home and commute by bike to celebrate Bike to Work Day on Friday, May 16. The University Circle community is joining the Greater Cleveland community in celebrating biking as a safe, free, sustainable and fun way to get around town.

The Heights Bicycle Coalition is organizing an Energizer Station at the intersection of Edgehill Road and Overlook Road, just off campus, to give riders a boost with free coffee between 7 and 9 a.m.

Riders also can attend the Bike to Work Party taking place at University East Plaza (Euclid Avenue and Mayfield Road) between 7 and 9 a.m., where they will be treated to delicious breakfast foods, coupons, safety info and giveaways, including reusable sporks from CWRU’s Office for Sustainability.

Then, Bike to Work participants can grab free showers and smoothie discounts at 121 Fitness, a free scoop of Mitchell’s Ice Cream at the chain’s Uptown location, coffee discounts at The Coffee House, and beer discounts at the Barking Spider, all available all day by showing your Bike to Work Helmet.

For tips on making your bike commute to work, or any trip around town, safe and fun, check out Bike Cleveland’s new Biking in Cleveland Guide.

May also marks the beginning of the second Rust Belt Challenge, where Cleveland and Pittsburgh duke it out to see who can log the most miles by bike for the chance to claim the Rust Cup. Last year, Pittsburgh beat Cleveland out narrowly. Although Clevelanders rode past Pittsburgh’s total with 17,308 miles, Pittsburgh’s riders pedaled on more daily trips. In 2013, CWRU was the workplace to have the most riders registered, with 77. Find info online on how to sign up to log your miles and help Cleveland claim the Rust Cup in 2014.

More info on Bike to Work Day is available at bikecleveland.org/btwd/.