Bike to Work Day 2024 | 511 Contra Costa

Bike to Work Day 2024

Bay Area Bike to Wherever Days 2024 - Thursday, May 16 - May is National Bike Month

About Bike to Work Day 2024

May is National Bike Month and Thursday, May 16, is Bike to Work Day. Start your work day with fresh air and exercise! Enjoy meeting other cyclists and pick up free goodies at various Energizer Stations along your route.

Tips: Getting Ready to Bike Commute

Don’t feel like you’ll be ‘road ready’ in time for Bike to Work Day? Preparing to bike commute isn’t as difficult as you might think. Take a little time to get familiar with your bike, figure out how to carry your stuff, and find a good route or even a bike buddy.

Take the guesswork out of preparing for May 16 with our Six Tips & Tricks to Get You Ready for Bike To Work Day!

Bike Champion of the Year 2024: Bruce “Ole” Ohlson

Congratulations to Bruce “Ole” Ohlson, Contra Costa County’s Bike Champion of the Year!

If you’ve ever been to a public meeting in Central or East Contra Costa County that pertained to a bicycle issue, then you’ve probably seen this year’s Contra Costa Bicycle Champion of the Year – “Mr. Bicycle” himself, Bruce “Ole” Ohlson. The Pittsburg, CA native has had a lifelong passion for bicycling that has seen him organizing a 20,000 mile, around-the-world group ride (which included bicycling across the US, Europe, Asia, and Australia), and bicycling the perimeter of the United States and Australia, among many, many other rides. In total, he estimates that he has spent over 8 years, on and off, touring the world on his bicycle and on foot.

His bicycling hobby led the way to his other hobby, attending public meetings and advocating for bicycle accommodations. After receiving encouragement by former Bike East Bay Executive Director (and now BART Director) Robert Raburn in 1999 to attend local meetings, Ole started to become a regular mainstay in city council chambers around Brentwood, Oakley, Concord, Pittsburg and other Contra Costa cities to promote bicycling and make sure that accommodations were being considered in plans and construction projects.

Anyone working in the bicycle world in Contra Costa knows that just as he never tired from his long, arduous bike rides, Ole will never tire from showing up and speaking up for bicycles in his community. Congratulations, Ole!

Read more of Ole’s story and other Bike Champions from across the Bay Area.

Bike + BART: Taking Your Bike on Board

If commuting all the way from home to work seems daunting, it’s not cheating to make the distance more manageable by adding BART to your commute. Although bikes are always allowed on BART, there are some rules to be aware of:

  • Bikes are never allowed on crowded cars
  • Bikes are not allowed in the first car
  • Folded bikes are always allowed in all cars
  • Bikes are allowed on elevators, stairs, and most escalators

To read the full list of rules, visit the Bikes on BART webpage.

Bay Area Bike Challenge

This year marks the 30th anniversary of Bike to Work Day and we’re celebrating in a big way across the region: the Bay Area Bike Challenge. Throughout the whole month of May, we’re challenging residents of all nine counties of the Bay Area to collectively log 30,000 miles on their bikes. Whether you’re commuting to work, running errands, or simply enjoying a leisurely ride, every mile counts toward our goal.

Take the Challenge

Bike Mapper: Choose the Route Best for You

511 Contra Costa’s Bike Mapper lets you create a custom bike route by choosing from three hill tolerances and three types of routes: bike paths, bike lanes, or the most direct route. Find other bike maps and resources here.

Pledge to Ride on Bike to Work Day

Pledge to ride on Bike to Work Day – Thursday, May 16 – and you’ll receive a map of energizer stations, a digital goodie bag, and routes to ride to celebrate the day. On Bike to Work Day, you’ll be joining thousands of fellow cyclists as they pedal to work, school, or wherever.

Take the Pledge

Rebates and Incentives for Biking

511 Contra Costa offers a variety of incentives for biking more, especially for commuting by bike:

  • Drive Less by replacing just one car commute a week with biking and receive your choice of $25 gift cards.
  • Pledge to try biking to work and we’ll send you a $20 BikeLink card to help you Secure Your Cycle with a countywide network of electronic bike lockers.
  • Buy a new e-bike and apply for an E-Bike Rebate of up to $500.
  • Register to get a free Guaranteed Ride Home if you experience an emergency on a day you biked to work.

Road Safety Quiz

Image of person riding a bike. Text reads: $20 Starbucks gift cards - 10 winners. Test your street smarts with our Road Safety Quiz.

Find out how well you know the rules of the road by taking our Road Safety Quiz. Everyone who completes the quiz will be entered in a drawing for one of ten $20 Starbucks gift cards. Winners will be notified on May 31.

Take the Quiz

Warm Up with Classes or Group Rides

You’ll find everything from social rides to classes geared towards improving your confidence on the bike on our Bike Events page.

Video Highlights from Bike To Work Day 2023

Wondering what Bike To Work Day is like? Check out the video below.

Employers: Tips on Encouraging Bike Commuting

If you’re an employer and want to inspire more of your employees to commute by bike, check out our 2024 Bike to Work Day Employer Toolkit (coming soon!) We also have great strategies and employer resources for making your workplace bike-commute friendly year-round.

Energizer Stations: Contra Costa

On Bike to Work Day, more than 45 Contra Costa energizer stations will welcome riders with a free canvas tote, snacks, and good vibes as they bike to work – or wherever. Whether you are an everyday rider or trying a bike commute for the first time, everyone is welcome. Check the map below for a station in your area! Note: As they are confirmed, new stations will be added to the map.

Sponsors & Media Kit

511 Contra Costa has supported cyclists and Energizer Station hosts throughout Contra Costa County since 2001 using Bay Area Air Quality Management District funds and the Contra Costa Transportation Authority’s half-cent sales tax for transportation funds. Bike to Work Day 2024 is presented by the Metropolitan Transportation Commission and 511.org.

To help you promote your involvement in Bike Month (aka Bike to Wherever Days) and the Bay Area’s Bike to Work Day on Thursday, May 16, we’ve put together a media kit with promotional copy and graphics.