Boulder’s 38th annual Walk and Bike Month is a great opportunity for you to learn more about biking in Boulder, join thousands of your community members on Bike to Work Day, and enjoy dozens of other fun events with your friends and family!
What started as Bike to Work Day in 1977 — expanding to Walk & Bike Week in 1982 — now lasts for the entire month of June and features more than 75 community activities. A City of Boulder initiative, Boulder’s Walk & Bike Month is also among the largest in the nation — a testament to the community’s enthusiasm for the variety of transportation options available.
Boulder is nationally recognized for its walking and cycling culture and has more than 150 centerline miles of award-winning bike routes, including 58 miles of paved multi-use paths. Walk & Bike Month helps increase community awareness of these routes and shows that commuting by bicycle or on-foot is a totally viable option in Boulder.
Marni Ratzel, the city’s bike and pedestrian senior transportation planner, said that the month is “a way to celebrate biking and walking in Boulder and encourage more people to try it.” The large number of people who participate in the activities provides great encouragement for people who don’t typically walk or bike. Walk & Bike Month also supports the City of Boulder’s goal to reduce single-occupant vehicle (SOV) travel to 25 percent of all trips made.
In 2013, nearly 5,300 people registered for Bike to Work Day. Community Cycles, the nonprofit that coordinates Walk & Bike Month, expects that participation will continue to increase. “With all the great bike paths in Boulder and the beautiful summer weather, it’s the perfect time for you to give walking or cycling a try,” said Sue Prant, director of Community Cycles.
Walk & Bike Month has become so popular in Boulder that local businesses have taken notice, sponsoring the events and providing funding for the majority of the activities. Some businesses even provide free breakfast stations for those who bike or walk on Bike to Work Day.
Please register for Bike to Work Day in advance to help Boulder businesses plan ahead for the free breakfast stations. Registering your commute also helps the city measure the environmental benefits of Bike to Work Day and the demand for biking and walking facilities. Registration also makes you eligible for a variety of great prizes offered by the event sponsors.
There are more than 75 events throughout the month. Visit walkandbikemonth.org for the latest list. And don’t forget to register for Bike to Work Day!
