The streets of the Bay Area were bustling with cyclists yesterday as Bike to Wherever Day saw record-breaking participation from residents committed to sustainable travel. As part of the larger Bay Area Bike to Wherever Days and the Bay Area Bike Challenge, which span the entire month, individuals across nine counties took the pledge to ride, embracing an active transportation mode that favors the environment and community health.
A significant turnout marked the day's events, coordinating with 330 Energizer Stations where around 16,000 riders received complimentary coffee, snacks, swag, and a bicycle-friendly tote bag emblematic of the event's annual artwork, despite some stations running out of the freebies before the anticipated end time, causing minor letdowns among the late arrivals. Coire Reilly, program manager at West Contra Costa Transportation Commission, expressed satisfaction, telling the Metropolitan Transportation Commission, "This was a great year for West County. We reached pre-pandemic levels of participation for the first time."
The event, extending beyond the morning rush, included evening Bike Block Parties, Happy Hours, and the presence of elected officials and community leaders who actively joined bike rallies and made their pedaled journeys to local City Halls in solidarity with the cause. Among those who participated, Berkeley Mayor Adena Ishii not only attended but also took part in the Bay Area Bike Challenge, propelling her name on the leaderboard.
More than the festivities, 6,500 individuals signed a Pledge to Ride, committing to choose biking for health and cleaner air, as the riders together logged over 70,000 miles in the challenge, this collective effort setting an ambitious regional goal of 120,000 miles, a figure quadruple that of the previous year. Marcella Aranda, public information officer at MTC, was awed by the riders' zeal, saying, "We are continually amazed by the level of enthusiasm shown by riders all over the region."
The Bay Area Bike Challenge, which runs until May 31, promises 12 prizes for participation, including two $500 prizes for most miles and trips and an array of raffle winnings.
