Big Blue Bus Joins With Other Area Transit Agencies
to Promote
"Bike-to-Work" Day on Thursday, May 15
May 12, 2008
CONTACT: Francine Pares, 949-481-7559
Big Blue Bus Joins With Other Area Transit Agencies to Promote "Bike-to-Work" Day on May 15* Public is
encouraged to ride bikes or combine biking with
public transit as an alternative to driving.
* Special bike maps will be available at the
Transit Store to assist riders with routes.
SANTA MONICA, Calif. - The city of Santa Monica and the Big Blue Bus will join with other transportation agencies around Los Angeles to support and promote public participation for Bike-to-Work Day on Thursday, May 15.
Bike-to-Work Day is part of a full week of special events being planned around the state to promote biking as an everyday and viable means of transportation. The City of Santa Monica is hoping to encourage people to get out of their cars and try a healthy alternative to get to work. For longer commutes, the Big Blue Bus offers the ability for passengers to bring their bicycles along, as all buses are equipped with bike racks and there is no extra charge for bringing a bicycle aboard.
"Many people take the bus into work and then ride home, or take the bus to a location where there is a bike path and then ride the rest of the way in for exercise," said Jose Barba, customer service manager for the Big Blue Bus.
Special "pit stops" will be set up and staffed around the Los Angeles area to assist bikers on the day of the event. On the Westside, stops will include City Hall and REI in Santa Monica, and UCLA Bruin Plaza, where there will also be a Bike Fair.
Bicyclists can fill up their tires, get their bike chains tightened, and even have a flat tire repaired at the stops, which are free to the public. Also available will be refreshments, maps and bike-themed giveaways. A full list of the 35 pit stops in the Los Angeles area is available at www.metro.net/biketowork.
The Big Blue Bus and the City's Transportation Department have collaborated to create a special Bike Map containing a wealth of information about biking around the Westside, including how to combine using the Big Blue Bus with taking a bicycle, and a complete map of Santa Monica and surrounding areas showing bus routes and how they relate to commuting with a bike.
The Bike Map will be available beginning May 14 at the Big Blue Bus Transit Store located at 223 Broadway near the Third Street Promenade, or by calling Customer Service at 310-451-5444. After the event, the map will also be available at City Hall, REI, UCLA, and various bicycle shops around town.
Bike-to-Work Day participants are encouraged to plan
in advance for the one-day event. Tips include:
* Determining the best routes to take, choosing
roads that offer bike lanes or paved shoulders, and
taking a trial run to determine how long it will
take to get to work.
* Letting employers know you"ll be commuting to
work via a bicycle that day, finding a good place to
store the bike during working hours, and bringing a
lock if the bicycle will be stored in a non-secure
location.
* Making sure bicycles are in good working order,
tires are inflated, wearing a proper fitting helmet,
and making sure the bike has a light if it will be
ridden at night.
Big Blue Bus Customer Service representatives will be available at the City Hall pit stop from 7 a.m. to 10 a.m. to assist with route information. A "bike valet" will also be available until 5 p.m. to store bikes left at City Hall in a secure location. City Hall is located at 1685 Main Street. The REI pit stop, located at 402 Santa Monica Boulevard, will be staffed from 6 a.m. to 11 a.m. and the UCLA stop, located at Bruin Plaza at 308 Westwood Plaza, will be manned from 10 a.m. until noon.
For more tips about how to bike to work, visit www.californiabikecommute.com. For more information on other special activities around the city and connecting Metro routes, visit www.metro.net.
For information on Big Blue Bus routes, visit www.bigbluebus.com. For media inquiries, please contact Francine Pares at 949-481-7559 or fpares@intelibrand.com.