Thursday is Region's 16th Annual Bike to Work Day

For Alex Higham every day is bike to work day.

The 26-year-old employee of Pegasus Cycle Works makes the 17-mile two-wheeled commute from Martinez to Danville each workday morning.

But on Thursday, Higham is expected to be joined by thousands who will take part in the region's annual Bike to Work Day, a public campaign to encourage commuters to get out of their cars and onto their bicycles.

"It's the same for me, but it's great to see people who normally wouldn't bike out there with the regulars," he said.

To support the expected uptick of thousands of cyclists, various local businesses and city centers will host "energizer stations," where bikers can recharge with healthy snacks and water.

Volunteers in Danville will run two stations from 6:30 to 9 a.m.: one at the Iron Horse Trail and Hemme Avenue, and the other at the trail and Paraiso Drive. Both are sponsored by the Town of Danville, the Danville Police and the San Ramon Valley Street Smarts Program.

Danville's evening rest stop, sponsored by Integrated Science Solutions, Inc., will run from 4 to 6 p.m. behind Lunardi's, 345 Railroad Ave., also by the Iron Horse Trail.

In San Ramon, bikers can swing by morning stations from 6 to 9 a.m. at the Iron Horse Trail and Iron Horse Middle School, 12601 Alcosta Blvd., or at the trail and Bollinger Canyon Road. The city's evening station will take place at the trail and Bollinger Canyon from 3 to 5 p.m.

Maps are available online on Contra Costa County's transportation website, www.511contracosta.org, or on the campaign's site, www.youcanbikethere.org.

Thursday's community bike commute is part of a designated National Bike Month and California's Bike Commute Week. This Thursday will mark the Bay Area's 16th annual bike to work day. The campaign is paid for mostly by the Metropolitan Transportation Commission, with the county's half-cent sales tax for transportation, and partly by donations from corporate sponsors and volunteers, according to the county.

There will be more than 100 energizer stations around the Bay Area, as well as after-work parties and community events.

"Bike to work week gets a lot of people outdoors in the nice weather," said Danville bike-to-work-day participant Chris Rodriguez. "For us, we do this all the time, but it's nice to see more people on the trails."

Click here to find a range of cycling resources, including bike maps and locations of area bike lockers.