The League of American Bicyclists is promoting Bike-to-Work Week from May 14-18 and Bike-to-Work Day on Friday, May 18. Need some ideas? Here are some ways to celebrate Bike Month.

Why ride to work?

There are lots of reasons. As gas prices rise, you could save plenty by riding even occasionally. By riding a bike, you reduce congestion on the roads and save wear and tear on your car. And it's good for you.

• A 15-minute bike ride to and from work five times a week burns the equivalent of 11 pounds of fat per year.
• A rough calculation suggests that new cyclists covering short distances can reduce their risk of death (mostly due to the reduction of heart disease) by as much as 22 percent.
• A four-mile round trip on a bicycle keeps about 15 pounds of pollutants out of the air we breathe.

If you haven't had your bike out this season, do an inspection before Bike to Work Day.

Terry Waltzer, a member of the LAB Pedestrian and Bikeways Committee and owner of The Bike Route has a checklist:

• Make sure tires are properly inflated. See the side of the tire for correct pressure.
• Look for rust on the chain. Treat rust with bike chain lubricant.
• Check the brake blocks for wear and ensure that blocks contact squarely with the rim, not the tire.
• Adjust brake cables so brake levers don't touch the handlebars even during hard braking.
• Check for loose connections by lifting the bike a quarter-inch and gently dropping it. Listen for rattles. Tighten nuts and bolts.
• Inspect the frame for damage.
• Inspect tires for tears or broken spokes.
• Spin each wheel. A wobbly wheel can cause problem with brakes.
• Take a brief ride to check that the bike shifts and brakes properly.
• Get a professional's help with gear or frame problems.

Our region has several long bike paths connecting neighborhoods. These paths are separated from car and truck traffic and will take you through parks and wooded areas. Even if our region's bike paths won't connect your home to your place of work, you can map out a trip. Look at a county road map. Less heavily traveled neighborhood streets might parallel your normal driving route. If not, most major roads have a curb lane that is extra wide to accommodate bicycles. Over the years, storm drain grates throughout the region have been changed to a design that will not trap bike tires.

Still finding it a challenge to ride to work?

• Ride COTA part way. Your bike rides free
• Drive part of the way, then bike the rest

The best way to be safe on a bicycle is to follow all the rules of the road.

A bicycle is considered a vehicle and subject to all the same laws as a car. Cyclists should ride with, not against, traffic, and obey all signs and traffic signals. Wear a helmet and signal your turns with hand signals. Maintain your bike's reflectors. A front headlight is required if you ride at night or within 30 minutes of sunset or sunrise.

Editors note: I can remember a time when this organization would have been organizing Bike Month and Bike to Work Day Activities. However, for this issue I talked with John Gideon of COBAC, who referred me to the LAB website for this page.