The 3rd Friday in May is Bike to Work Day. Ben Turner is president of Omaha Bikes and says, "The idea is to celebrate those who already ride their bikes to work and provide a warm, welcoming environment to those who are curious but have never taken that first peddle stroke."
The Bike Omaha Network is hosting nine guided rides from neighborhoods across the metro. Captains will show new bicyclists the safest way to reach their destination suing paths, bike lanes and shared streets. Those locations include:
-Papillion
-Bellevue
-Council Bluffs
-Millard
-North Omaha
-Aksarben Village
-Bemis/Gifford
-Benson/Dundee
-South Omaha
All group rides will end the day at City Hall at 18th and Farnam Street.
There is a Commute Home event in Dundee that runs from 3:30 until 5:30. Live Well Omaha is hosting the event that includes e-bike demonstrations and information from a number of other organizations. There is also a chance to win a free bike courtesy of KISS FM.
Turner says if you don't have a bike, Heartland B-cycle will provide free rentals tomorrow. He says, "All you have to do is walk up to any of the 70 kiosks. There is a promo code on the screen. Punch it in and check out a bike for free." That includes a 24 hour rental to unlimited one hour trips.
There will also be free Metro bus trips for those who bike to a bus stop and put their bike on the front rack. The YMCA of Greater Omaha is offering free showers for those who participate in Bike to Work Day.