Watch CBS News

It's National Bike-To-Work Week

DETROIT (CBS Detroit) Gas prices are high and the weather promises to be  beautiful -- So, what does that mean for you?

It's a great time to get to work under your own steam as National Bike-to-Work Week strikes in metro Detroit. May is National Bike Month, and this week -- May 14-18 -- is National Bike-to-Work Week.

Local companies encouraging their employees to take part include Henry Ford West Bloomfield Hospital and the city of Novi.

"Recognizing National Bike to Work Week and encouraging City of Novi employees to bike to work on Monday, May 14 is an easy win for us," Novi City Manager Clay J. Pearson said in a press release. "We are supporting green initiatives, promoting active lifestyles, and generating employee engagement."

The Alliance for Biking and Walking says the number of commuters who bicycle to work increased 57 percent from 2000 to 2009.

According to the League of American Bicyclists, metro Detroit still ranks 139th in the country -- out of 244 communities surveyed -- for the number of people who bike to work.  About .05 percent of metro Detroiters commute to work, compared to 12 percent in Boulder, Colo., and 8.5 percent in Cambridge, Mass.

Certainly, we can do better. Planning your route and the timing of your trip? Check out up-to-the-minute weather updates HERE.

But don't forget the rules of the road: Obey all traffic signs, stay in the bike lane when one's available, wear a helmet, clearly indicate turns when you're about to make them, and keep your eyes open for drivers and pedestrians.

View CBS News In
CBS News App Open
Chrome Safari Continue
Be the first to know
Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting.