Get Energized and Bike to Work Thursday

Join thousands of others as they put their foot to the pedal and bike to work this Thursday.

The 18th Annual Bike to Work Day expects to draw participants throughout the Bay Area who can stop at energizer stations along major commuting routes to pick up freebies and bicycle resources.

In the Peninsula and South Bay transit systems Caltrain and Santa Clara Valley Transit Authority will participate in the mass bicycle commute.

The Silicon Valley Bicycle Coalition has organized various events in an effort to support bicycling to work in Mountain View. Their events include energizer stations at the following locations where stations riders will be cheered on by volunteers who will pass out free snacks, drinks and reusable bicycle tote bags:

• Mountain View: Arnold Ave. & Clark Rd. Hosted by NASA Ames (7 a.m - 9:45 a.m.)
• Mountain View: California St. & Castro St. Hosted by Fenwick & West Law Firm (5:30 a.m. - 9:30 a.m.)
• Mountain View: Charleston Rd. & Alta Ave. Hosted by Google (8 a.m. - 11 a.m.)
• Mountain View Downtown Transit Center, Hosted by Mountain View BPAC and REI (5 a.m. - 9 a.m.)
• Mountain View: Middlefield LTR Station. Hosted by Symantec (7 a.m - 9 a.m.)
• Mountain View: Stevens Creek Trail at Sleeper ParkHosted by Friends of Stevens Creek Trail (7 a.m. - 10 a.m.)

Caltrain vehicles have bike cars, which allow bicyclists to incorporate public transit into their commute. Caltrain officials noted a 16 percent increase of bicycle ridership on an average weekday over the past year with 4,243 riders up from 3,664 in 2011.
         
At the end of a car-free, human-powered day of commuting the Silicon Valley bicyclists can celebrate their hard-earned miles at the Art Ark Gallery at 1035 S. Sixth St. in San Jose, organized by the Silicon Valley Bicycle Coalition.

Those who bike from work to the celebration will receive a 2012 "Bike to Work Day" T-shirt, the coalition said.

Additional reporting by Bay City News, Inc.