RICHMOND, Va. (WTVR)--Leave four-wheels behind for two and try cycling to work on National Bike to Work Day.
May is National Bike Month and across the country cities are hosting National Bike to Work Day on Friday, May 18.
In Richmond, there will be Commuter Convoys departing around the city, so that cyclists can ride with others.
There are a total of six group rides departing from various locations in the city. The groups each have a contact person. All groups will converge on Monroe Park for a 7:15 a.m. gathering. [Download our weather app]
Local bike advocates RideRichmond say that riders will be asked to sign-up with the ride leader. What is known as a “cue sheet” will be handed out with directions.
Arrival time at Monroe Park is slated for 7:15, when Deputy Secretary of Transportation David Tyeryar will present a proclamation to Mayor Dwight Jones.
Then at 7:30, both Tyeryar and Jones will ride with the group of cyclists down Franklin Street, towards the Capital.
Ellwood Thompson
Jennifer Wampler, Captain
Meet: 6:30 a.m.
Depart 6:45 a.m.
Bryan Park
Bud Vye, Captain
Meeting 6:20 a.m.
Depart 6:30 a.m.
Forest Hill Park –Stone House
Alan Cooper, Captain
Meet 6:30 a.m.
Depart 6:45 a.m.
Tricycle Gardens (Church Hill)
Michael Gilbert, Captain
Meet 6:30 a.m.
Depart 6:45 a.m.
Manchester - Plant Zero
Tom Bowden Captain
Meet 6:30 a.m.
Depart 6:45 a.m.
Laurel Park Shopping Center
Sheryl Finucane, Captain
Meet 6:20 a.m.
Depart 6:30 a.m.
There are no formal group rides on the return trip, though anyone who wishes to ride home with other may meet at Monroe Park at 4:45 p.m., with a scheduled 5 p.m. departure.
The League of American Bicyclists recently posted data released by the US Census Bureau’s American Community Survey that shows less than one percent of American workers use a bicycle as their primary mode of transportation to work.
The advocacy groups said this number does show nearly 40 percent growth since 2000, but also indicated the work which needs to be done in communities to truly integrate bicycling as a form of transportation.
Data from 2010 shows that Richmond has a higher percentage of cyclists than any other city/town in Virginia.
| City | State | Population | Total Workers | % of Bicycle Commuters | Number of Bike Commuters | Bike Commuters Margin of Error |
| Alexandria | VA | 140,912 | 87,547 | 0.70% | 614 | 403 |
| Arlington | VA | 209,457 | 135,946 | 1.40% | 1,841 | 581 |
| Chesapeake | VA | 222,986 | 111,655 | 0.20% | 189 | 211 |
| Hampton | VA | 137,381 | 62,299 | 0.10% | 83 | 137 |
| Newport News | VA | 180,712 | 89,588 | 0.20% | 155 | 194 |
| Norfolk | VA | 243,135 | 117,088 | 0.80% | 972 | 587 |
| Portsmouth | VA | 95,696 | 40,669 | 0.50% | 196 | 189 |
| Richmond | VA | 204,389 | 92,053 | 2.20% | 2,035 | 712 |
| Virginia Beach | VA | 439,172 | 226,486 | 0.80% | 1,823 | 1048 |
Will you be biking?
