Taking your bike to work today, and everyday.

By Lupita Peimbert

FullSizeRender (2) — The new green line on Grand Ave. between Oakland and Piedmont, indicating priority for people riding a bike.

(Culture) – More than a million SF Bay Area residents live within a 5-mile distance from work, and that is the ideal distance to use your bike to work and help protect planet Earth.

“Bike to Work Day” is taking place in nine bay area counties, seeking to promote and remind residents to use their bikes more often. Many people already do it ; according to a 2013 American Community Survey, conducted by the US Census Department, 62,000 people in the bay area ride their bikes to work.

FullSizeRender (1) — Oakland Councilmember Abel Guillen, Oakland Mayor Libby Schaaf, a representative from City of Piedmont, and organizers from Bike East Bay.org kicked-off BIKE TO WORK DAY this morning on Grand Avenue in Oakland.

Oakland is one of the participating cities. Mayor Libby Schaaf and Councilmember Abel Guillen took their bikes to work this morning, right after a ribbon cutting ceremony for a green line indicating a bike lane. The ceremony took place outside the ACE Hardware store on Grand Ave, where volunteers at an Energizing Station spent a few hours giving away fruit, drinks, and other goodies.

The event was organized by BikeEastBay.org, in an effort to “ promotes healthy, sustainable communities by making bicycling safe, fun and accessible,” as stated in their website.