Try cycling to work during Bike to Work Week, which launches its 2009 edition on Monday, May 11!

Sign up a team online, and win prizes for participation and distance travelled. (A free bike will also be given away every day!)

Plus, the Vancouver Area Cycling Coalition (VACC), who runs Bike to Work Week, will set up commuter stations around the Lower Mainland during the week.

Commuter stations have free coffee, snacks, and more prizes, plus mechanics to tune up your bike if needed. (Here’s a look at the TransLink commuter station in Metrotower II last year.)

A huge celebration is also planned for the Seawall near Science World on Friday May 15, 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. There will be free food, entertainment, and yes, even more prizes!

Worried about biking with traffic? The VACC offers courses to help get you comfortable on the road. See if your workplace will sponsor a course – the VACC has workshops aimed at safety, comfort, route planning and increasing bicycle knowledge! (Email Diana at the VACC or call 604-878-8222.)

Don’t know the bike routes in your area? Try out UBC’s handy cycling route planner, which I also profiled on the blog.

And if you still need reasons to try biking to work, the VACC has put together a list for you here :)

• The cost of gas. Despite recent declines, the cost of gas is still far greater than 5 years ago. Bikes don’t require trips to the gas pump. Every kilometer you ride a bike, you burn calories instead of gas. And bike parking is always free!
• The costs of a car. On average, it costs $7,400/year to own and maintain a car, equivalent to around two months’ wages for the average worker. Why not spend a fraction on a bike that will last you for years?
• Environmental concern. Transportation accounts for 42% of carbon dioxide emissions in British Columbia. Bicycles emit zero greenhouse gases, regardless of how long your trip.
• Improvements in safety. Increased cycling helps support investments in safety improvements. Bike to Work and join the VACC to encourage safer cycling amenities.