Hop on your bicycle for Bike to Work Week: Monday, November 2 to Friday, November 6!

I’m even going to try it this year, and I’m rather a novice at cycling. (I’ll write a bit about my experience getting ready to ride, in case it’s of use to potential cyclists out there.)

This is the second 2009 Bike to Work Week put on by the Vancouver Area Cycling Coalition in 2009. As you may have guessed, the Week is designed to encourage cycling—especially to common destinations like work or school.

Sign up a team from your school or work for the week, and you might win prizes for participation and distance travelled. (There’s bike gear, gift certificates, and free bikes on offer!)

And watch for commuter stations around the Lower Mainland, with 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 from 2008.)

For those worried about biking in 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. (Their site also has handy tips for biking, especially in winter.)

And if you don’t know the bike routes in your area, try out UBC’s handy cycling route planner, which I also profiled on the blog.

Give it a try — maybe I’ll see you out there on the road!