How many of you knew that this week, the week of May 16th, is Bike to Work Week? In fact, tomorrow, May 20th, is Bike to Work Day! May is even BIKE MONTH!

Around the country many companies are selling stuff inside their companies for March of Dimes, United Way, the Girl Scouts and a whole host of other organizations. They help organize blood drives and all other sorts of events. Yet they do little to encourage their own employees to get off their asses and do something to improve their health, curb pollution and come to work a bit more refreshed in the morning. They don't help promote Bike to Work Week.

I think the problem is that while each company has some sort of advocate for each of the aforementioned causes, they don't have a Bike to Work advocate who's pouding the pavement every April to get them setup for Bike to Work month in May.

BTW, the Bike to Work crew has a blog, but there's no RSS feed or comments. So, it's not really a blog, is it. Nice try guys. Better luck next time.

What we really need is the "Bike to Work Network" to get a representative at each of the Fortune 1000 companies to have a representative who's accountable for getting their company to support the cause. They even have a great Bike Month Organizer's Kit to get all of you would-be activists started! Speaking of activists, pay attention to The Five Ps of Activist Marketing also.

In any case, we cyclists need to get off our asses next year and urge our companies to support Bike to Work Week and make it a damn big deal. Why? Health, energy, fitness, pollution control and the excitement of being on a bicycle are reasons enough for me.

Who's actually doing something about this? (obviously, not me...wait 'till next year though!)
Google is big on bike to Work

One more thing. Why isn't every local bike shop taking the point on contacting their local corporate leaders or HR managers or event coordinators to help set up a safe and enjoyable Bike to Work experience for Bike to Work week? Companies bring in Weight Watchers, financial planners, home loan experts, cell phone companies and all other sorts of quasi-altruistic vendors. Why the hell don't bike shops get on board and make some headway in this area?

I'd bike to work, but the wife probably won't be amused when I ride my bike up the stairs to my home office :)