“I want to ride my bicycle.
I want to ride my bike.
I want to ride my bicycle.
I want to ride it where I like.”

Freddy Mercury, Queen

Local businesses of all sizes are invited to sign-up to participate in the City of Santa Clarita’s 8^th Annual Bike to Work Day Challenge on Thursday, May 19.

The Bike to Work Day Challenge prompts Santa Clarita businesses to rally the largest number of employees to abandon their vehicles for a day and bike to work.

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“The 2011 Bike to Work Day Challenge is a friendly competition that challenges Santa Clarita businesses of all sizes to participate in the no pollute commute,” said Mayor Marsha McLean. “Bicycling reduces traffic, keeps our air clean, improves your health, and saves money on gas!”

The competition will be broken down into three categories: small business (2-10 full-time employees), medium businesses (11-100 full-time employees), and large businesses (100 or more full-time employees).

Businesses with the highest participation rate in each category will win a gift certificate to the restaurant of their choice and free frozen yogurt from Golden Spoon for all employees who participate.

Challenge participants are also eligible for the City’s raffle prizes including KHS bicycles, gift certificates, movie tickets, and more.

Several bicycle pit stops will be stationed throughout the City for cyclists to enjoy refreshments, get energized, receive giveaways, and learn more information about cycling.

The pit stops will be located at City Hall (23920 Valencia Blvd), Bouquet Junction (corner of Valencia Blvd & Bouquet Canyon Road), the trail access at the corner of Newhall Avenue and 16th Street, and trail access at the corner of Camp Plenty and Soledad Canyon.

All participating Bike to Work Day cyclists are also eligible to win additional prizes by ‘pledging’ at Metro.net/biketowork.

For more information or to participate in Bike to Work Day, contact the City’s Environmental Services Division at (661) 286-4098 or visit GreenSantaClarita.com.