The City of Santa Clarita is calling on local businesses to rally their employees and compete in the 11^th annual Bike to Work Day Challenge, held on Thursday, May 15, 2014.

Santa Clarita’s Bike to Work Day Challenge takes place during National Bike Week, heldMonday, May 12 to Sunday, May 18, 2014. The annual event prompts thousands of public and private employees statewide to join the no pollute commute by pledging to ride their bikes to work.

“The City’s annual Bike to Work Day Challenge is a great way for local employees to join in a healthy, friendly competition while reducing traffic congestion, auto emissions and money spent on gas,” said Santa Clarita Mayor, Laurene Weste. “This year’s event takes place just one day before the arrival of the Amgen Tour of California to Santa Clarita, allowing the entire community to get into the spirit of America’s greatest cycling race.” 

The Santa Clarita Bike to Work Day competition will be broken down into three categories:small businesses with two – 25 active employees, medium businesses with 26-100 active employees, and large businesses with 100 or more active employees. Participants who bike to work will be able to fuel up with free refreshments, giveaways and cycling tips at five different pit stops stationed across the City, including:  

• ·    City Hall, located at 23920 Valencia Boulevard
• ·    Bouquet Junction, located at the corner of Valencia Boulevard and Bouquet Canyon Road
• ·    South Fork Trail access, located at the corner of Newhall Avenue and 16th Street
• ·    Santa Clara River Trail access, located at the corner of Camp Plenty and Soledad Canyon Road
• ·    City Public Works yard, located at 25663 Avenue Stanford

Bike to Work Day participants will be entered into a local raffle for prizes including KHS bicycles, high-quality cycling gear, gift certificates, movie tickets, and more. Bicyclists can also pledge to participate in the Metro LA Bike to Work Day Challenge online at Metro.net/BikeToWork for the chance to win additional prizes.

Interested businesses should designate a “lead rider” who will act as a point of contact and be responsible for registering their business for the Santa Clarita Bike to Work Day Challenge. Lead ridersmust submit a list of their company’s participating bicyclists by 1:00 p.m. on May 15 to Laura Jardine, City Event Coordinator for Bike to Work Day, at (661) 255-4376 or [email protected].

For more information about the Bike to Work Day Challenge, visit GreenSantaClarita.com, or view a recent This Week in Santa Clarita interview highlighting the event here.  For additional information about cycling events taking place in Santa Clarita in May, including the City’s Hit the Trail community bike ride, the Amgen Tour of California and more, visit SantaClaritaTourofCA.com.