San Diego County’s bike month is off to a rolling start and some of San Diego’s political heavy hitters are along for the ride.
The San Diego County Bicycle Coalition on Thursday hosted the first official Bike Month group ride.
Andy Hanshaw, executive director of the Bicycle Coalition, said if the streets were better more San Diegans would ride.
“We’re really talking about safer bicycling infrastructure put on the streets so that separates cars from bikes and gets more people to ride comfortably,” Hanshaw said.
Councilman Todd Gloria said the San Diego Association of Governments, or SANDAG, has provided money to support commuting by bicycle.
“You have a $200 million commitment from SANDAG to build additional bike infrastructure throughout the region,” Gloria said.
Councilman David Alvarez was proud about riding his bike to work an average of three times a week.
“You can be busy, you can have kids and have to take them to school, and you can still ride a bike to work,” Alvarez said.
If the city improves roads and increases bicycle awareness more people will hop on two wheels, Alvarez said
“If you create the right atmosphere to make it safe, fun and a good place for people to ride their bikes there will be more of it,” he said.
Bike month goes on throughout May and the coalition has several events planned. There will be a “Bike Fiesta” from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday at San Diego’s Central Library and Bike to Work Day is slated for Friday, May 15.
