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  Biking to Work - Oregon Among the Leaders  
 
(Information provided by the Oregon Public Health Division, DHS)
 
Oregon was among the first states to pass a “bike bill,” with the provision approved by the legislature in 1971. The bill requires the inclusion of facilities for pedestrians and bicyclists wherever a road, street or highway is built or rebuilt.
 
As of 2001, about 3.8% of Oregonians were biking part or all the way to work at least 3 days per week. That percentage is likely to continue to increase however, as more employees discover biking as simple way to work exercise into their day while getting to and from work. (Oregon BRFSS, 2001.)
 
Have you thought about trying to incorporate more bicycling into your day or are you interested in getting started?  With the upcoming summer months ahead, biking to work might be an opportune time to try it out.
 
Here are some suggestions on how bicycling can benefit you:
  • Bicycling to work is an excellent way to help adults get in the recommended 30 minutes of exercise daily,    while helping to reduce traffic congestion and automobile emissions. 
  • If you have an exceptionally long commute to work, you might try combining public transportation and bicycling.  If public transportation isn’t an option, you could also consider keeping a bike at work for physical activity breaks during the day. You can continue to ride during inclement weather by having suitable rain gear on hand and by using covered bike structures.
Many communities in Oregon have bicycle lanes that encourage us to bike and to ride safely.  Additional ways to increase safety include wearing a helmet, using proper lighting, wearing bright and reflective clothing, and obeying all traffic laws.  You can learn more at: http://www.oregon.gov/ODOT/TS/bicyclistsafety.shtml#Program_Introduction
Save time and gas and be active by commuting to work by bike! 
 
Additional Resources
Cycle Oregon - http://www.cycleoregon.com
Eugene Gears -  http://www.eugenegears.org/
Portland Wheelmen Touring Club - http://www.pwtc.com/
Salem Bicycle Club - http://www.salembicycleclub.org
Bicycle Transportation Alliance - http://www.bta4bikes.org/
 

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Page updated: January 06, 2011