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National Bike to Work Day today in the Southland
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• 2:28
Michael Schodorf (front) makes a pit stop at Helen's Cycles in Santa Monica where Brad Edwards (back) offered energy bars, water and bike gear. Schodorf has commuted 10 miles to work for the past three years.
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Brian Watt/KPCC
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Today is National Bike to Work Day. [Audio: KPCC's Steve Julian talks to Brian Watt who's at Helen's Cycles in Santa Monica and tells us how people in the Southland are responding to the day.]
Updated 9:56 a.m.
The response has been large because it's good weather for a bike ride. Cyclists passed by and stopped at Helen's Cycles, one of the many official pit stops throughout the Southland.
When asked about the level of bike traffic, "This year, compared to last year, it's been at least double, and probably more," said Helen's Cycles employee Brad Edwards. "It's a wonderful day, a beautiful morning, and we're seeing a lot of smiling faces. A lot of happy people on bicycles."
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Edwards said that his pit stop is different because they can provide guidance about safety, as well as comfort items for bike commuters.
The past two years, bicycle traffic seemed to die down earlier, so Bike to Work Day may be catching on.
Original story:
The Metropolitan Transportation Authority and several other municipal transit agencies will offer free bus and rail rides to bicyclists today for the 16th annual Bike to Work Day.
Those pledging to bike to work can win various prizes, including a two-night stay for two at the Red Mountain Resort & Spa in St. George, Utah and a folding bicycle from REI.
More information is available at www.metro.net/biketowork, by calling (213) 922-2811 or at any of the more than 60 designated "pit stops" that will be in operation between 6 and 9 a.m.
Anyone boarding any Metro bus or train with a bicycle or bicycle helmet will receive a free ride.
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Because Metro Rail trains may be full during rush hours, Metro reserves the right to ask bicyclists to wait for the next train between 6:30-8:30 a.m. and 4:30-6:30 p.m., unless trains are moving in a direction opposite the peak hour flow of commuter traffic on the Metro Blue, Green and Gold lines.
Bicycles are not allowed in either direction during the rush hour periods on the Metro Red and Purple lines between Union Station and the Wilshire/Vermont Station.
Free rides are also available on Beach Cities Transit, Commerce Municipal Bus Lines, Culver CityBus, Gardena Municipal Bus Lines, Glendale Beeline, LADOT Commuter Express and DASH, Norwalk Transit, Pasadena ARTS Bus and Torrance Transit.
Gardena and Commerce buses are not equipped with bicycle racks. Participants planning on using these carriers should park their bicycles and board with their helmet only.
This story incorporates information from wire services.
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