May is Bike Month; leave the car in the garage

Do you remember when Bike to Work Day was the big focus to encourage people to commute on their bicycles for just one day a year?

Those Bike to Work Days still exist, but now they're the core for Bike to Work Week events and an entire Bike Month celebration — which is coming up in May.

Many commuters are forming teams in their cities — such as the Commute Challenge in the Seattle area — to compete for bike commuting prizes in May. If interested, you'll want to sign up before May 1 to log as many miles for the month that you can.

National Bike Month

The League of American Bicyclists is the national sponsor of Bike Month. The official dates for Bike to Work Week are May 16-20, and Bike to Work Day is Friday, May 20. The dates in some cities vary, so check your local dates at theLeague of American Bicyclists Bike to Work event schedule.

Here in Washington state, several cities are hosting Bike Month activities.

Seattle

The Cascade Bicycle Club is presenting a raft of Bike Month events to get people on their bicycles in the Seattle area, including the Group Health Bike to Work Challenge. More than 900 bicyclists — either individually or on more than 400 teams — are already logging miles. Sign up here.

The F5 Bike to Work Day is May 20, when dozens of aid stations will be opened around the Puget Sound area. A block party in Ballard will end the days activities.

Spokane

Spokane Bikes is offering a month-long commute challenge as well as Bike to Work Week and Bike to Work Day festivities. Energizer stations will be open on May 20, and that day concludes with a party.

Pierce County

Tacoma and Pierce County also are encouraging people to ride their bicycles to work with a Commute Challenge. The Bike Month events start a day early — Saturday, April 30 — with the Tacoma Bike Swap at the University of Puget Sound Memorial Fieldhouse, N. 11th Ave. and Union, from 10 to 2. See the Bike to Work 2011 web page for more info, including events on Bike to Work Day, May 20.

Snohomish County

A local Bike Month kick-off event by bike shops and Snohomish Transit  is scheduled from 3 to 6 p.m. Thursday at Everett Stadium. You can pick up snacks, Bike to Work brochures, and Commute Challenge team captains can pick up T-shirts. Other activities are planned throughout the month, culminating in Bike to Work Day on May 20. See all Snohomish County Bike Month details here.

Anywhere else

If you live anywhere else in the US, check with your local bicycle club or the League of American Bicyclists list of Bike Month events.