Press Release - Thursday, May 18, 2006
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QUINN PROMOTES NATIONAL BIKE TO WORK DAY "BIG OIL CAN'T RAISE THE PRICE OF RIDING -- RIDING A BIKE TO WORK!"
CHICAGO—Today, Lt. Governor Pat Quinn joined with local bicyclists to promote National Bike to Work Day and encourage commuters to bike to work.
National Bike to Work Day is tomorrow, Friday, May 19. Across the nation, commuters are urged to avoid rising gasoline prices and choose bicycling as an environmentally friendly and cost-effective transportation alternative. Biking to work is also an excellent cardiovascular workout, and saves commuters more time and money than driving or only using public transit.
Last year, Quinn's office launched an on-line petition urging Metra to adopt a policy allowing bikes on all trains except weekday inbound trains arriving to prior to 9:30 a.m. and weekday outbound trains leaving between 3 p.m. and 7 p.m. Bikes are allowed on trains at all times on weekends.
Metra has installed nearly 4,000 bicycle parking spaces at rail stations across the region.
Quinn also announced a Greening Main Street grant which will allow the city of Crystal Lake to construct bicycle storage facilities at the city's Metra stop. The grant is part of Crystal Lake's efforts to encourage residents to ride their bikes and reduce parking and auto congestion in their downtown district.
"With gas prices reaching as high as $3.00 per gallon, now is the time for all of us to consider making changes in our work day commute," said Quinn. "Biking to work conserves natural resources, improves health, saves time, and saves money. I encourage everyone who can to bike to work. Riding a bike is one means of travel Big Oil can't raise the price of."
Quinn was joined by Rob Sadowsky, Executive Director of the Chicago Bicycle Federation.
The Chicagoland Bicycle Federation promotes bicycling as an energy-efficient, economical, healthy and nonpolluting form of transportation.
For tips on how to bike to work, visit www.biketraffic.org.
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