PRESS RELEASE

The City of Long Beach will be celebrating Bike Month throughout May by offering a wide variety of mobility related activities and discounts for residents. From bicycle rides to bike-in movies and social media promos, there is something for everyone this month.

“Bike month is a fantastic opportunity to explore the City’s expansive bike infrastructure,” said Mayor Robert Garcia. “With the recent completion of the Daisy Lane bike boulevard, Bellflower Boulevard protected bike lanes and the reconfigured Downtown cycle tracks on 3rd Street and Broadway, bikeability in Long Beach has never been better.”

Bike Month coincides with the launch of Go Active LB, formerly Bike Long Beach. Managed by Public Works, Go Active LB promotes walking, biking and other active transportation options through programs and infrastructure projects. Go Active LB’s new website, www.longbeach.gov/goactivelb,  includes a variety of resources, safety tips, maps and much more.

During the month of May, the City will be working with partners to host different bicycle-themed events, including:

• Friday Night Lights Rides (May 10 and 31) - These family-friendly Friday rides start when the sun goes down. The May 10 ride will cruise through West Long Beach starting at Silverado Park while the May 31 ride will take participants from the Aquarium along the beach path to Alamitos Bay Landing, with a return trip on Long Beach Transit’s AquaLink water taxi.
• Bike Check-ups (May 9, 15, 22 and 29) – Free, professional bike check-ups will take place throughout the city and will include a review of the following: brakes, chain tension, air pressure and loose or missing parts.
• Bike to Work Day (May 16) – To celebrate Bike Month, residents and employees are encouraged to bike to work on Thursday, May 16. City departments and businesses around Long Beach will be hosting pit stops and providing giveaways to those who participate. Later that night, the Downtown Long Beach Alliance and the Department of Public Works will host a free bike-in movie on the Promenade at Broadway in Downtown.

“We are committed to expanding Long Beach’s bicycle infrastructure and providing our community with fun and engaging events to encourage active and healthy mobility alternatives,” said Public Works Director Craig Beck.

Bike Month is celebrated across the United States and offers an opportunity to showcase the benefits of bicycling while encouraging more people to incorporate bicycling into their daily lives. A full list of Bike Month events can be found on the Long Beach Department of Public Works website.

About the City of Long Beach

Home to approximately 470,000 people, the multiple award-winning and innovative City of Long Beach offers all the world-class amenities of a large metropolitan city while maintaining a strong sense of individual and diverse neighborhoods nestled together along the California coast. As a full-service charter city, Long Beach is home to the Queen Mary, Aquarium of the Pacific, several museums and theaters, a highly-rated school district, Long Beach Airport, the Port of Long Beach, as well as many award-winning City departments such as Health, Parks, Recreation and Marine, Development Services and more. The City also has a highly-respected university and city college, two historic ranchos, five hospitals, five golf courses, 171 parks, miles of beaches, marinas, bike paths, and a Bike Share program.

For more information about the City of Long Beach, visit http://longbeach.gov/. Follow us on social to keep up with the latest news: Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and YouTube.

About Public Works

The Long Beach Public Works Department strives to operate, preserve, and enhance the City's physical infrastructure and transportation systems, as well as preserve the upkeep of the cityscape with a robust refuse and recycling service that serves more than 120,000 residential and commercial customers. The Department provides a variety of community services including the repair, rehabilitation and general upkeep of City streets, trees, sidewalks, and City structures. Public Works also provides emergency support services throughout the City. Visit us at http://www.longbeach.gov/pw/, like us on Facebook, and follow us on Twitter and Instagram.

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