Local riders who participated in Bike Anywhere Day were recently treated to a festive start to the day because they were using two wheels instead of four.

The annual event to promote biking as a fun and sustainable mode of transportation was held this month during National Bike Month.

With some 1,800 miles of bike paths throughout the San Diego region, there are routes to take people “anywhere” they want to go.

Previously called Bike to Work Day, the event now more broadly encourages San Diegans to choose their bike to commute to work, pedal to school, cruise along the beach and to just about anywhere else they want to go.

While cycling is a great way to get from one place to another, it’s can be more than just a means of transportation.

Riding a bike has great physical and mental health benefits as a form of exercise, recreation and leisure and riding a bike also helps to alleviate traffic congestion and reduce air pollution. Because bikes don’t use gas, they don’t release harmful emissions that pollute the atmosphere, nor any carbon dioxide that contributes to climate change.

San Diego Association of Governments (SANDAG), which has been the organizer for more than 30 years, reported that 9,020 people took part in Bike Anywhere Day 2024, having stopped at one or more of over 100 “pit stops” throughout the County. To make them easy to find, SANDAG highlighted pit stop locations on their bike-oriented mapping tool.

Pit stops welcomed riders between 7 and 10 a.m. for a fun start to the day and to break up a longer ride, each giving out free event t-shirts and an array of snacks and refreshments.

One of the pit stops was sponsored by the College Area Community Council (CACC) which serves as a forum to involve locals in community affairs and activities.

Open to all who reside or work in the College Area, the group includes residents (with a board liaison) of all six identified neighborhoods, the Business District, representatives of SDSU Associated Students and the University Administration, the San Diego Police Department Community Relations Officer, the City Council District 9 College Area Community Representative and others.

Two College Area Business District members also collaborated to provide a first-rate pit stop experience. Riders had their choice of snacks and drinks, including delicious Cravory Cookies, as well as the chance to have a pit stop bike service performed by the owners of Pedal Pushing Bicycle Shop.

Joshua Chikasawa was one of the cyclists who stopped by the College Area pit stop. He was enthusiastic about taking part in the event, saying, “I rode my bike as a kid. I rode my bike to school, to college and to my internships. I raced competitively for SDSU Cycling Club and now I bike to my office job as an accountant. So, Bike Anywhere Day is my favorite holiday!”

A tally sheet recorded a total of 47 other riders who visited the College Area pit stop. It was a fun and meaningful opportunity for CACC volunteers to support SANDAG’s initiative and connect with community members who were on their way to work, to school, out for some exercise or on a bike ride with their kids.

Bike Anywhere Day is a once a year event, but it serves to encourage a year-round commitment to use a bike whenever we can . . . anywhere we want to go.

Editor’s note: Karen Austin is a CACC Board Member.

Photos by Karen Austin

Top photo caption: CACC board member, Susan Grant, welcomes a cyclist at the College Area pit stop on Bike Anywhere Day 2024.