Throughout the month of May, New York City Sports Commissioner Kenneth J. Podziba, Transportation Commissioner Janette Sadik-Khan, Health Commissioner Dr. Thomas R. Frieden, NYC & Company CEO George Fertitta and Parks & Recreation Commissioner Adrian Benepe invite New Yorkers and our visitors to participate in Bike Month NYC. Bike Month NYC will provide more than 200 opportunities for people to ride their bikes and explore our city's many diverse neighborhoods. The month will include a wide range of cycling events, highlighted by Bike to Shea Day and the Tour de Brooklyn.

Transportation Alternatives has partnered with the Sports Commission, the Department of Transportation, the Health Department, and the Department of Parks & Recreation to develop the various events featured during Bike Month NYC. Bike Month NYC was created in an effort to increase bicycle ridership throughout the city by highlighting safe, alternative means of transportation via city streets, bicycle lanes and greenways. This year's comprehensive variety of events gives riders of all skill level the chance to participate in Bike Month.

"Bike Month NYC will feature a variety of exciting events, such as Bike to Shea Day and the Tour de Brooklyn, that will offer cyclists the opportunity to experience our city's beautiful bike paths and greenways," said Commissioner Podziba. "In an effort to ensure that future generations of New Yorkers become savvy cyclists, Bike New York will offer classes in each borough aimed at helping parents teach their kids how to ride a bike. By educating young people on the virtues of cycling, we can help our city's youth lead healthier and more active lifestyles while encouraging an alternative mode of transportation."

NYC & Company, the City's official marketing, tourism and partnership organization, created the advertising and promotions campaign, which included bus shelters, subway ads and a new website design to promote and support ridership during the month of May and beyond in every borough. Additionally, NYC & Company designed the Bike Month 2008 calendar of events brochure, listing over 200 rides, races and events throughout New York City. The creative direction was driven by the desire to create a completely fresh and unique campaign that highlights the ease and accessibility of biking. To emphasize the diversity of New Yorkers and the wide range of biking opportunities, the design and message varies from execution to execution - from 'Bike to Work' to 'Bike Together' to 'Bike with Style' to 'Bike the Boroughs,' there is an event for everyone. The headline for the campaign is: 'Good for you. Good for the environment. Good for New York City.'

"Bike Month provides NYC with a unique opportunity to encourage sustainable living and promote a healthy lifestyle and have a wonderful time in the process," said NYC & Company CEO George Fertitta. "We're so glad to be part of this important campaign and hope to see New Yorkers come out in the masses to take part in the exciting month of events."

"The number of daily cyclists in New York has grown by 75% since 2000, and we aim to maintain that trend by building out a more extensive cycling network," said Transportation Commissioner Janette Sadik-Khan. "Bike Month provides a great opportunity for even more New Yorkers to realize how healthy, convenient and fun it is to get around the City on two wheels."

Bike to Shea is a ride open to cyclists of all skill levels that will take place on May 10 at 9:45am. The 12-mile ride will begin with marshals from the Department of Transportation escorting riders to the Mets game via on-street bicycle lanes and Parks & Recreation's off-street greenways. The leisurely ride ends at Shea Stadium where participants can stay and watch the Mets take on the Cincinnati Reds. Free bike parking will be provided at Shea Stadium. To learn more about Bike to Shea Day, visit www.nyc.gov/dot.

"Biking is a fun way to stay healthy," said Dr. Thomas R. Frieden, New York City Health Commissioner. "It is easier to lose weight when you are doing something you enjoy. By biking to work, school or just for fun, you burn calories and save time -- all while taking in the city's spring scenery." Dr. Frieden also reminds all riders to stay safe by always wearing a helmet.

"Across the five boroughs, New York City's parks and waterfront greenways have miles of bicycle paths," said Parks & Recreation Commissioner Adrian Benepe. "As an avid cyclist, I encourage all New Yorkers to take advantage of spring and get some great exercise by cycling in a local park. Bicycling is a safe, fast, and fun way to travel and Bike Month NYC provides an ideal opportunity to explore our city on two wheels. Always remember to wear a helmet, ride safely, obey traffic signals and rules, and yield to pedestrians."

"Biking is booming in NYC. We are proud to co-host NYC's 17th annual celebration of bicycling with the City," says Paul Steely White, Executive Director of Transportation Alternatives. "Whether you are riding your first bike at the LIC Youth Bike Parade or a seasoned rider taking on the Tour de Brooklyn, there's never been a better time to saddle up and ride NYC streets."

On May 25, the 18-mile Tour De Brooklyn will offer bike riders the opportunity to travel through some of the borough's northern neighborhoods. The Tour begins and ends at the intersection of New Dock Street and Water Street in DUMBO. Riders will depart DUMBO and cruise through the Atlantic Yards and travel into Bushwick and then into Maria Hernandez Park. In Maria Hernandez Park, riders will have the opportunity to rest and get refreshments before returning through the Brooklyn Navy Yards and finishing in DUMBO. All skill levels are encouraged to participate in this free, family-friendly event. For more information on one of Brooklyn's most popular rides, please visit www.tourdebrooklyn.org.

Bike New York and the Department of Parks & Recreation will also offer free classes to parents where they can teach their kids how to ride a bike and learn the basics of biking in a safe, social setting. These classes teach safe, easy and effective ways for parents to help get their children rolling -- a method in which the child does most of the work! Participants will learn the basics of balancing, starting, stopping, and steering. For a complete listing of more than a dozen class dates at locations throughout the five boroughs, please visit www.bikenewyork.org.

For a complete listing of Bike Month events, please visit www.bikemonthnyc.org.

The Health Department, for its part, will distribute event calendars though schools and worksites and will work with DOT and the Parks Department to distribute informational booklets at Teach Your Child to Ride events. The Health Department is also working with Sustainable South Bronx and Recycle-A-Bike to stage a "Greening for Breathing" block party at Hunts Point Park on Saturday, May 12th. Some 100 helmets will be given away at the party, as will some children's bicycles.

NYC & Company is the official marketing, tourism and partnership organization for the City of New York, dedicated to maximizing travel and tourism opportunities throughout the five boroughs, building economic prosperity and spreading the positive image of New York City worldwide.

Parks & Recreation Parks & Recreation is the steward of more than 29,000 acres of land - 14 percent of New York City - including more than 4,000 individual properties ranging from Yankee Stadium and Central Park to community gardens and Greenstreets. We operate more than 800 athletic fields and nearly 1,000 playgrounds; we manage four major stadia, 550 tennis courts, 54 public pools, 48 recreational facilities, 17 nature centers, 13 golf courses, and 14 miles of beaches; we care for 1,200 monuments and 22 historic house museums; we look after 600,000 street trees, and two million more in parks. We are New York City's principal provider of athletic facilities. We are home to free concerts, world-class sports events, and cultural festivals. For more information about Parks, visit: www.nyc.gov/parks.

The New York City Sports Commission is the mayoral agency charged with attracting, facilitating and promoting professional, amateur and scholastic sports events in New York City. In recent years, the Sports Commission has played a role in creating or developing many new sporting events, including the NFL Kickoff Live from Times Square, NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series™ Champions Week, the BMC Software NYC Cycling Championship, the AVP Brooklyn Open, the NAUTICA NYC Triathlon, the NYC Half-Marathon, the Union Square Street Sessions presented by Jeep®, the Wild Onion Urban Adventure Race and the Men's Health Urbanathlon.

The New York City Department of Transportation (DOT) provides safe, efficient, environmentally responsible movement of people and goods in New York City. To fulfill this mission, DOT controls and regulates traffic; builds and maintains streets, sidewalks, highways, bridges and municipal parking facilities; maintains and operates the Staten Island Ferry; and acts as an advocate and a voice for better transportation.

Transportation Alternatives is a 5,500 member non-profit organization advocating for better bicycling, walking and sensible transportation.