Bike to Work
Why Bike to Work with CCBA?
Our Bike to Work program is designed to make it easy for you to give biking to work a try. We have Bike Buddies, who can give you help in planning a route, can give advice on gear, and are willing to ride in with you. Our Bike to Work breakfasts provide the opportunity to meet up with other bike commuters AND enjoy free breakfast, and bike schwag. Our website has Links to other bike to work information, a Map of common bike commute routes, and we answer your most basic questions about how to get started.
And if you're already a seasoned veteran of the streets, there are also good reasons to join us. Come to our Bike To Work events and meet fellow bike commuters, have some breakfast, and stand up and be counted.
CCBA's Bike to Work Event Program
CCBA will be organizing Bike to Work events in downtown Hartford the last Friday of each month from April through September. During the colder months we have also sponsored an "Ice Bike to Work" series at JoJo's (cafejojo.com) from 7:00-9:00 AM the last Friday of each month from October through March. Attendees at Bike to Work events receive a chance to win great bike related prizes, not to mention free breakfast, and the camaraderie of fellow cyclists.
The full calendar of Bike to Work events is on the Bike Everywhere Calendar.
Downtown Hartford - All events are from 7:00 - 9:00 AM
Note on the Old State House: We are happy to report that the Old State House will continue to be available for our Bike to Work events under the new State management.
Group Rides
Riding together is more fun! If you are interested in riding with a group to any of the Hartford Bike to Work Events you can meet up with the following groups:
- Wethersfield - A group of riders meets at the corner of Folly Brook Blvd. and Cumberland Ave. to ride in to downtown Hartford together every Friday at 7:30 a.m. The group meets at 7:15 a.m. on Bike to Work Fridays (the last Friday of each month) to allow for spending more time at the Bike to Work events. Anyone is welcome to ride along. Contact Matthew Spaeder (mspaeder@rc.com) with questions.
- West Hartford - Dave Ringquist (mringquist@snet.net) leads a group of riders from Elizabeth Park to downtown Hartford on Bike to Work Fridays at 7:00 a.m.
- If you don't live near either of these locations or are headed somewhere other than downtown Hartford check out our Bike Buddies to hook up with a rider heading your way. All Bike Buddies are willing to ride with riders of all experience levels and will have many tips and tricks to share with respect to biking everywhere.
Showers
- Looking for shower facilities and bathrooms? On Bike to Work Event Days, both the Downtown Hartford YMCA and the Taking Care Center offer free showers and have available bathrooms. There is no fee any day for bike commuters to shower at the downtown YMCA. Call CRCOG (522-2217) to pre-register. We will notify the YMCA and they will permit you to use their showers.
Bike to Work Tips
Want to bike to work but don't know how to get started? Concerned about safety, what to wear, arriving to work all sweaty? Learn the ins and outs of this incredible mode of transportation in order to make bike commuting a part of your daily routine, or just a way to break up the grind of the daily drive. Learn how to commute on a bike from those who have both done it for several years and who have been formally trained as Cycling Instructors by the League of American Bicyclists, a national bike advocacy non-profit. Cycling to work can produce untold benefits to those who care to give it a try: from the immediate cost savings to the more subtle changes in health and well-being. Course is held usually during a lunch hour at major employment centers, and includes a free copy of a very helpful cycling guidebook for all attendees.
To arrange for a commute class at your place of work, contact Sandy Fry sfry@crcog.org 860-522-2217, x220
For more tips on making your bike commute hassle free, check out this very complete Guide put together by the Bicycle Federation of Wisconsin. Also, check our Frequently Asked Questions.
Bike EverywhereOur Bike Everywhere program is up and running. Check the web page. If you would like to add an event, contact Ben Bare at tbare3@yahoo.com.