More than 100,000 cyclists braved the streets across the Bay Area during commute hours during the 18th annual Bike to Work Day on May 10.

Executive director of Silicon Valley Bike Coalition Corinne Winter met commuters at the downtown San Jose energizer station, one of dozens of booths set up along bicycle commuting routes. These stations provided food, safety tips and tune-ups to new and long-time cyclists.

“It’s a great event and we do it every year, and every year it attracts a whole bunch of people who haven’t ridden their bikes in awhile,” Winter said. “A lot of people go on continuing to use their bikes, and we hear from people who starting biking to work beginning on this day,” she said. 

Someone who walks the walk and talks the talk is Linden Skjeie, the City of San Jose’s green team coordinator. She said the reason why she bikes to work is “because it allows me to put my values to work. I’m concerned about climate change and this allows me to do what I can to reduce my impacts on the planet.”

SVBC coordinates with other community sponsors to organize this event in Santa Clara and San Mateo Counties.

Although the number of bikers has increased this year according to Winter, a lack of proper infrastructure for cyclists has prevented more people from joining.

“We are working with the city in areas to building more bike paths, enhanced bike lanes… in order to make people feel more comfortable riding,” Winter said.

Some local, bike friendly infrastructure enhancements are being made possible by The National Association of City Transportation Officials, which has partnered with local public agencies.

Alternative transportation such as biking, riding the bus and even walking contributes to a healthier lifestyle and reduces green house gas emissions from fossil fuels.

“It also makes me more productive at work because of all that oxygen going through my brain.  Not to mention that it’s just a lot more fun than driving,” Skjeie said. 

Bikers gather in the morning for Bike to Work Day at the downtown San Jose energizing station the in front of MLK Library on May 10, 2012. (Leila Forouhi)