Jen Klausner, Executive Director of the L.A. County Bicycle Coalition, discusses the important role biking can play in trips under two miles, which make up over 40% of all urban trips. Photo by Juan Ocampo.

Bike Week Los Angeles commenced this morning with a ceremony at the NoHo Red Line station. Giving a nod to a healthy and carbon-light way of getting around town, public officials, cycling advocates and commuters convened in front of the station portal, surrounded by bike lockers.

The ceremony was emceed by Metro Deputy CEO Paul Taylor, who got things started by discussing the efforts Metro is undertaking to support bicycles as a key part the regional transportation system. This support has taken various forms, noted Taylor, from lifting the rush hour restriction of bikes on Metro Rail to Metro’s funding of bikeway improvements throughout the County.

Techs from Downtown L.A.'s El Maestro bike shop gave free mini tune-ups.

Also speaking at the event were Los Angeles Department of Transportation General Manager Amir Sedadi, L.A. City Councilman Tom LaBonge, Jennifer Klausner of the L.A. County Bike Coalition, CicLAvia organizer Joe Linton, and Andy Leeka, CEO of Good Samaritan Hospital.

As Bike Week L.A. rolls on, here are a few of the highlights that were mentioned today, as well as some other events to check out this spring:

•Tomorrow is the annual Blessing of the Bikes at Good Samaritan hospital in Wilshire Center.

•On Wednesday, the Downtown LA Bike Ride will depart Union Station at 8:30 a.m. and travel down Alameda Street and loop through Downtown. Here’s the route map.

•On Thursday, the official Bike to Work day, Metro will provide free transit rides to anyone who brings a bike or bike helmet on any Metro bus or train. For a list of the other local transit agencies offering free rides — and there are 10 in total — check out Metro’s Bike Week L.A. page and click the “Partners/Sponsors” tab.

•Also on Thursday, there will be dozens of Bike to Work Day pit stops, where you can grab a snack en route to the office. Here’s a Google Map of all the locations.

•Stay tuned for a newly revamped City of L.A. bike website at bicyclela.org.

•The LACBC’s 11th annual Los Angeles River Ride is coming up on June 5th.

•And lastly, for a comprehensive look at bike events around the L.A. Basin for the rest of Bike Month, L.A. Streetsblog has you covered with its Bike Month 2011 page.