A cyclist on the Orange Line bike path last summer. Photo by Steve Hymon/Metro.

At some point in the distant past, I may have said something to the effect of “I don’t like to exercise very much,” and this remains true. For me, being active is usually a byproduct of living my life, and I’m not a huge fan of exercising unless it is disguised as something fun.

Which is the reason why I’m able to appreciate Bike Week LA, taking place May 10 through 16. It has something for everyone — from the most dedicated and experienced cyclists who pedal seven days a week to the novices who enjoy biking but are more partial to socializing and finding good eats.

Of course, bike riding isn’t just about being active. Riding your bike to work, school and elsewhere can help reduce traffic and air pollution — two things Angelenos are all too familiar with. So this Bike Week LA, celebrate all of these things. Cut down on your carbon footprint, remove yourself from congestion, get fit, make friends and hey, you might even win a few prizes!

Here’s what I’m excited about for Bike Week LA:

• Fix Your Bike Day: Sunday, May 10
• Is Bicycling In Your Future? A Bike Week Speaker Panel: Monday, May 11 at 6 p.m.
• The Blessing of the Bicycles
• City Rides: explore communities by bike on Wednesday, May 13.
• Bike-in Movie: bike to the L.A. River for outdoor movie watching. RSVP
• Bike to Work Day: Free rides on Metro and municipal carriers Thursday, May 14 if you have bike and/or bike helmet. Did you know Metro’s starting to phase in triple-bike racks on buses? Check for more tips on how to bring your bike on board, and pledge to bike to work for a chance to win awesome prizes.
• Color Wheels: Bicycle Community Art Show at the Caltrans Museum.
• Bike Night at Union Station — food trucks, live music, prizes and more. RSVP

And throughout Bike Week LA, bicycle-friendly businesses will be offering special discounts for cyclists.

So are you excited yet? Are you fixing up your bike and marking your calendars? I hope I’ll see you at a few of these events…and don’t worry, I won’t judge you if you don’t ride. As long as you don’t drive. ?

For the full listing of Bike Week LA events, visit metro.net/bikeweek. 

Metro is on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram. So is Anna: Twitter / Instagram.

Here’s the press release from Metro:

The Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority (Metro) is sponsoring “Bike Week LA” activities from May 10-16 to encourage L.A. County residents to ride bicycles to work, school and other destinations to help reduce traffic and air pollution. Metro is connecting bikes to bus and rail with 500 free 7-Day TAP pass giveaways and unlimited free rides for people who bring a bicycle or bicycle helmet on Metro buses and trains on Bike to Work Day, May 14.

Angelenos will have a chance to attend Fix Your Bike workshops at local bike shops and participate in City Rides, which are guided rides organized by local groups. Metro will also be hosting a panel discussion in partnership with Caltrans and KCRW, a Bike-in Movie at Marsh Park co-hosted by Ghost Bikes, and Metro Bike Night at Union Station featuring live music, food trucks, and prizes.  A special art exhibit called “Color Wheels: Los Angeles Bicycle Community Art Show” will be displayed at the Caltrans Museum in May and on May 14 will host live art, food and music during the DTLA Art Walk. See the full list of events at metro.net/bikeweek.

For those who pledge to bike to work on Bike to Work Day, Thursday, May 14, Metro will be offering a chance to win several prizes, such as a Tern Uno folding bicycle, a Hampton Rucksack by Linus, or a REI Novarra Buzz city bike and other great prizes. Pledge by taking a photo of you and your bike along with a description of your commute and posting it to Twitter or Instagram with #BikeWeekLA.  Or, visit www.metro.net/bikeweek and pledge online. Schools, workplaces, and advocacy groups will hold bicycle pit stops that day with free refreshments, giveaways, and bicycling information for bicycle commuters. See a full map of registered Pit Stops here.

Transit riders who show their valid TAP card at Destination Discounts throughout Los Angeles County can save at restaurants, museums, theatre, and shops including Cole’s French Dip, LACMA, Amoeba Music, and more. Also, mention “Bike Local Week” at participating bicycle-friendly businesses like Orange 20 Bikes and Helen’s Cycles to receive a special discount or offer during Bike Week.

Combining your bicycle trip with Metro Bus and Rail is easy.  All Metro buses are equipped with front bike racks. Metro is now phasing in triple bike racks into its fleet of newly delivered 40-foot Metro buses.  Bikes may also be taken on Metro trains during all system hours. Follow the signs to place your bike at the designated area of the train.

On Bike to Work Day, Thursday, May 14, Metro will offer free rides to bicyclists on Metro buses and trains throughout Los Angeles County. Big Blue Bus, Commerce, Culver CityBus, Glendale Beeline, Long Beach Transit, Montebello Bus Lines, Norwalk Transit, Torrance Transit, LADOT, Beach Cities Transit, City of El Monte Transit, Pasadena ARTS, and the City of Carson will also offer free transit rides to bicyclists who board with a bicycle or bicycle helmet. Metrolink will offer free transit rides to bicyclists who board with a bicycle.

On Bike to Work Day, Thursday, May 14, Metro is co-sponsoring more than 60 bicycle pit stops across Los Angeles County with local organizations. Bicyclists are invited to stop by for refreshments and free giveaways at various times of the day. For locations and times, visit metro.net/bikeweek.

A schedule of Bike Week LA activities is as follows:

Sunday, May 10: Fix Your Bike Day

Bike shops and co-ops host informative bike repair sessions and provide tune-up services to cyclists throughout the region to prepare you for Bike Week. A map of locations and times available here.

Monday, May 11: Bike Week LA Kick-Off and Speaker Panel

Kick Off: Speakers from Metro, city and county officials and bicycle advocacy groups will meet in Grand Park to announce new programs and other initiatives to help make LA County more bike-friendly.  Location: Grand Park Community Terrace adjacent to Civic Center/Grand Park Red/Purple Line Station at 10 a.m.

NEW! Bike Week Speaker Panel: Metro will host this event in partnership with Caltrans and KCRW. Health officials, law enforcement, and bicycle advocates will examine the bicycle as a viable transportation option for Los Angeles. Location: Caltrans Headquarters, 100 S. Main St., Los Angeles, CA 90012 at 6 p.m.

Tuesday, May 12: The Blessing of the Bicycles at the Good Samaritan Hospital

This annual event promotes bicycle safety through the streets of LA. Join the ceremony and presentation of the Golden Spoke Award. Location: Good Samaritan Hospital, 1225 Wilshire Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90017 at 8 a.m.

Wednesday, May 13: City Rides and Bike-in Movie

City Rides: Tour a new side of the county where people ride bikes as a better way to get around and to connect with their community. Metro will host a ride with Los Angeles County Bicycle Coalition through Downtown LA to local businesses, parks, and sights. Map of locations and times available here.

NEW! Bike-in Movie: Ride to Marsh Park on the LA. River to view the Ghost Bikes Documentary and other bike shorts. Check out the City Rides Map for groups leading to the event. Location: Marsh Park on the L.A. River at 8 p.m. Facebook event here.

Thursday, May 14: Bike to Work Day, Art Show

Bike to Work Day: RIDE FREE on Metro and municipal transit carriers all day Thursday if you board with a bike. Find refreshments, goodies and giveaways provided to cyclists commuting to work, school or other destinations at over 60 pit stop locations. Pit stop map of locations and times available here.

NEW! Art Show: Metro and Caltrans are co-hosting an art show called “Color Wheels: Bicycle Community Art Show” at the Caltrans Museum. Creative cyclists from across the region will bring their unique bicycle-themed works of art. The show will be open all month and the reception will have food, music and prizes. View the eccentric creativities of biking communities. Show is open May 1-29 with special performances May 14 during the DTLA Art Walk. Location: Caltrans Museum, 100 S. Main St, Los Angeles, CA 90012.

Friday, May 15: Metro Bike Night at Union Station

Bike Week LA will culminate with Bike Night at Union Station gala event.  Metro and other Bike Week LA sponsors will host food trucks, crafts, live music and prizes.  Bicyclists will gather in the Old Ticket Room at Union Station on Friday night from 5:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. Facebook event here. 

All Week: Bike Local Discounts

Find discounts from bicycle-friendly businesses available this week and all year. Visit www.metro.net/bikeweek for a listing of destinations and other venues that will provide discounts.

Bike Week LA is sponsored by Metro and other partners and sponsors, including Caltrans, C.I.C.L.E., CicLAvia, City of Los Angeles, Good Samaritan Hospital, LACBC, LADOT Bike Program, Metrolink, Clif Bar, REI, Tern Bicycles, Linus Bikes, City of Covina, Ghost Bikes, East Side Riders Bike Club, Ovarian Psycos, Multicultural Communities for Mobility, and others.

Bike to Work Day bicycle pit stop hosts include Activate Whittier and AARP, Alta Planning and Design, Assemblymember Richard Bloom- 50th Dist., Bicycle Coalition at UCLA, Cal State University, Los Angeles, Cedar-Sinai Medical Center, Center for Environmental and Urban Studies for Santa Monica College, Chatsworth Neighborhood Council, Children’s Hospital LA, City of Burbank, City of Glendale, City of Covina, City of Pasadena, City of Santa Clarita, City of Santa Monica, City of Torrance, City of Whittier, Crossroads School, Department of Public Works, Los Angeles County, East Side Riders, Gardein, Go Glendale, Gulfstream Aerospace Corp, Jones Lang LaSalle, LA County Dpt. Health Services, LA Public Library, Langham Huntington Pasadena, Northrop Grumman, Pomona Valley Bike Coalition, Princess Cruises, RideAmigos, Stan’s Bike Shop, The Aerospace Corp, The California Endowment, The Kast Lab – University of Southern California Keck School of Medicine, University of La Verne, Walk Bike Glendale, Western Asset Management, Worthe Real Estate Group, and Yahoo Inc.