(Photo by Julia Kilpatrick, The Pembina Institute)

May is Bike to Work Month in Ottawa, and EnviroCentre is collaborating with workplaces across the region to encourage people to cycle to work. EnviroCentre is offering an updated information kit, four kinds of workshops, cycling safety videos, and a chance to win great prizes, simply by pledging to bike.

Last year, 861 people pledged to cycle to work, covering a total distance of 759,040 km. Participants reduced greenhouse gas emissions by an estimated 191 tonnes by biking instead of using motorized modes of transport, like cars and SUVs.  The 2012 edition of Bike to Work Month promises to encourage even more people.

Among many new website features, participants or entire workplaces can now log daily trips, tracking new statistics like calories burned and money saved, showing individual and collective results.  A community events calendar available year round, welcomes itself as a social hub for postings from anyone in the cycling community.

EnviroCentre is also encouraging people to develop their confidence with cycling skills. The organization has teamed up with City Wide Sports to offer 60-minute workshops geared for a range of skill levels. Training will be offered at workplaces for a modest fee. Options include lunch time presentations on commuter cycling or bike maintenance, as well as hands-on cycling safety workshops to teach introductory and intermediate skills, with practice sessions in parking lots and on city roads.

EnviroCentre is actively collaborating with 65 workplaces representing over 50,000 employees. Posters, slideshows, videos and email campaigns will reach a broad audience — encouraging many people to try commuting by bicycle.  For a sample, visit www.biketoworkottawa.com which features several videos on cycling safety, produced by EnviroCentre.