When:

Fri May 16, 2014 6AM to 9AM

Where:

Santa's House (@ Catonsville Fire Station)754 Frederick Rd, Catonsville, MD 21228

What:

Participants in Bike to Work Day who stop by the event location will receive a free t-shirt, commuting guide, and a chance to win prizes. Coffee & refreshments provided. Simply bike to work, and stop by 754 Frederick Rd. Register here.

Why:

Bike to Work Day is a national event to encourage and celebrate bicycling to work and promote public awareness of bicycling and bicycle safety. Locally, it's a part of Maryland's Clean Commute Month in May. Register here.

Late Spring is the start of the ground-level ozone season, when we hear about Code Red and Orange Ozone Action Days. On these warm smoggy days, the air is dangerous to breathe – especially for the young and for the elderly. Emissions from single occupancy vehicles(driving alone) contribute approximately 20% of our region's dangerous ozone levels. Driving alone also results in increasingly congested roadways and parking issues. We can save money, protect the environment, stay in shape and have fun while biking.

Transportation accounts for 38% of UMBC's carbon footprint. In 2007, President Hrabowski committed to campus carbon neutrality.

How:

Resources onUMBC's sustainable transportation alternatives are listed at: http://sustainability.umbc.edu/transportation/

• Ride Transit
• Carpool Together
• Bike to Campus    
• Borrow a Free Bicycle
• Charge an Electric Vehicle
• Borrow a Zip Car

Who:

These sustainable transportation options have been developed and promoted by the following groups. If this topic is of interest to you, consider getting involved:

• UMBC Transportation Work Group (part of the Climate Change Task Force)
• UMBC Cycling Community
• UMBC Off Campus Student Services, Sustainable Transportation Outreach Intern
• UMBC Sustainability

As part of the Maryland Bikeways Program, Gov. Martin O’Malley announced a $79,600 grant to fund improvements in the bicycle system near University of Maryland, Baltimore County.

The grant was part of a $3.2 million announcement to fund 23 projects in four counties, according to a press release from the Maryland Department of Transportation.

The grant will provide increased signage, bike lanes and shared road arrows in the southwest part of the county, providing a safer environment for residents to use cycling as a greener form of transportation.