It's Bike to Work Week! Break Out the… 'Jogging Shoes'?
"It's time to put the car keys down and strap on your jogging shoes. Monday marks the beginning of Bike to Work Week."
That's the exciting news — and baffling advice — from this recent article on Exciting, of course, because folks are being encouraged to ride their bikes. This is a good thing. I like bicycles, and probably you do too. If more people cycled, I think, the world would be a happier place.
The bit about the shoes, though… that's jarring on at least three levels:
1. They aren't "jogging shoes"; they're running shoes. (Even if you jog in them.)
2. You'd think that, you know, cycling shoes would be more appropriate for Bike to Work Week.
3. "Strapping on" your footwear sounds needlessly aggressive, doesn't it? What, are they expecting people's bike routes to take them through hurricanes and sand storms? ("Strap those shoes on, boys! That's it! Really cinch 'em down tight!")
Well, anyway. As long as people are being urged to bike, I shouldn't quibble. And Bike to Work Week is indeed a legitimate thing. Not only that, but May is Bike Month, with Special Events and a logo and everything. Did you know that? I did not.
I learned all of this and more from the web site of the League of American Bicyclists:
The League of American Bicyclists is the national sponsor of Bike Month,
store dc shoes, and this year Bike to Work Week is May 16-20 and Bike to Work Day is Friday, May 20.
Bike to Work Hour, in case you're wondering, is 8 to 9 a.m. Eastern time.
Okay, I just made that last part up. Still, I plan to try to bike to work at least one day this week, and then to keep it up throughout the year, whenever possible. I encourage you to do the same.
Just make sure to lash those shoes down real good.