Los Alamos County promotes Bike to Work Day on May 14

A short bike ride could do more than clear traffic on Diamond Drive. It could save money, ease parking pressure and make a school run or quick errand in Los Alamos feel less like a drive and more like an easy daily habit.

Los Alamos County is promoting Bike to Work Day with an Energizer Station at the northwest corner of Diamond Drive and Canyon Road on Thursday, May 14, from 7 to 9 a.m. The stop will offer refreshments, snacks and bike-related giveaways, with the Los Alamos County Public Works Department, the Transportation Board and the Community Services Department all encouraging residents to use the morning commute as a chance to try bicycling for work, school or errands.

The county is leaning on a simple statistic to make that case. The League of American Bicyclists says nearly 40% of all trips in the United States are two miles or less, a distance that can be realistic on local streets when the destination is close. The League’s Bike Month page says Bike to Work Day falls on Friday, May 15, but Los Alamos County has set its local observance for May 14, creating an early communitywide push to get more riders visible on the road.

That message is not only about recreation or fitness. The county’s broader transportation messaging asks residents and commuters to consider walking, biking, taking the bus or carpooling instead of driving alone, with the promise of saving money, reducing air pollution and cutting traffic congestion. In a county where many daily trips stay within a few miles, biking can also mean less time searching for parking near workplaces, schools and errand stops.

The county is pairing the event with safety reminders that matter whether someone rides every day or only occasionally. Officials urge riders to have bikes inspected by a local shop, wear a helmet, stay in the right-most lane that matches direction of travel, obey traffic controls, signal turns clearly and wear bright clothing for visibility. Motorists are also reminded of the county’s Five Foot to Pass rule, which requires drivers to give bicycles at least five feet of space while passing at a reasonable speed and with caution.

The event also fits into a longer planning effort. Los Alamos County adopted a Bicycle Transportation Plan on June 27, 2017, after receiving Honorable Mention from the League of American Bicyclists in 2016. County materials said the community was seeking renewal of Bicycle Friendly Community status in 2025, with a bronze designation at the time.

Public feedback has already shown where the gaps remain. During Bike to Work Month in 2023, the county’s Bike Mobility Survey ran from May 15 through May 31 and drew 330 responses, with comments pointing to debris in bike lanes and concerns around a troublesome roundabout area. That makes the May 14 event more than a morning stop for coffee and giveaways. It is a reminder that the county’s bike network still has to work in real life, for real trips, on real roads.