Cyclists Offered Free Gifts Today

Bike-to-work day means a free continental breakfast, T-shirt and long-stemmed rose for commuters who park their bicycles today at the nation’s first commuter bike center in downtown Long Beach.

As part of the festivities marking the 41st annual National Bike Month, organizers have arranged for area politicians to help by pedaling over to the Long Beach Bike Station, a federally funded project offering free valet service to about 1,500 cyclists monthly.

“The whole idea is to figure out ways to celebrate cycling,” bike station spokeswoman Georgia Case said.

All this month, city merchants have contributed by honoring coupons for promotions like Bike-to-the-Movies Day on Tuesdays, and Bike-to-Brunch Day on Sundays. But today is special, Case said, because commuters across the state are expected to strap on their helmets for the third annual California Bike Commute, sponsored by the California Bicycle Coalition and the American Lung Assn.

A bill in Congress would renew the Intermodal Surface Transportation Efficiency Act, whose $1 billion worth of alternative transportation funds paid for construction of the structure 14 months ago near the city’s Transit Mall. A vote on whether to approve the funds is expected as soon as this month.

The city-owned station holds up to 125 bicycles at a time. It opens at 6 a.m. and closes at 7 p.m.