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JUNEAU - In celebration of National Bike Month, the Juneau Freewheelers Bicycle Club will promote a celebration of cycling in Juneau during Bike Week, May 10-16, and Bike to Work and School Day on May 16.

Kick-off for the local campaign will commence with a short inaugural bike ride at noon on May 1 at Marine Park, downtown.

Sen. Kim Elton, Mayor Bruce Botelho and Assembly member Jonathan Anderson will attend the kick-off and say a few words before the ride.

Juneau Freewheelers have set a goal of 10,000 miles for Juneau to ride during Bike Week, called the "10,000 Mile Capital Challenge." Residents can visit www.velog.com to join the Juneau Bike Week group and log miles.

The bicycle club will track progress toward the 10,000-mile goal on its Web site beginning May 10. Commuting miles, recreational/training miles and miles to run errands will all count toward the goal from May 10-16. The 10,000-mile goal represents one percent of Juneau's population, approximately 310 people, cycling an average of more than 4.5 miles per day for the seven days of Bike Week.

To help the Juneau Freewheelers reach their goal, they ask that city, state, federal, nonprofit and private sector employers encourage their employees to participate in Bike Week, especially Bike to Work and School Day. They also ask administrators and teachers at the schools to encourage students to participate.

"If commuting by car is your usual form of transport, Bike Week is a great opportunity to join with others and travel differently," said Barbara Kelly, 2008 Bike to Work coordinator. "On Bike to Work and School Day join a 'Pedal Pool' from several departure points around town or form your own 'Pedal Pool' group with friends, neighbors or co-workers and ride together to work or school."

To help participants prepare for Bike Week, the club will offer Lunch and Learn bike tune-up seminars on how to do an "ABC Quick Check" on your bike, to make sure it's ready to ride. Presenters will give seminars at several locations around town on May 9, using their own bike to demonstrate basic adjustments. Leave your bike at home, but be prepared to take notes.

A Bicycle Film Festival is planned for May 12, 13 and 14 in the Silverbow Backroom, including "The Flying Scotsman," "American Flyers" and the Juneau World Premiere of "Seasons," a new mountain bike film by The Collective.

On the morning of May 16, the club is sponsoring a free continental breakfast at Marine Park, downtown, for bicycle commuters riding into town or heading out to the valley.

"If riding a bike is just not for you, we encourage you to walk or take the bus during Bike Week in the spirit of traveling differently," Kelly said.

For more detailed information on all the events we have planned for Bike Week, visit the Bike to Work page on the Juneau Freewheeler's Web site at www.juneaufreewheelers.com/biketowork.html.