If you’ve been waiting around for an excuse to fix up your old bike, buy one on Craigslist or another favorite local bike shop, L.A.’s Bike To Work Day is the perfect opportunity.

Despite its gridlock and congestion, L.A. is a bikeable place. With 350 miles of bike lanes and paths in place and more on the way, it seems that our city is warming up to the biking community.

On May 15th, commuters are encouraged to leave their cars at home and bike to work. There will be pit stops throughout the city sponsored by local organizations (such as the Los Angeles County Bicycle Coalition). There, you can meet fellow bicyclists, break for refreshments, and win prizes and giveaways (click here for locations).

Plus L.A. County transit bus operators are offering free rides for bicyclists on this day only as well. Participating lines include Metro LA, Beach Cities Transit, Culver City Bus, Pasadena ARTS bus, Santa Clarita Transit, Norwalk Transit, and others.

Check out Metro LA’s website for more information on the event, sponsors, pit stop locations, and more.

Don’t want to wait until Thursday to ride your bike? You don’t have to: today is the start of California’s Bike To Work Week.

L.A. Bike To Work Day: www.metro.net/biketowork/
California Bike To Work Week: www.californiabikecommute.com/
Los Angeles County Bicycle Coalition: http://lacbc.wordpress.com/
Orange 20 Bikes, (Tracy’s Local Bike Shop Pic): http://orange20bikes.com/, ask for Jim

*Image from last year’s event, courtesy of laist.com.