May is Bike Month in Durham

Get off the couch, emerge from winter's cave and get ready to ride in Durham! May is National Bike Month and Durham will be celebrating in style. The city of Durham's Bicycle & Pedestrian Advisory Commission (BPAC) has teamed up with organizations, businesses and cyclists of all ages to present fun and educational activities for everyone.

"There's something for every cyclist in Durham during Bike Month," said Ninna Gagnon, education & encouragement chair for Durham's BPAC. "Our hope is that more Durham citizens get excited about using bicycles for fun and transportation not just for May, but throughout the year."

From fun cyclists’ socials, to breakfasts with bike commuters, to a Kidical Mass, there's something to get everyone in Durham on a bike this May.

On May 15th, bike shops all around the Triangle will offer bike inspections all day long at no charge AND no appointment required. See the complete list of participating shops. Download Bike to Work Month poster here! Visit Triangle Transit for more information.

Here are a few bike events in Durham in May:

Durham Bike Events

Bike Commute Coffee Club
Every Friday 7:45 AM
Loaf Bakery, 111 W. Parrish St.

Bike Month Kickoff bike ride
Saturday, May 4 from 11 AM
Family-friendly ride on American Tobacco Trail and Rocky Creek Greenway. Ride starts at the Bull City Play Streets , Main St/Elm St (near Golden Belt). Sponsored by Durham BPAC, East Coast Greenway Alliance, & Bike Durham.

Cyclist’s Social
Tuesday, May 7 from 5 PM - 7 PM
Sunset Grille, 5850 Fayetteville Rd # 101 or milepost 5.75 on the American Tobacco Trail
Cyclists enjoy free food and giveaways. Free bike checks provided by REI. Sponsored by Durham BPAC and Bike Durham.

Kidical Mass
Saturday, May 11 from 10 AM - NOON
Family friendly group ride on the Ellerbee Creek trail, starts at the picnic shelter in Northgate Park. Bullseye Bicycle will provide helmet and bike checks. An overview of safe bicycling skills will be provided prior to the ride. Sponsored by Durham BPAC and Bike Walk. Pre-registration is welcomed!

Seven Stars Cycles Shop Sponsored Second Sunday Spin
Sunday, May 12 from 10 AM
A 20-mile self-supported, group ride, leaving from Seven Stars Cycles at 309 E Chapel Hill St.

Cyclist’s Social
Monday, May 13 from 5 PM – 7 PM
Bull McCabe’s, 427 W. Main St., in the Five Points area of historic downtown Durham. Cyclists enjoy free food and giveaways. Free bike checks provided by Seven Stars Cycles. Sponsored by Durham BPAC and Bike Durham.

“Free Bike Inspection Day”
Wednesday, May 15
Cyclists can take their bikes for a free inspection all day to Durham Cycles, Tip-Top Cycles, Seven Stars Cycles, REI (Durham, Raleigh, and Cary), and The Bicycle Chain (Durham, Carrboro, and Chapel Hill).

Breakfast Social
Thursday, May 16 from 7 AM - 9 AM
Ninth Street Bakery, 136 East Chapel Hill Street, at Five Points
Cyclists enjoy free food and giveaways. Sponsored by Durham BPAC and Bike Durham.

Bull City Tipping Point bike ride
Sunday, May 19 from 2 PM
Start at Major the Bull for an approximately 10 mile social ride around Durham ending up at Cocoa Cinnamon! (held every third Sunday of the month - for more information see http://www.facebook.com/bullcitytippingpoint).

Durham BPAC meeting
Tuesday, May 21 from 7 PM - 9 PM
Join Durham BPAC’s meeting at City Hall and help brainstorm good bicycle and pedestrian solutions for Durham. Please bring your best ideas! Free coffee and pastries.

“Donate a Bike”- day
Wednesday, May 22
Donate old bikes to kids and adults who need them! Raid your garage and take old, unused kid's bikes to the Downtown YMCA. These will be given to Durham's famous "Bikeman Days" for refurbishment and then given away again. Donate adult bikes to the Bike Co-op on Thursday evenings and Sunday afternoons in May. For kids bikes: Downtown YMCA 6-8PM. Thurs. May 23 for adult bikes: Bike Co-op 7-10PM.
More info: http://www.bikewalkdurham.org/

Bike to Star Trek Movie
Friday, May 24 19:00 hours, Earth Eastern Standard Time.
Your assignment: Meet at Major the Bull in Downtown Durham, bike to Southpoint Cinemas for new Star Trek into Darkness Movie. Starfleet and/or alien attire recommended. More info: http://www.facebook.com/events/152544091579141/?ref=2

Duke University Bicyclist Appreciation Event 
Friday, May 17 8 AM - 10 AM
Duke Parking & Transportation Services, along with the Duke Sustainability Office and GoTriangle, would like to thank our bike commuters for helping to make Duke a more sustainable campus.
Bike over to the Bryan Center on May 17, Bike to Work Day, to meet other cyclists, learn more about Duke Bicycle Commuter Benefits, and enjoy prize giveaways while they last.

Duke University Bicycle Commuter Course
Saturday, May 18 1 PM – 4 PM
Duke Parking & Transportation Services will be hosting a bicycle commuter course to equip bicyclists with the information you need to become a regular bike commuter.
The course will cover basic bike maintenance and repair, NC bike laws, safe biking tips and techniques, how to carry gear and equipment, and an on-bike campus tour.
Please bring a bike and helmet.
More information and registration available at http://parking.duke.edu/news/.

For more information about Durham, NC, click here.