27th annual Santa Cruz County bike week begins Friday

If you’ve been looking for an excuse to ditch the four wheels for two wheels, this week might be a good opportunity.

Today, May 2, marks the first day of Santa Cruz County’s 27th annual bike week.

Local organization Ecology Action has a bunch of events planned for the next several days in an effort to encourage residents to ride their bike instead of drive whenever they can.

Events include:

May 2 – First Friday at the Santa Cruz Museum of Art and History will feature bike-themed art, crafts, live music and even pedal-powered margaritas.

May 5 – Cycle & Dine, a brand new program this year where cyclists can receive a discount on their meal from local restaurants including Charlie Hong Kong, Midtown Caf, Harbor Caf, and Chocolate.

May 8 – Bike to Work Day will feature 15 public breakfast sites around the county where bike commuters can receive free breakfast and basic bike maintenance. More than 1,300 commuters participated in Bike to Work Day last year and another 4,500 students took part in Bike to School Day.

More information about Bike Week is online.