COLUMBIA - Starting Friday, Columbia's commuters will share the road with participants in the newest program from GetAbout Columbia.
"Bike to Work Fridays" is a program that begins this week as part of the group's "Way to Go to Work" month.
In an effort to encourage people to commute to work and school on bicycle, GetAbout Columbia will offer instruction and organized rides at eight locations around the city.
"We're hoping to show cyclists that riding on Columbia streets is a safe and efficient mode of transportation and that there are better routes than others to choose for commuting," said Janet Godon of the PedNet Coalition.
The program, which takes place each Friday in September, was designed to complement Bike, Walk and Wheel Week, which is held every spring.
Bikers are to meet at 7 a.m. Friday at one of four locations: Cosmopolitan Park's main entrance, Oakland Park's pool entrance, Cosmo-Bethel Park's north entrance and the Cherry Hill commons gazebo, located at the corner of South Scott Boulevard and Chapel Hill Road.
Bikers from the first group will meet with bikers who will leave at 7:20 a.m. from the Columbia/Boone County Health Department, the north
entrance to the Garth Nature Area, Rock Bridge Christian Church's parking lot off Green Meadows Circle and the east entrance of Hy-Vee on Fairview Road.
The routes will end in downtown Columbia and at MU.
Two certified instructors from the League of American Bicyclists will give a short lesson in biking safety and road rules before biking.
Registration is not required for Bike to Work Fridays, and any questions can be directed to the GetAbout Columbia Web site, getaboutcolumbia.com; to Janet Godon by e-mail, janet@pednet.org; or by phone, 573-442-7189, ext 29.