Bay State Bike Week Begins

The Mass. Department of Transportation and several other public and private entities have banded together to tell you to get out of your cars and onto your bikes this week.

May 11 to 19 is Bay State Bike Week, a week unique to Massachusetts to celebrate all things bicycle.

There are bike-based events going on around the Bay State this week, and several in the Boston area.

The Bay State Bike Week website has provided a searchable calendar to find dates, locations and times for events closest to you. Speaking of which, the North Shore Tour de Cure is May 19, starting up at the Topsfield Fairgrounds.

What would a statewide bike week be without a little friendly competition? The MassCommute Bicycle Challenge will award those who log the most miles by bicycle.

Other local bike facts: Massachusetts has been recognized by the League of American Bicyclists as the sixth most bicycle friendly state this year, according to a press statement from Gov. Deval Patrick.

Also, Massachusetts has the only department of transportation in the country that organizes a celebration of bikes.

“I applaud the bicyclists who ride to school or work regularly, and I encourage more people to give it a try,” Patrick said. "Together, we can make Massachusetts a greener, healthier and more sustainable state by decreasing traffic congestion, cleaning the air and enabling people to get some exercise in the course of their busy daily lives."