To: Board of Supervisors
From: John Kopchik, Director, Conservation and Development
Report Title: ADOPT Resolution No. 2026-__ proclaiming May 14, 2026 as "Bike to Work Day" and May 2026 as "Bike to Wherever Days" in Contra Costa County, and AUTHORIZE the County Administrator to sign a memorandum requesting County Department Heads to participate in outreach efforts to their employees for Bike to Work Day and Bike to Wherever Days, as recommended by the Conservation and Development and Public Works Department Directors.
☒Recommendation of the County Administrator ☐ Recommendation of Board Committee
RECOMMENDATIONS:
ADOPT a resolution proclaiming May 14, 2026 as "Bike to Work Day" and May 2026 as "Bike to Wherever Days" in Contra Costa County, and AUTHORIZE the County Administrator to sign a memorandum requesting County Department Heads to participate in outreach efforts to their employees for Bike to Work Day and Bike to Wherever Days.
FISCAL IMPACT:
No fiscal impact. The Metropolitan Transportation Commission and 511.org provide outreach materials, distributed through existing County protocols.
BACKGROUND:
The goal of Bike to Work Day is to encourage Contra Costa County commuters to try bicycling to work on this day by offering a variety of incentives, such as a raffle for prizes and energizer stations with refreshments and educational materials for bicycle commuters throughout the county. The hope is that once individuals try bicycling to work, they will continue to commute by bicycle one or more days a week. Bicycling provides excellent exercise and is a non-polluting and energy-efficient form of transportation.
Due to COVID-19, in 2020 and 2021, Bike to Work Day was rebranded as "Bike to Wherever Days," which promoted bicycling for any purpose, and took place during the entire month of September and May of 2020 and 2021, respectively. Since 2022, both Bike to Work Day and Bike to Wherever Days are celebrated on one Thursday in May and for the entire month of May, respectively.
This year, Bike to Work Day will be celebrated on May 14th, while Bike to Wherever Days will be celebrated for the entire month of May. All nine Bay Area counties will be participating in Bike to Work Day and Bike to Wherever Days at some level. The Metropolitan Transportation Commission, with the help of financial donations from event sponsors and volunteers, will primarily fund Bike to Work Day/Bike to Wherever Days activities in the San Francisco Bay Area. On Bike to Work Day, cyclists can stop for refreshments and promotional materials at energizer stations throughout the Bay Area, including Contra Costa County. 511 Contra Costa coordinates volunteers to work at energizer stations in Contra Costa County. This year, Contra Costa Health, in coordination with the West Contra Costa Transportation Commission (WCCTC), will be hosting four energizer stations at high schools in West County, which will be geared towards students who bike or roll (e.g. scooter) to school on Bike to Work Day. Additional information on Bike to Work Day events is available at the following website: <https://bayareabiketowork.com>.
Attached is a draft transmittal memo (Exhibit A) from the County Administrator to all departments requesting that they encourage their employees to participate in Bike to Work Day and Bike to Wherever Days. County employees are encouraged to post a flyer (Exhibit B) in their workplace promoting the 2026 Bike to Work Day and Bike to Wherever Days. Both the memo and the flyer contain a link to a Bike to Work Day survey, where employees who bike to work can confirm their participation in Bike to Work Day, and where all employees can respond to questions regarding 2026 Bike to Work Day and Bike to Wherever Day activities and the opportunities and challenges they face when riding a bike to work. All County employees who bike to work between May 11 and May 15 and take the survey will receive free giveaways. With the Board's approval, posters and other outreach materials will be distributed to County departments for their use in outreach to County employees.
CONSEQUENCE OF NEGATIVE ACTION:
The County will not encourage its employees to participate in 2026 Bike to Work Day or Bike to Wherever Days.
The Board of Supervisors of Contra Costa County, California
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IN THE MATTER OF PROCLAIMING MAY 14, 2026 AS "BIKE TO WORK DAY" AND THE ENTIRE MONTH OF MAY 2026 AS "BIKE TO WHEREVER DAYS."
WHEREAS, breathing clean air is vital to healthy lungs and life; and
WHEREAS, the County of Contra Costa encourages its employees and citizens to bicycle in order to improve air quality and promote the health benefits of bicycling; and
WHEREAS, the County of Contra Costa acknowledges that bicycling to work is a viable commute mode to improve the "livability" of communities by reducing traffic noise and congestion; and
WHEREAS, National Bike Month and California Bike Commute Week are in May; and
WHEREAS, Bike to Work Days have proven effective in converting drivers into bicyclists and educating citizens about the public health benefits of bicycling to work regularly; and
WHEREAS, due to COVID-19, Bike to Work Day was temporarily rebranded as Bike to Wherever Days in 2020 and 2021; and
WHEREAS, Bike to Wherever Days took place over an entire month; and
WHEREAS, Bike to Wherever Days encourages bicycling for all types of trips; and
WHEREAS, starting in 2022, Bike to Work Day has been celebrated on one Thursday in May and Bike to Wherever Days has been celebrated for the entire month of May; and
WHEREAS, all nine Bay Area counties are participating in Bike to Work Day on May 14, 2026 and Bike to Wherever Days for the entire month of May.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED: that the Contra Costa County Board of Supervisors hereby proclaims May 14, 2026 as "Bike to Work Day" and May 2026 as "Bike to Wherever Days" in Contra Costa County.
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