National Lakeshore Staff Rides in Federal Bike to Work Challenge

Date: May 17, 2013

INDIANA DUNES NATIONAL LAKESHORE: In celebration of May being National Bike Month, Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore is joining communities and organizations across the nation to support bicycling as a way to commute to and from work. The national lakeshore has assembled a team of two-wheeled commuters who volunteered to participate in this year's Federal Bike to Work Challenge.

"I have been biking to work for the last 5 years. I will definitely continue to this year", explained Nick Simic, when asked to join the federal challenge to ride a bike to work. Simic, a park maintenance crew member, commutes 6 miles a day by bicycle.

The Federal Bike to Work Challenge already has over 500 riders across the country representing 20 federal agencies. In 2012, federal employees logged over 5,200 bicycle trips and 65,000 miles in the Challenge, saving the equivalent of over 3,000 gallons of gasoline.

During the first week of the Challenge, the team from Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore logged 13 trips, 78 miles, prevented about 76 pounds of carbon from being released into the atmosphere and burned an estimated 4,000 calories.

Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore is accessible via the Calumet, Marquette, Oak Savannah, and Porter Brickyard bicycle trails.For additional information, contact national lakeshore public information officer Bruce Rowe at 219-395-1609 or by e-mail at e-mail us.