Oregon Public Broadcasting

Starting this week, workplaces across Oregon and Southwest Washington can get a little competition out of their commute.  It's to encourage bike commuting. 

This month is the 13th annual Bike Commute Challenge.  The event culminates in a beer and pizza party, with prizes for different workplaces based on the percentage of their employees who pedal to work.

Stephanie Noll is the education and outreach coordinator for the Bicycle Transportation Alliance, which puts on the event.  Noll said it's fun for people to get on bikes and enjoy the commute, but there's an educational component, too.

Stephanie Noll: "A free workshop that we're able to offer through a Metro grant that tells new and old riders alike about the laws, skills, and basic gear and basic maintenance that they need to know about to be safe and comfortable biking to work."

Noll said businesses need a designated team captain, and that person then registers for the challenge online. 

Riders log their own commutes on the honor system. 

BTA officials say the goal is to have 1,000 businesses taking part in the event and 10,000 people riding their bikes to work during September.

The website is bikecommutechallenge.com.