Break Out That Bike, Hyattsville

Patch thought you might want to know ahead of time about Bike to Work Day on May 20.

The Washington Area Bicyclist Association and Commuter Connections invites you to celebrate bicycling as a clean, fun and healthy way to get to work with this annual initiative. There are two pit stops in Hyattsville this year--one at and one at the

Here's how it works:

Plan your route to work and back home with the WABA website. Google Maps also offers directions for traveling by bicycle using bike lanes, trails and routes while avoiding hills and traffic, just in case this is the first time you've broken out your bike since last fall.

1. Also consider joining a commuter convoy from your neighborhood. While planning your route, be sure to stop by pit stops for snacks, waters, high-fives and fun. If this is your first time riding, try a practice run of your route before the big day on the weekend when the roads are quieter.
2. Register for a pit stop to make sure your free Bike-to-Work Day t-shirt is waiting for you when you arrive, that is, if you're one of the first 8,500 to sign up! This also enters you in to the regional and local raffles for sweet prizes and bikes.

As an incentive to participate, is offering a surprise prize. All you have to do to enter the contest is visit their website and print out a form, get it signed by your boss and turn it in.

Once you've biked to work for the first time, you might want to take a class on how to cycle in the city just to make sure you're as safe as can be.

Hyattsville has its own Bicycle and Pedestrian Safety Committee, which has brought forth plans on how to make the city safer for those using non-motorized pedals as their mode of transportation. You can check it out on the city's website.