Pushing the pedals

Bike to Work Day returns for its eighth year on Friday, May 18. Fifty-two cities are participating in this nationwide event, where regular and nonregular bicyclists are encouraged to ditch their cars and head to work on two wheels. Here in Austin, cycling commuters will be rewarded with free food and drinks at more than two dozen “fueling stations” throughout the city, organized by local bicycling advocacy organization Bike Austin. There’s more than just snacks at these stations: C3 Presents will be giving away a pair of tickets to this year’s Austin City Limits Festival, and the TownLake YMCA is opening up its doors, offering free passes and shower use in its facilities. Riders are encouraged to visit multiple fueling stations with the Passport Program. Pick up a passport at the first station you visit and get it stamped at each stop. Then, after work, head to the after-party at Cheer Up Charlies from 5 to 7 p.m., where you can redeem each stamp for one entry in a drawing for prizes like gift cards to local restaurants and have a drink with fellow bikers. Cheer Up Charlies is donating 10 percent of all after-party bar sales to Bike Austin, and there will be live music from local Americana artist Nichole Wagner and singer-songwriter Jonathan Brinkley.