To celebrate National Bike to Work Day, more than 50 students, faculty and staff participated in the first Tour de Cornell bike ride across campus May 21, sponsored by Transportation Services and the Cornell Wellness Program. The event was designed to show how biking can be a viable and enjoyable way to get around campus.

"It was great to see people out enjoying the beautiful weather, touring the campus by bike and spending their lunch hour out of their offices and getting some exercise," said Steve Powell, who works in the electrical and computer engineering school. Powell bike-commutes to campus every day, year round, equipping his bike when needed with special winter tires that provide a secure grip on ice. "Biking is inexpensive, convenient, good for the environment and a great way to ensure that I get some exercise every day," he said.

Beth McKinney, director of the Wellness Program and a self-proclaimed fair-weather bicyclist who typically bikes to work one day a week in summer months, also joined the tour. "I love being able to get exercise, take in beautiful scenery and save gas, all at the same time," she said.

"A joyful and enthusiastic group of people participated in Tour de Cornell, and several did the loop three or four times," said Spring Buck, outreach coordinator for Transportation and Mail Services and one of the event organizers who provided biking information, water bottles and energy bars to participants. A prototype bicycle for a future bike share program, initiated by the Big Red Bikes undergraduate student group, was also on display.

For information on biking at Cornell and in the Ithaca area, visit http:// www.bike.cornell.edu.