It’s Earth Month and April is great time to commute to work and get to class on a bike! Do you have what it takes to win the Earth Month Bike Challenge?
The University of Iowa Earth Month Bike Challenge, April 5 to April 26, is open to all UI faculty, staff and students. There are several ways to win:

• The team challenge
• Individual challenge
• Photo contest
• New:  recreational bike challenge and a women's challenge and best team name contest.

Cyclists can register for one or all challenges and then log miles and days biked each week. Points are awarded based on the miles and days biked. At the end of the challenge, trophies will be awarded to the top three teams with the highest point totals. Individual cyclists with the highest point totals can win gift certificates, bike gear and other items from local bike shops and merchants.

The challenge is intended to encourage and support bike commuting on campus. Plus, it's good for the environment, helping reduce the carbon impact of transportation, one of the University of Iowa's 2020 Vision sustainability goals.

The Bike Challenge, part of UI Earth Month, is sponsored by the Office of Sustainability and the Bicycle Advisory Committee. See http://sustainability.uiowa.edu/earthmonth/ for a complete list of events and activities.

To get you ready for the challenge, the UI Bike Friends club will host a group ride starting on the Old Capitol steps (east side) starting at 4 p.m. Sunday, March 29. The group will then take to the trails for a leisurely ride and log miles for the warm-up week of the challenge, March 29 to April 5. This week is a chance to get out your bike and make sure it's in good shape for your spring bike commutes.

The UI Office of Sustainability, UI Environmental Coalition and UI Bike Friends will host a spring Bike Tune Up Day 2-4 pm April 24 on the Pentacrest. Come by for a bike tune up from World of Bikes, a bike-powered smoothie and information from local bike groups.

The Bike Challenge, part of UI Earth Month, is sponsored by the Office of Sustainability, and the Bicycle Advisory Committee. See http://sustainability.uiowa.edu/earthmonth/ for a complete list of events and activities.