With 185,000 cyclists now riding every day in New York City, and more than 200 new miles of bike lanes laid down since 2006, Transportation Alternatives is launching a major campaign targeting bicycling behavior. "Biking Rules!" is the first large-scale effort to promote civic-minding riding on NYC streets, and to untangle frequent friction between cyclists and pedestrians.

Biking Rules! is a multimedia endeavor, centered on an interactive website (www.bikingrules.org), where visitors can find rules of the road explained from a cyclist's perspective, connect with fellow riders who share their commute, and share photos and video of biking conditions around the city. The campaign also includes:

• A 50-page handbook, of which 5,000 were distributed on National Bike to Work Day
• 250 volunteers who will promote the campaign directly to bikers in all five boroughs
• A public service announcement film festival on civic cycling launching June 1st
• "Ride the City" integration on the site, where visitors can find the safest route between any two points in NYC by bike
• Twitter feeds providing cyclists with up-to-the-minute information on detours, bridge conditions and community meetings where bike lanes and bike safety are on the agenda

Bicycling is the fastest-growing mode of transportation in New York City, and T.A. is calling on cyclists to take on a new role as full-fledged members of the transportation system.

"I don't think we could have had this conversation three years ago, when the city barely acknowledged bicyclists are part of the transportation system," says Paul Steely White, Executive Director of Transportation Alternatives. "But the huge growth we've seen recently means that it's time for bicycling to play are more positive role in how our streets function, and who better to be an honest messenger about civic riding than a voice that bicyclists trust."

"Ride the City gives bicyclists one more tool to find safe and easy bike routes in New York. We're happy to be collaborating with Transportation Alternatives to encourage safer, smarter cycling," says Vaidila Kungys, co-founder of Ride the City.

Biking Rules! is funded through grants from the JM Kaplan Fund, Independence Community Foundation and Two Trees Management Co. LLC.

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