By Nick Casey

The Bay Area Bicycle Coalition (BABC) has scheduled the 12th annual “Bike-to-Work Day” May 18. The celebration promotes bicycling as a healthful, fun and viable form of transportation. It is part of a range of activities associated with National Bike Month.

“There’s been a great deal of organization which has gone into this,” said Cole Portocarrero, executive director of the BABC. “We’ve basically spent the entire year planning this one day.”

The event is expected to include 50,000 to 100,000 participants in the Bay Area.

Residents of the Los Altos area can take advantage of nearby “energizer stations,” which will provide cyclists with food, refreshments and other giveaways 7-9 a.m.

Two stations are planned in Mountain View and seven in Palo Alto.

As a means of increasing participation throughout the month, this year’s theme is “Team Bike Challenge.”

“We’re hoping for teams of five to get together in May. Each team member will get a point for every day they use their bikes to get around,” Portocarrero said. “At the end of the month, we’ll tally up the points.”

The grand prize is a metal bike rack installed at a location of the winners’ choosing.

“We’re hoping for a big turnout,” Portocarrero said. “We believe the Bay Area is one of the model places for safe bicycling.”

For more information or energizer station locations, visit www.bayareabikes.org.