Ventura, CA - Another wave of local cyclists discovered the benefits of bicycle commuting, thanks to the annual Bike to Work Week campaign presented by the Ventura County Transportation Commission (VCTC) and Ventura County Air Pollution Control District (VCAPCD).

This year’s Bike to Work Week campaign, which inspired commuters to try biking as a travel option, ran from May 11-15. Final tallies revealed that online participation increased again, as a record 235 riders filled out a short entry form at www.GoVentura.org. Attendance was also strong at “pit stop” events set up around the county, where 168 riders stopped by despite gloomy weather and the threat of rain at the end of the week.

The “pit stops” were held during morning commute hours in Camarillo (May 11), Oxnard (May 12), Simi Valley (May 13), Ventura (May 14), and Thousand Oaks (May 15). During these events, attendees received free bike tune-ups courtesy of local bike shops, breakfast refreshments, and bike-related giveaways.

“Every year, more and more people discover the benefits of bicycle commuting, which is good for your health, good for traffic congestion, and good for the environment,” said VCTC Executive Director Darren Kettle. “VCTC will continue to improve our bikeways and work with citizens to make biking to work an effective commute option.”

Eligible participants who registered online were entered for the chance to win one of the items in this year’s prize pool. Entries were received from cyclists commuting to local worksites from communities across Ventura County.

This year’s prizes consisted of a new bicycle (via $500 gift certificate to Performance Bicycles), presented to Eliverto V. of Oxnard; an Amazon Kindle, awarded to Michele S. of Thousand Oaks; a Garmin GPS Device, awarded to Chris N. of Camarillo; two cellphone mounts won by John G. of Ventura and Mark C. of Simi Valley; and two VISA gift cards in the amounts of $100, awarded to Joy B. of Santa Paula, and $50, awarded to Shelly S. of Ventura.

“Bike to Work Week is becoming a highly anticipated annual tradition,” Kettle added. “We’re looking forward to making 2016 the best Bike to Work Week yet.”

For more information about VCTC, Ventura County bikeways, or VCTC’s mobile bikeways app, visit www.GoVentura.org or call (800) 438-1112.