Alaska Airlines Offering Flight Miles For Miles For Bike To Work

SAN JOSE, CA — Alaska Airlines wants people to bike to their destinations.

And the Seattle-based airline is willing to put some points equaling money behind the endeavor. To celebrate the 25th Anniversary of the Bay Area Bike to Work Day on May 9, Alaska Airlines is launching the “Bike for Miles” giveaway.

The first 500 Mileage Plan members who participate in Bike to Work Day and post a photo of themselves on Twitter, Instagram or Facebook tagging @AlaskaAir with the hashtags #BikeforAlaskaMiles and #BTWD2019 will receive 5,000 Alaska Airlines Mileage PlanTM miles, the company indicated.

To put into perspective, this number is enough for a free, one-way award ticket (plus taxes and fees) between select cities. Official sweepstakes rules can be found by visiting: www.alaskaair.com/content/legal/terms-conditions/contest-rules.

Award travel starts at 5,000 miles one-way on Alaska’s Mileage Plan program, which offers one mile for every mile flown on Alaska, even on the lowest fare, it announced.

In addition to giving away a total of 2.5 million Mileage Plan miles, Alaska has partnered with GoBike to provide a free, 30-minute single ride to the first 500 GoBike and Mileage Plan members who visit the Alaska Airlines station on May 9 at 150 E. San Fernando in San Jose. The airline will set up a table to pass out vouchers.

“As the presenting sponsor of Bay Area Bike to Work Day, Alaska Airlines is dedicated to providing affordable, sustainable and convenient travel options,” said Annabel Chang, Alaska Airlines' vice president of the Bay Area.

Alaska Airlines operates 45 arrivals and departures out of the Norman Mineta San Jose International Airport.

The goal of Bay Area Bike to Work Day is to encourage local commuters to bike to work on May 9, while also reducing congestion and tailpipe emissions. More information on the honorary day can be found by visiting www.bayareabiketowork.com.

More than 100,000 new and seasoned bike commuters will celebrate the 25th annual Bay
Area Bike to Work Day, with some 400 energizer stations scattered throughout nine Bay Area counties allowing riders to make a pit stop on their way to work for free refreshments and encouragement from thousands of volunteers.

“The Bay Area’s 25th Bike to Work Day celebration is a great time to appreciate how biking has become a bigger piece of the transportation puzzle,” said Scott Haggerty, chairman of the Metropolitan Transportation Commission (MTC), a presenting sponsor of the event. “And while riding a bike is good for you and the environment, frankly it is just plain fun.”

Local bike groups and employers are planning a range of activities throughout the day and into the evening, including group rides and after-work happy hours. Local elected officials — including several commissioners from and the Bay Area Toll Authority — will participate in the event.

In addition to Bike to Work Day, the Bay Area Bike Challenge will return after a successful launch in 2018. Last year, more than 3,250 riders used the easy-to-navigate platform called “Love to Ride” during May — National Bike Month — to track rides and compete for virtual prizes, while posting photos and commenting to keep each other motivated. Registration for BABC is open and continues until May 1 when the Challenge officially begins. Participants can compete as individuals or on teams.

Bike to Work Day is a celebration of bicycles as a fun and healthy way to get to work as well as an opportunity for those who don’t usually bike commute to try it out. It’s also a time to advocate for improved bicycle infrastructure and safety, along with a way to endorse eco-friendly modes of transit. Bike Month and Day are observed around the country on different days. San Francisco Bay Area counties share the same day in May.

The Silicon Valley Bike Coalition expects lots of people to participate this year and has established a number of relief stations. More information may be found by visiting https://bikesiliconvalley.org/btwd/.

Major Bike to Work Day Events*
5:30-11 a.m. — Morning Bike to Work Day Energizer Stations (times vary with location)
5:30-9:30 a.m. — Bike to Work Day Super Energizer Station, Vista Point, Golden Gate Bridge
7:15 a.m. — Press conference with San Jose officials followed by ‘Movers and Shakers” bike
ride. MLK Jr. Library, 150 E. San Fernando St, San Jose
7-9:30 a.m. — Bike to Work Day Pancake Breakfast at Frank Ogawa Plaza in downtown
Oakland (12th Street BART station)
7:30 a.m. — Eleven San Francisco neighborhood rides with officials and district supervisors
(starting locations vary)
8 a.m. — Oakland elected officials press event at Frank Ogawa Plaza
8:30 a.m. — Bike to Work Day Rally at San Francisco City Hall
4-7 p.m. — Evening Bike to Work Day Energizer Stations
4-6:30 p.m. — 511 Contra Costa/Contra Costa Transportation Authority BTWD Happy
Hour, intersection of Iron Horse & Contra Costa Canal Trails, Walnut Creek
4-8 p.m. — Bike Concord’s BTWD Celebration, Todos Santos Plaza, Concord
5-7 p.m. — SVBC’s Bike Away From Work BASH, Summit Bicycles, 392 California Ave.,
Palo Alto
5-9 p.m. — San Francisco Bike Away from Work Happy Hour at Benders Bar & Grill,
806 South Van Ness Blvd.
5:30-7 p.m. — San Mateo County’s Bike Away from Work Bash, Cyclismo Café, 871
Middlefield Road, Redwood City
5:30-7:30 p.m. – SVBC’s Bike Away from Work Bash at LinkedIn, 845 Maude Ave., Sunnyvale
5:30-7:30 p.m. – SCBC after-work party, Crooked Goat Brewing, 120 Morris St., Sebastopol
5:30-7:30 p.m. – SCBC after-work party, Trail House, 4036 Montgomery Dr., Santa Rosa
5:30-8:30 p.m. — Berkeley Bike Happy Hour, the East Bay's biggest block party!
BikeEastBay.org/BHH
* Complete local event information and Energizer Station locations are available at
https://bayareabiketowork.com/.

Bike enthusiasts may also catch up on the best bike commuters by reading all about the winners at https://bayareabiketowork.com/bike-commuters-of-the-year/.