The days are getting longer, the sun is shining (most of the time) and the streets of Oakland are filled with happy cyclists.

Since I went car-free three years ago, I have found I’m less likely to hop on a freeway to visit nature and more likely to appreciate the natural beauty of parks, gardens and shoreline closer to home. Rather than driving off to an event in another city, I have discovered how many great things are happening right here in Oakland. Bicycling is the ultimate way to go local. 

This summer, there is a wealth of bike-friendly local happenings. Here are a few suggestions:

Bike to Work Month: The whole month of May is a time to celebrate the glory of cycling in the Bay Area with bike activities of all kinds. Bike to Work Day is my favorite. Thursday, May 13, cyclists will hit the streets in droves, soaking up love from energizer stations in the morning and partying down at the Bike Away from Work Party in the evening. To find the energizer station on your way to work, click here. The City of Oakland offers a pancake breakfast in Frank Ogawa Plaza starting at 7 am and free valet bike parking all day long. The Oakland-Alameda Ferry offers free rides to cyclists all day.

The Bike Away from Work Party starts at 5:30 p.m. on Telegraph between 16th and 18th streets. Don’t miss Cyclecide’s human-powered rides – not for the faint of heart! 

East Bay Bike Party:   I love this event:  part take back the night, part rolling party, part Critical Manners.  The innovative guys behind Ride SFO  are borrowing an idea from San Jose and starting a monthly night ride/party.  San Jose turns out about 2,000 people each month - imagine cruising the night streets with a couple thousand new friends!  Costumes and sound systems are encouraged, all ages welcome, no one left behind and traffic rules will be obeyed.  You could be part of the inaugural event: Friday, May 21, leaving Frank Ogawa Plaza in downtown Oakland at 9:00 pm, riding to Berkeley, and returning to Oakland around midnight.  More information is at East Bay Bike Party.

Oaklavia: If you only ride your bicycle one day this summer, make it June 27.  That's the day the Walk Oakland Bike Oakland-sponsored Oaklavia takes back the streets for walkers, cyclists, performers and more. Experience the quiet pleasure of car-free streets safe enough for small children to practice riding, and spacious enough for you to ride figure-eights on the center line.  There will be dancing at this revolution (Emma would be proud!): 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. in the Downtown and Uptown districts from Grand Avenue to Jack London Square and West Oakland.  Look for more coverage in the coming weeks on Oakland Local and click here for more information. 

Bike-In Movies: I have fond memories of the drive-in movies of my childhood:  staying awake for the second (R-rated) half of the double feature; watching Herbie the Love Bug from the back seat of our 1972 Beetle. Most drive-in theaters have been converted to flea markets or condos, but their spirit lives on in the bike-in movies! Bring an FM radio to tune in to these great shows:

• May 20, 7:30 p.m.  The oak park story/human-powered: experimental shorts at swan's courtyard
• May 21, dark o'clock: academy award nominated: most dangerous man in America/streetfilms about bay area cyclists at trumer brauerei berkeley
• May 22 | dark o'clock: quicksilver at linden street brewery

Click here for a complete listing, plus movies offering valet bicycle parking.

(Story continues below the slideshow.)

Actual Café: If you just returned from a long bicycle trip through the Amazon, you might not have heard about Oakland’s new favorite bike-in café.  With plenty of indoor and outdoor bike parking, great food and weekly events, there’s always a good reason to stop by. Don’t miss the May 15 screening of three new Streetfilms flicks about “Bay Area individuals who have unique relationships with bicycles and cycling” including Sal, owner of the Actual. For dates of crafts nights, movie nights and other upcoming events at this community hub, click here.

Kids Ride Too: When I was 10, freedom was riding downtown on my purple banana bike with the sparkly seat cover and tassles on the handlebars. This summer is a great time to introduce the youngsters in your life to the joys of cycling.

• Walk Oakland Bike Oakland offers monthly Kidical Mass rides.
• On May 16, the East Bay Bicycle Coalition will host a Family Cycling Workshop, where parents and kids can learn about riding together, at REI in Berkeley.
• Check in with your child’s school to find out when they plan to have a Bike to School Day. Help make it happen!

Festivals: Summer is festival season. Whether you want to shop for handcrafted goodies or groove to live music, you can get there by bicycle.  Just a few of the summer events that will offer valet bicycle parking:

• Himalayan Fair, Live Oak Park, Berkeley,  May 29 & 30
• Temescal Fair, Telegraph Avenue between 45th and 51st strees, North Oakland, June 6
• Art & Soul, Downtown Oakland,  August 21 & August 22

Everything Else: Shop by bicycle at your local farmer’s market (May 22 is Bike to Market day). Cruise home from a night on the town through streets scented with night-blooming flowers. Chat up the hot chick/dude stopped next to you at the light. Whatever you do, don’t jump in your car and add to the brown haze. Get there on a bike!  It’s easy, it’s fun.

Did I forget the coolest bike event in town? Tell me about it! I will update this article and will post a new list later in the summer.  E-mail me at bicycle@oaklandlocal.com.