With Oakland celebrating its 18th Bike to Work Day this Thursday, May 12, the East Bay Bicycle Coalition, Walk Oakland Bike Oakland and hundreds of volunteers are throwing a schedule of events befitting of city's two-wheeled commuters.

"More and more people are biking to work every day,” said Renee Rivera, Executive Director of the East Bay Bicycle Coalition - EBBC. “Over the past three years, the numbers of people biking on Bike to Work Day here in the East Bay have almost tripled. Bike to Work Day is a great day to discover just how safe, fun and convenient it is to bike to work."

Pedal Pools, 7 to 8 a.m.

The day starts bright and early with Pedal Pools - organized group rides from each City Council district to Downtown Oakland. This year, constituents of Jane Brunner (District 1), Pat Kernighan (District 2), Nancy Nadel (District 3) and Libby Schaaf (District 4) will be joined by their Council members on their commutes.

Walk Oakland Bike Oakland, or WOBO, ride leaders keep the group at a comfortable pace, and no one is left behind. All pedal pools arrive at 14th and Broadway, at a 12th Street BART Station entrance.  

Energizer Stations, most from 7 to 9 a.m.

Not interested in a pedal pool? Then make sure you ride past an energizer station to grab your official 2011 Bike to Work Day tote bag full of freebies and treats. Volunteers organized more than a dozen stations on major routes and at key destinations to cheer on commuters on their way to work. Look for coffee, snacks and some camaraderie with your fellow riders. In addition to the list of neighborhood stations below, the stations at Frank Ogawa Plaza and Fruitvale BART station will be open with free parking and tune ups from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Bike to WORK Stations

• MacArthur BART, hosted by Tip Top Bike Shop and Bicycle Coffee Company (6:30 to 9 a.m.)
• Rockridge BART, hosted by Hank and Frank's Bicycles (7 to 9 a.m.)
• 3800 Howe St., hosted by Kaiser Permanente (7 to 9:30 a.m.)
• Laney College at Ninth and Fallon streets (7:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.)
• West Oakland BART, hosted by the Crucible (7 to 9 a.m.)
• Embarcadero and Livingston, hosted by the U.S. Coast Guard (6 to 8 a.m.)
• Tip Top Bike Shop at 48th and Telegraph (5 to 7 p.m.)
• Grand between Franklin and Valdez, hosted by Caltrans (7 to 9 a.m.)
• 17th Street between Harrison and Alice streets, hosted by Kaiser Permanente (7 to 9  a.m.)
• Franklin between 19th and 20th streets, hosted by Kaiser Permanente (7 to 9 a.m.)
• Alcatraz and San Pablo, hosted by Actual Cafe (7 to 9 a.m.)
• Broadway and 27th Street, hosted by Walk Oakland Bike Oakland (7 to 9 a.m.)
• 14th and Lakeside Drive, hosted by Walk Oakland Bike Oakland (7 to 9 a.m.)
• 2289 International Blvd., hosted by Cycles of Change (7:30 to 10 a.m.)
• Jack London Square (7 to 9:15 a.m.)
• 1724 Mandela Parkway, hosted by rideSFO (7 to 9 a.m.)
• 3801 Howe St., hosted by Kaiser Permanente (7 to 9:30 a.m.)

Bike to SCHOOL Stations

• Edna Brewer School at 3748 14th Ave., hosted by Station Cycles of Change and Alameda County Safe Routes to Schools (7:30 to 8:30 a.m.)
• 43rd Street and Shafter Avenue at Park Day School (8 to 9 a.m.)
• Bret Harte Middle School at 3700 Coolidge Ave., hosted by Cycle of Change (7:30 to 8:30 a.m.)
• E 20th Street and 20th Avenue, hosted by Roosevelt Middle School Cycles of Change and Alameda County Safe Routes to Schools (7:30 to 8:30 a.m.)

Free Pancake Breakfast at City Hall, 7 to 9 a.m.

The city of Oakland will unveil the winners of its bicycle photo contest while volunteers serve free pancakes to hungry bike commuters. The EBBC will valet your bicycle for free while you eat, and the city of Oakland's Bike and Pedestrian Facilities Program will hold a raffle for gift certificates to local businesses.

Rally for Bikeways at City Hall, 8:30 to 9 a.m.

Calling for the completion of five city-wide corridors by 2015 and Oakland’s entire Master Bicycle Plan by 2020, WOBO is hosting a rally at City Hall. 

“At the rate we’re currently installing bicycle facilities, it will take the city 50 years to complete Oakland’s bikeway network,” Kassie Rohrbach, Executive Director of WOBO, said. “We’re excited to launch this new campaign at Bike to Work Day and work with the city to accelerate the implementation of our city’s plan for a safe and connected bikeways network.”

Look for Oakland City Councilwomen Libby Schaaf, Pat Kernighan and Nancy Nadel; Vitaly Troyan, director of the Oakland Public Works Agency; and Renee Rivera, Executive Director of EBBC to share their words of support for Oakland's bicycle network.

Bike Away from WORK Party, 5:30 to 8:30 p.m.

Before you turn around to bike home again, stop by Old Oakland for the Bike Away from Work Party.

Almost 800 people stopped by last year's party in Uptown, and this year's event should be even bigger. Come to Eighth and Washington streets to see the Cyclecide Heavy Pedal Bike Rodeo and the Big Tadoo Puppet Crew. The Muddy Roses will entertain with Americana music, and EBBC will present the winners of this year's Bike-Friendly Business and Bike Commuter of the Year. The restaurants of Old Oakland will provide food to enjoy in a whole block of parklets.

What are you waiting for? Dust off your bike and get ready to ride!