#TBT: Commuting to work with Council member Robert Cornegy

As the end of the summer draws closer – we’re going to go down memory lane to the explosive kickoff of our NYC summer with the inaugural OutdoorFest. What better place to start than with the first official OutdoorFest event: Bike to work with CitiBike and Transportation Alternatives.

Partner Background: CitiBike – NYCs bike share program - launched almost one year prior to OutdoorFest and in that year succeeded in getting millions of people out on bikes as well as continuing to grow their locations throughout the city. The location we started from was the furthest CitiBike location in Brooklyn – a symbol of this growth and added access for BedStuy residents.

The significance of the ride was such that local council member Robert Cornegy joined and brought his entire office staff.

Cornegy arrives with his wife for the morning commuter ride. — *Cornegy arrives with his wife* *for the morning commuter ride.*

Cornegy kicked off OutdoorFest officially before we started the ride which would bring us across the bridge to Union Square.

The second host of this event was local advocacy organization Transportation Alternatives. One of their many programs includes bike trains and weekly group commutes.

*Transportation Alternatives representative educates on using CitiBike*

The rides provide education not only on safe cycling and bike etiquette but a guide at the front to lead the group in the most direct, safe way. Together, OutdoorFest, local government, NYCs bike share program, and arguably one of our most active advocacy organizations hit the streets. We peddled North from the John Hancock Playground to the Williamsburg Bridge, staying in bike lanes almost the entire time.

*Cornegy & crew leave the station and hit the bike lane!*

After entering Manhattan we followed 1st Avenue North and then cut over to Union Square where the people on CitiBikes could dock their bikes and Transportation Alternatives had iced coffee set up for all of the riders. Councilman Cornegy waved goodbye and everyone headed off to a day at work – or in our case the first day of the first ever OutdoorFes