Petri helps launch "bike-partisan" event at political conventions

From a media release issued by Rep. Tom Petri:

WASHINGTON - At a blazingly hot press conference Wednesday in front of the U.S. Capitol, Representatives Tom Petri (R-WI) and Earl Blumenaur (D-OR), the co-chairs of the Congressional Bike Caucus, announced a bipartisan - or, as they put it, a "bike-partisan" challenge for the Democratic National Convention in Denver Aug. 25-28 and the Republican National Convention in Minneapolis - St. Paul Sept. 1-4.

In association with Bikes Belong and Humana Health Insurance Inc., the congressmen reported that 1,000 bicycles will be available at each convention for anybody who would like to try out bike sharing to get some exercise and tour the host cities between convention activities.

As a part of the "Freewheelin" challenge, delegates and all convention-goers will be urged to get on bikes and, collectively, participate in 10,000 bicycle rides totaling 25,000 miles.

After the conventions, 30 bikes will be donated to each city to begin bike-sharing programs.