Tomorrow is Drive Your Bike to Work Day.

Unlike Bike to Work Day, this event does not attempt to convince you to do something you’re not already doing (e.g. riding to work), it attempts to build awareness of the dangers inherent in doing things you may already do (e.g. putting your bike on top of your car and driving to work). In addition, it’s been certified as Not Requiring an Environmental Review Unlike that Dastardly Bike Plan.

The dangers to your bike of driving your bike around are well-established, as evidenced by this picture. This year’s campaign focuses on the dangers to you as well. The rise of SUVs, crossovers and tarted-up minivans has led to an epidemic of muscle strains and other injuries resulting from stretching to put a bike on the top of a tall vehicle.

As the event’s official site warns,

Driving your bike to work inherently involves many dangers. We’ve discussed before the obvious hazard of low-clearance garages. But the sheer act of putting your bike on the roof of a car can expose you to injuries, stained clothing, even bike damage if you make a mistake. And with SUV roof heights skyrocketing higher than gas prices in California, it’s becoming harder and harder to lift your bike onto the roof of your car.
Clearly, the rising tide of these injuries demands an aggressive awareness campaign. AIDS has red ribbons, war-mongering has yellow ribbons, and breast cancer has pink ribbons. Bike-rack related injuries deserve their own ribbon. I’d like to propose the Celeste Ribbon to commemorate those lost to our streets due to the tragic combination of roof racks and high-roofed vehicles.

Edit: There will be a Drive Your Bike Home from Work um, drive, starting at 6:30 pm at the Ferry Building.

Images: Flickr users wselman and otherthings.