Atlanta Falcons general manager Thomas Dimitroff will participate in National Bike to Work Day on Friday, May 16. Dimitroff will ride from Buckhead at 7:30 a.m. and arrive at the Falcons Flowery Branch Practice Facility between 10 and 11 a.m., covering approximately 40 miles. The Falcons will also host a shorter ride covering approximately nine miles from Buckhead to the Georgia Dome in downtown Atlanta.
Both routes will begin at the Peach Shopping Center at 2900 Peachtree Rd NW. Dimitroff will lead the long route with members of the Falcons front office and the Atlanta Bicycle Coalition leading the short route. Riders can join Dimitroff and the Falcons by signing up at http://falconsbtwd2014.eventbrite.com and posting a comment under the local challenge (https://nationalbikechallenge.org/local/feeds) indicating whether they plan on joining the long or short route. Registration is encouraged for planning purposes: the long route will end with a Rookie Mini Camp practice viewing, lunch, and a van ride back to Buckhead. The short route will make stops at the Midtown and Downtown bike to work day energizer stations and end with music and snacks at the Georgia Dome.
"May is National Bike Month, and for the third straight year I will participate in Bike to Work Day," Dimitroff said. "On Friday, May 16, we will partner with the Atlanta Bicycle Coalition to raise awareness across the city. This year, I will make the trek from Buckhead to our facility in Flowery Branch prior to our Rookie Mini-Camp practice. This event provides an opportunity to combine my passion for the Atlanta Falcons with my joy of cycling. I would like to encourage everyone to take at least one day this month to get out and spend time on their bikes."
National Bike to Work Day was originated by the League of American Bicyclists in 1956 and is a part of National Bike Month, which is held every May. The Atlanta Bicycle Coalition supports the event in Atlanta and encourages people to commute to work using a bicycle.
The Atlanta Bicycle Coalition has been the city's voice for better biking for 20 years. Its mission is to make it safer and easier for people to ride bicycles, in order to help create a healthier, more sustainable Atlanta, and allow people to enjoy a higher quality of life. While improving public health, cleaning the air, reducing congestion, and building the community.
Dimitroff has participated in a number of cycling events during his time with the Falcons, including the 2012 Camp Twin Lakes Spin for Kids in Rutledge, GA, the ABC's 2011 BeltLine Bike Tour, and the Pedal with a Purpose to benefit Georgia Cancer Foundation 100-mile ride in 2010. He has participated in Bike to Work Day each year since 2012.
