Today (May 17) is National Bike to Work Day, celebrated annually on the third Friday in May, and the San Diego Association of Governments, along with others in regional government, have gone to considerable lengths to promote the event this year.

For the day, cyclists are being offered free access to Metropolitan Transit Service trolleys and buses, provided that sufficient bike storage was available on a particular vehicle or route.

Dozens of “pit stops” were scattered around the county this morning, offering refreshments, free t-shirts to participants, repair assistance, and more depending on location. Some will continue operating for the evening commute home.

Visiting a few locations this morning yielded mixed experiences. A stop outside the Performance Bicycles chain location on Midway Drive appeared to be doing brisk business. Another, advertised outside a State Farm insurance office in La Mesa, had neither signage nor any apparent amenities out as of 8:15 this morning. In El Cajon, a location across from the downtown courthouse said they’d had over 100 riders by 8:45, including a high volume of school district and municipal employees.

Mayor Bob Filner is a big supporter of the festivities.

“I love the concept of ‘Bike to Work Day.’ Imagine what it will do for our air, our bodies, our physical and mental well-being if ‘Bike to Work Day’ eventually becomes ‘Bike to Work Lifestyle,’” said Filner in a Thursday release. “This is the first of many steps to making San Diego a bikeable city.”

Over 7,000 people across the county were expected to take part in the event.