INDIANAPOLIS | Friday is Bike to Work Day, and State Health Commissioner Judy Monroe is encouraging Hoosiers to try this fun and healthy way to commute.

Deputy State Health Commissioner Mary Hill is just one person who is taking up the challenge, as she'll be riding her bike to work that day.

"Biking to work is not only good for your health, but it is also good for the environment," Monroe said in a news release. "Moderate daily physical activity like riding your bike to work is good for your heart and lungs and can lower your blood pressure."

Hill will start her bike ride at 7:15 a.m. Friday, pedaling about seven miles to her final destination at the southwest quadrant of Monument Circle, arriving about 8 a.m. She is following one of 11 bicycle routes set up by the Indiana Bicycle Coalition, which is sponsoring the special day. For information on other routes, visit bicycleindiana.org.

Monroe urges bicyclists to keep safety in mind when riding to work or for recreation. Following are some important safety tips she urges Hoosiers to follow:

Always wear your helmet - Be sure it covers your forehead and fits properly. Helmets are for all ages; set a good example to others by wearing a bicycle helmet every time you ride.

Ride on the right - Always ride with traffic.

Obey all traffic laws - Stop at stop signs and stop lights and obey one-way streets.

Signal and look before turning

Ride in a predictable manner - Ride in a straight line. Don't swerve between parked cars.

Use head and tail lights at night - Reflectors are not enough.

Keep your bike in good repair - Have it tuned up by a professional bike mechanic regularly.

Yield to pedestrians - Pedestrians have the right of way.

Ride defensively. Follow the rules of the road. In Indiana, the bicycle is a vehicle and has all the rights and responsibilities of other vehicles. This means stopping at stop signs and stop lights, riding on the right side of the road and signaling for turns.

Drink before you're thirsty, eat before you're hungry. Take plenty of water. Use sports drinks for longer rides. Snacks to take along include cereal bars, cookies, fig bars, and fruit (bananas, apples are best).

Items you should carry: Identification, money (for ice cream or other goodies along the ride), tools, spare inner tube, bicycle pump. There are many different bags that attach to bikes that can carry whatever you'll need.

Plan a ride less than 10 miles when riding with small children, those who haven't bicycled very much or if the terrain is challenging. Plan stops along the route or have a destination in mind for the ride.

-- For The Times