The weather is about to turn warm and sunny in Western Washington. Now is the time to plan to leave your car at home and take your bike wherever you need to go.

GO Lewis-McChord, a program under Joint Base Lewis-McChord's Directorate of Public Works' Environmental Division, is promoting May as Bike Month.

"We're supporting alternate transportation," said Cathy Hamilton-Wissmer, sustainability outreach coordinator with DPW. "We encourage people to get out and get busy. Take your bike to work; take public transportation."

For those without a bicycle, there are six locations to borrow a cruiser bike on JBLM. The GO Bike program allows anyone ages 18 and older on JBLM to borrow a bike for up to two weeks.

"The program actually started with trying to encourage service members to get on a bike and go on a ride to their meetings or appointments," Hamilton-Wissmer said. "It's a good option for people who have to do PT and have injuries. You may not be able to run, but you can bike."

In the last 12 months, the program has expanded to include family members and other JBLM community members.

Bikes can be found at the following locations on base:

• Madigan Army Medical Center's Warrior Transition Battalion, Building 9058, Lewis Main;
• Reception Center, Building 2021, Lewis Main;
• 4th Battalion, 23rd Infantry Regiment's Barracks, Building 11664, Lewis North;
• Northwest Adventure Center, Building 8050, Lewis North;
• 373rd Training Detachment Squadron, Building 1315, McChord Field;
• 62nd Aerial Port Squadron Warehouse, Building 1422, McChord Field.

GO Lewis-McChord is partnering with Pierce Trips for events celebrating Bike Month. One example is the month-long "Bike Everywhere Challenge."

Participants are rewarded for logging their bicycle miles, perhaps during a commute to work or school or during a quick trip to the store or coffee shop.

Registration is available online at bike253.com.

Riders can win gift cards to local bicycle stores like REI and Old Town Bicycle.

Tim Weldin, a pollution prevention technician for JBLM DPW, has started to bicycle to work from his home in Spanaway. He said now is the best time of the year to start the cycling commute option.

"Just try it out once or twice," Weldin said. "You'll have a couple of months where darkness is not an issue (in the morning)."

Hamilton-Wissmer also suggested people attend the 10th annual Tacoma Bike Swap event at the University of Puget Sound Saturday at 10 a.m. New and used bicycles and equipment will be available for sale, and attendees can network within the local bike community.

"There are some great bike clubs if you don't want to be a solo rider," Hamilton-Wissmer said. "It's not just about the equipment, it's also about the community."

For more information on the GO Bike program and other alternative transportation options on base, visit jblmmwr.com/golewismcchord.