Mayor, City Council and community members rally to show support

New Orleans, LA (April 10, 2012) – At a press conference this afternoon, Entergy and Bike Easy announced the inaugural NOLA Bike to Work Day. The Louisiana Public Health Institute (LPHI), Mayor Mitch Landrieu, Council President Jackie Clarkson and Councilmember Kristin Palmer joined Entergy and Bike Easy in announcing the community initiative this afternoon on the steps of New Orleans’ City Hall.

During the press conference, E. Renae Conley, executive vice president of human resources and administration for Entergy Corporation presented LPHI with a check for $75,000 to further support LPHI’s work to continue expansion of bikeways and pedestrian pathways throughout the Greater New Orleans Area. Today’s donation brings Entergy’s investment in LPHI’s efforts to make New Orleans a more bike-friendly city to almost $450,000 over the past four years.

Before Hurricane Katrina, Orleans Parish had fewer than five miles of bike lanes and pedestrian walkways. Today, the city boasts 50 miles of completed bikeways and pedestrian walkways with another twenty miles planned or under construction.

For its recent efforts to make New Orleans more bike friendly, the League of American Bicyclists has recognized New Orleans as a Bronze Level Bike Friendly City. New Orleans joins other cities, such as Portland, Boulder and Austin, as a designated bike-friendly city. The city has also been ranked number ten in the nation for number of people bicycling to work, based on three years of data.

“Our recent progress is largely made possible through an innovative public-private partnership between Entergy and the City of New Orleans,” said Jennifer Ruley, Pedestrian and Bicycle Engineer, Advisor to the City of New Orleans, LPHI. “We are so grateful to have such strong community support and look forward to continue making New Orleans an even more bike-friendly city.”

“Entergy is committed to finding ways to make our community cleaner and greener and biking is such a simple way to conserve money, energy and the environment,” said Patty Riddlebarger, director of corporate social responsibility at Entergy Corporation. “We are pleased to be partnering with Bike Easy and Louisiana Public Health Institute to present the first NOLA Bike to Work Day and are looking forward to holding this event for years to come.”

The first NOLA Bike to Work Day will take place tomorrow, Wednesday, April 11, and features a full day of bicycle related events. The day begins at 6:45 AM with bike convoy meet ups in five strategic locations throughout the city. Once all registered riders are accounted for at the designated meet up spots, experienced Ride Rangers will lead the way toward the Central Business District (CBD). To find a complete list of NOLA Bike to Work Day meet up spots, visit www.bikeeasy.com.

Between 7:30 – 9:30 AM, NOLA Bike to Work Day participants are invited to stop by Lafayette Square, on St. Charles Avenue in the Central Business District across from Gallier Hall. Attendees will receive complementary bike swag from Bike Easy and free Jamba Juice smoothies and coupons. A bike mechanic will also be onsite to address any bicycle maintenance issues before riders head off to work.

After work, NOLA Bike to Work Day continues from 5 – 8 PM at Wednesday at the Square in Lafayette Square. Attendees are encouraged to stop by the Entergy booth for free refreshments, giveaways and information on how to save money, energy and the environment. A bike mechanic will also be available to address any bicycle related issues before riders head home for the evening.

Jamie Wine, executive director of Bike Easy said “Already, we are 6th in the US for bicycle commuters. Bike to work day is all about supporting those everyday riders and showing others that bicycling is easy, safe and fun in New Orleans."

NOLA Bike to Work Day is a culmination of efforts by Entergy Corporation, Bike Easy, Louisiana Public Health Institute, the City of New Orleans, Downtown Development District and Young Leadership Council.

NOLA Bike to Work Day is free and all New Orleanians with a bike are encouraged to participate. For more information or to register, please visit www.bikeeasy.org. All registered riders will be entered to win a bicycle shop gift certificate and other great prizes.

Entergy Corporation is an integrated energy company engaged primarily in electric power production and retail distribution operations. Entergy owns and operates power plants with approximately 30,000 megawatts of electric generating capacity, and it is the second-largest nuclear generator in the United States. Entergy delivers electricity to 2.7 million utility customers in Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi and Texas. Entergy has annual revenues of more than $10 billion and more than 15,000 employees.

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