There's nothing like an increase in gasoline prices to change people's commuting behavior!

The recent gas price spike seems to have prompted more people to get on their bikes. At least that's the news from a USA Today article this month that notes that sales of new bikes are up 9 percent over last year.

Not everyone believes the recent spike in sales is due only to gas prices. The recent rise in bike sharing programs and investments in bike infrastructure has also certainly helped. That's according to Tim Blumenthal of peopleforbikes.org.

What about in Ann Arbor? I am certainly seeing a lot of people out on their bikes lately. I checked in with Great Lakes Cycling and Fitness as well as Wheels in Motion, and both of those bike shops report that sales of commuter bikes and accessories are on the rise.

Dewight Plotner, the owner of Wheels in Motion, notes that the biggest motivator for many people looking to switch to biking to work is cost. As the costs for driving goes up, people are much more likely to consider trying to bike to work.

In terms of bike infrastructure improvements, the City of Ann Arbor has recently added more bike lanes as well as more sharrows and Share the Road signs, which has also helped make biking more appealing.

With the Commuter Challenge in full swing and Bike to Work Day on May 20, this is a great time for employees living in Ann Arbor to consider biking to work.

Here are some great resources and events to help you get that bike out of the garage and start biking to work!

• getDowntown's guide to bike commuting in downtown Ann Arbor
• Bike commuting information and resources on the getDowntown website
• Beginner bike commuting tips from the Commute by Bike blog
• Bike commuting resources from the Sierra Club
• May 20 Bike to Work Day events
• May 21 Urban Cycling Skills Clinic
• Common Cycle Mobile Repair Stand: Every Sunday at the Ann Arbor Artisans Market

Have you recently starting biking to work? What has been your motivation?

Nancy Shore is the program director of getDowntown. Reach her at nancy@getdowntown.org.