The Department of Transportation kicked off Bike Month today, encouraging New Yorkers to bike as part of their daily commute, and overall healthy lifestyle.

DOT Commissioner Janette Sadik-Khan says with a million more people moving to the city by 2030, officials are looking for different, cleaner ways for people to get around the five boroughs.

Biking advocates say the 17th annual event is a great occasion to take advantage of the new initiatives introduced by City Council to make the city more bike-friendly.

"We're very lucky now that we have a Department of Transportation thats very focused on making New York more bike friendly," said Paul Steely White of Transportation Alternatives. "We have safer bike lanes, more bike parking, other policies that really make it easier than ever for New Yorkers to go out and ride."

"Get a bike, pump up the air, go outside and enjoy this fabulous way of getting around New York," said Sadik-Khan.

Among the more than 200 activities are a Bike to Shea Day this Saturday, where participants will get a chance to see the Mets play after a leisurely ride from the Brooklyn Museum to Shea Stadium, a bicycle film festival, the Tour de Brooklyn and Tour de Queens, and National Bike to Work Day on May 16th.