The 16th annual Bike Month is under way, and there are more than 200 ways for New Yorkers to get involved through the end of May.

The events are sponsored by the Transportation Alternatives, Sports Commission and various city departments. Organizers hope that city dwellers - including NYU students - will use this time to exercise and explore the city. "A lot of students move here and are too intimidated to ride in the city," Transportation Alternatives spokeswoman Dani Simon said. "May is the time for practicing in the streets and learning safe cycling skills."

Promoting bicycle safety is an important issue for cyclists and city officials. In December 2006, 22-year-old NYU alumnus Eric Ng was killed by a drunken driver while he was riding down the Hudson River bike path. Ng had advocated cycling safely as an energy-saver. To improve safety, the city plans to add 200 miles of bike paths on its streets in the next three years.

Simons said NYU students might enjoy the week-long Bicycle Film Festival 2007, beginning this Wednesday, May 16 at 7 p.m. The films are being shown at the Anthology Film Archives, 32 Second Avenue. There is also a performance by Mates of State and others at the opening party May 16. Cyclists can then ride over to Brooklyn for a free after-party at Studio B.

To learn more about Bike Month events, visit www.bikemonthnyc.org. If you don't have your own bike, there are dozens of places to rent one in the city; you can search on www.nyccentury.org/bike_rental for different locations.