In celebration of National Bike Month, the Whole Earth Center will once again be committing Random Acts of Community throughout the month of May. This town-wide program was created to thank and reward bicyclists for choosing to bike rather than drive in Princeton.

Started 10 years ago with $125 in gift cards from the Whole Earth Center, this year’s participants include 26 Princeton businesses plus McCarter Theatre and the town of Princeton. A combined total of over $2,000 in gift cards will be given away this May.

Once a week, on an arbitrarily chosen day, time, and street corner, a representative from the Whole Earth Center will give the first five bicyclists who pass by a “Thank You for Bicycling” packet of gift cards from local businesses.

The certificates in each packet have a combined value of $70 to $120. The following will be given away each week: a $25 gift card from Whole Earth Center, a $25 Terra Momo gift card, a $25 JM Group gift card, a $25 gift card to the Nassau Inn, two tickets to any play in McCarter Theatre’s 2015-16 drama season, $5 from small world coffee, two free ice creams or cupcakes from the bent spoon, two $10 gift cards to Kopp’s Cycles, a $10 gift certificate to the Princeton Record Exchange, a $10 gift card from jaZam’s, a $10 gift card to Olive’s, a Princeton Pillow from the Princeton Tour Company, a $10 gift card to Hinkson’s, a $5 gift card to greendesign, a $5 gift card to P.J.’s Pancake House, $5 to Dolceria, $5 to Princeton Soup & Sandwich Company, three vouchers for a free sandwich at Olsson’s Fine Foods, and two vouchers for a free spice blend from Savory Spice. During May, two $20 Princeton SmartCards and two $10 gift cards to Labyrinth Books will be given away to cyclists.

“Bicycling brings so many benefits to Princeton and should be encouraged and rewarded,” says Whole Earth Center manager Jennifer Murray. “This program is our way of thanking bicyclists for their contribution to the quality of life in our town.”

For many years, the Whole Earth Center has rewarded shoppers who bike to their store. Biking customers can choose to either receive $1 back on purchases of $15 or more or to participate in a punch-card reward program where, after 10 punches on their Pedal Power card, customers who bike to the Whole Earth to shop receive $10 off on bike accessories at Kopp’s Cycles.

The Whole Earth Center is located at 360 Nassau Street in Princeton. To find out more about National Bike Month and Bicycle Friendly Communities, visit the League of American Bicyclists’ Web site at www.bikeleague.org.