Cyclists prepare for Obama inauguration

Cyclists have launched a campaign to boost bike use for Obama's inauguration on January 20, expected to draw record crowds in the capital and block traffic in and around the city.

The Washington Area Bicyclist Association will offer two free bike valet parking stations -- one north and the other south of the Mall, the large grassy area leading up to the US Capitol, where Obama will be sworn in.

"We are expecting a large number (of bicycles) but it will all depend on the weather," said the group's program assistant, Henry Mesias. "We already did it for the Democratic convention in Denver. We handled 1,600 bicycles."

Californian Ryan Bowen launched a cross-country cycling trip on December 2 dubbed "Biking for Obama," hoping to bike into Washington for the inauguration. If successful, he will have biked some 6,400 kilometers (4,000 miles) across the country from Los Angeles, California to Washington.

Organizers are expecting record crowds to swarm Washington for Obama's inauguration, with estimates of some two to five million on the streets for a parade and outdoor swearing-in ceremony.

Access to roads, bridges and parks will be severely limited, authorities said Wednesday as they released a list of closures and restrictions effective January 17 to January 21.

日前美國自行車運動愛好者發起了一項活動，號召人們騎車去參加本月20日在華盛頓舉行的奧巴馬總統就職典禮。預計參與此次總統就職典禮的民眾人數將高于以往任何一屆，屆時整個城市內外會出現交通擁堵。

“華盛頓地區自行車協會”將為此次活動提供兩個免費的自行車臨時存放點---分別位于“國家廣場”的南北兩側，“國家廣場”是一片大草坪，可通往奧巴馬宣誓就職地——國會山。

該組織的項目助理亨利•彌賽亞說：“我們希望會有很多人參加這次活動，但這得取決于天氣情況。去年在丹佛舉行民主黨代表大會時，我們就舉辦過類似活動，當時共有1600輛自行車?！?/P>

來自加利福尼亞的萊恩•鮑文于去年12月2日啟動了一項名為“為奧巴馬騎車”的國內騎車越野行，他希望可以騎車去華盛頓參加總統就職典禮。如果一切順利，他將由加州的洛杉磯騎至華盛頓，全程約6400公里（合4000英里）。

據組織者預計，前往華盛頓參加奧巴馬就職典禮的民眾人數將創歷史紀錄，預計將有約200萬至500萬人參加當天的沿街游行和露天宣誓儀式。

美國官方于上周三表示，從本月17日至21日，華盛頓的道路、橋梁和公園等公共場所將實行嚴格限行措施，這段時期的具體交通管制和限行安排已公布。

Vocabulary:

lead up to:通往