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.

日前美国自行车运动爱好者发起了一项活动，号召人们骑车去参加本月20日在华盛顿举行的奥巴马总统就职典礼。预计参与此次总统就职典礼的民众人数将高于以往任何一届，届时整个城市内外会出现交通拥堵。

“华盛顿地区自行车协会”将为此次活动提供两个免费的自行车临时存放点---分别位于“国家广场”的南北两侧，“国家广场”是一片大草坪，可通往奥巴马宣誓就职地——国会山。

该组织的项目助理亨利•弥赛亚说：“我们希望会有很多人参加这次活动，但这得取决于天气情况。去年在丹佛举行民主党代表大会时，我们就举办过类似活动，当时共有1600辆自行车。”

来自加利福尼亚的莱恩•鲍文于去年12月2日启动了一项名为“为奥巴马骑车”的国内骑车越野行，他希望可以骑车去华盛顿参加总统就职典礼。如果一切顺利，他将由加州的洛杉矶骑至华盛顿，全程约6400公里（合4000英里）。

据组织者预计，前往华盛顿参加奥巴马就职典礼的民众人数将创历史纪录，预计将有约200万至500万人参加当天的沿街游行和露天宣誓仪式。

美国官方于上周三表示，从本月17日至21日，华盛顿的道路、桥梁和公园等公共场所将实行严格限行措施，这段时期的具体交通管制和限行安排已公布。

Vocabulary:

lead up to:通往