Thousands of cyclists around the world are braving the elements on Friday, including many here in Calgary, to take part in an event to promote the use of city cycle tracks.

The International Bike To Work Day is meant to show that bicycles are a viable form of transportation, no matter what time of year it is.

According to city data, between 3,000 and 4,800 bikers use the downtown cycle track every month.

The lanes themselves have been a contentious issue since the track was a pilot project, stretching just 5.5 km, in the summer of 2015.

The city said that nearly 400,000 bikers used the track in the first five months.

There are plans to add about 30 km of track over the next two years.

Other cities taking part in the event are in Serbia, Russia, and Finland.

So far, Calgary is fourth in the worldwide list of bikers.

The event is in Eau Claire from 7 to 9 a.m.