The Earth Day Market Ride, sponsored by Intercity Transit & Group Health is just around the corner, on Saturday, April 18.
This event is a great way to kick off the Spring cycling season and get in gear for the Bicycle Commuter Contest. You’ll meet cycling friends old and new, perhaps discover a new route, have some fun and count your miles toward your BCC total, in the special box on your mileage log!
Groups of cyclists will convene at designated spots in various neighborhoods around the Olympia area, depart between 10am and 10:15, and converge at the Heritage Park Fountain. We’ll have a few announcements, and then at around 11 am, proceed all together to the Farmers Market. We’ll have some tables set up at the Market, where you’ll be able to register for the BCC and receive a free water bottle from Group Health, plus a reflective leg band or flashing safety light when you sign up for the BCC(while supplies last)!Note: The Earth Day Market and Neighborhood Rides are sponsored by Intercity Transit and Group Health Cooperative. For liability reasons, all riders will need to sign a release form, and wear a helmet for this event. Thanks in advance for your cooperation!
At noon, we’ll have some brief presentations:
A flat-repair demonstration
Safe Cycling techniques and Rules of the Road
Gearing up: what gear do you really need to commute successfully?
THE RIDES: We’re still getting ride leaders lined up, but we already have confirmed rides from the following locations:
South Sound Center: Dane Clay dclay18@comcast.net will lead this ride from South Sound Center to Heritage Park, using the I-5 bike path, Eastside Street, and Legion Way. Ride departs South Sound Center at 10:15 am. Meet by the flags in the NE corner of parking lot, near Sleater-Kinney Rd. and the bike tunnel.
TESC and Northwest Olympia: Student Transportation Coordinator Travis Skinner stuctr@evergreen.edu will lead this ride from Evergreen to the Heritage Park Fountain. Ride departs at 10:00 am.
Southeast Olympia: Olympia’s Bicycle and Pedestrian Safety Specialist Kerry Tarullo ktarullo@ci.olympia.wa.us and IT vanpool coordinator Lee Peterson LPeterson@intercitytransit.com depart Olympia High School Carlyon Ave parking lot at 10:15 am
Eastside Bike Trails Tour: Led by Jack Horton jack_horton@hotmail.com Start time - 9 AM, Sat Apr 18 San Fransisco St Bakery in NE Neighborhood Conditions: Mostly paved with some packed gravel Pace: Social, Purpose: Show best commute routes from NE Neighborhood using trails as much as possible. Will include some short interpretive stops.
Bigelow Highlands (NE Olympia): Leader, Chris Hawkins. Meet at Bigelow Park Shelter, depart at 10:30 am. Route: South on Puget, West on Thurston, South on Eastside Street to Legion Way, then West down Legion all the way to Water Street. North on Water St. to 5th, West on 5th to Fountain.
West Side Ride: Led by Robert Kam, This kid-friendly ride meets at Garfield School parking lot. Departs at 10:30. Route: Madison to Percival, Jackson to Sherman, Sherman to Harrison, sidewalks through the roundabouts and across bridge to the fountain.
Stay tuned here for further developments and feel free to call Duncan at 705-5874, or email dgreen@intercitytransit.com for more information, or for help setting up a ride of your own.
