Registration Deadline Approahes!
Saturday May 2 is the official deadline to sign up for the 2009 Bicycle Commuter Contest. We'll be at the Lacey Alternative Energy Fair from 9am - 3pm with Registration Forms, T-shirts and free giveaways for those who sign up. If you can't make it to the fair, there is still time to get down to the Olympia Transit Center and register there. Sign up, ride safely, and ride often!

The 2009 Wrencher's Ball was a huge success! We signed up 85 participants for the Bicycle Commuter Contest and checked over and adjusted 85-90 bicycles for people who had signed up. We had an amazing team of volunteers including five mechanics from four local bike shops.

• Larry Leveen and Ken Sutto from OlyBikes
• Bill Stevenson from the Bike Stand
• Jason Wennstrom from Old Town Bikes
• Derik Archibald from Joy Ride Bicycles

Other excellent independent wrenchers came out to help as well:

• Matthew Mullinix, Dane Clay, Tom Skjervold and Lee Peterson all did heroic service on the wrenches.
• Kris Fransen, Kerry Tarullo, James Wancha, Linda Lawson and Mark Kallas helped with logistics and with keeping track of the bikes and signing people up for the BCC. This event could have never happened without this fantastic and dedicated team! Thanks everybody!

Also big Thank-Yous to those contributing with sustenance for our team:

• San Francisco St. Bakery provided pastries for the morning wrenchers
• Caffe Vita kept us fueled with coffee
• Old School Pizza provided three delicious pies for our lunch

The Wrencher's Ball is Just Around the Corner!

Volunteers from local bike shops will be on hand at the Olympia Transit Center, 222 State Ave in Downtown Olympia, Friday, April 24, from 7am until 4pm (pick your bike up before 5pm) to give your bike a checkover, if you sign up for the Bicycle Commuter Contest.

• Be prepared to leave your bike for a few hours.
• We will inspect your bike for safety issues, and make minor adjustments as needed.
• Typical check-up includes airing up the tires, lubing the chain and cables, minor brake and gear adjustments, making sure nuts and bolts are tight. If we have time we might straighten out a wheel, or adjust a bearing if needed.
• We won't reliably have spare parts on hand, so if your bike needs a replacement part, you'll have to go to a nearby bike shop (there are three within a few blocks) and buy the part.
• If your bike needs major repairs, we'll refer you to a local bike shop.
• PLEASE RETREIVE YOUR BIKE BEFORE 5pm - we'll be packing up to go home after that.

Come on down to the Wrencher's Ball, and get ready to ride!

2009 Earth Day Market Ride A Success!

Sponsored by Intercity Transit and Group Health Coop

Thanks to everyone who came out on Saturday for the Earth Day Market Ride! We had an estimated 75-85 riders from every corner of Olympia and beyond. The day was perfect, and a good time was had by all (well at least by me!). Once we got to the Farmer's Market, there was a rush of people signing up for the Bicycle Commuter Contest, and receiving their free goodies, including blinky lights from Planet Bike, leg bands from Jandd and water bottles from Group Health. There was a well attended, participatory Flat-Fix Demo by Lee Peterson, and many other volunteers helped out too. Stay tuned for news about our next event, the Wrenchers Ball, coming up this Friday!

Earth Day Neighborhood Rides- Routes and Details

This is a map of the rides that are organized so far- feel free to contact me for more info, and I will update the map on Friday to include any more routes that are added! See blog entry below for more details as well.


View 2009 Neighb­orhood Ride Map in a larger map

From our friends at the Southwest Olympia Neighborhood Assn

Earth Day Market/Neighborhood Ride Coming Up!

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.

IT's OFFICIAL!!

Registration for the 2009 Bicycle Commuter Contest has begun!
Visit the Olympia Transit Center at State and Washington streets in downtown Olympia to register for the contest and buy your T-Shirt.
You can also register by mail- download a PDF version of our registration form at:
http://www.intercitytransit.com/files/13/onlineregistration.pdf
and mail it with your check for $5.00 to
Bicycle Commuter Contest
Intercity Transit
222 State Ave
Olympia, WA 98501
New for 2009: In an effort to make the process more efficient and reliable, and so that everyone can get a t-shirt in the size they desire, we have eliminated the pre-ordering option for t-shirts this year. T-shirts will be available for purchase while supplies last, at the Olympia Transit Center, and at select events, like the Wrencher's Ball, and the Lacey Alternative Eergy Fair. For best selection, go to the OTC soon to buy your t-shirt!
Stay tuned here, and visit our website
http://www.intercitytransit.com/page.cfm?ID=0350
for more information and breaking news about the 2009 Bicycle Commuter Contest!

New Belgium Commuter Special Edition Arrives!

This year we are going to give away two bicycles to two lucky BCC registrants!

(Thanks to New Belgium Brewing Co., Jamis Bicycles and OlyBikes!)

Just check the box on your registration form to indicate which bike you would like to be entered for, and turn in your registration form before the MAY 2 deadline to be entered to win either this New Belgium Brewing Co. 3-speed commuter bike, or the Jamis comfort bike shown below.

NBB Commuter bike spec's:

• Comfy saddle and handlebars
• 29" standover height, and long seat post- suitable for riders up to 6' tall
• Sturmey-Archer 3-speed internal gear hub, w/coaster brake
• alloy rims with 700x35c tires
• spring-loaded rear rack with reflector
  

Sign up soon and GoodLuck!

Jamis Explorer bike donated by Jamis, courtesy of OlyBikes

Win this Jamis Comfort Bike!

Register for the 2009 Bicycle Commuter Contest, and check the appropriate box on your Registration Form to be entered to win either this 15.5" frame Jamis Explorer Comfort Bike (for riders up to 5'4"), or an Adult-sized Cruiser bike from New Belgium Brewing. A drawing will be held on Monday May4, after the May 2 registration deadline, so all registered riders will have a chance to win!

EARTH DAY MARKET RIDE SCHEDULED Saturday April 18, Presented by Intercity Transit and Group Health Cooperative

The Earth Day Market Ride is a great way to show your support for alternative transportation, meet other cyclists, and register for the Bicycle Commuter Contest! Organize your own group to ride with, or ride with one of the many veteran cyclists leading neighborhood rides downtown from neighborhoods all over the Olympia metro area. Riders from the different neighborhoods will converge in downtown Olympia at 11am Saturday April 18 before continuing on together to the Farmers Market for live music, free giveaways when you sign up for the BCC (while supplies last) and other fun stuff!

Remember to obey all traffic laws as a group (see our link to Washington Bicycle Laws), and that every cyclist is an ambassador for all the cyclists on the road. Be confident and predictable, hold your own, and obey traffic laws, which are there for everyone’s safety.

Stay tuned for further developments and information, coming soon!

URBAN CYCLING WORKSHOPS - Check this out!

The City of Olympia, partnering with the Capitol Bicycling Club, is holding Urban Cycling workshops in March and April, just in time for Spring cycling and May’s Bicycle Commuter Contest! The workshops instruct on:

negotiating with traffic,
navigating through intersections,
fitting your bike,
basic maintenance,
emergency maneuvers and more.

The workshops are available for adults (16 +), youth (ages 12-15) and a women-only course is offered. Adult courses are broken into a weekend, two part workshop with classroom time and parking-lot drills the first day, and more classroom discussion and a group ride the second day. Youth workshops are offered as a two part, Monday/Wednesday course after school on weekdays. A bike in good working order and helmet are required for both sessions. There is a $5 fee for each adult session and a onetime $5 fee for the Mon/Wed youth workshop. Sign up through Olympia Parks and Recreation: 753-8380. For more information, visit our website www.ci.olympia.wa.us/cityservices/par/recreation/activityguide.htm

SCHEDULE:

Adult-Ages 16 and up
Urban Cycling I: Sat March 7, 10am-2pm
Urban Cycling II: Sun March 8, 10am-2pm

Urban Cycling I: Sat March 21, 10am-2pm
Urban Cycling II: Sun March 22, 10am-2pm

Women’s Workshops-Taught by Women! (this class is filled, but please call and ask to be placed on the waiting list, we will hold another if there is enough demand)
Urban Cycling I: Sat April 4, 10am-2pm
Urban Cycling II: Sun April 5, 10am-2pm

Youth-Ages 12-15 (2 day course)
Urban Cycling: M/W April 6 & 8, 4-6pm
Urban Cycling: M/W April 13 & 15, 4-6pm

These workshops are offered as a part of the Olympia Walks, Olympia Bikes campaign: a grant funded program to increase the safety of walkers and cyclists and encourage more people to try walking and biking.



On a more personal note; I highly recommend these courses to anyone who rides a bike on our urban roads. As a part of my training to teach these courses I had to take the two part workshop myself. I have been an avid cyclist and bike commuter for 7 years now, commuting in urban settings such as San Diego, CA and now Olympia. I went into the course thinking I knew everything I needed to know about cycling with traffic. The course changed my riding style immensely. I did not realize I was uncertain in many traffic situations on where to place myself or how to navigate through a multi-lane left turn. I now ride with much more confidence and can say that I offer motorists a more pleasant view of cyclists by following traffic laws and riding predictably.



Kerry Tarullo
Bicycle & Pedestrian Education Specialist
City of Olympia, Public Works Transportation
360.753.8575
Mail address: PO Box 1967, 98507-1967
Street address: 924 7th Ave SE, Suite A
Olympia, WA

Worth The Weight

Worth The Weight, originally uploaded by duncan herondancer.

I like to see and be seen! Winter commuting has it's hazards, and darkness is one of them at this latitude. Perhaps I go a bit overboard, but I really like being able to see where I am going on a dark road in the rain.
I have a dynamo light (old bottom bracket generator), a cateye LED light and a cygo-lite battery-halogen set (on this particular bike). Planet Bike Superflash on the back!

Bike Lane Rearview

IMG_0569, originally uploaded by duncan herondancer.

Rearview mirrors can be handy for commuting!

Welcome to the 2009 Bicycle Commuter Contest!

Hello Everyone,

Welcome to the 2009 Thurston County Bicycle Commuter Contest, hosted by Intercity Transit! This will be the 22nd year that the contest has been encouraging and inspiring people of all ages and walks of life to benefit the health of the earth, their community and themselves, by making the choice to ride a bike instead of driving.

As always, the BCC runs for the month of May, with signups beginning in April. My name is Duncan Green, and I’ll be coordinating the BCC this year, so feel free to get in touch. You can e-mail me at dgreen@intercitytransit.com, or call me at 360-705-5874. I’m looking forward to a great year for the Bicycle Commuter Contest, and hoping you’ll join me to make it so!

A quick heads-up about an imminent (and eminent) event:

The Seattle Bike Swap is this coming Saturday (Feb 21, 2009)- a great event with many, many vendors selling every imaginable type of bikes, parts and gear, often for garage sale prices.

Seattle Bike Swap Magnusen Park Hangar #30 (off Sand Point Way at about 70th St. NE)
Saturday Feb 21 9am-2pm (arrive early for good selection, stay late for the best prices)
$5.00 from 9am-1pm
free from 1-2pm
kids under 15 free all day

2008 BCC Results ARE IN!!!

I want to thank you all again and congratulate you all for setting another record this year with participation and miles ridden. Not only are you participating in a community building event, you are choosing a healthy and clean transportation method, and bringing more awareness to bicycle commuting! As a community, we all traveled:

• 104,000 miles! Roughly 4 trips around the world!


• 11,750 commute trips by bicycle-that's 11,750 cars trips off the road in May!


• We prevented the consumption of approximately 4,700 gallons of gasoline, saving about $18,000 in fuel costs!*


• Prevented the release of 92,000 lbs. of CO2!


• For a list of individual winners, click here: http://www.intercitytransit.com/files/13/Resultsallcategories.pdf


• For a list of team winners, click here: http://www.intercitytransit.com/files/13/Bicycle%20CommuterContesTeamFinalResults.pdf


• Everyone Wins with the Thurston County BCC, Congratulations to you all!

Those numbers are a great deal to be proud of Thurston County! I hope you all found the month of May to be rewarding and hopefully the BCC has influenced you to keep up the healthy habit of bike commuting. Those sought after coupon packets are being mailed out to everyone who turned in a mileage log this week. If you are a winner, you can expect your prize in the mail in the next two weeks or you will be notified by mail to pick it up at the Olympia Transit Center. Please wait for your letter to arrive, you will need this as proof to pick up your prize.

*Based on AAA Fuel Gauge Report for Olympia, WA in May 2008, average price of regular unleaded $3.81 per gallon and 22 miles per gallon.

Thanks for another great BCC season and see you on the road! ~KT

Rider Profile #4

Meet Keith and his girls, Acadia & Sierra!

Keith Edgerton, Acadia (8), Sierra (5)

Age: 38

Occupation: Commercial Construction Project Manager

Years Commuting: 3 years 2 months or 401 hours and 5,387miles : )

Current Average Commute: Just under 5 miles roundtrip. I use Intercity Transit almost every weekday in combo with bicycle commuting. Starting my day off by riding up Courthouse Hill is not always appealing. It’s always nice to have options with non-car commuting. When I have meetings or errands to run, my max ride will be about 13 miles a day.

What got you started? I became legally blind on March 10, 2005. My brother and I were born with a degenerative disease of the retina (Retinitis Pigmentosa). Our peripheral vision is slowly deteriorating and I crossed the threshold of legal blind status in March ’05. It happened earlier than I thought and it was a big adjustment at first but it has be so rewarding. I still have excellent central vision but my blind spots in my periphery could continue to grow. I was feeling less safe driving and my doctor confirmed that it would be best to stop driving. He agreed that cycling would be great for me because I would be moving at a slower speed than a car and I would be able to hear what’s going on around me.

What keeps you pedaling? I still have a sense of independence without driving. I absolutely love cycling. What most people considered a tragedy in my life has turned into such a blessing. I love being in shape. I love the sights (@ slower speeds than a car), sounds and smells of the different seasons. It’s always a stress reducer for me. I also hope that my girls are learning that there is always a way to do what you want even if the most convenient or obvious option is not available. All (3) of us have really learned how to get around without a car, whether it’s a vacation to the San Juan’s or bowling on the west side. The fringe benefits are no car payments, gas/maintenance, car insurance and less of an environmental impact. It’s such a win/win for the girls and me.

Is the route you chose the safest, fastest, most fun or only route? I would say all of the above. I always look for the less car traveled road or the most beautiful route when I am running errands, going to project meetings, shopping or taking the girls to school. Being safe around cars probably trumps all options, especially when my girls are riding with me. As I tell my girls, “whether you are right or wrong, the car will always win!” Being defensive cyclists is always a priority in our house.

What style of Bike do you commute on? I had a company truck before I stopped driving and my employer, Andy Johnson & Co. bought me a company bike for my first ride. It was a 2005 Jamis Coda Comp. But a year later, I fell in love with my current bike. It’s a 2005 LeMond Tourmalet or as I like to call it, my Orca Bike! I can race with it or pull a 100lbs of groceries in the bike trailer. I hope to be riding my Orca Bike for years to come as long as I can hold onto the vision I have left. Acadia rides the Raleigh Rowdy (not in picture) and Sierra is decked out on the Dora bike.

How many BCC's have you participated in? This is my 4th Commuter contest and the girls 2nd. I love all the stats that come out at the end, especially the total miles. You can really see how a group of people can make a huge difference for the health of themselves and the planet!

Thanks for sharing this with us Keith, Acadia and Sierra! What a positive outlook you have, thanks for showing us how a loss was a gain for you in a way. It really seems like you know how to get around car-free! Keith shared a story with me of a car-free vacation he took with his girls in the San Juan's. He told me it was filled with Bikes, Buses, Ferries, etc., and was a total blast and his girls had a fantastic time. How inspirational! With the seriousness of high gas prices around, some of us are having trouble making those vacation plans, among other things, because of the additional expenses. Thanks for showing us that it's not only possible, but fun to live and vacation without using your car! Thanks for pedaling and see you on the road Keith, Acadia and Sierra! ~KT

For more information on how to bike and bus, click here: http://www.intercitytransit.com/page.cfm?ID=bikesOnBuses

Bike the Deschutes Event: July 27!

Want to learn more about your watershed area while cycling? Come join cyclists of all ages and abilities on the 2nd Annual Bike Your Watershed event hosted by a team of individuals dedicated to improving our community and environment. This FREE family and friends event is designed to create watershed awareness and to promote bicycling as an environmentally friendly form of transportation. After registering, come to the Tumwater Historical Park anytime between 8am and 10am on Sunday, July27. Registration is limited, so register early!

Registration info here: http://web.mac.com/bikeyourwatershed/Site/Registration.html

See you there!