Bicycle Commuter Contest 2010 Results

The 2010 Bicycle Commuter Contest is a wrap! 1336 couragous commuters signed up, and 938 of them turned in their mileage logs, in spite of nearly twice the normal rainfall for the month, with 22 days of measurable precipitation in May. Follw the links below to see how your team fared in various categories, and who rode the most days and miles in the individual categories. Thanks again for participating, and I look forward to seeing you next year! Stay tuned to this blog for further updates and news of interest.

Overall Team Placement
Top Team Results
Individual Results

BCC Award Ceremony This Saturday!!

Saturday, June 26 at 10 a.m. - Olympia Farmers Market stage

• We'll announce the winners of the many different categories in the Bicycle Commuter Contest and award prizes (need not be present to win).
• We'll hold a random drawing for a prize for those who turned in a mileage log and are present at the ceremony.
• We'll announce the winner of the drawing for the New Belgium Cruiser bicycle (the actual drawing will be a random electronic drawing that will occur today, and the winner will be notified immediately).

In other BCC News:

• Coupons have been mailed to everyone who turned in their mileage log. If you don't receive your envelope by the end of the week (June 26), contact me and I will make sure you get your coupons.
• We'll be sending out a survey soon, to assess our success, and gather as much information as we can to improve the BCC for next year and beyond. Please participate, or let me know if you don't receive the survey by June 28.

Many thanks to everyone who participated in BCC 2010- see you on Saturday!!

2010 BCC Overall Results are taking shape!

The mileage logs are in, and we're getting a picture of the participation in this year's Bicycle Commuter Contest. In spite of below-normal temperatures and almost double the average rainfall for the month of May, participation in the BCC remained strong. One especially encouraging detail is the high percentage of riders who followed through and turned in their mileage logs: up from 55% last year to 70% this year.

Overall Statistics:

• 65 Teams (52 Returned mileage reports)
• 1336 Registered (938 Turned in mileage logs = 70%)
• 350 First Time Participants = 26% of participants (201 turned in logs = 57%)
• 968 Veteran Participants (707 turned in logs = 73%)
• 84,452 miles = 3839 Gallons of Gasoline @22mpg and 101,342 lbs. CO2 @ 1.2 lb/mile
• 11,837 commute trips
• 4.4 mile avg. one way commute, Avg.13 days per rider, Avg. 90 miles per rider

Participation by age group:

• Juniors (to 11 yrs): 301 = 23% of participants (213 Logs = 70%)
• Youth (12-18 yrs): 49 = 4% of participants (24 Logs = 49%)
• Adults (19-59 yrs): 920 = 69% of participants (553 Logs = 60%)
• Seniors (60+ yrs): 52 = 4% of participants (39 Logs = 75%) 

 Team vs. Individual Participants: 

• Team Members: 1068 (765 returned mileage logs = 72%)
•  Individuals: 269 (163 returned mileage logs = 60%)

Better Late Than Never! Turn in your Mileage Log...

If you or someone you know participated in the 2010 Bicycle Commuter Contest, and has not turned in a mileage log yet, please do! Even if you only rode one day, we want to know about it! You can return the log in person to the Olympia Transit Center, or mail it to the address on the back of the form. Thanks so much for pedaling in May!

2010 Rider Profile #2: Joy Rogers

• What is your age? Screaming up too quickly on 53

• What is your occupation? Department assistant
• How many years have you been commuting by bike? This is my 3rd year
• How many times have you participated in the Bicycle Commuter Contest? This is #3.
• How did you hear about the BCC? Thru the workplace
• Describe your current average or usual commute(distance, terrain, urban/rural, etc.) 13.5 miles round trip from Tumwater (urban), uphill and down.
• What got you started bike commuting? Partly the BCC and partly the supportive environment of my workplace
• How have you adapted your habits to make bike commuting work for you? Arising an hour earlier, adjusting the morning routine, planning work attire in advance and remembering to bring in work clothes on carpool days, planning and preparing the night before for the next day.
• What are some of the benefits you have experienced from commuting by bike? My husband and I are primary caretakers for my disabled mother, so we have very little discretionary time. We normally carpool together. He works 10-hour days with Mondays off, so bicycling provides flexibility: I don’t need to drive, don’t have to wait until he picks me up after 6 p.m., I don’t have to leave work early to catch the bus, and bicycling is quicker than the bus. Since bicycling also is an excellent aerobic workout, I’m not trying to find additional time for exercise. Plus, I love the quiet, the smell, the sounds, and the views on the way to work in the morning, before the traffic and hubbub begin. And riding home after work is a fabulous de-stressor. Benefits: Combining a great aerobic workout with transportation; gaining excellent use of commute time; enjoying a positive sensory experience on the way to work and arriving happy and in a good mood that generally carries thru the day; the exhilaration of zooming downhill part of the way home; savoring the views on the return trip, arriving home calmer and less stressed; the feeling of accomplishing something positive and good, that I was able to overcome challenges; knowing I am part of the solution, contributing to the “greater good”; and saving money- that's a lot of benefits!
• What are some of the challenges you have experienced, and how have you overcome them? In the beginning: getting started, staying motivated, and just being able to make it all the way to work. Sometimes it’s a challenge just to get out of bed at 5 a.m. (part of that is not leaving all the morning “duties” to my husband, such as feeding the dogs, getting mom set up, taking out the garbage, etc.). Feeling guilty for trading the dogs’ walking time for bicycling. Time is often a challenge—it would be so much quicker/easier to carpool with my husband, but then I’d miss all the benefits and euphoria of bicycling. This year, I also am recovering from a broken leg. The first few attempts were uncomfortable and a little painful, so I had to back off and take it slower, but bicycling is helping to strengthen and improve the leg much quicker than I expected.
• What is it that keeps you going, especially when the going is tough(weather, darkness, inertia, etc)? At first, it was the contest itself (not wanting to let the team down). Then all those benefits motivate me to continue. I was a real wimp about riding in the rain…until I actually rode in a downpour (without rain pants or proper shoes). Even though I was soaked to the bone from waist down, it wasn’t nearly as bad as expected and that felt good!
• How do you choose your route(most direct, least traffic, most scenic, etc)? Usually, the least uphills and traffic. Fortunately, there’s abundant scenery on any route, and since there is less traffic, I’m able to enjoy it more.
• What style of bike do you ride to commute? Currently, it’s an inexpensive Schwinn hybrid I bought at Fred Meyer a few years ago, when hubby and I were purely occasional recreational cyclists. However, I’m seriously considering something more comfortable and fitting for commuting.
Ed. note: See the new Trek above! It's a Trek (women-specific design) 7.3XL. "Picked it up Saturday, rode it this morning. Woo hoo! The hills were a breeze in comparison to the other bike!"
• Any words of wisdom for the beginning commuter? Take one of the urban cycling courses! It’s well worth the time and money. Before I took the course, I was very hesitant to ride in traffic because there were certain circumstances I didn’t know how to deal with. The course was excellent, the instructors are marvelous, and now I have lots more confidence on the road!

Another event Saturday June 5- donate your old bike!

Celebrate National Trails Day this Saturday June 5!

Meet from Noon to 1PM at the "T" intersection of the Woodland Trail and the Chehalis Western Trail for light snacks and a celebration.
Before that, you can help restore our trail system by participating in one of three work parties:
Saturday, June 5

1. 9 AM In Olympia to put mulch mats on our newly-planted trees at the Fones Road Crossing of the Woodland Trail. Contact Jack Horton (360)
   
2. 9 AM In Lacey for invasive species removal at Woodland Creek Community Park at the east end of the Woodland Trail. Contact Lori Flemm (360)701-6814
   
3. 9 AM In Thurston County for invasive species removal at the Chambers Lake Trailhead of the Chehalis Western Trail. Contact Kerry Hibdon at (360)867-2181

Enjoy the trails: ride your bike or longboard; skate or walk. Just get to the intersection of the Woodland Trails and the Chehalis Western Trail by Noon!If you are not familiar with this location, call Jack Horton (360)789-0944 for directions.

BCC 2010 Wraps up- time to return mileage logs!

What a wet May! By my count, it rained or showered on 19 days in May. 1332 people registered for the Bicycle Commuter Contest this year, let's see how many actually rode their bikes rain or shine!

Please turn in your completed, legible mileage log by Monday, June 7 at the Olympia Transit Center, 222 State Ave NE in downtown Olympia, or mail it to:
Bicycle Commuter Contest
c/o Intercity Transit
P.O. Box 659
Olympia, WA 98507-0659

Remember to count the miles you rode in the Earth Day ride if you participated, and to count your "double" miles if you rode on Bike To Work Day, May 21. Check the box if you want to be entered to win the New Belgium Cruiser bike in our free drawing. We also have lots of great coupons for everyone who turns in a mileage log, and many excellent prizes for those who rode the extra mile or the extra day!

Don't miss the Award Ceremony at the Farmers Market on Sat. June 26 at 10am!