Inter-Agency Bike Ride, Friday May 21

2009 Interagency Ride Group Photo

When
Friday, May 21st is National Bike to Work Day. It is also time for the 4th Annual Interagency Bike Ride. As part of the Thurston County Bicycle Commuter Contest you are cordially invited to participate! This ride is organized by Washington State Department of Transportation and the Department of Revenue.

How
Want to join other agency staff for a fun and supportive bike ride? It’s easy. Just ride your bike to one of these start locations on Friday, May 21st:

1. Parking lot on the north side of the G. A. building at Union & Columbia, Olympia: 11:30;
2. Revenue Dept. at 6500 Linderson Way, Tumwater, at 11:45; OR
3. The Capital Plaza Building parking lot at the corner of Eastside and Union at 11:25; OR
4. Ride directly to Tumwater Historical Park, arriving at noon…but it would be a lot more fun to ride with the group.

The Capitol Plaza riders will converge with the Capitol Campus riders at the parking lot behind GA and ride together to the Tumwater Historical Park. Once at the park, you are invited to pick up a local or state bike map; enter to win a cool drawing prize; and listen to speakers talking about the benefits of cycling!

Benefits
Cyclists continue to be leaders for improving commuting habits, traffic laws, and energy conservation. I encourage you join me on a lunchtime ride to help raise awareness of alternative modes of transportation that can reduce traffic, save money, and improve your health!

Brown Bag It
This will be a brown bag event if you would like to bring your lunch.

Contact For More Information
For more information and promotional posters, contact Mark Longrie at 360-570-3223
or marklo"at"dor.wa.gov

See you on the ride May 21st!

Thurston County Online Bike Map Updated

Click on the title above or here to visit the updated online version of the Thurston County Bicycle Map. You will also find an extensive list of the changes that have been made to make the map more accurately reflect the conditions on the ground. Downloadable PDF versions of the map are also available, and will be updated today or tomorrow with the same changes. An updated print version is in the works as well, but it will likely be a year or two before it is available.

Use this map to plan your commute or find a new route!

Bike To Work Day, Friday May 21

The Bicycle Commuter Contest will be participating in Bike To Work day activities.

• We will be represented at the City of Olympia's "Bike Stations", where we will have gifts for BCC participants who show us their mileage log, sticker or t-shirt. Bike Stations will be located downtown on 5th Ave next to Capitol Lake, at the Eastside St. trailhead of the Woodland Trail, and at Ralph's Thriftway on 4th Ave E. from 7-9am
• We will participate (with a group of riders from Intercity Transit) in the Interagency Bike Ride, which starts at various state and local agencies at 11:30, arriving at Tumwater Historical Park at noon for a gathering in the picnic area. Contact your building Employee Transportation Coordinator for more information.

Lost Glove Update

OK, it was still there this morning so I picked it up. It's a really nice right hand Pearl Izumi PrimaLoft winter cycling glove. I am sure the owner is sore to lose it. Found on 5th ave E. below Central St. email dgreen@intercitytransit to claim.

Lost Pearl Izumi glove

If you lost your nice winter Pearl Izumi glove on the way to work this morning, I saw it on 5th Ave E. (email dgreen@intercitytransit.com for exact location). I didn't pick it up, thinking that the owner might retrace their route to find it.

Limited Supply of BCC T-shirts Remains

Show your Bike Commuting Colors!

This year's BCC T-shirts are a hit! They are long sleeved, Royal Blue, 100% Cotton, printed locally with our catchy logo, cost only $15, and only a few remain! Come on down to the Olympia Transit Center to get yours while they last! Currently there are all sizes available (Youth Large and Adult S,M,L,XL, & 2XL). Hurry as some sizes are going fast.

Olympia Transit Center is at 222 State Ave. in downtown Olympia, and is open 7am-7pm.

2010 Bicycle Commuter Contest Off and Riding!

The registrations have been flooding in during the last week, and the BCC is off to a great start for 2010. The "Official" deadline to register is today, but if you can't get your form in today, don't sweat it- we're not going to turn anyone away for being a little late. We're on "bicycle time"! Try to get yourself or your team registered this week if you can, and it'll all be good.

If you registered by mail and haven't yet received or have lost your mileage log and need another one, they are now availbale online, by clicking the link above, or going to http://www.intercitytransit.com/
Hope to see you out there pedaling!

Wrencher's Ball a Great Success!!

Many, many thanks to the great volunteers who cranked out 70 free bike saftey checks on Friday! The Annual Wrencher's Ball was a great success, generating lots of interest and exposure for the Bicycle Commuter Contest. The local bicycle shops really came through, with 6 out of the 7 local shops participating. Many other dedicated supporters also turned out.

• Thanks to: Bike Tech, Joy Ride Bicycles, Olympic Outfitters/Bike Stand, Oly Bikes, Old Town Bicycle, Deschutes River Cyclery, and The Evergreen State College Bike Shop for providing bike repair super-heroes!


• Thanks to: Caffe Vita, San Francisco St. Bakery and Old School Pizzeria for feeding our volunteers!


• Thanks to: Mark, James,Troy, Courtney, Avery, Trudes, Linda, Kris, Chris, Christopher, Tom, Dane, Bill, Rich, Ed, Larry, Andy, Ross, Ken, John, Travis and Chris for being there, and making it all possible!

WRENCHER'S BALL!! Friday April 30

The Legendary Wrencher's Ball is upon us- don't miss the chance to see local bike repair super-heroes at work, and sign up for the Bicycle Commuter Contest while you're at it! The Wrencher's Ball offers a free bike safety check-up to all registered participants in the Bicycle Commuter Contest, so come on down to the Olympia Transit Center on Friday April 30, register for the BCC, and get your bike checked over.

• Drop off your bike between 7:30 am & 3 pm, and be back to pick it up no later than 5 pm.
• Bring your mileage log or other proof of registration, or register on the spot for the BCC.
• The Olympia Transit Center is at 222 Sate Ave NE in downtown Olympia
• The weather is predicted to be good- see you there!
  

Another interesting blog!

Click on the title for a blog about carless living!

Earth Day Cycling in Budapest

photo by Bela Szandelszki

Click on the title above to see an article about 80,000 cyclists taking to the streets of Budapest on Earth Day.

Last Week to Regster- Don't Wait!

This week is the last week to register for the 2010 Bicycle Commuter Contest. Please procure a registration form by:

1. Download and print one by clicking on the title of this post
2. Find one at local bicycle shops, Food Coops or Thriftway stores
3. Get one at the Olympia Transit Center

Register by:

1. Mailing in your form with $5 (if over 18) to the address on the form
2. Register in person at the Olympia transit Center, 222 State Ave NE, Olympia
3. Register at the Wrencher's Ball on Friday, April 30 (that's THIS Friday!)

Record your miles on the mileage log we give you when you register (or mail to you if you register by mail), and turn it in or mail it in by June 7 to be eligible for gifts and prizes!

Please participate- join a workplace or school team, or go it alone- but come along for the ride!

For more info see www.intercitytransit.com or email dgreen@intercitytransit.com

Cycling safety and Health

An interesting article... click on the title above to hyperlink.

Tacoma Bike Swap

Pierce Transit Tacoma Bike Swap is May 8th @ UPS Campus! It's free and open to the public! There is still room for vendors to participate - to register email bikeswap@cityoftacoma.org! see Pierce Trips for all the events and details for Bike Month!
http://www.piercetrips.com/mc/page.do?sitePageId=44544

Wrencher's Ball coming up!

Our next big event is the storied Wrencher's Ball, on Friday, April 30 at the Olympia Transit Center. Since the early days of the Bicycle Commuter Contest (nobody can remember exactly when it started), volunteer wrenchers from area bike shops and beyond have been gathering to perform bike safety checks for registered participants in the BCC. Bring your bike to the Transit Center (at State Ave and Franklin St.) between 7:30 am and 3:30 pm, and either register for the BCC, or show us proof that you already have, and we'll check over your bike. This is a safety check with minor adjustments and a referral to a bike shop if you need major repairs. First come first served, and please pick up your bike by 5pm.

Earth Day Ride a big success!

Intercity Transit General Manager Mike Harbour addresses the throng at the fountain

Despite the threatening weather (which later followed through on the threat!), 75 intrepid practical cyclists turned out for the 5th Annual Earth Day Market Ride! Many thanks to all the volunteer leaders, and to everyone who came out and rode this year. At our booth at the Farmers Market, 54 riders registered for the Bicycle Commuter Contest. Hopefully everyone got home before the skies opened at around 2:30. I saw that cloud coming and got our canopy down and put away in a hurry! Stay tuned for updates on upcoming events, like the Wrencher's Ball.
If you haven't registered yet for the BCC, make sure to do it before May 1.

Thanks everybody!!

Will post a full report on Monday. Thanks so much to everyone for coming out!

Rain or Shine!

You can do it! Riding in the rain keeps you young!
See you at the fountain!

( maybe the sun will come out!)

Final Earth Day Ride Update (unless there's more!)

Please scroll down to earlier posts for background info on the Earth Day Ride
Agenda at the Fountain (starting at approx. 11:00am):

1. Duncan will read greeting from Governor Gregoire and introduce Intercity Transit General Manager Mike Harbour
2. Short remarks form Mike Harbour
3. Short announcements regarding the ride to the Market
4. Group photo
5. Ride to the Market via 4th Ave, and Columbia St.

Intercity Transit sponsors The Earth Day Market Ride. For liability reasons, all riders must sign a release form (available from ride leaders) and wear a helmet for this event. We'll be following all traffic laws and sharing the road. Thanks in advance for your cooperation!
Ride Starting Points and Times:
Evergreen Ride: Evergreen State College Flag Circle, meet at 10 am,depart at 10:15
Leader: Jessie

NW Olympia - 17th Ave NW & Evergreen Pkwy, Meet at 10 am,
depart at 10:10 Leader: Linda

West Olympia - Woodruff Park (next to Garfield Elem @ Harrison & Perry):
meet at 10:30 am, depart at 10:45 Leader: Camille

NE Olympia - Roosevelt Elementary: meet at 10:15 am,
depart at 10:30 Leader: Chris

South Capitol area - Flag Circle between Leg. Bldg. and Temple of Justice:
meet at 10:15 am, depart at 10:30 Leader: Ed

SE Olympia - Olympia High School north parking lot at bike racks:
meet at 10:15 am, depart at 10:30 Leader: Lee

East Oly/Lacey - Chambers Lake Boat Launch (Chehalis/Western Trail):
meet at 10 am, depart at 10:15 Leader: Troy

Lacey Homann Park, near Lacey P.O.- meet at 9:45, depart at 10:00 am.
Leader: Harri-Ann

Lacey- South Sound Ctr - Freeway Bike Path at West end of Sleater-Kinney
underpass: meet at 10 am, depart at 10:15 Leader: Kris

See you Saturday, Rain or Shine!!

BCC on KGY

Just a quick note to let you know I'll be talking bike commuting with Dick Pust tomorrow (Wednesday) morning at a little after 8:00 am on KGY AM Olympia, 1240 AM.