LAST DAY to record your miles in the BCC!

It's happened again, another May has gone by and we're on the last day of the BCC. Don't let a little sprinkle stop you from riding your bike to work, school or on errands on the last day! Bike safe and remember to return your Mileage Log by June 8 to receive your rewards coupons and be entered to win a new bike and other great prizes!

2012 BCC Rider Profile # 4: Sara Eve

• What is your age, roughly speaking? I’m in my mid-40s.


• What is your occupation or area of study? I work for the Washington State Department of Health. I have my Master’s Degree in Public Health, Community Health Education.

• What is your most frequent destination on your bike? Last summer was the first time I had a bike in more than 20 years, and I rode to my office in Lacey from my home on the upper Eastside. I changed jobs to work at the Department of Health in Tumwater, so it’s a longer ride now.

• How did you hear about the BCC? I saw flyers about it for years and longingly wanted to participate, but this is the first year I’ve had a bike!

• How many times have you participated in the Bicycle Commuter Contest? This is my first year.


• What got you started riding your bike to get around (practical cycling)? I wanted to feel like a “true Olympian,” I wanted to get more exercise, and I find that I do best with regular exercise if it is “practical.” I also had an injury about a year ago that made it hard to do what I usually did for exercise – dancing and walking – and needed to find another way to be active, so now it’s biking and swimming.

Mini-Contest Winners!

We have three winners in our Tuesday Mini-Contest!
Mike S., Shanti H. and Paul B. all answered the "where is it?" question correctly, as:
West Bay Drive Southbound, near the site of the old plywood mill (who's been around long enough to remember that fire?) Thanks for participating in the BCC and our Tuesday Mini-Contest, everybody!

BCC Mini-Contest and Countdown

Less than 3 days left in the 25th Annual Bicycle Commuter Contest! Be sure you've recorded all the practical trips you made by bike in May on your Mileage Log, and be sure to return it by June 8 to the Olympia Transit Center or by mail to BCC c/o Intercity Transit, PO Box 659 Olympia, WA 98507-0659 Fabulous coupons and prizes await!

Tuesday Mini-Contest: Where is this- what street and which direction of travel? The first three people (registered in the BCC) who answer correctly by sending me an email (to dgreen"at"intercitytransit.com) will win a cool prize! Winners announced after 2pm. Good luck!

Washington is #1 Bike Friendly State- again!

For the fifth year in a row, Washington State has earned the number one spot in the League of American Bicyclist's Bike Friendly State ratings. Olympia has also kept it's Silver rating as a Bike Friendly Community!

To find out more about what all this means, check out Washington's Bike Friendly State report card and the League's Bike Friendly America pages.

Congratulations, Olympia and Washington State!

Rider Profile #3: Kirsty F.

• What is your age, roughly speaking? 19


• What is your occupation or area of study? I am a student, studying Community Organization and Change.

• What is your most frequent destination on your bike? I most frequently ride my bicycle to work.

• How did you hear about the BCC? I first heard about the BCC three years ago at an information stand in Lacey.

• What got you started riding your bike to get around (practical cycling)? When I was 15 years old, my mother purchased me a car for fear that if she did not, I would never do so myself and I would not desire to drive. After having the car for a few months, I came to realize that the costs of owning a car were very high. I sold the car and got a bicycle instead!

6th Annual Inter-Agency Bike Ride

Over 70 riders took part in the 6th Annual Inter-Agency Bike Ride

Pioneer School's Bike To School Day a Success

Pioneer School: The morning parent drop-off traffic was noticeably lighter as swarms of students rode their bikes to Pioneer Elementary School in Olympia during Bike to Work Day. Countless students also walked or propelled themselves on their scooters. Stacey Brewster, a parent, greeted the young cyclists at the front of school, offering them bright orange slap bands and green bicycle pins provided by Intercity Transit to celebrate the occasion. Principal Randy Weeks wondered, “I don’t know what we will do once the racks fill up!” Another parent replied, “That is a good problem to have!” Over 150 students rode to school, packing the bike racks well beyond capacity. Maybe it’s time for Pioneer to assess its bike parking problem!

2012 Rider Profile #2 Greg W.

What is your age, roughly speaking? 50


What is your occupation or area of study?
Computer Programmer

What is your most frequent destination on your bike?
(Unfortunately) Work

How did you hear about the BCC?
I've been participating regularly since it began

How many times have you participated in the Bicycle Commuter Contest?
Probably 15-20 times
What got you started riding your bike to get around (practical cycling)?
I guess three things: (1) the fun of riding; (2) concern for the
environment; and (3) the need for daily exercise

National Bike To Work Day- This Friday, May 18

Bicycle to work, school or on other practical trips this Friday and record double your miles for that day in the BCC! The day is highlighted on your mileage log, so plan ahead to make the most of your contest miles. Rain or shine!

Join fellow bicyclists in a fun day of riding on National Bike to Work Day, Friday, May 18. The event promotes bicycling as a healthy transportation option. Visit one of the "Bike Stations" in five locations around Olympia. Bicycle Commuter Contest participants: wear your BCC t-shirt or show your participant sticker or mileage log, and get a free gift when you stop by! We'll have a very limited number of our 25th anniversary logo bike bells to give away at all five "Bike Stations", plus reflective leg/arm bands and some other cool stuff. Each station will have coffee and treats and representatives from a local bike shop on hand with a few basic tools. There will also be copies of the NEW Thurston County Bike Map, and the Urban Cycling Guide from the City Of Olympia. Bike stations sponsored by the City of Olympia, Intercity Transit, and the local businesses listed below. See you there!

Visit a Bike Station at one of the following locations from 7 to 9:30 a.m., Friday, May 18:

• Heritage Park on 5th Avenue downtown: sponsored by Old Town Bikes and Oly Coffee Roasters
• Olympia Woodland Trailhead at Eastside Street: sponsored by the Bike Stand and Batdorf & Bronson
• Ralph’s Thriftway Station: sponsored by Ralph’s Thriftway, Bike Tech, and Batdorf & Bronson
• Westside Station: at Harrison and Division: sponsored by REI and Oly Coffee Roasters
• Lacey Station: at the I-5 Bicycle Trail and Chehalis Western Trail intersection: sponsored by JoyRide Bikes and Group Health (this station located at the South bridge approach to the Chehalis-Western Trail bridge over I-5)

Remember: Please be courteous to other trail and road users, and abide by all rules of the road, just as if you were driving a car.  Bike safe and bike happy!

Olympia Bike Month Proclamation tonight!

It would be so great if you could join us for just 15-20 minutes while the Olympia City Council Proclaims May 2012 as Bike Commute Month TONIGHT, Tuesday May 15 at 7pm in celebration of the 25th Annual Bicycle Commuter Contest. It'll be short and sweet, and we'd love to pack the house with practical cyclists! Show up at the new City Hall a little before 7pm wearing a new or "vintage" BCC t-shirt to show our city council your support for the BCC and for practical cycling in our community. We'll bring a few vintage t-shirts to loan for the event in case you don't have one. Bring a friend or spread the word!

7pm, this evening, May 15, Olympia City Hall

A New Kind of BCC Mini-Contest

Here are the rules (wow, so many rules!)...

1. Be registered in the BCC.
2. Join the BCC blog, or "Like" our Facebook page.
3. Answer the question below.
4. Email the correct answer to: dgreen"at"intercitytransit.com between the hours of 1pm and 3pm, Friday, May 11
5. Wait for a reply from me with your "winner's code" to collect your prize.
6. Collect your prize at the Olympia Transit Center between 5pm Friday May 11 and  7pm Monday, May 14.

THE QUESTION (drum roll....)...
It looks like this cyclist is about to turn right at the intersection in the picture. If so, what do you think is the most likely place the cyclist could be going?

City of Olympia Proclaims May as Bike Month

On the agenda for the Olympia City Council meeting on Tuesday May 15 is the Bicycle Commute Month Proclamation for 2012- the 25th year of the Bicycle Commuter Contest. If you would like to show Olympia how much you support the BCC and practical cycling in our community, please come to this meeting of the City Council, and wear your BCC t-shirt! If you have a t-shirt from a long-ago BCC that would be even better, as we would LOVE to have one for each of the 25 years! If you don't have a BCC t-shirt, come anyway, we might have an extra you could wear for the meeting. 7pm, Tuesday, May 15, Olympia City Hall on 4th Ave.

Limited sizes T-shirts back in stock today

We got a few BCC t-shirts in yesterday and will get a few more (all sizes) today, which I will drop off at the Olympia Transit Center around 5pm today. There are a few of all sizes there this morning, with the possible exception of size L. There was only one size L as of 5pm yesterday. I'm glad the shirts are so popular this year!

BCC T-shirts temporarily SOLD OUT

BCC t-shirts are currently, (TEMPORARILY) SOLD OUT! More t-shirts will arrive on Wednesday afternoon, May, 9. Please check back at the Olympia Transit Center for your t-shirt around 5pm Wednesday. Pick up one of our super-fantastic bike bells while you're there!

How to Decide- Which Miles to Count in the BCC?

We get a lot of questions regarding which miles to count on the Mileage Log during the Bicycle Commuter Contest. Here's some guidance: The spirit of this event is to reduce car traffic and its negative effects, and increase awarness and promote the practice of using a bicycle for transportation, not just as a recreational or fitness machine. So...

• Count the miles you ride your bike for practical purposes: to work, school or on errands or social calls... any trip you might have otherwise made in a car. To the movies, the farmers market, out to dinner, or to the bike shop to pick up a new bike light or some rain gear!
• Don't count the miles you ride when you go out for a training or fitness ride, or a recreational ride just for the fun of it.
• Many practical cyclists will take the "long way" home if it's a nice afternoon, to get a little more of a bike ride in. Great! Enjoy those extra recreational or fitness miles, but be honest, that's what they are! Don't count them on your log.
• Some participants will feel safer on quieter streets or on the bike trail, and will take a slightly less direct route to be safe on their commute. That is fine- count the miles you ride on a safe and reasonable route.

Practical Cycling can be fun and add to your fitness and health- enjoy yourself on your practical trips by bicycle and feel the benefits to your own health and well-being! Know that you are also benefitting your community and the planet at the same time. Thanks for participating in the Bicycle Commuter Contest!

Discount for BCC'ers for Willie Weir Show on May 9

One of the BCC's biggest sponsors, the Capital Bicycling Club, is pleased to present Willie Weir’s show Cycling and Wild Camping through Portugal, at the Olympia Center on Wednesday, May 9, 2012.


Willie Weir is a renowned adventure cyclist, actor, author, speaker, and funny guy—his books include SpokeSongs and Travels with Willie.

The show is on Wednesday, May 9, 7:10 pm at the Olympia Center, MPR A. $10 admission at door ($5 if registered in the Intercity Transit Bicycle Commuter Contest)

Though this show is not strictly related to "Practical Cycling", Willie is a big proponent and has lived car-free for many years. He is also very entertaining and a great inspiration to go places you never dreamed of going on your bike.

See you there!

2012 Commuter Profile #1: Ashley H.

• What is your age, roughly speaking? I am 19 years old.


• What is your most frequent destination on your bike? Since I graduated, it'd have to be the grocery store or other errands around town. I am currently unemployed but am seeking an internship in the environmental field.

• How many years have you been getting around by bike? I've been commuting for a little over four years now.

• How many times have you participated in the Bicycle Commuter Contest? This year will be my fourth year participating in the BCC

25th Annual Bicycle Commuter Contest Begins!

The 25th Annual Bicycle Commuter Contest starts tomorrow! It's not too late to register for the BCC, the official deadline is Friday, May 11. Register now and record your practical cycling miles in May, and return your mileage Log by June 8 to be eligible for prizes and random drawings! If you have already registered online or by mail but have not yet received your Mileage Log, you can download one and print it out to record your miles. If you do not receive your Mileage Log, coupons and sticker within one week of registering, please contact Duncan Green at dgreen"at" intercitytransit.com.

We hope you enjoy riding your bike to work, school or on errands in May. Please ride courtiously and legally (abide by all the same rules of the road as any other vehicle), dress for the weather, make yourself visible (especially at night) and have fun! Stay tuned here for mini-contests and random prize drawings for BCC participants throughout the month of May.

Next Big BCC Event: The Wrencher's Ball!

Annual Wrenchers Ball: Friday, April 27, Olympia Transit Center, 222 State Ave NE, Olympia, WA. A free Safety Check for registered participants in the 25th Annual Bicycle Commuter Contest. Participants may bring their bicycles to the Olympia Transit Center from 7 a.m.-3 p.m. and pick them up by 5 pm (One bike per participant, please). Mechanics from our sponsor bicycle shops will do free safety checks on bicycles that belong to Commuter Contest participants. This is not a major tune up and we are not equipped to do major repairs nor do we have replacement parts such as tubes, tires, cables, brake pads, etc. If your bike needs major work or replacement parts we will refer you to your local bike shop. There are several bike shops in the area. If your bike has a flat, pick up a tube or whatever parts you need and we may be able to install them. To have your bike checked in, you must register for the contest in advance or in person at the event. Space is limited so first come, first served!