BIKE CORRIDORS OPEN HOUSE MARCH 30

Learn more about the Bike Corridor Pilot Project

Drop by Olympia City Hall on March 30^th between 6:00 pm and 8:00 pm to learn more about the Bike Corridor pilot project. The Open House will be held in City Council Chambers.

Bike Corridors are streets that have been retrofitted to be more inviting for people riding bikes. These streets have low car volumes and speeds, so it’s easier for people driving and riding bikes to share the same lane. We are building one because people have asked for an easier way to bike around town. This is one way we can make our city a friendlier place to bike.

The pilot project will connect the eastside neighborhood to downtown from Lions Park to Sylvester Park. After it’s been constructed, City staff will ask where other Bike Corridor routes should go.

http://olympiawa.gov/community/transportation-options/biking/bike-corridors.aspx

March Kidical Mass Rides Again!

Sunday   2 PM - 4 PM ~ Pioneer Elementary School playground.

 

This is an easy-paced, family bike ride on streets and bike trails. Prizes and snacks provided. We'll practice riding as traffic and following the rules of the road. Bring a bike, helmet, and a parent/ guardian if under 18.

Orange is the new B...

Orange is the new B... ...BCC color for 2016! Our follow up "Run-Off Poll" showed orange was the favorite for the fitted shirts as well as the Classic Fit shirts. We'll be offering the fitted shirts in a bright orange, moisture-wicking cotton/poly blend, and the Classic shirts in a more muted 'Pumpkin' organic cotton fabric. Shirts will hopefully be ready by April 1, and available at Olympia Transit Center. Stay tuned here or at our Facebook page for details...

BCC T-SHIRT RUN-OFF POLL

Results were mixed in the Fitted T-shirt category of our first poll. Here is another chance to vote, with a third candidate: Orange has joined the fray (though it is not available in organic cotton).
Follow the link to vote: http://survey.constantcontact.com/survey/a07eccy2iuwilecht3i/start

There was a clear winner in the Classic Fit category; orange won by a mile!

BCC in Outdoors NW Magazine

Check out this nice article about bike commuting in Outdoors NW magazine:
http://outdoorsnw.com/2016/are-you-an-urban-cyclist

Take our T-Shirt Color Poll

Follow the link to vote on what color our t-shirts should be this year!
http://survey.constantcontact.com/survey/a07eccpmm7kilcrs7mt/start

Final Winter Mini-BCC Prize Winner

Glenn B. is our final prizewinner in the 2016 Winter Mini-BCC. Glenn has a relatively short commute of about a mile, but rides every day. Thanks to Glenn for participating in the Winter Mini-BCC! Glenn's prize is a $50 gift certificate at Bike Tech. The Winter Mini-BCC celebrates those who bike to get around in all seasons. If you missed out, don't worry, May and the 29th Annual Bicycle Commuter Contest are coming up soon!

Capital Bicycling Club's Bike and Gear Swap

TONIGHT- Wednesday, March 2nd is the CBC's annual bike and gear swap. The swap will take place from from 7:30-9:00p.m. at the Capitol Museum Coach House (211 21st Ave. SW in Olympia). Bring bikes, gear or kit you would like to trade or sell or come and look for amazing treasures and deals.

Admission and table space are free. Open to the public- non-members are welcome.

Third Winter Mini-BCC Prizewinner

Greg G. won a PDW light set in this week's random drawing in the Winter Mini-BCC! We'll do one more drawing sometime between now and 'Leap Day', so stay tuned. Thanks to everyone who signed up in the Winter Mini-BCC!

Last Week of Winter Mini-BCC 2016

A great-looking week weather-wise for getting out the bike... No mention of rain in the forecast until Friday! We'll hold our next Winter Mini-BCC Prize Drawing on Wednesday.

Second Winter Mini-BCC Prizewinner

Donna B. has won a $50 gift certificate to Bike Tech!
Donna says: "I bike to work year-round.  2-4 days a week.  3.5 miles one-way.  I let only icy and extremely windy conditions sway me not to bike when I could have otherwise.  Self preservation!"

Go Donna, and congrats on your prize!
We'll have more prize drawings next week in the Winter Mini-BCC.

International Winter Bike To Work Day

Cruise on over to http://winterbiketoworkday.org/  and "Commit to Ride"! Let's get Thurston County on the world map!

Take a photo on your commute this Friday, Feb 12, and email it to us at dgreen"at"intercitytransit.com, and we'll post it on our Facebook page. The best photo (according to us) will win a prize, and we'll post it here, too!

1st Winter Mini-BCC prize Winner

We drew our first Winter Mini-BCC prize winner today. Drawn at random from all the people who have registered so far in the Winter Mini-BCC, Trude L. has won this nice light set from Portland Design Works!
We have another light set and other bike goodies, plus some gift cards for local bike shops and restaurants to award during the rest of February.
The Winter Mini-BCC is open to people who live or work in Thurston County. You can participate if you commute into or out of Thurston County, but if you have a multi-modal commute,  the bicycle portion of your commute must be within Thurston County.
Sign up here: http://events.constantcontact.com/register/event?llr=eijlmidab&oeidk=a07ec6rh1py38d8c636

International Winter Bike To Work Day is this Friday, Feb. 12! Send us a photo from your commute on Friday, and we'll post it on our Facebook page!

SEATTLE BIKE SWAP

Sunday, Feb. 14, 2016 9 a.m.- 2 p.m.

Seattle Center Exhibition Hall

225 Mercer St, Seattle WA

The Swap:  

The Seattle Bike Swap is a bike bargain hunter’s paradise. This huge bike garage sale will have great deals on new and used bike related goods of all types and sizes. Most sellers are cash only but some may take cards. This sale is one day only so don’t miss it!

Admission (cash only):   

• Adult Entry:  9 a.m. - 1 p.m. - $5 members, $7 non members (sold morning of the Swap)
• Free entry hour: 1 - 2 p.m. 
• Kids 15 and under are free all day!
• Premium Early Entry: 8 a.m. - $20. Advance Premium tickets are available online from Tuesday, Jan. 12, 2016, 10 a.m. until Thursday, Feb. 11 noon (link to purchase is listed at top of page), tickets will also be available at the door beginning at 8 a.m.

More info at: http://www.cascade.org/connect/seattle-bike-swap

2016 (Winter) Commuter Profile No. 1: Peter

Peter with trusty 1980's Miyata

Our Commuter Profiles are a great way to learn how others approach the challenges and find the rewards in getting around by bicycle in Thurston County. If you are currently using your bicycle for transportation and have participated in the Bicycle Commuter Contest (or plan to this year), you could be featured here! If interested, contact dgreen"at"intercitytransit.com 

• What is your age, roughly speaking? 50
• What is your occupation or area of study? Energy programs and energy policy at WA Dept. of Commerce State Energy Office.
• What is your most frequent destination on your bike? Commute to work.
• How did you hear about the Bicycle Commuter Contest? Email, CTR promotion (Commute Trip Reduction), and  IT coach advertising panels.
• How many times have you participated in the Bicycle Commuter Contest? 3-6 times.
• What got you started riding your bike to get around (practical cycling)? Elementary school commuting and transportation, rekindled for college commuting, which grew to work commuting and triathlon training, recreation and errands, and now predominately work commuting.
• How many years have you been getting around by bike? 12-15 years
• Describe your current average or usual trip (distance, terrain, urban/rural, etc.) 5 mile trip from home to work along the Chehalis-Western trail to the Woodland trail to Eastside St. to Union Ave. to work place. The trail route is flatter since it runs along a former railroad bed, but longer than taking a more direct surface street route. Since I ride a single speed bike it is difficult to tackle going up the hill on the way home on surface streets.
• How have you adapted your habits to make practical cycling work for you? Commuting by bike saves time spent in the gym doing alternate cardio work. Consequently, I save time commuting by bike.

Classic Bike Show Tonight: 7:30pm Capitol Coach House

The February Capital Bicycling Club General Meeting will feature the annual classic bike show. Jeff Groman and Bob Freeman will bring bikes from their amazing collections. Jeff tends towards six day track bikes from the 1920s and 1930s, while Bob’s collection inclines towards racing and sports touring bikes from the sixties and seventies. We also hope to have some bikes from CBC member Troy Warnick’s collection of English touring machines.
This is a rare opportunity to see great bikes from some of the finest classic bicycle collections anywhere. Jeff and Bob are both driving a couple of hours to be here, so let’s make sure to give them a good turnout.

Event Details:

Free and open to the public.                  

Date: February 3, 2016

Starts: 7:30 pm

213 21st Ave SW Olympia.

More info at: http://www.capitalbicycleclub.org/wp/events/20160203/

Winter Mini-BCC this month!

The Thurston County Winter Mini-BCC begins Feb. 1! This casual, fun event will run for the month of February, including celebration of International Winter Bike To Work Day on Friday, Feb. 12. We'll have a few random prize drawings in February among all those who sign up- it's that simple! You can sign up here:  http://events.constantcontact.com/register/event?llr=eijlmidab&oeidk=a07ec6rh1py38d8c636 or by simply emailing your full contact info to: dgreen"at"intercitytransit.com Check out our Event Page here: https://www.facebook.com/events/429711750552184/

Intercity Transit testing a 3-bike bus rack

Intercity Transit is testing a three-bike rack on the front of one of our buses this winter, and we have a survey up to find out what you think. https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/rack-bike
The rack will be rotating through different routes, so if you have a chance to try it, or even if you want to comment on our current racks, please take our survey!

Walk n Roll Open House

Intercity Transit's Walk n Roll Program invites YOU to visit our new Bike Shop space where we build and repair bikes for our "Earn-A-Bike" classes. We're also seeking volunteers to help out by working on bikes for local students.
Come on down Wednesday Jan 13 or Saturday the 16th to see the new space, have some treats, and find the answers to your questions about Intercity Transit’s Youth Program, Walk N Roll!

Shopping Locally (by bike!)

It seems that a lot of shopping happens this time of year. One of our goals is to support a sustainable local economy, which ties in with many other sustainable choices, like biking to get around. Small, locally owned businesses have a tough time competing with national chains and online stores. Yet they are right here in our towns, owned by our neighbors, providing jobs in our community, and supporting local initiatives like the BCC. This season, why not shop locally- especially at the local businesses that sponsor the BCC? See the "Sponsors" tab above for a graphic image of sponsor logos, or scroll down on the right for a list of links to BCC sponsor websites.

Local Bike Shops are an indispensable asset to a thriving, bike-friendly community. Fall and winter are the lean times for bike shops- they would be especially happy to see you at this time of year! Let's support the Local Bike Shops that do so much for the BCC and for cycling in our community.

Bike Tech
Deschutes River Cyclery
Joy Ride Bikes
Old Town Bicycle
Stevenson Custom Bicycles