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March-News-From-the-BCC

2017 Winter Mini-BCC Wraps Up

February 5, 2017 - biking home

My, how the Winter Mini-BCC has grown! Maybe next year, we'll drop the "Mini" from its name. This year, 225 people signed up and biked for transportation in February. We biked through every kind of winter weather, with average temperatures between 9 and 10 degrees below normal, and over an inch above normal rainfall. We had 8 prize winners in our random prize drawings and our photo challenge- check out their photos (and some of the prizes) on our Facebook page! We had tons of fun on International Bike to Work Day, snapping photos and biking in the cold and rain (and seeing photos from parts of the world that have a real winter- people biking through blizzards and ice makes our winter look practically tropical!). Thanks to all who participated and to our prize donors!

TBT, and a Survey

TBT: Back in 2010, this pic was not staged, just lucky! Our banner, bus ad, and someone biking over the bridge! The banner was made way back in 2006, and used through last year. We're finally retiring it and designing some new banners to reflect the Challenge in the BCC!










And, here's a chance to weigh in with a national organization about local biking conditions. People For Bikes has a survey out, asking for your input: http://www.peopleforbikes.org/placesforbikes/pages/city-rating-system

This Week's Prize in the Winter Mini-BCC

This week's prize in the Winter Mini-BCC goes to Craig G. -- this sweet pair of Tifosi riding glasses, donated by Old Town Bicycles!

The Winter Mini-BCC is ongoing- we'll have another prize drawing next week, and one on the last day of February.

Happy riding!

Winter Mini-BCC sign-up still open

Photo by participant Walk Er

221 participants so far in the Winter Mini-BCC! Thurston County residents can still sign up to win prizes:
http://conta.cc/2iVViCB
or click the button at the top of the right sidebar. Prize drawings each Friday in February!

International Winter Bike To Work Day Friday, Feb 10

 Come ride with us. Friday February 10th, 2017. 5th annual International Winter Bike to Work Day.
Commit today: http://winterbiketoworkday.org  (Be patient, the website is busy and loads slowly...)

Things are looking up weather-wise for Winter Bike to Work Day tomorrow, aside from the possibility of some windy conditions. Keep a weather eye peeled, and be safe out there.

If you bike to work or another destination, take a photo along the way and send it to us at dgreen@intercitytransit.com and we'll enter you to win a prize (if you're a Thurston County resident).
We'll also be doing our second prize drawing for those who are signed up in the Winter Mini-BCC!

First Winter BCC Prizewinner for 2017

198 people have signed up so far in the 4th Annual Winter Mini-BCC. We did our first random prize drawing this morning and Mary T. has won this light set from Portland Design Works, with a super-bright Radbot rear light! We'll have at least one prize drawing each week in February, plus a photo contest on Winter Bike to Work Day, Friday, Feb. 10. Stay tuned for details!

Winter Mini-BCC

The Winter Mini-BCC is off and rolling! 180 spirited souls have signed up so far, and it's only the first day! International Winter Bike to Work Day is coming up on Friday Feb. 10. We'll have a photo contest to celebrate. Sign up for the Winter Mini-BCC here: http://conta.cc/2iVViCB or click the button at the top of the sidebar.

Winter BCC Starts February 1

 The Thurston County Winter Mini-BCC starts February 1! Thurston County residents (or anyone biking for transport within Thurston County) sign up by clicking the button to the right. Fill out the online form, tell us a little about your commute, and you're in! This is one of our "Mini-BCC's", so there are no teams and no mileage log. Just ride your bike to get around this February, and we'll enter you to win prizes. Prizes include some nice bike lights, fenders and other accessories! We'll have a prize drawing each week in February, this week included.

NOTE: There is still a chance of ice on the roads. We'll have night-time temps near or below freezing several times this week. On icy mornings, choose your commute mode carefully, depending on the conditions on your route. Sometimes the bus is the best option! You can take your bike on the bus in the morning, and bike home in the afternoon when it has warmed up. Check out this short video about loading your bike on the bus!

Heading Downtown? Ride Your Bike! :-)

Traffic and parking will likely be tight

in downtown Olympia tomorrow (Saturday, Jan 21), so if you're planning to be downtown in the middle part of the day, you might consider riding your bike to get there! Or walking or riding the bus, of course...

Sign up for the Winter Mini-BCC

Intercity Transit’s Winter Mini-BCC celebrates Thurston County residents of all ages and abilities who use bicycling as a means of transportation year-round. We'll hold a few random prize drawings during February, among those who sign up- it's that simple!
Anyone who lives or works in Thurston County can participate. You don't have to be employed or a student- just use your bicycle as a means of practical transportation, with at least part of your trip inside Thurston County.
Sign up online at: http://conta.cc/2iVViCB anytime between now and the end of February. There's no need to track your miles. You'll be asked for a brief description of your winter biking habits on the sign up form, and that's it!
The Winter Mini BCC runs for the whole month of February and includes celebration of International Winter Bike To Work Day, on Friday February 10, 2017.

WSTC Seeking Input Through 1/18

Here's an opportunity to have your voice heard:

The Washington State Transportation Commission would like to get your input on how our transportation system is working and ways to improve it. The survey is open until January 18. It includes questions about priorities for funding, like bigger highways vs. bike/ped infrastructure, and takes just a few minutes to complete.

http://voiceofwashingtonsurvey.org

BCC office opens for 2017

Yay, we're back in the saddle at the BCC! Next up: the Winter Mini-BCC: for the rugged Thurston County commuters who bike year-round, the "Winter Mini" runs for the month of February each year. Stay tuned here for all the info about signing up, etc., coming soon!

Holiday Shopping: Keeping it Local, Sustainable and Safe

Photo from 2012 snowstorm

 
Traffic and parking issues seem to get worse during the second half of December, along with the weather! You can beat all these issues and still shop locally (and support BCC sponsors!) and get around safely by riding the bus when it's too slippery to ride your bike. If you get caught in bad weather when out on your bike, remember every Intercity Transit bus has room for two bikes on the easy-loading front bike rack.

Local bike shops are having great sales events, and shopping with them and other BCC sponsors is a great way to support the BCC and ensure that our local economy thrives!

Redeem Your 2016 BCC Coupons

Happy Autumn everyone~ here's a quick reminder that most BCC Coupons expire at the end of November, so make sure you get out there and use those coupons before it's too late!  :-)

(Check individual coupons to verify the expiry date, as they are not all the same.)

2016 BCC Final Results

•  1853 registrations- a 16% increase over last year ALL TIME RECORD
• 672 First Time Riders =36%
• 1170 riders reported participation = 63%
• Total miles ridden: 108,017
• Average miles ridden over the month per rider: 92
• Total round-trip commutes 14,485
• Average number of days commuting by bike: 12
• 54 tons CO2 prevented from entering the atmosphere.
• 94 Teams returned Mileage Logs
• Over 200 prize winners, including individual and team prizes.

 SUPPORTING EVENTS and Other Info:

• 3rd Annual February WinterBCC – 198 participants.
• Two-week School Mini-BCC 124 riders, 9 Schools.
• The Earth Day Market Ride and registration event : over 200 participants from toddlers to 78 years old.  
• Bike To Work Day- added Northwest-Side station for 7 total stations- estimated 300 participants.
• Over 100 participants attended the Prize Hoopla.
• 51 Sponsors provide many discount coupons, free passes and over 200 prizes.
• Bicycle Drawing : 3 bikes awarded, provided by special arrangements with New Belgium Brewing & Ralph’s Thriftway, Bike Tech, Joy Ride Bikes.
• A detailed report of the results of the contest is provided to all the relevant Jurisdictions, with participant feedback on local bicycle infrastructure.

See complete Team Results on the 2016 Team Results Page at:
http://thurstonbcc.blogspot.com/p/2016-team-results.html

Members of Team Crank IT! at the Inter-agency Bike Ride (plus a couple of interlopers)

Interesting and Relevant Court Opinion

Washington State Appeals Court publishes opinion in case relating to cities' duties to maintain roadways for safe cycling:

http://www.theolympian.com/news/politics-government/article86893407.html

http://www.courts.wa.gov/opinions/pdf/D2%2047149-3-II%20Published%20Opinion.pdf

2016 BCC Prize Hoopla Report

We had tons of fun and awarded many prizes- over 100 people showed up many of them went home with prizes from the generous sponsors of the BCC. We awarded over 200 prizes in the BCC this year, between individual winners and teams, plus 3 new bikes! Team standings and other BCC results coming soon...

See more photos of all our events on our Flickr page at:

https://www.flickr.com/photos/129770135@N02/

Bike Talk/Happy Hour Wed 6/22 in Olympia

Olympia Bike Talk Happy Hour with Cascade Bicycle Club and Washington Bikes

You have two statewide bike nonprofits working for you. What does this mean?

Come meet Barb Chamberlain, Chief Strategic Officer for Cascade Bicycle Club and Washington Bikes. Bring your questions about the merger of the two organizations and what it means for growing and improving bicycling now that both are working statewide with new roles. Bonus points for ideas for making next year's Washington Bike Summit March 20-21 a showcase of Olympia's bike-friendliness.

Date: Wednesday, June 22, 2016
Time: 4:30pm-6:30pm .
Location: Northwest Beerwerks, 420 Steele St. SE, Olympia  

Light hors d'oeuvres and a pitcher or two of social beverages provided by Cascade Bicycle Club.

Share with your friends who ride or who just want safer streets for all of us.
https://www.facebook.com/events/1102302206482054/

BCC Status Update:

OK, no we haven't crawled under a rock- we're just under a mountain of mileage logs! Data entry, data entry, number crunching, spreadsheet merging, coupon mailing, oh my!

View of the BCC 'cockpit'

 To Date:

• Over 1850 participants signed up this year- a new record!
• Nearly 108,000 miles pedaled, on 14,430 trips by bike.
• Together we prevented 54 TONS of CO2 from entering our atmosphere.

 Coupons and Prizes:

• We've started mailing out coupons and hope to have them all in the mail (about 1200 envelopes to stuff and label) by tomorrow. 
• We'll start doing random prize drawings first thing next week, and notify winners by email.
• PRIZE HOOPLA! Saturday, June 25, 9:30 to 10:30am at the Olympia Farmers Market Main Stage. If you win a BCC prize, you can pick it up at the Hoopla. If you can't make it to the Hoopla, no worries, we'll mail it to you, or ask you to come and pick it up if it's too big to mail.