5th Annual Winter BCC Coming Soon!

The Winter BCC is Intercity Transit's free, fun event that encourages Thurston County residents to use their bicycles for transportation in all seasons. The event runs for the month of February, with weekly prize drawings among all participants. Registration opens February 1! We'll also celebrate International Winter Bike to Work Day, on Friday, February 9. We're working hard to make some updates on the back end of our website, in the hopes we'll be able to use it for the Winter BCC. If not, we'll use the same event sign-up process we used for the Winter BCC last year, prior to the launch of our website. We'll make the call on that by the end of this week, and post and send out instructions for signing up!

Long Time Bike Tech Owner and BCC Sponsor to Retire

Dale Carlson at Capitol Schwinn, circa 1980

Dale Carlson, owner of the Bike Tech chain of stores in the South Sound is set to retire after 50 years in the bicycle industry. The two current Bike Tech locations in Olympia and Tacoma will become Trek Bicycle retail stores. Dale started out as a young teenager, working at the current Olympia location on 4th Ave E. which was then called "Bikes n Boats". The store sold Schwinn bicycles as well as canoes and kayaks. In 1978, Burien Cycles owner Mike Solberg bought the store, renamed it Capitol Schwinn, and hired Dale as manager. The boats were gradually phased out as the store focused on growing as a Schwinn dealer. In the mid 1980's Dale bought the store, and subsequently several other stores in the South Sound area. In 1991 the chain of stores was renamed as Bike Tech. Dale and his Olympia store were one of the earliest sponsors of the BCC, possibly even from the very beginning in 1988. Dale will be missed as one of the longest-running sponsors of the BCC, and as a local bike shop owner. Many thanks to Dale and Bike Tech for all the years of support for the BCC! We hope he enjoys retirement and now has time to ride his bike!

Photos by Duncan Green.   If Dale obliges with more pictures and stories, we'll post them here.

A Row of Chicago-made Schwinns, 1978

4th of July Bike Trip, 1978

Newest BCC Sponsor in 2018: Adventure Cycling!

 Adventure Cycling Association is helping us out with an awesome Grand Prize for the BCC in May- stay tuned for details! In the meantime, check out some of their offerings here, and dream big!

As a nonprofit organization, Adventure Cycling Association's mission is to inspire and empower people to travel by bicycle. Established in 1973 as Bikecentennial, we are the premier bicycle-travel organization in North America with more than 40 years of experience and 53,000 members.

Great Response to Theme Contest

Past BCC Themes in progress

Over 60 past Bicycle Commuter Challenge participants submitted 120 great ideas for the 2018 BCC Theme, including two with drawings of graphic ideas. A large team here at Intercity Transit is working to narrow down the field to a manageable number for a BCC-wide vote. We'll post and send out a link to a poll next week (week of Jan. 7), to vote on the finalists for our theme this year. We're so excited to see which idea wins the final vote! The creator of the winning idea will win a nice prize from the BCC, and the top runners-up will receive a gift card from one of our local coffee sponsors!

I-5 Detour Info for People on Bicycles

Bike travel information for getting around I-5 detour/closure based on tips from area riders. Send suggestions for bike-friendly routes to Barb Chamberlain (Director of WSDOT Active Transportation Division) and feedback on any of these routes you use.
I-5 shoulders are expected to remain closed for repair for some time.
Bike travel: People on bikes will encounter heavy traffic on alternate routes used by drivers detouring around the I-5 closure. Exercise your usual care in selecting a route that is appropriate and comfortable for you. We recommend you review maps and terrain to familiarize yourself with the route you plan to use and allow extra time.
Options for biking (southbound description):
SR7/SR507/Yelm-Tenino Trail
Use SR 7 to SR 507. In Yelm you can access the Yelm-Tenino Trail, which connects to the Chehalis-Western Trail. See the Thurston County Bicycle Map for details.
Mounts Road/Old Pacific Highway SE/SR 510
From I5 exit into DuPont. Travel west from Center Drive on McNeil St. (multiuse sidepath/sidewalk available). Turn left on Hoffman Hill Blvd. (sidewalk available) and be prepared for a climb. Continue on Hoffman Hill Blvd. past the “No Outlet” sign, which applies only to drivers; cross Swan Loop Road, continue onto the multi-use path and pass through the pedestrian gate to Mounts Rd. SW. Go left and follow Mounts Road (narrow road, no shoulder for a stretch). After it crosses I-5 and becomes Nisqually Rd SW (Old Pacific Hwy SE) the road has a shoulder. Stay on Nisqually to SR510.
JBLM
From I-5 take exit 118. Cross the overpass over I-5, go through the Center Dr. Gate (where Center Dr dead-ends if you don’t turn to go northbound on I5) onto JBLM, turn right on Perimeter Rd., and then be directed on the I-5 Southbound Detour. Don’t use exit 119 and try to enter JBLM through the DuPont Gate; you will be turned around. Note that this route does not have a shoulder.
Barb Chamberlain
Director – Active Transportation Division
WA State Dept. of Transportation
Seattle: 206-716-1130
Olympia: 360-704-6386

·  What is your age, roughly speaking?

32
·  What is your occupation or area of study?
I'm a Parking Services Field Representative for the City of Oly.
·  How many years have you been getting around by bike?
I've always loved riding my bike, but my midwestern hometown is notoriously awful for practical cycling. I dabbled in practical cycling in college and began earnestly commuting by bike right after college.

Top Team Results are in:

See what the top teams in BCC 2017 accomplished in miles and days ridden, new riders recruited, and average days ridden per rider! Results are on our Top Teams BCC.30 page, here:
http://thurstonbcc.blogspot.com/p/top-team-results-bcc-2017.html

Coupon Correction:

We printed the wrong phone number on Old School Pizzeria's BCC coupon. The correct phone number is 786-9640. Apologies to both Old School, and the downtown Y, whose phone number we put there by mistake!

2017 BCC Rider Profile #4: Susan

I am no “professional” yet but I have really enjoyed getting back to riding. I am also discovering that there is a huge community of riders, which makes it feel great to be a part of.

What is your age, roughly speaking? 28 years old
What is your occupation or area of study? I work for the SOS Charities Program & Study Nonprofit Management at Bellevue University
How many years have you been getting around by bike? My husband bought me my first adult bike recently. Haven’t owed a bike since I was a kid, it was pink with training wheels and streamers. YIKES
What got you started riding your bike to get around (practical cycling)? I now have 3 step kids and 4 nephews who love riding bikes and they got me back into it. I also found it to be therapeutic to go for a nice slow ride on my own when I have a hard day. It’s healthy and inexpensive therapy.

BCC 2017 Accomplishments

1600 people and 85 teams signed up for the BCC this year during the month of May (Bike Month). Together we:

• Pedaled 93,328 miles, on 11,222 total days of biking.
• Prevented approximately 46 tons of CO2 from entering our atmosphere.
• Enhanced our personal health and well-being.
• Reduced traffic and parking congestion.
• Reduced air pollution and toxic run-off into Puget Sound.
• Made life safer for birds, animals and humans crossing the street.
• Supported our local economy by using our BCC coupons at local sponsor businesses, and shopping close to where we live and work.
• Built community with events like the Earth Day Market Ride and Bike To Work Day.
• Had fun riding our bikes!

Team results coming soon...

Road Repair on Division St. June 21-22

Starting Wednesday, June 21, City of Olympia crews will close the northbound lane of Division Street, NW between Walnut Road and Muirhead Avenue to remove and replace asphalt damaged during a previous water main break. Work will begin at approximately 8 a.m., and is expected to be completed by 5 p.m. Crews will close the southbound lane on Thursday, June 22, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., to make similar repairs. One travel lane will remain open and flaggers will direct foot, bicycle, and car traffic through the area. Please use caution and expect delays when traveling in the area. This work is weather-dependent.

Contact:
Mike Darrah, Lead Worker, Street Operations
360.753.8438
mdarrah@ci.olympia.wa.us

BCC 2017 Trip Reporting Deadline

Remember, tomorrow (Friday, June 16) is the last day to enter your BCC trips online or return your Mileage Log! You'll receive these fabulous coupons, and we'll enter you to win amazing prizes!

2017 BCC Rider Profile #3: Jelena

Here is  Jelena's story in her own words:

So, when I'm biking it is a bit tiring to bike, but I like feeling the wind on my face and being able to go up hills and down hills. I especially like biking because me and my dad go riding through the park and I like seeing the scenery as I ride by. Especially on sunny days because then I can feel the warm sun on my face while I ride.
I used to not like to ride, but ever since the biking program (Bikes in PE program, ed.) they showed me how to ride my bike and now I like it. I didn't used to like it because I didn't know how and it was a chore to learn. Ms. Steen made it easy and fun! So now I love riding my bike all the time. I ride my bike to school every day since the bike to school challenge.
And a note from Jelena's mom:
The rest of the family really enjoys riding bikes but Jelena never liked it and really struggled learning. I thought I had tried everything so I gave up and decided it was okay if she didn't ride. I was very skeptical when I heard about the bike program but after talking to Ms Steen I trusted her to help Jelena without pushing her. I was so thrilled when Jelena started riding and even more so that she was excited about it! I don't mind dropping off and picking up her trombone everyday because she's riding her bike!

I've been logging my trips, what now?

The mileage logging part of the 30th Annual BCC has come to a close, so what happens next?

• If you haven't logged all your May BCC trips yet, you still can until Friday, June 16. Only trips made in May will count towards the BCC.
• If you have been using a "legacy" paper Mileage Log, please return it by Friday, June 16. Turn it in at the Olympia Transit Center, or mail it to: BCC c/o Intercity Transit PO Box 659 Olympia, WA 98507-0659
• Once you log your trips on the website (click blue button at right) or turn in your Mileage Log, we'll mail your rewards coupons, and enter you to win prizes! Coupons will start mailing out late in the week of June 4. If you win a prize in one of our random drawings, we'll notify you by email.
• Once all the results are in (after June 16), we'll tally and post Team Results.
• Come to the Prize Hoopla at the Olympia Farmers Market at 9:30 am sharp, on Saturday, June 24 to celebrate! Team and Individual Prizewinners can collect their prizes at the Hoopla, or we'll mail them to those who can't make it.
• Keep on pedaling, and hope to see you at the Hoopla!

2017 BCC Rider Profile Number 2- Maxine

Maxine on her bike in Portland

As the librarian for the Olympia Mountaineers, I make sure that we have a great selection of books for cycling, including how-to’s for Urban Cycling and great maps for biking in Europe, USA, and elsewhere.  I love to help people get started in biking especially those who don’t seem to be “the type”.  I was an earlier “adopter” of Warm Showers, and have virtually never driven to work over my entire career.   A late bloomer, I was the last kid in my neighborhood who could balance on a bike. While in high school in Maryland,  I heard of some kids who had biked to Canada. I was enthralled! For years I couldn’t find anyone to tour with, so finally I just went by myself…took 20 years to work up the desire enough to not worry about having a partner. My first bike tour was for 3 months, alone, camping, in Europe.  I have never stopped since then. For that first tour I starting in Warsaw and biked through Lithuania to my Grandmother’s home town (think 1899) in Latvia.  It was hard to find maps, so I just used a compass. Towns were too far apart so I slept in fields.   I’m not strong or fast, but, who cares? Smile, you can go biking! 

Bike Month Wraps up May 31!

May 31 is the last day to count your biking miles in the BCC!

•  BCC ends: Wednesday, May 31, 11:59pm

• Last day to enter miles retroactively: Friday, June 16, 11:59pm

The weather outlook (if that is a factor for you) is somewhat nicer for tomorrow, so how about biking to work, and then biking somewhere for lunch? Or just doing a nearby errand by bike? Add some miles to your 2017 BCC total, and pull for your team if you're on one. Let's make it a great year for the BCC, for our 30th birthday!

Black River Prairies and Farms Bike Ride

 Grab your bike shorts, your bike, and head out to the Black River watershed for a 9 mile or 26 mile bike ride past prairies and working farms!
Saturday, June 10, starting at 10 AM
South Thurston County
On offer are two bike routes, a 9 mile loop and a 26 mile ride. Both rides will begin at Little Rock Saloon. Riders will travel north up Endicott Rd SW and loop west to Mima Mounds Natural Preserve Area on Waddell Creek Rd SW. There is a hill at the beginning and returns to mostly flat ground after that. There will be a bathroom stop and snack/water station available at Mima Mounds Natural Preserve Area about 7 miles into the ride. Riders have the option of exploring Mima Mounds Natural Preserve Area. From there, riders can head back to Little Rock Saloon or continue heading south on Mima Road SW for an additional 17 miles of scenery past Capitol Land Trust properties and Glacial Heritage Preserve.
To sign up: https://capitollandtrust.org/black-river-prairies-and-farms-bike-ride/
This is not a BCC or Intercity Transit sponsored ride.

One Full Week Left in Bike Month!

There's only a little over week left to track your bicycle travels in the 30th Annual Bicycle Commuter Challenge, so make sure to log in and add your rides to get your rewards coupons and get entered to win prizes!
The BCC is about using your bicycle to get around- wherever you may be going. So log your trips to the grocery, out to the movies, or over to a friend's for dinner- and of course your trips to work or school. Let's show Thurston County (and the world!) that bicycling is a great way to get around. 
If you're on a team, logging your trips ups your team's chances of winning prizes too!

2017 Rider Profile and Tribute: Rick Kunkle, 1962 - 2017

On March 3, 2017 Rick Kunkle died at age 55 of a rare form of brain cancer. His most recent commuting bike has every BCC sticker going back to 2000. We are pretty sure Rick rode in just about every Bicycle Commuter Contest since it began thirty years ago. He commuted on his bicycle year round for most of his life. It was just one of the ways he lived his convictions of the importance of living lightly and sustainably.
His love of bicycling started early.  His first large purchase which he saved and saved for was a ten speed bike.  He also gathered old bikes and parts to build his sister a bike. He was always very thorough in cleaning, working on the brakes and gears or getting professional tune ups.
For over 30 years Rick commuted to the Washington State Energy Office and later the Washington State University Energy Program where he worked as a research engineer to study and improve energy efficiency programs in Washington State and around the country.

BCC Begins: Sign up now and leave the spaceship at home!

The 30th Annual Thurston County Bicycle Commuter Challenge begins May 1, and runs for the whole month of May. Sign up now and participate anytime in May to receive awesome coupons and free passes in the mail, and get entered to win awesome prizes! Stay tuned for details about National Bike to Work Day, Friday, May 19.