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!

A Lovely Day for the Earth Day Market Ride

Yay, thanks everyone for coming out for the best Earth Day Market Ride yet! I hope you all had a great time and a lovely afternoon on your bikes in the sun!

Earth Day Market Ride Details

Join the EARTH DAY MARKET RIDE THIS SATURDAY- here's how: 

Volunteer leaders will lead groups of cyclists from their neighborhoods to Heritage Park Fountain, arriving at 11am, THIS Saturday, April 21. Meet your neighborhood Ride Leader at one of the meeting points below- rides will depart the meeting points approximately 15 minutes after the posted meeting time. You'll bike with your group down to the fountain (across from the Oyster house), following all rules of the road. After some brief announcements including greetings from Intercity Transit general Manager Mike Harbour, we all proceed as a large group to the Olympia Farmers Market where the Bicycle Commuter Contest will have a booth set up to register participants. Ride into town, register for the BCC, meet old friends and new. Stick around for the food, shopping, music and festivities at the Market.

Helmet and liability waiver required.
 

MEETING POINTS AND TIMES:

*NEW RIDE FOR 2012: Horizon Pointe Park 5700 Balustrade Blvd. Lacey  -9:30-

 Leader Terran Wheeling. Meet at picnic tables and depart about 9:50.

* South Sound Center flagpoles at Sleater-Kinney and the bike path- 10 am - Leaders Dane Clay and Yogi Fox (Yogi will be meeting a group at Cutters Coffee at the Lacey Blvd/Pacific Ave. roundabout at 9:30 am for coffee before the ride, leaving there at 9:50 to join Dane at South Sound Center)

* Olympia High School, at bike racks on Carlyon Ave side,  Olympia, 10 am - Leader Paul Brewster

* Roosevelt Elementary School, San Francisco Ave NE, 10:15 am – Leader Kris Franzen

*The Evergreen State College, Red Square bus stop area, 10 am - Leader Linda Weaver

* Garfield Elementary School, Garfield Ave. and Plymouth St NW. 10:15 am - Leaders John Druelinger and Susan Lasiter

 

 

Sustainability Summit, Sat. April 14 at SPSCC

We'll be there during the noon hour registering for the BCC.
You can also get an "Undriver's License" from Intercity Transit at the same time! Check the link for all the info...   http://www.oly-wa.us/transitionolympia/

East Capitol Campus Bike Commuter Fair

Local Bike-Related Businesses Gather for Pedalers Fair

Check out this nice event if you're in Seattle on April 21,22
http://pedalersfair.com/

25th Annual BCC T-Shirts and Bike Bells Available Now

Extremely limited quantities of 25th Annual BCC T-Shirts and Bike Bells are now available at the Olympia Transit Center, 222 State Ave NE, in downtown Olympia! T-shirts are bright red, long sleeve 6.1 oz. cotton and cost $15.

These super cool bike bells are all metal with a durable acrylic logo on top: Only $7.

Move fast, these are not going to last long!

Registration is Open for 25th BCC!

No Foolin'! The 25th Annual Bicycle Commuter Contest is open for registration! Who will be the first to register??

You can register online by clicking on the button to the right, or head down to the Olympia Transit Center to register in person.
Register in April, Ride in May in the BCC!

Countdown to the 25th Annual BCC!

Spring is here, and there is less than a week to go until the launch of registrations for the 25th Annual Bicycle Commuter Contest! Registration opens on April 1st. You'll be able to register in all the same ways you always have (in person at the The Olympia Transit Center, by mail and at some workplaces), PLUS: Individuals and members of most teams will be able to register ONLINE, right from this blog! We'll install a "Register Now" button on the eve of April 1st, which will take you to our Regsitration Page, where you can register and pay with Paypal (if applicable). Adults $5.00. Those 18 and under, or currently enrolled college students are FREE.

So, register in April, Ride in May, in the 25th BCC!

Local Bicycle and Gear Swap Meet: Wed March 7

The Capital Bicycling Club's Annual Bike and Gear Swap is coming up on Wed. March 7 from 7:30 to 9pm at the Capital Museum Coach House (entrance off of 22nd Ave SW at Water St.).
This is a popular event where CBC members can bring their bikes and gear to swap or sell, and the public is invited to come and shop! There will be some great bike gear at bargain prices! If you are not a club member and would like to sell bike gear, join the club! Sellers may show up at 7:15 to set up (tables provided).

Environmental & Sustainability Coordinator Job opening at Intercity Transit

Environmental & Sustainability Coordinator Job opening at Intercity Transit It will be highly competitive, but if you are qualified, check it out!

Eloquent Pictures and Testimony for Practical Cycling

Olympia Cycling Infrastructure...

Check out this great Sightline Institute blog post for inspiration!

17th Annual Seattle Bike Swap

This Sunday, 9am-2pm, Seattle Center Check it out here. Have a great weekend!

Nice weather for biking, but all that debris in the bike lane!

 Most of the large branches and debris have been removed from area road shoulders and bike lanes, but there is still a lot of smaller debris including gravel, small rocks, branches, broken glass, etc. If you are affected by debris on your bike route, call or email the appropriate jurisdiction’s Public Works department and tell them- specifically where you have seen debris in the bike lane or road shoulder on your route.


I know the bike lanes are trashed everywhere, and the Public Works people know that too, and they are working to get them swept. But if you make a request for a particular location, they are likely to get there much quicker. If your route is in the City of Olympia, publicworks@ci.olympia.wa.us is the address to send your request to. The number for Olympia Public Works dispatch is: 753-8333. Ask them nicely to sweep your location (for example, “Division St NW between 20th and 26th Aves NW”), and they will send the sweeper there as soon as they can.

Here are contact numbers and emails or request for service forms from the other local jurisdictions:

• Thurston County: http://www.co.thurston.wa.us/publicworks/servreq.htm or or call 360-786-5495
• Lacey Public Works: http://www.ci.lacey.wa.us/city-government/city-departments/public-works/operations-and-maintenance/report-a-problem or call (360) 491-5600
• Tumwater Public Works: email jeaton@ci.tumwater.wa.us or call (360) 754-4150

Thurston County Bike Map Update

A team is updating the Thurston County Bicycle Map and would like your feedback. Please take a short survey to improve the new map: http://svy.mk/wdGryg


2012 Thurston County Bike Map Survey

http://www.surveymonkey.com/

Safely Navigating Storm Debris on Your Bike

Here in Thurston County, we're still cleaning up from the snow and ice storm that broke many trees and left a lot of debris on our roads. Many bike lanes and road shoulers in the area still have a lot of sand and gravel and smaller tree debris covering them in certain places. Here are a few tips to safely ride your bike in these conditions: