TCAT Hosts Bike Commuting Forum Tonight, April 14

How to: Commute by Bicycle
free and open to everyone

Learn about:
•      Making the transition to bike commuting.
•      Choosing the right equipment.
•      What Olympia is doing to be more bike friendly.
•      How bike commuting helps the planet.
•      Tools to plan your route.
•      And other great resources.

Thursday April 14th 7 pm
Traditions Fair Trade Café
300 5th Ave SW, Olympia, WA 98501
Sponsored by: Thurston Climate Action Team (TCAT)
                                      www.thurstonclimateaction.org

Mid-April BCC Update

Registration for the 29th Annual BCC is off to a great start- over 500 people have signed up already! If you are one of them, thanks for signing up. If not, there's still plenty of time, but why not sign up now? It's free, it's fun, and everyone wins, with coupons, free passes and pretty decent odds of winning a prize! Any practical trip by bike counts in the BCC. We have a lofty goal this year- we want to boost participation  to record levels- help us reach 2000 participants, and be a Vehicle For Change! Sign Up Free Online Now

Upcoming Events

Sustainability Fair ~ Thursday, April 14 ~ 1500 Jefferson Bldg. 11am~1pm Front Plaza and Presentation Room Find us at our table with Intercity Transit  to sign up for the BCC in person! Many other vendors with info about other sustainable lifestyle choices will be there too!

Earth Day Market Ride ~ Sat. April 30 Mark your calendar for the 30th and come out for the Earth Day Market Ride! Join friends old and new, in your own neighborhood. Pedal to the Heritage Park Fountain for coffee and pastries, and then we'll all ride to the Farmers Market to enjoy the shopping, music and fun! We'll have a tent set up at the market where you can sign up for the BCC, too. Get up-to-the-minute details and neighborhood ride starting points on our blog or Facebook page the week of the event.

Bicycle Commuter Profile volunteers wanted!

One of the most popular aspects of the BCC blog is our Commuter Profiles. Each year we like to share the stories of at least a handful of people who have made a habit of getting around by bike. We've only had one volunteer so far in 2016- won't you share your story with us? You don't have to be a 'cyclist', or have all the fancy gear. We like to feature anyone who uses their bicycle for transportation, to encourage others to try it too! Take a look at some of our past profiles, and drop me a line at: dgreen'at'intercitytransit.com if you're willing to be a bike transportation star!

All Sizes of BCC T-shirts available now Our ship(ment) finally came in!  ;-) All sizes of our t-shirts are available now at Olympia Transit Center. Get yours while they last- only $10 each!

BCC Early April News: Registration Opens, T-Shirts, and This Week's Event

Registration is now open for BCC 2016 Just click the orange box at right to sign up!

  Bicycle Commuter Clinic offered by Capital Bicycling Club This Wednesday:
Are you a new commuter or an experienced one?  Participating in the BCC this May?  Regardless of your level of experience, the Capital Bicycling Club has the event for you! Come learn about the best equipment choices for riding day or night in all weather conditions, road skills for safe commuting, and many more useful tips for the transportation cyclist. The BCC will be on hand at the end of the event to get you signed up!
Wed. April 6th, 7:30pm Capital Museum Coach House 211 21st Ave. SW in Olympia's South Capital Neighborhood 

  2016 BCC T-Shirts Have Arrived! At least a few of all sizes are available now at the Olympia Transit Center in beautiful downtown Olympia! A total bargain at $10 each. The super-bright orange Fitted shirts are a fast-drying cotton/poly blend, and the burnt orange Classic Fit shirts are 100% organic fair trade cotton. Get them while they last! We'll get the remainder of our order soon, and then there should be plenty for everyone.

Registration for BCC 2016 opens April 1

Spring is here, and the Bicycle Commuter Contest is coming up!
Important dates:

• BCC Registration opens: April 1.
• Earth Day Market Ride: Saturday, April 30.
• Bicycle Commuter Contest: May 1-31
• National Bike To Work Day: Friday, May 20 
• BCC Prize Hoopla: Saturday, June 25

this week's fun event: roundabout opening!

Come celebrate the completion of HUB Junction (the new bicycle roundabout at the intersection of the Chehalis-Western Trail and Woodland Trail) with the contributing jurisdictions this Thursday, March 17 at 2pm. There will be a short program followed by a commemorative photo around the HUB. Yay for our trails!!

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.