Winter Biking Tips

Biking to get around in the winter can be fun, refreshing and invigorating- it's a great way to beat
the winter blues by getting outside in the fresh air and being active. If you've never done it before, here are a few (mostly common sense) things to keep in mind: Read more...

Winter BCC Week 3 Prize Winners

Congrats to Tyler M., Rick G. and Mary T., who won mudflaps, or gift cards to Orca Books, in the Winter BCC week 3 prize drawing. Over 200 riders have signed up so far, and we've ridden over 10.000 miles on almost 1200 days ridden. There are still a couple of weeks left in the Winter BCC, so if you haven't signed up yet, there's still time, and you could win a fun prize!
bcc.intercitytransit.com

Sweetheart Prize Drawing Winners...

Dana, Debra, Caroline and Marko all won gift cards from Batdorf and Bronson, Capitol Florist, and Olympia Coffee Roasters in our Valentines Day Sweetheart Prize Drawing! Keep on pedaling in the WInter BCC!

Valentines Day at the BCC

I think we should have a “Sweetheart Prize Drawing” later today... log your Winter BCC rides at bcc.intercitytransit.com and you could win a prize! And thanks to Capitol Florist for their support of the BCC!

Winter Bike to Work Day - Friday, February 9

Let's Put Thurston County on the Map! Sign up for the Winter BCC at: https://bcc.intercitytransit.com/ and then commit to ride on Winter Bike to Work Day at: https://winterbiketoworkday.org/ 

https://winterbiketoworkday.org/ 

Send us a photo of your commute on Friday, and we'll post the pics and enter you to win a prize!

First Three Prizewinners in the Winter BCC

Even though it's not a full week, we decided to go ahead and have our first prize drawing in the 2018 Winter BCC, and the winners are...  Gabe, Jeffrey and Kelly! Each will receive a gift certificate for Capitol Florist- way to go, Winter Riders!

2018 Winter BCC Begins!

The 5th annual Winter BCC is off and rolling! To participate, create an account at: https://bcc.intercitytransit.com/ (or log in if you already have one), and log your rides during February. We'll have a prize drawing each week, so the more often you ride the more chances you'll have to win a prize! Fingers crossed, but so far it looks like the first full week in February could be pretty decent, weather-wise. International Bike To Work (and School) Day is Friday, February 9. Take a picture on your ride and send it in. We'll post the pictures on our FB page, and award prizes for "Best Picture", in the "Selfie" and "Bike in Landscape" categories.

Ready to try using your bicycle to get around, even in the "off season"? Perhaps you already do, and you wouldn't mind a little recognition. Either way, the Winter Bicycle Commuter Challenge is for you! It's super easy- just create an account on our website at: https://bcc.intercitytransit.com/
(unless you already have one from last year), log in, and log your practical bike rides in February. 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. The Winter Mini BCC runs for the whole month of February and includes celebration of International Winter Bike To Work Day, on Friday February 9, 2018. You can start logging your rides anytime. Only your rides in February will count toward your Winter BCC totals. We'll hold prize drawings each week in February, among everyone who logged miles that week- it's that simple.
We're looking forward to seeing you out and about- on your bike!
At least for this year, the Winter BCC does not support teams, and does not award prizes based on miles or days ridden.

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!