At the beginning of 2016 we launched Two-Wheeled Wednesday, a weekly celebration of riding a bike simply for the sake of riding, and urged folks to take photos or video of their ride and share them with the #TwoWheeledWednesday hashtag on Facebook, Instagram or Twitter.
Why? Besides the joy of riding, the health benefits and the time spent outdoors with friends and loved ones, sharing your tagged photos can win you some awesome prizes in our monthly drawing. You can win Bike Lights, bike-related books and more.
When is Two-Wheeled Wednesday? Every Wednesday is Two-Wheeled Wednesday!
When are the drawings? Once a month!
Our first drawing was at the end of January, and lucky rider Jana Schwartz won bragging rights and a sweet set of Bike SLO County bike lights. Our next winner will be announced on Friday, February 26th. Ride those bikes, tag those photos with #TwoWheeledWednesday and stay tuned!
This week we introduce Two-Wheeled Wednesday. Our goal? To get more folks riding bikes, at least one day a week. Already ride more than that? Awesome! Want to ride more but don’t think you have the time? Two-Wheeled Wednesday! Have friends who are interested in riding but haven’t made the leap? Two-Wheeled Wednesday! Want an excuse to ride your bike even more? Two-Wheeled Wednesday!
Here’s how it works: On Two-Wheeled Wednesday, ride your bicycle. With friends. With colleagues. With strangers. Even alone, on Wednesdays we all ride together. Ride to coffee, to work, to school, to anywhere our bikes will take us. Ride with anyone and everyone who wants to ride. Ride a mile, or two, or around the block. But ride, and invite others. In Paso. In Pismo. In Cambria, Santa Margarita, SLO, Oceano, anywhere and everywhere in SLO County and beyond. The idea behind Two-Wheeled Wednesday is simply riding bikes and encouraging others to ride as well, no matter the distance.
Participate and Win
To encourage as many people as possible to ride on Two-Wheeled Wednesdays, we’ll have monthly giveaways. To be entered, take a photo or video of your ride and share it with us on our Facebook, Instagram, Twitter or Tumblr pages using the hashtag #twowheeledwednesday. At the end of each month, we’ll do a drawing for Bike Lights, Bike Kitchen Passes and other great stuff. To clarify: Two-Wheeled Wednesday takes place every Wednesday, drawings take place at the end of each month in 2016.
Who REALLY rides bicycles? Do you believe these bicycle myths?
The People For Bikes people recently released some results from their 2014 US Bicycling Participation Study. Those results are encouraging, because, among other things, they demonstrate that riding a bicycle isn’t an activity limited to an isolated elite. Their study found that the myths about who does and who doesn’t ride bikes are just that, myths. Here are a few bicycle myths:
Not Many People Ride Bikes
The study found that 1/3 of Americans rode a bicycle at least once in 2014. That is One-Hundred and Four MILLION people!
Cars vs Bikes? Bikes vs Cars?
There is an old perception that people who ride bikes are anti-car or don’t drive cars. To the contrary, 88% of the people who drive bikes also drive cars!
Bikes are a Guy Thing
While it’s true that more men than women ride bikes, Forty-Five Million Women drove bikes in 2014. That’s 44% of all Americans who got on a bike in 2014.
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Our Digital Media Sponsor Race SLO is looking for volunteers for their November 15thGiro Della Costa Centrale. All Race SLO team volunteers receive: a Giro Della Costa Centrale T-shirt, hot Bouno Tavola lunch, snacks & drinks and a chance to meet & greet Professional Cyclists. Community support and volunteers are an essential element to Race SLO’s quality event production.
What do race volunteers do?
Race SLO offers a variety of tasks such as registration, route marshaling, staff aid stations and customer service at the Festival Italiano. They welcome all groups and adult supervised youth groups wanting to earn volunteer hours. No experience necessary.
What should I bring?
Weather appropriate clothing (layering works best- the event shirt they provide MUST be worn on top), sunglasses, sun hat, water, day backpack, sunscreen, camp chair, camera, emailed volunteer information, enthusiasm.
Contact Rosanne at volunteer@raceslo.com for details or simply VOLUNTEER NOW at this link:
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Calling all volunteers! The San Luis Obispo Bicycle Club’s Lighthouse Century takes place this year on Saturday, September 26th and Bike SLO County will be at the Donati Family Vineyards Rest Stop in Templeton from 7 A.M. – Noon to help make sure riders get the snacks and beverages they need.
Want to lend a hand? Read on – fill out the form – we’ll even have transportation from SLO to Templeton and back!
http://bikeslocounty.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/09/lighthouse-logo-200.png221200coalition2001http://bikeslocounty.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/07/BSC_RGB_340_TEST1.pngcoalition20012015-09-04 13:56:232015-09-16 12:15:05Volunteer at the Lighthouse Century
The San Luis Obispo Bicycle Club (SLOBC) and the San Luis Obispo County Bicycle Coalition are using Rideshare’s Bike Month and the region’s bicycle and pedestrian safety campaign, #LetsGetVisible, to kick-off a unique bike safety program, Light Up San Luis Obispo County!
The SLOBC and the Bicycle Coalition have partnered to purchase a supply of bicycle lights that have been provided, without cost, to all of our local law enforcement agencies. Patrol officers will have the opportunity to give a free set of lights to any person riding a bicycle at night without the legally required lighting equipment. SLOBC President Will Benedict said, “This effort will help cyclists be lawful and more visible at night and greatly improve safety for all users of our roadways.”
Cal Poly Chief of Police George Hughes said, “This program will give our police officers a positive way to encourage students to comply with bicycle lighting requirements on and around our campus.”
“The community support for Bike Month is overwhelming”, said Stephanie Hicks, Program Manager for SLO Regional Ride Share. “Light Up San Luis Obispo County”, in conjunction with Bike Month activities and the region’s new bicycle and pedestrian safety campaign #LetsGetVisible underscores our region’s commitment to safe roadways for all users.
Participating agencies include the Police Departments of Arroyo Grande, Atascadero, CHP, Cal Poly PD, Cuesta College PD, Grover Beach, Morro Bay, Paso Robles, Pismo Beach, San Luis Obispo and the San Luis Obispo County Sheriff’s Department.
The SLOBC, founded in 1971, is a non-profit organization that promotes safe and legal bicycle riding for recreation and transportation. For more information about the club and our activities, please visit our website at www.slobc.org and our Facebook page at www.facebook.com/slobc.org
Let’s Get Visible and Light Up SLO County!
Like Bikes?
Become a member of The Bike Coalition – it’s free to sign-up and we’ll keep you informed every month about bike events and issues in SLO County. Click this link to join: I Like Bikes!
http://bikeslocounty.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/04/LightUpSLOCounty400.jpg300400coalition2001http://bikeslocounty.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/07/BSC_RGB_340_TEST1.pngcoalition20012015-04-29 10:56:302015-05-12 14:14:43Light Up SLO County
We’re excited that Rideshare’s Bike Month is just days away and want to give you a preview of some of the fantastic events happening throughout the month of May.
May 1st:
Art After Dark: To kick off Bike Month, a number of galleries throughout San Luis Obispo are featuring bike-themed artwork during Art After Dark, including Linnaea’s Cafe which will feature the month-long bicycle-themed group show “Joy Ride”, with an opening reception from 6PM – 9PM. A portion of all sales from this show will benefit the Bicycle Coalition. A list of all participating Art After Dark galleries can be found here: https://www.artsobispo.org/system/files/AAD_Current_Listing_May15.pdf
May 2nd:
Community Workout: Start Bike Month right with a free outdoor workout class in beautiful Meadow Park led by Jonathan Gabriel, followed by a short bike ride, with instruction by Vanessa from the SLO County Bicycle Coalition. Make sure and bring a bicycle AND a helmet! We’ll meet up in Meadow Park by the Basketball Courts at 8:00 AM.
Bike in Movie: The Bike-In Movie is a popular event held each year during May’s Bike Month and this year marks our 11th Annual! We’ll be showing the wildly popular Big Hero 6 in the Mission Plaza Amphitheater starting at 7:45 PM. We’ll provide popcorn, hot chocolate and a family friendly movie for everyone to enjoy. As always, our Bike Valet will be on hand to help with bicycle parking. Come earlier in the day and check out the Central Coast Sustainability Festival, a day long event featuring an exposition of student and industry projects related to sustainability accompanied by entertainment and food.
May 7th:
Kidical Mass: Often called the family bike happening, Kidical Mass is a venue for parents to teach their kids how to ride safely. We’re kicking off the 2015 Kidical Mass season on May 7th in Mitchell Park at 5:30 PM. This month’s theme is Superheroes! Costumes are not required but are heartily encouraged! If you have ever wanted to ride your bike in a parade with kids of all ages, this is the perfect chance to make it happen. No matter your age, the ride is a blast for everyone! The more the merrier as we introduce the next generation to the joy of bicycles. For more information and additional dates, click here: https://slobikelane.org/programs/kidicalmass/#tab-id-1
Bikefest: Combine fun music, great food, discount New Belgium Brewery Beersand an awesome celebration of bikes and you get…Bikefest! Held every year in the Village of Arroyo Grande, Bikefest 2015 happens Saturday, May 9th at Branch Street Deli from 1 pm to 4 pm. A bike parade beginning at the Rotary Bandstand will start the festivities at 12:30. This year’s theme is: Biking makes for a safer and healthier community. Come join sponsors Rideshare, Branch Street Deli, New Belgium Brewery, Lezyne, Ira’s Bike Shop and the SLO County Bicycle Coalition for this year’s event. All ages are welcome, so grab your bike and head to Branch Street Deli. It’s going to be a blast.
May 17th:
Cycle De Mayo: Come enjoy the outdoors, be active, and have fun with the whole family at this year’s Cycle De Mayo: The Missing Link Event, highlighting the missing bicycle-friendly link between the three cities with group rides for adults from Paso Robles and Atascadero to Templeton. Checkout the BMX Stunt show, learn about bike safety, and eat some wonderful BBQ while listening to local music! Bike decorating, a kid’s bike rodeo, and face painting are just a few of the kid friendly events. 10AM – 4PM. More info at https://www.cycledemayo.com/.
May 30th:
Bike Fashion Show/Annual Party: Open to the whole community, our annual party is always a blast! Coalition members and non-members alike come together for a fantastically fun evening of bikes, food, and bike-related fashion. Food by Mee Heng Low, Beer and Wine from local brewers. Music by DJ Malik. Members $5. Nonmembers $10. Entry includes 1 Free Beverage. 6PM – 9PM at iFixit Headquarters in SLO (1330 Monterey St., San Luis Obispo, CA 93401)
The Bike Coalition and The SLO County Air Pollution Control District are joining forces to present our free Bike Valet at Farmers’ Markets all over the county during Bike Month. Go to slobikelane.org/special-bike-valets-in-may/ for dates and times.
There are lots more events happening during Bike Month, including Bike Breakfasts, Bike to Work Day and Bike to School Day. We’ll post more as the month rolls on. See Rideshare’s full Bike Month calendar here: https://www.rideshare.org/program/bike-month/
The San Luis Obispo Bicycle Club was formed 44 years ago in 1971. Since that time they’ve actively promoted bicycle riding throughout SLO County. This year, they’ll contribute over $75,000 (including $50,000 to the Bike Coalition!) to support local bike groups and activities, bicycle advocacy organizations and programs, and the communities in which the Bike Club rides and holds their events.
One of the ways the Bike Club is able to make such generous contributions to the bike community is from the proceeds of the two annual Century rides that they put on: The Lighthouse Century and The Wildflower Century. Both of these rides take months and months of planning and countless volunteer hours.
You Can Help
The Bike Club is looking for a few more volunteers to help out with the Wildflower Century on April 25th, 2015. Aside from the great feeling you’ll get from volunteering, you’ll also get a free Wildflower Century shirt, an invitation to the Volunteer Brunch and an invitation to the Pre-Ride (you’ll get to ride the course before the actual ride.)
As of right now, these volunteer positions are still open:
Team
Number
Cleanup – Team
2
Food Ordering – Truck Loader Team
5
Stop: Highway 41 – Team Lifting
1
Stop: Shadow Run – Team Lifting
1
Stop: Shandon Lunch – Early Lifting
2
Stop: Shandon Lunch – Late Lifting
5
Stop: Shell Creek – Team Lifting
3
Ready to Volunteer?
The Bike Club’s Century Jobs web page ( https://slobc.org/volunteering/century.html ) is a one stop location to learn about Job Openings, Job Descriptions and the Volunteer Process. Choose a job from those identified as open in the “Wildflower Team Member Report” and then email the “Wildflower Volunteer Coordinator” at ( wildflower-volunteer-coordinator@slobc.org ) to volunteer for the position (please let them know The Bicycle Coalition sent you). The volunteer coordinator will contact you for any information needed to complete your volunteer record.
Want an excuse to ride your bike even more? Two-Wheeled Wednesday!
What do race volunteers do?
without cost, to all of our local law enforcement agencies. Patrol officers will have the opportunity to give a free set of lights to any person riding a bicycle at night without the legally required lighting equipment. SLOBC President Will Benedict said, “This effort will help cyclists be lawful and more visible at night and greatly improve safety for all users of our roadways.”
during May’s Bike Month and this year marks our 11th Annual! We’ll be showing the wildly popular 
This year, they’ll contribute over $75,000 (including $50,000 to the Bike Coalition!) to support local bike groups and activities, bicycle advocacy organizations and programs, and the communities in which the Bike Club rides and holds their events.
