Giving Tuesday 2021!

Giving Tuesday

Dear Bike SLO County Community,

If you are seeing this, you likely own a bike, or two, or more. You understand and appreciate the beauty, grace, freedom, utility, and sheer pleasure of riding a bike.

On this Giving Tuesday, I want you to imagine what it would be like if you did not have access to a bike to ride to work, to the store, or just to exercise.

I want to share a story with you about John, one of our RideWell program recipients.  Many years ago John had a challenging stretch of time in his life and was incarcerated for several years. As he was restarting his life, he found a place to live, was eating better, and began looking for employment here in SLO County.  However, the place he lived was not accessible via public transportation and was too far to walk.  In order to get anywhere quickly, John needed a car or bike, neither of which he had. He got rides from others, but that left him always relying on someone else.  Without reliable transportation, it was difficult for him to find work.  He heard about the Bike SLO County RideWell program, filled out an application, took the several-hour bike safety training, and received a bike, lock, helmet, and lights.  When John reflected on receiving his RideWell bike, here is what he said, “Getting the bike from RideWell was a life-changing experience. The bike gave me the freedom to ride more than six miles to town to look for a job.  I am eternally thankful to have received this gift of the bike!”

Well, there are many people in our community who would love to have a bike, but simply can not afford one, even a pre-owned one.  That’s why I am writing this to you.  Bike SLO County’s RideWell Program provides bikes to those less fortunate individuals who want to experience what you already know about bikes.

You have the ability to directly improve the life of a fellow San Luis Obispo County resident.  Please consider committing this Giving Tuesday to a recurring gift of $25/ month to provide a bike, equipment, and safety gear to a neighbor in need.  With each RideWell bike costing approximately $300 including parts, education, and other materials, a monthly or one-time gift from you will have a huge impact on neighbors like John.

Commit to your monthly donation to help neighbors in need.

Thank you for your support and Happy Holidays from all of us at Bike SLO County!

Rick Ellison
Executive Director
Bike SLO County

Kidical Mass 2021

Kidical Mass Information Postcard

We are thrilled to be back with Kidical Mass in-person for 2021!

Kidical Mass is the family bike happening, an event to bring the joy of bicycles to the next generation!

Children of all ages ride side by side with their families during this monthly event to learn important bicycle safety skills in a fun, festive way. By teaching safe riding skills to children we can create a safer community of riders in the future. As we ride as a group we spread smiles and bicycle love to everyone we pass. Since the program began in 2010, over 1000 people have participated in these family-focused events.

Kidical Mass serves to:

  • Educate families to ride smart, and increase the visibility of families on bicycles.
  • Provide a safe space for kids and families to learn how to ride together at a mellow pace.
  • Teach kids the basic rules of the road.
  • We are open to kids of all ages, join the fun!

View more information about Kidical Madd dates, themes and location for 2021.

Becoming Ruby & Pedal Through Film Screening + Event

 

Virtual or In-Person Film Screening

Becoming Ruby and Pedal Through

with a live conversation with Brooklyn Bell

Saturday, May 1

Doors at 7pm, Screening at 8:15 

“What does inclusion look and feel like in the outdoor industry and bicycling community?

Bike SLO County, in collaboration with R.A.C.E. Matters and SLO Motion Film, is proud to present two inspiring short films — Becoming Ruby and Pedal Through.

Brooklyn Bell, subject of both films, will appear virtually to join local Black bicyclists in conversation about their experiences.

Additional information and ticketing can be found here.

 

New Bike Kitchen Hours + Service in Response to COVID-19

Wednesday 12-5pm, Thursday 12-5pm, Friday 12-5pm, Saturday 12-5pm, Sunday 12-5pm

During these hours, the Bike Kitchen is open for bike and parts sales. No DIY bike repair at this time, but we can take in your bike on an appointment basis and fix it up for you. When you come to the kitchen, please wear a mask. We will provide gloves if you want to touch any bikes or look through parts. Thanks for your cooperation and understanding!

Kidical Mass May 2020

Traditionally, Kidical Mass is the family bike happening, an event to bring the joy of bicycles to the next generation. This year is actually the 10th anniversary of it in SLO! In an effort keep the bike stoke hight, we’re encouraging families to still get out and bike together on May 14th, but in their own neightborhoods to maintain the health guidelines to slow the spread of COVID-19.

By teaching safe riding skills to children, we can create a safer community of riders in the future. Be sure to maintain 6 feet between your household and folks you may come across. As we ride with our families, may we bring joy and smiles to everyone we pass!

Enter the Raffle with your Family!

We’re raffling off some bike goodies to the families that get out an bike on May 14th! To enter, tag #bikeslocounty on social media, or email education@bikeslocounty.org a photo your family biking on May 14th or any time during the month. For a bonus entry, dress up! Theme for May is Royalty!

Upcoming Women/Trans/Femme Night Workshop

Our 2019 Women/Trans/Femme Night Workshops Continue

Come to this special Women/Trans/Femme Night workshop, Commuter Basics: Bike Commuting, Riding with your Family, and eBikes, to learn how to commute confidently and efficiently. We will also go over information such as commuting with children and the potential for upgrading to an electric bike!

Experienced commuters Becky Kallal and Christie O’Hare will join us to share their expertise.

Please RSVP here on Facebook and please share with friends who you think might enjoy this!

Raffle: Coeur Gift Card for $25.
Suggested $5 donation.
Light refreshments will be provided.

WHERE: SLO Bike Kitchen, 860 Pacific St, Suite 105, San Luis Obispo, CA 93401 (map)

WHEN: Wednesday, July 17, 2019 6-8PM

Save the Anholm Bikeway Plan

The Anholm Bikeway Plan Needs Your Help!

Stand up for bikes in San Luis Obispo!

The San Luis Obispo City Council will be voting on the fate of the Anholm Bikeway plan (formerly the Broad Street Bike Boulevard) next Tuesday, September 4th.

What:  City Council Meeting – Anholm Bikeway Plan
When: Tuesday, September 4th @ 6pm (Bike Valet parking will be available)
Where: 990 Palm Street, San Luis Obispo, 93401

The direction to city staff from the last City Council Meeting was to review a plan that would include diverters along Broad Street to reduce cars on Broad and create a safe shared street environment, and for Staff to see if they could build consensus around that plan. If consensus was not reached, city staff was to come back with a plan for protected bike lanes. Staff set up a community workshop around traffic diverters and the general outcome of that workshop was that many participants did not support the diverters.  Staff then presented a plan to Planning Commission August 7th with minimal diversion that would still get the streets down to a safe shared street environment.  Planning Commission denied a change to the general plan to reclassify the streets that would see increased traffic from a diversion plan.

Given that consensus was not met on a diversion approach, and that the Planning Commission did not recommend reclassifying the streets, Staff will be presenting three options to City Council.

  1. Traffic Calming Only;
  2. Traffic diversion for a shared street alternative;
  3. Two-way cycle track on Chorro between Lincoln and Mission, and a protected cycle track on Broad between Mission and Ramona by removing parking from one side of the street.  Out of those options, only Option 3 has protected bike lanes that will give riders dedicated bike facilities protected from vehicle traffic. Additionally, there are a number of improvements to the sidewalks and crossings as part of this option that would benefit those walking through the neighborhood.

Bike SLO County has endorsed the third option for protected bike lanes that will give riders dedicated bike facilities protected from vehicle traffic. We ask that you please take the time speak up in support the plan for protected bike lanes.

Here are two great ways you can help:

Come speak at City Council

We need to give the SLO City Council as much support as possible to push this through. One minute speakers will be first in public comment.  Bring your kids!  Several kids spoke in support last meeting and it really makes an impact. Please feel free to give a personal experience as to why you think the city council should have protected bike lanes along this corridor and throughout SLO. If you want to keep it simple and short we suggest using the phrase “I support protected bike lanes and safe sidewalks because…” and fill in your reason why. Below are several suggestions for reasons why, but you are encouraged to use your own. Please fill into the main council chambers if there is room. Put on a bike shirt or bring your helmet to show support. Bike SLO County will provide bike parking at our free Bike Valet, set up to the left of the Palm St City Hall entrance.

Send an email to council by Friday, August 31
(Note: You have until Monday, September 3rd to send an email, but please consider sending it by Friday, as council members may be overwhelmed by messages when they return from the September 3rd Labor Day holiday.)

Send emails to emailcouncil@slocity.org A potential starter and subject line for your email:  “I support protected bike lanes and safer sidewalks because…” You can just add onto that sentence with a couple of reasons why you support protected bike lanes (see our talking points at the end of this email) or use our template email to personalize and send.

Click the email address above to send the following email or copy and paste (feel free to edit).

Dear Mayor and Council,

I want to express my support for the Anholm Bikeway plan that includes protected bike lanes. As city staff have stated during several previous meetings, protected bike lanes are the most likely to attract more people to ride their bike. As a community we have made it a priority to reduce the number of single occupancy vehicle trips and give our community the opportunity to make healthier transportation choices. There is a plethora of reasons why more people biking benefits our community and environment. For a century our streets we designed only to accommodate cars which has led to some serious environmental and health impacts that need to be addressed sooner rather than later. I want to help make the shift for the greater good of our community and hope you will make the tough to decision to rethink the way we utilize our public right of ways.

Sincerely,

Your Name

+++++

Suggested Talking Points:

… protected bike lanes are the most effective way to encourage new riders.
… more bikes and fewer cars make the roadways easier to share for all users.
… kids should be able to get to school safely without contributing to climate change.
… I feel very unsafe, especially when I am with children, when I try and ride in middle of the car lane. I would feel much safer, and ride more often, if our city had more protected bike lanes for me to use.
… reducing car traffic around our schools will make them safer for families.
… we should be empowering our kids to use their own muscles for transportation—for their health and for the health of the planet.
… studies have shown that children who are able to get themselves to school are more likely to be successful in their future careers.
… as a city, we have committed to a Climate Action Plan, and fewer car trips forwards our goals, offering cleaner air for all.
… Out of the confines of a car, conversations can happen. Waving and smiling. Recognition and developing friendships. Teams of parents direct and follow children to school.
… will allow the timid more opportunities to be ride their bikes and walk, furthering the goals of our Climate Action Plan and community building.
… we all know that exercise is good for us, but we’ll be more likely to choose to walk or bike instead of driving if the streets and sidewalks are designed to make us feel safe and welcome. We know that is we want to make an impact on community health and promote a culture of wellness, we have to make the healthy choice the easy choice. We have the opportunity right now to do that. To redesign our streets to accommodate all users, and to make the healthy choice, the easy choice.
…More than one-third of Americans are overweight or obese and this continues to increase regardless of one’s sex, race, or income. Overweight and obesity impact a person’s risk for heart disease, diabetes and hypertension. Studies conducted by the National Institutes of Health have found that both walking and biking to work are associated with lower body mass index in both men and women.
…Getting around by personal car is expensive and we cannot expect that everyone has the means or the ability to drive themselves from one place to another. Who walks and who uses bikes in this city? Do we care enough about them to design our public spaces to meet their needs and to help them get to their jobs, a friends’ house, the grocery store safely and conveniently? We hear a lot from those who do not want to design our roadways for anyone but car drivers. It’s time to share our public space, to design a transportation system that is equitable and meets the needs of all users, of all income levels.

Bikes & Beauty 2018

Enjoy Bike Month’s Greatest Night!

If you attend one event during Bike Month it should be the Bikes & Beauty 2018 Fashion Show at the Bike to Work Day After Party on Friday, May 18 from 6 – 9 PM at the SLO Guild Hall (map). People from all over SLO County come together to watch members of our local bike community strut their stuff on the runway in an always amazing array of hand-made DIY bike fashion. Many of the items worn in the fashion show will be available for purchase after the show!

Come groove to the satisfying sounds of DJ Malik, enjoy tasty food from Mee Heng Low, beer from Central Coast Brewing, wine from Rabbit Ridge Winery and Diringer Estates, cocktails by T-Dubs, Whalebird Kombucha and a sweet variety of delicious desserts. Entry is FREE, beverages and food are available for purchase with sales benefiting Bike SLO County.

Win Bikes!

Part of the Bike to Work Day After Party, the evening includes Rideshare’s Bike to Work Day bike raffle drawing and a Bike SLO County Raffle. So there are two ways to win:

  1. Attend any of Rideshare’s 12 bike breakfast stations the morning of Bike to Work Day to receive a free raffle ticket to win a super cool Surly Cross-Check. One winner will be drawn at the Bikes & Beauty Fashion Show and broadcast live on Rideshare’s Facebook page. You do not have to be present to win this bike. For bike breakfast station locations visit rideshare.org/btwd.
  2. Attend Bikes & Beauty and purchase raffles tickets for $20 to win: an awesome Dutchi 8 from Linus, a gift card from Luis Wine Bar, bike stuff from Art’s Cyclery, Lezyne, SLIME and Genuine Innovations. Each item (or group of items) will have a box in which to drop any tickets you purchase. Only want to win the Linus bike? Drop your tickets in the Linus box! Want to win stuff from Lezyne and the Linus? Drop a ticket in each box! Proceeds from these raffle tickets benefit Bike SLO County and help make this event possible. You must be present to win these prizes!

Free Limited Edition Steel Pint Tumblers

The first 125 people to arrive at the Bikes & Beauty Blow Out will receive a complimentary 2018 Bike to Work Day/Bikes & Beauty commemorative steel pint tumbler. Supplies are limited! Arrive early, stay late!

Commemorative Bike Month 2018 Coffee Mugs

The last of our limited edition double walled Bike Month 2018 coffee mugs will be available for purchase for $10. These are a one-time run so when they’re gone they’re gone!

Sponsors

This event would not be possible without major support from Rideshare. Thank you! Additional funding from Sunrun and Mindbody help make Bikes & Beauty 2018 even better!

RSVP / Spread the Word

Interested? Head over to https://www.facebook.com/events/180596192757166/ to RSVP. Please share/spread the word when you’re there. Thanks!