Help make Giving Tuesday 2017 Great!

11/27/2017/in Uncategorized /by coalition2001

Giving Tuesday 2017 (November 28th) is both a local and a global day of giving. It is also the official kick-off for Bike SLO County’s End of Year Fundraising campaign as we reach out to the bike community and ask you to support our efforts to inspire, educate, advocate and work to build a safe, healthy and connected community through bicycling.

This year we’re asking for your help in 2 ways:

Make a donation, either a one time donation or a monthly recurring donation. Monthly: bikeslocounty.org/donate. One time donation:https://bikeslocounty.org/donate-3/one-time-donations/ Old School: Mail check to Bike SLO County, 860 Pacific St #105, San Luis Obispo, CA 93401
Host a one day Giving Tuesday online fundraiser on your Facebook page. It’s easy and a great opportunity because The Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation will match up to $1,000 from every one of our supporters who raises money on Facebook.

All you have to do is set up your fundraiser on Facebook and ask your friends to support it. Every dollar donated by you and your friends will be matched (up to $1,000 per fundraiser, for a total of $50,000 overall for Bike SLO County).

If you’re willing to help, just go to https://www.facebook.com/fundraisers/ and click on “Raise Money” to get started. It’s super easy and will just take two minutes. See our sample message below in orange, which you can feel free to copy or change entirely. (And if you like detailed step-by-step instructions, you’ll also find those below). Be sure to select “Bike SLO County” as your charity.

Instructions for setting up your fundraiser (this only takes 2 minutes):

To set up your fundraiser, you can follow Facebook’s simple instructions here, or our more detailed ones, below. (Or, if you’re tech savvy, just go to facebook.com/fundraisers and it’s pretty straightforward.) See our bolded message in orange below, if you’d like to use that.

Step 1: Go to https://www.facebook.com/fundraisers (You’ll need to be logged in to your personal Facebook page), and click “Raise Money,” then “Get Started”

Step 2: “Who are you raising money for?” Select “Nonprofit”

Step 3: Type in “Bike SLO County.” Facebook then asks how much money you want to raise. Enter $1000 (or more, if you prefer). Choose the date you want your fundraiser to end. If you want to just raise money on #GivingTuesday, the set the date to Tuesday, Nov 28, but there’s no harm in having the fundraiser last a few days.

Step 4: Fill in the title and description of your fundraiser. Here is sample text (feel free to just copy this text, or to personalize it by letting people know why this cause is so important to you):

Title: Support Bike SLO County on #GivingTuesday

Description: Join me on #GivingTuesday in supporting a charity whose work I care deeply about, Bike SLO County. On Tuesday, Nov 28th, #GivingTuesday, the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation will match up to $50,000 per charity, so your donation will be doubled!

Bike SLO County’s mission is to inspire, educate, advocate and work to build a safe, healthy and connected community through bicycling.

Bike SLO County makes the Central Coast a better place for people who ride bikes—and for everyone. Friends, I hope you can help them make this match today!

Step 5: For your cover photo, you can use one of Facebook’s suggested graphics (the one with the happy people in a green park seems to best fit Bike SLO County), or use a photo of you on your bike, or feel free to use the photos linked below. Click “edit” in the lower right hand corner of the FB graphic, then click “Upload new photo,” and choose a photo from your computer. To use our attached photo, you must download it first, and then find it in your downloads folder once you click “Upload new photo.”

Photo 1: Kid on Bike
https://www.flickr.com/photos/slobikelane/24811667058/in/dateposted-public/
Photo 2: Group shot at Bikes & Beauty
https://www.flickr.com/photos/slobikelane/24811695298/in/dateposted-public/

Step 6: Click “Create” and your fundraiser will be published!

Finally, please let your friends know about your Giving Tuesday 2017 fundraiser! It’s best to let them know late Monday night or very early on Tuesday morning, since the match is only good on #GivingTuesday. To invite your friends, go to
https://www.facebook.com/fundraisers/ and click on the title of your fundraiser over in the left hand column under “Shortcuts” (you can also edit your fundraiser here). Click on “Invite” and choose any or all of your friends with whom you wish to share your fundraiser.

If you have already donated, THANK YOU!

Thanks from everyone at Bike SLO County!

Bike SLO County Announces Leadership Transition

06/23/2016/in Uncategorized /by coalition2001

Today we’re excited to announce that Bike SLO County Board Treasurer Tyler Wertenbruch is stepping in as Interim Executive Director for long-term Executive Director Dan Rivoire who recently stepped down to pursue other opportunities. Wertenbruch will helm Bike SLO County during the current transition on a volunteer basis. Welcome Tyler!

“I’m honored to be able to serve and continue the great work Bike SLO County hasslated for the future as well as build on the legacy that all of our staff has built,” said Interim Executive director Tyler Wertenbruch. “We’re continuing all of our programs and advocacy efforts full speed ahead,” said Wertenbruch.

In addition to their Bike Education, Bike Valet and Bike Kitchen programs, Bike SLO County advocates countywide for safer streets for everyone, regardless of whether they drive bikes, walk and or drive cars.

“The Board is thrilled that Tyler chose to step up as we begin our search for a new Executive Director,” said Bike SLO County Board President Chris McBride. “Tyler brings fresh energy and a wealth of experience with the organization. We’re confident that his vision for Bike SLO County will serve the bike community well,” said McBride.

Wertenbruch previously served as Bike SLO County’s Board President and is currently the Board Treasurer. An avid cyclist, Wertenbruch rides with Team Clif Bar Cycling and will be competing this summer in the Mongolia Bike Challenge. In addition to serving as Interim Executive Director, Wertenbruch will continue his work as IT Manager at RRM Design Group in San Luis Obispo.

Ring your bell and say hello next time you see Tyler biking by!

Bidding Farewell to Dan!

06/10/2016/in Uncategorized /by coalition2001

This week we’re saying a bittersweet farewell to our Executive Director Dan Rivoire, whose parting words are featured below. We’re sad to see him go but we wish Dan all the best as he moves on to his next adventure here in San Luis Obispo.

As Dan departs, Bike SLO County is moving full steam ahead. Bike SLO County Board Treasurer and superstar Tyler Wertenbruch will step in as Interim Executive Director for the next few months as we seek out the next amazing Executive Director of Bike SLO County. Our incredible staff will also be supported by former Bike SLO County Board member Lea Brooks, who joins Bike SLO County as Advocacy Director. Welcome Lea! (We’ll do a proper Lea introduction next week!)

= = =

Dear Bike SLO County supporters and superstars,

It is with a heavy heart and a significant bit of excitement that I wrap up my last day as Executive Director of Bike SLO County today.

As all of you know, I love Bike SLO County from the depths of my soul. I started working with the organization as an Americorps member in February 2008. Over eight years later, I am lucky to be able to look back on so many positive memories working to improve local quality of life. I owe nearly every aspect of my professional development to our team and the incredible people that make up our local bike culture. Together, we have accomplished great things in San Luis Obispo and we are truly just getting started.

Looking ahead, I know I will stay involved in many ways and will definitely be able to give back to the cause through my other roles in the community. I won’t be far, working at iFixit right on the other side of downtown, and wouldn’t be surprised if I find myself volunteering at events or the Kitchen in no time.

If you would like to celebrate the big transition with us, please join us at Petra next Wednesday from 5-7 pm for a little going away social hour.

Thank you all for everything. I’ll miss working so closely by your side.

See you in the Bike Lane,

Dan Rivoire

Giving Tuesday 2015

11/30/2015/in Uncategorized /by coalition2001

Lend a hand for Bikes on Giving Tuesday

Giving Tuesday, often stylized as #GivingTuesday for purposes of hashtag activism, refers to the Tuesday after U.S. Thanksgiving, December 1st in 2015. It is a movement to create a National Day of Giving and Philanthropy at the beginning of the holiday and Christmas season.

To mark this #givingtuesday, anyone who wants to celebrate the powerful positive role that giving plays in our world is being asked to donate & share their own ‘unselfie’ on their favorite social media sites & by email. What’s an #unselfie? To take an unselfie, write on a piece of paper the name of the charitable cause you’re supporting on Giving Tuesday. It could be as simple as “#Bike SLO County” or as involved as “I support better bikeways in SLO County” or whichever reason you feel moved to give.

Add the tags #unsefie, #givingtuesday and #bikeslocounty, then hold the piece of paper in front of your self (or even in front of your face) and snap an unselfie. We’ll even have some preprinted sheets available in our office (map), or you can download PDF or JPEG color or black & white versions online: Color PDF version: Color JPEG version : Black & White PDF version : Black and White JPEG version

End of Year Campaign

Giving Tuesday kicks off Bike SLO County’s annual End of Year fundraising campaign. SLO County had a fantastic 2015, with lots of countywide bike projects completed (bike lanes in Paso Robles on Riverside, Union and Creston roads, a fantastic bike and pedestrian bridge & trail in Morro Bay, new bike lanes and green striping at Arroyo Grande High School, the very first blacktop bike safety course in California at Oceano Elementary, buffered bike lanes in Los Osos on LOVR, new green lanes on Broad, California & Madonna streets in SLO) and major projects funded for the coming years. We’re hoping you’ll help make 2016 even better. Our goal is to raise $25,000 for safer bikeways around SLO County by midnight, December 31st. Please consider a donation on Giving Tuesday, or anytime before the end of the year at bikeslocounty.org/donate

Breakfast at The Octagon Barn

11/10/2015/in Uncategorized /by coalition2001

Come see what’s new at the Octagon Barn

On Thursday November 12th the Land Conservancy are hosting a breakfast from 9-10 AM in The Octagon Barn on South Higuera Street (map).

Enjoy breakfast refreshments and coffee while you learn about what’s next for the Octagon Barn. What’s next for the Octagon Barn? According to the Land Conservancy, “In addition becoming the new trailhead for the Bob Jones City-to-Sea Trail, plans are underway to transform the formerly private site into a public amenity with the fully restored Barn as the keystone element.”

To find out what’s next come out for some coffee and learn about the future of the Octagon Barn. Guests will be able to visit the Milking Parlor, view a visual presentation with some new slides from Ten Over Studio and chat with members of the Land Conservancy staff and board about the progress of this unique community center.

If you’d like to attend, please RSVP to Lauren at laurenm@lcslo.org or 805-544-9096 x 14.

Myths about People who Ride Bicycles

10/20/2015/in Uncategorized /by coalition2001

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.

Head over to People For Bikes for four more myths about people like you!

Year of the Bicycle Coalition Member

03/25/2013/in Uncategorized /by coalition2001

At Bicycle Coalition HQ, we have affectionately dubbed 2012 the Year of the Bicycle Coalition Member. The reasons are endless, but a few things stick out from the rest:

We have more members than ever (750+ individuals & 40+ businesses)
We hosted our first General Meeting in 2012
We hosted the inaugural Members Only Party* in September 2012
More and more people are out on bicycles every day in SLO County!

In reflecting on 2012 one thing remains clear; the Bicycle Coalition family is growing and everyone is feeling it! Everything we do is for our members. We loved getting everyone together through our new events, to share our vision for the organization and celebrate our collective love for bicycles and the quality of life in SLO County that we cherish dearly.

Yet the Year of the Bicycle Coalition Member goes well beyond our events. Everywhere we went, we met people who just became members, all were energized and proud to be a part of our rapidly growing organization. We welcome these newcomers to the Bicycle Coalition family and can’t wait to see them at upcoming events, out on their bicycles, and sharing the community-minded vision of the Bicycle Coalition for years to come.

If you haven’t joined yet, now is the time!

We are THE voice for bicycles in SLO County, our numbers our growing, and we’d love to have you become a part of our vision for a more bicycle friendly community.

*Our next Members Only Party is set for June 1, 2013 – and it’s a bicycle fashion show!

2012: A Landmark Year for Bicycles

03/21/2013/in Uncategorized /by coalition2001

The following is a letter from our Executive Director, Dan Rivoire, originally published in our Winter 2013 Spoken Wheel newsletter. As we are approaching a beautiful spring season, full of bicycle fun and events countywide, we are reminded of our ambition, innovation and commitment to make SLO County a great place for bicycles – and it’s all possible because of our dues paying members, volunteers and donations from community members like you!

————–

In January 2010 the Bicycle Coalition quietly launched a campaign designed to respond to the question: “what does the Coalition actually do?” Our goal was to make it painstakingly clear that we work extremely hard to achieve the mission laid out by our founders; to improve the quality of life in San Luis Obispo County through bicycling advocacy, education, and inspiration. Our strategy revolved around creating strong programs with tangible benefit to the community while improving communications across the board. In order to succeed, we needed to get the respect of the bicycle riding public while capturing the attention of everyone else in the Central Coast.

“Our goal was to make it painstakingly clear that we work extremely hard to achieve the mission laid out by our founders; to improve the quality of life in San Luis Obispo County through bicycling advocacy, education, and inspiration.”

Three years have passed since we took the first step towards accomplishing our goal and moved into our headquarters at the corner of Morro and Pacific in downtown San Luis Obispo. With the move we brought on the most ambitious addition to our empowerment focused programs while giving the community an image to visualize every time they think of the Bicycle Coalition. Becoming established at our prominent home on the Bill Roalman bike boulevard has been transformational. It is no mistake that 2012 was the strongest year on record for the Bicycle Coalition.

These three years have built upon the foundation laid by the staff, board, volunteers, and members during our creation in 2001. The foundation is not subsidized bicycles, valet parking, education, or advocacy efforts; it is the understanding that residents are driven by their desire to make San Luis Obispo County an incredible place live, work, and play. Our success is connected directly to the fact that every effort of the Bicycle Coalition relates to that foundation.

Recently, while reflecting on the three years spent in our headquarters, I caught myself thinking, “where has all the time gone?” Before I could blink, a list of epic proportions began to accumulate in my mind. Approved bike plans in every jurisdiction in the County, new active transportation infrastructure projects constructed, increased state and federal funding for active transportation projects, incredible impact through our four programs, and membership numbers growing at lightening speed. Emphasizing direct service and communication has resulted in the best financial position in our history.

“All of this hard work has primed the Bicycle Coalition for incredible growth. We dream of a Central Coast connected by regional paths, filled with bike lanes, and engaged by unbelievable community events. We believe that the Bicycle Coalition will become the strongest voice for community well being on the Central Coast.”

All of this hard work has primed the Bicycle Coalition for incredible growth. We dream of a Central Coast connected by regional paths, filled with bike lanes, and engaged by unbelievable community events. We believe that the Bicycle Coalition will become the strongest voice for community well being on the Central Coast. We will positively contribute to our community in the context of education, health, transportation, culture, and economy. Your support is the reason we exist and the reason we grow. Our gratitude is endless yet we know that your continued investment will best advance our cause. We ask you to look towards the horizon, realize our potential, and put your passion into action. 2013 should put 2012 to shame!