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Bike of The Week: Giant Suede

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Put on your blue suede Giant

This week’s bike is a stylish 21-speed Giant Suede step-through. The comfortable geometry makes this bike a delight for riding around town. Featuring 26″ wheels and v-brakes, this bike is a great size for just about anyone. Ready to ride and available now in the Bike Kitchen for only $125.00.Blue_Suede_Mixte

Interested? The Bike Kitchen is open Friday, Saturday and Sunday from 12 Noon – 5 PM.  Come see us at the corner of Morro and Pacific in SLO (860 Pacific St, San Luis Obispo, CA 93401).

Not the bike of your dreams? Check back soon for another bike of the week, or head down to the Kitchen and see what other bicycles might be right for you.

Don’t need a new used bike? Come to the Kitchen to fix up your own bike. We also accept donations of gently used bikes and parts, which help make the Kitchen possible.

Advocacy Alert

3 Feet for Safety Law goes live!

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On September 16th The San Luis Obispo Bicycle Coalition held an event to inform the press and general public about California’s new bicycle-passing law, “Three Feet for Safety”. P1010551The law states that motorists must maintain a distance of at least three feet when passing a bicyclist.

California joins 24 other states with similar laws. According to Dan Rivoire, Executive Director of The SLO County Bicycle Coalition, “Bicyclists have a legal right to be on the road in California, even on streets that don’t have bike lanes. More and more people of all ages are discovering that bicycles are an easy, healthy, economical and fun way to get around, especially for short trips. Bike riders are vulnerable when motorists pass too closely. This new law is a reminder that sometimes motorists will need to slow down and wait to pass a bicyclist until it is safe to do so.”

Helping Rivoire spread the word were members of the San Luis Obispo Police Department and the California Highway Patrol. After officers discussed the law with local media, a SLOPD patrol car demonstrated the correct distance to give to bikes by driving past Vanessa Amerson,  3ft2pass_300the Bicycle Coalition’s Interim Education Director, as she rode her bike down Pacific Street in front of Bicycle Coalition headquarters in San Luis Obispo.

Some things to remember:

  • To help estimate what three feet is, motorists can think of how much room they give when parking in order to fully open their door without hitting another parked car or a wall.
  • The law applies on all roads: those with bike lanes as well as those with no bike lane.

If you would like more information or have questions about the new law, please contact the Bicycle Coalition at 805-547-2055.

 

Bike of The Week

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This week’s featured bike is the GIANT Sedona DX.

This bicycle will fit someone range of 5′ 1″ to about 5′ 6″ tall. The Sedona DX includes an aluminum-alloy frame, 26 inch wheels and has front suspension for your riding comfort.  It’s built with the familiar, stable stance of a mountain bike, including the fat tires and upright position, but is equally comfortable just cruising the street. 

The V-brakes will provide you with great stopping power and and an excellent range of braking power (modulation).

The Bike of The Week is tuned up, ready to ride and can be yours for only $150.00!

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We’re open Friday, Saturday, Sunday from Noon – 5 PM. Come in to The Bike Kitchen at 860 Pacific St in SLO (Corner of Morro and Pacific) and take it or any of our other bikes for a test ride!

 

Bike of The Week

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Today marks the start of a new feature on the SLO County Bicycle Coalition Blog: The Bike of The Week, highlighting some of the cool bikes we have available for purchase at The Bike Kitchen. 

Our very first bike of the week is the Raleigh Sports, produced in Nottingham, England in May of 1978. This coffee-colored vintage classic includes a Brooks saddle, fenders, 19″ (50cm) Mixte frame for easy on/off, 26″ wheels and a sweet Sturmey Archer 3-speed hub. For $150 this two-wheeled beauty comes tuned up and ready to ride.
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We’re open Friday, Saturday, Sunday from Noon – 5 PM. Come in to The Bike Kitchen at 860 Pacific St in SLO (Corner of Morro and Pacific) and take it or any of our other bikes for a test ride!
Advocacy Alert

Safety Wins: Wider Bike Lanes on Hwy 1

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Today we’re excited to report a victory for the people of the Central Coast.

Nearly three miles of Highway 1 north of Piedras Blancas Lighthouse are due to be moved inland next year in response to coastal erosion. California Coastal Commission staff only recommended five foot wide paved shoulders for the new road, failing to fully utilize the opportunity to make this section of Highway 1 safe for riders of all abilities.

Screen Shot 2014-07-14 at 5.10.55 PM.pngThe Bicycle Coalition and our allies (including the San Luis Obispo Bicycle Club, The Slabtown Rollers and even Caltrans) got involved, writing letters and testifying before the Commission about the many benefits of a wider paved shoulder:

  • increased safety for bicyclists
  • increased protection from distracted drivers
  • building an infrastructure that supports the local economy, attracting visitors who tour our county by bike
  • encouraging healthy lifestyle choices for local residents

In response to our efforts, the Commissioners voted against staff recommendation, approving a wider, safer, eight foot paved shoulder. We’re very excited about this result and will continue to keep an eye on this project which breaks ground in May 2015 and is expected to take three years to complete.

 

Bike Month Rolls On!

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More great Bike Month events!

Rideshare’s Bike Month 2014 got off to a great start with the Bike Month Kick Off at Lincoln Street Deli on May 1st and shows no sign of stopping until….June! Missed a few events? Not to worry, there are plenty more to come!

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Here’s a selection of events happening over the next few weeks:

May 10th: Bikefest – Join us in Arroyo Grande as we celebrate all things Bike at Bikefest 2014! Ride and park your bike at our free Bike Valet to be eligible for discount beverages and loads of prizes. You can even win a cool New Belgium Cruiser! Meet at the bandstand on Nelson St (map) at 12:20 pm to take part in the 15 minute Bike Parade, then head over to Branch Street Deli (map) where live music begins at 1 pm.

May 11th: Tweed Ride – Meet up at Triangle Park (map) at 1 pm then take a lively jaunt about town in your best turn-of-the-century attire and vintage velocipedes. We’ll end up back at Triangle Park for lawn games, iced tea and a great time.

May 12th: Bike Ed Workshop – All attendees to our Bike Month Workshops receive a free bike bell and free dinner from Chipotle Mexican Grill. Our popular workshops teach you to ride safe and smart, with emphasis on learning bicycle laws, debunking common myths and giving you the tools you need to feel safe on your bike. Workshops take place at Coalition Headquarters (map) from 6-8 pm.

May 16th: Bike to Work Day – Bike to Work Day is a national celebration to encourage people to try bicycle commuting as a healthy and safe alternative to driving. This year’s festivities, as part of Rideshare’s Bike Month, are being sponsored and organized by the SLO County APCD. Participants in Bike to Work Day are encouraged to make stops at Energizer Stations located around SLO County. Energizer Stations will provide bikers with the fuel they need to complete their commutes! The Coalition will be hosting an Energizer Station at our headquarters on the corner of Pacific and Chorro streets (map) from 7 – 9 am. Information about other locations can be found at Rideshare.

May 17th: World Bicycle Relief Poker Run –  SRAM and Rotaract of San Luis Obispo will be hosting a Poker Run to benefit World Bicycle Relief. Participants can walk or bike to local businesses to draw cards to complete their poker hand. The object is to have the best poker hand at the end of the run. The event has a time limit, however the participants are not timed—winning is purely a matter of chance. The Poker Run will start and finish at Central Coast Brewing, 1422 Monterey Street, concluding in an afternoon BBQ, games and music before announcing to see if your poker hand won you a prize for best hand. Cost is $5 per hand. Times and additional information at worldbicyclerelief.org

May 18th: 1st Annual Blessing of The Bicycles – The First Annual SLO Blessing of The Bicycles begins at 1 pm at Salon 544 (map). All faiths (or lack thereof) are welcome. There will be refreshments and face-painting for the kids (and young at heart).

May 19th: Women’s Bike Ed Workshop – Riding as a female on our roads presents unique challenges. Join us and our female instructors for our popular women only workshop. We teach you to ride safe and smart, with emphasis on learning bicycle laws, debunking common myths and giving you the tools you need to feel safe on your bike. All attendees to our Bike Month Workshops receive a free bike bell and free dinner from Chipotle Mexican Grill. Workshops take place at Coalition Headquarters (map) from 6-8 pm.

May 21st: Bike Happy Hour/Film Screening – Join us for the 3rd Annual Bicycle Happy Hour at Park Cinemas in Paso Robles (map). 6 pm social, followed by 7 pm screening of 1976 cycling classic A Sunday in Hell w/ $10 donation. $5 wine by the glass, beer and munchies. Best Bike Zone will be pre selling tickets at the store – 712 Paso Robles St. Paso Robles. All proceeds benefit REC Foundation and SLO Bicycle Coalition. Sponsored by REC Foundation, Best Bike Zone, SLO Bicycle Coalition, City of Paso Robles.

May 24th: Bicycle Swap Meet – Bicycle swap meet at Flanders Bicycle Shop (map). Buy – sell – trade, or just come with dreams of finding your perfect bike.

May 29th: Rideshare at Farmer’s Market – Bike Month isn’t over yet! Visit Rideshare at the Thursday Night SLO Farmer’s Market and vote for your favorite downtown bike-inspired window display, collect your Bike Month t-shirt and let them know how your month has been going.

May 30th: Bike-In Movie – Join the Bicycle Coalition for the 9th annual Bike-In Movie on Mission Plaza (map) in SLO! We’re showing Disney’s recent blockbuster hit, Frozen, at 7 pm. Our Bike Valet, hot drinks and popcorn will be available – everything you need to enjoy a movie under the stars with family and friends!

May 31st: Pedal to Paella VI– Pedal-to-Paella is a bike celebration. Ride starts in the Santa Margarita Park (map) at 5 pm and tours the back streets and alleys. Cruisers and junkers are best. It ends at The Educated Gardener Nursery (map) where paella will be served. Two bands, Death Bear and Black Friday Panty Brawl, will entertain all. BYOB, a paella ingredient, and a side dish to share. BYO plates, cups, etc.

June 3rd: Bike Month Blowout! – The Bike Month wrap-up party you’ve been waiting for! Music, food, beverages and the iRide Bike Challenge Awards. PLUS – turn in your tickets collected at Bike Month events for a chance to win a shiny new bicycle! 6 pm at The Creeky Tiki (map).

Want more? Head over to Rideshare.org for a look at their complete list of Bike Month events!

2014 General Meeting

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GeneralMeetingMemberStich This Tuesday we were happy to host our third annual General Meeting at Luis Wine Bar in San Luis Obispo. Alongside tasty beverages and snacks, we presented our numerous accomplishments from 2013, our big plans for 2014, Bike Kitchen expansion and more. In case you missed it, we’ve posted our quick presentation for you to flip through and get excited with us for a major year for bicycles in 2014, starting with brand new Bike Kitchen hours starting next week!

One of our biggest news items of the night was our incredible financial review showing that we surpassed our income goals for the second year in a row – your Bicycle Coalition is stronger than ever and it’s all thanks to you! The dates of our three big annual events were also announced for you to mark in your calendars:

  • Members Only Party – Friday June 7, 2014
  • Advocacy Mini Summit – Sunday September 14, 2014
  • Red Davis Celebration – Tuesday October 14, 2014

View the brief General Meeting presentation:

View Original on Prezi

Now Hiring: Programs Director

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The San Luis Obispo County Bicycle Coalition is now hiring a full time Programs Director to oversee our countywide programs! Read the description below and follow the instruction to apply to join our growing and incredible team.

Programs Director Position Description

The SLO County Bicycle Coalition exists to improve the quality of life on the Central Coast through bicycling advocacy, education, and inspiration. It is our goal to work with the community to help more people engage in the safe, fun and healthy habit of choosing active transportation.

The Programs Director will be responsible for all oversight of our Bike Education, Bike Valet, Bike Kitchen, and Kidical Mass programs and shall perform additional duties assigned by the Executive Director. Specifically, the Programs Director will need to demonstrate the ability to excel in the areas of: event management, contract work, invoicing, volunteer recruitment, volunteer management, bicycle education, public speaking to audiences ranging from small groups of adults to full elementary schools, interaction with diverse public clientele, and acting as a respectful smart cycling ambassador to the community. Work hours are flexible and may include afternoons, evenings, and weekends. This is a full time position consisting of approximately 40 hours per week.

Minimum Qualifications:

  • High School Diploma or G.E.D. equivalent.
  • 4 years experience interacting with the public representing an organization, club, company, or community group.
  • 2 years retail sales, outreach, or public speaking experience.
  • Experience with event coordination & community relations.
  • Experience with gmail, drive, google calendar, and google groups.
  • Extensive experience with Microsoft Office and the willingness to learn additional skills in programs such as Adobe Creative Suite, QuickBooks and Web Content Management (using CMS).

Preferred Qualifications:

  • Bachelors Degree.
  • Expertise with public speaking, demonstrated comfort speaking to audiences ranging from small groups of adults to full elementary schools.
  • Expertise with community relations, event planning and coordination, and volunteer recruitment and management.
  • High-Level competency with Microsoft Office, Adobe Creative Suite, QuickBooks, and Web Content Management.
  • Knowledge of non-profit management and membership recruitment techniques.
  • Experience with fundraising.
  • A love for riding bikes for everyday transportation and recreation.
  • Self motivated, creative, and extremely well organized.

Compensation:

  • This position pays $13.00/hour – $15.25/hour commensurate with experience. Benefits include 2 weeks personal time off, federal holidays off, and a $2,000 annual stipend for medical insurance.

Anti Discrimination Policy:

The San Luis Obispo County Bicycle Coalition does not discriminate against employees or applicants for employment on any basis made unlawful by federal, state or local laws, including but not limited to race, color, creed, sex, gender, religion, marital status, age, national origin or ancestry, physical or mental disability, medical condition or sexual orientation. All such discrimination is unlawful and prohibited by the SLO County Bicycle Coalition.

How to Apply:

Please follow application instructions strictly.
Applications will be accepted until 5:00 pm (PST) on Monday, January 27, 2014.
Submit cover letter and resume as a single pdf document.
Format document title as follows: LastName_ProgramDirectorApplication.pdf
Email document to info@slobikelane.org with subject line reading: Program Director Application