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The End of Bike Month?

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The End is Near and it’s LOADS OF FUN!

Bike Month 2019 is almost over but there is still lots of bike-related fun to be had.

The Last Breakfast

Bike SLO County helped kick off the start of Bike Month 2019 with a bike breakfast at the Kitchen and is thrilled to co-host a bike breakfast behind SLO Guild Hall with the fine folks at Peak Racks on Friday, May 31 from 7-9 AM. As always, bring reusable plates, cups, silverware if you have them. If you don’t we’ll have stuff from Table Ware Share so you don’t have to drink coffee straight from the pot.

What: Bike Breakfast

Where: SLO Guild Hall, 2880 Broad St, San Luis Obispo, CA 93401 back in the Eucalyptus grove.

When: Friday May 31, 7-9 AM

Bikes and Beauty

This year our annual Bike Fashion Show, Bikes & Beauty, is moving to Saturday June 1st. Join us as we bid a huge farewell to Bike Month 2019 in the San Luis Obispo Guild Hall.

This year’s theme is “Bike Prom”, so dress up, bring a date, make a bikey corsage…Bikes and Beauty brings people from all over SLO County together to cheer on members of our local bike community as they strut their stuff on the runway in an always amazing array of hand-made DIY bike fashion.

Come groove to the satisfying sounds of DJ Norm, enjoy tasty food from Mee Heng Low Noodle House, beer from Central Coast Brewing, wine from Peloton Cellars, Tablas Creek Vineyard and Diringer Estates, cocktails by T-Dubs, deliciously sweet cupcakes from Linnaea’s Cafe and we are proud to be partnering with Whalebird Kombucha on tap.

Entry this year is $5 and gets you one free drink ticket. Additional beverages and food are available for purchase with sales benefiting Bike SLO County.

The first 125 people to arrive at Bikes & Beauty will receive a complimentary 2019 Bikes & Beauty commemorative steel pint tumbler. Supplies are limited! Arrive early, stay late!

This year Bike SLO County’s Bike Kitchen rebuilt 3 bikes from the ground up and had them custom powder-coated to make three unique Bike SLO County bikes for this year’s silent auction.

 

Bike Month 2019

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Bike Month 2019 kicks off on Wednesday, May 1st and Bike SLO County is starting the month right with our annual Bike Breakfast at the Bike Kitchen from 7-9 a.m. Below is a preview of Bike SLO County events during Bike Month. These events and others are all listed on the calendar maintained by the fine folks at SLO Shift: http://sloshift.org

Keep it clean…

In an effort to help make Bike Month events less dependent on single-use containers and utensils, Bike SLO County reached out to the community and discovered an amazing, local FLATWARE library called Table Ware Share – Free Lending! (If you’re hosting an event and want to borrow reusable dishes etc, click this link!) While we still want to encourage people to consider using/reusing your own cups, utensils, plates, napkins, etc. during Bike Month and beyond to help cut down on waste and save the earth, we’ll have plates, cups and utensils at our Bike Breakfasts if you need them.

May 1: Bike Breakfast: 7-9 AM at SLO Bike Kitchen. Let’s kick off Bike Month right with Breakfast at the Kitchen. Stop in for coffee (donated by Nautical Bean), breakfast tacos, pancakes, pastries donated by House of Bread, juice, fruit and more as we kick off Bike Month 2019! More information is available at https://www.facebook.com/events/390495528463400/

May 4: Bike Rodeo at Hawthorne Elementary: 11AM – 3PM. The Parks and Recreation Department once again will partner with the SLO Police Department to host the Annual Bike Rodeo and Bike SLO County will be there to lend a hand. There will be a bike parade, bike “safety town”, tune-ups and a BMX show. More information is available at  https://www.facebook.com/events/638768459897241/

May 5: Tenth Annual Cote de Claiborne Velo Challenge: 7AM-1PM. Join Claiborne & Churchill for the 10th Annual Cote de Claiborne Velo Challenge! This 50+ mile ride will conclude with lunch and a glass of wine in our lovely garden. Pre-registration required and experienced riders only! We will be donating $20.00 per rider to Bike SLO County. More information is available at
https://www.facebook.com/events/413090655933213/

May 5: FILM NIGHT at Bike Kitchen: 6-8:30PM. Join us in the Kitchen for two Bike Month screenings of California Golde, a 12 minute film Directed and Produced by “Ronnie” Romance Jr and Sandy Carson. This short film chronicles a completely analog tour off the grid—with no digital devices, apps, or GPS. A window to a time before, as @UltraRomance says, ‘we became cyborgs,’ it’s a project he considers an ‘art film,’ blending the aesthetic of 70s surf movies with the modern-day popularity of off-road bike touring. More information is available at
https://www.facebook.com/events/338157993506323/

May 9: Kidical Mass BEARS! at Mitchell Park: 5:30-6:30PM. Often called the family bike happening, Kidical Mass is a venue for parents to teach their kids how to ride safely. 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. This month’s theme is BEARS! Costumes encouraged. More information is available at
https://www.facebook.com/events/433491180787607/

May 15: Morro Bay Community Bike Ride: 1:30-2:30PM. Join us in Morro Bay as we celebrate our community on 2 wheels with an hour long, all level, community bike ride that benefits Bike SLO County! 3 group ride options: 1. kid friendly in town, easy pace 30min 2. recreational rider up Highway One, easy-moderate pace 60min 3. seasoned cyclist up Highway One, fast pace 60min. Ticket includes collectible event shirt and free bike valet by Bike SLO County. More information is available at
https://www.facebook.com/events/785064671860638/

MAY 15: Bob Roll invites you to Meet & Greet the Pro’s: 5:30-8:30 PM. SOLD OUT! Meet the Pros during our FREE 5:30pm Meet-and-Greet event at The Siren (next to the Amgen Tour of California | Men’s Stage 4 Finish), featuring legendary road cyclist, Bob Roll! PLUS – LIVE Auction benefiting Bike SLO County & LIVE Music. More information is available at https://www.facebook.com/events/361263391376552/

May 15: Ride of Silence at SLO Bike Kitchen: 7-9PM. The Ride of Silence is a free ride that aims to raise the awareness of motorists, police and city officials that cyclists have a legal right to the public roadways. The ride is also a chance to show respect for and honor the lives of those who have been killed or injured. This ride takes place simultaneously in multiple locations around the world. More information is available at
https://www.facebook.com/events/1540403476091448/

May 17: Bike Fest Atascadero: City Hall 4-6PM. Get the weekend started right with Visit Atascadero’s first-ever, “Happy Hour Station” Bike Fest to wrap up an incredible Bike to Work Day! Together Ride Share and Bike SLO County would like to celebrate YOU for taking an alternative mode of transportation and enjoying all that North County has to offer with bites and pints on the steps of City Hall. More information is available at https://www.facebook.com/events/336227697096536/.

May 25: Pedal to Pizza Ride, starts at Bike Kitchen: 11:30AM-1PM. Join us for the 3rd Annual Pizza Ride! This social, low key ride begins at 11:30 am at the Bike Kitchen (860 Pacific St in SLO, corner of Morro and Pacific) and visits 3 different San Luis Obispo pizza joints for an afternoon of food, fun and bikes. Three Large Pizzas will be pre-ordered and purchased at each location. Additional food/beverages available for purchase. More information is available at https://www.facebook.com/events/589961698176933/

May 31: Bike Breakfast @ SLO Guild Hall: 7-9AM. On the last day of Bike Month Peak Racks and Bike SLO County are joining together to start off the last day of Bike Month with a bang! Join us as we bid farewell to Bike Month 2019 with tasty treats in the Eucalyptus grove at the back of SLO Guild Hall. More information is available at https://www.facebook.com/events/2363109183936146/

June 1st: Bikes & Beauty at SLO Guild Hall: 6-9PM. Join us as we bid a HUGE farewell to Bike Month 2019 at the San Luis Obispo Guild Hall.

This year’s theme is “Bike Prom”, so dress up, bring a date, make a bikey corsage…Bikes and Beauty brings people from all over SLO County together to cheer on members of our local bike community as they strut their stuff on the runway in an always amazing array of hand-made DIY bike fashion. We’ll have dinner, drinks, dancing, a silent auction and loads of fun! More information is available at
https://www.facebook.com/events/523313658073449/

Looking for more Bike Month events?

Check out SLO Shift for info on other events taking place during Bike Month and every month of the year. Want to add an bike event? YES! https://sloshift.org

Stand up for the Bob Jones Trail

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Tell your Board of Supervisors to vote YES on the Bob Jones Trail

On Tuesday July 10th at 9 a.m., the SLO County Board of Supervisors will vote on the engineering design contract for the section of the Bob Jones Trail from the Octagon Barn to Ontario Road.

The item, #25 on the consent agenda, needs the support of at least four of the five supervisors to pass. Please attend the meeting if possible and speak in favor of approval. If you would like to speak, make sure to fill out a “Board Appearance Request Form” and submit it to the Clerk before the Board before begins consideration of the item. Please plan to keep your remarks short (under three minutes) and respectful. To make sure you get a chance to speak, it is suggested that you show up by 9 a.m.

If you can’t attend, please send an email to the Supervisors at boardofsups@co.slo.ca.us. Clicking the link should open a pre-written email. Simply add your name at the end or change the remarks to your liking and send.

The text of the sample email is also provided below if you would prefer to cut and paste:

Esteemed Supervisors,

I’m writing today to encourage you to vote in favor of the Item 25 of the consent agenda:

“Request to 1) approve a contract for professional consultant services with Wallace Group, in an amount not to exceed $1,003,051, for the Bob Jones Pathway from the Octagon Barn to Ontario Road; 2) authorize the Director of Public Works to approve amendments to the contract, in an amount not to exceed a contingency of $60,000; 3) approve a new capital project for Bob Jones Pathway from the Octagon Barn to Ontario Road Project; and 4) authorize a budget adjustment, in the amount of $1,429,427, from remaining balance of Capital Project – Bob Jones Trail Ontario Road, to fund Capital Project – Bob Jones Pathway from the Octagon Barn to Ontario Road, through the initial design phase, by 4/5 vote.”

Completion of this phase of the Bob Jones Trail project will benefit SLO County residents from all districts. This project not only provides SLO County residents (and visitors) with a great form of recreation, it also helps the County move closer to their mode-share goal of 20%, helps move SLO County towards achieving Vision Zero and addresses the goals in our County Climate Action Plan.

Please vote in favor of this item.

Thank you for your work on this project,

 Your Name Goes Here (Change this!!)

Bikes & Beauty 2018

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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!

It’s Bike Month 2018!

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Are you ready for Bike Month 2018?

Bike Month is back! And once again this year there is a whole lotta cyclin’ goin’ on! Wondering where to find the latest, greatest information about Bike Month 2018 events in SLO County? Bike SLO County has lots of stuff going on this month (read below), but you can learn more about all kinds of Bike Month events over at SLOShift.org’s brand new events calendar (Right here! http://sloshift.org)

SLO Shift is a group of fun loving volunteers who love bikes and wish that Bike Month was every month. With that in mind, SLO Shift’s calendar won’t stop in May. Look to SLO Shift for bike-related events all year round. Want to start your own bike-related events? If’s easy to add your event to SLO Shift’s calendar so that lots of people who bike can find out about it.

Rideshare.org has great information about this year’s Bike to Work Day and Bike to School Day.

Bike SLO County Bike Month 2018 Events

Check out Bike SLO County’s Events Page on Facebook to see all of our Bike Month 2018 events: https://www.facebook.com/pg/BikeSLOCounty/events/

You’ll find things like pArts After Dark, Pedal to Pizza, Bikes & Beauty, The SLO Ride of Silence and more.

Commemorative Bike Month 2018 Coffee Mugs

Our limited edition reusable mugs are going FAST! We have less than 50 left. You can buy them for just $10 at the Bike Kitchen, during normal Bike Kitchen hours and at our Bike Month 2018 events. You can use them all month long (and longer) and help cut down on the paper, plastic and Styrofoam cups we see too many of during Bike Month. ReCycle! ReUse!

On Civility and Cycling

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(UPDATED 6:48 PM 4/23/2108: In response to our request, Cal Coast News removed the comments of SLO_Children_at_play and “added a short leash” to the user and apologized for the trouble.)

On March 19th a Cal Coast News reader using the pseudonym SLO_Children_at_play posted a number of highly disturbing, inappropriate, threatening and illegal suggestions in response to an editorial about the proposed Anholm Bikeway. The comments included the following:

  • “…I suggest sabotaging the current bike freeway that exists on Morro Street.”
  • ”At night clandestinely place tacks and small nails in the intersections where only bikes can pass through. ”
  • ”String fishing wire at about handlebar level between the signs at the bicycle-only intersection.”
  • “If you want to put some money into the resistance, dump large quantities of ball bearings wherever the bicycles traverse. Do the same at Broad Street when it’s complete.”
  • “Make the new bicycle freeways as dangerous and unappealing to bicycles as possible.”
  • “I would even suggest that we start slashing tires on all bicycles in the city.”

Bike SLO County reached out to the moderator of Cal Coast News to ask for the comments to be removed and the comments have been taken down.

While we understand that some people are frustrated by the prospect of change, speech threatening harm is never, ever acceptable in a democratic, civil society. Bike SLO County strongly condemns these irresponsible, inflammatory comments. While we encourage civil engagement and urge everyone to participate in local government (at City Council meetings as well as at the ballot box), suggesting sabotage that will cause physical harm to the children and adults that ride bicycles in the City of San Luis Obispo crosses a line that should never be crossed.

As of yet there are no reported incidents matching SLO_Children_at_play’s suggestions. Bike SLO County urges people on bicycles at remain alert and if you see something suspicious, call the SLO Police Department at 781-7317.

If you have any additional information about SLO_Children_at_play making other threats or following through on their threats, please let the police know. You can ask to speak to an officer about case number 180420054.

Bike SLO County encourages members of the bicycle community to continue to engage in civil dialog and resist sinking to the depths demonstrated in SLO_Children_at_play’s inflammatory comments. Please continue to be the change you want to see as we all work to make SLO County a better place for everyone.

Speak up for the Anholm Bikeway!

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On Tuesday, April 10th at 6:00PM, the Anholm Bikeway is on the SLO City Council agenda. Again.

As some of you are aware, the SLO City Council adopted a resolution on the Anholm Bikeway Plan on February 20th as a consent item.  Subsequently, the City received a letter from members of the public outlining beliefs that the Council violated statutes of the Brown Act, by adopting the resolution as part of the consent portion of the agenda. The City Attorney reviewed the claims in the letter and concluded that the Council acted within its legal discretion and that there was no violation of the Brown Act. However, since the City’s primary objectives in public engagement are to accommodate different perspectives and encourage more residents to be involved in shaping decisions, the item has been placed back on the Council agenda but as a regular business item with the recommendation that Council rescind the prior resolution adopted on Feb 20th and take separate action on the Plan with an updated resolution. The Plan itself remains as Council approved at the Feb 20th meeting.  More details are in the full staff report.

Staff’s recommendation is to adopt the resolution with the same outcome from the Feb 20th meeting, which allows staff to continue to explore a couple more options for the middle section. There are long time residents that live in the Anholm district, and others within our community, that are vehemently opposed to any bicycle infrastructure improvement projects, as it changes the status quo that they are comfortable with. It is crucial that we, as bicycling and community advocates, continue to voice our support of these improvements that impact and improve bicycle safety, create better community and move our community forward.

Here is where you come in. Whether your live, work or play in San Luis Obispo, we need to encourage the SLO City Council to adopt this resolution as it is presented. We need you to come to the Council meeting and speak up in favor of the adopted resolution. Below is a template letter to Council and talking points. Please modify and add to bring your own experience and voice to the letter. We have a few more efforts to make on this project, but this project will set the expectation for how the City of SLO tackles our mode shift, climate action, and vision zero goals. The item is first on the public comment so be there promptly at 6:00 to speak up on April 10th at SLO City Council Chambers (map). Keep it brief and to the point, we’ll debate the options for the middle section of the plan in the near future. Additionally, you can email your comments to the Council at emailcouncil@slocity.org

Item 1 – Anholm Bikeway

Dear Mayor and Council,

I am speaking to urge you to adopt the resolution as presented tonight and agreed upon during the Feb 20th meeting. I believe this approach/resolution is an accurate reflection of your intent after a lengthy public comment on Feb 6th. I respect the decision to adopt the resolution in a more engaging fashion. This project has been contentious, but many of us are supportive of the decisions you have made and your willingness to tackle some of the difficult issues facing our city and environment. Moving forward on this project, we need to choose the option that best meets our city goals and is best for every road user and community member. Please adopt the resolution as presented tonight.

Thank you,

(Your name)

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Support the Preferred Alternative

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On the evening of Tuesday, February 6 the San Luis Obispo City Council will have the opportunity to adopt the “Preferred Alternative” for the Anholm Bikeway plan (previously the Broad St. Bike Blvd). The Preferred Alternative includes protected bike lanes along Chorro St. while the less desirable Lincoln St. alternative relies heavily on sharrows. Both connect to the planned Safe Routes to School crossing on Foothill Blvd. Bike SLO County believes that the Lincoln St. alternative won’t do enough to raise ridership or increase safety for riders. You can learn more about the two alternatives at  https://www.peakdemocracy.com/portals/189/Issue_3444

Bike SLO County urges you to consider taking one or more of the following timely actions before Tuesday’s meeting. See below for email template and attached for additional points to consider for both written and spoken comments):

1. Write an email to the city council (emailcouncil@slocity.org) supporting the Preferred Alternative. To ensure that City Council receives and reads your email, submit no later than noon on Tuesday, February 6th.
2. Submit your letter and comments here: https://www.peakdemocracy.com/portals/189/Issue_3444/
3. Write a letter to the editor and send via email to the Tribune (letters@thetribunenews.com) and the New Times (letters@newtimesslo.com)

At Tuesday’s meeting:

1. Attend to show your support and raise your hand when comments are made supporting the Preferred Alternative. Meeting takes place at 6:00 p.m. in the City Council Chamber, City Hall, 990 Palm Street, San Luis Obispo, California 93401.
2. Speak on behalf of the project.
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Email Template 

SUBJECT: Regarding Anholm Bikeway (Broad St. Bike Blvd)

Honorable Mayor and Council Members,

I’m writing to encourage the City Council of the City of San Luis Obispo to adopt the Preferred Alternative of the Anholm Bikeway (Broad Street Bicycle Boulevard) proposal. The Preferred Alternative creates safer streets for everyone — people who drive cars, people who ride bikes and people who walk. The Lincoln St. Alternative doesn’t do enough to raise ridership or increase safety for riders.

Additionally, the Preferred Alternative will play a major role in providing Safe Routes to School for students attending Bishop’s Peak and Pacheco Elementary schools.

Thank you for working to make SLO a better place to live,

YOUR NAME