Get your bike portrait taken at the Bike Valet this Thursday at Farmer’s Market and help us show how much people love bikes! It’s a great way to show off the personality of you and your bike, and helps us promote biking in SLO County. Visit ibikeslo.org for previous photos.
Ever wondered what causes bicycle collisions? The answers might surprise you!
Still worried about crashing? Take one of our free Education Workshops to learn some techniques to avoid them while riding on the road.
Of the 18% involving motor vehicles…
Join us for the I ‘bike’ SLO photobooth every last Thursday of the month at the Bike Valet! Have your photo taken for free and show off your bike and the personal flair that you love so much about it, it’s our way of sharing the diversity of bicycles and riders in SLO County. See all the images on our flickr page here.
Our t-shirts are also for sale online as well, check ’em out at ibikeslo.org
Saturday, March 5 | 5:00 – 9:30 pm
SLO Senior Center, 1445 Santa Rosa St
Join us for the St Patty’s Potluck, with all proceeds from the event going towards the Coalition! Last year’s potluck was a blast, and 2011’s will be bigger than ever! The event is open to everyone, with a $10 entry fee, including a free raffle ticket (Coalition members get two free raffle tickets) Join the Coalition at the door and get in for free!
This is a potluck, not sure what to bring? Flip a coin! Heads, bring a main dish. Tails, bring an appetizer or dessert. Don’t have a coin? Bring a beverage to share!
We will have live music, raffle prizes, a pub style quiz, and plenty of food & drink for all! Bring your friends, the more the merrier!
For more information, check out the flier here: stpattys_potluck2011
Join us on Friday, February 18th at 3:00 as the Madonna Inn Bike Path is formally opened!
We will all ride the path together, and have a group photo op to celebrate this great new facility. The dedication will take place in the north part of the Madonna Inn parking lot, please bike or walk to the celebration if you can. We hope to see you there!
Hosted by the City of San Luis Obispo, Madonna Inn, Air Pollution Control District and CalTrans
Our neighbors at BAXTER MOERMAN have offered to donate all the proceeds from watch band adjustments and battery replacements to the Coalition during January! No need to bring in a flier or anything, just head down and let these talented local jewelers do the rest.
They are the only shop in town with cases of jewelry they make exclusively in house, heavily inspired by the textures and senses of nature.
BAXTER MOERMAN produces the highest quality wearable art using only recycled 18K golds and conflict free diamonds, because care about the health of our Earth, its future generations, and the rights of all humans. BAXTER MOERMAN jewelry is a beautiful extension of your personality as well as your conscience, wear it with pride!
-Owners Matthew Baxter and Matthew Moerman
Help support our local jewelers and give them a visit! BAXTER MOERMAN are conveniently located a block away from the Coalition offices at 1118 Morro St (between Higuera & Marsh). For more information visit their website, or give them a call at (805)308-8118
How long have you been a Coalition member? 2008
When did you start bicycling? When I was 6 on a cruiser with wooden blocks on the pedals
Why do you bike? I hate Cars and parking and paying for parking. And I like saying “good morning” to neighbors and chatting with friends
How many bikes do you own? 5, all very different
How often do you ride? Commutishly about 10 trips a week
What kind of riding do you do? Costumed SLO-hemian, Amateur Ballet
What do you think the most important thing the Coalition has done in our area? Joined the people to create a voice of advocacy
What changes/improvements have you seen since you lived here? Bike Blvd, Bike Kitchen, Bike signal, Bike parking
What additional changes would you like to see? Better Bike facilities at the Elementary and Jr. High Schools
What’s your favorite ride? To and from school with my daughters
What’s your advice to encourage others to get on their bikes? If you find a bike you love you are more likely to ride it and a bike doesn’t have to be expensive to fall in love with it.
How do you get involved with Coalition? I encourage parents and kids to practice riding together at Kidical Mass
What’s your favorite Coalition program? The Bike Kitchen
Anything else you want to add? Biking makes happy easily accessible.
When did you start bicycling? When I was 4
Why do you bike? Because it’s fun
How many bikes do you own? 2
How often do you ride? Very often with my dad and most of the time with my mom
What kind of riding do you do? Regular riding
What do you think the most important thing the Coalition has done in our area? Help with Kidical Mass
What changes/improvements have you seen since you lived here? None
What additional changes would you like to see? I want everyone to like me
What’s your favorite ride? Kidical Mass
Anything else you want to add? Ella’s bike is shiny and mine isn’t
Why do you bike? It’s fun
How many bikes do you own? 2
How often do you ride? Whenever I’m with my mom
What kind of riding do you do? Kidical Mass riding
What do you think the most important thing the Coalition has done in our area? Keeping people safe when they’re riding bicycles
What changes/improvements have you seen since you lived here? I’ve seen a lot of people on bikes.
What additional changes would you like to see? A BIG sign in front of Bike Valet that says “Bike Coalition”
What’s your favorite ride? SLO Little 500
What’s your advice to encourage others to get on their bikes? All you have to do is pedal
How do you get involved with Coalition? I tell my friends about Kidical Mass
What’s your favorite Coalition program? Kidical Mass because sometimes the Childrens Museum brings crafts and you can put them on your bike
Anything else you want to add? When people help out at the Kitchen they help people get their bikes fixed and that makes people happy.
How long have you been a Coalition member? I have been a member for one year now. I joined well after I became involved with the Bike Valet and Bike Month and other cycling activities. Sorta embarrassing that I took so long to become a paid-up member.
When did you start bicycling? I have cycled off and on for a number of years. I really began some casual, regular cycling back in Connecticut when I works quality control on an Indian Casino Resort call the Mohegan Sun. I began my biking-for-biscuits routine on a hybrid bike, pedaling up the coast from Mystic to Stonington to the Yellow Cup Café.
Why do you bike? Cycling gives me a real sense of freedom. I get where I am going under my own steam. I control the vertical and horizontal, as you might recall from “Outer Limits” of old. We think we control a lot in our lives and I know in mine, it has turned out to me largely a myth. With cycling, however, I do make it go. No fossil fuels, no wind, no solar, nothing buy my legs and my body’s energy.
How many bikes do you own? I have four at this point. The long-wheelbase Rans recumbent, the Catrike Expedition, an older Bianchi road bike and a kludged together mountain bike. I am looking now for a modern road bike and a classic. The classic I seek will be elegant and have me feeling that way also.
How often do you ride? Typically I ride three days a week with a spin-off group of the San Luis Bicycle Club. I try to make all of my light errands happen on the bike also. I have even picked up lumber and Costco shopping at the same time with my Rans and its trailer.
What kind of riding do you do? My first leg is usually a push as I am solo at that point. Then I stop for coffee and await the start of the ride. Then I cycle with group to the next coffee spot. Coming home can be a push also, depending on the weather and appointments.
What do you think the most important thing the Coalition has done in our area? Other than being there, the Coalition works with our community to provide an excellent riding climate. Specifically I enjoy the Morro St Bicycle Boulevard and Bike Valet in its many iterations.
What changes/improvements have you seen since you lived here? The completion of the Morro St Bicycle Boulevard is prominent in my mind. The expansion of Bike Valet coverage also. Bike racks throughout town. The road conditions reporting function on the Coalition’s website. Sharrows on Monterey Street. The involvement on such a broad demographic in hosting the Bike Valet.
What additional changes would you like to see? I’d really like to see more folks riding and making cycling an integral part of living in San Luis Obispo City and County. I’d like to see also more younger folk involved with the San Luis Obispo Bicycle Club, the Club may have an issue with aging membership and perhaps Coalition inspired involvement will spill over. Here I’m thinking that inspired volunteers will come to the club as well.
What’s your favorite ride? I like a good century. The Lighthouse (up the coast) and the Wildflower (Shandon and Creston). Shorter fun rides are over Prefumo Canyon to Avila and back (yes, on the recumbents) and up the Grade to the Porch Café in Santa Margarita.
What’s your advice to encourage others to get on their bikes? Ride where you like to ride. For me, I found riding to a coffee stop and relaxing was and remains a fine motivator. Once local shops are explored, others can be found also by extending one’s trip. I think what Dan Rivoire said about helmets and kids works well with this modification. He said something to parents at the Bike Rodeo about getting kids to wear their helmets. “Get them a helmet they like and think is cool and they’ll be apt to wear it with pride and interest.” Or something similar.
How did you get involved with Coalition? Kept my ears open for a fun volunteer opportunity (see the line above about motivating interest and keeping it.) How does one? Have a look at the Coalition website and let the oracle of all knowledge and wisdom help you out.
What’s your favorite Coalition program? Based on familiarity and fun, Bike Valet, of course. I get to share this experience with a grand cross section of folks of all ages and interests. Nice get-in-touch with the community.
Anything else you want to add? If you, dear reader, like to see cycling in your community as a motorist or cyclist or pedestrian, please support this good operation.
Are you interested in being one of our next Member Profiles?
Join the Coalition to be eligible, or send us an email to nominate someone you think is a great ambassador for bicycles in SLO County!
Or conduct your own interview with a Coalition member, attach a photo, and send them our way to highlight their love for bicycles and the Coalition!
