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Bike Month Rolls On!

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!

Concerts in the Park

Bikefest 2014!

Our free Bike Valet will be out in force at the 6th annual Bikefest this Saturday, May 10th from 12 – 4 PM at the Branch Street Deli in Arroyo Grande.

Amgen Tour of CA, 2011

Come join the fun at this biketastic event. A Bike Parade around the village starts at 12:20. Live music at the Deli begins at 1 pm. There will be discount beverages, great food and many free prizes (like a New Belgium Cruiser bike) for attending. This event is sponsored by New Belgium Brewery, Lezyne, SRAM, Rideshare and the SLO County Bike Coalition.

We’re still looking for a few more volunteers to help out at our Bikefest and Mini Maker Faire Bike Valets (both on May 10th). Interested? Sign up at our Volunteerhub page.

Bikefest 2014: Branch Street Deli, 203 E Branch St, Arroyo Grande, CA 93420

 

Concerts in the Park

Bike Valet at Bike Month Kick Off!

Tomorrow is May 1st and that means that BIKE MONTH IS HERE!

Rideshare’s Bike Month Kick Off event begins at 7 pm Thursday, May 1st with the screening of a documentary about SLO’s own Bike Happening, at Lincoln Market & Deli. Our free Bike Valet service will be there, ready to park and watch over your favorite two-wheeled friend as you enjoy the festivities.

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Never used Bike Valet? It works just like a regular valet service:

  1. You’ll be given given a numbered tag, which matches the tag we attach to your bike.
  2. Your bike will be carefully parked on our secure racks.
  3. To retrieve your bike, hand us your number. We’ll confirm that it matches the number on your bike, then return it.
  4. Boom!

After you watch the Bike Happening film, you may want to…ride in the Bike Happening itself! Maybe, just maybe, you’ll be in the sequel.

Bike Month Kick Off May 1st 7 – 10 pm
Film followed by Ride
Lincoln Market & Deli
496 Broad St, San Luis Obispo, CA 93405

Interested in what else is going on in May? Check the Rideshare website for the most current Bike Month Calendar.

 

 

Last Chance! Voting for the 2014 Bike-In Movie Ends at 8 pm!

One of our favorite Bike Month events that we host is the annual Bike-In Movie. Help us choose this year’s movie by casting your vote below. Voting ends at 8 pm tonight!

Fill out my online form.

Advocacy Update: City Council Divided over Sales Tax

On the evening of Tuesday, April 1st, SLO County Bicycle Coalition staff joined the Downtown Association, Chamber of Commerce, and various members of the public in asking the City Council to prepare language for a sales tax measure to be placed on the ballot in November. The current sales tax, Measure Y, is set to expire in March of 2015.

With a long list of bike-friendly infrastructure projects still incomplete and awaiting investment, the Bicycle Coalition is proud to support the City’s effort to maintain strong revenues in future years. Despite ongoing concerns in the community about how sales tax revenue has been spent historically, we continue to work to amplify the voice of families and young professionals that believe an improved network of bikeways is essential to community-wide well-being. The Bicycle Coalition always aims to make absolutely sure that the City Council continues to make building better bikeways the highest priority in the City Budget.

For more information about the Council’s divided stance, check out the tribune’s report online here: https://www.sanluisobispo.com/2014/04/01/3001483/divided-slo-city-council-takes.html?sp=/99/100/&ihp=1

To learn more about our Advocacy efforts check out our Advocacy Page.

 

Vote for the 2014 Bike-In Movie

One of our favorite Bike Month events that we host is the annual Bike-In Movie!

The 10th annual movie is set for Friday May 30, 2014 at 7:30 pm in Mission Plaza, we hope to see you there. Help us choose this year’s movie by casting your vote below. (Submit button is on the bottom of this post)

We’ll have everything you need to enjoy a movie under the stars in Mission Plaza! We’ve got the popcorn, hot chocolate and our Bike Valet all set up and ready to go. Bring a blanket and your entire family for an evening of fun!

Fill out my online form.

Welcome to our New Directors!

Spring has just begun and we’re happy to announce two new Directors at the Bicycle Coalition.

Troy Johnston is coming aboard as our new Programs Director, and Steve Akers is moving up from his position on the Bike Valet staff to become our new Communications Director.

Steve and Troy

Troy is a former principal and lifelong educator with a love of bikes who recently moved to San Luis Obispo from the Bay area. Troy is our first full-time Programs Director and we’re excited to have his experience and expertise as we work to expand the reach of our programs.

Steve began volunteering at the Bike Valet a few years ago and officially joined the Bicycle Coalition staff in 2013. His experience with media production and outreach will be a valuable asset as the Bicycle Coalition strives to spread the word about all things bike.

We’re excited about the energy these new additions bring to the Bicycle Coalition Staff. Please ring your bike bell when you see them riding around town!

 

Bidding Farewell to Leslie

This week we are sad to say goodbye to our Communications & Operations Director Leslie Bloom.

Leslie has been with the Bicycle Coalition team since January 2010 and has been instrumental in crafting the public image of the organization. With a background and passion for design she was able to build all of our communication efforts, including our e-news, website, media, newsletters and more. We’ll miss her can-do spirit and incredible dedication over the years.

We wish her all the best as she moves on to her next adventure here in San Luis Obispo. Keep your eyes peeled for her curls biking around town.

Cheers Leslie, thanks for years of incredible work at the Bicycle Coalition!

GoodbyeLeslie