Archive for the ‘Bike to Work Day’ Category

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Bike To and From Work Day

Friday, May 20th, 2011 by

What a glorious morning for F5 Bike to Work Day! Stations were buzzing, people were smiling, water bottles were disappearing and the wheels were spinning.

Turn out for the ride from Fremont to Seattle City Hall with Mayor McGinn was amazing! I missed the festive bell-ringing from last year, but there seemed to be more people than ever. Though folks peeled off at various intersections to hit their offices, the crowd was steady all the way to City Hall for the rally.

Sally Bagshaw, Seattle City Councilmember, spoke passionately at the rally about neighborhood greenways. We can’t say enough good things about neighborhood greenways — provided they do not replace vital arterial bike facilities. But adding greenways throughout the city will go a LONG way toward enticing the more casual, less-experienced bike rider to get around by bike from time to time.  I loved it when Bagshaw took a stab at the “war on cars” trope, saying “There is plenty of asphalt in this city. [...] Instead of the war, I’m talking about peace on bikes.”

New Cascade board member Emily Moran (who devoted a year of  Americorps service to the Education Foundation!) spoke with a clear call to action: Share the joy… invite a friend on a bike ride. Isn’t that how so many of us got started?

Mayor Mike McGinn shared his story about becoming a bike commuter, attributing his switch to two wheels to being on a Group Health Commute Challenge Team. He noted: “I don’t ride for fun. It just happens to be fun.” I couldn’t agree more with his comments about how we all just want to get safely where we are going, whether we’re driving, walking, biking or taking transit.

And our man on the mic, John Mauro seemed to be everywhere, making it look too easy. John’s also going on KOMO News Radio at 12:35 today to talk up the day.

By now, everyone is having lunch, remarking on what a spectacular day it is. And of course, there is the bike FROM work to consider. We’ve got a fantastic Bike to Work Day After Party planned in Ballard at Bergen Place Park. The street will be closed, and we’ll have booths, games, food, water bottles and a new member special. TotCycle is leading a Kidical Mass ride (leaving from the tower at 5:30). KEXP will also be in the ‘hood for the Ballard “Hood to Hood” Party.

Have a great Bike to Work Day… it’s not over yet!

Posted in Bike Month, Bike to Work Day | 2 Comments »

Take the long way

Thursday, May 19th, 2011 by

A friend wrote in today:

Every bike to work day, I compete to see how many bike rest stops I can pass to wave at all the volunteers (year before last my best took me past 15 rest stops).  Anyway, I didn’t promote this too much because I already know that you and others think I’m crazy.  Then, in this morning’s Seattle Times, I learned I’m not all that crazy after all, –

Cause no one would call Frazz crazy.

How are you celebrating Bike to Work Day tomorrow?

Posted in Around town, Bike Month, Bike to Work Day | 2 Comments »

F5 Bike to Work Day – Bring a Friend #ghcc

Monday, May 16th, 2011 by

F5 Bike to Work Day is May 20—this Friday! If you’re reading this blog, we hope you’re planning on riding. If you live too far to bike the whole way, take the bus or drive for part of it and ride the rest, or bus into work and ride home. Even if you don’t bike to work for another 364 days, bike to work on May 20.

Here’s a schedule of what’s in store:

*Commute stations, 6 – 9 a.m.

*Mayor’s Ride, 7:15 – 7:45 a.m.

*F5 Bike to Work Day Rally at City Hall, 7:30 – 8:30 a.m.

*F5 Bike to Work Day After Party Party in Ballard, 4 – 7 p.m.

You know why you bike: for fun, for exercise, for the environment or because one day your car broke down and you’ve never looked back. But why bike on F5 Bike to Work Day?

(more…)

Posted in Bike Month, Bike to Work Day, Commuting, Events | 3 Comments »

Come Celebrate biking at the UW Trail Party #GHCC

Friday, May 6th, 2011 by

I love Bike Month. The weather is finally getting nice (albeit gradually of late), and I’ve got a great excuse to ride my bike every day. The Group Health Commute Challenge is the perfect way for me to encourage non-rider friends and family to try reducing a few car trips. And if we had as many cyclists on the road every day that we do on F5 Bike to Work Day, I can’t even begin to imagine what a biking paradise the city would become.


Even more than these great motivators to ride, I love all of the opportunities throughout the month to get together and celebrate getting around on two wheels. The first big one, that’s free and open to all riders, is the UW Trail Party next Thursday from 4 p.m. – 7 p.m. Put on jointly by Cascade and U-PASS, the party is going to have music, bike fits, safety checks and free food samples.

Specifically, you can check out:

  • The UW Commuter Services booth with give-a-ways for first time UW bikers and team captains
  • Bike fits from Group Health physical therapists
  • UW Police doing bike registrations
  • Hall Health selling discounted safety gear
  • Recycled Cycles and Performance Cycles providing free bike safety inspections
  • Samples from Nuun, Honest Tea, and Pop Chips
  • Cascade’s own dj mi spinning tunes

The party is going to be held in the park off the Burke-Gilman between University Way and Brooklyn. And look! Thanks to the magic of Google I can show you exactly where that is:

Between here:

And here:

In this park here:

Come out and celebrate biking with us. It’s going to be a blast!

Posted in Around town, Bike Month, Bike to Work Day, Commuting, Events | 4 Comments »

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