Volume # 4, Issue # 1 Bike to Work Week Special Edition Spring 2009 Schedule of Events It’s Bike to Work Week again! Time to dust off your ride, register your workplace and flood the streets, paths, and bike lanes with fun loving cyclists. JOIN US! Schedule Highlights: Sunday May 10th: Bike Bazaar at Heritage Square 9 am-2 pm • Bike swap • Helmet and Recycled bike sales • People Powered Parade -11 am • Games and live entertainment Monday May 11th: Kickoff/VIP commuter ride 7:30-9 am • Worksite Challenge begins • Kickoff proclamations at City Hall followed by short commuter ride • Free breakfast & Brick Award at Heritage Square Tuesday May 12th: Cruiser ride on FUTS 6 to 7 pm Wednesday May 13th • Bike to Breakfast 6:30-9 am • Community Bicycle Forum 6-8 pm at Flagstaff High School Thursday May 14th Bike to School /Family Day • Bike to School Challenge 6- 9:30 am • Bike to Potluck 5:30-7 pm at Thorpe Park • Student Films and Awards 7-9 pm at Thorpe Park Friday May 15th: BTWW Cyclo-bration 5 – 8 pm at Uptown Billiards Monday morning, May 18th: Live announcement of Worksite Challenge winners on The Eagle (103.7 FM). Enter online NOW at www.flagstaffbiking.org for the Red Schwinn Special Edition Cruiser bike from New Belgium Brewery. Raffle ticket(s) cost $5 for one ticket, $20 for 5 tickets, and 100 bucks will get you 29. Get ‘em while they’re hot! All proceeds benefit Flagstaff Biking Organization’s efforts. Enter to Win a New Belgium Cruiser Bike! Illustration by: Ken Grett
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Volume #4, Issue #1 Bike to Work Week Special Edition Spring 2009
Schedule of EventsIt’s Bike to Work Week again! Time to dust off your ride, register your workplace and flood the streets, paths, and bike lanes with fun loving cyclists. JOIN US!
Schedule Highlights:Sunday May 10th: Bike Bazaar at Heritage Square 9 am-2 pm • Bikeswap • HelmetandRecycledbikesales • PeoplePoweredParade-11am • Gamesandliveentertainment
Monday May 11th: Kickoff/VIP commuter ride 7:30-9 am • WorksiteChallengebegins • KickoffproclamationsatCityHallfollowedbyshortcommuterride • Freebreakfast&BrickAwardatHeritageSquare
Tuesday May 12th: Cruiser ride on FUTS 6 to 7 pm
Wednesday May 13th • BiketoBreakfast6:30-9am • CommunityBicycleForum6-8pmatFlagstaffHighSchool
Thursday May 14th Bike to School /Family Day • BiketoSchoolChallenge6-9:30am • BiketoPotluck5:30-7pmatThorpePark • StudentFilmsandAwards7-9pmatThorpePark
Friday May 15th: BTWW Cyclo-bration 5 – 8 pm at Uptown Billiards
Monday morning, May 18th: LiveannouncementofWorksiteChallengewinnersonTheEagle(103.7FM).
Enter online NOW at www.flagstaffbiking.org for the Red Schwinn SpecialEdition Cruiser bike from New Belgium Brewery. Raffleticket(s) cost $5 for one ticket, $20 for 5 tickets, and 100buckswillgetyou29.Get‘emwhilethey’rehot!AllproceedsbenefitFlagstaffBikingOrganization’sefforts.
May 10th - Sunday Bike BazaarHeritageSquare,DowntownFlagstaff,9am-2pm
Bike SwapCheapandexoticbikegearforsale!Weareexpectingbuyers and sellers from across Arizona. Sellers: reserveyourtableonlinebyfollowingthe“Raffle”linkat flagstaffbiking.org. Tables are available for a $20donation(youcansplittableswithfriends).
$10.00 Helmet sales for kidsLive entertainment featuringKarnaOttenatnoonandAlyJayat1pm.
“Fender Blender” smoothies
Games for KidsMake your own t-shirtwithbikesafetyiron-ons.Exhibitsoncommutingsafely,localbikeeventsandprograms,andbikeart.
Bike RecyclingGetagreatdealonarefurbishedbikeandsupportFBO.Ifyouwishtodonatebicyclesorpartsthatwecanuseforrepairs,[email protected].
People Powered Parade:TheParadestartsat11am,stagingattheparkinglotsouth of the downtown Public Library on Aspen St.It follows a 2 mile course leading back to HeritageSquare. Join us with your favorite decorated ride orbikeensembles.Anawardgoestothebestofshow.
May 11th - MondayThe Worksite Challenge - Monday through FridayThisyear,theBiketoWorkchallengelastsALLWEEKfromMondaymorningtoFridaymidnight.Twowinningworksites of the commuter challenge get a beautifulnewBreezerFreedomcommuterbiketousefor localerrands.WorksiteCoordinatorsareneededtovolunteerforeachparticipatingworksite,andALLbikecommuterscanlog-ontoparticipate…fromstudentstoCEO’s.Gotoflagstaffbiking.orgformoreinformationandseethechallengeguidelines in this issue. Togetherwe’ll feelhealthier, reducecongestiononFlagstaffstreets,andlowerourcarbonfootprint.
Kick-off Commuter Ride from City Hall - 7:30 to 9:00 amComejoinlocalelectedleaders,officials,andhundredsof your friends for a short “commuter” ride throughdowntown to finish in Heritage Square for a freebreakfast. Hundreds of cyclists sharing the roadsmakeastatement.TheBrickAwardwillbegiventoacommunitymemberthathasgoneaboveandbeyondthe call of duty for cycling in Flagstaff.BreakfastsponsoredbyPeaceSurplus.
May 12th - TuesdayCruiser Ride - Further Excellent Adventures of Jack & Martin on the FUTS - 6 pmOnceagain, localbikeheroes JackWelchandMartinInceareleadingacasualcruiserrideonFlagstaff’sUrbanTrailSystem(FUTS)Tuesdayevening.TheridestagesatAltitudesBar&GrillonBeaverStreet.Bringyourstylin’cruiser,yourcommutingbeater,yourslicknewroadie,tisinglespeed,orfixie–allridersarewelcome!
May 13th - WednesdayBike to Breakfast Day - 6:30 to 9 amBike-friendly businessesaroundFlagstaffareonceagain sponsoringBicycleBreakfaststopsthisyear.Check toseewhichstopis along your route, hitoneorhitthemall!Coffee,juice, muffins, bagels,andotherbreakfasttreatswill fuel your commute.Let us know if you wantto sponsor a breakfaststation! There are stilla couple openings!Breakfast stationlocationssofar:
Flagstaff Community Bicycle Forum Open House - 6 to 8 pm at Flagstaff High SchoolCity of Flagstaff Multi-Modal Transportation PlannerMartinIncehoststhe2ndannualbicycleopen-houseforum.Checkoutlocalbike-relatedorganizationsandjoin local officials for a discussion of cycling issuesinFlagstaff.Youcanlearnwhatwhat’sbeingdonetomakeFlagstaffmorebicycle-friendly,aswellasshareyourconcernswithinapositivebicycleenvironment.
Spring 2009 Bike to Work Week Special Edition Page 3
May 14th - ThursdayBike to School DayFBOencouragesparents,teachersandadministratorstosupportandencourage(oraccompany)studentstobike to school more. We celebrate our younger bikecommutersonthisdaywithBiketoSchoolactivities.
• A “Golden Sprocket” award will be given to 4localschoolswiththehighestparticipationrateofstudentsridingtoschoolthatday.
• Wearesponsoringthe2ndannualStudentBicycleShortFilmContest.Thetop3winnerswillgetcashprizes of $200, $100 and $50. Helmets must bewornbyallridersinthemovietoqualify.
Thursday is FAMILY NIGHT!
Bike to Potluck - 5:30 to 7 pmBike to Potluck at Thorpe Park’s Ramada, starting at5:30pm.Bringyourownbeverageandadishtoshare.We will be grilling hamburgers and veggie burgersforall,andalargegrillisavailableforuse.Ifweatherallows, we may have other activities. Let’s see howcreativeyoucanbetotingyourpotluckviabike!Andimmediatelytofollow…
Student Film Fest and Awards - 7 to 9 pmWe will move to the Adult Center at Thorpe Park toview entries in the Student Film contest and awardprizes to the winners. The Golden Sprocket trophieswillbeawardedtothewinningschools.Dessertswillbe provided by Cupcake’s Creations. Contact: [email protected].
May 15th - Friday Cyclo-Bration at Uptown Billiards - 5 to 8 pmBikecommuterscanfinishtheweekatUptownBilliardsforfun,friendship,andtallbikestories.JoineveryonetocelebrateourgreatBiketoWorkWeek.
Don’t forgetto logyourmilesthis lastday!TherearestillRaffledrawings for folks thatbikeonFriday,andtheworksitechallengegoesuntilMIDNIGHT.
Monday May 18th
Worksite Challenge AwardsThe Worksite Challenge winners will be announcedMondaymorning,May18thliveonTheEagle,103.7FM.
The Worksite ChallengeHow it works… Each office or sub-office is lead by a heroic andmotivated volunteer Worksite Coordinator. Eachworksitecoordinatorwillreceiveapacketofinformationto distribute to co-workers, providing guidance,promotionalposters,maps,pointers,routingandsafety
tips.FromMay11thuntilthe15th,allbikecommuterslogontoourwebsitedaily,reportingname,worksite,and total miles pedaled to work or errands that day.Logginginqualifiesparticipantsfordailyraffleprizesand increases their worksite’s participation rate. ThetopworksitesinthelargeandmediumcategorieswinaBreezerFreedomcommuterbicycle foreveryone touseforerrandsattheworksite.
More pedalers… More success!
1. To encourage greater participation and to helpbiking become a habit, we are counting 5 days, Monday-Friday, toward the Breezer bikecompetition.Thismeans thecoordinatorneeds toprovideFBOwithworksitetotalnumberseveryday,aswellasthenumberofwalkersorbus-riders.
2.Huge worksites are a huge challenge for the worksite coordinator. FBO again encouragesworksitesofmorethan100peopletosubdivideintosmaller(legitimate--nocherrypicking!)groupings,suchasdifferentfloors,buildingsordepartments.Smallergroupsareeasiertomanageandmotivate!
3. FBO urges each worksite to enhance the BTWWchallenge with intra- and inter-worksite challenges. Putupyourownprizesorwagersandwewillrefereetheresults.Fedsvs.County?UPSvs.FedEx?Marketingvs.Shipping?FBO is kicking this off with a “Roadies” vs.“Mountain Bikers” Challenge! We’ll report theseandyourresultsonourwebpage.
4.We want to see more worksites than ever join the challenge.E-mailus([email protected]) if you know of a worksite that ought toparticipate,evenifithasn’tbefore.
We are adjusting worksite size classifications aswelltoencouragemoreparticipation.Rotatingworksitesizes should give more Flagstaff employees theopportunitytocompetefortheBreezerFreedombikes.
Breezer Bike Challenge categories:Large:40ormoreemployees, Medium:11to39employees.Free Worksite Lunch Contenders: SmallWorksite:4-10employees,Daily raffle prizes: everyone else-- including“unaffiliated” commuters, micro-sites less than 4
employees, and students -- is eligible for the dailyraffleprizeseachdaytheylog-in(onlyonelog-inperpersonperdayallowed).
Daily Raffle prizes?LocalbusinessesarecontributingfabulousprizesforanyonewhoparticipatesinBTWWby registering their bike commuting on our website.Winnerswillbeannouncedonflagstaffbiking.orgMay12th-18th. Can you contribute a raffle prize as well?Pleasecontactus!
•Non-driving commuters: walkers, bus-riders,skaters, etc. can’t log-in, but help their worksitesby acting as a deduction from the worksite total,therebyincreasingbikeparticipationandreapingalotofthesamehealthbenefits!
For the Nitty-Gritty Rules of the Challenge, go towww.flagstaffbiking.org/bike-to-work-week/worksite-challenge/rules/.
Bike to School DayWewouldliketoseemorestudentstrybikingtoschool.Childhood obesity has reached epidemic levels, andbikingtoschoolispartofestablishinghealthylife-longhabitstomakeourkidsandourcommunityhealthier.It’salsofunandfeelsgreat,andcanbevaluablefamilytime.
This year we will have four beautiful new “GoldenSprocket” trophies that the winning schools canshowwithprideforthenextyearinthesecategories:Elementary,Middle,HighandAlternativeSchools.
We want to be more inclusive this year with a two-prongedeffort:
1.Makesureallstudentbikecommutersarecounted.This yearwewillhaveon-site school representativescounting each student who bikes to school between6:00and9:30amThursdaymorning,May14th.Allbikecommutersarestillencouragedtolog-intothewebsite,butwinnersofthechallengewillbedeterminedthroughtheSchoolRep’scounts.
TheSchoolRep’s job is togetkidsmotivated to ridetheir bikes, count them on the day of the challenge,andreporttheenrollment&cyclistnumberstoFBObyMay14th,11:30am.
2. We are reaching out to more schools. We havecontacted schools that haven’t participated in thechallengebefore.Thisincludessmaller,non-traditional,parochial,privateandcharterschools.Weknoweveryschoolhas itsdedicatedbike commuters among thestaff, teachers, parents, and students. Letusknow ifyoucanhelpuspromotethiseffort.
Why Bike?There are lots of great reasons to commute by bike.Herearesome:
• Bike commuting is good for health. Obesity andrelateddiseaseshavebecomeepidemicintheU.S.
• Bikesdon’tpollute.• Bikes reduce traffic & parking congestion and
relatedcosts.• Bikes offset the many costs of petroleum-based
Bike Commuters Sound Off!Please help guide FBO and the Bike AdvisoryCommitteeinprioritizingandevaluatingbikeamenitiesandconstructionprojects.Filloutouronlinesurveyatwww.flagstaffbiking.org/surveyfromMay1-31st.
Photo Contest and Poetry Slam for Bike to Work WeekSubmitaphotoofthefavoritethinginyourcommute. Is it the view of the peaks? Your fully tricked outcommuter bike? Flowers or still-lifes en-route? We’d
Local cyclists training to be safer commutersWe all love to ride our bikes, but some cyclistsarebetter thanothersatblending insafelywithtraffic. In an effort to reduce conflicts betweencars and bikes and make everyone safer, theCity of Flagstaff and FBO are collaborating totrain local bike commuters to become LeagueCycling Instructors (LCIs). About a dozen bikeadvocatestookaTrafficSkills101BicycleCourseMay 2nd, the first step toward the League ofAmerican Bicyclists certification. Once FlagstaffhasitsownLCIs,wecanconductthesetrainingclasses whenever and wherever there is ademand.ContactFBO if yourworksiteorgroupisinterestedinbecomingaLCIorhostingaclass.Seeflagstaffbiking.orgfordetails.
like to see them and share them. Win a cargo biketrailerdonatedbytheBikeShopHub($300value).Wewillneedahardcopyfordisplay:atleast5”x7”.SendtoFBO,POBox23851, Flagstaff,AZ86002.DeadlineisMay8th. We also want to read you bike commuter relatedpoetry. Email to [email protected]. The bestsubmissionswillgotoourwebsite.
A Word from the BTWW CoordinatorBiketoWorkWeekseemstoinspirethecraziestdevotionamong its followers. This is the second BTWW I’vecoordinated,andwhileitissomethinglikethetoughestjobIcouldeverlove,Iamconstantlyoverwhelmedbythe enthusiasm of the pedalers who await the eventwiththesameanticipationandjoyasthefirstcrocusespushingtheirblossomsthroughthetraditionalFlagstaffAprilFoolsDaysnow.
Like these people, I’ve come to depend on my bikecommutetobrackettheworkdaywithafreeingsenseofseparationfromjobstressandthemessesthatmayawaitwhenI returnhome. It’sabeautifulbitofwhitespaceonmyschedulethatisalwaysthere,alwaysgreat,completelywholesome,andcompletelydefensible.Howelse can one combine a necessary commute with ahealthyworkoutandstressreduction,scenicviewsandspringflowers, reducingpollutionandthecostsofoilconsumption,reducingtrafficandinfrastructurecosts,andshrinkingmycarbonfootprint?Allthatwithmy35pound,33-year-old,ten-speedRaleighRecord.
ThisistheeighthyearofFlagstaffBikingOrganization’scelebration of bike commuting that is Bike to WorkWeek. Ihopeallof youcyclistshelpusmake it evenmore successful. Join us in the many fun eventswe have planned this May: the worksite challenge;parades;music;rides;bikeswaps;breakfasts;potluck;communitybikeforum;schoolevents;andmore!
