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 May Is National Bike Month |
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May 2004 May Is National Bike MonthJoin in the fun celebrating the most thermodynamically efficient transportation device ever created and the most widely used private vehicle in the world and get physical activity while you’re getting where you’re going. Be Bike Friendly
Remember, the more people walking, biking and taking transit, the healthier our community and world will be for all of us! Local Bike Happenings
•The Bike to Work and School Commuter Challenge: Month long. The commuter challenge will encourage friendly cycling competitions among local businesses and area schools to commute to work and school by bicycle. It will start on Friday, May 21. See the Web site for details: http://www.getoutthebike.com •Family Fun Ride—Saturday, May 1: 10 a.m.–4 p.m. Enjoy a free ride on the roads and greenways from Bellingham to Fairhaven and beyond. This is a non-structured event encouraging people to enjoy the trails, bike paths and lanes while bicycling around town. Get out and see the sights, and enjoy stopping by the Farmer’s Market and our wonderful local eateries along your way. •Pump You Up and Affordable Bike Helmets From the Brain Injury Association—Saturday May 8 and May 15: Bellingham Farmer’s Market. Let us replace your flat bike tube (tubes courtesy of Kulshan Cycles) and pump up your flat tire and help you get on the road again. •Pedal With Your Politician—Saturday, May 15: (tentative, check the Web site). Meet at the Bellingham Farmer’s Market and cycle our downtown area bikeways with elected city and county officials. •Bike to Work and School Day Celebration—Friday, May 21 (6:30 –9:30 a.m.): Visit one of our celebration stations to fuel up on your way to work and school. Stop by for free food and goodies (thanks to our great local restaurants and other businesses) and cool stickers too: Be part of the solution. One less car. Bike local. Question internal combustion. Our way to say: Thanks for being part of the solution. •Friday, May 21: 5 –7 p.m. After work, everybody is invited to Boundary Bay Brewery to win awards and receive prizes for their participation. Then we dance! For more information and for a map of the Friday, May 21 celebration locations, see: http://www.getoutthebike.com or call 647-0950. Celebration Stations Open to the Public
Friday, May 21 (6:30 –9:30 a.m.) •Southwest Holly and State Street •12th Street in Fairhaven above Fairhaven Bikes •Barkley Village Gazebo •Diego’s Restaurant on Samish Way •Southeast corner of Birchwood and Meridian •Sunnyland Elementary (the trail area) •Dupont and I Street •The HUB Community Bike Shop •Whatcom Community College •Shuksan Middle School on Northwest Avenue •WWU Red Square •Lakeway and Lincoln Street •Port of Bellingham •Little Squalicum Bridge 7 Simple Steps to Less Driving
by Katie Alvord
1. On a map of your town, find the location of your home. With that as the center, draw a circle marking a two-mile radius around your home. 2. Note the places within those two miles that you regularly visit at least once every two weeks: your workplace, grocery store, place of worship, and day care center, etc. 3. Choose one of the places that falls within the circle and commit to walking, biking or taking the bus to it instead of driving. (More than 25 percent of Americans’ daily automobile trips are one mile or less. Almost 14 percent are less than half a mile, a 10 minute walk.) 4. Note the benefits of walking/biking/busing. 5. Every couple of weeks, commit to walking, biking or taking the bus to another location within the circle. 6. Begin choosing places outside the two-mile radius or try to find a closer alternative. 7. Now assess your new transportation needs. Total all of your household’s driving and calculate whether occasional taxi rides or car rentals wouldn’t be cheaper than paying all the bills for one car, or even two cars. Source: “Divorce Your Car! Ending the Love Affair with the Automobile” by Katie Alvord, New Society Publishers (2000). Available at the Bellingham Public Library. |