Pictures from Kickoff Breakfast and Riverpark Square Bike Show

• Two Iranian computer engineers quit their jobs, sold their possessions and are now cycling the world and planting trees as a symbol of peace and speaking about environmental conservation. Come hear them speak and watch a slide show of their journey 11:30-12:45, in building 24 room 110 on the Spokane Falls Community College campus. SFCC Bike-to-Work participants will be enjoying a pizza lunch (not open to the public, sorry) courtesy of college president Dr. Mark Palek.



• Bike to School Day. Activities are being organized at elementary schools around Spokane to highlight the fun and benefits of biking, and school district employees are being encouraged to bike too. Cooper, Jefferson, Linwood, Sheridan, Westview, and Wilson. Students will receive bike safety information, stickers, books, and other incentives for choosing to walk or bike to school that day. Join your kids on their bike ride to school, and continue on to work. Wattson, Avista’s Energy Watchdog, will participate in Cooper Elementary’s Walk ‘n Roll to School event on May 14th and Jefferson Elementary’s Teck Trek event on May 15th in support of Bike to Work Spokane.
• REI BTW Week Event: Village Bicycle Project presents Ayamye at Spokane REI, Monroe and Boone. 7:00 P.M. Village Bicycle Project will show the film Ayamye, documenting efforts to bring affordable & sustainable transportation to Ghana, Africa through donated used bikes, new tools & repair training. Pedals2People will collect adult bicycles in repairable condition for the Project at this event. Bring your old bike, and help them reach their goal of collecting 300 bicycles for the Village Bicycle Project. Contact Pedals2People at 842-6597 or visit their website for more information.

All Week Long

• RiverPark Square bicycle display. Check out the latest in commuter bicycles and see what you've been missing.
• NW Museum of Arts and Culture will display some vintage bicycles in the foyer.
• Anyone visiting Aunties Bookstore during the week with a helmet will receive a 15% discount on all purchases.
• Bike in to Fitness Fanatics and get a free water bottle and enter to win other prizes.
• Great Harvest Bread Company will give out Pedal Power Oatmeal cookies to any Bike to Work participant who shows up at the E. 2530 29th Avenue address during the Bike to Work Week. M-F from 6:30 a.m. to 6 P.M. Sat. from 6:30 a.m. to 5 P.M. And Sunday form 6:30 a.m. to 3 P.M. Just have to show up on a bike and tell the counter people that you want the Pedal Power Oatmeal Cookie.
• Register for the third annual Fish Lake Trail Service Project, hosted bySpokane REI & Inland Northwest Trails Coalition. The event itself takes place at 9:00 A.M. Saturday, May 17. Free Registration Required: In store registration call 509-328-9900; Online registration http://www.gonzaga.edu/fishlaketrail

Pictures from Kickoff Breakfast

• LIVESTRONG Day 2008, the Lance Armstrong Foundation's one-day initiative to raise awareness and funds for the cancer fight. Bike To Work on May 13th and Wear Yellow to show your support for Cancer Survivors. Bike To Work-Wear Yellow for LIVESTRONG Day Breakfast and booths open from 6:30-8:30 A.M. at Deaconess Health and Education Center, Rm 265. Check this page for details and bookmark it! http://www.schaffnerfamily.com/BTWLD.htm
• Mountain Gear Noon - Bike to Work Traffic Skills Presentation for Employees at Corporate Headquarters

  All Week Long

  • RiverPark Square bicycle display. Check out the latest in commuter bicycles and see what you've been missing.
  • NW Museum of Arts and Culture will display some vintage bicycles in the foyer.
  • Anyone visiting Aunties Bookstore during the week with a helmet will receive a 15% discount on all purchases.
  • Bike in to Fitness Fanatics and get a free water bottle and enter to win other prizes.
  • Great Harvest Bread Company will give out Pedal Power Oatmeal cookies to any Bike to Work participant who shows up at the E. 2530 29th Avenue address during the Bike to Work Week. M-F from 6:30 a.m. to 6 P.M. Sat. from 6:30 a.m. to 5 P.M. And Sunday form 6:30 a.m. to 3 P.M. Just have to show up on a bike and tell the counter people that you want the Pedal Power Oatmeal Cookie.

Click here for this week's events!

Nearly 900 riders have registered! As one measure of participation, in the same week last year 179 people who participate in Commute Trip Reduction used bike commuting; this year, 315 CTR participants are biking this week. (If you're not familiar with CTR, check out http://www.mycommute.org and talk to your employer about joining voluntarily.)

Monday, May 12 Breakfast Information

Breakfast--Rain or Shine--is at the Gondola Meadow in Riverfront Park by the Bloomsday runner statues, 7- 9 a.m. A brief program at 8 a.m. will feature remarks by Mayor Mary Verner and by Bob Lutz, chair of the city's Bicycle Advisory Board.

We will have a bike corral set up at the corner of Spokane Falls Blvd. and Post. An STA bus will be parked on Post so you can try out the bike rack.

Pedals 2 People and REI are providing basic bike check services. They'll go over bikes as requested, make minor adjustments as necessary, and show you how to make these types of adjustments. Repair issues that require more attention or new parts will be referred to local bike shops.

At the registration tables, check in according to the shirt size you requested. (Those who registered after #600--when we ran out of T-shirts--will receive a separate email with more information regarding this.)

Buddy Rides

Several people have posted a route on the Bike to Work Spokane Park & Ride" forum . Post at the forum if you want to meet up for these or any other routes. Specific routes so far:

• From 9 Mile Falls (Riverside State Park Ranger Station) to downtown via Centennial Trail , Mon-Wed-Fri.
• From Mirabeau Park and Ride to downtown; usual route is Broadway to University to Sprague, but planning to come in on the trail for Monday, May 12.
• Paradise to Deaconess: Planned stops to meet inbound riders that want to join up at Campion Part near S. Hatch Rd and the Bicycle Information Center at Inland Empire Way near Cheney-Spokane Road, arriving downtown at Deaconess.
• North Spokane to downtown: Monday May 12 and Friday May 16. Meet at Northgate Shopping Center, across from the North Division Costco, ready to ride at 7am. Riders will take Standard/Addison to North Foothills to Howard to Riverfront Park and be downtown by 8am.

MAY 13: LIVESTRONG Day

Wear yellow to show support for cancer survivors. Information booths for the Loreen Miller Bike Ride, Cancer Patient Care and others will be open from 6:30-8:30 a.m. at Deaconess Health and Education Center, Rm 265, and a continental breakfast will be served.

Details available at http://www.schaffnerfamily.com/BTWLD.htm. RSVP by Monday May 12.

Thank our Sponsors

These events would not be possible without our very generous sponsors and partners.
Gold Wheel: Unico Properties. Silver Spoke: City of Spokane, Cuda Apparel, REI, and Steam Plant Grill/Coeur d'Alene Brewing. Bronze Gear: Ivey Imaging Inc., Lee & Hayes, Mountain Gear, New Priorities Foundation, North Division Bike Shop, Out There Monthly, Salty Design Foundry. Pedal Partners: Access Spokane, Alchemy Goods, Apple Charlotte Catering Company, Avista, BicycleGifts.com, Bleck Family, Bumble Bars, Fitness Fanatics, Gonzaga University, Lukins & Annis, 1lesscar.com, Spokane County Commute Trip Reduction, Spokane Transit Authority, Two Wheel Transit. Lead organizations: Bicycle Alliance of Washington, City of Spokane Bicycle Advisory Board. Click here for links to each sponsor.

An email update went out May 7 to 688 registered participants.

If you did not receive it, your spam filter may have bounced it out. Please whitelist the addresses barbchamberlainAThotmailDOTcom and btwspokaneATgmailDOTcom.

Some emails have bounced back due to incorrect email addresses entered in the registration form. If you did not receive it, send your email address to btwspokaneATgmailDOTcom.

The text of the email is posted on the BTW News page.

Registration is nearing 700, much more than double our initial projections! Because of the overwhelming response, we are out of t-shirts to give away. Please, if you are riding, register so not only are you entered in the drawing for great prizes (see the schwag page) but so we can track the number of participants to prepare for 2009!

• OutdoorsNW.com Bike to Work Article and support information
• Great Harvest Bread Company has stepped up as our latest new Sponsor. They will be giving out whole wheat oatmeal cookies to any Bike to Work participant who shows up at the E.. 2530 29th Avenue address during the Bike to Work Week. M-F from 6:30 a.m. to 6 P.M. Saturday from 6:30 a.m. to 5 P.M. and Sunday from 6:30 a.m. to 3 P.M. BTW participants just have to show up by bike (consider carrying your helmet inside with you) and tell the counter people that they want that Pedal Power Oatmeal cookie.
• May 5: Bike Commuter Night sponsored by Bicycle Alliance of Washington and North Division Bicycle Shop. North Spokane Library at 44 East Hawthorne. 6-8 P.M. Click for details.
• May 6: bike maintenance workshop at Two Wheel Transit. 6:00 P.M. Contact the shop to register. Space is limited, so register quickly. 747-2231
• May 6 and 10:League of American Bicyclist Road I bicycle safety class. Class covers two days: May 6 from 4:30-7:30 p.m. and May 10, 10 a.m.-4p.m. at the Shadle Library. Half the time is spent on the bike, the other half in a classroom setting. For more on the workshop and other bike safety information sources, contact SpokaneBikeBuddyATaolDOTcom. Cost is $29. Limited to 10 participants.
• May 7: Inland Northwest Health Services Noon Employees' "Lunch and Learn" Session for Bike to Work

Download BTW Posters for your Workplace: Horizontal Version || Vertical Version

We are over the top, way over the top! BTW Spokane planners initially planned to give T-shirts to the first 300 registered participants. We have been flooded with registrations and topped 500 on May 1 and expect that to keep climbing. We reworked the budget to be able to give away 600 shirts, but that's it, really it. Otherwise we break the bank and we don't want to do that. When you go to the registration page, if it doesn't ask for shirt size then we have passed the 600 mark. For that we thank you and the rest of the participants and extend our apologies that we can't give you a shirt; we'll be doing a lot more for next year!

If you are among those unlucky participants who don't receive a t-shirt (maybe they'll end up on eBay as collectors items?) please register to let us know which event(s) you'll attend and to be entered in the drawing for prizes to be given away at the wrap-up party Friday, May 16 at the Steamplant Grill. Remember, you must be present to win. You may walk away with much more than a t-shirt, such as a commuter bike courtesy of REI, a weekend stay in the Sandpoint area and so much more. Thank you everyone for such an overwhelming response to our efforts. You are the folks who help make Spokane Near Perfect!

BTW Spokane would like to welcome our most recent Pedal Partner Sponsor: Spokane Falls Community College. Thank you SFCC and President Mark Palek and SFCC Sustainability Coordinator Paul Haeder.

While Bike-to-Work Week, May 12-16, is still over a week away, the whole month of May is Bike-to-Work Month. Following are events for the first few days of the month.

Friday, May 2: OTTO, the Spokane Indians mascot, rides his bike every chance he gets and will be riding downtown to help kick-off Bike to Work Month and the activities planned in downtown Spokane on Friday, May 2. OTTO and representatives from Bike to Work Spokane will be stationed in front of the Spokane Convention Center promoting Bike to Work Month.

Friday, May 2 and Saturday, May 3: Come find us in the Bloomsday Trade Fair in the Spokane Convention Center. We'll be there, sharing the Spokane Bicycle Advisory Board booth. Come talk to us about bicycle commuting or bicycling in general.

April 30 Update

Welcome to Craven's Coffee as a new Bronze Gear Supporter. You'll be drinking their coffee at the May 12 kickoff event in Riverfront Park between 7 and 9:00 A.M. See you there!

April 29 Update

The Spokane City Council and Mayor Mary Verner proclaimed the week of May 12-16 Bike to Work Week in Spokane. Additionally, Mayor Verner honored BTW Chair Barb Chamberlain with a City of Spokane Certificate of Appreciation for her bike-to-work efforts. Additionally, registrations have topped the goal of 300 and we are now projecting between 400 and 500 participants. Thank you City of Spokane officials and Barb Chamberlain, for the efforts of each that are making BTW Week such a success. And thank you Spokane!

Bike to Work Month begins Thursday!

Bicycle Master Plan Open House

Please attend the last of the Bicycle Master Plan open houses. If you cannot attend, please fill out the survey because your input is valued.

• Tuesday, April 29, at the Northeast Community Center, 4001 N. Cook, from 6 to 8 P.M.

BTW Bicycle Workshops

• Bike maintenance workshop at Two Wheel Transit. 6:00 P.M. Contact Two Wheel Transit to register. Space is limited, so register quickly. 747-2231
• Bike Maintenance 101 at Spokane REI, Monroe and Boone. 7:00 P.M. Bike Maintenance 101 is designed for anyone who owns a bike and wants to learn how to keep their investment running great for years to come.

BTW Registrant Demographics

Have you wondered about the others who are registering for Bike to Work Week activities? Well, wonder no more. Here's what we can tell you about the 226 who have registered as of April 24.

• The average commute length is 5.7 miles, with the median (half more and half less) commute being five miles.
• The longest commute is 40 miles and the shortest one-third of a mile. Several registrants work from home or are self-employed.
• Seven have commutes over 20 miles, 26 commute between 10 and 19 miles, 79 between five and ten miles, 54 from three to five miles and 52 commute fewer than three miles.
• The largest number of registrants from any one employer is 24, from the City of Spokane (not counting fire and police, which adds two each and another five from the library).
• Gonzaga University has the most registrants from an educational institution, higher ed or K12, with 23; WSU Spokane comes in second with nine. The Community Colleges of Spokane follow with six, three from each campus. Whitworth has no registrants.
• The private employer with the most registrants is Bronze Gear sponsor Lee and Hayes with 15 percent of their workforce, a total of nine registered riders. Rings and Things and Coffman Engineers tie for second with three registered riders each.
• The field most represented is education (both K12 and Higher Education) with 54 registered riders. Second would appear to be health care, with the various hospitals, clinics and health care support services supplying 22 registered riders.
• One registered rider works for his mother and has a commute of five miles.

Cruise by Auntie's Bookstore to see Auntie all dressed up in her cycling kit!

Please attend one of the Bicycle Master Plan open houses. If you cannot attend, please fill out the survey because your input is valued.

Master Bike Plan Open Houses

• Tuesday, April 22, Southside Senior Activity Center, 3151 E. 27th Ave., from 6 to 8 P.M.
• Thursday, April 24, at the West Central Community Center, 1603 N. Belt, from 7 to 9 P.M.
• Tuesday, April 29, at the Northeast Community Center, 4001 N. Cook, from 6 to 8 P.M.

Corporate Challenge!

Bronze Gear Sponsor Lee and Hayes currently has 15% of their employees signed up for Bike to Work and challenges all others to beat that!

Not all of these are Bike-to-Work events, but if you want to enjoy some "bike-to-work" types, you might enjoy these events:

• 3rd Annual Earth Day "Tread Lightly" bike ride. Saturday, April 19 at 12:30 P.M. Meet at the Gondola Meadows of Riverfront Park. Advertised as family friendly ride through downtown and maybe beyond.
• Pedals2People fund raiser and ride. On Sunday, April 20, cyclists will leave Sandifur Park at 11:00 for a looping 40km trip to Benidito's Pizza at 14th and Lincoln. Beer, pizza and watching Paris-Roubaix start at 1:00. Ride from anywhere via anywhere you like, but be there to meet bicyclists and watch bicycle racing.
• Master Bike Plan Open Houses
  
  • Tuesday, April 22, Southside Senior Activity Center, 3151 E. 27th Ave., from 6 to 8 P.M.
  • Thursday, April 24, at the West Central Community Center, 1603 N. Belt, from 7 to 9 P.M.
  • Tuesday, April 29, at the Northeast Community Center, 4001 N. Cook, from 6 to 8 P.M.

• Gold Wheel Sponsor Unico Properties is offering a workshop to its Bank of America Building tenants 9:00 A.M. The Workshop will include information on bicycle commuting, support available to Bank of American building tenants if they bicycle (showers on site!), commute trip reduction, training tips and refreshments. If you are interested in something similar at your work place, contact Barb Chamberlain at barbchamberlainAThotmailDOTcom.
• Two Wheel Transit will offer basic skills workshops the evenings of April 29 and May 6, just in time for BTW Month and Week. Space will be limited so watch this site for registration information. Learn the basics of maintenance and road side repair. A must for any cyclist who wants to know how the take care of their bike at home and on the road.

Ride leaders wanted: We hope to organize group rides departing from the STA Park & Ride lots heading to downtown during this week, to help support newbies and maybe match up some commuting buddies.

If you can commit to being at one at a specific day and time, even for just one day during the week, let us know via email, or post it in the Park and Ride forum on the web site. We'll post sites with departure times on the web site, and will send a final email with all of them before May 12.

Your question: Do I have to attend the kickoff breakfast May 12 to receive my T-shirt?

The answer: No. We'll also have the T-shirts at the Friday wrap-up party--May 16, 4:30-6:30 p.m. at the Steam Plant Grill (one of our sponsors). That's also where we will give away the prizes in a drawing for registered participants, so it's a great place to be.

If you absolutely can't make either of these times, let us know and we'll get you your T-shirt.

Tell your friends! Please help us spread the word by sending an email to your friends and co-workers with a link to the site and encouragement to try bike commuting. If you can do it, so can they!

Post on the site! Log on and let us know who you are, whether you have questions, comments, concerns or just want to say "hi!" to us and the rest of the world. We get visitors from many states (32 at last count) and such nations as Algeria, Britain, Canada, India, Indonesia, Japan and Turkey.