If the return of the Amgen Tour of California in the middle of SLO County’s Bike Month was any kind of indication, 2017 has been a boom year for 2-wheeled transportation.
On May 19, Bike SLO County [formerly called Bicycle Coalition of SLO County] hosted its Bikes & Beauty Fashion Show at the SLO Guild Hall. They’ve been in the space before, back when it was the Grange Hall, and after a few years being hosted by the good folks at iFixit, the event has grown large enough to return to the auditorium space, as they partnered with Rideshare for their Bike Month Blow Out Party.
“I’d say it went well for us,” Steve Akers, Bike SLO County communications director said. “We had 120 bikes in the corral outside at first count. About 20 members and staff made things or modeled in the show, as well as the dance number, which a member choreographed.”
He added, “We were mainly just happy to celebrate together.”
Five bikes were raffled off for the buy in of $20 and one fellow won two after spending $100 on tickets. The bikes were donated by Rideshare and one was donated back to Bike SLO County by the winner.
In addition to being the primary sponsor of the event, SLO Regional Rideshare has been focusing its efforts on boosting the numbers of cyclists in SLO County, as a primary means of transportation.
The event took place on “Bike to Work Day,” during which local companies and agencies competed to get as many of their workers to participate as possible. Rideshare does sample counts during the months before and after their events to see if there’s a measureable impact.
Back at Bike SLO County H-Q [located along with their Bike Kitchen workshop at the corner of Morro St and Pacific streets], it’s been a busy year. In January they had a change in leadership with Templeton resident, Mike Bennett, stepping in as executive director.
“We’re still focusing on everything that we’ve been known for,” Akers said, “the Bike Kitchen or the Kidical Mass outreach events, but we’re looking at new ways to focus our efforts.”
In addition to rallying around an awareness campaign targeting distracted driving — a major danger to cyclists — the new Ridewell Program is geared at getting quality rebuilt bikes into the hands of people who really need them as a primary means of transportation.
“We get them a helmet, and light, gear like that and bikes that are donated to the kitchen for sale,” said Akers. “We sell the repaired bikes pretty cheaply as is, but while you or I might afford new bikes for a hobby, there are people that really need something right now who can’t afford it.”
The extra gear and safety training helps those folks considerably, he adds.
For information on Bike SLO County programs, events and hours go online to: www.bikeslocounty.org
– Story and Photos by Camas Frank
