May is National Bike Month, and San Luis Obispo County is along for the ride.
Organized by San Luis Obispo Regional Rideshare, this year’s Bike Month is themed, “Life in the Bike Lane” and offers more than 60 free events.
The month-long awareness event encourages people to bike instead of drive, said San Luis Obispo Regional Rideshare program coordinator Kelsie Greer.
“It’s a celebration of all things bicycle,” she said. “All of San Luis Obispo County is encouraged to participate: students, families, community members, anyone who gets on a bike in May.”
Organizers worked hard this year to incorporate the entire county.
“We want to remove barriers of participation by making it an all-encompassing event that allows everyone to join in on the fun,” Greer said.
San Luis Obispo County Bike Coalition is part of the planning committee process.
“We want the valet parking at community events to encourage new people to get on their bikes and remind them of how fun and efficient it is to get around on a bike,” said bike coalition executive director Dan Rivoire.
The coalition will continue to offer free valet bike parking at all of the San Luis Obispo Farmers’ Markets and will run Bike Kitchen events to teach people how to repair and maintain their own bikes, Rivoire said.
Other events include Bike Breakfasts where bicyclists can get free food and beverages. Those near campus can “fuel up” May 11 and 13 at the corner of Foothill and California Blvds.
On campus, Bike Fest will be held at the Via Carta mall near Campus Market from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on May 13. Participating bikers will receive T-shirts, blinking lights, bike pumps and bags. The Cal Poly Wheelmen will also be there fixing bicycles.
Cal Poly’s faculty and staff are competing in the Commuter Bike Challenge. Entities from the industrial technology and mechanical engineering departments and Rideshare are competing to get people to ride bikes to work at least once during May. The organization with the highest percentage of participants wins. Interested participants or teams can sign up anytime during Bike Month.
A full calendar of events and locations are available at www.rideshare.org.