Get Out & Ride
GET OUT & RIDEMarch 30, 2010 — The Bike Fresno 2010 Campaign will be kicking off Fresno’s Inaugural Million Mile Challenge on May 1, 2010 to celebrate National May is Bike Month.
The goal of the challenge is to encourage people that work, play and live in Fresno County to work together to log miles in an effort to reach a collective (1,000,000) million miles ridden while reminding them that riding a bike is not just good for personal health and the environment, but it is also fun. In conjunction with this Million Mile Challenge launch will be several other activities designed to encourage and educate Fresno County residents about the joy of biking.
As a kick off to the Million Mile Challenge, a Revive Your Bike event at the Fresno State solar parking lot from 12n-4p on Sunday, April 25, 2010 will be held. This free community expo encourages residents to bring their bikes out for complimentary service and repair; the first 200 bikes to be brought by their owners will have minor service or tune-up done for free by participating local bicycle shops. Additional bikes may be serviced at a nominal, reduced fee. Other activities at the expo will include educational booths, a Safety Town Bike Rodeo where kids can earn a Safe Bike Rider Certificate, a BMX demonstration and more.
As in year’s past, May is Bike Month activities will include a Mall to Mall ride on Wednesday, May 5, 2010 starting at Manchester Center at 7:30a. Elected officials, dignitaries, community and business leaders will make their way down Blackstone Avenue and culminate near the Fulton Mall at the Iron Bird Café where they will enjoy refreshments sponsored by the Fresno County Bicycle Coalition. The San Joaquin Valley Air Pollution Control District will continue their annual sponsorship of this ride through outreach and prizes. What happened to Granville’s sponsorship of Mall to Mall?
Then on Wednesday, May 19, 2010, the 6th Annual Bike to Work Corporate Challenge will take place and miles logged will count towards the Million Mile Challenge. In years past, this event attracted nearly 800 bicycle riders each year who bike to work and compete against other local companies for the most miles ridden. Raffle prizes, plaques and bragging rights are at stake and this year’s event is sponsored by Kaiser Permanente. Rest stops and fueling stations will be placed throughout the community that morning.
On all Fridays throughout the month of May, elementary and middle schools in Fresno, Clovis and Central Unified school districts can participate in Bike to School Fridays, also competing for prizes, recognition and bragging rights. We encourage students to ride to school every day, and those miles can be logged into the Million Mile Challenge, but the school challenge participation will be counted on Fridays only. Bonus points will be given to schools that have teachers and the principal participating in Biking to School. We want to help combat child obesity in Fresno County. In the past generation, biking and walking to school has decreased from 50% to 15%, while child obesity has more than tripled. Studies have also closely correlated physical fitness with academic performance and attendance.
The Bike Fresno 2010 Campaign coincides with the completion of the City of Fresno’s Bicycle Master Plan (BMP). The City of Fresno Public Works Traffic Engineering Division in conjunction with the City of Fresno Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Committee are finishing the yearlong planning process for one of the most progressive and comprehensive Bicycle Master Plans (BMP) in the State of California to transform Fresno into a more bicycle-friendly community. Funding for the BMP is derived from the Measure C half-cent Transportation Sales Tax. This tax is projected to create $55m throughout the county over the next 20 years specifically earmarked for bike lane and trail infrastructure and the BMP ensures implementation of bike projects that have the greatest positive impact on the community.
Funding for the Bike Fresno 2010 Campaign is provided by The City of Fresno and sponsors: Kaiser Permanente, McCaffrey Homes, PG&E, San Joaquin Valley Air Pollution Control District, Council of Fresno County Governments, California State University Fresno, Granville Homes, Fehr & Peers Transportation Consultants, Fresno County Bicycle Coalition, and Alert-O-Lite.
Biking is an Affordable, Family, Fun Activity to Enjoy Fresno!
For more information visit www.ibikefresno.org,
http://www.facebook.com/pages/ibikefresnoorg/232573238206?ref=ts, or
http://twitter.com/ibikefresno.
