[mstrpete]

It's a long story that I haven't had time to share, but I got so dissatisfied with the parking and transportation situation at my community college (SPSCC) that I wound up starting a bicycling club. I went through the whole process of chartering, signing up new members, faculty adviser, and so on, and finally our first meeting is TODAY! I'm very excited, but a little nervous as well. I want to accomplish a lot, mostly around promoting bike commuting, improving bike infrastructure, and establishing a pro-bike culture, so I want there to be an atmosphere of offbeat fun as well, to attract the interest of non-cyclists and get current cyclists engaged with it on a deeper level. I've posted flyers, planned an agenda, offered free Powerbars, and I'm ordering pizzas for lunch-I hope some people show up!

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[Shifty]

Good luck, that's a great project, the college should make a huge donation for your efforts to ease parking problems.

After you get the club started you should join the League of American Bicyclist, you'll get lots of information and help. It's pretty cheap, may be even cheaper for a student club.

Be sure and set a second meeting date even if just a few people come, it usually takes a few times to gather a group.

[LynnH]

Lots of effort on your part, for a very good cause. I hope you have lots of people there also!

[HardyWeinberg]

Outstanding, good luck. Apparently it's bike commuter contest time now too:

http://thurstonbcc.blogspot.com/

[kpug505]

Outstanding! I am so glad to hear you got something rolling at your school. I think it is especially important in that environment as students usually are a little strapped for cash. Giving up the car can make a world of difference. Even if it's only for the commute........

Good work!
Kelly D

[mattm]

very cool, pete!

and like someone else said, don't get discouraged if the 1st turnout is low.

keep it up! even a two-person bike-club is a good thing.

[mstrpete]

Well, I was THRILLED at the turnout! I got 16 people on the roster, only 4 of whom were original (charter) members, and there was so much positive energy and interest! We are going to meet every Thursday this month, and definitely field a strong team in the IT Commuter Contest. More later!

[kpug505]

Well, I was THRILLED at the turnout! I got 16 people on the roster, only 4 of whom were original (charter) members, and there was so much positive energy and interest! We are going to meet every Thursday this month, and definitely field a strong team in the IT Commuter Contest. More later!

Wow! Great turnout! That really is awesome......

[FlowerBlossom]

That's great news! Congrats!

Olympia usually has a great turnout for the commuter bike contest; close to 2K the last time I was working in Olympia (and could participate). Not bad for a community of this size.

Don't forget to ask other people to be involved in doing some of the work. You don't want to sacrifice your studies for this. It's easy to do, trust me.

[mstrpete]

That's great news! Congrats!

Don't forget to ask other people to be involved in doing some of the work. You don't want to sacrifice your studies for this. It's easy to do, trust me.

Believe me, that was the main reason I started the club! I wanted to connect with other cyclists and get them on board with my ideas, and having fun events and a forum to talk bikes and riding seemed like a good way to do it. I hope that most of the heavy lifting is behind me now, because already there are other club members wanting to do this or that and I'm saying, "Go for it!"

At the same time, and this is great, there are some members who are new or nearly so to bicycling, and they are looking for knowledge and guidance. "How do I ride in traffic?" "Where can I get a trailer?" "Is the campus bike parking safe?" I love it. These are great questions to me, because they are in effect asking, "How do I do this?" And the more experienced riders in the club are totally taking the newcomers under the wing. One of the first events we're going to have is a safe riding clinic, and we are going to have a maintenance clinic too. I'll post a copy of our first meeting agenda in a little while.