Advocacy & Safety - California State-wide Bike To School Day

Hi all,

California's first organized statewide Bike To School Day took place this last Thursday, April 24th, 2008. Students and student groups at 17 different campuses across the state actively encouraged students and staff to participate. At many campuses, additional events were put on to further amplify the day.

At Sonoma State University, we had free bike tune-ups, maintenance (including flat tire) tutorials, free ankle straps, patch kits, and Clif Bars, bike swag for sale, and a member of the Sonoma County Bicycle Coalition talking about current bicycle issues and events.

We had a huge turnout at our booths and our mechanics were swamped. There was also a noticeable increase in the number of bikes in the racks at school.

Here's a link to come pictures at Sonoma State:
http://web.cs.sonoma.edu/~jking/btsd_04-24-08/

I just wanted to share this with you all.

that is rad!! awesome stuff going on at sonoma..

How many people came with a "problem" bike, and you had to tell them their drivetrain/chain was shot...and probably had been for the last 10 years. ;)

Ah, well there I am. Was a good day

Although I generally participate in Bike-to-Work Day activities, I have very mixed feelings about such events. Yes, it is great to encourage people to get around by bicycle, but the events can also marginalize transportation cycling, by sending the message that this is a special once-a-year event, and the rest of the time is back to business as usual, or that cycling is appropriate only during nice weather with long hours of sunlight.

How many people came with a "problem" bike, and you had to tell them their drivetrain/chain was shot...and probably had been for the last 10 years. ;)

Not too many. Most issues required simple adjustments. These are young, 20-something college students, however, and most probably are riding newer bikes.


Although I generally participate in Bike-to-Work Day activities, I have very mixed feelings about such events. Yes, it is great to encourage people to get around by bicycle, but the events can also marginalize transportation cycling, by sending the message that this is a special once-a-year event, and the rest of the time is back to business as usual, or that cycling is appropriate only during nice weather with long hours of sunlight.

I can understand this mentality regarding events like this, however I think that the more prominent idea is to show people that it is possible to use a bicycle for transportation. And we made sure to emphasize the fact that while this was "Bike To School Day", every day can be a day that you ride your bike to school.

I also think that simply declaring a day as "Bike To School/Work Day" is not enough. There should also be activities relating to the day, like refreshment stands, tune-ups, contests, etc.

Someone needs to send this story to the clueless wonder of a principal in the "All is not lost" thread.

http://www.bikeforums.net/showthread.php?t=413407

Very cool. It would be great if middle and high schools had something similar.

beautiful beautiful beautiful bikes!

"Put the fun between your legs." Seriously, no one objected to that? Not one person mentioned that that's hilarious?

"Put the fun between your legs." Seriously, no one objected to that? Not one person mentioned that that's hilarious?

Nope, not even faculty seemed to care

I think no one said anything based on half open mindedness, half apathy

"Put the fun between your legs." Seriously, no one objected to that? Not one person mentioned that that's hilarious?

we got a "that has sexual under tones.." comment but it was in total jest. Really, people loved the slogan and were stoked on it.