Event Name: Thurston County Bicycle Commuter Contest
Event Schedule: Register in April, Ride and record miles in May
Location: Thurston County
Who can participate: Anyone who lives or works in Thurston County
Web: www.bccblog.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/BicycleCommuterContest
Email: dgreen@intercitytransit.com
Intercity Transit’s Bicycle Commuter Contest (BCC) is a fun, engaging community event that encourages Thurston County residents of all ages and abilities to try bicycling as a means of transportation and gives rewards and recognition to those who do. The BCC began in 1988 as a challenge between a few workplaces in Olympia with 30 people participating. Since then, the event has “grown up” along with its level of participation. In 2006 Intercity Transit began hosting the event and it has now become one of Intercity Transit’s many programs for improving mobility and the quality of life in our community.
The month-long event in May each year allows participants to develop new and lasting commute habits that result in healthy transportation choices. The Bicycle Commuter Contest improves our quality of life by reducing traffic congestion and fossil fuel use, improving air and water quality and promoting healthy lifestyles. BCC participants have prevented the emission of hundreds of thousands of pounds of CO2 and other pollutants over the years of the contest. The BCC encourages people to shop locally and increases parking supply, stimulating the “Green Economy” and engaging local businesses and organizations through our sponsorship program. The BCC also gathers information from cyclists about bicycling infrastructure and road repair needs, which we transmit to the appropriate jurisdiction. The level of participation in the Bicycle Commuter Contest is an indicator of how many people in our area are using their bicycles for transportation.
The BCC holds several popular events each year, including an Earth Day Bike Ride to rally cyclists from different neighborhoods to a central location to meet and greet and to register for the contest. We also host the now famous and much imitated Wrenchers’ Ball, with local bike shops providing mechanics to perform free safety checks on participants’ bicycles. After the conclusion of the contest, there is an Award Ceremony to celebrate achievements, award prizes and hold random prize drawings. The BCC also participates in National Bike-To-Work Day activities.
Thanks to the generous support of volunteers, business sponsors and most of all contest participants, the Bicycle Commuter Contest is enjoying its 25th year!
