Bike to Work Week

Next week is the official Bike to Work Week. I think this is a week when the various factions of cyclists come together to appreciate the bike for it's most basic function - transportation. In Spokane we have a dedicated group of people who work almost year round to bring you multiple events and locations for Bike to Work Week. If you are reading this, there is a high probability you have a bike and only a bit lower probability you have a job. And even without a job, you are probably going someplace next week where you could leave the car at home and ride your bike. If so, find your own Bike to Work Week organization, register your support and get out and ride.

Here is a list of the events taking place in Spokane. For more information, take a look at Bike to Work Spokane, where they urge you to "Work to Eat. Eat to Live. Live to Bike. Bike to Work."

What’s Happening May 10-16

Education Fair: Sunday, May 10, River Park Square, 11 a.m.-4 p.m. Free and open to the public--everyone welcome!
Work off that Mother’s Day brunch with a little ride downtown.

• See a display of the latest commuter bikes from local bike shops
• Pick up safety information
• Sign up for local rides and bike clubs
• Register for BTW Week if you haven’t already.
• Bike corral available on Main Avenue in front of River Park Square.

Bike to Worship, various dates: Ask your faith community if they are participating.

• Bethlehem Lutheran: Sunday, May 10.

Blessing of the Bikes: Sunday, May 10, 3 p.m. Details being finalized with Pastor Erik Samuelson of Bethlehem Lutheran.

Kickoff Breakfast: Monday May 11, Riverfront Park, 7-9 a.m. REGISTERED PARTICIPANTS ONLY. We need your RSVP.
Come downtown if you can for our big kickoff!

• Pancake breakfast courtesy of Mountain Gear
• Coffee from Thomas Hammer
• Live music, prizes, a few short speeches and some fun announcements, and lots of camaraderie
• Gather for our "group portrait" at 7:45 a.m.

Walk & Roll to School Day: Wednesday May 13 at participating Spokane Public Schools.

• Participating schools
  • Elementary Schools: Adams, Bemiss, Cooper, Grant, Lynnwood, Regal, Stevens, Westview, Wilson
  • Middle Schools: Chase, Glover, Sacajawea, Salk, Shaw
  • High Schools: Ferris, Havermale, Shadle
• If you’re in another school district or your school isn’t participating, we hope you’ll still encourage your kids to bike to school, and talk to your school leadership to help this event grow in future years.

Energizer Stations: Wednesday May 13, 7-9 a.m.
Gathering points around the county (bike shops, schools, businesses who want to sponsor them) for snacks and meet-ups for Bike Buddies.

Does your business/workplace/organization want to host an Energizer Station? Email us: info@biketoworkspokane.org

Check back for the list of locations, and see our Google map. We’ll keep updating this; there are others in the works.

We are listing them by neighborhood for those sites inside the City of Spokane, by city for others and listing the site host.

• Cheney
  • Specific spot still being identified: Spokane Mountaineers
• Chief Garry Park Neighborhood
  • Centennial Trail at the Greene Street bridge: Todd Dunfield & Friends and Spokane Community College
• Cliff/Cannon
  • Deaconess Medical Center
• Downtown/Riverside Neighborhood
  • Coffman Engineers and Winston & Cashatt, Bank of America Building plaza
• East Central Neighborhood
  • The Shop, 924 S. Perry
• Emerson/Garfield Neighborhood
  • Coffee Social, 115 W. Indiana
  • REI, 1125 N. Monroe
• Five Mile/Prairie Neighborhood
  • Five Mile Park & Ride: WOW Women's Cycling Club
• Liberty Lake
  • Bike/pedestrian bridge over I-90 at Harvard Road: Cycle Sports
• Lincoln Heights Neighborhood
  • Bethlehem Lutheran Church, 2715 S. Ray
• Manito/Cannon Hill Neighborhood
  • The Scoop, 1001 W. 25th Ave.
• Rockwood Neighborhood
  • Plum Tree School, 20th & Sherman, with Pedals2People.org
• Spokane Valley
  • Allstate, 10525 E. Sprague, across from Rosauers/behind Senor Froggy: Allstate. They'll give a water bottle to anyone arriving by bike all week May 10-15, too!
• University District:
  • Logan Neighborhood: Hamilton Street/Centennial Trail overpass: Gonzaga University
• West Central
  • The Porch, 1804 W. Broadway
• West Hills Neighborhood
  • Aubrey L. White Parkway & Rifle Club Road: Spokane BOMB

Guided Commuter Ride: Wednesday May 13, meet 7:45 a.m.

The Spokane Bicycle Club is leading a Audubon Park to Downtown Bike to Work route. Free/open to all.
Time: Meet @ 7:45 a.m. Ride starts @ 8:00 a.m.
Where: Audubon Park West Lot
Distance: 4 miles to downtown.
For more information: SpokaneBikeBuddy@aol.com

After-work Wrap-up Party: Friday May 15, Steam Plant Grill, 4:30-6:30 p.m. REGISTERED PARTICIPANTS ONLY. We need your RSVP.
We’ll give away the week’s grand prize--a folding commuter bike--and other prizes.

• Enjoy snacks and beverages courtesy of the Steam Plant Grill and Coeur d’Alene Brewing Company
• Plan to stay after and have dinner at Spokane’s only great restaurant featuring covered bike parking!