Bike to Wherever Day A Huge Success! Wrapping Up Bike Month 2023

That’s a wrap! Bike Month and Bike to Wherever Day 2023 were a huge success. Check out some highlights from our best Bike Month yet!

Throughout the month of May, MCBC organized a range of events that showcased the joy of biking, promoted sustainable transportation, and fostered a sense of community among cyclists in Marin County. Here are the highlights of Bike Month 2023:

Bike To School Day – May 3

Our partners at Safe Routes to Schools hosted their annual Bike to School Day on May 3. Students from 50 Marin County K-12 schools embraced the benefits of bicycling by pedaling their way to and from school. Students were encouraged to walk, roll or ride the bus to school and won prizes for participating.

Ales And Trails – May 6

MCBC collaborated with our off-road partner, Access4Bikes for their annual Ales and Trails event at China Camp on May 6. The event featured bbq lunch and craft beers along with bike demos from a host of vendors and off-road rides.

Field Trip with Together Bay Area – may 11

On May 11, MCBC lead a rolling field trip with Together Bay Area for conference attendees. The ride was a 9-mile bicycle tour of some of our greatest hits. Riders explored the Cal Park Tunnel, the North-South Greenway gap closure over Corte Madera Creek, along with a couple of stops to view wetland restoration projects along portions of the Bay Trail.

Bike Valet at the Mill Valley Music Festival – May 13 & 14

We held our largest ever bike valet event at the Mill Valley Music Festival on May 13 – 14. Festival-goers were encouraged to leave their cars behind and opt for eco-friendly transportation to enjoy the music. Interested in becoming a bike valet volunteer? Click here for upcoming bike valet volunteer opportunities.

TEAM MCBC At the Green Fondo – May 13 & 14

Team MCBC rode in West Marin as part of Climate Ride’s Northern California Green Fondo on May 13-14.  The MCBC team showcased our cycling prowess while raising funds for our programs.

Bike To Work/Wherever Day – May 18

The month’s main event, Bike to Work Day on May 18th, was a huge success thanks to our dedicated volunteers who woke up early to support and encourage those biking to work.  MCBC hosted six energizer stations in the morning and one in the afternoon. We’re proud to report that our energizer stations received an impressive 5,555 views on our Google map listing. We handed out 500 BTWD musette bags and saw over 1,200 riders between all our engergizer stations.

Our swag bags included sponsor items from Belli Law Firm, Jambar, tube repair kits from Dolan Law, bike shop stickers, pens, and collateral promoting upcoming rides, and local shop discounts. We had elected officials ride by multiple stations and community transportation organizations – TAM, SMART, MTC, and Golden Gate Transportation, along with Marin County Parks and the County of Marin to help encourage morning bike commuters. A special thank you goes to Good Earth for providing delicious pastries, and to Trader Joe’s for the trail mix. Marin Cyclists played a supporting role in our efforts while also encouraging BTWD participants to register for the Marin Century. Thanks to all our sponsors both local and regional for making this a true community event!  

Check out photos from our energizer stations around Marin.

Richmond-San Rafael Bridge Ride & Bike Fest In the Park – May 20

Ride with Us! took place on May 20, inviting cyclists for a ride over the Richmond-San Rafael Bridge, culminating in a celebration at Pickleweed Park for Bike Fest in the Park.  Bike Mobile’s volunteer mechanics rehabilitated over 50 bicycles free of charge that day. 

Valet Bike Parking at Sunday Farmers Market – may 21

May 21 marked our first valet bike parking at the Sunday San Rafael Marin Farmers Market. Marin’s 2023 Bike Champion of the Year, Dave Rhoads, helped spearhead the effort to organize valet parking with a goal to make this a permanent feature of California’s third largest farmers market.  Additionally, a group bike ride from Albert Park with the MCBC San Rafael Local Team added an element of community engagement to the event.

Family Biking Workshops – May 22 & May 27

Family Biking Workshops were held on May 22 and May 27. These workshops aimed to improve young riders bike handling skills and empower families to embrace cycling for fun and as a means of transportation. 

Slow and Say Hello Trail Outpost – May 27

The month-long celebration of Bike Month 2023 concluded on May 27 with a Slow and Say Hello trail outpost at Phoenix Lake in Ross. These outposts aim to educate trail users on responsible trail use, trail etiquette, and environmental resource protection, as well as encourage trail users to amicably share the trails so everyone can enjoy the beauty of Marin and stay active.

It was a very successful Bike Month and we can’t wait to do it all again next year! Check back in early 2024 to find out what we have in store for Bike Month 2024!

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Thanks to all who participated this year! And of course, many thanks to our sponsors. We could not do this without you!