Tri-Valley Celebrates National Bicycle Safety Month

Announcement submitted by City of Pleasanton:

May marks the month of Bicycle Safety and Awareness in the cities of Dublin, Livermore and Pleasanton. In the Tri-Valley, the cities will host several events to promote bicycle safety and bicycling as a healthy way to travel, including the Bay Area’s 22nd Annual Bike to Work Day, where thousands of commuters are expected to participate.

On May 12, Energizer Stations will be set up where cyclists can stop and enjoy refreshments, receive free bike t-shirts and commute bags at select locations while supplies last, as well as sign up for a local drawing for prizes donated by local businesses.

The cities of Dublin and Pleasanton, along with BART, Hacienda, Veeva Systems and Dublin Cyclery will host an Energizer Station at the East Dublin/Pleasanton BART station and Alameda County Public Works Agency. New Leaf Community Market will host a station at Stanley Boulevard at Shadow Cliffs, and both stations will be open from 6:30 – 9 a.m.

Additional Energizer Stations are planned from 7 - 9 a.m. at the West Dublin/Pleasanton BART Station*, hosted by REI Dublin and the cities of Dublin and Pleasanton, Alamo Canal Trail at Johnson Drive/I-580 hosted by Clubsport Pleasanton, Mike’s Bikes Pleasanton, John Green Elementary School in Dublin, My Buddy Bike Shop in Livermore, Lawrence Livermore/Sandia National Laboratory co-hosted by Livermore Amador Valley Transit Authority beginning at 6:15 a.m. and from 7 - 8:30 a.m. at Pleasanton’s Foothill High School, hosted by Foothill High's Leadership Program, Alameda County Safe Routes to School and City of Pleasanton.

*FREE T- shirt station, while supplies last!

In addition to the May 12 activities, numerous events are planned in the Tri-Valley to promote bicycling:

• Free Bicycle Safety Workshops in Dublin, Livermore and Pleasanton. Classes range from on-road, on-your-bike instruction to family bike workshops. For dates and to register for the free classes, visit www.bikeeastbay.org/education.
• “Bike to Market” Events - Saturday, May 7 at Pleasanton Farmer's Market from 9 a.m. – 1 p.m., Thursday, May 26 at the Dublin Farmer’s Market from 4 – 8 p.m. Cyclists visiting the Dublin booth with evidence of bicycling to the event such as a helmet or bike, will receive a “Carrot Cash” voucher to use at one of the market booths. Cyclists at the Pleasanton event can park in the free bike corral and receive $1 Carrot Cash to use at the market booths.
• Dublin Flat Tire Repair Clinic - Saturday, May 14 from 10 a.m. – noon and hosted by the City of Dublin and Dublin Cyclery on the Iron Horse Trail at the intersection of Amador Valley Blvd.
• Dublin / Pleasanton Community Bike Ride - Sunday, May 15 from 9:30 am – noon and led by Mike’s Bikes Pleasanton and co-hosted by New Leaf Community Market. Participants will enjoy an easy-paced bike ride on trails and bike lanes throughout the two cities.

Bike to School events are planned in Dublin, Pleasanton and Livermore:

• Dublin Bike to School Days – Thursday, May 12 at Amador, Dougherty, Dublin, Frederiksen, Green, Kolb and Murray elementary schools, and Wells and Fallon middle schools. Students will receive bicycle safety-related tips and giveaways.
• Dublin High School Bike to School Day and Bike Festival - Wednesday, May 25. Staff at a bike welcoming station located by the big tree will be distributing refreshments and giveaways to cyclists. The Bike Festival will be held during lunch that day with a Bike Blender and Bike Trivia Wheel.
• Livermore Bike to School Days – Thursday, May 12 at Rancho las Positas Elementary and Christensen and East Ave. middle schools. Jackson Ave. Elementary on May 11.
• Granada High School Bike to School Day – Tuesday, May 31 from 7:30 – 8 a.m. and during lunch 11:55 a.m. – 12:35 p.m. with a bike festival featuring bike-blended smoothies and free bike repair by the BikeMobile.
• Pleasanton Bike to School Days - Thursday, May 12 at Alisal, Lydiksen & Mohr elementary schools and Hart, Harvest Park & Pleasanton middle schools. The middle schools will host Energizer Stations at the bike storage areas at 7:30 a.m. with refreshments and goody bags filled with bicycle safety items. Events with free helmet fittings/giveaways and free bike tune-ups by Bike Mobile were held during in April and early May to prepare middle school students for biking.
• Foothill High School Bike to School Day - Thursday, May 12 from 7:00 - 8:30 a.m. Stop by Foothill High's Energizer Stations located in the front of school and at the bike storage area for refreshments as well as free t-shirts and commute bags.

Numerous local businesses have donated items toward the FREE bike bags available at Energizer Stations and a local prize drawing for participants at bike events throughout the month of May. Businesses include: Peet's Coffee, Earl Anthony Bowl, The Habit Burger Grill, Trader Joe's, Red Smoke Grill, Extreme Pita, World of Shoes, Frankie, Johnny & Luigi’s, Livermore Cyclery, and Amici’s.

For more information on Dublin events, visit www.dublin.ca.gov/bikemonth, for Pleasanton events, visit www.cityofpleasantonca.gov/bikeevents and for Livermore events, visit www.walkbikelivermore.net.

Photo via Shutterstock