department of parks and recreation
Bike Month
Thanks to everyone who joined the City of Greenville and Bikeville throughout the month of May for a variety
of bike-friendly events. Whether you’re a casual cruiser around town or a daily
commuter, we had an event to keep you pedaling.
Bicycle riding is a fun way to save money on gas, combine exercise with transportation,
explore neighborhoods, and show your support for the environment.
Consider this, for every mile you cycle, you can keep 3.6 lbs of automobile pollutants
from entering the air and atmosphere. The Federal Highway Administration estimates
that 60 percent of all automobile trips are under five miles in distance. Short
car trips (0-5 miles) are the most polluting.
2010 Bike Month Events
Download the Bike Month Calendar of Events
Tuesday, May 4 and 18
ICAR Family Fun Ride – Whole Foods Market – 6pm
The Greenville Spinners host this family fun ride on the 1st
and 3rd Tuesday of every month during the summer. All types of bikes and riders
are welcome. This is a very relaxing social ride around the ICAR Campus. Remember, ICAR has bike lanes and very little
traffic. Helmets are required. This is a great opportunity to have a fun ride, learn
about bicycling, meet other bicyclists, and get some exercise! The ride meets in
the Whole Foods parking lot on Woodruff Rd. at 6pm. Come and
enjoy an evening on two wheels.
Saturday, May 15
Free Bike Valet - Saturday Market - 8 am to Noon
Bikeville volunteers will provide FREE bicycle parking while you enjoy the Saturday Market along Main St. Look for us just north of
McBee Ave. at the "Booth with a Cause" tent. Volunteers at the information tent
will try to answer any bike related questions you may have about Greenville while
selling Bikeville t-shirts for $10.
Saturday, May 15
Mountain Bike Skills Clinic - Caine Halter Family YMCA
- 1 pm to 4 pm
The Upstate Southern Off-Road
Bicycle Association (SORBA) will host a mountain bike skills clinic for
all ages and all skill levels and will lead guided tours of Cleveland Park’s three
miles of mountain bike trails. This clinic offers participants on-bike training
of basic and advance bike handling skills by knowledgeable instructors. Riders practice
their skills on various wooden ramps and features in a grass field before heading
out on guided mountain bike rides. Meet in the grass fields behind the Caine Halter Family YMCA. This event starts at 1pm and participants
are encouraged to join in the fun anytime until 4pm. Helmets are mandatory and this
event will be cancelled if raining.
May 17 to 21
National Bike to Work Week
Join bicyclists across the country by leaving your car at home and pedaling to work
instead. If you are looking for the best route between you and work, check out Greenville’s
network of bikeways and greenways, or try using Google’s
new Bike Directions tool:
Wednesday, May 19
Free Bike Valet - Moonlight Movie Series
Bikeville volunteers will provide FREE bicycle parking while you enjoy the classic
bicycle movie, Breaking Away,
while under the summer stars. Movie starts at 8, but you’ll want to arrive early
for the best lawn seat, chat with Bikeville volunteers, and watch the bicycle related
previews. Bikeville t-shirts will be on-sale for $10.
Friday, May 21
National Bike to Work Day
Caine Halter Family YMCA, 721 Cleveland Street, Greenville
Join Greenville’s bicycling community on a casual group ride from the
Caine Halter
Family YMCA to downtown Greenville. Meet in the parking lot of the YMCA for a conversation
and breakfast provided by Giatu Restaurant and Liquid Highway at 7am and be ready
to ride by 7:45am. A group will pedal from the YMCA to downtown Greenville, but
those traveling elsewhere to work are encouraged to stop by the YMCA to refuel.
Make sure to spread the word to your friends, neighbors, and fellow co-workers.
See if you can challenge someone to try and commute another way for a day or become
their commuting buddy for the day. Contact Brian Graham at bgraham@greenvillesc.gov or 467-4350 with any questions or comments.
See below "Tips for Bike Commuting" or check out the League of American Bicyclists extensive resources for commuting
information.
Submit photos of your commuting adventures to
bikeville@greenvillesc.gov
Friday, May 21
Lunchtime Greenway Ride – Swamp Rabbit Trail – Noon
Caine Halter Family YMCA, 721 Cleveland Street, Greenville
The City of Greenville's Greenway & Sustainability Manager will lead this monthly
1-hour bicycle ride along the Swamp Rabbit Trail. Meet at the Caine Halter Family
YMCA and learn about the latest trail and greenway initiatives.
More info
Friday, May 28
Critical Cruise Community Bike Ride – GTA Parking Deck
– 5:30 pm
Bikeville volunteers will lead this respectful and lawful community bicycle ride
to celebrate bicycling and bicyclists' right to the road. Although this casual urban
pedaling adventure is open to all riders, we will be riding with and in traffic,
so come prepared to follow the rules of the road. We will ride for approximately 1-hour
along several of downtown Greenville’s bicycle friendly streets. Ride departs from
the West Washington St. Deck
at 5:30 pm.
Tips for Bike Commuting
- RESEARCH:
Visit the League of American Bicyclists website for extensive commuting resources
so you are prepared with the knowledge, skills, and equipment for a fun and safe
ride.
- PLAN YOUR ROUTE :
You will want a route that balances safety and convenience. Use www.bikeville.org/maps or Google's Biking Directions as a tool to find a bicycle-friendly
route. Test and time the route on a day off when you are not under pressure to make
sure it is workable for you.
- WEAR A BICYCLE HELMET EVERY TIME YOU RIDE :
Head injuries cause 75% of bicyclist deaths. Studies indicate wearing a helmet reduces
your chance of head injury by 85%. Make sure your helmet fits and is secured properly.
- WEAR COMFORTABLE CLOTHES :
Plan your work attire around clothes that can be rolled up and won’t easily wrinkle.
Try storing an extra change of clothes at the office.
- DRESS FOR THE WEATHER :
Be sure to bring weather gear for rain or foul weather. In cooler conditions, layering
is an easy way to add or subtract clothing. As a rule of thumb, you should be comfortable
to slightly cool before you start your ride.
- SELECT A BIKE YOU ARE COMFORTABLE RIDING:
Proper
bike selection for transportation use is critical. Many modern transportation
bikes offer improvements in geometry for efficiency, fenders, racks and baskets,
reflective components, and heavy duty tires. Consult your local bike shop for the
latest resources and gear.
- GET IN GEAR:
Here is some basic yet essential gear for commuting.
- Front and Rear Lights
- Leg strap (available for under $10) to secure around your ankle and keep pants out of the chain
- Bike panniers or a commuter pack to tote your needs
- Bike lock
- Basic Tool Kit, Spare Tire, and Small Pump
- REMEMBER: TRAFFIC LAWS APPLY TO BICYCLES:
Visit the League of American Bicyclists website for extensive commuting resources
so you are prepared with the knowledge, skills, and equipment for a fun and safe
ride.
- Never ride against the flow of traffic.
- South Carolina state law requires lights and reflectors for night riding. A white headlight and red rear reflector are required and a rear red flashing light is highly recommended.
- Observe stop signs, traffic lights and other posted signs.
- Always use hand signals to indicate signal turns, lane changes and stop.
- When riding near parked cars, be aware that car doors can suddenly open in front of you. Ride far enough away from parked cars that an open door won't be a problem.
- MOST IMPORTANTLY ….. ENJOY THE RIDE!!!