2019 | 511 Contra Costa

Summer Bike Challenge 2019: Grand Prize Winners

Thanks to everyone who made this year’s Summer Bike Challenge a big success!

The Summer Bike Challenge is an annual event that encourages people of all ages to get out on their bikes to enjoy healthy, no-cost summer recreation while experiencing pollution-free transportation.

Not only does the Challenge provide participants with destination ‘bingo cards’ full of interesting places to ride, it also offers special ‘Free Stuff’ events throughout the summer where anyone who arrives by bike gets something for free. This year’s bike-in rewards included gift cards, ice cream, free swimming, and free admission to Lindsay Wildlife Experience, the Ruth Bancroft Garden, and Small World Park.

The 2019 Summer Bike Challenge was bigger than ever – spanning seven cities and recording its highest level of participation. We’d like to thank everyone who helped make this year’s event such a success.

Everyone who registered as a participant in this year’s Challenge was entered in a random drawing for an iPad – with one winner per city. Read about each of the seven lucky winners below. Their experiences reflect many of the great stories we heard all summer long about why people love to bike and why they enjoyed being part of the Summer Bike Challenge.

If you didn’t get enough biking this summer, or just want to ride your bike to more places, visit our Biking page for resources and tips on how to get going. You can also find lots of bike rides and bike-related events on our Bike Events page.

Summer Bike Challenge Grand Prize Winners

Brentwood: Camellia Pylant

There is no better way to get to know a place than by riding bikes, and as SoCal transplants, Camellia’s family appreciated the opportunity to explore. “Since living in Brentwood we’ve really enjoyed riding our bikes on the trails and around town. The Summer Bike Challenge was really awesome!”

As a parent of children with special needs, she especially values the many separated bikeways in Brentwood that allow her family, and others with disabilities, to ride bikes safely away from vehicle traffic.

Concord: Becka Machado

A teacher at Sequoia Middle, a magnet school in Pleasant Hill, Becka encouraged her students who live throughout the District to participate in the Summer Bike Challenge in their own home cities.

“My kids and I had such a great time being part of this all summer!”

Martinez: Michelle Noriega and David Collins

Avid cyclists who enjoy mountain biking as well as bike commuting, Michelle and David were thrilled to win the Grand Prize. After participating in 2018 on her own, Michelle convinced her husband David to do it with her this year. (Lucky you, David, enjoy the iPad!)

Oakley: The Bonson Family

When David and Amee’s daughter brought home a Summer Bike Challenge flyer from the library, their reaction was, “A challenge? Oh, it’s ON!” This active family of five happily biked all over town to reach each destination. Mission Complete. Stay tuned for Summer Bike Challenge 2020! #FamilyFun

Pleasant Hill: Zach Lecky

11 years old and a student at Sequoia Middle School, Zach was thrilled to win the Summer Bike Challenge Grand Prize. Inspired by his grandfather who bike-commuted for 35 years, Zach and his family not only use bikes to get around town, but they also enjoy exploring the East Bay’s regional trails as well.

Zach appreciates biking for the independence it provides, and his mom Shannon is focused on teaching her two sons how to ride safely both on trails and when crossing streets. Biking for this Pleasant Hill family is a healthy way to get exercise and have fun on the daily.

Pittsburg: Anarely Garcia

Her ten-year-old son, a student at Rio Vista Elementary, loves to ride and inspired the family to participate in Pittsburg’s first ever Summer Bike Challenge. Anarely enjoyed riding bikes with her children all summer, visiting the pool and several parks.

Walnut Creek: Yelena Katkova

A self-described explorer by nature, Yelena has enjoyed discovering new places on her bike through the Summer Bike Challenge. “Thank you very much for creating this program! What a joy it was to explore beloved Walnut Creek! This year I didn’t get to places at the times goodies were offered, yet I went to most places on the flyer and places I haven’t been before, and it made me happy.”

She appreciates our local bike trails where she can ride next to trees, experience nature, and stay away from car traffic: “It feels almost like a meditative experience!” Yelena is already looking forward to SBC 2020.

Labor Day 2019: Transit Schedules (Monday, Sept. 2)

On Monday, September 2, all agencies serving Contra Costa will be on modified schedules. County Connection will offer no service. For additional schedule information, click any link below.

NOTE: BART Track Work & Delays – Due to track upgrade work, there will be no train service between Walnut Creek & Orinda BART stations all day Saturday, Sunday & Monday. Buses will replace train service. Expect delays of 40 minutes or more.

  • AC Transit – Sunday service
  • BART – Sunday service
  • Capitol Corridor – Weekend service
  • County ConnectionNo service
  • San Francisco Bay Ferry – Richmond/SF – Weekend service
  • Tri Delta Transit – Routes 392, 393, 394, 395 & 396 on a Sunday schedule; no other service
  • WestCAT – Sunday service
  • Wheels (LAVTA) – Weekend service: weekend schedules for Routes 1, 3, 8, 10R, 14, 15 & 30R

Enter the Summer Bike Challenge 2019 Grand Prize Drawing by Sept. 3

Click here to enter the grand prize drawing!

 

Looking for free summer activities that are fun for the whole family? Check out 511CC’s Summer Bike Challenge!

Available in Concord, Martinez, Pleasant Hill, Walnut Creek, Pittsburg, Oakley, and Brentwood, the Challenge offers healthy fun for all ages, and the best part: it’s completely free.

Participating is easy: Download a printable Challenge Card, hop on a bike, and start exploring your hometown. Bike to each destination, cross off squares as you go, and pick up Free Stuff on select dates throughout summer. Free Stuff events are planned June 1–August 6. Mark your calendar today!

Ready to roll? Get started here.

 

Quick Start Guide: Bike To Work Day 2019

Bike To Work Day (BTWD) is coming! Be sure to mark your calendars for May 9 to join us and thousands of other Bay Area commuters in biking to work.
Our BTWD information page has all the resources you’ll need to get started, including:

Locating Free Stuff: Check our map to find an Energizer Station on your route to work, so you can stop to enjoy snacks, encouragement, a free BTWD bag, and cool swag.

Easy Routes: Use the 511CC Bike Mapper to build your ideal bike commute based on your preferences, including avoiding hills.

Tips & Tricks: Preparation for BTWD isn’t that difficult, and we’ll walk you through it so you can have fun on one of the most enjoyable commuting days of the year.

Party Time: There are Bike Happy Hours at the end of the work day on May 9. They’re free, you’re invited, and you’ll find them (marked in yellow) on our map.

Warm Up with Classes or Rides: You’ll find everything from social rides to classes geared towards improving your confidence on the bike on our Bike Events page.

Bike + BART: It’s not cheating to use BART and your bike to get to work on BTWD. Just familiarize yourself with BART’s guidelines before the big day.

Need more information or want to pledge to ride on May 9? Click the button below.

Get More Info on Bike To Work Day

Meet Contra Costa’s 2019 Bike Commuter of the Year

“By riding my bike to work I save money, stay healthy, and reduce my stress levels at the same time.” –John Cunningham

Contra Costa County’s Bike Commuter of the Year for 2019 is John Cunningham!

A longtime cyclist, John is a Principal Planner for Contra Costa County’s Transportation Planning Division who quite literally walks the talk. Aware of the increasing need for infrastructure improvements, John works tirelessly to make commute routes throughout the county safe and expeditious for cyclists and pedestrians.

John cycles daily from his home in Lamorinda to his workplace in Martinez. “In the dry months my commute gets me out in nature; my preferred route takes me through Briones Regional Park.” But he is far from being a fair-weather rider; John cycles to work in the wind and rain, in the cold and dark days of winter, and even during the East Bay’s brutal summer heat. His coworkers find that pretty impressive.

“He has increased our department’s awareness of the need for new infrastructure for cycling, as well as expressing a commitment to combating climate change and reducing air pollution. Why, just the pictures on his office wall of cycling efforts have increased interest for taking up the hobby,” explains his colleague Anna Battagello.

Keep up the good work, John, and happy Bike to Work Day on May 9th!