oakley | 511 Contra Costa

Summer Bike Challenge 2020: Announcement of Grand Prize Winners

Despite COVID, 2020 Summer Bike Challenge was a big success! We’d like to thank everyone who helped make that possible.

While so many other recreational programs, activities, and summer vacations were canceled due to COVID, we received great photos and heartwarming comments from hundreds of participants. Riders were happy and grateful for a healthy and fun program that got them outside, active, and doing something fun during these otherwise strange times.

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.

All registered participants were entered in a random drawing for an iPad, with one winner per city. Read about each of the eight winners and what inspired them to get on their bikes this summer.

What Is the Summer Bike Challenge?

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.

The Challenge provides participants with destination ‘bingo cards’ full of interesting places to ride with special ‘Free Stuff’ prize opportunities along the way. While COVID prevented us from hosting our usual in-person prize events, we still found a way to keep the fun going by exchanging prizes for biking selfies.

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.

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.

 

October is 'Walk to School' Month (2015)

WBTS_LogoInternational Walk to School Day is October 7. This means that in October, cities across the US (and throughout the world) will hold Walk to School events to encourage students and their families to get to school on foot and experience the benefits and joys of walking in their community.
streetsmartsdiabloSome schools in Brentwood, Oakley, Concord, Pittsburg, and Walnut Creek will be teaming up with Street Smarts Diablo for Walk to School events. The events in Concord, Pittsburg and Walnut Creek will happen on October 7, while Brentwood and Oakley schools will celebrate on October 21.
With more students walking to and from school in October, motorists are reminded to drive with extra care, stay alert for children crossing the road, and be especially aware of school zone speed limits.
In honor of Bike to School Month, we thought we’d give you a look at what walking to school looked like 50 years ago with this walking safety video from 1964. Enjoy!

Contra Costa Schools Celebrating 'Walk to School Day': October 7 & 21, 2015

WBTS_LogoWalk to School Day began in the US in 1997 as a one-day event aimed at building awareness for the need for walkable communities. Now the event is part of a year-round movement for Safe Routes to School, with an annual celebration each October.
streetsmartsdiabloThis year, 11 Contra Costa County schools in 5 cities are teaming up with Street Smarts Diablo to celebrate Walk to School Day! School events in Concord, Pittsburg and Walnut Creek will happen on October 7, while Brentwood and Oakley schools will celebrate on October 21.
Here are some great reasons to encourage students to walk to school:

Whether it’s Bike to School Day or any other day, please remind children to walk safely:

  • Use crosswalks
  • Stop, look & listen before crossing, and
  • Walk with a buddy!

 

walktoschoolimageOctober 7

Pittsburg: Highlands Elementary
Walnut Creek: Indian Valley Elementary
Concord: Cambridge ElementaryMeadow Homes ElementaryOak Grove Middle SchoolWestwood Elementary

October 21

Brentwood: Marsh Creek ElementaryPioneer Elementary
Oakley: Almond Grove ElementaryGehringer ElementaryLaurel Elementary
For more information, visit the Walk to School Day website.

Overnight Highway 4 Closure (Antioch): February 25-27, 2015

The California Department of Transportation and the Contra Costa Transportation Authority are constructing two new connector ramps, one connecting westbound State Route 4 (SR-4) to northbound SR-160, and one connecting southbound State Route 160 (SR-160) to eastbound SR-4 in Contra Costa County.
Part of this construction work entails adjustment of temporary bridge supports that span over SR-4. In order to ensure crew and public safety during this work, the contractor will close all lanes of SR-4 in the eastbound and westbound directions between the SR-4/SR-160 connector ramp and Laurel Road.
These closures are scheduled to take place on the evenings of February 25, 26, and 27th from 11:59pm to 5:00 am.
The detour for this work will be as follows:

  • Eastbound motorist will be directed off the highway at the SR-160 off-ramp and redirected to return to eastbound SR-4 via the Laurel Road on-ramp.
  • Westbound motorist will be directed off the highway at Laurel Road on-ramp and redirected to westbound SR-4 via the entrance of southbound SR-160.

Full-Freeway-Closure-betwee
Motorists are advised to expect delays and allow extra time for their commute. Please drive with caution through the detours and leave safe traveling distance between your vehicle and the vehicle ahead of you.

Free Teen Driving Safety Program: October 28, 2014 (Oakley)

If you’ve got a teenage driver in the house, or a teen who’ll be driving soon, a great way to help them stay safer behind the wheel is to bring them to the CHP Smart Start Driving Safety Program. This two-hour driver safety class targets new and future licensed teenage drivers and their parents. On the evening of Tuesday, October 28, all are invited to attend the Smart Start class at Freedom High School.
Presented by the California Highway Patrol, Streets Smarts Diablo and Freedom High School, the event is free and open to all students and parents, but registration is requested. Click here to register.startsmart
The class will be held at Freedom High School (at 1050 Neroly Rd) in
Oakley from 7-9pm. For more information, call Street Smarts Diablo at 925-969-1083.

Oakley Recognizes 511 Contra Costa

Oakley Mayor Jim Frazier

At Oakley’s October 25 Council Meeting, Mayor Jim Frazier recognized 511 Contra Costa with a proclamation as the premier source of transportation information to work, school, or around town for all of Contra Costa County.
The Proclamation also recognized 511 Contra Costa for being  instrumental in obtaining funding for the Safe Route to School Project on Oakley Road and Live Oak Avenue (near the Live Oak School) in the City of Oakley.
Read the full Proclamation.


 

Take a walk with the Mayor of Oakley

Hey residents of Oakley! Want a chance to explore the beautiful Marsh Creek Trail, and have some one-on-one (or several-on-one) time with your mayor?
You’re in luck! Starting this Saturday, July 16, Oakley Mayor Jim Frazier invites you to join him on a three-mile walk. The walk starts at 7:30 am from the parking lot off East Cypress Road behind Kragen’s on the Marsh Creek Trail.
Mayor Frazier invites you, the public, to attend. While you share the scenery, you’re also invited to ask him questions and make suggestions about city business.
For more on the Marsh Creek Trail, check out the East Bay Regional Parks District‘s website. For more on Mayor Frazier, check out the City of Oakley‘s website.
Can’t make it this weekend? This is just your first opportunity to walk with the mayor. These walks will take place on the first and third Saturdays of each month.
Let us know how it goes!