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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.

BART to Antioch Service Starts May 2018

BART service to Antioch began in May 2018 with the official opening of two new stations: Antioch & Pittsburg Center.

Using the New BART to Antioch Service

No Park & Ride at the New Stations: Park & Ride parking is not available for bus patrons, carpools, ride sharing, etc. at the Antioch and Pittsburg Center stations. The Brentwood Park & Ride lot serviced by Tri Delta Transit offers free Park & Ride parking.
Transferring at Pittsburg/Bay Point Station: The East Contra Costa BART Extension trains run on their own tracks and connect with the existing BART system at a Transfer Platform just east of the Pittsburg Bay Point Station. At the Transfer Platform, riders simply exit one train and walk across the platform to board the other train. BART passengers trying to reach the Pittsburg Center Station or the Antioch Station will remain in the BART train to reach the Transfer Platform.
Train Technology: The new trains are Diesel Multiple Units or DMU train cars. They meet the US Government’s strictest emissions standards and use renewable diesel, an advanced biofuel produced from bio-based sources such as vegetable oil. The extension will be able to carry an estimated 2,400 people in each direction, per hour, during rush hours.

BART Twitter Town Hall (May 2017): Contra Costa Highlights

Last week BART conducted a Twitter Town Hall, fielding questions from the public on a variety of topics. Great information came out of it including plans & projects affecting Contra Costa. We collected the Contra Costa-related questions and responses below:

Hercules/Richmond (West CoCo Transit Study):

https://twitter.com/Niktereuto/status/867093708335792128


The West County High-Capacity Transit Study will identify one or more projects to improve high-capacity transit in West County, expand alternatives to driving on congested streets and highways, and improve regional air quality and quality of life. Read more: westcountytransitstudy.com

BART to Antioch:


The goal of the eBART Project is to bring BART service to Antioch and the rest of east Contra Costa County, connecting the growing region of east Contra Costa with areas already served by BART. More info: East Contra Costa BART Extension (eBART)

New Clipper:


MTC and the transit operators plan to launch the next generation of Clipper (aka ‘Clipper 2’) by 2020. They’ve already incorporated public input on different ways to pay, more convenient account management and other transportation uses for Clipper (e.g. parking at stations). Take their survey & give feedback to further guide the development of the next-generation Clipper system: futureofclipper.com

Delays/Crowding on P/BP Line:


https://twitter.com/alueder/status/867096494695776256


Visit BART’s Fleet of the Future page to learn about the new train cars. To jump to information on the schedule for adding new cars into service, visit the Delivery Plan page.

Concord/Bay Fair Development:

New Transbay Tube Study:

Seat Removal:

https://twitter.com/rusher81572/status/867105712123502593


After testing three different layouts, BART conducted a survey to determine the reduced-seating layout passengers felt most improved their ride experience. BART is applying that layout to 380 cars in the fleet. Also, as new train cars arrive and BART is able to lengthen trains and eventually run trains closer together, there will be many more seats for customers. More information: bart.gov/testcar

Wheel noise:


More information: New Wheel Tech Quiets Screeching Rails (article)

North Concord to Antioch BART Access Study – Feedback Wanted (2017)


Do you use the North Concord/Martinez or Pittsburg/Bay Point BART station? Live or work in East County? BART wants your input!
With plans to expand East Contra Costa service in 2018, BART is conducting a study to identify projects to improve access to stations for pedestrians, bikes, vehicles and transit. They’ve drafted a preliminary document identifying barriers and proposing improvements, and now they want to hear from you!
For more information or to submit feedback, visit the North Concord to Antioch BART Study webpage.

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.

Martin Luther King, Jr. Junior High: Bike & Roll to School – April 15, 2015

Screen Shot 2015-03-23 at 2.14.34 PM
Martin Luther King, Jr. Junior High parents & students, it’s time to get ready to Bike and Roll to School!
As a lead-up to National Bike to School Day on May 6, Street Smarts Diablo is teaming up with Contra Costa middle schools for a series of individual Bike & Roll to School events. On April 15, Martin Luther King, Jr. Junior High students will be accepting the challenge to get to school on wheels by riding their bikes, skateboards and scooters!
To celebrate the challenge, Street Smarts Diablo will have some free helmets on hand to provide to Martin Luther King, Jr. Junior High students who arrive to school with wheels and need a properly fitting helmet. Parents are welcome to bring students’ bikes to school by car, so that any child starting the day without a helmet can get to school and roll home safely.
Motorists are reminded to drive with extra care and be especially aware of school zone speed limits and children walking and biking to and from school on Wednesday, April 15, particularly around the vicinity of Martin Luther King, Jr. Junior High in Pittsburg (California Ave, Loveridge Rd, Harbor St, E 14th St and surrounding streets).
For more information visit 511 Contra Costa’s Bike to School resource page or contact Street Smarts Diablo at 925-969-1083.

Street Smarts Diablo Bike & Roll to School Events: March 31 – May 6, 2015

National Bike to School Day is Wednesday, May 6. As a lead-up to the big day, Street Smarts Diablo is teaming up with select middle schools in Contra Costa for a series of individual Bike & Roll to School events. Middle school students will be accepting the challenge to get to school on wheels by riding their bikes, skateboards and scooters!
Drivers are advised to exercise extreme caution from late March through early May as bicycling and walking events will mean an increase in school-aged children walking & bicycling to and from school.
NBM2014_Web_Site_Header_editNational Bike to School Day is a one-day event occurring in May that encourages and celebrates biking to school. Bike to School Day events can include bicycle safety education, parent-led bike trains, and other bicycle-related education and encouragement activities. Street Smarts Diablo’s Bike & Roll events build off of the energy of National Bike Month, encouraging student health and fitness, biking safety, and concern for the environment while decreasing traffic congestion around campus.
As part of the Bike & Roll to School celebrations, Street Smarts Diablo will have some free helmets on hand to provide to students who arrive to school with wheels and need a properly fitting helmet. Parents are welcome to bring students’ bikes to school by car, so that any child starting the day without a helmet can get to school and roll home safely.
If your child is planning on biking school, these two guides from the National Center for Safe Routes to School will help get both of you ready:

Schools participating in the 2015 Bike & Roll Challenge – click any event for more information:
streetsmartsdiabloFoothill Middle School, Walnut Creek – Tuesday, March 31
Pine Hollow Middle School, Concord – Thursday, April 2
Martin Luther King Jr. Junior High, Pittsburg – Wednesday, April 15
Antioch Middle School, Antioch – Thursday, April 23

Walnut Creek Intermediate School, Walnut Creek – Tuesday, April 28
Rancho Medanos Jr. High, Pittsburg – Wed., Apr. 29

For more information on Bike & Roll to School events, contact Street Smarts Diablo at 925-969-1083.

Teen Driving Safety Program August 19, 2014

The California Highway Patrol, Street Smarts Diablo, and Pittsburg High School are hosting the CHP Start Smart Driving Safety Program for teen drivers and their parents August 19, 2014 from 6-8 pm at Pittsburg High School Creative Arts Building.  Registration is FREE and open to all Pittsburg students and parents. Registration is requested. Click here to register.  For more information call Street Smarts Diablo at 925-969-1083.
street_smarts_diablo_smStartSmart
Start Smart is a two-hour driver safety education class given by the CHP. The class targets new and future licensed teenage drivers and their parents/guardians. For more information call 925-646-4980.

Student Art Contest Winning Bag Revealed (2014)

Alexandria Rickli

CONGRATULATIONS to Alexandria Rickli, a 6th grader from J. Douglas Adams Middle School in Brentwood.

The Central/East office of 511 Contra Costa conducted a student artwork contest among middle schools in Central and Eastern Contra Costa County for the 2014 511 Contra Costa market bag design.  The winning artwork of Alexandria Rickli was chosen among 12 entries.  The theme of the artwork contest was Explore New Ways to Get Around: carpool, transit, bike, skateboard and walk and was to depict how these environmentally-friendly ways of getting around help reduce pollution and promote clean air.  Required elements included the incorporation of the funding partner logos.  The contest winner won a $50 gift certificate to a local cinema.

Contra Costa Green just Art

The bags will be given away to the public at the John Muir Birthday – Earth Day Celebration on Saturday, April 26th at the John Muir National Historic Site in Martinez, and the Pittsburg’s Green Footprint Festival on June 12th, and other community events.

The Value of Street Smarts Diablo

In Fall 2012, 511 Contra Costa deployed Street Smarts Diablo Region, a traffic safety program, with federal Safe Routes to School funding. Street Smarts Diablo Region intends to educate pedestrians, cyclists and drivers through programs delivered at all public elementary, middle and high schools. In the City of Pittsburg, Martin Luther King Jr Junior High School recently received a three day bicycle and safety pedestrian safety training program and teacher Mr. Knight shared with us this positive testimonial demonstrating the value of providing such a program for school children:

Just wanted to let you know that the recent bicycle safety program really helped one of my students. Just yesterday he was riding his bike when his front tire popped and he went flying over the handle bars. He was wearing his new blue bicycle helmet that was given to him at the Bike Safety Program the day prior to the incident.
The fact that he was wearing his new blue helmet really saved him from serious Injury because he told me this morning that he hit his head on the pavement and the helmet he received Tuesday from the Bicycle Safety Program saved him from serious head injury.   Please pass this along to the Bicycle Safety Program and let them know how much we appreciate their service to our students!!
Thanks, Mr. Knight
Martin Luther King Jr Junior High School

Let’s hear it for Streets Smarts!

In Progress: State Route 4 Widening and eBART (2013)

Back in October two major construction projects broke ground– State Route 4 widening and the eBART extension to eastern Contra Costa County. Because eBART will operate down the median of State Route 4, the two projects are being implemented in tandem with construction projected to be completed in Fall 2016. Let’s take a closer look at the projects.
Firstly, despite any present delays, it should be acknowledged these projects come at a crucial time. Eastern Contra Costa County’s rapid growth in the past two decades has resulted in one of the slowest commutes in the region.
That’s why these projects are so important. Once completed, the 10-mile eBART extension into Antioch is projected to remove 4,000 cars off the road per day (the equivalent of one freeway lane). Meanwhile, the widening of State Route 4 will feature carpool lanes and auxiliary lanes between on/off-ramps to encourage more efficient traffic movement.
eBART2
A rendition of eBART– what a sleek looking train! Image via: BART
This new eBART extension will represent a first for Bay Area Rapid Transit– the introduction of eBART, a smaller model train than the ones we’re used to seeing. This extension will operate with what are known as DMU (diesel multiple-unit) trains, already widely used in Europe. The DMU model train was selected to bring quality rail service to East Contra Costa County at a lower cost than conventional BART. In fact, the $462 million eBART project is 60% less expensive than conventional BART.
The only catch is that DMU trains have a lower carrying capacity than conventional BART trains and will require riders transfer at the Pittsburg/Bay Point station to continue west into the Bay Area. However, being able to whisk riders to the Pittsburg/Bay Point station in an estimated 10-minutes,  a transfer doesn’t seem that bad, especially during rush hour.
It’s been 40 years since BART first transformed rapid transit in the region and with continued innovation the region can look forward to greater mobility options.
For additional details, be sure to check out the video below or head over to BART.

Pittsburg to host final open house on BART transit village master plan


Pittsburg is hosting a final open house tomorrow, Tuesday June 28th from 5:30 to 6 PM as part of a public review period that ends August 1st.
The master plan calls for retail stores, plazas and high- and medium-density housing, enabling residents to leave their cars at home while commuting to any part of the Bay Area served by BART.
Are you free Tuesday night? Come to the open house to share your thoughts.
What: Pittsburg/Bay Point BART master plan open house
When: 5:30 – 6 PM, Tuesday June 28, 2011
Where: Pittsburg City Council chamber, 65 Civic Ave


For more information about the plan, read the Mercury News article

This Week’s Headlines in Transportation & Transit: Nov. 27-Dec. 3, 2010

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BART's Looking for Your Input on the East Contra Costa Extension

Construction on BART’s eastward extension, which will span 10 miles from the Pittsburg/Bay Point BART station towards Hillcrest Avenue, is set to begin this fall. The extension will fulfill the first phase of the eBart project, which aims to bring BART into East County. It should be completed by 2015.
BART will be providing a project overview and gathering feedback about fares, station access, and hours of operation at three venues next week. Be sure to stop by one of the meetings to give your input!
The first meeting will take place at Antioch’s Nick Rodriguez Community Center in the Multi-Use Room on Monday July 12 from 6:30pm-8:00pm, the second will be at the Brentwood Senior Center on Thursday July 15 from 6:30pm-8:00pm, and the third will be at the Pittsburg Senior Center on Saturday July 17 from 10:00am-11:30am.

Officials break ground for Highway 4 Loveridge Road segment

PITTSBURG, CA – Congressman John Garamendi (D-Walnut Creek, CA), a member of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, today issued the following statement after attending the groundbreaking for the Highway 4/Loveridge Road Widening Project:

“The Highway 4 Widening Project is a win, win, win for the Bay Area. It means thousands of new jobs, less congestion, and improved public transit access. Federal, state, and local government officials worked together to secure the necessary $165.4 million for this project.
“By widening a two mile stretch of highway between Antioch and Pittsburg riddled with congestion problems, we are creating 3,000 direct and indirect jobs and laying the groundwork for eBART to Antioch.
“In our present economy, smart investments in projects that create quality jobs and lasting infrastructure must be prioritized. The Highway 4 Widening Project lives up to that standard.”

The $165.4 million project is funded through a combination of federal, state, and local funds. This Project represents a cooperative effort among the California Department of Transportation (Caltrans), the Contra Costa Transportation Authority (CCTA), the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) and the Bay Area Rapid Transit District (BART).

The Loveridge Road Widening Project involves widening to eight lanes approximately two miles of State Route from Pittsburg to Antioch. Each direction will have three mixed flow lanes and one High Occupancy Vehicle (HOV) from just west of the Loveridge Road Interchange to west of the Somersville Road Interchange. The new roadway will be concrete and will use 40,000 cubic yards of concrete. The project will consist of five new bridges, 12 new retaining walls, and five new signalized intersections, as well as the reconstruction of California Avenue and Loveridge Road.
Related:

Source:

  • Groundbreaking Ceremony for State Route 4 Widening at Loveridge Road Project – Caltrans District 4 Press Release (June 7, 2010)
  • Congressman Garamendi Joins Senator DeSaulnier and Other Local Officials at Highway 4 Widening Project Groundbreaking – Office of John Garamendi Press Release (June 7, 2010)
  • Contra Costa Transportation Authority SR 4 widening information page

This Week’s Headlines in Transportation & Transit: May 1 – 7, 2010

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This Week's Headlines in Transportation & Transit: Apr. 10-16, 2010

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This Week’s Headlines in Transportation & Transit: Apr. 3-9, 2010

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