FISCAL IMPACT:
The Metropolitan Transportation Commission and “511 SF Bay” provide outreach materials, distributed through existing County procedures. If the Board authorizes the staff recommendation, up to $2,500 in Measure J funds will be donated to Bike East Bay for a “Silver” level sponsorship.[1]
BACKGROUND:
The objective of Bike to Work Day is to encourage County commuters to try bicycling to work on this occasion by offering a variety of incentives such as a raffle for prizes, and by providing energizer stations throughout the County with refreshments and educational materials for bicycle commuters. Once individuals try bicycling to work it is hoped that they will continue to commute by bicycle one or more days a week. Bicycling is excellent exercise, non-polluting and an energy efficient form of transportation.
National Bike Month and California Bike Commute Week are both in May. All nine Bay Area counties are participating in Bike to Work Day on May 11 at some level. The Metropolitan Transportation Commission with the help of financial donations from event sponsors and volunteers primarily funds bike to Work Day in the San Francisco Bay Area. Cyclists can stop for refreshments and promotional materials at over 200 energizer stations throughout the Bay Area.
Thirty-seven sponsored energizer stations are in Contra Costa County, including one at the Martinez Amtrak Train Station and one at the foot of the Benicia/Martinez Bridge (Mococo Road). 511 Contra Costa, the County Transportation Demand Management agency, has requested volunteers for the two aforementioned energizer stations. County employees interested in volunteering can contact DCD staff directly. Energizer station shifts typically last two hours during peak commute periods (6:30 a.m. - 8:30 a.m. and 4:00 p.m. - 6:00 p.m.). 511 Contra Costa provides the necessary materials to hand out to Bike to Work Day participants.
The attachments include a draft transmittal memo from the County Administrator to County Department Heads requesting each department encourage their employees to participate in the Bike to Work Day event, as well as a sponsor information packet. Additional information, including the location of energizer stations within the County and throughout the Bay Area, is available on the website at
http://www.youcanbikethere.com/. With the Board's approval, posters and other outreach materials will be distributed to County departments for their use in outreach to County employees.
This year the County will be a Bike East Bay - Bike to Work Day 2018 Sponsor, the $2,500 Silver Sponsor will include the following recognition and benefits:
- Logo on 200 Energizer Station Signs
- Name on 750 Limited Edition t-shirts
- Logo in Bike East Bay Ride On Newsletter (Readers: 4,000)
- Name on 5,000 Event Posters
- Logo in Bike East Bay e-newsletters (Readers: 12,000)
- Logo on Bike East Bay Website’s Event Page (Monthly Unique Visitors: 10,000)
- Logo in Bike to Work Day Guide in East Bay Express (Readers: 186,000)
- Official post-Bike to Work Day report
- Free Lunchtime commute workshop at your worksite
[1] The Measure J Expenditure Plan contains multiple project & program categories consistent with support for cycling and Bike to Work Day.
CONSEQUENCE OF NEGATIVE ACTION:
The County will not financially support the event or encourage its employees to participate in “Bike to Work Day.”
CHILDREN'S IMPACT STATEMENT:
n/a