3rd Annual SLO Community Happening & Bike-In Movie, Friday May 9th
Come for a "Wheel Experience" at the 3rd Annual San Luis Obispo Community Happening & Bike-In Movie. This free, Family-Friendly Bike Month event will take place on Friday evening May 9th, 2008.  Bring your bikes and helmets to the San Luis Obispo Mission Plaza meeting location at 6:30pm. At 7:00pm ride leaders will take the group on a courteous downtown bike ride and then to Johnson Park by way of the Morro Street (Bill Roalman) Bicycle Boulevard and Railroad Safety Trail.  There will be prizes, food, and refreshments at the park before the 8:15 pm showing of the movie Breaking Away, on the YMCA's white wall: Lawn seating, dress warmly, and bring your lights for the ride home. Secure bicycle parking will be provided by SLO County Bicycle Coalition.

Visit http://www.rideshare.org and click on the Bike Month 2008 Wheel Experience logo for the event calendar that includes this and many other great Wheel Experiences.

This event is brought to you by: SLO County Air Pollution Control District, SLO County Bicycle Coalition, SLO Regional Rideshare, SLO YMCA, City of San Luis Obispo, SLO Chai, Cambria Bicycle Outfitters, Wally's Bicycle Works, Gus's Grocery, and Peak Racks.  For more information contact Andy Mutziger at 781-5956.

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The Tradition Continues this May:
Bike Month 2008

This year's theme is "Wheel Experience". Have a Wheel Experience this May and leave your car at home: arrive by bike! You will also be experiencing a healthy lifestyle and helping everyone in San Luis Obispo County experience cleaner air and reduced traffic. Best of all: biking is great fun. Take part in Bike Month 2008. You'll have an experience of a lifetime.

* Commuter Bike Challenge returns with new and improved features.
* Over $1,000 dollars available in mini-grants to put on YOUR own bike event.
* Make the Grade Ride-riders including some well known politicians ride over the Cuesta Grade.
* Executive Commuter Bike Challenge-sign up and take the pledge. You'll be acknowledged in the Tribune and posters.
* Support cycling in the community sponsorship opportunities.
* Bike Breakfast on the Blvd and other bike breakfasts hosted by local companies.

Ride on over to the Bike Month website at www.rideshare.org

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BIKExperience Art Show Opens May 2nd
"BIKExperience - a circuitous journey back to your bike" is a bike art show that runs during San Luis Obispo's countywide Wheel Experience Bike Month celebration in May. See a showcasing of bicycle inspired art of all media.

A portion of the art sales and event donations will go to benefit the San Luis Obispo County Bicycle Coalition.

Meet the artists and experience the visual journey This Friday May 2, from 6:00 - 9:00 PM at 1060 Osos St. (next to Woodstock Pizza)  in SLO during Art After Dark.

Regular gallery hours will be Thursday nights during Farmer's market, Fridays at lunchtime, Saturday and Sunday from 11:00 am - 7:00 PM. Look for more times posted at the gallery.

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Fashion Link to the WheelExperience, May 16th
Find out what's "in or out." Join in the fun of a bike fashion show, featuring cool vintage clothing and bikes, as well as fashions and accessories created from recycled textiles and bike parts--a great opportunity for bike show-n-tell. Start time is 6pm for social hour, fashion show starts at 7pm. This event will take place at the

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Show the Road Who's Boss! Take Our Bicycle Confidence Training and Safety Classes Saturdays: May 17th and 24th
Get up to speed about the rules and responsibilities of safe bicycle riding. Learn to take on traffic with confidence.

In this upcoming four and a half-hour class you will learn how to safely and confidently use a bike for transportation. Whether you're a current or prospective bike commuter, a recreational rider, a touring or club cyclist, a parent who bikes with your family, or just want to get around town (our favorite way to ride!), you'll enjoy cycling more when you know how to operate your bike smoothly in traffic. Please bring a helmet and a bicycle to class. You must be 16+ or older.

Classes are FREE to all participants!  To register, please visit http://www.slobikelane.org/bikeed/registration.html

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All Aboard the Railroad Safety Trail
What if there was a way to ride a bike from Cal Poly all the way to the southern limits of San Luis Obispo without having to deal with auto traffic? That's exactly what is aimed with the Railroad Safety Trail, which will provide a beautiful bike path paralleling the railroad tracks through downtown. This project has had enormous progress recently. Last year, the Bicycle Coalition continued our Bike the Budget campaign, leading a letter writing effort and rallying the community at the San Luis Obispo City Council Community Budget Forum. Our efforts have made the Railroad Safety Trail a high priority project. We've also helped leverage over $1.2 million in state funds and are working to secure over $500,000 in federal funding through the SLO Council of Governments. This summerthe city will begin constructing a new section of the trail from Foothill Blvd to Hwy 101. Cal Poly will also construct a portion of the trail behind Mustang Stadium. Unfortunately, these two sections do not connect and so the Rotary Club of San Luis Obispo is leading a $307,000 fundraising effort to complete the missing link. This project has many partners including the Land Conservancy, ECOSLO, the San Luis Obispo Chamber of Commerce, Sierra Vista Regional Medical Center, and many others. The Bicycle Coalition is pleased to join this partnership. We've put in a lot of hours including help with campaign media, writing a grant to supplement the fundraising effort, and in spreading the word about this wonderful bike trail.

For more information about the Railroad Safety Trail fundraising effort and to get involved, visit www.rrtrailfund.org or contact Morgan Rafferty at ECOSLO at 544-1777.

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Share the Road Campaign Hits the Airwaves
The SLO County Bicycle Coalition is proud to announce a new phase of its Share the Road campaign with a set of TV spots to broadcast countywide. The new public service announcements hope to encourage civility among bicyclists and motorists and to educate the public on safe and responsible behavior on our roadways. Check out the new ads at slobikelane.org/sharetheroad.htm. You might just recognize someone you know.