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Dust off your bike, grab your helmet and begin your ride for a chance to win some awesome prizes from May 20 – 23 for the first “Bike There” celebration.



That’s right, prizes will be involved in this celebration. You might remember the annual Bike to Work and School Days from previous years. This year Cal Poly has partnered with the San Luis Obispo Council of Government to highlight the power of community through bikes by creating “Bike There”, which leaves the door open to bike anywhere in your community, including Cal Poly.



Here’s how it will work, from May 20-23 you can bike anywhere around the county to find signs with a QR code and scan them to redeem free “Bike There” giveaways. There is no registration that has to be completed beforehand in order to participate in this event. These prizes include a buff, sticker and Whalebird Kombucha discounts that can all be mailed to you. On top of this all participants will get the chance to win an electric bike. The three Cal Poly campus QR locations can be found in the University Union plaza, Campus Market, and O’Neill Green off of California Boulevard.



Students, staff and faculty can also log their rides on the&nbsp;<a href="https://irideshare.org/#/">iRideshare</a>&nbsp;page to track total rides, calculate the number of calories burned, compare smart commute options, work towards personal goals, compete in challenges, and more.



Biking improves our physical and mental health in a fun and relaxed way. Not to mention it also supports our economy, preserves our air quality, reduces traffic&nbsp;congestion, and saves money on transportation costs. Check out&nbsp;<a href="http://rideshare.org/bikethere">this page</a>&nbsp;for a complete map of locations participating in Bike There so that you can start planning your route.



Lastly, as you bike around your community don’t forget to share some photos of your rides on social media using&nbsp;#BikeThere and tag @slorideshare on Instagram, @Rideshare on Facebook and @slorideshare on Twitter. You posts will help spread the word!

Person wearing a helmet riding a bike near outdoor tables with red and blue umbrellas, with two other people sitting nearby.

Participate in “Bike There” at Cal Poly

Taking advantage of the beautiful weather and Central Coast views, biking is a great way to get around campus, especially this time of year! Here are some bike safety tips to keep in mind:



<ul class="wp-block-list">
<li>Helmets are your friend. Don’t try to be the cool kid and leave your helmet at home. This <a href="https://nutcasehelmets.com/products/watermelon-street?variant=511466341">piece of plastic</a> can not only be a fashion statement, but save your life.</li>



<li>Lock it up! According to a recent <a href="http://www.ksby.com/story/36720191/slopd-sets-up-bait-bike-to-catch-thieves">KSBY article</a>, around 17 bike thefts take place in San Luis Obispo each month. Heavy duty U-locks are a safer option than flexible wire locks since they’re harder to break.</li>



<li>Remember that time you were in the car and couldn’t believe the biker next to you riding without any bike lights? Don’t be that person. Be courteous to yourself, those you share the road with, and follow the law. In fact, according to <a href="http://www.calbike.org/bicycling_in_california_sharing_the_road">California bike laws</a>, at night bicycles must have red reflectors on the back and white reflectors on the front and side pedals.</li>



<li>Listen up! Enjoy listening to music on the ride to school? Make sure to leave one earbud out. According to state law, both ears may not be covered by earplugs or a headset while operating a bike.</li>



<li>Speaking of following the law, all bikers are held to the same rights and responsibilities as any vehicle driver. You are subject to being stopped and cited for riding through stop signs, wearing headphones, riding against traffic, or not having proper brakes. This applies for riding on campus too!</li>



<li>Use common sense and watch out for driveways, tight corners, crosswalks and students!</li>



<li>Go to <a href="http://mustangnews.net/the-rules-of-bike-night/">Bike Night</a>. Just do it.</li>
</ul>



Be careful and be smart riding your bike. Enjoy the luxury of avoiding parking lots and lines of traffic by utilizing your bike as a main mode of transportation!

Several bicycles parked together near a brick pillar with greenery in the background.

Tag: Cycling

Participate in “Bike There” at Cal Poly

Pedaling Safely Round’ Cal Poly