By Erin Hawkins
Olympic Peninsula News Group
SEQUIM — The Sequim Bicycle Alliance is among the groups planning to celebrate the national Bike Everywhere Month in May.
“Take a Spin in Sequim” is the featured theme for the month in Sequim. Organizers have created a Bicycle Bingo card listing such activities as Bike to Breakfast, Spin and Shop, See the Straits at Sunset and Pedal to Parks.
On May 19, as part of National Bike Everywhere Day, bicyclists can grab a free cup of coffee and a bagel from 7 a.m. to 9 a.m. at the Sequim Civic Center Plaza, 152 W. Cedar St.
On May 31, a town party is planned from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. at the Civic Center Plaza with free snacks, prizes for children in costumes and bingo participants, and biking videos.
The League of American Bicyclist (www.bikeleague.org) named Sequim a Bicycle Friendly Community in 2014 with a bronze-level status.
Port Angeles and Clallam County were named at a bronze level in 2015.
Port Townsend has been at the silver level since 2008.
Ann Soule, resource manager for the city of Sequim Public Works Department, said the Sequim Bicycle Alliance formed last fall.
“We think we can bump up to a higher level without too much effort,” Soule said.
The Sequim Bicycle Alliance is coordinating the event with contributions from members including the city of Sequim, Sequim School District, Ben’s Bikes, All Around Bikes, Rainshadow Coffee and others.
Local businesses showing a bingo card in their window will offer a one-time small discount to bike riders carrying their Bicycle Bingo card.
Soule said the idea of the alliance is to keep bicycle activities going in the area because Sequim is a popular destination for bicycling of all kinds.
There are 25 activities bicyclists can participate in for Bicycle Bingo, from challenging activities such as a 100-mile ride or seeing the Strait of Juan de Fuca at sunset to family fun activities such as bike to breakfast or pedal to the parks.
Dave Toman, security guard for the Sequim School District and an avid bicyclist, said the Bicycle Bingo is to encourage people to do something fun with bicycling.
“The big picture is taking [bicycling] beyond the month of May,” he said of the activities planned for “Bike Everywhere Month.”
Toman is part of the Sequim Bicycle Alliance and rides his bike every day to work. This year, he said he has only missed five days of riding to work due to illness and black ice.
To learn more about the Bike Everywhere Challenge, visit www.lovetoride.net/washington or visit www.sequimwa.gov for more information.
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Erin Hawkins is a reporter with the Olympic Peninsula News Group, which is composed of Sound Publishing newspapers Peninsula Daily News, Sequim Gazette and Forks Forum. Reach her at ehawkins@sequimgazette.com.
