Discounts

Become an AS&R member and get discounts at local bike shops and businesses!

Blue Heron Bikes: 10% off parts and accessories.

Bikes on Solano: 10% off labor, parts and accessories.

Offers are valid to members of Albany Strollers & Rollers and their households. Tell your friends!
Contact us with questions.

Events

Sep
19
Sun
FREE Family Cycling Workshop – Bring your kids…Volunteers needed! @ Cornell Elementary School
Sep 19 @ 10:00 am – 12:30 pm

Join Bike East Bay’s certified instructors and AS&R friends & neighbors for a day of fun games, safety drills, skills building, and a neighborhood ride. This workshop is for kids who are able to ride a bike and ready to take to the paths and roadways with their parents (suggested grade range 2nd-6th).

Bike East Bay staff and AS&R volunteers will make sure helmets fit properly!
courtesy Amy Smolens

The event includes instruction on fitting a helmet, performing a bike safety check, communicating with other road users, riding in a straight line and avoiding obstacles,  as well as navigating safely through intersections, all while playing fun games!

We will also bring our bike teeter-totters and end the class with a group ride around the neighborhood together!  All minors must be accompanied by an adult to participate, both with their own working bikes and helmets. Each child will receive a free reflective vest.

Pick up some Youth Versions of our Check for Bikes clings and stickers, as well as reflective bands, from AS&R volunteers!

AS&R will have an information table to talk to parents & kids about riding around the Albany area. You can pick up some great “Check for Bikes” clings and bumper stickers, as well as reflective leg & arm bands for safer biking.

The event is FREE but you must pre-register so for more information and to sign up please go here.
Hope to see you there!! EVERYONE IS REQUESTED TO PLEASE WEAR A MASK TO PROTECT YOURSELF AND OTHERS – THANK YOU!

We’ll finish off the event with a relaxed spin around town!

WE NEED SOME VOLUNTEERS TO MAKE THIS A SUCCESS!
We’re seeking 2-3 people to help out at the family cycling workshop.
9:30-10:15 to help with set up and checking in of participants, while instructors get a feel for the participants and check bikes out mechanically.
9:30-12:45 to speak to kids & parents about bike stuff, and help with packing up.
Contact Britt at bthesen@gmail.com if you can help out!

Oct
16
Sun
2022 Albany Community Triathlon @ Memorial Park
Oct 16 @ 8:00 am – 1:00 pm

Want to test your cycling, running and swimming skills in a low-key & fun setting, while helping AHS & AMS sports teams in the process?

AS&R has lent fellow community organization Albany Community Triathlon our racks for the transition area – photo courtesy Francesco Papalia

Come on down to Memorial Park on Sunday October 16th for the first post-pandemic, real, in-person Albany Community Triathlon!
The Albany Community Triathlon emphasizes fitness and fun with a 400m (425y) swim, 10k (12 laps around Memorial Park/AHS) cycle and 2.5k (1.6m/3 laps) run.
There is also a “Super Youth” division for kids from 7-10 – 70m (75 yd/3 lengths) pool swim, 2.5 mile bike (1.6m/3 laps) and 1k (0.6m/1 lap) run.

Registration is available at https://albanytri.com/register/.
Registrants will get fun swag while supplies last!
All proceeds will go to the Albany Athletic Boosters to benefit all High School & Middle School teams.  In addition to the fund raising, this event focuses on fitness and fun.
If you have always wanted to participate in a triathlon, but felt intimidated at the prospect, this is the one for you. I’ve taken part in the RELAY – I  did the cycling portion, and found friends for the swim and the run! It was fun rooting for my teammate during the swim, riding my bike, then rooting for my other teammate while she ran!

Feel great when you cross that Finish Line!
photo credit Amy Smolens

YOUTH DISCOUNTS for anyone under 18!
There is still a FAMILY & FRIENDS HEAT!
Parents, kids, spouses: When you register, you can indicate your desire to be in the same wave as one or more family members or friends. Then you can compete together & keep an eye on each other during the race (but not assist each other, per triathlon rules).
POST-RACE FESTIVITIES – Stick around after the race to recover with some healthy food, finisher awards, raffle prizes, massages, and schmoozing with fellow participants, volunteers, sponsors, and race organizers.
AS&R and Check for Bikes are excited to again be sponsoring the Albany Tri – supplying bike racks for the transition area and swag for the goodie bags. Other sponsors include Albany Community Foundation, Albany Ford-Subaru, Trader Joe’s, Blue Heron BikesTranSports and Bikes on Solano.
So come on down and get in on the fun!
For more information about the Albany Triathlon, please see the web site, www.albanytri.com.  This is a great community event and really fun to watch even if you don’t want to participate!
Come on down, have fun and support Albany Middle & High School sports!!

Oct
30
Sun
Blue Heron Bikes 10th Anniversary Celebration @ Blue Heron Bikes
Oct 30 @ 1:00 pm – 4:00 pm

Join Blue Heron and owner Rob Allen for his wonderful local shop’s 10th Anniversary Celebration! There will be food, drink, music, fun and a bike parts swap meet!

Be there or be square, in their back parking lot just off the Ohlone Greenway!

SEE YOU THERE!!

 

Feb
6
Tue
Kains/Adams Bicycle Blvds Strategy Meeting @ Zoom
Feb 6 @ 7:00 pm – 9:00 pm

The Adams/Kains bike project is in the County’s and City’s plans for addressing alternative transportation along the San Pablo Ave Corridor in Albany. As the pilot project approaches the 1 year mark it has gone well in many ways and is valued infrastructure to help the City meet its climate goals and help people get around with fewer cars or no cars now that the state’s and city’s zoning has been changed to allow any housing big or small to have zero parking spaces. One sticking point with the city has been the parking direction. The pilot program has reported no collisions on Adams/Kains. Many blocks in Berkeley for ~50 years have had the same traffic flow as we have now on Adams/Kains where public data shows no injury accidents have been reported in the ~9 years since data has been collected. Literature opposed to the Adams/Kains project warned of the extreme dangers to residents, delayed emergency response and promised “chaos and carnage” if it was implemented but we have seen none of that. People who helped distribute that literature have said at public meetings “things are fine the way they’ve always been” while ignoring the city’s climate goals and new zoning that removes off-street parking requirements.

“Houston, we have no problem!”

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Yet despite all of this data for Albany and Berkeley streets, the City of Albany has said from the beginning that it eventually plans to ticket people parking in the contraflow direction and has made no indication that it plans to do like it does with so many other laws on the books – de-prioritize enforcement.  Since cars in the pilot project still only enter from one direction into each block that would mean half the cars on each block ticketed or forced to make 3-point turns on narrow, congested streets.
Aside from the city’s parking issue, some drivers still aren’t aware of the internal two-way driving patterns – aren’t aware that cars can go both directions within each block.  And all cyclists aren’t aware of the Bicycle Blvds as an option. Both of these issues are exacerbated by the fact that navigation apps don’t send cars that are already on Adams/Kains in the new direction and they actually divert cyclists around Adams/Kains in the new direction!
Additional signage (two-way arrows on the road) and updated mapping apps showing current legal patterns would help awareness. These are crucial for north-south travel along the San Pablo corridor and must be saved!
The Bicycle Blvds may go to Council as early as May, so AS&R needs to prepare a strategy for proposals for adjustments to Adams/Kains in case the city does decide to go forward with ticketing half the cars on the block with the current traffic flow. At our most recent General Membership Meeting last week, we set the evening of Tuesday February 6 for a Zoom brainstorming discussion about this important project. This is literally Albany’s only Bicycle Boulevard (yes, other streets may be marked with that name but have no supporting infrastructure) so please SAVE THIS DATE TO HELP SAVE THE BICYCLE BOULEVARDS!
We will send a Zoom link to the GREENways list.
Please RSVP or send any questions to amy@albanystrollroll.org .
Apr
27
Sat
Albany Community Expo – Volunteers (and bikes) needed! @ Albany Community Center
Apr 27 @ 10:00 am – 2:00 pm

The City’s Recreation Department is organizing its 3rd Annual Community Expo Come on over, help out, enjoy the Expo! to showcase community based organizations like ours and City departments at the Albany Community Center. AS&R will be sharing a table with Bike East Bay, displaying materials, information and a variety of bicycles (yours?) and chatting about strolling and rolling. Other groups will be doing the same and there will be giveaways, food trucks, a raffle, activities and live entertainment!

We need a few volunteers to spend time at our table and speak to community members who may have questions about strolling or rolling in Albany and beyond. We’d also like to have a few bikes to display – a cargo bike, trailer, e-bike – anything you think might pique a neighbor’s interest!

Non-profit bike shop Street Level Cycles will be there providing free and low-cost tuneups for you, so bring your old, creaky bike!

If you can volunteer or have a bike to display, please email Nick at nicky@mindspring.com

Nov
16
Sat
Richmond-San Rafael Bridge Trail 5th Anniversary Ride @ Richmond BART station
Nov 16 @ 10:00 am – 2:00 pm

Our friends at “Rich City Rides” are organizing a family-friendly, all ages and abilities group ride across the Richmond-San Rafael Bridge Trail to commemorate the 5th Anniversary of bike and pedestrian access over the bridge! Meet at Richmond BART at 10am, roll at 10:30. It’s crucial that Albany Strollers & Rollers members support our neighbors and active transportation access between the East Bay and Marin County!
Many of us will take BART from El Cerrito Plaza to the start at Richmond BART so please join us!

“Afterparty” mentioned in flyer below at location TBA.

Join others from the East Bay on this fun RSR Bridge Trail ride!

Feb
22
Sat
URBAN CYCLING 101 – DAY 1 CLASSROOM WORKSHOP (IN ALBANY!!) @ Albany Library
Feb 22 @ 1:00 pm – 3:00 pm

DO YOU, A FAMILY MEMBER OR FRIEND WANT TO RIDE YOUR BIKE MORE BUT DON’T FEEL COMFORTABLE IN THIS URBAN SETTING? THIS FREE CLASS IS FOR YOU/THEM, AND IT’S RIGHT HERE IN ALBANY!
Learn rules of the road, how to equip your bicycle, fit your helmet, use different types of bike infrastructure, and avoid common hazards!!
This is an indoor class for adults or teens, no bicycle required to learn and benefit from the instruction.
FREE, BUT YOU MUST PRE-REGISTER HERE!

Bike East Bay’s award-winning bicycle education program offers both online and in-person classes, so register for a FREE workshop, access online blog posts and resources, and have fun on every bike trip!
EVERYTHING IS ABSOLUTELY FREE, BUT YOU MUST PRE-REGISTER HERE!
Thanks to AS&R’s Fiscal Sponsor, Bike East Bay, for running these valuable classes.

 

Apr
26
Sat
FAMILY CYCLING WORKSHOP @ El Cerrito Plaza BART Station (Central + Richmond parking lot)
Apr 26 @ 10:30 am – 12:00 pm

Bike East Bay instructors will provide a day of fun games, safety drills, skills building and a neighborhood ride. For kids and parents!
This workshop is for kids who are able to ride a bike and are ready to take to the paths and roadways with their parents (suggested grade range 2nd-6th). The event includes instruction on:

  • fitting a helmet
  • performing a bike safety check
  • communicating with other road users
  • riding in a straight line and avoiding obstacles
  • as well as navigating safely through intersections, all while playing fun games!

All minors must be accompanied by an adult to participate, both with their own working bikes and helmets.
If the class is full, you can be added to the wait list or be notified about future sessions as they are added.
Please note: Our family events are for parents and kids to participate in together. If you are interested in an in-school or youth-only bike rodeo we recommend following up with our friends at Cycles of Change instead, by emailing DriveYourBike@CyclesOfChange.org.
*THIS WORKSHOP IS IN CONJUNCTION WITH THE EL CERRITO “GO GREEN! MOBILITY FAIR

EVENT IS FREE BUT YOU MUST PRE-REGISTER HERE TO RESERVE A SPOT!

GO GREEN! MOBILITY FAIR – VOLUNTEERS NEEDED! @ El Cerrito Plaza BART - North Parking Lot
Apr 26 @ 11:00 am – 3:00 pm

Join EC/RA Walk & Roll, the City of El Cerrito, City of Berkeley, Bay Area Rapid Transit (BART), & Bike East Bay for the first GO GREEN! Mobility Fair at the El Cerrito Plaza BART north parking lot, on Saturday, April 26, 11am – 3pm.
There will be games, music, food and much more!
Your very own Albany Strollers & Rollers organization is a sponsor-in-kind, donating our Valet Bike Racks for self-parking at the event!

AS&R will have an information table and NEEDS A FEW VOLUNTEERS to speak to people and perhaps help install bells on bikes & scooters. Of course, you can take time to enjoy the fair, too! Local businesses Fern’s Garden & Bua Luang have generously given us GIFT CARDS for volunteers!! Please email Amy at amy@albanystrollroll.org if you can help out!

Learn about how our region is transforming streets into safe spaces that bring neighbors together, improve our air quality, fight climate change and connect our Bay Area communities. A range of electric mobility devices will be on display including e-bikes, e-scooters, and neighborhood electric vehicles (NEVs). Meet your neighbors, share your vision for mobility and engage with City and community representatives and planners. Every voice and journey matters as we move forward together!

  • Bring the kids – games, bike smoothies, and crafts
  • Test ride electric bicycles
  • See neighborhood electric vehicles (NEVs) and e-mopeds
  • Learn about discounted mobility options
  • Find exciting destinations via local buses
  • Discover new parking solutions for taking BART
  • Valet bike parking
  • Music by Nashville HoneymoonHot Rod Juke Box and more!

Bike East Bay will be hosting a Family Cycling Workshop from 10:30am – 12pm for kids who are able to ride a bike and are ready to take to the paths and roadways with their parents (suggested grade range 2nd-6th). Reservations are required! To save a spot, register for the cycling workshop at the following link: Family Cycling Workshop.

May
31
Sat
FIX A FLAT WORKSHOP (IN ALBANY!!) @ Albany Library
May 31 @ 12:00 pm – 1:30 pm

Join Bike East Bay for an interactive, hands-on workshop where we will review the basic process of fixing a flat and inner tube patching, as well as strategies to avoid flats. Bring your own flat tire or use one of our class demos! No prior experience is necessary to attend this class.

This class is made possible via funding from the Alameda County Transportation Commission.

THE WORKSHOP IS FREE BUT PLEASE PRE-REGISTER HERE TO RESERVE A SPOT!