School kids learn how to cycle safely and have fun doing it, while following the rules of the road.
courtesy Peggy McQuaid
Bring your elementary and middle school aged kids to Albany Police Activity League’s Annual Bike Rodeo!
Free bicycle helmets will be given to the first 100 youth participants.
Ken McCroskey, AS&R’s master helmet adjuster and children’s brain guardian, tirelessly applies his craft
courtesy: Francesco Papalia
Rodeo activities will include bike inspections, safety information, and a bicycle safety course.
The goal of the bicycle rodeo is to encourage riders to wear helmets on every ride, to give young cyclists basic skills for on-road riding, and to teach them the rules of the road to help keep them safe. This event focuses on young riders in elementary and middle school.
Bicycle + fruit + blender = delicious fun!! Want to help like Tenisha is doing here? Email Ken!
Photo courtesy Amy Smolens
Cycles of Change and some AS&R members will again be working with kids, showing them how to ride their bikes safely and responsibly.
We’ll also have our “Check for Bikes” clings on hand for parents, our Reflective Leg & Arm Bands …and the famous Bicycle Blender so everyone can pedal-power a delicious smoothie!
PLEASE VOLUNTEER: We could definitely use some help running the bike blender station, fitting helmets, and talking to parents & kids about biking and AS&R. Any takers, please? Volunteers get a cash-value coupon from one of our favorite local supporting businesses, Blue Heron Bikes! Want to help out? Please contact Ken McCroskey.
Kids, don’t try this at home…just yet!
Entertainment will be provided by world-famous flatland BMX rider Pete Brandt!
Hundreds of people from all over the Bay Area take advantage of our Bicycle Valet Parking service at two lots on Solano Avenue. Please volunteer a few hours before enjoying the event!
Photo courtesy Amy Smolens
Albany Strollers & Rollers will again be providing Free Bicycle Valet Parking at two locations: 1800 Solano Ave (Wells Fargo) and 1245 Solano (the vacant lot near Masonic.)
We’ll also have an information table by our western lot near Masonic.
WE NEED YOU TO MAKE THIS A SUCCESS!
If you’d like to help park bikes at either lot or volunteer at AS&R’s info table, please contact Amy Smolens.
AS&R Super-Volunteer Lynn Eve Komaromi takes a well-earned Pad Thai break – thanks, Bua Luang!
Please join Lynn Eve and your AS&R neighbors in volunteering!
All volunteers who work at least a 4-hr shift or pick up & return rental racks will get free lunch provided by a supporting Solano Avenue restaurant, Mountain Mike’s Pizza , Tay Tah or Bua Luang Thai Cuisine!!
Since 1974 Solano Avenue and the cities of Albany and Berkeley have hosted the Solano Avenue Stroll, the East Bay’s largest street festival! The Solano Avenue Association , AS&R and Check for Bikes invite you to see what makes Solano Avenue a wonderful place. The Stroll features over five hundred vendors including 50 entertainers (there’s always great music!,) 50 food booths, 150 government and non-profit agencies, 150 juried hand-crafters, a 75 entry parade, state of the art mechanical rides and much more!
We would like to thank Janka White, the owner of AS&R’s new supporting sponsor, Floor Dimensions. Janka is donating a long Red Carpet to lead passers-by to our information table and straight up the ramp to our western Bicycle Valet Parking lot!
Thanks also to Lucas Euser of Clif Bar who donated boxes of Clif Bars and Z Organic Kids Bars & Fruits so ALL OF OUR VOLUNTEERS will have plenty to snack on all day!!
Come visit AS&R at our information table then enjoy a great stroll up Solano!
Or better yet, volunteer a few hours with Amy, Michael and your neighbors before strolling!
Photo courtesy Tenisha Neal
This family event promotes the unique traits of Solano Avenue, helping independently-owned businesses, artists, and community organizations to thrive by exposure and fundraising. Join 250,000 participants and event guests visit from all over the west coast at this annual street festival!
Please see the press room to stay tuned into what’s hot at this years event!
Brought to you by the Cities of Albany and Berkeley; and with the help of our generous sponsors, SAA members, and volunteer board of directors.
Lucas Euser of Clif Bar donated boxes of Clif Bars and Z Organic Kids Bars & Fruit for ALL OUR VOLUNTEERS!!
Photo courtesy Francesco Papalia
Bike, trikes, scooters, strollers, trailers, tandems, striders, long-tails, unicycles and more bikes!! Photo courtesy Mark Altenberg
Thank you Janka White of Floor Dimensions for donating a “Red Carpet” to lead festival-goers to our lower lot and table!!
Hal’s Office Parklet is OPEN!
BUS STOP PARKLET OPENING CELEBRATION:
1207 Solano Avenue – Sunday, February 25th Noon–2 pm
Construction has finished and the westbound bus stop is again operational!! Hurrah! Come out next Sunday and help celebrate this new public space. It’s Albany’s 1st Parklet and the 1st Bus Stop Parklet in the United States. This project was made possible by a partnership between the City of Albany, AC Transit, the owners of Hal’s Office and As You Wish, and other donors like AS&R.
Many thanks to the project team:
Design: Abraham & Bonnee Elterman, Stephen Heinen
General Contractor: Taylors Nailers
Steel Fabrication: Larry Brown
Construction Manager: Gale Rossi, City of Albany Public Works
The sign at Hal’s Office Coffee Shop
It’s even more inviting now to stop on into Hal’s for a nice hot cuppa, or visit As You Wish for some delicious self-serve soft yogurt!
There’s plenty of handy bike parking next door and across the street, too, with two Bike Bike Racks!
This one’s across the street, too, so ride on over!
This Bike Bike Rack at Winkler Real Estate Group is perfect when you want to hang out at the new Parklet!
Bike East Bay is working for continuous bike lanes on San Pablo Avenue, as part of a safer street for everyone who bikes, walks, drives, or takes transit.
(photo credit – BikeEastBay)
Join Bike East Bay supporters in your neighborhood to learn about options for bikeways and transit on San Pablo Avenue.
Share your vision for the corridor and get organized for kicking off advocacy.
WHERE:
1313 Ninth Street
Farm Burger
Berkeley, 94710
WHEN: March 14th, 2018 6:00 PM through 7:00 PM
(This event is organized and hosted by BikeEastBay, who request you RSVP to participate)
(photo credit – BikeEastBay)
Share your vision for the corridor and get organized for kicking off advocacy.
Elevation 66
El Cerrito, CA 94530
(This event is organized and hosted by BikeEastBay who request you RSVP.)
This meeting is at a perfect time for you to attend and then head to AS&R’s Meeting at 7:30!
AS&R funded these bike racks at the High School and they get constant use! photo courtesy Amy Smolens
What would Bike Month be without a few events for the kids?
We hope you and your family will join us on Bike to School Day. Most schools will celebrate on this date, and every school will do its own thing.
If you are involved with a school and have details please email us and we will post it here.
Keep an eye on this space and/or contact Ken at kenmccroskey@gmail.com for information.
Come join our annual rolling party, Bike to Work Day!
photo courtesy Nick Pilch
Join us for the 25th Annual Bike to Work Day in the Bay Area, a party on wheels!!
As usual, there will be coffee, food, swag, bike goodies in the famous Bike to Work Day musette bags, fun and lots of good conversation & information so come on down on your way to work!
Here’s a short VIDEO that AS&R member Francesco Papalia took so you can see how fun the morning is!
Don’t miss rolling down to see all your friends and neighbors!
Photo courtesy Nick Pilch
The staff of Blue Heron Bikes and Berkeley Bikes & Skateboards will be volunteering their time, checking your bicycles for safety and road-worthiness as they have in previous years! Thanks to owners Rob Allen & Winston Jamison for spending time with us all!
Local business Kim’s Cafe (thanks, Cathy!!) and Royal Ground Coffee (thanks, Mike!) are again donating home made pastries & beverages for our Energizer Station. Trader Joe’s El Cerrito, Barney Butter non-GMO almond butter from the Central Valley, Semifreddi’s in Alameda and GU Energy in Berkeley are also giving us generous donations. Safeway on Solano and Sprouts at University Village are donating gift cards for groceries, too!
SO YES, WE NEED YOUR HELP IN DISTRIBUTING ALL THESE GOODIES TO 600+ CYCLISTS!
Local businesses BLUE HERON, BUA LUANG, TAY TAH CAFE AND FERN’S GARDEN ARE ALL DONATING SPECIAL GIFT CARDS OR COUPONS FOR OUR BIKE MONTH VOLUNTEERS, IN APPRECIATION FOR YOUR TIME AND SERVICE TO THE COMMUNITY!!!
Plenty of food and drink for everyone, but we could use people to pick it up and hand it out!
photo courtesy Francesco Papalia
WE WILL NEED HELP AT OUR ENERGIZER STATION BEGINNING AT 6:30 a.m. through wrap-up at 9:30, as well as preparing for a big celebration.
We will need help stuffing the musette bags with goodies beforehand, picking up food & coffee early morning on the 10th, and handing out swag, food and counting cyclists all morning at the Energizer Station.
Want to help get donations of food, beverages or $ for food & bevs? If so, please contact Ken McCroskey at kenmccroskey@gmail.com or Amy Smolens at calamari@alumni.duke.edu or leave a comment on this post.
Thanks!!
Stuffing bags for everyone who rolls by is FUN!! If you can help, please email Ken at kenmccroskey@gmail.com – thanks!
Stuff to stuff!
photo courtesy Amy Smolens
Join the fun!
Photo courtesy Amy Smolens
Grab your bikes and invite your friends & family – it’s time for the annual Bike About Town rides!
The Albany Peloton rolls down Peralta Avenue for another fun Bike About Town
Photo courtesy Amy Smolens
Join the City of Albany’s Department of Recreation and a bunch of your fellow Rollers as we explore Albany by bike on Spring, Summer and Autumn evenings. Each of the events will trace different routes that pass through parts of Albany you may not have biked before. All levels of cyclists are encouraged to join.
The ride begins at 6:30 at Bikes on Solano at Solano and Peralta in Albany.
We ALWAYS need Ride Guides to help guide folks around town from the front, middle and back so if you’re a confident rider please come 10 minutes early and help your neighbors out!
Come a few minutes early to pump up your tires. Ride maps are distributed, and we take off in a big group. There are experienced cyclists to lead and bring up the rear. After wheeling about for a half hour or forty-five minutes we return to Peralta Park, just across the street from our start, for light refreshments, a raffle, and general carousing. Thanks so much to the Chelle, Eva, Liam and Brennen with City’s Department of Recreation & Community Services for organizing, printing maps and getting the FABULOUS RAFFLE PRIZES for riders!
Dates this year are Fridays May 18, June 15, July 20, August 17 and September 21st.
Bring yourself, your friends and your family to Bikes on Solano for the Bike About Town rides!
School kids learn how to cycle safely and have fun doing it, while following the rules of the road.
courtesy Peggy McQuaid
Bring your kids to Albany Police Activity League’s Annual Bike Rodeo!
Planning is ongoing, but this event usually features free helmets for kids, bike safety inspections, a skills course, and cycling entertainment! (Details will be updated as they become available.)
Albany Strollers & Rollers contributes by fitting helmets, offering local cycling information, and hosting bike-blended smoothies for all, so everyone can pedal-power a delicious smoothie!
Bicycle + fruit + blender = delicious fun!! Want to help like Tenisha is doing here? Email Ken!
Photo courtesy Amy Smolens
We’ll also have our “Check for Bikes” clings and stickers on hand for parents, our Reflective Leg & Arm Bands for all, and will be available to talk to kids and parents about biking and walking in and around Albany!
PLEASE VOLUNTEER: AS&R relies on volunteers to help run the bike blender station, fit helmets, and engage parents & kids about cycling in Albany. Volunteers get our undying gratitude and a special thank you gift. Local businesses BLUE HERON, BUA LUANG, TAY TAH CAFE AND FERN’S GARDEN ARE ALL DONATING SPECIAL GIFT CARDS OR COUPONS FOR OUR BIKE MONTH VOLUNTEERS, IN APPRECIATION FOR YOUR TIME AND SERVICE TO THE COMMUNITY!!!
Please contact Ken McCroskey to help out!!
Kids, don’t try this at home…just yet!
The streets are closed to cars and open to YOU – get out and enjoy!!
Get out and connect with your community and urban environment in a transformative way!
Sunday Streets (also called “Open Streets”) closes streets to automobile traffic for a day so that people may use the space for other physical and social activities. The streets become parks as people replace car traffic. People walk, bike, skate and dance and play. Everyone from businesses and community organizations to musicians and artists use the space creatively, engaging the public and providing spontaneity and discovery. This temporary public space inspires creativity and change for the better, on that day – and beyond.
Dancing in the Streets in Berkeley! All photos courtesy Amy Smolens
The first Sunday Streets Berkeley was on October 14, 2012. More than 42,000 people came to Shattuck Ave to stroll, skate, cycle, dance, play in the street. People came from all over the Bay Area to experience Berkeley anew. Local Berkeley businesses reported a 30-50% increase in sales on the day of the event. The first-ever Sunday Streets Berkeley was by all measures a great success.
Ride on over!
Previous routes have been expanded – Sunday Streets now runs the length of Shattuck from Rose to Channing, and continues on Durant to Telegraph.
Here’s an interactive map of Sunday Streets activities.
