Why is Ecology Action doing BIKE MONTH?
One of the top sources of greenhouse gas emissions in the United States is from the burning of fossil fuels for transportation—here in Santa Cruz County it is 50% of our carbon footprint. Switching to a bike for your commute not only reduces air, water and noise pollution in our towns and cities but can make our community healthier and happier. Bike Month is our way of encouraging our local community to ditch their cars for bikes during the month of May and beyond.
What is BIKE MONTH?
National Bike Month is a celebration of bicycling held every May. It is a chance to showcase the many benefits of bicycling and to encourage more folks to giving bicycling for every day trips a try. The main way to participate is by joining the BIKE MONTH CHALLENGE through Love To Ride and riding to work on Bike to Work Day on Thursday, May 9th from 6:30am-9:30am. There will also be other Santa Cruz Community events happening throughout the month that you can find at ecoact.org/bikemonth
What is the BIKE MONTH CHALLENGE?
Our goal is to engage with as many Santa Cruz County residents to ditch their cars and pedal on two wheels during the entire month of May. We are incentivizing that action with a $7,500 individual cash prize draw. Eligible requirements apply.
The BIKE MONTH CHALLENGE starts on May 1, 2019 through May 31st. 2019.
How do I win $7,500?
In order to be eligible for the individual $7,500 prize draw, entrants must:
- Be 18+ years old by April 1, 2019
- Be a Santa Cruz County resident
- Not be a member of Ecology Action staff
- Have registered on the Love to Ride Platform: lovetoride.net/santacruz
- Logged a minimum of 5 rides using a third-party tracking app – Strava or the equivalent
You can obtain additional entries by:
- Encouraging other participants to register and log at least one ride on Love to Ride: lovetoride.net/santacruz; One (1) additional entry per new participants encouraged
- Attend and check-in for Bike to Work Day on Thursday, May 9th. One (1) entry for participating in Bike to Work Day.
You’re a non-profit, why are you giving away $7,500?
Thanks to the generosity of an anonymous donor who is passionate about getting more people in our county commuting by bike, we were able to offer this amazing cash prize to our community.
Why do I have to use a third-party app (Strava, Ride Report, etc.) to log my rides?
To verify that bike rides logged were actually ridden, third-party apps like Strava, Ride Report, etc. add a mapping feature to rides so location, distance, speed, and trip duration can be cited for that trip entry.
Do I have to pay to play?
No purchase is necessary.
What is LOVE TO RIDE?
Love to Ride is a third-party online platform that uses behavior change to get more people riding. Local Santa Cruz residents must register at lovetoride.net/santacruz
When is BIKE TO WORK DAY?
Thursday, May 9th from 6:30 -9:30am at these 12 participating breakfast sites. Register at ecoact.org/biketowork
How do I win an ebike?
Thanks to a generous donation from Current eBike you have a chance to win one a Gazelle Medeo e-bike. You must attend and check-in to Bike to Work Day on May 9th, 2019 from 6:30am-9:30am at any of the participating Bike to Work breakfast sites around Santa Cruz County.
Winner of e-bike may choose size and color of their choice (of available Medeo choices). Final delivery date will be based on availability. E-bike winner may choose another Gazelle bike (only Gazelle) of equal or greater value and pay the difference (no cash credit). Winner is awarded at random and will be announced on Thursday, May 16th.
Are college students eligible?
Yes, college students that attend UCSC or Cabrillo College and are Santa Cruz County residents are eligible to win both the individual $7,500 cash prize through the BIKE MONTH CHALLENGE as well as the e-bike prize by participating in Bike to Work Day.
When will the winners be announced?
The winner of the $7,500 individual cash prize will be generated through a third-party software system on June 13th, 2019. The promoter’s decision is final and no correspondence will be entered into. The winner will be notified within twenty working days of the close date either by mail or telephone. The winner’s name will be announced publicly through the organization’s communications channels. No personal contact information (email, phone, or address) for the winner will be disclosed.
Do the points or miles that I accumulate in LOVE TO RIDE increase my chances of winning?
No, the points that accumulate in the Love To Ride dashboard do not factor into how the winner is awarded. See eligibility and entry process above.
Are there any other prizes?
Yes, there are national contest prizes as well as smaller local prizes that you can find at lovetoride.net/santacruz
I would love to help promote the BIKE MONTH CHALLENGE to my co-workers and community network. What #hashtag and site should I use?
Please use #bikemonthchallenge for all social messaging and tag Ecology Action using @ecologyaction on Facebook and @ecology_action on Instagram.
- BIKE MONTH details at ecoact.org/bikemonth
- BIKE MONTH CHALLENGE at lovetoride.net/santacruz
- BIKE TO WORK DAY at ecoact.org/biketowork
I’m new to biking and don’t feel comfortable biking on busy streets, what resources are available to me to safely and confidently ride?
- Ecology Action Bike Safety and Bike Resources:
- County-wide Bike Map and local cities bike map
- Bike theft prevention
PRIZES
Ecology Action Love to Ride, and its project partners are not liable in any way for any damages, expenses, misinformation, liability or injury arising out of or in any way connected with any prizes offered. We cannot accept any responsibility for any damage, loss or injury suffered as a result of accepting or experiencing any prize.
Ecology Action and Love to Ride are not responsible for any element of any donated, gifted or funded holidays that are awarded as a prize, including bookings, travel, insurance, or any personal loss or injury or any losses or injuries resulting from activity undertaken at any time travelling to or from or during the excursion.