Sixth-annual bike to work event

Community Transit and other sponsors kicked off sixth-annual Bike to Work Month in Everett with a bicycle convoy from Snohomish County Campus to Everett Station where riders gathered for free food and festivities before their daily grind.

Among the bunch, Everett Mayor Ray Stephanson himself took part in the convoy.

Once there, Cyclists were offered free Cliff bars, orange juice, coffee, fresh fruit and entries to various sweepstakes.

Sweepstake prizes included a Diamondback brand mountain bike and $50 gift certificates to Starbucks and Seattle restaurants.

The biggest treat for riders likely came in the form of free bicycle inspections at the REI stand. Lynwood REI mechanic, Denise Manning, said she’d seen some, “very nice Specialized-brand bikes,” as well as some impressive Novara-brand bikes under her wrench that morning. She mentioned seeing some bikes in very bad condition, like how one rider’s misaligned brake pads had shred the sidewalls of their tires to the point that they were dangerous to ride.

Everett Transit Program manager Steffani Lillie said attendance had reached 225 riders with an hour of the event remaining. This was up from last year’s total of 180 riders.

You may have missed out on last week’s event, but Bike to Work Month is not over and May 25 marks the deadline of Community Transit’s “Bike Commute Challenge,” which awards prizes to participating teams of cyclists. More information on the challenge is available at www.communitytransit.org/go2/biketowork.