It was grey and rainy this morning but that didn’t deter thousands of people from ditching their cars to ride their bikes to work for the annual F5 Bike to Work Day.  Commute stations all over the region were buzzing, some even reported a record number of visitors!

We met people who were riding to work for the very first time today while others, familiar with the swag and goodies at the dozens of  commute stations, embarked on a city-wide search for the best commute station offerings. Rumor has it that the hosts of one DIY station slaved away in the kitchen to offer homemade doughnuts! We sure are feeling the bike love today.  And it’s not over yet! Come on down to Via6 for the official Bike to Work Day After Party. Hosted by Via6 from 4:30 – 6:30 p.m., bring in the weekend with bites and beverages from Tom Douglas Restaurants, tunes from KEXP DJ Greg Vandy, prizes and tours of ViaBike and Via6 apartments.

F5 Networks bicyclists on F5 Bike to Work Day 2010. As the title sponsor of Seattle's annual Bike to Work Day, F5 supports bicycling and its benefits throughout the region. The company also has an active community of cyclists who regularly bike to the office.

Not only does F5 promote bicycling and its benefits throughout the region through their title sponsorship of Bike to Work Day, but the company also has an active community of cyclists who regularly bike to the office. F5 achieved Bronze level BizCycle certification for bike-friendly best practices, earning 23 of 50 possible credits.

While some companies’ support for bicycling comes from grassroots employee demand, F5 Networks has what it refers to as “executive sponsorship” of cycling. All F5 executives take part in Bike Month and create their own team each year for the Commute Challenge.  F5 runs an internal Commute Challenge site to track stats, send messages and facilitate the participation of F5 workplaces across the nation. So far this May, seventeen teams have registered with 132 riders and 24 new commuters.

For daily support, F5 offers 200 spaces of secure bike parking for its 1,000 employees. The office, located on Elliot Avenue West in Lower Queen Anne, is conveniently located adjacent to the Elliott Bay Trail. Showers, lockers, towel service and a $100 per month alternative transportation incentive stipend round out the support.

Congratulations to F5, and keep up the good work! F5 Bike to Work Day is Friday, May 17—make tracks and bike to work!

Is your F5 Bike to Work Day commute invigorated by a bike-friendly employer? Learn more about how your workplace can join 20 organizations in the region recognized for their support for bicycling at bizcycle.cascade.org or by emailing bizcycle@cascadebicycleclub.org.

If you’ve never bike commuted, tomorrow is a great day to give it a try. Not only will you be joined by thousands of fellow bike commuters, there will be festivities and commuter stations with free snacks and swag along the way.

On the schedule:

- Starting as early as 5:30 a.m., stop by one of dozens of morning commute stations for treats, swag and a chance to win great prizes.

- Attend the Mayor’s Ride ‘n Rally in Seattle or the Everett Celebration ride

- Enjoy a free tall (12 oz) beverage from participating Starbucks® all day on May 17, 2013.

- Party on at the official Bike to Work Day After Party in downtown Seattle and cyclist happy hour at Peddler Brewing Company.

Beautiful Lake Ballinger

We’re halfway through Bike Month and still the bike seat is dusty.  You thought about going on a ride two weeks ago but it seemed to be too fast paced.  You thought about one last weekend but the miles were too few to bother with.  So why not try the Interurban Interlude ride?

With less than 30 miles, this ride to Everett is long enough to get some great exercise without leaving you hobbling all week. Plus, the ride will follow the  interurban trail, which means there will be little traffic to deal with and, unlike the Burke-Gilman, it’s not completely flat so there will be a few hills to challenge you without leaving you feeling like you just climbed Mt Rainier.

So put your excuses aside and join Jan Johnson and the Friday Riders on Friday, May 17, at the ball fields by Ballinger Lake Golf Course, 23000 Lakeview Drive, Mountlake Terrace.  The ride takes off at 10 a.m. and there will be frequent regrouping, so you won’t be left behind.

Visit the Cascade Daily Rides Calendar for details or call Jan at (425) 672-0617 if you have questions.

Looking for more riding opportunities? All Cascade free daily rides are published online. Everyone is welcome, but if you’re new, please read through our information for newcomers and parents. 

First up is an Energizer Station in Woodinville TONIGHT, followed by a presence at the at the first Madrona Farmers Market of the year this FRiday from 4 until 7 p.m.

On Monday, May 20, the ambassadors will be hosting  Bike Month Energizer station in Renton from 4 until 7 p.m. and they’ll be along Rainier Vista from 10 a.m. until 12:30 p.m. the following morning.

Ambassadors coming to your schools and businesses:

The illustrious Cascade Bicycle Ambassadors will be blending up bike powered smoothies for events at West Seattle Elementary and Madison Middle School. They will also be tabling for a transportation fair with Commonwealth partners.

If you see them, exchange some high-fives for a great Bike Month so far!

In partnership with the Policy, Planning and Government Affairs team, the manager informs, develops and implements Cascade’s policy and advocacy programs.  The manager will advocate for and mobilize allies to support bicycle friendly policies, infrastructure and funding at the local and regional levels.

Please read the announcement and full job description, here.

To apply, submit a cover letter, resume, three professional references and a relevant writing sample (no more than four pages long) all in a single PDF document to resume@cascadebicycleclub.org. Please mention how you heard about the position.

Applications are due June 4, 2013.

For safety, riders will be required to dismount and walk their bicycles around the work zone.

The contractors will be cleaning out the Sammamish Siphon located along the Sammamish River Trail behind the Peloton Apartments at 7435 159th Place NE in Redmond. Crews will have two large construction vehicles and will be staging construction equipment near the manhole. Work is scheduled between 8 a.m. and 4 p.m.

For more information contact Steve Foss at 206-255-6047 or Heidi Sowell at 206-684-1207 or via email: heidi.sowell@kingcounty.gov

Based in Bothell, Seattle Genetics is a biotechnology company focused on developing and commercializing innovative, empowered antibody-based therapies for the treatment of cancer.  Motivating them to ride this year, are the same people that motivates their work: cancer patients.

“We wanted to encourage more participation in bike to work month and help out a local charity that helps cancer patients at the same time; so we decided to promote the causes in one campaign,” said seven-time Commute Challenge team captain Kelly Davis.

So this year, for every mile biked by its employees, Seattle Genetics will donate $1 to the Ronald McDonald house.

“It was a fabulous idea that won the support of everyone involved and has generated a lot of enthusiasm from cyclists participating in this year’s bike to work campaign,” said Davis. “We are super excited!”

Davis, who has previously been named  Employee Transportation Coordinator of the Quarter by the Herald Business Journal, said the goal in 2013 is for 40 Seattle Genetics employees to participate in this year’s challenge.

Well done, Seattle Genetics!

At 4:30, 5:30, and 6:30 p.m. we’ll have free drawings where anyone present will have the chance to win great prizes like a Bern Helmet, a MAXXON wireless brake light, a Chipotle burrito party for ten, a Racktime Bag or some delicious Theo Chocolate.

Also be sure to check out:

- The UW Commuter Services booth with give-a-ways for first time UW bikers and team captains;

- Membership specials including a free pair of JL Velo socks or $5 off if you join Cascade;

- Free bike fits and SmartID tags from Real Rehab and R2 Bicycles;

- UW Police doing bike registrations;

- Student Health Advisory Quorum selling discounted safety gear;

- Performance Bicycle providing free bike checks and basic maintenance;

- Information about World Bicycle Relief and the Red-Bell 100 ride;

- Free samples from Honest Tea;

- And Cascade’s own dj Dyno GT spinning tunes.

The event will take place in the park just off of the Burke-Gilman Trail between University Way and Brooklyn Ave. We hope to see you there!