Sustainability at Reed

September Bike Commute Challenge

Ride to work.
Think hard.
Ride home.

The Bike Commute Challenge is a friendly competition—workplace against workplace—to see whose employees can bike to work more during the month of September. It’s fun, it’s free, and it’s a reason to ride your bike. What more could you want? Sign up here and start logging trips.

Some common questions:

  • Do partial rides count (like incorporating the bus or MAX into your bike commute, or driving past the dangerous part of your commute and then biking the rest of the way)? Yes.
  • What about clothes and showers? Free showers at the gym—just show your ID and grab a towel. Get a permanent basket and combination lock for free. Use the lock on an empty locker while you’re there. Or, get your own private locker for $20/year.
  • What's a good route? Check out this bike map with color coded bike-friendliness. First time biking to Reed? Greenboard, Reed’s student environmental group, is here to show you the way. To schedule a guided ride from your home to campus with a student bike ambassador, send an email with "bike commute" in the subject line.
  • Will there be prizes? Yes. Fabulous prizes, and discounts at local bike shops.
  • Is this for students? No. For iron-clad statistical fortitude, only faculty and staff members are included. Students may start a student team.

Schedule of events

Donuts and Coffee by the blue bridge (like "Breakfast on the Bridge" on the Hawthorne Bridge)
Why should downtown bike commuters have all the fun? Wednesday, September 16, 8:15–8:45 a.m., by the bike racks on the north side of Eliot. Rain location: E103. Thanks to Erica Nukaya, in the business office, for the great suggestion.
Bike Commuter Happy Hour (Hopworks Urban Brewery, 2944 SE Powell Blvd)
Hopworks is a microbrewery that shamelessly panders to bike commuters with their decorative elements. We could all use a little shameless pandering. And the beer is good. Meet at the bike racks on the north side of Eliot to join the peloton, or meet us at the pub. Thursday, September 24, at 5:10 p.m.
End-of-Challenge Party
Results, self-congratulation, snacks. 3:30 p.m., Friday, October 2, in E316 (faculty & staff lounge).

Thanks to the Wellness Committee for catering costs, poster printing, and fabulous prizes. Contact Matt Kelly at 503/777-7584 with questions.