Multimodal Programs
Harrison Baugh Wins Rad Power Bikes’ Electric Bike Giveaway at the 15th Annual CycleMAYnia Finale
June 12, 2024
From Carpinteria to Cuyama: 57 In-Person Activities Inspire Over 950 Santa Barbara County Residents to Bike as part of National Bike Month in May
The 15th annual CycleMAYnia celebration wraps up this week with the announcement of Harrison Baugh, a senior at Santa Ynez High School, as the winner of a brand-new e-bike. More than 950 Santa Barbara County residents took part in 57 National Bike Month events, engaging kids, families, adults, and commuters throughout May.
Jake Sandell, store manager for Rad Power Bikes in Santa Barbara, presented Harrison Baugh with a brand-new e-bike of his choice for participating in CycleMAYnia and shared information about e-bike safety.
Baugh found out about CycleMAYnia activities from his school. “I couldn’t believe it when I found out I won the electric bike,” said Baugh. “I am excited to make cycling a big part of my life thanks to this bike. I’m grateful to Rad Power Bikes, SBCAG, and CycleMAYnia event organizers in Santa Ynez Valley for this amazing prize and I can’t wait to ride with my friends on my new Radster 1.”
CycleMAYnia unites the community to explore active transportation. Participants commit to actions promoting more bike trips, such as airing up tires, setting goals, and identifying themselves as bicyclists.
Organizers aiming to boost bike trips this May found that nearly 15% of CycleMAYnia participants had not biked in the past three months.
Participants logged their bike trips on SmartRide.org, a regional platform for exploring commute options and earning prizes.
In May alone, bike trips prevented 5 tons of CO2 emissions, burned over 500,000 calories, and saved participants a combined $7,000 compared to driving.
“Spring is here. Bikes are in bloom.” That was the theme for the 2024 CycleMAYnia celebration. Participants collected herb and flower seed packets by biking to various events or participating business locations. Staying true to the theme, CycleMAYnia culminated with an Obern Path tree-planting event.
“CycleMAYnia is made possible through valuable partnerships with employers, individuals, and community organizations,” said Marjie Kirn, executive director of SBCAG. “The Ginkgo trees planted along the Obern bike path are a result of collaboration with Santa Barbara Beautiful and the County of Santa Barbara. These trees, which will grow to 70 feet, are a gift for the next generation to enjoy. Events like CycleMAYnia bring the community together by biking and help plant the seeds for a more sustainable transportation future in Santa Barbara County.”
This year, Santa Barbara’s North County hosted a record number of CycleMAYnia activities, with Santa Maria local businesses, schools and the City coordinating the most events countywide. Highlights included a late-night ride to ice cream, Santa Maria Recreation & Parks’ Ride with a Ranger, the Bike to Art mural ride, and the Trail Mix group ride exploring local infrastructure.
“It’s no surprise CycleMAYnia is gaining traction in Santa Maria and nearby communities,” said Steve Lavagnino, chair of SBCAG and county supervisor. “Events organized during National Bike Month highlight the importance of community-driven initiatives that promote bike-friendly infrastructure. I look forward to continuing the active transportation celebration in North County this fall when Santa Maria Open Streets returns this October.”
In the South Coast, the City of Carpinteria hosted the popular Mayor’s Ride this year in partnership with the County of Santa Barbara, a vibrant celebration of community and cycling for all ages and abilities. The youngest participant, a 2 and a half-year-old and eldest the ever-humorous 97-year-old Robert Antonini from GranVida had everyone grinning from ear to ear as he rode the inspiring “Cycling Without Age” trishaw piloted by Joe Howell.
CycleMAYnia is a collaborative effort between public entities and private organizations, leveraging community resources and South Coast transportation sales tax Measure A Bicycle and Pedestrian funds to foster and support community-driven activities.
SBCAG encourages the public to learn more about driving less and saving money by visiting Smartride.org. Through the website, the public can log vehicle-replacing trips throughout the year and enter to win monthly giveaways.
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PHOTO GALLERY
HISTORY OF CYCLEMAYNIA
Founded in 2009, CycleMAYnia began as a community brainstorming meeting aimed at jump starting a vibrant bike culture here in Santa Barbara County. Inspired by events and programs in other towns, the hope was that by engaging the cycling community directly and bringing them into the fold as collaborators, a dynamic calendar of events could be created and co-managed that celebrates National Bike Month in May. Expanding the reach of cycling to a greater number of riders and connecting to a more diverse demographic brings the joy and benefits of biking to as many people as possible in the greater Santa Barbara area.
