Great Planning Guide for Bike Month Events

Whether you are helping to put on a bike month event or providing promotional products for such an event, the event managers may not have seen this elaborate brochure that has been produced by The League of American Bicyclists.  You can get it for free by simply clicking on this link and downloading it to your computer.  Simple as that:

http://issuu.com/bikeleague/docs/bike_month_guide__final_/17?e=1335002/3345760

We have offered many other resources on this blog.  Please see the menu items at the top or check out some of our recent posts.  Remember, Bike Month starts May 1, and Bike to Work day is May 6.  Time is short.  Now is the time to see local organizers and see how you may be able to help them with various promotional ideas. 

Bike Month is May and Event Managers Buy Promo Products Now!!

Bike Month Dates and Events

National Bike Month includes an ever-expanding diversity of events in communities nationwide — but the biggest day of the month is Bike to Work Day. In 2014, Bike to Work Week will be May 12-16, with Bike to Work Day on May 16.

In 2014, National Bike to Work Day will be May 16

More than half of the U.S. population lives within five miles of their workplace, making bicycling a feasible and fun way to get to work. With increased interest in healthy, sustainable and economic transportation options, it’s not surprising that, from 2000 to 2011, the number of bicycle commuters in the U.S. grew by more than 47 percent.

Hundreds of American communities have been successful in increasing bicycle commuting by providing Bike to Work Week and Bike to Work Day events.

This is an amazing opportunity for you to get involved and help with some local event, or merely seek out those who are holding events to see how you can help them with promotional products.

In fact, among the 51 largest U.S. cities, 43 hosted Bike to Work Day events in 2010. The City of Denver reported the highest rate of participation with one out of every 28 adults participating in its 2010 Bike to Work event. That effort makes a difference: Many people who participate in their Bike to Work Day promotion as first-time commuters become regular bike commuters.

But Bike Month is more than one day — or week! From fashion shows to group rides, local groups find unique ways to celebrate their diverse bike cultures and community pride.

There are many activities all throughout May.  Organizations that are likely to be holding such events are listed on our site here.

Additional Events for National Bike Month

Bike to School Day

The National Center for Safe Routes to School hosts National Bike to School Day the second week of May. Learn more, plan an event and access resources here.

CycloFemme

On Mother's Day, women unite worldwide for CycloFemme events, honoring the past, celebrating the present and empowering the future of women's cycling. Get involved here.

What Did We Learn At PPAI Las Vegas about Who Is Buying What?

There is no shortage of products in Advertising Specialty.  

In fact there is no shortage of sales people or promo product distributors, either.

There are plenty of approaches, methods, books, and tutorials on how to sell swag. 

But there are limited numbers of customers and projects.

But after 20 years of making stuff for the Promo Products Industry, we already knew all of those things.

Here are some things we did learn.

We talked to over 500 people salespeople and owners, some old hands, and some first timers, at the PPAI show in Las Vegas.  In every single case, we told them that Bike Month (as in bicycles) was coming.  We were startled that only about 3% had any idea what month is Bike Month.  Do you know?

We were also surprised to see that most local distributors had no relationship with the local police department.  Did you know that there is almost always a PR person, and sometimes even a PR department at every police department.  Many of these have full time or part time staff that go to schools, hospitals, service clubs, chamber meetings, youth sports teams, and local community events to promote safety, community policing efforts, and general goodwill.

Many of these projects involve promo items.  Moreover, the PR department or officer will also commonly know where the other supporting efforts are going on.  So, for instance, let's take a look at Bike Month.

Bike Month is in May.  There are 3 major components. Bike to Work Week.  Bike to School Week.  And Bike Safety Month.  All of these are commonly supported in your community by companies (bike to work), schools (bike to school and bike safety), and hospitals and police departments (bike safety.)  It is possible that bike safety may also be a function of parks and recreation.

In addition to all of this, there is the national, statewide, and regional efforts around the Share the Road idea.  Share the Road is year round, but gets special bicycle emphasis in May.

Based on our survey at the show, we believe that many of these groups do not have a serious promo products rep calling on them.  Yet we see the orders coming to us from these organizations that are hundreds of units, and often thousands of units.

Our most popular item for bike month activities is our bike safety light.  We will almost certainly run out.  Every year we order way more than the previous year, and still we run out.  You would be wise to place your order by April 1 to insure delivery in April or May.  

That's what we learned at the show.  What did you learn?  Help others with your comments below.