For Immediate Release

[Walnut Creek, CA] – The Contra Costa Transportation Authority (CCTA) will present Bike Family Fest on Sunday, September 13, as the event expands to bring families from Pleasant Hill, Martinez and the wider region together for a free day of bicycling, skill building and safety education. This marks CCTA’s second year sponsoring the event.

This year’s festival moves to a larger location at the Diablo Valley College overflow parking lot, 440 Golf Club Road in Pleasant Hill, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. The event is open to everyone, with activities geared toward families with children ages 2 to 11.

“We want more families to feel confident choosing a bike for everyday trips,” said Tim Haile, Executive Director of CCTA. “CCTA programs, like Walk N Roll and Street Smarts, build those skills while working with partners to improve safety and connectivity on our trails and streets. Our broader mission is to give everyone safe, connected options, whether they walk, roll, bike, take transit or drive.”

Bike Family Fest will bring together more than 25 vendors, organizations, and community groups to help kids and their families build biking skills and confidence. The day includes riding courses for beginners and more experienced young riders, helmet fittings, free bike checks, hands-on maintenance lessons, trail etiquette tips, and practice loading a bike onto a County Connection bus.

The event builds on the CCTA’s weekly expanding Walk N Roll school program, which encourages students to walk, bike, roll or carpool to school. CCTA helps fund Walk N Roll and Street Smarts, supporting bicycle and pedestrian safety education and more transportation choices for families throughout the school year.

CCTA is also sponsoring two other free family bicycling events this month:

• Street Smarts Community Bike Festival, featuring a bike rodeo: Saturday, September 12, from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Iron Horse Middle School blacktop, 12601 Alcosta Blvd., San Ramon. Activities include a bike skills course, helmet fitting and pedestrian safety education.
• Concord Pedal Fest: Sunday, September 27, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at John F. Baldwin Park, 2727 Parkside Circle, Concord. The inaugural event will feature bike skills courses, safety education and community activities.

“Bike Family Fest brings neighbors together around the joy of riding, and welcoming Martinez is a natural next step,” said Sue Noack, Vice Chair of the CCTA Board and Pleasant Hill Councilmember. “Supporting these programs in more communities gives more children a chance to learn safe habits and more families the confidence to explore the places around them.”

Bike Family Fest attendees should bring their bikes and helmets. Registration is required for adults and children; families can register in advance and find travel information at walknrolltoschool.org/bike-family-fest. Details about the other September events are available at street-smarts.com and concordpedalfest.com.