Win Prizes, Watch Movies, and Get Ready for Biketober 2021
Published 10/07/2021
BY CHRISTI NAKAJIMA
Biketober is back! This month-long challenge started October 1st, and participants can break in some of Midtown’s new bike infrastructure just in time for the challenge. If you’re looking to travel southbound, take Spring Street’s new bike lane, open from 14th St down to 3rd St. Planters were recently placed along two sections of the lane for added protection. More bike infrastructure, including on W Peachtree St, 15th St, and Piedmont Ave, is currently planned to benefit Midtown cyclists.
Competing Companies to Watch
Despite the rainy start, Midtown teams are showing out. Who should you be watching this Biketober?
- Georgia Tech: Last year’s Biketober saw a landslide victory by Georgia Tech, with 144 participants and 63,600 points. This year GT is already off to a great start, with over 16,800 points earned across 124 riders.
- Kimley-Horn: Kimley-Horn secured first place in their size category last year (50-199 staff), and is currently in first place with over 2,000 points.
- Perkins&Will: Keep an eye out for Perkins&Will, who has over 1,300 points so far and is attempting to beat out Kimley-Horn in their size category.
- Center for Transportation and the Environment (CTE): In the 20-49 staff member category, CTE is leading and boasts a 22% participation rate.
Biketober is an annual campaign throughout October to get people on two wheels. Team up with your friends or colleagues, or ride solo, and log your bike trips to earn points and be entered to win prizes! REI gear, Visa gift cards, and the grand prize – an Edison electric bike – are all up for grabs this year.
Biketober Events
To kick off Biketober, Midtown Transportation hosted a free bike tune-up and breakfast event on Spring Street. If you missed it, don’t fret – they’ll be hosting another at Ponce City Market on Friday, October 15 from 8am to 10am.
In addition to tune-ups, Midtown Transportation is hosting two bike-in movies! The first will take place in the Plaza at Colony Square on October 7. Hocus Pocus will begin at 7pm, and food will be available to purchase from Politan Row. To learn more and RSVP, click here. Then, get ready for Casper in the courtyard of 999 Peachtree St. Bike in, grab food from Empire State South, and relax for a 7pm showing on October 28. Both bike-in movies are free, and all four events can be found on MidtownATL.com/Biketober.
Bike Commuting Resources
Bike commuting is a great way to log miles during Biketober. If you’re eager to participate but don’t feel confident enough to bike on the road, consider taking a City Cycling class hosted by Atlanta Bicycle Coalition! For those who want to try out a bike commute but are not sure what the best route to work would be, Midtown Transportation offers free personalized route planning. Check out MidtownATL.com/Bike for more resources, including a video series that shows how new bike commuter Meredith made the switch.
If you haven’t yet returned to the office, you can still participate in Biketober and win prizes! Ride on trails for fun, or ride around your neighborhood to get comfortable with biking on the street. Then, you can enjoy the benefits of bike commuting when you return to the office.
Happy Biketober!
Do you have a bike commute story to tell? We want to hear from you! Fill out this easy form and if selected, you’ll win a $50 MidtownATL gift card!