September in Oregon means many things: great weather, kids returning to school, the Vaux Swifts' dramatic nightly nesting at Chapman Elementary, and the Bike Commute Challenge.

The Bike Commute Challenge is the nation’s most popular bike commute event, pitting employers throughout the state against each other to attain the highest bike commute rate. Over 11,000 people from nearly 1400 employers participated in this free and fun event. The Portland Bureau of Transportation is a long-time sponsor of the BCC.

Employers and co-workers have both been especially successful in encouraging and assisting new riders to begin biking to work. Here are a few examples:

• CH2M Hill saw its participation in the BCC skyrocket after incorporating peer-to-peer encouragement. Employees placed small bags of M&M’s around the handlebars of co-workers that biked to work. Near the end of the Challenge, CH2M employees gave bike commuters the red carpet treatment, providing bike valet parking and the type of pageantry one associates with the Oscars. The result: CH2M Hill jumped to third place among private sector firms with more than 500 employees.
• Sockeye Creative fostered a fun atmosphere during the BCC by holding special prize drawings throughout the month for those who bike to work.
• PECI employees provide any new rider the opportunity to have an experienced bike commuter join them for their first trip to work by bicycle.

If you have yet to register, it’s not too late. And anyone who logs at least one bike trip in a week is entered in a BTA drawing for prizes.  If you need help signing up, check the BTA’s Help/FAQ page