Bloomies Can Beat The Race For Parking Space Spokane Bicycle Club Setting Up Secure Bike Corral At Riverfront Park

The forecast for Bloomsday’s 20th run calls for a record turnout and an equally massive traffic jam.

To beat race-day gridlock, the Spokane Bicycle Club offers this advice: ride a bike.

The club will be running a free bicycle “corral” at Riverfront Park for folks who want to pedal to the starting line Sunday morning.

The corral will be set up just southeast of the YMCA building.

Here’s how it works:

Riders bring their own locks when they drop off their bikes.

They’ll be handed a ticket stub and be asked to sign their name.

To reclaim bikes after the race, simply turn in the stub. Bloomies who lose their tickets will have to sign for their bikes to prove their signatures match.

The bike corral is the brainchild of club member Sally Phillips.

Phillips, who cruised the Internet to find articles and tips on managing a bike pen, pedaled to the past several Bloomsdays.

“It cut down on the hassles,” she said.

Thousands of runners who drive cars to downtown Spokane end up having to walk a number of blocks to the starting line because parking spaces are scarce.

While Bloomsday express bus service is available, runners who make their way downtown on two wheels save the fare and get in a good warm-up, Phillips said.

Bloomsday officials are excited about the bicycle club’s new program.

“I think it’s great,” said Karen Heaps, Bloomsday coordinator. “It’s one less car downtown” for every bicycle or two corralled.

Fears of bicycle theft kept many runners from pedaling to the race in the past.

But bikes will be secure in the corral, watched by club volunteers during the race.

The corral is open from 7:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. Sunday. Phillips suggests people come early.

For information, call 448-6271.

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