World-Class Entertainment and Bicycle Love Brought out 6,000 People
Ft. Collins, CO, October 1, 2013 – Tour de Fat, New Belgium Brewing’s traveling festival of bikes, beer and bemusement, raised more than $40,000 for San Diego nonprofits last Saturday, September 28. About 6,000 bicycle and beer enthusiasts came to Balboa Park for the event and 2,000 people participated in the bike parade.
Although it is free to attend Tour de Fat, proceeds from beer and merchandise sales and donations from parade participants go to nonprofits focused on bicycle advocacy. The local beneficiaries are the San Diego County Bicycle Coalition (SDCBC) and San Diego Mountain Biking Association (SDMBA).
“Thanks to New Belgium and Tour de Fat, more than $40,000 was raised that will support our bicycle advocacy outreach and education programs right here in San Diego. We’re making great progress in furthering our region to support all who ride and these funds will go a long way and keep our momentum rolling,” said Andy Hanshaw, Executive Director for San Diego County Bicycle Coalition. “As Interim Mayor Todd Gloria stated at the event, San Diego is on the verge of becoming a world class bicycling community.”
Alison Whitney, Volunteer Coordinator for SDMBA, added, “In the five years since Tour de Fat started coming to San Diego, our city has made substantial strides in the case for improved safety and infrastructure for bicycling and alternative transportation.”
“At the event, Interim Mayor Todd Gloria announced that over a quarter of a billion dollars is earmarked for such improvements and we give thanks to events such as Tour de Fat and to SDCBC/SDMBA for increasing awareness of bicycling and the heightened advocacy efforts of our citizens,” added Jason Liebrecht, also with SDMBA.
A highlight of every Tour de Fat stop is the car-for-bike swap where one person commits to commute by bike for the next year. Rhey Lee is this year’s swapper from San Diego.
“I’m super excited to embark on this new car-free bicycling journey,” shared Lee. “I’m not sure what will be the hardest: waking up a half hour earlier (which will not be easy for this non-waker-upper) or successfully dealing with traffic, but I love bicycling and I really thank New Belgium for this opportunity.”
Details from the event:
Date:
Saturday, September 28
Location:
Balboa Park
Attendance:
6,000 bicycle and beer enthusiasts (up 71% from last year), 2,000 participants in the bike parade (up 82% from 2012)
Money raised:
More than $40,000, up more than 32% from last year
Benefitting:
San Diego County Bicycle Coalition (http://www.sdcbc.org/)
San Diego Mountain Biking Association (http://www.sdmba.com/)
Sustainable Support:
Zero Waste San Diego (http://www.zerowastesandiego.org/home.aspx)
Waste Diversion:
87%
See www.facebook.com/TourDeFat to follow the 12-city adventure, read the Tour de Fat credo, access schedules, watch videos and submit an entry to swap your gas-guzzler for a fancy new bicycle.
About New Belgium Brewing Company
New Belgium Brewing, makers of Fat Tire Amber Ale and a host of Belgian-inspired beers, is recognized as one of Outside Magazine’s Best Places to Work and one of the Wall Street Journal’s Best Small Businesses. The 100% employee-owned brewery is a Platinum-level Bicycle Friendly Business as designated by the League of American Bicyclists, and one of World Blu’s most democratic U.S. businesses, and a Certified B Corp. In addition to Fat Tire, New Belgium brews eight year-round beers; Ranger IPA, Rampant Imperial IPA, Shift Pale Lager, Sunshine Wheat, 1554 Black Ale, Blue Paddle Pilsener, Abbey Belgian Ale and Trippel. Learn more at www.newbelgium.com.
Main feature image by JJ Miramontes. Full 2013 gallery coming soon. Three other images taken on iPhone at event. Please visit Three B Zine on iTunes to hear our podcast with the Tour De Fat organizers.