Smart Trips Month, May 1-31, is a month filled with fun events, chances to win great prizes and save green by taking advantage of fabulous discounts. The month also kicks off our Commuter Challenge which will help you save money and earn rewards for greening up your commute from the beginning of May through the end of September.

Download the Smart Trips Month brochure >>

SMART TRIPS MONTH EVENTS

Be Green, Save Green Booth
Saturday, May 1
9 a.m. to 2 p.m.
and
Every Wednesday in May
11 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Want to find out more about transit, bike commuting or carpooling? Come to our booth at the Farmers’ Market on Market Square and get the answers. Local bike shops will also be on hand with everything you need to start biking to work or running errands. Make a splat and get your Be Green, Save Green card at selected Smart Trips Month events!

INDIVIDUAL AWARDS

Longest Bike Commute
The bicyclist with the longest one-way bike commute takes the prize.
Winners: Lamar Johnson and Jeff Shmerler (tie)

Most Diverse Commute
The Smart Tripper who combines the most alternative modes of transportation in a day will win!
Winner: Christal Yost

Longest Walk
Need we say more?
Winner: John Longmire

Most Miles Biked in a Week
Winner: Jeremy Chandler

Think you are in the running for any of these? Send us an e-mail by May 31 and tell us why! Individuals win a $20 gift card, and the carpool wins Magpies cupcakes.

 

BIKE EVENTS

Commuter Bike Essay Contest (See results >>)
Wanting to make a greener commute but lack the green for a bicycle? Just write an essay about how you would use a bicycle as an alternative to a car and you could win one of two commuter bikes, each retailing for up to $1000. Essays should be 350 - 500 words and must be received by May 14. The winner will be announced on May 21 at our Bike to Work Day event. Send your entry to smarttrips@knoxtrans.org. Sponsored by Smart Trips, Harper’s Bike Shop, and Tennessee Valley Bicycles.

Free Bike Safety Checks
Fountain City Pedaler, 4620 Old Broadway Suite C. Call 357-1580 for more info.

Bike Rentals
Bicycles are available for rental at the foot of the pedestrian bridge on Volunteer Landing, next to Calhoun’s. For more info, call River Sports at 523-0066 or visit www.outdoorknoxville.com

Bike rentals are available from www.bikeknoxville.com for guided bike tours. Email cycle@BikeKnoxville.com or call 368-6574 for more information.

Bike Mentor Program
Want to find the most comfortable route between home and work or school? Call 215-3815 or visit the TPO website for more info.

Bike to Work Day (View photos >>)
May 21
7:30 a.m. to 8:30 a.m.
Stop by Krutch Park (corner of Market St and Clinch Ave) as you ride your bike to work and grab a biscuit (with your choice of yummy filling) from Pete’s Coffee Shop and coffee donated by Trio Cafe. We’re also giving prizes to the best dressed bike commuters, so break out those suits and high heels! Mayor Bill Haslam will join us to give awards at 8 a.m.

Bike to Work Convoys
Want to bike to work, but aren’t sure about the best route? Or would you just like some company along the way for a change? Meet at one of these locations to join the movement (call 215-3815 for more info):

May 20
Oak Ridge to ORNL
7:45 a.m.
Meet at Jackson Square.
Call Ray Brittain at 574-8949 for more info.

May 21
East Knoxville to downtown and UT
7 a.m.
Meet at Holston River Park, 3300 Holston Hills Road (top parking lot by pavilion).

North Knoxville to downtown and UT
7 a.m.
Meet at Office Depot/Food City parking lot on Broadway, 4212 N. Broadway.

Bearden to downtown and UT
7:15 a.m.
Meet at Third Creek Greenway trailhead, 130 Forest Park Boulevard.

South Knoxville to downtown and UT
7:15 a.m.
Meet at Food City parking lot, 4580 Chapman Highway.

Bike Classes

Bike Roadside Repair Classes

May 12
7 p.m.
Cedar Bluff Cycles, 9282 Kingston Pike
Call 692-1010 to sign up.

May 14
6 p.m.
Fountain City Pedaler, 4620 Old Broadway Suite C. Call 357-1580 to sign up.

May 18
6 p.m.
The Bike Zoo, 4445 Kingston Pike
Call 558-8455 to sign up.

May 19
6 p.m.
Harper’s Bike Shop, 118 Northshore Drive
Call 588-5744 to sign up.

May 27
7 p.m.
Biketopia, 7328 Norris Freeway
Call 922-1786 to sign up.

Bike Maintenance Class
May 4 and 18
6:30 p.m.
River Sports Outfitters
2918 Sutherland Avenue
Call 523-0066 to sign up.

Women’s Bike Maintenance Clinic
May 12
7:30 to 9 p.m.
Tennessee Valley Bicycles
204 W. Magnolia Avenue
The class will cover changing tires and brake & gear adjustment. Participants are encouraged to bike to the class. Call 540-9979.

Women’s Only
Roadside and Trailside Repair Class
May 20
7:30 p.m.
Greenlee Bike Shop, 1402 N Broadway
Call 522-8228 to sign up.

Bike Rides

Beginner Bike Ride
May 1
Noon
Take a family friendly, leisurely ride from Bearden to downtown. Start at Third Creek Greenway trailhead, 130 Forest Park Boulevard. Contact Lex McCarty via www.bikeknoxville.com to sign up.

Blount County Beginner Bike Ride
May 1
8 a.m. - 9:15 a.m.
Parking lot near the intersection of Ellejoy Rd & Old Walland Highway
Ride will go toward Walland. Helmets required. Children under 16 need to be accompanied by an adult. Led by Foothill Striders. There will be 15 min. discussion about riding on the road and bicycle safety. Contact Ernie Frey at 865-403-2832 with questions.

Poker Ride
May 8
Noon to 5 p.m.
Earth Fare (Bearden location)
140 N. Forest Park Boulevard
Participants bicycle to as many as 6 checkpoints in 5 hours to collect cards and put together their best ‘hand.’ Checkpoints are mostly accessible by bike routes and greenways. Earth Fare will host a grill-out starting at 3 p.m. Prizes awarded to the best hands at 5 p.m. Some prizes are luck of the draw, with all participants eligible. Organized by the Appalachian Mountain Bike Club. The ride is free. Volunteers will lead a casual-paced group starting at noon. For more info, contact tpgaines74@gmail.com

Greenway Rides
May 11 and 25
6:30 p.m.
River Sports Outfitters
2918 Sutherland Avenue
Call 523-0066 for more info.

Easy Road Rides
No one will be dropped
Saturdays - 8:30 a.m.
25 – 30 miles
Thursdays - 5:30 p.m.
20 – 25 miles
Fountain City Pedaler, 4620 Old Broadway Suite C. Call 357-1580 for more info.

Beginner Ride
May 15
10 a.m.
Fountain City Pedaler, 4620 Old Broadway Suite C. Call 357-1580 for more info.

Blount County Beginner Ride
May 22
8 a.m. - 9:15 a.m.
Parking lot near the intersection of Ellejoy Rd & Old Walland Highway
Ride will go toward Walland. Helmets required. Children under 16 need to be accompanied by an adult. There will be 15 min. discussion about changing flats. Led by Foothill Striders. Contact Ernie Frey at 865-403-2832 with questions.

Mast General Store Bike Ride Series
Allow 2 hours to complete ride. Ride is casual and includes some on-road riding as needed. Riders are responsible for their own safety. Helmets are encouraged for all riders. For more info, call 546-1336 and ask about the downtown bike rides.

May 5
6:30 p.m.
Market Square to Ijams Nature Center via Second Creek and Will Skelton Greenways

May 12
6:30 p.m.
Market Square to Bearden
via Third Creek Greenway

May 19
6:30 p.m.
Market Square to the end of
Will Skelton Greenway

May 22
8:00 a.m. and 12:00 p.m.
Market Square to the end of Will Skelton Greenway, with a stop at Ijams Nature Center for the Ijams Founder’s Day celebration

May 26
6:30 p.m.
Market Square to Bearden via Second Creek and Third Creek Greenways

CARPOOL EVENTS

How Many Can You Fit in a Fit? (View photos >>)
May 14
11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.
Come to Market Square and watch as local businesses try to stuff their employees into a Honda Fit (provided by Rusty Wallace Honda). The team who can squeeze the most people in will win a pizza party for their participants. The winning team will be announced at 1 p.m.!

Free Carpool Ridematching
Looking for someone with a similar commute? Find potential carpool partners online for free. Just register for Smart Trips, click on “Find a Carpool” and you’ll see a map with results in seconds. Or if you would prefer, we can run the ridematch for you; just email us at smarttrips@knoxtrans.org.

 

TRANSIT EVENTS

First Friday Art Bus
May 7
5 p.m. to 8 p.m.
KAT bus or art gallery? The Art Bus will be parked at the intersection of Market Street and Union Avenue featuring submissions from local photographers–plus, giving you the chance to learn the basics of taking transit.

Transit Route Planning
Not sure which KAT route goes by your house? Check out the KAT website or call 637-3000 to figure out how to get there (wherever your “there” is)! We know it can be scary the first time. Where do I stand to catch the bus, what time will it be at this corner, how do I pay, how do I signal that my stop is coming up? See our handy “how to sheet.”

WALKING EVENTS

E-mail smarttrips@knoxtrans.org or call 215-3818 for more info on any of the walks.

Lunchtime Greenway Walks
May 6 & 27
Noon
Sunsphere in World’s Fair Park
On May 6 we’ll take a 30 minute walk to Volunteer Landing and back, all on greenway trails. On the 27th, we’ll do a 30 minute walk along Neyland Greenway to the Stadium and Thompson Boling Arena before returning to World’s Fair Park. The first 25 participants to sign up at each walk will get a free lunch, and everyone who walks will be entered in a drawing for a $50 Mast General Store gift card.

UT/Fort Sanders Walk
May 12
5:30 p.m.
Market Square
Discover some shortcuts between downtown Knoxville and UT, learn a bit of Secret History from Metro Pulse columnist Jack Neely, and hear about the latest plans for Cumberland Avenue from City of Knoxville officials.

After-Work Greenway Walk
May 13
6 p.m.
Tyson Park gazebo
Stretch your legs after work with a brisk 30-minute walk along Third Creek Greenway, a gem of a trail that links Neyland Greenway to the Bearden neighborhood. Snacks are provided, and walkers are entered in a drawing for a $50 gift card to Mast General Store. (Find a map of Tyson Park)

New Harvest Park Tour and Walk
May 20
5:30 p.m. - Tour; 6 p.m. - Walk
New Harvest Park, 4775 New Harvest Lane
You’ll get a tour of the Farmers Market at New Harvest Park, and then we’ll take a brisk 30-minute walk on the trails. Snacks are provided and participants are eligible to win a $50 gift card to Mast General Store. (Find directions to New Harvest Park.)

RUNNING EVENTS

CityPeople Downtown Dash
Friday, June 4, 2010
7:30 p.m.
City People Downtown Dash is designed for the elite and the recreational runners. The flat, L-shaped course never leaves downtown. $15 for early registration and $20 after May 30, 2010. Participants to travel by bicycle or bus to the Dash can deduct $5 from registration.