Seattle to Portland: July 12-13
The Seattle to Portland Bicycle Classic will occur the weekend of JULY 12-13. The STP is the Pacific Northwest’s largest multi-day bicycling event, and our club manages the Finish Line at Holladay Park, providing a significant source of revenue for our club. Portland Bicycling Club is committed to join with Cascade Bicycle Club of Seattle to manage the Finish Line in Portland for an anticipated 6,000 cyclists.
It takes many volunteers, teamwork and cooperation, to make this work. New members, we need you too! Sign up now for your favorite time and spot. Early volunteers get the coveted jobs! And if you’re hoping to sign up with someone you know, those spots are quickly disappearing. We have 72% of the positions filled already, but there are still 31 vacant positions. SignUpGenius is ready and waiting for you.
VOLUNTEERING
Where do the road signs and flags come from? PBC’s storage unit. Five volunteers are needed for the storage unit and supply rustling to drive a 10-foot rental van, go to the storage unit, pick up supplies on Friday and return them on Monday. One van driver, all four days, does not have to load/unload; two for loading on Friday; two for unloading on Monday. Volunteers can sign up for only one or more than one position (e.g., driving/loading/unloading). These difficult-to-fill positions are not ones that everyone can do; so, if you can, please, we need you! ✎
Finish line safety is where the action is! If you want to see all the riders coming in, sign up for safety. You will stand either on NE Multnomah Street & NE 11th Avenue, providing secondary signaling to participants and spectators to keep everyone out of harm’s way, or along the finish line chute to keep them from stopping prematurely because other riders continue to roll in behind them. We make sure all riders cross the finish line safely and enjoy the finish-line festivities. This is where we have the highest need for volunteers. There are still 13 open spots (6 together).
Transportation is another service the club provides. How do riders get from Portland to Seattle? We help board riders onto buses and load bicycles, safely blanketed, onto trucks. There are four open spots for volunteers in return transportation for Seattle riders going home after the ride on Sunday and one open spot on Monday.
We unload and organize riders’ baggage by number, and help riders find and retrieve their belongings. There are only two spots left (not together): one Saturday evening and one Sunday evening.
We set up and staff the secure bike corral. Five more volunteers (2 together) are sought for evening shifts both Saturday and Sunday.
We answer all sorts of questions at the info/volunteer booth for riders, spectators, local residents, and – new this year because the volunteer booth is being combined with the information booth – volunteers. This is now also where all our volunteers will check in before their shift, get a T-shirt (if they haven’t already), a nametag, a meal voucher, and final instructions. We’re looking for two volunteers for the Sunday evening shift who would also be willing to help break down the booth and pack up as the event ends.
If there is something to be done, you can bet a PBC volunteer will be doing it – and your club thanks you!
PERKS
All volunteers for STP will receive a colorful souvenir T-shirt to identify them as volunteers as well as a food voucher to redeem at one of the many food vendors in the park.
There will be a traditional pizza party on Monday, July 7, for volunteers to meet their team leaders and pick up their T-shirts.
The STP is the only activity on the ride calendar for the weekend of July 12-13. No club rides; however, if you ride your bicycle to/from your volunteer shift, you can count your miles. Sign up online: STP Friday/Saturday and STP Sunday/Monday.
SIGNING UP
SignUpGenius is up and running! Be sure to sign up early to get your favorite volunteer spot and time! Signing up online is available at SignUpGenius. It’s organized by columns, starting on the left. Everything that occurs on Friday is listed first. Then, it’s sorted by location, in alphabetical order. Once you find the day you want, look for the time slot in the third column, as you scroll down in search of the ideal position.
Let me know if you have questions about navigating SignUpGenius. I can also sign you up, if you prefer. For more information, contact me at [email protected].
Lynn Blanchard, STP Volunteer Coordinator