New Belgium Brewing’s Tour de Fat to Stop in San Diego on September 27 for A Day of Bikes, Beer and Bemusement

Don’t miss this day of crazy costumes, New Belgium libations and local electronic dance trio, Beats Antique
 

Ft. Collins, Colo., September 5, 2014 – It’s the best way to celebrate the end of summer, complete with costumes, bikes, music, performers, contests and beer. New Belgium Brewing’s Tour de Fat is coming to Golden Hill Park in San Diego, Calif. on Saturday, September 27, 2014. The daylong event is free, yet all donations and proceeds from beer and merchandise sales go to San Diego-area non-profits. In total the 2013 season raised nearly $536,000, with the San Diego stop bringing in more than $40,000. This year, all funds raised in San Diego will go to San Diego County Bicycle Coalition and San Diego Mountain Biking Association.

At Tour de Fat friends, family and neighbors are all invited to come enjoy eclectic entertainment, brewing education, a bicycle revival and even a fashion show of the best Tour de Fat costumes. In the afternoon, the stage heats up with the Bay Area-based headlining act, Beats Antique, which is an Electronica/World fusion dance trio. The trio is renowned for its outrageous live performances and creates a uniquely communal experience in the expression of their most recent album, A Thousand Faces. From choreography to costumes and the music itself, Tour de Fat festivarians are in for a wild ride. 

Before the acts take to the stages, Tour de Fat kicks off with a costumed bicycle parade that winds through city streets. The parade begins and ends in Golden Hill Park, where the rest of the day’s entertainment shines from musical acts to yo-yo performers, bike contests and even vaudeville acts. This year will also include some brewing education and feature a “Bicycle Revival” to inspire festivalgoers to believe in the power of two-wheeled transportation.

Throughout the day, kids of all ages can ride funky bikes in the bike corral, eat delicious fare, relax in the grass, and participate in games and activities such as a “Thousand Person Dance Contest,” which will determine the winner of a 2014 New Belgium Cruiser Bike. Everyone 21 and older can sample new and classic favorites from New Belgium. The main beer station will offer the brewery’s flagship beer, Fat Tire, and Ranger IPA, Tour de Fall, Snapshot Wheat and 1554 Black Lager. For those looking for more esoteric libations, the Lips Lounge will feature selections of the acclaimed Lips of Faith Series, including La Folie, Gruit Ale, Rampant Imperial IPA, Gratzer Ale, Carnie’s Blood and FoCollaboration.

“This is our 15^th year of Tour de Fat and it’s been an incredible journey. This really is one of the best ways to spend a Saturday – there isn’t much that can beat the fun that comes with dressing up, riding a bike, drinking beer, listening to music and just having a great day with old and new friends,” said Matt Kowal, New Belgium Brewing’s Tour de Fat Impresario. “There really is no excuse not to experience the magic yourself!”

Car-for-Bike Swap
This year, New Belgium will once again encourage one brave role model to step on stage to trade in his or her car keys and pledge to live car-free for one year. Each swapper is awarded a stipend to buy his or her own commuter bike. We’re now on the hunt for a swapper in San Diego. Car-for-Bike Swappers are chosen after submitting an application describing why they are ready to give up their vehicle for the gift of two wheels. To apply, visit: http://www.newbelgium.com/events/tour-de-fat/san-diego.aspx.

Tour de Fat Details
Sign language interpreting will be provided at this year’s San Diego Tour de Fat!

Date:                                       
Saturday, September 27

Location:                               
Golden Hill Park

Registration:             
10:00 a.m.

Ride Times:                          
11:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.

Entertainment/Revivalation:                      
12:00 p.m. — Fashion! (Best Costumes of the Tour de Fat)
12:20 p.m. — The Reals Band (https://www.facebook.com/therealsband)
1:20 p.m. — The Slow Ride Race
1:40 p.m. — The Handsome Little Devils (http://handsomelittledevils.com)
2:30 p.m. — Car for Bike Trade
2:45 p.m. —Yo-Yo People (http://www.yoyoshow.com)
3:35 p.m. — 1,000 Person Dance Contest – winner receives a New Belgium cruiser bike!
4:00 p.m. — Beats Antique (http://beatsantique.com)
5:00 p.m. –– Finale

Benefitting:                           
San Diego County Bicycle Coalition (http://www.sdcbc.org)
San Diego Mountain Biking Association (http://www.sdmba.com)

Price: 
Admission – FREE!
Donations for non-profits are accepted
Beer – $5

Pre-Registration
You can pre-register and donate to receive a limited edition Tour de Fat license plate, bike light or sunglasses at https://www.eventbrite.com/e/tour-de-fat-san-diego-registration-11454325195?ref=ebtn.

See https://www.facebook.com/TourDeFat?ref=br_tf for the Tour de Fat credo, schedules, videos and to submit an entry to swap your vehicle for a fancy new bicycle. For more on the San Diego stop, visit http://www.newbelgium.com/events/tour-de-fat/san-diego.aspx.

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 nine year-round beers; Ranger IPA, Rampant Imperial IPA, Shift Pale Lager, Snapshot Wheat, Sunshine Wheat, 1554 Black Lager, Blue Paddle Pilsener, Abbey Belgian Ale and Trippel. Learn more at www.newbelgium.com.

Three Feet for Safety Act

News: California Road-Sharing Law Goes Into Effect September 16th

The “Three-Feet-for-Safety Act” legally mandates that California motorists give bicyclists at least three feet of space when passing them on the road and also provides a way for law enforcement to enforce safe passing.  The San Diego County Bicycle Coalition, the Automobile Club of Southern California,   California Highway Patrol-Border Division and San Diego Police Dept. will launch locally the “I GIVE 3 FT” safety awareness campaign on Tuesday, Sept. 16, the day the law goes into effect.  The traffic safety groups are urging motorists to give bicyclists at least 3 feet clearance when passing. Read more…

The San Diego County Bicycle Coalition was proud to play a role in getting this law passed by supporting the “Three-Feet-for-Safety-Act” in conjunction with the California Bicycle Coalition, who led the state-wide efforts to get it passed. 

View the new California Vehicle Code Section 21760.

Now that we have this important safety measure as law, the Bike Coalition will continue to work with local law enforcement to help educate the public about the new law and its importance to all of us who share the road. 

Frequently Asked Questions

Proving a Violation

Support our “I Give 3 Ft” bicycle safety awareness campaign by donating or becoming a member of the San Diego County Bicycle Coalition today.

Spread the word on Facebook + twitter. 

CALIFORNIA ROAD-SHARING LAW GOES INTO EFFECT SEPT. 16

SAN DIEGO ORGANIZATIONS LAUNCH “I GIVE 3 FT”  BICYCLE SAFETY AWARENESS CAMPAIGN  

WHAT:    The “Three-Feet-for-Safety Act” legally mandates that California motorists give bicyclists at least three feet of space when passing them on the road and also provides a way for law enforcement to enforce safe passing.  The San Diego County Bicycle Coalition, the Automobile Club of Southern California,   California Highway Patrol-Border Division and San Diego Police Dept. will launch locally the “I GIVE 3 FT” safety awareness campaign on Tuesday, Sept. 16, the day the law goes into effect.  The traffic safety groups are urging motorists to give bicyclists at least 3 feet clearance when passing. 

Similar awareness campaigns are being launched by law enforcement, cyclist groups and non-profits in other counties to get the word out about the law.

                       

 SEE:       Visual demonstrations including 3-ft measurement tips and ride-a-long demos with passenger vehicles and bicyclists; Safety tip cards being distributed to 200,000 motorists via AAA Roadside Assistance statewide and safety groups. I GIVE 3 FT window clings affixed to AAA and other vehicles.

WHO:     

• Assemblyman Steven Bradford, author, 3 Feet for Safety Act
• CHP-Border Division Chief Jim Abele
• San Diego Police Chief Shelley Zimmerman
• San Diego County Bicycle Coalition Executive Dir. Andy Hanshaw
• Auto Club Public Affairs Specialist and Bicyclist Marianne Kim  

WHEN:     10 a.m., Tuesday, Sept. 16, press conference, b-roll and post-press conference interviews.

WHERE:   Auto Club San Diego branch parking lot, 2440 Hotel Circle North, San Diego  92108.  Branch telephone: 619-233-1000.

WHY:        California’s new bike-passing law will go into effect Sept. 16 and is designed to increase road safety and reduce crashes by reminding motorists to give bicyclists more safe space while passing on the road.  Twenty-five other states have similar laws. 

                 

Contact: Auto Club, Jeff Spring and Elaine Beno, 714-885-2333

                      CHP Public Information Officer Armando Garcia, 858-650-3669

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Bring Your Bike and make history at the People’s Climate March San Diego!

Have you heard?!  On September 21^st people from around the nation and the world will come together in an unprecedented citizen mobilization for the People’s Climate March in New York City. As world leaders meet at the United Nations climate change summit, hundreds of thousands of marchers will demand the world we know is within our reach: a world with an economy that works for people and the planet; a world safe from the ravages of climate change; a world with good jobs, clean air and water, and healthy communities. Other marches will take place around the world as we collectively call on our leaders to act now on climate change. 

The People’s Climate March San Diego will be on Sunday, September 21. We will gather at City Hall at 12:30 to call for a strong Climate Action Plan, stop at America Plaza / Santa Fe Station to highlight transportation alternatives, and end at the County Administration Waterfront Park, where we will hear from local leaders representing different communities. Confirmed speakers include San Diego City Council President Todd Gloria and Secretary-Treasurer of the San Diego-Imperial Counties Labor Council AFL-CIO, Richard Barrera.

One of the key issues we are raising is transportation - getting people out of their cars and switching to biking, walking and transit.  We are inviting cyclists to be in a big group up at the front of the march to emphasize this. Biking, walking, and transit will be addressed specifically at our stop at America Plaza. 

There are four organized bike rides to this event: two from the North (University City and Mission Bay); from the East (SDSU); and from University of San Diego. Each bicyclist attending the march will receive a special People’s Climate March Bib (see below).

Click here for more information and to RSVP for a bike ride.

The People’s Climate March San Diego has been endorsed by a coalition of over 35 environmental, health, labor and civic organizations, including the San Diego County Bicycle Coalition.

Help make sure our leaders get the message loud and clear! Join us on September 21.

Click here to RSVP, for all the details, and for resources to share the information with your friends, family and colleagues. Together, we can make sure our leaders take serious climate action!

See you there,