CycleMAYnia returns to the Central Coast from May 1-31, 2018. The “Bike Month” encourages people of all ages and biking abilities to get out and ride. Established in 2005, the regional event promotes good clean fun through activities hosted by local businesses, organizations, and community members. This year’s CycleMAYnia will feature 40 bike rides and events ranging from bike-to-work breakfasts and family-friendly rides, to skill clinics and maintenance workshops. “The community benefits through fewer cars on the road and reduced emissions, as well as elevated levels of joy and friendliness amongst neighbors, strangers, and coworkers,” said Lori La Riva, Traffic Solutions/TDM Program Coordinator for Santa Barbara County Association of Governments. As part of the month, the National Bike Challenge kicks off May 1. During the Challenge, riders can compete for fun prizes and awards, and fuel up at free bike-to-work breakfasts. Community members and Yardi employees can sign up as a team or as an individual on the National Bike Challenge website. “This is a great way to bring together local businesses in the community and for employees to see how much fun biking to work can be,” shared Kelly Johnson, Yardi event coordinator. “It brings together people that might not have crossed paths otherwise.” A CycleMAYnia sponsor and longtime participant, Yardi will host the Bike Challenge Kick-Off Breakfast on May 1, 2018 from 7:15 – 9:00 a.m. Bike on over to Yardi headquarters (430 S. Fairview Ave., Goleta) for free food, music, and fun! Learn more about CycleMAYnia events, updates and more at...

Each May, the good people of Santa Barbara, Calif. are encouraged to put pedals to the pavement and ride their bikes to work. Yardi’s home office in Goleta is a longtime participant in CycleMAYnia, the regional cycling challenge that encourages people of all ages to get back on their bikes. The event has been ongoing since 2005. “The community benefits through fewer cars on the road and reduced emissions, as well as elevated levels of joy and friendliness amongst neighbors, strangers, and coworkers,” said Lori LaRiva, Traffic Solutions/TDM Program Coordinator for Santa Barbara County Association of Governments. “Employees arrive at work refreshed, they let go of stress at the end of the day, they get a free workout, and they experience the camaraderie of a friendly workplace challenge,” LaRiva said. That’s certainly been the experience at Yardi, which captured the win for the 500 – 999 employee category. Companies are stacked up against each other based on size. Second place category finisher, Mindbody of San Luis Obispo, rode just 25 percent of the miles Yardi team members did. Yardi employees racked up 3,598 miles on bikes during the month of May to earn the win, and 439.5 miles during the week of May 15-19 when the competition tallies were recorded. “Not only did CycleMAYnia encourage employees to bike together, but it also encouraged carpooling for those who live too far to bike the entire way.  We had a new cyclist ride from downtown Santa Barbara every day,” said Kelly Johnson, Yardi event coordinator.  “The farthest biker came from Carpinteria.” LaRiva described some of the widespread benefits of the competition. “Every year, participants say that the Bike Challenge gets them back on their bikes again. For some, it creates a casual routine that will last...

Yardi employees in Goleta, Calif. are encouraged to join their coworkers in cycling to work on Tuesday, May 15 in celebration of Bike to Work Day. Tuesday is just one of many events organized in May in celebration of cycling. Those who ride to work can enjoy a free Goleta-wide breakfast sponsored by Yardi in the 430 building parking lot, with tasty treats from the Goodland Kitchen and camaraderie with fellow employees at Yardi, as well as other nearby businesses. Food will be available from 7:30 a.m. to 9 a.m., and a bike mechanic from local bike shop VeloPro will also be on hand to address any bike maintenance needs. A turnout of 75 riders last year is likely to be exceeded in 2012, said Kelly Schmandt, who coordinates the Yardi-hosted Bike to Work Day Goleta breakfast. “The whole concept of CycleMAYnia is a really fun and interesting idea,” Schmandt said. “It gets people engaged in cycling and off the road with their cars.” More than 30 dedicated Yardi team members are engaged in a month-long competition in which teams earn points each time someone rides their bike to work, or on another trip that would otherwise have been taken in a car. Two of the Yardi teams, the Rasta Road Rashers and Zen Rabbits, are perennial high finishers who have already racked up many points in this year’s competition. Winners of the Bike Challenge chose a charity to benefit from a cash award in their honor. The challenge, which motivates riders to skip the convenience of the car for the environmentally friendly, endorphin inducing alternative of pedal power, is a great way to motivate those who might not otherwise want to cycle to work, Schmandt said. “It’s fun, competitive, healthy, saves money and...