KSBW: Project Economy – Bicycling Monterey’s HER Helmet Thursdays Project, a KSBW Top Story

Ravi Kapur, reporting for KSBW, Action News 8, picked up the HER Helmet Thursdays vibe in January 2010. His story, “Discounts Encourage Bicycling in Monterey County: Program Helps Businesses, Consumers While Preserving Environment,” was a Project Economy feature and one of the Action News 8 Top Stories of the day.

Participants featured in KSBW’s story

Ravi’s story highlighted two HER Helmet Thursdays charter participants: Carmel Belle, Carmel, where he interviewed Jay Dolata; and Sanctuary Beach Resort, Marina, interviewing Richard Yrigollen.

Ravi also interviewed Juan Silva of Sports Center Bicycles, Seaside. Ravi was inquiring whether bike shops too were already beginning to see increased business. [Update: For the project’s 8th anniversary in 2017, bicycle shops were invited to enroll as participants themselves, giving HER Helmet Thursdays discounts too. Click here for the first shops.]

Please support participating businesses and organizations, and let them know you appreciate their support of bicycling in Monterey County.

Ravi was definitely on to something, because the station’s website indicated that his story was also their most popular video of the day.

Ravi inquired whether the project would be appropriate for other states too. The answer? Sure, it could be done anywhere.

That resulted in the KSBW anchor leading Ravi’s story with “a program the creator hopes will spread nationally,” as you’ll hear if you watch the full video on Youtube.

That wasn’t our original goal, even though the anchor found it a good story lead! The goal was simply to encourage more biking in Monterey County, and to help build a reputation for the county as one of the most bike-friendly places in America.

Nonetheless, because of HER Helmet Thursdays, Monterey County is a national leader with regard to discounts for people who bike. If you live in another area and would like to start a project too, see Catch the Vision, including Discounts when people bike – US sampling.

Questions? Phone Bicycling Monterey.