LOCAL, PAGE 12: Bike Lodi joins panel at CalBike summit

Bike Lodi President Kathryn Siddle was asked to speak on the bike tourism panel during the CalBike summit in Los Angeles earlier this week.

Every two years, CalBike hosts the California Bicycle Summit, a three-day gathering that brings together planners, government officials, agency staffs and bicycle advocates from around the state.

Bike Lodi was recognized as the leading bike organization in California that has contributed to an increase in regional tourism for Lodi. When Bike Lodi was first established in 2015, it was a component of the Chamber of Commerce’s 2020 Tourism Vision Action Team.

Since it’s conception, Bike Lodi has actively sought ways to utilize the community landscape and capitalize on Lodi’s flourishing wine industry by developing bike routes through Lodi’s cherished wine country.

“During the panel discussion, I highlighted our strengths as both a cycling and wine region, and how we utilize our partnerships with the city and local businesses,” Siddle said. “Biking events in the town help draw people into Lodi, which helps our local economy because they visit restaurants in downtown, and they stay in local hotels and BNBs.”

According to Nancy Beckman, the president and CEO of Visit Lodi, last year tourism generated an estimated $3.9 million in local taxes.

“Since Jan. 1, the Bike Lodi routes page (on our website), has had 5,328 people click on it. It is the 19th highest page viewed out of over 10,000 pages,” Beckman said.

Beckman added that as the city receives more tourists, a growing number of them are asking for bike rentals and cycling maps.

“There is a group of active, outdoor adventure people who love to see the beautiful vineyards and farmland by bicycle. The Bike Lodi cycling route brochure has brought awareness about Lodi as a cycling destination,” Beckman said.

During the summit Siddle promoted local wines during a night mixer, that was sponsored by the LangeTwins Winery and Vineyards, Michael David Winery, Bokisch Vineyards, and California Waste Recovery System.

“People embraced us and it was a great opportunity to spotlight the community,” Siddle said. “There were so many people that left the mixer saying they had to visit Lodi.”

Siddle said it was both nerve-wracking and rewarding to speak in front of the attendees at the summit, and share the Lodi story with people.

“I was so scared when it came to writing a speech, because speaking in front of people doesn’t come naturally for me,” Siddle said. “I had a lot of support from my Bike Lodi team and Kandy Vaccarezza (who accompanied Siddle to the summit).”

Siddle said that when she was first invited to serve on the panel by the CalBike Summit, she hesitated at the request but was encouraged by Joe Lange of LangeTwins Winery and Vineyards.

“He opened my eyes to both the honor and accomplishment it was to be asked to serve on the panel. He really built up my confidence and I knew I had to do it,” Siddle said.

As a panelist, she spoke about the bike routes Bike Lodi established, and other programs they developed including; bike rodeos, biking information at local health fairs, bike valet at community events, and the bike helmet program that provides free bike helmets to children.

“(During the panel,)I emphasized our partners, because without the chamber of commerce supporting us and businesses like Tony Segale (Double Dip Gallery) hosting things like Ice Cream on Pine, and our public works department and the police department working with us, we wouldn’t have accomplished as much as we have,” Siddle said.

Beckman said Bike Lodi has done an excellent job bringing attention to Lodi as a cycling destination for both the city’s residents and tourists alike.

When Visit Lodi brings Travel Writers and Influencers to Lodi, Bike Lodi hosts cycling tours for them , bringing national attention to Lodi as a great destination to see by bike.

In the past 18 months, the cycling tours have generated 14 articles and have reached over 60 million consumers according to Beckman.

“Lodi is fortunate to have this dedicated group of volunteers working tirelessly to make Lodi bicyclefriendly,” Beckman said.