Keep your eyes out for bicyclists this weekend.
The annual Kaiser Permanente Seattle to Portland Bicycle Classic (STP) takes place Saturday, July 13, and Sunday, July 14, bringing thousands of bicyclists through Lewis and Thurston counties, with many camping overnight at Centralia College and Recreation Park.
The Washington State Department of Transportation advises drivers to prepare for delays and stay alert on roadways during the bike ride. The route comes into Lewis County via state Route 507 and Pearl Street before moving to Airport Road and into Chehalis.
Six thousand riders are expected this year.
The Centralia-Chehalis Chamber of Commerce will host riders at Recreation Park, where riders can camp at no cost and have showers available at the Gail and Carolyn Shaw Aquatics Center during open swim hours.
The open swim hours are from 11:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m., 3 to 6 p.m. and 7 to 8 p.m. The showers cost $6 for youth and $8 for adults.
The chamber will also provide a food stop at Penny Park, where there will be snacks available and access to restrooms. They will provide a water station, a water mister and an area for resting as well. A bike corral will be available for those staying overnight.
“We absolutely welcome more volunteers to help keep the snacks and food refreshed, check in bikes, or assist with unloading luggage for the overnighters staying in Chehalis,” Chamber Director Cynthia Mudge said.
Centralia College will also provide camping areas for the cyclists. Spaces inside the gym have been marked out for campers and were reserved ahead of time. The Alaska Airlines Layover Lounge near the clock tower, which has tent sites with amenities, were also reserved in advance.
Groups were also able to reserve some private indoor spaces such as classrooms and conference rooms.
Reservations for all the spots closed on July 7.
Free, first-come, first-served campsites will be available on the campus grounds this weekend. No reservations can be made for those spots.
The college will also provide a bike repair station, a bike corral from the Centralia Police Department, a first aid tent from Providence Centralia Hospital, showers and breakfast for riders early Sunday morning.
Food options will be available for riders and community members while on campus. Food trucks and the campus cafeteria will be open, as well as a beer garden. The Tour de France will be airing inside the TransAlta Commons.
“The Seattle to Portland bike ride is the largest single fundraiser for CC Athletics,” said Amanda Haines, Centralia College’s public relations manager. “The proceeds earned go to our athletic programs and athletic scholarships for students. It’s a great cause.”
The bike ride will affect state highways and local roads in Kent, Puyallup, Spanaway, Centralia, Yelm, Chehalis, Napavine, Winlock, Vader, Castle Rock and Longview. For a more detailed description of the biking route, visit the Cascades Bicycle Club website at cascade.org.
Congestion and delays are expected.
To maintain driver and cyclist safety, the WSDOT recommends reviewing the state driver guide, specifically the “driving among cyclists” section and the bicycle rules of the road. These guides can be found at dol.wa.gov and wsdot.wa.gov .
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