Volume 3, Issue 6 – May 30, 2004

“A Newsletter Published by Bike Pittsburgh to establish Pittsburgh as a city that is increasingly safe, accessible, and friendly to bicycle transportation.”

In This Issue:

* Bike To Work Week Wrap-Up
* Perseverance Pays Off
* Ghost Bikes
* New Bike Racks Being Installed!
* Upcoming Events

BIKE TO WORK WEEK WRAP-UP

Bike To Work Week started off with plenty of sunshine and finished with torrential downpours. Bike Pittsburgh held several very successful “Park ‘n Pedal” events where commuters could park their car at a lot outside of Downtown and pedal the rest of the way in. This option is increasingly attractive to many commuters who have seen parking and gas prices soar in recent months. If you have quite a distance to commute and are tired of the hassle of driving and parking Downtown give this a try; it’s a great way to get started.

Thanks to all of the Volunteers who showed up to guide commuters into town and staff tables at Bike To Work Week events. This year’s Bike To Work Week events were made possible by generous donations of time and resources from the following organizations: Venture Outdoors (www.ventureoutdoors.org), Friends of the Riverfront (www.friendsoftheriverfront.org), Southwestern Pennsylvania Commission (www.spcregion.org), The Port Authority of Allegheny County (www.portauthority.org), Pittsburgh Parking Authority (www.city.pittsburgh.pa.us/pghparkingauthority/html/pittsburgh_parking_authority.html), and Sustainable Pittsburgh (www.sustainablepittsburgh.org).

PERSEVERANCE PAYS OFF

This month’s interview is with John Stephen, a long-time local bicycle advocate. Below is an excerpt from the interview which can be found in the “Community & Classifieds” section of the Bike Pittsburgh website:

Bike Pittsburgh: When did you first get involved as a local bicycling advocate?

John Stephen: In 1990 working on establishing riverfront trails with Friends of the Riverfront and the Western Pennsylvania Wheelman. Our vision was that old abandoned rail lines that extended along the rivers could be transformed not only for recreational use but to create new connections and commuting routes between the depressed communities along the rivers. It’s a flat ride of 10 or 15 miles into the city that would provide an excellent way to work without feeling exhausted when you arrived. It becomes especially relevant now that parking costs are becoming more of an issue.

BP: Have you seen many changes since you started this work?

JS: From a governmental standpoint, no! There’s been very little institutional support. There are exceptions and elected leaders and agency heads who have used their positions to advance highly visible projects. There have been Press opportunities and some help when it has been convenient, but bike transportation has not been a priority then and it still isn’t now.

On the other hand, there has been a groundswell of support from the public. More and more people are on their bikes and people seem more willing to try. Although the average person still perceives the roads as unsafe, the trails have provided a safer more comfortable experience.

GHOST BIKES

Last week more than a dozen “Ghost Bikes” – mangled bikes painted completely white with a sign on them that reads, “Cyclist Struck Here” – were installed as memorials at accident locations all around Pittsburgh.

The project was started to both bring attention to the recent increase in cyclist-motorist accidents and serve as memorials to those who have been injured or killed by motorists. You can get more information about Ghost Bike Pittsburgh at:(www.ghostbike.org) or in the “In The News” section of the Bike Pittsburgh website.

NEW BIKE RACKS BEING INSTALLED!

The first group of Public Art Bike Racks have been installed in Parking Authority garages, Downtown. As many as 115 of these new bike racks will be installed at various locations in Downtown Pittsburgh over the coming months. Additionally, another 20 racks will be installed in communities such as East Liberty, Squirrel Hill, South Side, North Side, and Garfield (to name a few).

Bike racks being installed in the Downtown area have been made possible by the Pittsburgh Downtown Partnership (www.downtownpittsburgh.com) and Federal Transportation Enhancement funding. Bike racks that will be installed in neighborhoods have been made possible by Bike Pittsburgh and The Sprout Fund (www.sproutfund.org). The racks have been manufactured by Red Star Ironworks in Garfield, and were designed by Wall To Wall Studios (http://walltowall.com) in the Strip District.

To see pictures of the installed racks, simply go to the Bike Pittsburgh homepage. A list of installed locations will be published in the coming weeks.

UPCOMING EVENTS

June 5th – 2004 Tour de Tykes (Danville, PA)

This event is sponsored by and benefits the Children’s Miracle Network. Course: A true mountain biker’s race; 90% of wooded singletrack with challenging climbs, fast descents and multiple open sections to pass. The Tour de Tykes web site is and more information may be found at: (www.tourdetykes.com).

Registration information may be found here:
(www.geisinger.org/about/telethon/mountain_bike_race.shtml).

Event Day: Saturday, June 5th
Event Location: Danville, PA
Event Time: Races begin at 8:30am
Cost: $25

June 5th – Steel Back The City Alley Cat Race

“Steel Back The City” Scavenger Style Alley Cat Race! Saturday, June 5th. Start at the dinosaur in Oakland; race start time is 6:00pm, registration is at 5:00pm. $5.00 to register – the first 40 people get a Planet Bike blinky light! Prizes, food, and beer – everyone is a winner!

Contacts: Carol – (412) 475-2109 or (stewy369@hotmail.com). Bands: Killing The Messenger and Tubula Rasa. Lots of love from: Timbuk2, Red Star, Pabst, and more…

Event Day: Saturday, June 5th
Event Location: Oakland, by the Dinosaur
Event Time: Registration at 5:00pm, race begins at 6:00pm
Cost: $5

June 12th-13th – MS 150 Escape to the Lake (Erie)

This event is sponsored by and benefits The National Multiple Sclerosis Society (www.nationalmssociety.org). The Escape to the Lake (Erie) is a 2-day, 1-way cycling adventure that begins in the Pittsburgh area (Cranberry Township) and travels 150 miles to the picturesque shores of Lake Erie in Conneaut, Ohio. Saturday, cyclists travel the scenic back roads and rolling hills of Western Pennsylvania to the quaint town of Meadville, lodging overnight at Allegheny College or a local hotel. Cyclists rise early Sunday morning for a hearty breakfast, and then finish cycling on to beautiful Conneaut Township Park on Lake Erie. Buses will transport cyclists back to the Cranberry Township starting point.

You can register as an individual or as a team member. Each cyclist agrees to raise a minimum of $200 in pledges in order to participate. Prizes are awarded based on amount of pledges raised for the National Multiple Sclerosis Society.

For complete details, visit: (www.nationalmssociety.org/pax/event/event_detail.asp?e=6437).

Event Day: Saturday, June 12th to Sunday, June 13th
Event Location: Cranberry Township, PA
Cost: $25 until April 9th (Minimum $200 in pledges requested), $30 between April 10 & May 28 (Minimum $200 in pledges requested), $230 after May 28 (this includes $200 fundraising minimum)

June 23rd – Bike Maintenance Classes Through CCAC

Golden Triangle Bike Rentals (www.bikepittsburgh.com) is offering bike maintenance classes through CCAC. The classes are 3 sessions – 2.5 hours each, and the cost is $35. Classes are held Wednesday evenings from 6:30pm – 9:00pm at the bike shop which is located at the Downtown end of the Eliza Furnace Trail at the new Bike and Blade Station. For more information, call: (412) 600-0675.

Event Day: Wednesday, June 23rd
Event Location: Golden Triangle Bicycle Rentals, Downtown
Event Time: 6:30pm until 9:00pm
Cost: $35

June 27th – 12th Annual Tour de Sewickley (Pittsburgh)

This event is sponsored by and benefits The Early Learning Institute (www.earlylearninginstitute.org). The 12th annual Tour de Sewickley is traditionally a ride, not a race, and has something to offer every level of cyclist. The 60 mile ride starts in Allegheny County and weaves its way through communities in the north into Beaver County. This scenic and rural route makes its way to Brushcreek Park before heading back to Sewickley. Rest stops are available at the 15, 30, & 45 mile points. If 60 miles seems a bit too much, try the 30 mile route. It winds its way to the rest stop at Thorn Hill Industrial Park, compliments of Mitsubishi Electric Power Products, Inc. Enjoy a quick snack and head back to Sewickley YMCA. Both the 60 and 30 mile courses share the same route so you will never ride alone.

If you are an inexperienced rider, or want to try something more leisurely with your family, the 5 mile Family Fun Ride is your best choice. This ride gently meanders through the charming community of Sewickley.

New to the Tour is a 2.5 mile inline skating loop! Sewickley Borough was tailor-made for inline skating with its flat, freshly paved, leafy tree-lined streets. Do the course twice for a refreshing five mile roll that will be fun for your family or group of your friends, from intermediate to advanced skaters. Sunday mornings are still sleepy ones in Sewickley. However, you still must be accustomed to skating on public streets with traffic and know how to start and stop on your skates. So if this is your first time on skates (or a beginner) you may want to practice for next year. Our skate will be joined by members of the Pittsburgh Chapter of the National Skate Patrol. These volunteers are trained so that we can skate safe!

Of course with any event route you choose, you will be enjoying one of Pittsburgh’s most picturesque rides/skates. The Tour de Sewickley benefits the more than 750 young children with disabilities, birth through 5 years of age, and their families served by The Early Learning Outdoors (TELI), formerly St. Peter’s Child Development Centers. The Outdoors also provides consultation to parents and professionals in the fields of early intervention and early elementary education.

Register now to help the kids of TELI and be part of one of Pittsburgh’s favorite summer events! For a registration form please send a mailing address or email address (for a PDF file) to: (sue@earlylearninginstitute.org) or call: (412) 922-8322 x27. See you there!

Event Day: Sunday, June 27th
Event Location: Pittsburgh, PA

June 27th – 2004 Tour de Cure

This event sponsored by The American Diabetes Association (www.diabetes.org). 10, 20, 30, 50 or 100-miles! More information can be found at: (www.diabetes.org/tour).

Event Day: Sunday, June 27th

Post the miles that you ride on the Bike Pittsburgh website in the Community & Classifieds area! Just send us your monthly mileage, and if you want your name to be available as an email link to: miles@bike-pgh.org

Become A Member! Bike Pittsburgh is Western Pennsylvania’s only cycling advocacy, awareness, and safety organization. We rely on your support for many of our activties and initiatives. You can help us to continually transform the Pittsburgh Region into a better place to cycle by becoming a Member starting at $25 per year ($15 for Students). With your tax-deductible Membership Donation you will receive a Membership Card good for discounts with participating organizations that share Bike Pittsburgh’s vision, priority invitations and/or discounts to special Bike Pittsburgh-sponsored events, and the satisfaction that you really are helping to make a difference for all of us. For complete details, go to the Bike Pittsburgh website: http://www.Bike-Pgh.org and click on the Become A Member! section.

“The Bike Pittsburgh Leader” is an electronic newsletter published about every three weeks. Previous issues of “The Bike Pittsburgh Leader” can be found on the Bike Pittsburgh website in the section called “The Leader”. Bike Pittsburgh, Inc. does not rent, sell, or make available any personal information, including email addresses, that you may send to Bike Pittsburgh. If you would like to be removed from the distribution list, simply email: remove@bike-pgh.org and request to be removed. mp3 tv 4kidsbach mp3 bwv 526 allegro3x krazy mp3salvation 4400 mp3booyaka 619 mp34l jacky mp354 64 mp3 2010 90mp3 3×3 crazy Map