Volume 2, Issue 15 – October 10, 2003

“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:

* First Annual Haunted Bike Ride!
* Biking Predictably: A Key To Bike Safety
* Upcoming Events
* Bike Racks At Amtrak Keystone Line Stations
* Buy Stuff From Bike Pittsburgh!
* Pitt Stops

FIRST ANNUAL HAUNTED BIKE RIDE!

Now less than a month away! Bike Pittsburgh cordially invites you to our First Annual Haunted Bike Ride! Come out with us on Halloween for a relaxed evening of stories, lore, and crisp Fall riding. Meet fellow supporters of Bike Pittsburgh while helping us to continually provide a resource for bike advocacy and safety.

This event is sponsored by and benefits Bike Pittsburgh with support from The Western Pennsylvania Field Institute (www.wpfi.org). This ride will take us from the Greenfield trail head of the Eliza Furnace Trail, through Downtown, and to the North Side to various haunted buildings. We’ll be making plenty of stops to tell stories and give local haunted history. This is a fully supported ride with treats and drinks provided along the way. Participants are encouraged to ride in costume, but please make sure that you wear something that will not get caught in your wheels or chain, and that does not impair your normal field of vision. Helmets required – but you can always decorate them! Come out and enjoy a pleasant evening of stories and legend while helping to support us. Please bring a bike light if you have it; loaners available with advance notice.

To register for this event call WPFI at: (412) 255-0564 or email: (signup@wpfi.org).

Event Day: Friday, October 31st
Event Location: Eliza Furnace Trail, Greenfield Trailhead
Event Time: 6:00pm – 9:00pm
Cost: $20 Bike Pittsburgh & WPFI Members, $25 Non-Members

BIKING PREDICTABLY: A KEY TO BIKE SAFETY

This is the third installment in a series about riding safely in the Pittsburgh Region. You can find this installment and any previous installments in the “Safety & Awareness” area of the Bike Pittsburgh website.

For many of us who have been driving a car for any length of time, the ability to predict another’s driver’s actions becomes second nature. We rely on visual cues such as turn signals, placement of the vehicle in the lane, vehicle speed, local terrain, and previaling road conditions. Drivers become uncomfortable when there are cyclists in traffic, as many times they are not able to predict the cyclists movements or intentions. This may cause the driver to become frustrated, thus leading them to attempt a dangerous maneuver. Cyclists often feel just as uncomfortable in traffic, and may respond accordingly, darting in and out of parking lanes, running stop signs, etc. There are many things that we can do as cyclists to cue drivers in to our intentions:

1. Look like a cyclist. – This means, wear a helmet, and use a rear blinky at all times. You probably wouldn’t go driving at night without your lights on, or (hopefully) not wearing a seatbelt. A helmet and blinky are considered essential safety equipment. If you’re riding at night, you need a front headlight. These moderate investments in safety equipment add immeasurable to your safety.
2. Don’t weave in an out of parking lanes. – Drivers are not always looking for traffic coming out of parking lanes; they naturally assume that they have the right of way and that the vehicles in the parking lane are watching for them.
3. Use hand signals. – Show drivers which way you’re going – left, right, or stopping. Hand signals are as follows:
* Right Turn – Upper arm straight out parallel to the road, forearm and hand straight up and perpendicular to the road.
* Left Turn – Arm straight out and parallel to the road.
* Braking – Upper arm straight out parallel to the road, forearm and hand straight down and perpendicular to the road.
4. Avoid coming to a stop in a driver’s blind spot. – This is especially common at stop signs and stop lights where a cyclist will pull parallel to the right of the vehicle. Drivers cannot see you in this position and may turn right without seeing you. Insert yourself between vehicles, or make sure that the driver to your rear can clearly see you.
5. Make eye contact. – This lets the driver know that you see them, and that they can see you. Make eye contact with drivers as often as possible. It is critical that you make eye contact with drivers who may turn in front of you!
6. Stay off the sidewalks. – Riding on the sidewalks can be dangerous for everyone. Drivers usually don’t see cyclists crossing pedestrian intersections. Only ride the sidewalk if there is no safe alternative to using the streets.
7. Ride with the flow of traffic. – Not against it! It’s not legal, and it’s not safe.

Ride Safe. Be Seen.

UPCOMING EVENTS

October 11th – Urban Advocacy Neighborhood Ride: Intermediate

This event is sponsored by Bike Pittsburgh and The Western Pennsylvania Field Institute (www.wpfi.org). These rides provide an opportunity to get to know the city by bicycle. The rides begin weekend mornings when traffic is low, allowing new street riders to adapt to riding in the city. These tours will cover lots of ground in western, northern, and eastern neighborhoods. Expect some steep hills, challenging urban rides, and good fun. Your will become more familair with some of the city’s diverse neighborhoods and meet other city cyclists.

These tours will be led by David Hoffman, founder of Bike Pittsburgh, and Louis Fineberg, the author of “3 Rivers on 2 Wheels: An Explorer’s Guide to Urban Pittsburgh”. Moderate to strong level of physical conditioning necessary. Road bike recommended.

Event Day: Saturday, October 11th
Event Location: Eliza Furnace Trail, Greenfield Trailhead
Event Time: 9:00am – 12:00pm
Cost: $5 suggested donation to WPFI, no pre-registration required

October 14th – Two-wheeling at Film Kitchen

This event is sponsored by and benefits The Pittsburgh Film Makers (www.pghfilmmakers.org) A “bikeyoumentary” about the value of salvage, the joys of recycling and the lost art of repairing things highlights the monthly independent film and video series Film Kitchen on Tuesday, October 14th.

“The revolution will not be motorized” is a motto of Bicycle InterCommunity Action and Salvage, a Tucson-based collective profiled by Rochester, N.Y.-based filmmaker Todd Martin in his new short documentary BICAS.

Martin shot the 46-minute video documentary over about three months in 2001, capturing the commitment, idealism and dirty fingernails of members of the collective as they save bikes from the scrap heap, fix them for reuse, and turn bike parts into works of art. BICAS has previously screened at the Rad Digital Film Festival, in Los Angeles.

The October 14th Film Kitchen also features works by local filmmaker Olivia Ciummo. Ciummo, a media-literacy educator at Pittsburgh Filmmakers, will present short films and videos including The Unexpected End of Formula and Bikes, a look at Pittsburgh’s own Free Ride bicycle collective that doubles as a bike-safety awareness guide for motorists.

Event Day: Tuesday, October 14th
Event Location: Melwood Screening Room, 477 Melwood Ave., North Oakland.
Event Time: A reception starts at 7:00pm
Cost: $4

October 19th – Urban Advocacy Neighborhood Ride: Advanced

This event is sponsored by Bike Pittsburgh and The Western Pennsylvania Field Institute (www.wpfi.org). These rides provide an opportunity to get to know the city by bicycle. The rides begin weekend mornings when traffic is low, allowing new street riders to adapt to riding in the city. These tours will cover lots of ground in western, northern, and eastern neighborhoods. Expect some steep hills, challenging urban rides, and good fun. Your will become more familair with some of the city’s diverse neighborhoods and meet other city cyclists.

These tours will be led by David Hoffman, founder of Bike Pittsburgh, and Louis Fineberg, the author of “3 Rivers on 2 Wheels: An Explorer’s Guide to Urban Pittsburgh”. Moderate to strong level of physical conditioning necessary. Road bike recommended.

Event Day: Sunday, October 19th
Event Location: Eliza Furnace Trail, Greenfield Trailhead
Event Time: 9:00am – 12:00pm
Cost: $5 suggested donation to WPFI, no pre-registration required

October 19th – Optimist Heritage Ride

This event is sponsored by the Pittsburgh North Optimist Club (www.pittsburghoptimist.com) and benfits both The Pittsburgh North Optimist Club and Friends of the Riverfront (www.friendsoftheriverfront.org). Bring the children and enjoy a beautiful fall day in Pittsburgh by riding bikes along the Heritage river trails downtown. The 15 mile ride along the rivers is mostly flat and will include several rest stops. The registration fee for adults is only $20 and children under 18 ride free. This will be a fun event and since it’s not a race, you can start anytime from 12:00pm until 1:00pm.

Both the 5 and 15 mile rides will start on Washington’s Landing at the Redfin Blues restaurant, which is under the 31st Street Bridge. Bikers will ride down the trail beside the Allegheny River to our first rest stop near Heinz Field. Parents with young children on the 5 mile ride can take a break and then head back to Washington’s Landing. Those up for the 15 mile ride will cross the pedestrian bridge to The Point. Following the signs along the route, riders will go up the Blvd. of the Allies, turn right on Smithfield then across the bridge. We will make a left on Carson Street and after a few blocks enter the bike trail that goes all the way to the Hot Metal Bridge. After crossing the bridge, we will bike down the Eliza Furnace trail (often called the jail trail) to our second rest stop at Golden Triangle Bicycle Rentals. After a break, we will ride back down the Blvd. of the Allies to The Point and return on the same trail back to Washington’s Landing.

Register for this event online at: (www.active.com/event_detail.cfm?event_id=1089367).

Event Day: Sunday, October 19th
Event Location: Washington’s Landing at Redfin Blues Restaurant
Event Time: Ride begins at 12:00pm
Cost: $20, Children under 18 $FREE

November 2nd – Hartwood Acres Mountain Bike Trail Maintenance

This event is sponsored by Dirt Rag Magazine (www.dirtragmag.com). Wear sturdy shoes and work gloves. If you have shovels or other trail work tools, please bring them. An information booth will be set up in the parking lot to pass out some educational information, talk with park users, and give them the opportunity to join the Mountain Bike Pittsburgh Listserv (mailto:pgh_mtb_access-subscribe@topica.com). If you would like to spend some time in the booth, contact Maurice Tierney via email: (publisher@dirtragmag.com) or phone: (412) 767-9910.

Event Day: Sunday, November 2nd
Event Location: Hartwood Acres County Park – Hartwood Mansion Parking Lot
Event Time: 10:00am
Cost: $FREE – Just bring your willingess to work!

November 30th – 2003 Speedgoat Crossing Race

This event is sponsored by Speedgoat Bicycles (www.speedgoat.com). We’re back at the best cyclocross venue, Seton Hill College. Last year, the student center had a big screen TV, big soft couches, and all those amenities that make this a good time for the whole family. Organizer Jeff Guy always does a great job, and feel free to contact Speedgoat for more information: (tech@speedgoat.com). Racing starts at 10:00am.

Tempurature last year: 22-degrees. Showers? Yes. Cash prizes: Yes! Cash prizes and assorted goodies depending on field depth/number of racers, etc!

Event Day: Sunday, November 30th
Event Location: Seton Hill College, Greensburg, PA 15601
Event Time: Registration opens at 8:00am, Racing begins at 10:00am

BIKE RACKS AT AMTRAK KEYSTONE LINE STATIONS

A recent grant from PennDOT has allowed Amtrak to install state-of-the-art bike racks in all of the stations along the Keystone Line between Harrisburg and Philadelphia. This compliments another PennDOT grant obtained in 1988 which provided for bike racks at all SEPTA R-5 stations between Thorndale and Philadelphia.

Here are the locations of Amtrak Stations along the Keystone Line:

* Harrisburg
* Middletown
* Elizabethtown
* Mount Joy
* Lancaster
* Parkesburg
* Coatesville
* Downington*
* Exton*
* Paoli*
* Ardmore*
* Philadelphia

*Indicates additional SEPTA service to Philadelphia

Amtrak’s on-board bike policy: no roll-on service for full size bikes, however, you may check your bike at Philadelphia or Harrisburg stations for $12. Folding bikes are allowed on all Amtrak Trains at all times.

You can obtain an Amtrak Keystone line schedule (PDF format) at:

http://www.amtrak.com/trains/timetable/w10.pdf

BUY STUFF FROM BIKE PITTSBURGH!

We’ve added a NEW section to the Bike Pittsburgh website: Buy Stuff! Currently, we’ve got Lou Fineberg’s book, 3 Rivers On 2 Wheels: An Explorer’s Guide To Urban Pittsburgh for sale. This book features 10 outstanding bike tours of Pittsburgh, and is available for $15 (includes shipping). All proceeds generated by the sale of this book on the Bike Pittsburgh website benefit Bike Pittsburgh. We’ll be adding more “stuff” in the future!

PITT STOPS

This section of The Bike Pittsburgh Leader is dedicated to identifying local establishments that have made a committment to cyclists.

This Issue’s Pitt Stop is: Biketek – located at 3859 Forbes Avenue, Pittsburgh, PA 15217 (in Squirrel Hill). Phone: (412) 521-6448. On the web at: (www.biketek.com).

Kudos to Biketek for installing a brand new bike rack outside of their store! The rack will accomodate several bikes, and is a welcome amenity in the Squirrel Hill shopping district.

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

Bike Pittsburgh is Western Pennsylvania’s only cycling advocacy, awareness, and safety organization. We rely on your support for many of our activies and initiatives. You can help us to continually transform the Pittsburgh Region into a better place to cycle by becoming a Full 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 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 1526 online bible tyndale117 mp3 telemannmp3 meridan 100th59 remix mp380 mp3 gflavors 32 mp3118 mp3 118101 mp3 chage Mapen ligne achat viagranatural herb all like viagraonline 2mg xanax paypalviagra ace taken inhibiters with5-htp xanaxaching legs use following viagratramadol 800ct 100 mgand amitriptyline tramadol Mapasian and lesbian pornasian ass free pornbar asian girl pornporn bikini asianasian bride porncellphone porn asiansucking asian porn cockasian clips cum porno Map