Volume 1, Issue 17 – December 07, 2002

“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:

* The Year In Review
* Tell Us What You Think
* A Strong Constituency
* Biking in Warmer Climes: Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
* Pitt Stops

THE YEAR IN REVIEW

This year-end issue of The Spokesman celebrates some of our accomplishments in 2002. We hope that you’ll agree with us and join us next year for an even more successful year!

Bike Pittsburgh, Inc., the Pittsburgh Region’s only bicyling advocacy, safety, and awareness organization has by all accounts had a tremendously successful year. Bike Pittsburgh has accomplished the following in 2002:

* Launched a website that attracts on average, 6000 visitors per month
* Collected and listed dozens of biking related events on the website
* Assembled a talented and motivated Board of Directors
* Became a Pennsylvania non-profit organization and filed for Federal recognition as a non-profit
* Helped to coordinate the Bike To Work Week events for Pittsburgh in 2002
* Partnered with multiple like-minded organizations
* Built a readership of more than 500 individuals for The Spokesman (We believe that it actually reaches many more than that as it is often redistributed by our readership)
* Worked with many like-minded cycling organizations around the country to help put in place a sustainable and credible organizational structure that will enable us to realize our vision of making Pittsburgh one of the best places to cycle in the country

We’re busy putting together a budget for next year and beginning the grant writing process. Some examples of our initiatives for the upcoming year include strategic installation of quality bike racks around the city and identification or mapping of new bike lanes. Individual projects may take only months or potentially years to complete. We plan to be around to see them all to completion.

We realize that we couldn’t have done all of this without the help of some key individuals and organizations. Our sincerest thanks go out to The Western Pennsylvania Field Institute, The Western Pennsylvania Wheelmen, Sustainable Pittsburgh, Richard Meritzer and Hannah Erlich from the Mayor’s Office, Schnader, Harrison, Segal & Lewis L.L.P., and most importantly, all of you who have taken the time to provide us with great feedback and add yourself to the ranks of those who support Bike Pittsburgh!

Bike Pittsburgh wishes you and your loved ones a happy and safe Holiday Season and New Year. Keep riding, keep reading (The Spokesman!), and look for even more from us in 2003!

TELL US WHAT YOU THINK

Will this copy of The Spokesman go immediately into your Trash folder once you’re done reading it? Or do you find this newsletter helpful? We’re looking for some feedback on what you think of The Spokesman and would like suggestions on how to make it even more useful.

If you’ve got a few moments, would you give us your opinion on any, some, or all of the following questions?

* What do you think of the current frequency of publication? At the moment, The Spokesman is published about every three weeks.
* What do you think of the content? Is it helpful? Do you find out about local biking events or news that you would otherwise not know about?
* Tell us what types of items you would like us to include. Is there anything that we’re not writing about that you would like us to?

Simply send your thoughts and opinions to: (submit@bike-pgh.org).

Thanks for your input – we’re working to make Pittsburgh a better place to bike, and we can’t do it without you!

A STRONG CONSTITUENCY

Would you listen if five people asked for more bike lanes in Pittsburgh? What about 50? Or 500? Or 5000? Part of our strength as an organization rests in your hands. Without your support, many of our messages will fall upon deaf ears. We’re setting up areas of the website where you can do something to be heard. Check out our new Act Now! section of the website.

You can show your support several ways. First, you can become an Associate Member by simply adding your email address to our mailing list, we can count each of you as a supporter of our initiatives. The numbers of supporters that can be counted becomes increasingly important as we seek funding and grants. If you’re reading this issue of The Spokesman and have not yet joined our mailing list, simply go to: http://www.Bike-Pgh.org and go to the Become A Member! link. If you know of others who would benefit from living in an increasingly bicycle-friendly Region, be sure to pass this along to them and encourage them to join our maiing list as well.

For only $1 per month ($12 a year) you can become a Full Member. This minimal membership fee will send an even stronger signal to the granting organizations that we’ve got a committed constituency. You can become a Full Member by going to the Become A Member! section of the Bike Pittsburgh website. While you’re there, you can always make a donation of greater than $12 (or less) – your donations are tax deductible. Full Members will receive a Membership Card good for discounts or services from local organizations that support Bike Pittsburgh as well as a letter indicating the amount of your donation.

We would like to thank those of you who have already become Full Members, and the rest of you to please consider Full Membership.

BIKING IN WARMER CLIMES: RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL

It’s 80 degrees and sunny. The skies are clear. All around you is the lush green of late Spring. The ocean laps is the distance….. and you realize that you’re not in Pittsburgh anymore.

In early October of this year, Bike Pittsburgh’s David Hoffman was in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. David has written about his experiences in Rio, and has included some photos of unique bikes that he saw while in Rio. You can read the story in the Community & Classifieds section of the Bike Pittsburgh website.

PITT STOPS

This NEW section of The Spokesman is dedicated to identifying local establishments that have made a committment to cyclists.

December’s Pitt Stop: Whole Foods Market on Centre Avenue in East Liberty – they’ve installed a nice bike rack out in front of the store that will accomodate at least a dozen bikes!

“The Spokesman” is an occasional newsletter of Bike Pittsburgh, Inc. 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. ringtones 2waytrafficon milfseekers alexi carringtonsgh-d407 adding samsung a ringtones toringtones to nokia adding a 6215iave storington 1504aleix arringtonwatergate barrington 61 illinois foreclose southtorrington drive starview 99 ct Maploan first market svcs bankhome buyers loans time first hometime loan small first businesscollege fixed rate loanfl home equity loanco-op florida loanflorida usury auto for limits loansforeclosure loans jersey bailout new Map