Volume 2, Issue 2 – January 14, 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:

* Bike Pittsburgh Recent Accomplishments And Short-Term Goals
* Meet And Greet Huge Success
* Bike Pittsburgh Partners With Pittsburgh Helmet Coalition
* Upcoming Rides And Events
* Four McBurgers, Please!
* Pitt Stops

BIKE PITTSBURGH RECENT ACCOMPLISHMENTS AND SHORT-TERM GOALS

Get involved!

Below is a summary of items discussed at our quarterly board meeting. They include recent accomplishments and short-term plans, please review them to see if something is of paticular interest to you. Perhaps you’d like to join us in one or several of these efforts.

* On January 3rd, 2003 Bike Pittsburgh submitted a proposal to the Sprout Fund for 10 sculpted bike racks that will be in prominent Pittsburgh locations uniting art and the urban cyclists. Status report to follow in early February.

* Bike Pittsburgh continues its active participation on several local ped/bicycle committees advocating for the improvement of the City’s bicycle infrastructure and urging organizations to prioritize cyclists rights.

* We recently met with representatives from the City of Pittsburgh to share our vision for a more bicycle-friendly city. In the process we gained a better understanding of the key departments that will deal with the issues that concern us.

* The meeting date for the Annual Full Member’s Meeting has been set for Saturday, March 1st at Noon. Full details and location will become available very shortly. For those of you who are Full Members, mark your calendars for March 1st!

* Bike Pittsburgh partered with the Pittsburgh Helmet Coalition (www.pghhelmetcoalition.org) as part of our mission to increase the level of bicycle safety and education available in the Pittsburgh Region. Volunteer opportunities will become available as Spring approaches.

* Almost all of the cycling-related work that the City of Pittsburgh has undertaken recently can be found in the City’s Bike Plan. Bike Pittsburgh is taking a critical look at this plan, and will provide feedback to the City. We strongly encourage our Membership to review this document and send your thoughts directly to us. We will include these suggestions to the City. A copy of the Bike Plan is available for download in the Safety & Awareness section of the Bike Pittsburgh website.

* The Pittsburgh City Bike Plan calls for a full time Bike Coordinator within the city. We suggest that you (our Membership) review the Bike Plan and contact their local Council person to let them know that this is important to you that this position be created and filled. You can contact your local Council person by going to the Act Now! section of the Bike Pittsburgh website.

* Bike Pittsburgh will be attending the quarterly PPAC (Pennsylvania Pedalcycle and Pedestrian Advisory Committee) meeting in Harrisburg on January 23rd. This committee advises on many State-wide bike/ped issues; it is a tremendous networking opportunity for us, as most of the key people involved with setting bicycle policy within the Commonwealth are at this meeting.

* We have set a goal of 150 Full Members in Bike Pittsburgh by the end of the year. Our Associate Members total 600 as of this writing. We believe that it is vital for us to build a dedicated, educated, and active constituency to be most effective. We invite the 600 people on this mailing list to join us today and attend our first Full Member’s meeting on March 1st.

MEET AND GREET HUGE SUCCESS

More than 50 people came out to the Sharp Edge Beer Emporium in Friendship the evening of January 9th to talk bikes, advocacy, and enjoy many fine brews. It was too dark to get a photo of all of the bikes chained up outside of The Sharp Edge, but to the ever-hopeful eye, it looked like a snapshot from Amsterdam – one of the most bike-friendly cities in the world.

We’ll be planning another Meet And Greet towards early Spring. As always, we’ll be looking forward to the chance to share our latest plans and triumphs, get to meet those of you who didn’t make it out for this last Meet And Greet, and say hello again to those of you who couldn’t get enough beer or bikes!

BIKE PITTSBURGH PARTNERS WITH PITTSBURGH HELMET COALITION

Bike Pittsburgh is pleased to announce that we have partnered with the Pittsburgh Helmet Coalition! (www.pghhelmetcoalition.org) The PHC was founded in 1998, and passes out hundreds of free helmets every year to children. Their programs include events such as: School Assembly Programs, Wheel Rallies, Hang Tags on new bike promoting helmet use, and Poster Contests.

Please take the time to check out their website. The PHC operates primarily with the help of volunteers, and as such, we’ll be looking to assist them with some of their programs as Spring approaches. A link to their website is also available in the Partners section of the Bike Pittsburgh website.

UPCOMING RIDES AND EVENTS

January 16th, 23rd, 30th, February 6th, 13th – Mountain Bike Rambles

These events are sponsored by The Western Pennsylvania Field Institute (www.wpfi.org). Mountain Bike Night Rides Every Thursday Night from 6:30pm to about 8:30pm. Join us Thursday evenings for a pleasant ride through the different area parks. Year-round, our Ride Leaders hand-craft a route of great views, managemable hills and optimal conditions. We take plenty of breaks and afterward head to a nearby eatery for food and drinks. Call ahead for loaner lights and tips on dressing for Winter riding, or directions.

Inclement weather: In extremely wet or inclement weather conditions, an urban trail tour may be substituted from Washington’s Landing – meet at Troll’s Restaurant. Call WPFI at (412) 255-0564 or Email Sean Brady (sbrady@wpfi.org) to verify.

* January 16 – Location: Riverview Park – Riverview Avenue near Observatory
* January 23 – Location: Fox Chapel Plaza – Photo Kiosk
* January 30 – Location: Frick Park – Tennis Courts in Regent Square
* February 6 – Location: North Park – “T” of Wildwood Road & Babcock Blvd.
* February 13 – Location: Schenley Park – Westinghouse Fountain

January 25th – Pittsburgh Pre-Season Cycling Clinic

This event is sponsored by The Greater Pittsburgh Orthopaedic Associates (GPOA) (www.essmsports.com), the East Suburban Sports Medicine/GPOA Cycling & Triathlon Team, and Allegheny Valley Hospital Sports Medicine. January 25, 2003 at the West Penn Hospital, West Liberty Avenue, Pittsburgh.

Features: Climbing Techniques, Time Trialing, Power/Watt Training, Nutrition for Elite Athletes & More!

The list of speakers include:

* Kevin Livingston – Veteran of the European Pro Peloton, former rider for the US Postal Cycling Team and multiple Tours de France Veteran
* Jonathan Vaughters – Veteran of the European Pro Peloton including the Tours de France, 2003 Teammate for the Prime Alliance Pro Cycling Team and founder of the newly formed U-23 developmental team known as “Team 5280”
* Allen Lim, Doctoral Candidate., Univ. of Colorado, Pro Cycling Coach, Former Director Sportif of the Celestial Women’s Pro Cycling Team and specialist in watt / power training
* Leslie Bonci, Sports Nutritionist, UPMC Center for Sports Medicine
* Lauren Henzler, Ironman World Triathlon Championship Athlete
* Dr. Michael Rytel, Director of Sports Medicine, Allegheny Valley Hospital and attending physician at GPOA

All attendees are encouraged to pre-register online at Active.com (www.active.com). Seating is limited. The $35 attendance fee will include a continental breakfast, refreshments, lunch at the program site and a portion will support the development of Team 5280. Doors will open at 7:30 am. Continental breakfast will begin at 8:00 and the first lecture will start promptly at 8:30. PowerTap Training Systems will be on site for interactive demonstrations. For more information, visit the ACA website (www.acaracing.com) or at essmsports (www.essmsports.com). If you have any questions, please contact Denny Dansak at (laden23@aol.com) via daytime telephone: (724) 327-9178.

Event Day: Saturday, January 25th
Event Location: West Penn Hospital, West Liberty Avenue, Pittsburgh
Event Time: 7:30am
Cost: $35

National Bicycle Greenway Relay Event

Momentum for this event is growing! Several Bike Pittsburgh Members have already signed up – the more the better! Read on…

Riders needed for D.C. to Pittsburgh, or Pittsburgh to Columbus cross-country relay event. Must be in good health and accustomed to distance riding.

The Western Pennsylvania Field Institute (www.wpfi.org) is putting together Great Outdoors Week 2003. One of the components of that week is to highlight the National Bicycle Greenways. The primary objectives and purposes of the National Bicycle Greenway (NBG) are to gather and coordinate the resources needed to create a nationwide network of interconnected car roads (that meet its standards for safety and efficacy) and bicycle pathways (multi-use with priority given to transportation). The NBG is again sponsoring their annual nation-wide relay ride which starts in Washington, D.C. and finishes in Santa Cruz, California.

The ride will start in D.C. on May 2, heading out on the C&O Canal to the Great Allegheny Passage and into Pittsburgh on May 9th at 12:00pm. After a small rally downtown, riders will head off to Columbus, Ohio (possibly using the Montour Trail and/or the Panhandle Trail) and onward to California.

To see a complete list of dates, background, more info, etc. please visit: (www.bikeroute.com/NationalMayorsRide/index.html).

We are currently looking for are riders to volunteer for the local portions of this relay ride, D.C. to Pittsburgh, or Pittsburgh to Columbus. We are hoping that any group that benefits from having better biking opportunities in the region could send a message to their members calling for riders. Imagine if there were 20 to 50 riders from various organizations leaving from Washington and arriving before the cheering crowds in Downtown! It would make for a great marketing opportunity for all the organizations involved. The application for riders is found at: (www.bikeroute.com/RiderQuestionnaire.html). The screening process and coordinating of riders will be done by the enthusiastic and talented folks in California.

If you or your organization would like to be kept in the loop about this event, please email Michael Sobkowiak (msobkowiak@wpfi.org) and he will add you to the regular update list. Michael will also forward your email address on to Martin Krieg, Director of this project so you can be added to the national updates.

Event photos from last year’s Pittsburgh reception of the NGB riders can be found in the Community & Classifieds section of the Bike Pittsburgh website under the “Bike To Work Week” event photos. Watch for frequent updates on this very exciting event!

FOUR MCBURGERS, PLEASE!

What will $12.00 buy you today?

Four deluxe hamburgers at a “typical” fast food chain.

Three packs of cigarettes.

Seven gallons of gas (about a half tank).

One movie ticket and a small popcorn.

Four beers.

Three six-packs of bottled water.

One T-shirt.

A music CD (on sale).

Full Membership in Bike Pittsburgh.

Stand up and be counted! If you’re reading this, you know that cycling conditions need to improve in Pittsburgh. Twelve bucks? That’s the cost of a “regular” french fries only once a month. Sign up today through PayPal with a Visa, MasterCard, Discover, American Express, or a debit Card with the Visa or MasterCard logo on it. Go to the Become A Member! section of the bike Pittsburgh website for all the details.

PITT STOPS

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

This Issue’s Pitt Stop: Kraynik’s Bike Shop – 5003 Penn Avenue, Pittsburgh, PA 15224 ~ Telephone: (412) 621-6160.

There is no other place like Kraynik’s Bike Shop in Pittsburgh. Three floors of parts for every conceivable bike, and an area in the back of the shop where you can fix your own bike. Kraynik’s inventory is comprised of many other bike shops that closed – some recently, and some a very long long time ago…chances are, if it’s an odd or old part, Kraynik’s has it. Only those who have been to Kraynik’s know that it is the best kept cycling secret in the ‘Burgh!

Bike Pittsburgh is Western Pennsylvania’s only cycling advocacy, awareness, and safety organization. We rely on your support 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 for only $12 per year. Bike Pittsburgh has applied for recognition as a 501(c)(3) Non-Profit Corporation with the IRS. Full Members 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. Upon granting of Non-Profit status, Bike Pittsburgh will notify any Full Members who have made a donation, as donations received during the review period are generally tax-deductible.

“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. 3590 nokia free polyphonic ringtoneringtone 8181a1 ringtoneringtones american results idolsamsung ringtone free 24 cturingtones real music 3588iringtone in 3590 nokia free polyphonicringtones 8181 Map