Volume 2, Issue 4 – February 19, 2003

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

Beginning with this issue, Bike Pittsburgh’s official newsletter has been renamed “Chain Mail”. We believe this name better conveys the sense of community that we’re working hard to build.

In This Issue:

* Bike Pittsburgh Awarded Sprout Fund Grant
* Ride Leaders Needed – Volunteer!
* Upcoming Rides And Events
* Single Bike Seeks Rider For Friendship And…
* Pitt Stops

BIKE PITTSBURGH AWARDED SPROUT FUND GRANT

Unique Art/Bike Racks To Be Strategically Placed Around City

The Sprout Fund (www.sproutfund.org) recently awarded Bike Pittsburgh a grant to have approximately one dozen custom designed bike racks designed, manufactured, and strategically placed around Pittsburgh. Bike Pittsburgh will be working with Wall-to-Wall Studios (www.wall-to-wall.com) to design bike racks that combine art in the public space with practical functionality and urban sustainablity. These unique bike racks will hold 4 to 5 bikes, and will be placed in highly visible, practical locations around Pittsburgh.

Bike Pittsburgh will be working with the City of Pittsburgh and private businesses to ensure that these racks are placed in optimal locations and utilize local artist(s) to manufacture these racks. A synopsis of the Grant proposal can be found on the Sprout Fund’s website at:

http://www.sproutfund.org/projects.html#014-004

Bike Pittsburgh hopes to begin installing these racks in time for the Spring riding season. Updates on our progress will follow in future issues of Chain Mail.

RIDE LEADERS NEEDED – VOLUNTEER!

Bike Pittsburgh and The Western Pennylvania Field Institute (www.wpfi.org) have teamed up to create a series of rides from May through October that will highlight the Pittsburgh Region’s best biking.

We’re looking for Volunteers to help lead these rides! There will be a series of Leader Training Rides in March and April. The objectives of these rides are to: develop a corps of Ride Leaders who know the trails by gaining first hand experience on the routes before leading rides, and to teach leadership principles and practices.

Help us to promote cycling in the Pittsburgh Region! Here is the current list of Training Rides:

* March 2nd – East End Parks Tour (Schenley-Frick-Mellon-Highland) (15 miles)
* March 8th – Northside Parks Tour (West-Roberto Clemente-Allegheny Riverfront-Riverview) (15 miles & hills)
* March 9th – Montour Trail (Coraopolis to Enlow) (20 miles round trip)
* March 16th – Montour Trail (Enlow to McDonald Trestle) (20 miles round trip)
* March 23rd – Butler-Freeport Trail (30 miles)
* March 29th – Armstrong Trail (30 miles)
* April 6th – Yough River Trail (Boston to West Newton) (30 miles)
* April 12th – Yough River Trail (West Newton to Layton) (20 miles)
* April 20th – Yough River Trail (Connellsville to Ohiopyle) (34 miles)
* April 26th – Yough River Trail (Confluence to Rockwood) (34 miles)

For more information, or to sign up for a Training Ride (there is no limit – we encourage you to sign up for as many as you can!), contact Sean Brady (sbrady@wpfi.org) – Telephone (412) 255-0564 or David Hoffman (david@bike-pgh.org).

UPCOMING RIDES AND EVENTS

February 20th, 27th, March 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.

* February 20 – Location: South Park – Ice Rink
* February 27 – Location: Harrison Hills Park – Y.M.C.A.
* March 6 – Location: Riverview Park – Riverview Avenue near Observatory
* March 13 – Location: Fox Chapel Plaza – Photo Kiosk

March 1st – Annual Full Membership Meeting

Bike Pittsburgh’s Annual Full Membership Meeting is on March 1st, 2003 at Noon. All Full Members are encouraged to attend! The meeting will begin at noon, and will take place at The Foundry Ale Works (www.foundryaleworks.com) in The Strip.

We’ll be presenting an overview of our plans for the coming year. We hope that you can be part of these plans.

Appetizers will be provided; drinks will be your responsiblity.

For more information on Full Membership with Bike Pittsburgh, see the Become A Member! section.

Event Day: Saturday, March 1st
Event Location: The Foundry Ale Works – 2816 Smallman (in The Strip)
Event Time: 12:00pm – 2:00pm

March 16th – Trail Maintenance, Moraine State Park

This event is sponsored by the Pittsburgh Trails Advocacy Group (PTAG). Get involved! We will be filling in the new boulder trail with gravel, so shovels and wheelbarrows are very helpful. Other tools such as saws and rakes will be needed.

Contact: David Biber, (412) 671-7973, or Nancy Trun, (412) 363-2696.

Event Day: Sunday, March 16th
Event Location: Moraine State Park, Mountain Bike Trailhead
Event Time: 9:30am
Cost: $FREE

March 22nd – Trail Maintenance for Mountain Bikers

This event is sponsored by The Western Pennsylvania Field Institute (www.wpfi.org). Learn how to properly maintain sustainable trails that will weather heavy use by bikers, hikers, and equestrians. Pittsburgh Trails Advocacy Group (PTAG) will serve as Crew Leaders. Come prepared to get dirty while having fun and learning. Phone: (412) 255-0564.

Event Day: Saturday, March 22nd
Event Location: Moraine State Park
Event Time: 10:00am – 4:00pm
Cost: $FREE

SINGLE BIKE SEEKS RIDER FOR FRIENDSHIP AND…

Spring (sadly) isn’t here yet. However, warmer weather is just around the corner, and there is a section of the Bike Pittsburgh website that you might want to check out – Classified Ads! These ads are FREE; postings are good for 30 days. Within these Classified Ads, you can:

* Sell or buy a bike (currently, there are two bikes for sale)
* Find a Ride Buddy (someone is currently looking for companions to do Training Rides)
* Get a job (there is a posting for a PAID volunteer coordinator with Pedal Pittsburgh)
* Make Annoucements
* …And much more

Stop on by the Community & Classifieds section of the Bike Pittsburgh website today and get a jump start on the next cycling season!

PITT STOPS

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

Port Authority of Allegheny County – Complete list of bike parking!

The Port Authority of Allegheny County (www.ridegold.com) has compiled a comprehensive list of every destination with a bike rack. Very cool. You can check out the complete list here:

http://www.ridegold.com/live/pgBike.asp

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. We are recognized as a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization by the IRS; Full Membership and Charitable Donations are fully tax-deductible. To become a Full Member, go to the Bike Pittsburgh website and click on the Become A Member! section.

http://www.bike-pgh.org

“Chain Mail” 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.movie cumshotof dialogues hollywood moviesdildo moviemovie tickets fandangofree movie adult previewsblonde movies sex freefree movie throat deephaving people free of movies sex Mapservices loan home american10,000 loansabout cash quick loanshome equity adjustable loanshouston cash loan advanceloan hour 24loans down 50 mortgagecash advance loan emergency Map