Volume 2, Issue 8 – May 22, 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 To Work Week 2003 Wrap-Up
* Is The Leg Mightier Than The Piston?
* New Mountain Biking Club
* Surveys: Americans Favor Increased Investment In Pedestrian, Bicycle Facilities
* First Annual Used Outdoor Gear Exchange Marketplace May 24th & 25th
* Be Part Of The Cycle & Recycle Calendar
* Pitt Stops

BIKE TO WORK WEEK 2003 WRAP-UP

Welcome New Members! ~ We would like to welcome nearly 50 New Members that have joined us since last month! We glad to have you with us – welcome!

Recently In The News… ~ Bike To Work Week 2003 was noticed by our local media, and they’ve published a good number of articles recently on biking in Pittsburgh. In addition, Bike Pittsburgh was featured in two short TV spots which ran on Channel 4 (WTAE) last weekend. Here is a list of recently published articles:

* http://www.post-gazette.com/forum/20030520edbike0520p2.asp
* http://www.post-gazette.com/lifestyle/20030518bikeslifestyle1p1.asp
* http://www.post-gazette.com/lifestyle/20030518bikesidelifestyle6p6.asp
* http://www.post-gazette.com/columnists/20030515brian2.asp
* http://www.pittsburghlive.com/x/tribune-review/pittsburgh/s_134168.html
* http://www.post-gazette.com/sports/outdoors/20030511walsh0511p3.asp

ALMOST THERE! ~ Our Spring Full Membership Drive will be ending on June 1st. We currently have 120 of 150 New Members, but WE NEED 30 MORE FULL MEMBERS NOW! Help us reach this very important goal by becoming a Full Member! Bike Pittsburgh relies in part on your support, and your support is key to our succeess! (Check the stories listed above to see that we ARE making a difference!) Membership is ONLY $12 ~ less than a tank of gas for your car. Simply go to (www.Bike-Pgh.org) and click on the “Become A Member!” section. You can join with any major credit card or drop a check in the mail. If you’re still reading this, it’s too late for you…..JOIN NOW!

Full Member’s Contest Update ~ Remember our Full Member’s Contest! We’re giving away a great over-the-shoulder Messenger Bag and a copy of “Breaking Away” on DVD to the Full Member who refers the most New Full Members to us. There are many of you who are tied for the number of successful referrals – increase your chances of winning by sending at least FIVE potential New Full Members our way. Full details can be found on the Bike Pittsburgh Home Page (www.Bike-Pgh.org).

Spotlight: Team Highmark ~ “Team Highmark”, a group of folks who participated in Bike To Work Week made a great showing! John Newell of Highmark was able to get four of his fellow co-workers to join him for a commute Downtown last week for a cumulative total of 87 miles biked. Way to go, John! The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette also made a strong showing with 3-4 folks from their organization cycling in to work. Keep up the good work! Ride Safe. Be Seen.

IS THE LEG MIGHTIER THAN THE PISTON?

Picture this: A car and bicycle race from Highland Park to Downtown. Both the cyclist and the driver take the same route. Both must obey all traffic laws. Who will get there first?

Pittsburgh Post-Gazette Staff Writer Brian O’Neill found out…

To read the story that was published in the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, go to:

http://www.post-gazette.com/columnists/20030515brian2.asp

NEW MOUNTAIN BIKING CLUB

There is a new Mountain Biking Club – The Kiski Valley Fat Tire Fanatics – out near Leechburg, Pennsylvania, and they’re looking for willing volunteers to help them get off the ground. The Fat Tire Fanatics are a “Sprockids” Chapter of the International Mountain Biking Association (www.imba.com). The Fat Tire Fanatics is open to riders age 10 to 17 – but parents and volunteers are more than welcome!

For more information, contact: Gene Nacey, President – Telephone: (724) 339-1407 – Mailing Address: 219 Market Street, Leechburg, Pennsylvania, 15656.

SURVEYS: AMERICANS FAVOR INCREASED INVESTMENT IN PEDESTRIAN, BICYCLE FACILITIES

Two separate surveys recently released demonstrate strong support for improved pedestrian and bicycle facilities. The first poll, conducted by the Gallup Organization for the National Highway Safety Administration and the Bureau of Transportation Statistics, found that 73% of respondents believed that communities should provide bicycle-specific facilities such as trails, paths and traffic signals, and that 75% believed that changes were necessary to improve and expand pedestrian facilities such as sidewalks, signals, and crosswalks. The survey, which emphasized the need for improvements in community planning to accommodate bicyclists and pedestrians, was released just days before Congress is expected to receive the Department of Transportation’s final proposal for the reauthorization of TEA-21.

The second survey, conducted by Beldon Russonello and Stewart for America Bikes, found that a majority of Americans want to bicycle more and are willing to invest tax dollars in creating better places to bike. According to the poll, 53% of those surveyed supported increased federal spending on bicycle facilities, even if it means less gas taxes go to construction of new roads. Additionally, 50% supported requiring roads to include bicycle lanes or paths, even if it means less space for cars and trucks.

Both surveys follow a recent STPP poll that found that the American public wants to walk more places more often, and is willing to invest in making it possible. That survey, also conducted by Beldon Russonello and Stewart, found that a majority (68%) favor putting more federal dollars toward improving walkability, even within a constrained budget.

For more information on the America Bikes poll, visit: (http://americabikes.org/resources_media_pollrelease.asp).

For more information on STPP’s pedestrian poll, visit: (http://www.transact.org/report.asp?id=205).

Bike Pittsburgh is continually working with local organizations to keep improving cycling conditions and amenities here in the Pittsburgh Region.

FIRST ANNUAL USED OUTDOOR GEAR EXCHANGE MARKETPLACE MAY 24TH & 25TH

The First Annual Used Outdoor Gear Exchange on May 24th and 25th benefits the North Country Trail Association (www.northcountrytrail.org) – the trail is 200 yards away – and the Davis Hollow Outdoor Center (NCTA State Headquarters).

The Exchange will be located at: Breakneck Campground McConnell’s Mills /Portersville, PA. The Exchange open on the 24th at 9am and ends later in the evening with a pig roast. On the 25th, the Exchange will go from 9:00am to 5:00pm. There will be tons of used outdoor gear for sale, as well as demos and discounted items from various manufacturers/retailers.

Have some old gear you want to get rid of? Cost for a selling space is $5.00 This cash only sale will draw an assortment of used gear in good condition, including: tents, sleeping bags, skis, boats, boots, bikes, outdoor clothing, climbing equipment, etc. Great bargains on all kinds of new and used bikes, components, training equipment and more!

The band EASE will be playing at the Gear Exchange. You can hear samples of their music at: (www.webwili.com/ease). See you there!

BE PART OF THE CYCLE & RECYCLE CALENDAR

Attention photographers! The Editors of the annual cross-cultural wall calendar, “Cycle & Recycle”, would welcome outstanding photos from Pittsburgh for the 2004 edition. These are needed now! Submissions for the 2005 edition will be accepted up until January, 2004. For guidelines and a sample calendar, call Co-Editor John Dowlin at: (215) 222-1253 or email: (cyclerecycle@hotmail.com).

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: Chiarina’s Syrian Restaurant – 901 East Carson Street, Pittsburgh, PA 15203. Telephone: (412) 390-0744. On the South Side. Chiarina’s Restaurant features Middle Eastern / Greek food, with an offering of Vegan items. Cyclists may leave their bike around the back of the restaurant under the cook’s watchful eye!

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 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. 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 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.2g ringtonesstooges 3 ringtonesringtones amor gitanoringtones country $0.99ringtones alice parrisringtones 8525aaa warringtonfree ringtones 10 Map