Volume 3, Issue 3 – March 8, 2004

“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:

* Report From The National Bike Summit
* West End Interchange Update
* Bike Swarm March 10th In Protest Of Recent Tragedies
* Save Money On Your Car Insurance!
* Upcoming Events
* Pitt Stops

REPORT FROM THE NATIONAL BIKE SUMMIT

Bike Pittsburgh attended the National Bike Summit in Washington, D.C. from March 3rd through 5th. The Summit brought together more than 300 individuals from all aspects of cycling; advocacy, manufacturing, and recreation, and is hosted each year by The League of American Bicyclists (www.bikeleague.org).

One of the hot topics at this year’s Summit was the upcoming reauthorization of the Transportation Equity Act for the 21st Century, also known as “TEA-21”. The current funding for this legislation expired last year and has seen a series of short extensions. Reauthorization of this legislation could mean billions of dollars in future funding for bike and pedestrian projects. Since TEA-21’s inception in 1991, over 2.5 billion dollars have been spent on bike/pedestrian projects, although this represents less than 1% of all spending on transportation. Bike Pittsburgh lobbied both Sentators and all available Representatives from Pennsylvania for reauthorization of TEA-21 funding while in Washington, D.C.

In addition, Bike Pittsburgh attended sessions on local and national advocacy issues and spent time networking with similar advocacy groups from all around the country. If you signed up for one of our “Working Groups” at last month’s Meet ‘N Greet, we’ll be sharing what we learned with you, shortly. If you would like to help us make Pittsburgh a better place for cylists (and everyone else) and would like to learn more about our Working Groups, simply email us at: (info@bike-pgh.org).

WEST END INTERCHANGE UPDATE

In the Fall of 2002, PennDOT presented their plans for the yet-to-be-built West End Interchange. At that time, the bike and pedestrian access that had originally been in the Master Plan had been removed. Bike Pittsburgh and several other groups banded together and provided input and suggestions on how these amenities could be put back into the project.

Last week, PennDOT presented the updated plans for the West End Interchage. Bike Pittsburgh attended this meeting, and is very happy to report that the bike and pedestrian amenities have been restored to the project! We will continue to monitor the progress on this project and provide updates when we have them.

This multi-million dollar addition to the West End is a tremendous win for local cyclists, and would have been left off the project had it not been for the input of organizations like Bike Pittsburgh and our Membership. PennDOT relies in part on our expertise, and we will continually stay involved with these types of projects.

BIKE SWARM MARCH 10TH IN PROTEST OF RECENT TRAGEDIES

This event has been organized by local cyclists to heighten awareness of the recent dramatic increase in cyclist-automobile confrontations and injuries.

Where: Outside the Pittsburgh City Court, Municipal Courts Building, 660 First Avenue, Pittsburgh, PA 15219 (next to the County Jail).

What: A silent bicycle protest in the streets surrounding the Municipal Courts Building. Hopefully people can ride the entire 30 minutes, but if they can only make it for 15 minutes that’s OK – ride as long as you can.

Why: The preliminary hearing of the woman who killed bicyclist Bob Hemelrick will be held at 8:30am. at the Courthouse. This will be a silent protest not only in Bob’s memory but to commemorate all of the cyclists that have been hit by vehicles this Winter (and there were a lot, including one Messenger who had to have his face reconstructed). Spread the word.

Event Day: Wednesday, March 10th
Event Location: Pittsburgh City Court, Municipal Courts Building, 660 First Avenue, Pittsburgh
Event Time: 8:15am – 8:45am

SAVE MONEY ON YOUR CAR INSURANCE!

If you commute to work – even sometimes – on your bike, you might qualify for lower car insurance! Car insurers base your rate in part on the typical locations and distances that you travel. Be sure to have the total distance that you commute and average number of days per week that you commute handy before you call them. Once you have your insurer on the phone, tell them that you want to update your current policy to reflect the fact that you bike to work. Chances are, your rates will go down, and you might even get a rebate check!

UPCOMING EVENTS

March 10th – Bike Swarm In Protest Of Recent Tragedies

This event has been organized by local cyclists to heighten awareness of the recent dramatic increase in cyclist-automobile confrontations and injuries.

Where: Outside the Pittsburgh City Court, Municipal Courts Building, 660 First Avenue, Pittsburgh, PA 15219 (next to the County Jail)

What: A silent bicycle protest in the streets surrounding the Municipal Courts Building. Hopefully people can ride the entire 30 minutes, but if they can only make it for 15 minutes that’s OK – ride as long as you can.

Why: The preliminary hearing of the woman who killed bicyclist Bob Hemelrick will be held at 8:30am. at the Courthouse. This will be a silent protest not only in Bob’s memory but to commemorate all of the cyclists that have been hit by vehicles this Winter (and there were a lot, including one Messenger who had to have his face reconstructed). Spread the word.

Event Day: Wednesday, March 10th
Event Location: Pittsburgh City Court, Municipal Courts Building, 660 First Avenue, Pittsburgh
Event Time: 8:15am – 8:45am

March 27th – Iron Lung Alleycat Race

This event is sponsored by Pabst Blue Ribbon (www.pabst.com) and Dirt Rag Magazine (www.dirtragmag.com). Meet at 2pm at Point State Park, downtown. From there you will issued a manifest with checkpoints all over town. This will be less pack racing and more strategy of how to get to all checkpoints fastest. There is no distinct route.

Entrance fee: $5 for those donning helmets, $6 without. Wear a helmet, this is racing, kids. Unexpected things happen. All money, minus costs, will be donated to a biker-friendly cause, be it a local who has been hit or the messenger emergency fund.

Beer provided by Pabst Blue Ribbon. Prizes will come from various outlets, such as Pabst and Dirt Rag Magazine.

Don’t want to race? Volunteer! People are needed at checkpoints throughout the afternoon.

Event Day: Saturday, March 27th
Event Location: Point State Park, Downtown Pittsburgh
Event Time: 10:00am – 2:00pm
Cost: $5 With Bike Helmet, $6 Without Bike Helmet

April 3rd – Bike Leader Training

This event is co-sponsored by Bike Pittsburgh and The Western Pennslyvania Field Institute (www.wpfi.org). Learn the fundamentals of safely and efficiently leading bike rides and tours. Topics to be covered include: riding in traffic, setting an appropriate pace, group dynamics, managing traffic patterns, assessing safe traffic routes, and acting as lead or sweep within a group. This will be a practical course – we can apply the skills learned on the April 11 and April 24 Urban Advocacy/Neighborhood Bike Tours.

To sign up for this event, visit: (www.wpfi.org) or call: (412) 255-0564.

Event Day: Saturday, April 3rd
Event Location: Millvale Trail Head – near Millvale Riverfront Park (parking lot)
Event Time: 10:00am – 2:00pm
Cost: $10 WPFI and Bike Pittsburgh Members, $12 All Others

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: Point Park College – Located in Downtown Pittsburgh at 201 Wood Street. There are several bike racks located on the corner of Wood Street and Blvd. of the Allies.

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. black fucking teen moviesmovie teen thirteenteeny moviesswimming the movie poolfuck movies throatmovies titmansmovie clips hentai top 100 animetop movie quotes gun Map