Charlotte Bike Commuter's Lunch - Wednesday, June 27, 2012

[Bike Mentor]

Uptown bike commuters will be getting together for LUNCH at Lola's on Brevard on Wednesday, June 27, 2012, between 11:30 am and 12:30 pm or so. Lola's on Brevard is located at the corner of S. Brevard St. and Martin Luther King, Jr., Blvd, diagonally across the street from the NASCAR museum.  While I'm sure most of us will be walking there from our offices, if you think to, please bring your helmet, and if you are the first to arrive, grab a table and place your helmet in the middle so the rest of us will see you. If you are not first, look for the table with the helmet in the middle.  If you're a new bike commuter, or want to learn how you can get started, this is a wonderful opportunity to meet other bike commuters and ask them questions.  

Green bike lanes? You bet!  It's been eight years or so ago that a major rebuild of Central Ave was done from just west of Eastway to Sharon-Amity that incorporated bike lanes.  While I have never had any problems riding in these bike lanes, many of my eastside friends say they would never ride in the Central Ave. bike lanes.  The most common reason?  "Have you seen how the cars just wander in and out of those bike lanes?  I'd get hit!"  Well, maybe that will change someday if the city decides to include Central Ave in it's new program to paint select bike lanes green.  This method, which has been used in other large cities in the U.S., is meant to make the bike lanes highly visible to motorists, hopefully raising their level of awareness relative to cyclists when they are driving on streets with these specially marked bike lanes.  A good article on the new markings, along with pictures of the first one in downtown Charlotte, is located on UNCC's Urban Institute website at http://plancharlotte.org/story/charlotte-green-bicycle-bike-lanes

  

An opportunity to help young and new cyclists learn safe cycling:  It's been wonderful the past ten years to see the number of folks using their bikes to get around town increase.  But I am often dismayed at their bad cycling behavior--riding on the wrong side of the road, running red lights, riding with no lights in the dark, etc.--and am concerned for their safety and how they are shaping public perception of cyclists.  So I am delighted to see one Charlotte community approaching the cycling community about coming out to train children and adults on how to properly, and SAFELY, ride their bikes.  Dick Winters, who is the county coordinator for the Safe Routes to School program, has volunteered to take the lead on this, and is soliciting volunteers not only for this specific opportunity, but also have their names put on a list for future teaching opportunities.  The details and background are contained in the forwarded e-mails (below).  If you're interested in being a part of this, please shoot an e-mail to Dick Winters.  

  

Next Get-Togethers

Friday, July 13, 7:00 AM, Lola's on Brevard  (corner of S. Brevard St. and Martin Luther King, Jr, Blvd)

Wednesday, July 25, 11:30 AM, Lola's on Brevard  (corner of S. Brevard St. and Martin Luther King, Jr, Blvd)

And don’t forget the Charlotte Bicycle Commuter Mentor Program web site at www.bikementor.org 

Ed Moyers

 

Notes on this email: This email was sent to approximately 200 Charlotte bicycle commuters. The email is sent using the “blind-copy” feature so that no one may copy your email address and use it without your authorization.

 

Begin forwarded message:

From: "Winters, Dick" <Richard...@carolinashealthcare.org>

Date: June 22, 2012 3:53:52 PM EDT

To: "Ben Miller " <bgmi...@charlottenc.gov>, Jeff Viscount <je...@weeklyrides.com>, "Peter Levinson " <roth...@aol.com>, Spencer Lueders <lueders...@gmail.com>, Pamela Murray <pj...@carolina.rr.com>, Matt Belles <matthew...@cms.k12.nc.us>, Steve Doolittle <st...@coolbreezecyclery.com>, "Bart Stetler (ba...@queencitybicycles.com)" <ba...@queencitybicycles.com>, Ben Cooley <b...@bicyclesport.com>, "Kevin Kennedy " <ke...@cluckdesign.com>, Shane Hockensmith <bike...@bellsouth.net>, Mark Sullivan <thecyc...@bellsouth.net>, Ann Groninger <a...@cjglawfirm.com>, Jim Grover <James....@transamerica.com>, Neal Boyd <neal...@charlottesportscycling.com>, Ken Tippette <ktip...@charlottenc.gov>, "Ed Moyers (home)" <eph...@mindspring.com>, "Ed Moyers (work)" <ekmo...@duke-energy.com>, Alan Lyon <alan...@wachovia.com>, Alex Vuchnich <avuc...@agvcpa.com>, Cindy Patton <cmpa...@bellsouth.net>, Dempsey Miller <dem...@dempseymiller.com>, Harry Johnson <harryj...@att.net>, Keith Caviness <keff...@carolina.rr.com>, "Maya Edwards " <maya...@aol.com>, Paula Fricke <Fric...@aol.com>, "Susan Shackelford " <sps...@aol.com>, "Susan Shackelford (mil...@schneider.com)" <mil...@schneider.com>, Weldon Weaver <weldon...@yahoo.com>, "Jon Harding " <jonathan...@gmail.com>, Keith Sorensen <k...@planning.indiantrail.org>, Keith Sorensen <pedal...@gmail.com>, "Tobe Holmes " <horace...@gmail.com>, "Tobe Holmes (work)" <tho...@charlottecentercity.org>, Andrew Pike <acp...@gmail.com>, "Ann Gabrielson " <tank3...@gmail.com>, "Ben Miller " <bgmi...@charlottenc.gov>, Celia Gray <cg...@ci.charlotte.nc.us>, "Chris Gladora " <cgla...@hotmail.com>, "D. C. Lucchesi " <dcluc...@gmail.com>, "D.C. Lucchesi" <d...@runforyourlife.com>, Hal Bouton <hbo...@bellsouth.net>, Haley Beaupre <haleyb...@gmail.com>, Jane Cacchione <cycle...@yahoo.com>, Jane Wasilewski <JWasi...@smeinc.com>, Ken Tippette <ktip...@ci.charlotte.nc.us>, Scott Kusel <fas...@carolina.rr.com>, Andrew Tucker <andre...@att.net>, "James Collins " <cosmo8...@gmail.com>, "Mike Lopez " <mplo...@gmail.com>, "Paul Cunningham " <singlet...@gmail.com>

Subject: FW: bike safety class

Dear Charlotte Bicycling Ambassadors,

 

This request started with an email to Martin and CABA.  He forwarded it on to Weldon and me.  I’m sending it to all of you because I don’t see it being limited to just one or two local bike groups.  And I’m hoping that all of you see the same opportunity I do: teaching area kids and parents how to ride and be safe on bikes.  I also know that an initiative like this isn’t going to go anywhere without a sufficient number of dedicated and enthusiastic volunteers to help conduct these “camps” (still open to what want to call these events!).  I am taking on the task of putting together a rough outline of the topics to be covered during these workshops.  They will be items that all of us as experienced cyclists already know and do.  We just want to make sure we pass them on to the kids and parents.

 

I’d like to hear from as many of you and your organizations as possible who want to help build a cadre of “bike ambassadors” who would be able and willing to offer these clinics to neighborhoods, churches, or other groups that are interested.  This, to me, will be our pilot and will have to be cobbled together pretty quickly.  I think the model is workable, especially if there are enough of us that no one person or group has to carry the weight of the whole initiative.

 

And please feel free to recruit others.

 

I think this is a new and significant part of what can be the area’s overall initiative to get more people on bikes.  I see the sessions being no longer than 2 hours, if that, not requiring equipment other than the kids and parents bringing bikes and helmets, not requiring a classroom since on-bike time will be emphasized and be easy to teach.  The easy to teach part means that more people who have an interest in educating kids and parents can be involved because we’re not looking at a long, dawn-out certification process for the ambassadors.

 

So, let me know if you’re in and can help get this pilot off the ground…30-50 kids and parents is going to be much more than difficult for me to pull off alone!

 

Thanks.

 

Dick Winters

Built Environment, SRTS Coordinator

Mecklenburg County Health Dept

249 Billingsley Rd, Charlotte, NC 28211

704 432-4596 work - 704 236-8257 cell

 

"Work to eat, eat to live, live to ride, ride to work!" from The Immortal Class

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From: Winters, Dick 
Sent: Friday, June 22, 2012 3:06 PM
To: 'Karin Lukas-Cox'
Subject: RE: bike safety class

 

Karin,

 

Sounds great and you did get the right picture.  This may be implied, but we may need to remind kids and parents to bring their own helmets and bikes, even if they have training wheels on them.  We can have the parents take them off or we can do it when they get there.  And, no one rides without a helmet, parents included!

 

If you find out that kids would like to come, but don’t have bikes or helmets, we may be able to work around that.

 

Thanks for including the bike drive.

 

Dick Winters

Built Environment, SRTS Coordinator

Mecklenburg County Health Dept

249 Billingsley Rd, Charlotte, NC 28211

704 432-4596 work - 704 236-8257 cell

 

"Work to eat, eat to live, live to ride, ride to work!" from The Immortal Class

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From: Karin Lukas-Cox [mailto:karinl...@yahoo.com] 
Sent: Friday, June 22, 2012 1:57 PM
To: Winters, Dick
Subject: Re: bike safety class

 

Hello Dick,

Our neighborhood is excited about this class! The Mountainbrook Civic Association, the Swim and Racquet Club as well as the Park Foundation are interested.

The best date would be the weekend before labor day - Saturday or Sunday August 25th. I think Sunday afternoon would be the best time since people are less busy with errands and sports.

 

Here is the blurb I send to the neighborhood volunteers. I hope I got the right picture.

 

"I just talked to Dick Winters of The Charlotte Area Bicycle Alliance (CABA), who would organize this event.

Here is what we kind of zoomed into.

1) Date: last weekend before school starts or the weekend before Labor Day - either Saturday or Sunday afternoon.
2) Target audience: kids and parents
3) Topics: 
    not-yet-riders: how to learn easily to ride a bike without training wheels
    already riders (and parents): basic safety when riding on road alone and with group, as well basic technical safety with bike
4) Time: 2 hours 
5) location: at pool parking lot and then ride through neighborhood (applying what learned)
6) Additional activity: Drop off of used bicycle and equipment as donation for "Trips for kids" (http://tripsforkidscharlotte.org/) - a charity providing mentoring for under privileged children through bike riding"

 

 

Let me know if the date is good for you. The earlier we can set a date and time for this, the sooner the two neighborhood organizations can advertise and ask folks to RSVP so we can get a better head count.  My "colleagues" confirmed that we should expect 30-50 people.

 

Stay cool during your morning rides,

Thanks

Karin

 

 

From: Karin Lukas-Cox <karinl...@yahoo.com>
To: "richard...@carolinashealthcare.org" <richard...@carolinashealthcare.org> 
Sent: Wednesday, June 20, 2012 2:40 PM
Subject: bike safety class

 

Hello Dick

 

I have this suspicion that you have been trying unsuccessfully to call me regarding a bike safety class for our neighborhood in Mountainbrook for end of August.

In case you have and were unsuccessful, please try again at 704 552 2812.

I (at home mother with kids) am usually at home 8-9 and then again 10-2. We are in an out a lot.

If my suspicion was wrong and you simply have been busy - apologies....

Call me whenever you get a chance. 

You can also leave a message when would be a good time for me to call you back

Thanks

Karin (Lukas-Cox)

 

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[Hunt, Alan]

Hi Ed,

 

As I have said before, other than the people, the main thing that I miss about Charlotte is my bike commute. You sure are doing a nice job with the Commuter emails and I appreciate you keeping me on the distribution. I also follow the Google News Group and it looks like the bike commuters are as active as ever.

 

Hope you and your family are doing well.

 

Alan Hunt
Operations Engineering

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