Bicycles @ City Council on Wed., & News from Montpelier Bikes

[Going Green]

Montpelier Bikes Project • June 2009

News, Announcements, & Ways to Get Involved

• • • • •  Please come to Montpelier City Council to support bicycling - Wednesday (tomorrow) at 7 pm! • • • • •  

Montpelier City Council will discuss bicycling infrastructure, possible bike lanes, and a bicycle network.   Bicyclists are strongly encouraged to attend the meeting @ 7 pm on Wednesday June 10 at City Hall - this is the first agenda item.  

Montpelier Bikes will present on potential addition of bike lanes to the Route 2/302 paving being done this summer, and preliminary support for funding a bicycle network, to include bicycle lanes, shared lane markings, bicycle shelters, bicycle lockers, and improving a few key missing links.  Citizen turnout for this meeting will help to propel bicycle improvements in Montpelier.  Please bring your bike helmet into the meeting, or get a bicycle lapel sticker on the way in, to show your support (you need not speak, but your presence will make a difference.)  For more information, please see: www.montpelierbikes.org

 

• • • • •  Montpelier Bikes Website • • • • •  

If you noticed the new web address above - yes, it's true - Montpelier Bikes has the new website www.montpelierbikes.org

• • • • •  Bike to Brunch Series • Sunday AM Rides • • • • •  

For those who view bicycling as transport as well as sport, we offer this destination-based series of rides, at a casual-touring pace.  Each of these ride is on a Sunday AM. Lycra optional; street clothes welcome.  If you have never gone on a "group ride," these are for you.  Rides may include a few instructional tips enroute.  Kids on trailers/trail-a-bikes, or solo as listed on the schedule - online at http://www.montpelierbikes.org/bike-to-brunch

This Sunday, June 14, there will be an all-ages 10-12 mile ride, kids 9+ with parents, followed by brunch at Kismet and/or Hunger Mountain Coop.  See schedule above for details.

• • • • •  Superheros Ride Comes to Vermont • Do you want to be a superhero?  • • • • •  

August - 8th through 22nd.  The Vermont Superheros ride is a service-based two week pedaling experiment in building community, muscles and fun! It has been around for 9 years and has traveled through at least 14 different areas across the U.S..  It is not likely to be in Vermont again for many years.  This spontaneous ride does not have a sag wagon and is open to all curious adventurers!
  

The ride departs from Burlington, and will wind through the Northeast Kingdom.  New Superheros will participate in training (required) and preparation the weekend of Aug 8-9 and the ride will depart on Monday, Aug 10, riding about 35 miles per day and stopping in communities to do service projects along the way.  The service projects will be a mix of spontaneous and planned.  The Superheros will pedal the way north through the northeast kingdom in Vermont, aiming for the Bread & Puppet Farm in Glover to help with one of their sunday capoodles!  Riders that are raring to go should call 510-375-1657 to find out more about the Vermont ride and meeting place and times.  Here's an article about past Superhero rides, and Vermont ride organizer, Superhero Rabbi Yikes (aka Melanie Grubman) - http://www.sierraclub.org/sierra/200607/one_small_step.asp

• • • • •  Dirt Divas Mountain Bike Program • Montpelier -  June 29- July 2 @ U32 Middle/High School • • • • •  

Dirt Divas is coming to Montpelier!  Dirt Divas is fun, challenging, and a different kind of experience for girls. You’ll learn everything you need to know to mountain bike with success and get to hang out with an awesome group of girls. Dirt Divas is for girls going into 6th, 7th, and 8th grade.  Montpelier program offered via local partner Community Connections.  Registration deadline is June 10; after that, contact to see if space is available.  http://www.girlsmovemountains.org/dirt_divas_.html

• • • • •  Bike Buddies through Onion River Exchange • • • • •  

Montpelier Bikes is offering "bike buddy" services through Onion River Exchange.  Would you like a mentor in determining your best route, a few one-on-one cycling tips, or help fixing your bike?  Or do you have a friend or neighbor who might appreciate such tips?  Check out the Bike Buddy listings at Onion River Exchange - http://www.orexchange.org

• • • • •  Bike Parking at Hunger Mountain Coop • • • • •  

This summer, Hunger Mountain Coop will purchase some new, better bicycle racks!  If you are appreciative of this move, please fill out a comment card, or talk to Co-op manager Kari Bradley.  The next step, we hope, is the addition of a bicycle shelter, TBD next year. Over the winter, Montpelier Bikes worked with Hunger Mountain Co-op to develop a concept for a bicycle shelter.  Becka Roolf of Going Green L3C, Ben Graham of Natural Building Design, and architect Tom Good all collaborated to develop the bicycle shelter concept.  Hunger Mountain Coop decided to hold off on the project for this year, but we are hopeful that they will move forward next year.  For more information, and to view one of the concept sketches developed, please see:  http://www.montpelierbikes.org/projects/bicycle-shelters-lockers#Coop

• • • • •  Montpelier Safe Routes to School Program Receives Grant • • • • •  

With assistance from Montpelier Bikes steering committee members Bill Merrylees and Becka Roolf, the Montpelier Safe Routes to School Program received a second VTrans Safe Routes to School Grant to promote walking/biking to school.  The program will focus on creating a sustainable parent-based network supporting walking and bicycling to school.  Parent coordinator Barry McPhee, also coordinator of the Montpelier Energy Team, is currently looking for parent interest in organizing weekly walking school buses, starting after the school year gets going in September 2009.  Look for more about walking/biking to school next fall!  For more information, contact Barry at 229-5120 or bmcph...@yahoo.ie     

• • • • •  Could You Host a Bicycle Sign in Your Yard? • • • • •  

Montpelier Bikes is looking for sign "hosts" who live along main streets in town - especially Northfield St., Towne Hill Rd.,Berlin St., and State St. near the creemee stand.  If you live along one of these streets, please let us know if you would be willing to put a sign in your yard this summer, and store it somewhere safely for the winter to put back up next spring.  Want to see what the sign looks like?  See: http://montpelierbikes.blogspot.com/2008/06/could-you-host-bicycle-sign-in-your.html

If you can host a sign, please email in...@goinggreenvt.com

Montpelier Bikes formed in 2007 as a subcommittee of the Montpelier Energy Team.  Our steering committee includes representatives from Onion River Sports, the Montpelier Downtown Community Association, consulting firm Going Green, Community Connections / Montpelier Safe Routes to School, FreeRide, and local citizens.  The Montpelier Bikes Project is funded with a grant from the Mazur Foundation, and with the support of the City of Montpelier. 

More info: http://montpelierbikes.org  To be added or removed from the list, please email: pe...@montpelierbikes.org

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