For immediate release Contact: Kelley Segars, AICP
4-28-05 (865) 215-3815
Celebrated Cyclist Coming to Knoxville
Transcontinental cyclist and National Bicycle Greenway (NBG) Scout, Concetta Curtis will arrive in Knoxville, TN to meet with Mayor Bill Haslam as a part of the 4th Annual National Mayors' Ride. Concetta, the recent survivor of a broken back and a respected hi tech consultant, left Florida with the blessings of Miami Mayor Manny Diaz and Tallahassee Mayor John Marks. Before she arrives here, she also will have collected the support of Atlanta Mayor Shirley Franklin and been featured with other celebrities, including a state senator, Mrs. US Globe 2004, Lance Armstrong and hundreds of professional racing cyclists at the Roswell Criterium, a bike race near Atlanta that has exploded on to the international racing circuit in the last few years.
Nor has Concetta needed the publicity of a star studded bike race to get her own mission into the bright lights. Her infectious personality, which you can hear in the Podcasts (broadcast quality audio that, in this case involves interviews, that is placed on line) the National Bicycle Greenway regularly does with her, has helped to endear her with all those she has touched. And as they root for her to press on to Washington DC and then San Francisco, she will symbolically join the hundreds of other cyclists who will have been a part of a ride that will have left all four corners of the US and visited 53 major US Cities while doing so.
The National Bicycle Greenway is calling for a network of interconnected bike friendly roads and bicycle pathways that will connect cyclists to major US cities and the businesses and attractions within those cities. The city of Knoxville has been selected for a visit because it has begin to show the kind of progress that will make it a worthy part of the NBG's first wave of networked cities.
Come to Knoxville City Hall at 1:30 on Thursday, May 5th and help send Concetta's message to Roanoke, VA before she then begins her journey west from Washington DC. More info: BikeRoute.com
NYC Power Proclamation Sets Lead for American Cities
Just got the text for the Mayor's proclamation that will be issued in New York City at Battery Park on Friday 5/6 at noon! This is too exciting, especially when you consider the fact that NYC is probably the most influential city in the world. For better or for worse, the lead they they set is often followed by cities all over America and the world. From skyscrapers to signature city parks (Central Park), theirs have always been among the first. Even America's freeways and urban renewal movements all had their basis in New York. And it wasn't until after Robert Moses had nearly covered the Big Apple with expressways and destroyed whole neighborhoods as he displaced 3/4 of a million people so he could build even more roads, that New Yorkers finally began to look inward; to understand the importance of community.
In the following words (and the **epic** biking report that follows them), we can see how they are making it safe to use the bicycle to recreate and work in and amongst one another. They show us that the City of New York now fully embraces bicycling as a serious form of transportation. While there is much work to be done, New York City officials are at least showing other cities what they can do to keep themselves from spiraling down the same dark staircase from which they are now climbing out of:
========= NYC proclamation text ===========
Whereas: Aside from being a wonderful way to more viscerally enjoy the sights, sounds, and sensations of spring, bicycling significantly improves the quality of life in New York City. Bikes have long been the preferred vehicle of the young, but those of us who thought we outgrew our bicycles the day we received our driver's license should reconsider our youthful enthusiasm for pedal-powered locomotion. Bicycling produces no air or noise pollution, decreases traffic congestion, and saves energy, which is reason enough for all New Yorkers to consider biking when making transportation decisions. Furthermore, bicycling is a low-cost means of travel that offers invaluable health benefits. We may live in a world dominated by the automobile, but the bicycle is far from antiquated.
Whereas: In 1987, a group of dedicated bicycle enthusiasts began working to transform their dream of a nationwide network of bike-friendly roads and paths into reality. Once completed, the National Bicycle Greenway will connect major cities, enhance cycling safety, and bolster the viability of bicycle travel. The NBG National Mayor's Ride is a fun and engaging way to promote the Greenway and safe cycling. Weeks ago, riders set off from the four corners of America on a journey that includes stops in 52 major U.S. cities. Today New York City invites the NBG contingent arriving from Boston to hop off their bikes, stretch their sore legs, enjoy the view from Battery Park, and join us in celebrating the joys of bicycle travel.
Whereas: H.G. Wells said, "Every time I see an adult on a bicycle, I no longer despair for the future of the human race." New Yorkers second this sentiment, and take this opportunity to extend their gratitude to NBG, Recycle a Bicycle, and Transportation Alternatives, home to Noah Budnick, the dedicated activist who suffered injuries while working on behalf of his fellow cyclists. We join these worthy organizations and their supporters in wishing all of those involved in the Mayor's Ride the best of luck in their two-wheeled journey to a healthier, happier, and greener future.
Now therefore, I, Michael R. Bloomberg, Mayor of the City of New York, in recognition of this important event, do hereby proclaim Friday, May 6, 2005 in the City of New York as
"National Bicycle Greenway Day"
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And as we said yesterday:
Date: Wed, 27 Apr 2005 10:50:34 -0700
From: "Cycle America/Nat Bicycle Greenway (NBG)"
Subject: New York City: Bikes Taken Very Seriously
We asked the people in New York City to fill out our Biking Report Card questionnaire. And what they sent back will fully astound you:
http://www.bikeroute.com/NationalMayorsRide2005/NYC/NewYorkCityBiking.html
What it shows is that bicycling is a hugely important part of the transportation mix! And when NYC Sports Commissioner Ken Podziba once again present's Mayor Bloomberg's amazing proclamation stressing their city's commitment to cycling, we will all be able to see that his are far more than just words!!!
In New York City, Bikes Are Taken Very Seriously Indeed!!
This is awesome Nick and I am just now letting our riders in on just one of the many ways you are making sure 5/20 Morgantown NBG Day is a huge success!!
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At 10:18 PM -0400 4/27/05, Nick Hein wrote:
NBG Friends,
It's ben an eventful day. I gave the talk at Rotary Club this morning with
John Lozier then caught a bus to work (My stop is across the street from
where I gave the talk), I did rocket science all day and then had a flying
lesson after work (my first in 23 years) before biking home 15 miles.
The meeting at Rotary went wonderfully, although I need to polish my speaking, I tried to cover too many topics and didn't give NBG all the time I should have. However, I did put in a good plug for bicycling as a good foundation for a community and a good thing for a service organization to get behind. At the end of the meeting Gerry Ferraro (editor of the Dominion Post) slipped me her business card and asked me to email her so she can personally see that NBG day gets all the attention it deserves. (!)
That will be my next email.
I'm still looking for a volunteer to find a someplace to donate printing for flyers and posters. Contact me if you can do it.
I've been invited to speak to Kiwanis Club too, I'll let you know how that goes.
Thanks for your help.
Nick Hein
Morgantown, WV
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And it does look like John thought you did great:
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At 5:04 PM -0400 4/28/05, John Lozier wrote:
Nick was terrific at the Rotary Club yesterday. His style is always very friendly and positive. We had brought three bikes - two recumbents and a collapsable. The audience was very interested in everything.
The topic was "What bikes can do for your community, and what YOU can do for bicycles." Nick affirms the rights of bicycles and the benefit to all when bikes are used. The best thing people can do to support bicycling is to promote mass transit (with bicycle racks). He laments the absence of safe streets for kids to ride to school.
Regarding young people and bicycle construction he remarked "it is amazing what can happen when you put a blazing torch in the hands of a hyperactive teenager." On bike safety he said he gives himself three outs: he "stands out" where people can see him, he "watches out" all around himself, and he "leaves himself an out" if something unexpected happens.
I think he brought out the hidden bike-rider in a lot of the club members.
Nick did great, but I screwed up. I forgot to take any photos, after Nick handed me a camera for the purpose. I was just so absorbed in everything else that was going on.
Best regards,
John
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Here's John's bio
Here's Nick's bio
Morgantown NBG Day is at: http://www.bikeroute.com/NationalMayorsRide2005/2005East-West.html
We are off and running as our 4th Annual National Mayors' Ride began Friday April 20 from Miami. And as our very own Peace Pilgrim, Concetta Curtis, lifts the spirits of all those who are flocking to help her with her ride, the phone interviews we are doing with her have at long last begun to reach broadcast quality. And this is huge. It wasn't until Joe Monzel at the Palo Alto Apple store suggested I try a different setting in one of the pieces of software I am using to make this happen (I use four and there are literally dozens of settings) that I was able to give both voices equal strength. Why is this such big news?
Now you can do other things with your computer while you tune into our ride! For that matter you don't have to be at your computer at all. You can download our Podcasts onto your MP3 player and listen to them on your way home, on the train or on your bike, at the gym or whenever you have time. And talk about entertainment! Now you can hear the real life magic of our adventure as it occurs. With this exciting new medium, the emotion and color in our riders' voices will let you vicariously ride with them. This as you hear the wind and the cars, even the people visiting the stores of urban and backroad America!
This will also allow me to let you hear some of the people you have seen me write about for years now as we build the NBG and the National Mayors' Ride. Look for interviews with Ro Fischer, Pittsburgh Mayor Tom Murphy's senior aide, TransAm vets, Andrew Morton (our computer wizard), Don Loomis (our TransAmerica routing magician), Skot Paschal (our Pocket Mail poet), Joe Richey (Never say Die) and Max Chen (Artistry in Steel), etc, etc. Heck we might even try to get Andrew Heckman, the man who nearly lost his life for the NBG, to say a few words!!
To a whole new level we soar!! Yahoo!! Yahoo!! Yahoo!!!!
Southeast Flank
A) Miami Mayor helps us Kick Off 2005 National Mayors' Ride
B) Miami Herald features our ride and the NBG
C) Concetta Captured Again on Audio (Pre-Broadcast Quality)
D) Tampa NBG Day stars NBG Pilgrim - Concetta Curtis
E) Power On Cycling also has kudos for Concetta
F) Oehl family & Suncoast Cycling celebrate Concetta
G) Fred Foxx Invites Concetta
H) Organic Engine Dan Plans a Hearty Welcome for Concetta
I) Tallahassee Completes Biking Report Card!
J) Roswell NBG Day?
K) Roswell Mayor a Bike Activist
L) Atlanta Bicycle Campaign Rox Atlata - Gets on Board for NBG Day
M) Knoxville Mayor a cyclist
N) Knoxville Completes Biking Report Card!
Northeast Flank
A) Boston Completes Biking Report Card!
B) Boston Bike Fest Director Powering out Boston NBG Day
C) Noah Budnick Begins long journey back from head injury
D) Transportation Alternatives to publicize NYC Noah Budnick NBG Day
E) NYC DOT working on NYC Biking Report Card
East to West
A) Morgantown to Pittsburgh route on Line
B) Nick Hein holding meetings for ride - sets up mailing list
C) Morgantown NBG Day News Release
D) Nick Hein to help Concetta find free lodging in DC
E) Marty Wilson returns for Folsom to Davis HiWheel Run
Southwest Flank
inactive
Northwest Flank
inactive
NBG General:
A) Repost: How to Run an NBG Day event
B) Repost: NationalBicycleGreenway.com Blog Moderator wanted
C) Repost: 2005 riders order your FREE sunglasses from SlipNot Eyewear
D) Repost: Individual 2005 NBG Rider Business Cards now Available !!
E) Repost: 2005 riders order your FREE Copy of "How to Bike America"
F) Repost: Find a Ride Partner - Place an ad at our classifieds
Southeast Flank
A) Miami Mayor Manny Diaz, a personal friend of Backsafer Recumbent Bicycle CEO, Paul Lester, sent Concetta Curtis off on her long journey to us here in San Francisco, as the 2005 National Mayors' Ride began on Friday April 15 in Miami. Miami-Dade bike coordinator, Dave Henderson, who was also on hand with Paul and others of the Mayor's staff, then got on his bike and graciously escorted Concetta to the edge of the city. She tells us it was a great boost as she continued on to the roads that would take her to Tampa. If you get there soon, we have the great Miami NBG Day photo that their city photographer, Jorge Perez, took of the event at the Cycle America home page: http://www.bikeroute.com where we we get more than a million unique visitors a month!
You can also see this photo and learn more about Miami at http://www.bikeroute.com/NationalMayorsRide2005/2005SE.html
B) And before we got there, as we talked about in our last newsletter, the Miami Herald did a features about our ride and the NBG, Here is what their ace journalist Desonta Holder created for us:
http://nbg.bikeroute.com/News/Archives/week_2005_04_10.php#000318
And as a not-to-be-overlooked BTW, it was Backsafer Paul that made this article a reality. Not only does he know the Mayor but he is also friends with the Miami Herald publisher!!!
C) I an still working out the kinks but I have two more of the short interviews I've enjoyed with Concetta on line:
Go to: http://www.radio4all.net/pub/files/NBG@bikeroute.com/1680-1-20050423-Concetta4-22-05.mp3
and
http://www.radio4all.net/pub/files/NBG@bikeroute.com/1680-1-20050421-Concetta4-21-05.mp3
I apologize for the faintness of her voice but all of the subsequent interviews will not be plagued by this problem and promise that these exchanges that I will post regularly at her site http://www.bikeroute.com/ConcettaCurtis will GREATLY improve .
D) Everyone loved Concetta in Tampa as well!! Here is the description that Tampa Greenways Powerhouse, Mary Helen Duke, sent me:
========================================
At 12:20pm today, Sally Thompson, Chair of the Tampa Greenways & Trails Citizens Advisory Committee greeted Conchetta Curtis on her trek from Miami, Florida to downtown Tampa. Other well wishers included: Karla Price, City of Tampa Landscape Architect III and "architect" of the Tampa Greenways & Trails Master Plan (adopted by City Council in February of 2001); Mary Helen Duke, Tampa's Greenways & Trails Coordinator; Belinda of the SunCoast Bicycle Club; and Mark Powers and his wife of Power On Cycling. Ms. Thompson presented Concetta with the Mayor's proclamation and lauded her for her efforts to instill development of a nation-wide bicycle greenway system.
Concetta is a great spokesperson on behalf of the National Bicycle Greenway Mayor's Ride.
========================================
See some of the many great pictures that the Take Charge, extremely capable Mary Helen Duke took of their Tampa NBG day at : http://www.bikeroute.com/NationalMayorsRide2005/2005SE.html
E) Even Mark Power, of Power On Cycling, a man normally very careful about his words, gushed about Concetta when he sent me this post:
========================================
It was nice helping Concetta out. She's an excellent representative for the cause and a true free spirit.
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And all I can say is I can't agree more. Concetta is a very bright light who takes a lot of her inspiration from the Peace Pilgrim who from 1953 to 1981 walked more than 25,000 miles all over America on a personal pilgrimage for peace.
According to the Peace Pilgrim website:
========================================
(the Peace Pilgrim was) a silver haired woman calling herself only "Peace Pilgrim" (who) had vowed to "remain a wanderer until mankind has learned the way of peace, walking until given shelter and fasting until given food." In the course of her 28 year pilgrimage she touched the hearts, minds, and lives of thousands of individuals all across North America. Her message was both simple and profound. It continues to inspire people all over the world
http://www.peacepilgrim.org
F) I just received this from Concetta's Tampa hosts, Georg & Belita Oehl:
========================================
I am just glad we could help. She is an incredible person. We had a wonderful time together and it was hard to let her go. We have found a true friend in Concetta. We both wanted to join her on her trip. It is something I have always wanted to do. She is fun to be with and great with kids. I encourage anyone along her route to take her in and get to know her as we did. We will be following her tire tracks as she moves from state to state and cheering her on until she gets to the west coast.
Blessings,
Belita Oehl
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G) When Concetta reaches Tallahassee, she will be received by Tallahassee sponsor Dan Kavanagh, of Organic Engines. Dan tells me that he and his buddies will show her around his city and also make sure she is warmly accommodated while she is there!! The Organic Engines web:
H) One of our NBG Southeast Regional Reps, Fred Foxx, copied me on an email he sent to Concetta inviting her to share a meal with him and his wife as well as a place to stay!
I) Tallahassee Bike Coordinator, Jack Kostrzej, filled out the Tallahassee Biking Report Card! And he did it lickety-split, as in no sooner had we asked him, than he got something back to us:
http://www.bikeroute.com/NationalMayorsRide2005/Tallahassee/TallahasseeBiking.html
J) Ever heard of Roswell? No, I'm not talking about the location of the New Mexico UFO sightings. I'm talking about a town about 20 miles north of Atlanta that is lobbying hard to be recognized by the League of American Bicyclists as a Bicycle Friendly City. And they are doing such a good job that Fred Foxx (talked about above) feels we should visit them when we leave Atlanta. They even have their own web site dedicated to showing off how much traction cyclists have in their town: http://bikeroswell.com . I am talking with Frank Eastland, one of the Bike Roswell directors about the mechanics of our producing a Roswell NBG Day. And will soon let you know!!
K) Nor does it hurt that the Roswell Mayor is a Bike Activist. Jere Wood is legend in this area as a two wheel shaker and mover!! Yahooo!!
L) I was almost ready to resign myself to the fact that Atlanta was about suburb cycling when Frank Eastland told me about the Atlanta Bicycle Campaign (ABC). And, led by Dennis Hoffarth, ABC Rox! You see, Atlanta does not have a bike coordinator and no one in city government there was aware there was anyone in Atlanta doing anything to improve the lot of their local two wheelers. Ah, but what do Car People know.
The Atlanta Bicycle Campaign has 1500 members, three full time staff and two part time employees. And Mayor Shirley Franklin has even been to a couple of ABC events!! WoW! Dennis plans to have an Atlanta Biking Report Card ready for me soon and they will be present and maybe even say a few word at Atlanta NBG Day!!
See the Atlanta Bicycle Campaign at: http://atlantabike.org
M) Not only is the Roswell Mayor an active cyclist, but so is the Knoxville Mayor! According to Knoxville Bike Coordinator, Kelley Segars, her Mayor, Bill Haslam, rides his bike. And according to her he does so quite a bit!
N) Having cycled through Knoxville in 1986, I can say they have come a very long way from their cycling darkness. Three things tell me this is so. First of all they have a City Bike Coordinator. Second, Kelley made it a number one priority to see to it that she returned our Biking Report Card questionnaire right away and third, do a take a look:
http://www.bikeroute.com/NationalMayorsRide2005/Knoxville/KnoxvilleBiking.html
They've even got a bike map and are starting to add bike lanes and etc!!
Northeast Flank
A) Boston is all over it as well. Committed to building bicycles back into its transportation mix, even without a city bike coordinator, a handful of groups there are pushing hard for the two wheel way of life. Dorie Clark of Mass Bike, got her feet back on the ground long enough, she's been on a coast to coast tour attending bike meetings and seminars, to help us get a Report Card out for Boston Biking. And it looks like there is a bicycle there there!!!!
http://www.bikeroute.com/NationalMayorsRide2005/Boston/BostonBiking.html
B) Steve Miller of the Boston Bike Fest has been busy getting our event together. He tells me they will start at 4:30 PM on May 3 in City Hall Plaza. According to Steve, the Mayor can't be there, but the chief planner from the Traffic Department will come in his stead. There will also be some kids from the Bikes Not Bomb's workshops, some people from MassBike, and the Boston Bicycle Planning Initiative, at least one HiWheeler, and hopefully others.
He also plans to use next week to start getting the word out on the streets and to begin his media outreach. Thank you Steve Miller!!
C) In our last newsletter, we talked about how well liked Transportation Alternatives (TA) activist, Noah Budnick, was severely head injured while biking on one of New York's bridge approaches. While everyone I have talked to thinks that the bad stuff is behind him now that he has regained consciousness, especially since he has stabilized well enough to be moved to another hospital, there are few who understand the catastrophic nature of his setback. Being a head injury survivor myself, as I say in the news release below, though we may not wear the visible signs of the trauma that has been visited upon us, for a good number of years afterwards, our lives have almost all ended up being a living hell - a world of torture filled with a word I hate to use: CAN'T.....
When suddenly the most basic of life skills becomes immediately difficult there is no worse punishment. For example, short term memory is a common side effect and yet when it is so severe that you can't remember where you are, who you are or how you got there, you suddenly become hopelessly dependent on others. Forgetting names can also be expected but not being able to remember a conversation that you actively participated a few hours or days before can place you in a much vulnerable position. And while each and every brain trauma is different, deficits (limping, trembling, stuttering, slobbering, etc) are almost always a part of the territory. And along with them come mood swings, inappropriate social behavior and depression.
None of any of this will show to the untrained eye, but any time the brain undergoes trauma, one's ability to focus will be greatly compromised as the victim tries to think outside of all the struggles he or she will suddenly be required to face. So as Noah begins his long journey back from head injury, we have got to take over where he left off....
D) Paul White of NYC Transportation alternatives broke away from the front lines long enough to talk about the mechanics of how we can honor Noah Budnick when we arrive at Battery Park on May 6 for NYC NBG Day. He also helped me craft the following news release that he will send out to his members:
========================================
Come to Noah Budnick NYC NBG Day 5/6
On March 29, Transportation Alternatives (TA) Bike Activist, Noah Budnick sustained a severe head injury while riding his bike near the Brooklyn side of the Manhattan Bridge, a notoriously dangerous area he has long been fighting to make safe. While Noah is making great progress and is more and more lucid with each new day, his life, as "Awake Again" author, head injury survivor and NBG Director, Martin Krieg, tells us, has been irrevocably changed. The city should pursue a 'vision zero' policy of striving to reduce bicycle fatalities and injuries to zero. It can start by constructing safe and convenient bike routes to and from the East River bridges.
Come to Battery Park at noon on May 6 to for the 2nd annual NYC NBG Day when NYC Sports Commissioner, Ken Podziba presents a proclamation from Mayor Bloomberg to the National Bicycle Greenway for its work to connects cyclists to cities and to the places to eat, sleep, shop, and play in those cities. Here is what the NBG has asked the city of New York to include in the proclamation they will be issuing:
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WHEREAS, the city of New York applauds the work of Transportation Alternatives to make New York bridge approaches safe for cyclists and honors the work of its fallen activist, Noah Budnick, who suffered injuries while engaged in that mission; and
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E) Even though they are completely swamped with Bike Month matters, which is a very good thing, especially for New Yorkers, Joan Scholvin of the New York City of Transportation tells me that she will try to get us something this next week. And New York is starting to take their cyclists seriously. Last year they received an "honorable mention" from the League of American Bicyclists in their Bicycle Friendly Community awards!!
East to West
A) THX to Nick Hein, who is a whirlwind of activity for this year's Morgantown NBG Day, there is now a route to Pittsburgh on line. Nick used the ride input form at our recently facelifted home page, http://www.bikeroute.com , to do so. See it at:
http://www.bikeroute.com/ConnectingRidesFolder/PA-Morgantown-Pittsburgh.html
B) And as we have seen over the last month, Nick is rallying the Morgantown biking community to use our NBG Day there to call attention to their own impressive network of trails as you will see in the link above. And as he does so he has even set up a Yahoo mailing list and is holding regular meetings to make certain that they have the volume turned all the way up to loud.
C) Here is the well articulated news release that Nick Hein pumped out:
========================================
Morgantown, WV Mayor Declares May 20 National Bicycle Greenway Day
Local cyclists will help the National Bicycle Greenway (NBG) inaugurate its new Morgantown leg of the 2005 Mayors, Ride Relay on Saturday May 20. NBG is encouraging cities around the country to connect their local trails and bikeable roads to those of neighboring cities to form a national network of safe bicycle roads and paths. A road and trail trail network can increase the value of local trails by opening them for recreation, travel and exploration by cyclists of all abilities. Individuals, families and groups will then have a safe and welcoming road for long-distance bicycle travel. The benefit to communities is an increase of commerce from travelers without new car burdens on congested roads. Morgantown is in a unique position to become a part of this network that will give trail access from the Southwestern Appalachian regions to the Pittsburgh area and an East-West trail system that stretches across the entire country.
The May 20th ceremony at 8:00 AM in Hazel Ruby McQuain park will celebrate the existing local trails and the future possibilities when the Mon River trail to Point Marion and the Sheepskin Trail to Connellsville are completed. All trail users and residents are invited to attend this event. Ceremonies will begin with speeches by local trail organizations and culminate with the Mayor,s signing of the Morgantown NBG proclamation. Then NBG riders will carry the proclamation to Pittsburgh,s NBG celebration on Saturday. From there it will join others on its way to the final 2005 celebration in San Francisco.
More details:
groups.yahoo.com/group/MonNBG
Background:
NBG is organized by Martin Krieg of Palo Alto, CA who in 1979 came back from a crippling and near-fatal auto accident to stun his doctors by completing a US crossing on bicycle. After repeating the feat in 1986 he decided his next goal would be to make it possible for everyone in America to duplicate this accomplishment on safe and enjoyable bikeways. NBG sponsors the annual NBG Mayor's Relay where riders from all corners of the country ride on existing (or developing) bike-safe routes to a final NBG destination. They stop in cities along the way to receive proclamations by local mayors recognizing the citizen and community benefits of cycling and pledging to connect their city to surrounding communities with safe bikeable paths, trails and roadways. This year the relay will end in San Francisco with a final NBG celebration. NBG does not accept any monetary donations, but encourages you to support your local trail groups, with your volunteer hours and donations, as they work to complete the trails that will become a part of the NBG network.
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D) Out of the blue, Nick Hein sent me a note saying that he has relatives and recumbent friends in the Washington DC area he can contact that he says he knows will put Concetta up once she gets there!! Yahoo Nick!!
E) Marty Wilson is coming back for the four-NBG day city (we also visit Sacramento and Rancho Cordova), Folsom to Davis run. He had to do quite a bit of juggling to get it to fit into his schedule, but this proud owner of 50 bicycles will once again be riding his 1865, 54" G&J Hi Wheel replica along the beautiful Sacramento River come July 24! And he's bringing a couple of other San Diego HiWheelers up with him. And he tells us that he can hardly wait!!
Marty's web: http://NationalBicycleGreenway.com/Events/Mayors_Ride/bios/Marty_Wilson.php
D) While the "Indianapolis Eye" calls him a man on a mission, Ray Irvin of Indy Greenways has been busy turning Indianapolis into a powerful people powered beacon of light. Thru his work Indy is becoming less and less of a car centric town famous for its motor speedway and more and more of a model of a working greenway that communities all over the nation are beginning to look to for knowledge. And as we saw in here two weeks ago, this is why he is writing a book about how build a Greenway network. If you want to see what I will call one of this Century's most powerful producers, because we've reached a point where that which we add to the planet must be sustainable, looks like, see the Indianapolis relay at our East to West schedule flank: http://www.bikeroute.com/NationalMayorsRide2005/2005East-West.html
If you want to learn a little more about Ray, here is the story that the "Indianapolis Eye" did about him in 2002:
http://www.indianapoliseye.com/Main.asp?SectionID=7&SubSectionID=15&ArticleID=163
Southwest Flank
inactive
Northwest Flank
inactive
NBG General:
connect mr ciires _ get an NBG bio
A) Repost: How to Run an NBG Day event
D) Repost: NationalBicycleGreenway.com Blog Moderator wanted
E) Repost: 2005 riders order your FREE sunglasses from SlipNot Eyewear
F) Repost: Individual 2005 NBG Rider Business Cards now Available !!
G) Repost: 2005 riders order your FREE Copy of "How to Bike America"
H) Repost: Find a Ride Partner - Place an ad at our classifieds
NBG General:
A) Here is a perfect world scenario for how we like to run NBG Day. Event planners often spruce them up with balloons, speakers, music, even police escorts:
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12:15 Host (Bike or Transportation Coordinator, or NBG sponsor) talks bike projects and programs in your city, reads our rider's names and then introduces Mayor
12:20 Mayor says a few words about his support for cycling, reads the proclamation and hands it to our riders
12:25 Host thanks the Mayor and introduces the one or two cyclist's who will speak
12:26 Riders talk about their ride thru your city
12:35 Host thanks everyone and our restaurant sponsor for feeding our riders. NBG Day ends
========================================
Optional
12:35 Bike Group(s) speak
12:45 Host thanks everyone and our restaurant sponsor for feeding our riders. NBG Day ends
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This is better fleshed out in my book "The NBG Manifesto, How America Can Bike And Grow Rich" that will be a part of my 2007 National Mayors' Ride author tour.
B) We have had interest in the following but no follow through:
Our blogs at NationalBicycleGreenway.com are not interactive because we don't have have anyone who can serve as an moderator for them. They are a one way street because the spam artists take over when someone is not watching. If you have a minimum of mail list experience, you can greatly assist us by serving as a moderator for our blogs. We're talking probably less than 10 or so minutes a day to approve or deny those posts that are pending. Let us know you can help and we'll get you the password and login. It would be great if we could increase the noise level of Greenway discussions at our site!!
C) If you are riding with us this summer, shoot an email to the SlipNot people c/o Kevin at Kevin@slipnoteyewear.com. Send them the URL for the schedule page with your name on it along with your physical mailing address and they'll send you a really cool pair of sunglasses for your ride!! I love mine! Here is the review we did for SlipNot: http://www.bikeroute.com/Recumbents/News/Archives/000068.html
D) If you are riding for us this summer, you also get handsome business cards that you can start passing out NOW! Send me an email and I'll reply with a pdf of the handsome NBG Scout business card that Faye Saunders will have created for you. It has the NBG logo, the graphic Adam Krohn created for us for our Cycle America 2000 ride, your email address and the URL for your NBG bio (which we will shorten to read bikeroute.com/YOURNAME). If you want us to publish your cell phone number, reply with that as well! Once you get the camera ready copy from us as a pdf in your email box (make sure to include your physical mailing address), all you have to do is buy some ink or laser jet business card stock (we will spec out the product # when we send you copy), about $13 at most office supply stores, stick it in your printer, hit print, and presto you have NBG Scout calling cards.
E) If you are riding for us this summer, you also get "How to Bike America" (HTBA). The bulk of HTBA, an on-line book, was written over a two year period for cyclists riding TransAm to Cycle America 2000 in Washington DC. It continues to be updated and edited online and reflects many contributions from the on line cycling community as we yearly cross America with our Mayor's Rides. Send me an email for the login and password.
F) If having a Ride Partner would make it easier for you to join us, try placing an ad at our classifieds
http://www.bikeroute.com/ibrd_cgi/Classifieds/class_ad.cgi?database=personals.setup . We get a million + unique visitors a month at our site so you may very well have good luck!
NEWS BRIEF
Morgantown Joins National Bicycle Greenway
On Friday May 20 Mayor Ron Justice will proclaim NBG day in Morgantown. The ceremony, to be held at 8:00 AM in Hazel Ruby McQuain Park, will inaugurate the Morgantown-Pittsburgh segment of the Greenway as part of the 2005 Mayors, Ride Relay. The proclamation recognizes the benefits of cycling and providing bike-friendly routes between cities for recreation, exploration and travel.
FULL ARTICLE
Morgantown Joins National Bicycle Greenway
Links to National Network of Cycling Routes
Morgantown, April 24, 2005. When Mayor Ron Justice proclaims Friday May 20 National Bicycle Greenway Day he will inaugurate the new Morgantown leg of the 2005 NBG Mayors, Ride Relay. NBG is encouraging cities around the country to connect their local trails and bike-friendly roads to those of neighboring cities to form a national network. A trail network can attract cyclists of all abilities for recreation, travel and exploration. It offers individuals, families and groups a safe and welcoming road for long-distance bicycle travel. The benefit to communities is an increase of commerce from travelers without new car traffic. Morgantown area trails offer a unique link to the NBG network from the Southwestern Appalachian regions to the Pittsburgh area where riders can connect to an East-West trail system that stretches across the entire country.
The May 20th ceremony at 8:00 AM in Hazel Ruby McQuain Park will celebrate the existing local trails and the challenges of completing the Mon River trail to Point Marion and the Sheepskin Trail to Connellsville. All trail users and interested residents are invited to attend this event. Ceremonies will begin with speeches by local trail organizations and culminate with the Mayor,s signing of the Morgantown NBG proclamation. Cyclists will then carry the proclamation to Pittsburgh in time for their NBG celebration on Saturday. From there it continues to other cities on the 2005 Relay route and the final 2005 celebration in San Francisco July 31.
NBG is organized by Martin Krieg of Palo Alto, Ca who suffered a near-fatal 1979 auto accident. When his doctors said he might never walk again he pledged to complete a US crossing on bicycle - successfully. After repeating the feat in 1986 he set a new goal - making it possible for everyone in America to ride cross-country by safe and enjoyable bikeways. This mission became the National Bicycle Greenway. NBG sponsors the annual Mayor's Relay Ride where cyclists from all corners of the country ride and promote existing (or developing) bike-safe routes. They stop in cities along the way to receive proclamations by local mayors recognizing the citizen and community benefits of cycling and pledging to connect their city to surrounding communities with safe bikeable paths, trails and roadways. NBG does not accept any monetary donations, but encourages you to support your local trail groups as they work to complete the trails that will become part of the completed NBG network.
For more details log onto the internet at:
groups.yahoo.com/group/MonNBG
Or contact:
Nick Hein 599-1791 - nick.hein@verizon.net
John Lozier 599-8233 - jl@harpingforharmony.org
For more about NBG & National Mayors' Ride log onto the internet at:
www.bikeroute.com
Morgantown, WV Mayor Declares May 20 National Bicycle Greenway Day
Local cyclists will help the National Bicycle Greenway (NBG) inaugurate its new Morgantown leg of the 2005 Mayors, Ride Relay on Saturday May 20. NBG is encouraging cities around the country to connect their local trails and bikeable roads to those of neighboring cities to form a national network of safe bicycle roads and paths. A road and trail trail network can increase the value of local trails by opening them for recreation, travel and exploration by cyclists of all abilities. Individuals, families and groups will then have a safe and welcoming road for long-distance bicycle travel. The benefit to communities is an increase of commerce from travelers without new car burdens on congested roads. Morgantown is in a unique position to become a part of this network that will give trail access from the Southwestern Appalachian regions to the Pittsburgh area and an East-West trail system that stretches across the entire country.
The May 20th ceremony at 8:00 AM in Hazel Ruby McQuain park will celebrate the existing local trails and the future possibilities when the Mon River trail to Point Marion and the Sheepskin Trail to Connellsville are completed. All trail users and residents are invited to attend this event. Ceremonies will begin with speeches by local trail organizations and culminate with the Mayor,s signing of the Morgantown NBG proclamation. Then NBG riders will carry the proclamation to Pittsburgh,s NBG celebration on Saturday. From there it will join others on its way to the final 2005 celebration in San Francisco.
More details:
groups.yahoo.com/group/MonNBG
Background:
NBG is organized by Martin Krieg of Palo Alto, CA who in 1979 came back from a crippling and near-fatal auto accident to stun his doctors by completing a US crossing on bicycle. After repeating the feat in 1986 he decided his next goal would be to make it possible for everyone in America to duplicate this accomplishment on safe and enjoyable bikeways. NBG sponsors the annual NBG Mayor's Relay where riders from all corners of the country ride on existing (or developing) bike-safe routes to a final NBG destination. They stop in cities along the way to receive proclamations by local mayors recognizing the citizen and community benefits of cycling and pledging to connect their city to surrounding communities with safe bikeable paths, trails and roadways. This year the relay will end in San Francisco with a final NBG celebration. NBG does not accept any monetary donations, but encourages you to support your local trail groups, with your volunteer hours and donations, as they work to complete the trails that will become a part of the NBG network.