In the Great and Bicycle friendly city of San Diego, The Honorable Mayor Dick Murphy, as one of his last actions before leaving office, signed a proclamation for National Bikeway Greenway Day, declaring July 15, 2005, to be the official day that commends its contributions and invaluable leadership of Mr. Martin Krieg, in the effort to interconnect a national network of bike friendly roads and pathways across the nation.
The Proclamation was presented by the City of San Diego's Bicycle Coordinator, Joel Rizzo, Jr., in the community concourse in front of a great bicycling crowd. In attendance were City of San Diego Staff, Caltrans Staff, SANDAG staff, community activists, and road riders and hi-wheelers alike!
See you all next year!
Joel Rizzo, Jr.
City of San Diego
Traffic Engineering Department
Inter-Agency Coordination
Bicycle Coordinator
1010 Second Av, Suite 1200
San Diego, CA 92101
t: (619)533-3110
f: (619)533-3131
Here's the story below that was included in the Mayor/Council
newsletter. Our PBS radio station covered the story yesterday
afternoon.
National Mayors' Ride Rolls Into Eugene to Promote Bicycle Greenway
The Fourth Annual National Mayors' Ride reached Eugene on Thursday, July
14, with a celebration at 2 p.m. in the plaza at City Hall. Mayor Piercy
met with Ed Migliori, a school teacher spending part of his summer
riding the route between Boise and Eugene, and Marty "Link" Linkiewicz,
making the same Boise to Eugene trek. The Mayor read a proclamation in
support of the efforts of Cycle America's advocacy for the National
Bicycle Greenway and the dream of a nationwide network of interconnected
bike roads and
pathways. Jim Muellner, owner of JustTwoBikes and inventor of the Smart
Carte shopping cart system, the carts passengers rent to shuttle their
baggage around at airports, was also present to help share adventures of
the Mayors Ride. This year, at the age of 69, Jim chose to ride the
Seattle to Portland leg of the relay.
The mission of Cycle America is to promote a network of coast-to-coast,
multi-use transportation and recreational bicycle roads and trails,
which will be called the National Bicycle Greenway. The primary purpose
of the Greenway is to provide safe, clean, aesthetic, and enjoyable
places for people of all ages to ride a bicycle year round. Martin Krieg
is the organizer of the National Mayors' Ride and author of the book,
"Awake Again" based upon his self-rehabilitation from a seven-week coma
as a result of a car wreck. He is a graduate of Cal State Hayward and
former accountant and has crossed the country twice on his bicycle since
the accident. For more information contact: Lee Shoemaker, bicycle and
pedestrian coordinator, at 682-5471 or Cindy Clarke, transportation
options coordinator, at 682-5285.
Lee Shoemaker, Eugene Bicycle and
Pedestrian coordinator
For Immediate release Kathy Keehan, San Diego Bike Coalition
Date: 7/14/05 858-962-1479
San Diego to Strut its (Bike) Stuff
The National Bicycle Greenway's (NBG) Fourth Annual National Mayors Ride, a ride that will have visited 52 major US cities before it ends in San Francisco on July 31, sets its Southwest relay leg in motion at San Diego City Hall on Friday July 15 at noon. Acting for outgoing Mayor, Dick Murphy, San Diego Bike coordinator, Joel Rizzo, will issue the Mayor's proclamation making it San Diego NBG Day to a colorful array of bike riders. In helping to give a face to cyclists who enjoy not only our great weather but worthy infrastructure for their efforts, making our city one of the top biking cities in the nation, a handful of the high priests of two wheel advocacy will be there to show off their turn of the century steads. In addition, cyclists of all ages, including those from the San Diego Bike Coalition, will also be on hand to supports the NBG's mission to connect cyclists to cities and to the important destinations within them.
Martin Krieg is the organizer of the National Mayors Ride and author of the book, "Awake Again" based upon his self rehabilitation from paralysis, clinical death, and a seven week coma as a result of a car wreck. He is a graduate of Cal State Hayward, former accountant and has crossed the country twice on his bicycle since the accident. In 2007, he will be riding an antique HiWheel bicycle across America with the book he is writing about the National Bicycle Greenway called, "How America Can Bike And Grow Rich, The NBG Manifesto" .
For more info about the 2005 Mayors' Ride: www.bikeroute.com
NATIONAL MAYORS RIDE REACHES EUGENE
The Fourth Annual National Mayors Ride will reach Eugene on Thursday, July 14th with a celebration at 2PM in the plaza at City Hall in downtown Eugene. Mayor Kitty Piercy will receive Jim Muellner, a famed inventor and businessman who will have ridden his state-of-the-art three wheel bike down from his meeting with the Portland Mayor before he visits other Mayors on his way to San Francisco. Arriving from Boise will be Ed Migliore, a school teacher on summer vacation and Marty "Link" Linkiewicz, a man with a home based internet business. On behalf of the National Bicycle Greenway (NBG), they will receive the Eugene NBG Day proclamation.
The mission of Cycle America is to promote a network of coast-to-coast, multi-use transportation and recreational bicycle roads and trails, which will be called the National Bicycle Greenway. The primary purpose of the Greenway is to provide safe, clean, aesthetic, and enjoyable places for people of all ages to ride a bicycle all year round. These roads and rights of way will make the joy of bicycling more available for many Americans and their families. In addition, most will reconnect us with nature and our neighbors, promote better health and address many of our pressing environmental concerns.
Martin Krieg is the organizer of the National Mayors Ride and author of the book, "Awake Again" based upon his self rehabilitation from paralysis, clinical death, and a seven week coma as a result of a car wreck. He is a graduate of Cal State Hayward, former accountant and has crossed the country twice on his bicycle since the accident. In 2007, he will be riding an antique HiWheel bicycle across America with the book he is writing about the National Bicycle Greenway called, "How America Can Bike And Grow Rich, The NBG Manifesto"
Cindy Clarke
Transportation Options Coordinator
City of Eugene - Public Works
858 Pearl Street #300
Eugene OR 97401
(541) 682-5285
The legendary Jim Muellner, left Seattle on Friday on his state-of-the-art three wheeled bike that fits in a suitcase (no kidding). This epic man's story and the bike he rides are at his web site below. His ride will end with the Southwest and East to West relay legs here in San Francisco on July 31. Our schedule/scorecard is also noted at the end:
Here is what it looked like out there for Jim:
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Well, the Seattle NBG Day proclamation should be on its way. Pauh (the Seattle bike coordinator) and I had our picture taken by a friendly person leaving city hall. Dale and Carry did not show by 9:15AM so I left in the rain. And did it rain and rain and rain. When I finally stopped after about 60 miles I could not find one dry spot on my body. Luckily it was not cold or too windy so all in all it was a good day.
Not much excitement to talk about, except when I would stop somewhere to ask for directions the question was always, why are you doing this. So many people are so car oriented they cannot conceive of biking. I ask one young woman who had no children what she was going to do if her child wanted to ride a bike and there was no place to ride. She really did not have an answer. Hopefully my pitch was sincere enough to get her to think about it.
The sun did come out while I was eating for 30 seconds, but that is all.
Day two: No rain, at least at 6 AM. Thought I better get on my way or the roads will be full of bikers. It made a world of difference without the rain. By 10 AM I had already ridden the 60 miles I had on day one.
Even though there were some bike trails between cities, the cyclists used the road. Maybe they wanted to be seen. I opted for the trail and saw a lot of wild life. Grouse, quail, rabbits, chip monks, robins, the vegetation was filled with them. Even the trees were outstanding.
Of course the cities who have new trails make them hard to use. They put some stupid gates every half mile to keep out cars. This requires that that you have to get off your bike. Whoever designed them needs their head examined. They can not know anything about biking.
Jim Muellner's web http://www.bikeroute.com/NationalMayorsRide/JimMuellner
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While here today, we already have, THX to Ann Scarlera (she's a powerhouse with the
In other news, we've added a new city this year. And talk about a house of fire, San Diego is all over it. We're still waiting for someone to come forward to make the ride from there to LA but when Joel Rizzo, the San Diego Bike coordinator issues the Mayor's (their Mayor stepped down and everything is in transition) NBG Day proclamation much of the San Diego Bike Community will be represented! Besides San Diego Bike Coalition director, Kathy Keehan and her kids and numerous cyclists of all stripes, on Friday July 15, we can also look forward to a visit from three high priests of two wheel advocacy. Marty Wilson will be there with two other HiWheel cyclists to bear witness to San Diego's commitment to bicycling.
And if you really want to see what one city is doing to make the bicycle an important part of the transportation mix, do get a look at San Diego's biking report card:
San Diego: http://www.bikeroute.com/NationalMayorsRide2005/SanDiego/SanDiegoBiking2005.html
And from what I've seen of bicycling, which is a lot, Palo Alto, CA stands out as model by which other cities should be judged.: http://www.bikeroute.com/NationalMayorsRide2005/PaloAlto/PaloAltoBiking2005.html
Palo Alto runs a close race with Boulder, CO, in the regard and since we just got their report, we will have them on line very soon!!
Here are other 2005 Reports:
Boston: http://www.bikeroute.com/NationalMayorsRide2005/Boston/BostonBiking.html
Miami: http://www.bikeroute.com/NationalMayorsRide2005/Miami/MiamiBiking.html
Tallahassee: http://www.bikeroute.com/NationalMayorsRide2005/Tallahassee/TallahasseeBiking.html
Knoxville: http://www.bikeroute.com/NationalMayorsRide2005/Knoxville/KnoxvilleBiking.html
New York: http://www.bikeroute.com/NationalMayorsRide2005/NYC/NewYorkCityBiking.html
Baltimore: http://www.bikeroute.com/NationalMayorsRide2005/Baltimore/BaltimoreBiking.html
Washington DC: http://www.bikeroute.com/NationalMayorsRide2005/DC/DCBiking.html
Pittsburgh: http://www.bikeroute.com/NationalMayorsRide2005/Pittsburgh/PittsburghBiking.html
Philadelphia: http://www.bikeroute.com/NationalMayorsRide2005/Philly/PhillyBiking.html
There is so much happening that I can hardly see straight but the man we talked about in here last week, Skot Paschal, definitely feels the love. He wanted me to thank all of you who sent him your ideas for how to move beyond the cancer he recently was stricken with. And his ride from Monterey to Santa Cruz is starting to fill up with more of that same love!!
In the interest of time, yours, ours and mine, I just want to remind you to keep an eye Davis, CA at the below schedule/scorecard. HiWheelers from all over that state will be converging on Folsom, CA for a beautiful ride along the Sacramento River to another bicycle heaven that comes close to Palo Alto in terms of how well it takes care of its cyclists. Soon we will have a biking report card on line for Davis, so I can show you what I mean!
Only three more weeks until we end in San Francisco where Bikescape will be doing a live Podcast and the television show, San Francisco My Way, will be filming us for an August broadcast of our event!!
2005 Mayors' Ride : http://www.bikeroute.com/NationalMayorsRide2005
Yahoooo!!!!
THX 4 all of U!!
Jim Muellner met with Portland, Oregon's Mayor Tom Potter today, July 11th. Mayor Potter expressed his pride in Jim's involvement with the NBG, stating, "this is exactly what this country needs." Mayor Potter was also proud to tell of Portland's 700 miles of bike lanes and 'Gold' status as a Bicycling Friendly Community with the League of American Bicyclists (LAB). Mayor Potter made brief reference to his desire to bring Portland to the 'Platinum' level- an award that the LAB has yet to issue for any American city. Joining Mayor Potter and Jim, was Andrew Morton, a former rider for the NBG. After checking out Jim's unique recumbent tricycle, Mayor Potter wished Jim safe travels and appreciation for stopping in Portland. With a stop at the Bicycle Transportation Alliance (BTA) office, Jim and Andrew gathered Oregon bike maps and headed south.
Anna Scalera
Youth Programs Coordinator
Bicycle Transportation Alliance
503-226-0676 ext. 19