BikeShorts eNews | Vol 2 No 4 August 2011
BikeShorts Vol 2 No 4 August 2011
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Dragon Boat Festival | Bike Parking Valet Service | June 25,26
BikeBridge’s first venture into providing a Bicycle Valet Service for Lethbridge bicycle users was an outstanding success. We took in 47 bikes on Saturday and 24 on Sunday (less favorable weather). There were many positive comments from valet users, potential users and the curious (someday users). BikeBridge extends a huge thank you to all the members who worked hard to make this “experiment” a success, and a special thanks to those serving as valet attendants. [more]
Word on the Street | Bike Parking Valet Service | Sept 25
The next BikeBridge Bike Parking Valet event will be at the Word on the Street Festival on Sunday, September 25 hosted by the Lethbridge Public Library. The festival is designed to be a playful, all-ages, spill-out-into-the-street community event with something for everyone to see, hear, do, and of course, eat! If you are interested in volunteering to work the BikeBridge Valet tent for an hour or so (Sunday Sept 25): email contact@bikebridge.ca
6,000 Bike Trips Made Every Day In Lethbridge?
Well, probably not. But if Lethbridge were on par (10%) with Vancouver, with its 60,000 trips by bike a day, that is roughly the number we might expect. That would also mean we would have 350 bicycle commuters (the equivalent of 6-7 full transit buses), 40 lane-kilometres of bike routes, and 30 traffic signals with cyclist push buttons… [more]
City of Lethbridge | Scenic Drive Multi-Use Trail
As reported in April, BikeBridge had recommended to the City that they not proceed with the cycling infrastructure projects planned for 2011. BikeBridge suggests instead that the City re-focus all available Bike Lane and Pathway capital funding resources toward the ultimate creation of a Lethbridge Bicycle Transportation Backbone Route System. BikeBridge has since been advised that, with the exception of the construction of a multi-use trail along Scenic Drive (4th Street S to 1st Ave S) the City will not proceed with the projects planned for 2011. BikeBridge is discouraged that the City apparently remains determined to move ahead with this Scenic Drive project, another roadside multi-use recreational trail, rather than applying funding toward development of primarily on-street bicycle transportation route facilities. [more]
7 Avenue South as a possible Backbone Route
As noted above, based on experiences in other communities, transportation by bicycle would be enhanced and grow with the development of a route structure that allows citizens to confidently use a bicycle for travel throughout the city. One such potential east-west connector might be 7 Avenue South (from 5 Street through to the eastern city limits–and perhaps beyond). We would like to know what you think about 7 Avenue S as a bike route–what would need to be added, changed, or upgraded to make it a great route for bicycles. Follow the Google Mapping and take the ride from 5th ST all the way through McAllister Crossing ending at the Jail Road and 44 ST S. Email your comments to contact@bikebridge.ca
Downtown (PRATS) Report | June 2011
BikeBridge was recently included as a stakeholder to provide the perspective of the bicycle transportation user in a Downtown Public Realm and Transportation Study (PRATS). On behalf of BikeBridge, member Jeff Walker attended the charrette sessions. We would like to extend Jeff a huge thank you for taking a big part of his week to inspire other attendees on the merits of cycling and the needs of cyclists. Thanks Jeff. Please read his review and check out the resulting public presentation. There is to be a follow up (City) Public Open House in September–more information when available.
New Cotton BikeBridge T-Shirts
BikeBridge now offers to order: cotton BikeBridge t-shirts for just $16 (including GST). The shirts have an embroidered BikeBridge logo on the upper left front. The shirts are available in either black or white, they are a unisex fit, and can be ordered in sizes S to XXL. To place your order send an email to stuff@bikebridge.ca and include your name and email; and the number of shirts, sizes and colors of each. BikeBridge will confirm your order by invoicing you by email through PayPal before we place your order at LOGOS Lethbridge. A reminder that BikeBridge members can also have the logo embroidered on other items of their choice–drop in to LOGOS at 322 6 ST downtown.
Destination Saturday: Free Coffee Downtown
BikeBridge and The Round Street Cafe want Lethbridge cyclists to make downtown a regular part of their Saturday. So on Saturday, why not take a ride downtown–maybe for breakfast? And while you’re there, stop by the Round Street Cafe, mention you have ridden downtown, and get a cup of coffee at no charge. Round Street Cafe is locate in downtown Lethbridge at 427 5 ST S with Saturday hours from 9 am to 5pm. Thanks Bonnie! [more]
Invite a friend to join BikeBridge
One BikeBridge goal for 2011-12 is to double our membership. Membership is important, not just because if reflects a personal commitment to cycling as a means of transportation, but because it announces to the community that there is a real and growing force of transportation cyclists to be considered. So if each member encourages just one other Lethbridge citizen to join, this will be one goal easily met. They do not have to be cyclist to be a member of BikeBridge–just the desire to see more transportation options for Lethbridge. [more]
2nd Annual Super’s Cycle Ride | Waterton Park | October 1
Ride along a vehicle-free Red Rock Parkway! The road will be closed to all vehicle traffic and you can ride as far as your interest takes you – just a short distance or all the way to Red Rock Canyon and back (30 km round-trip). There will be snack stations, a support vehicle, and lots of encouragement along the way. After the ride, join us at Pass Creek for a centennial celebration BBQ. This is a family event. Helmets are mandatory for anyone under 18, and highly recommended for everyone else. We encourage children to come with a legal guardian. Due to limited parking at Pass Creek, consider parking at Driftwood Beach and riding to Pass Creek.
[calendar] Watch for more on this and a possible ride to Waterton soon.
If they ride on sidewalks pedestrians rightly get angry..Human-powered transportation will only get more popular as gas prices rise and as the negative consequences of our car-centric culture increase.