IMBA Trail Care Crew in Pittsburgh

10:37 pm

The International Mountain Bicycling Association

TRAIL CARE CREW is coming to Pittsburgh!

On April 23-25, the IMBA Trail Care Crew is coming to Pittsburgh! Pittsburgh Trails Advocacy Group will be holding a Trail Care School on Friday for land managers and their crews. On Saturday and Sunday, there will be a Trail Care School for the public. Both schools are free but please register by sending an email to Nancy Trun.

Women’s Cycling Issues

7:00 pm

Association of Pedestrian and Bicycling Professionals has set up a survey and webinar designed to identify and discuss issues specific to women and girls in cycling.

Please contribute your experience here, and then sign up for the webinar, here.

Speak up and make a difference

6:02 pm

UPDATE 25.March.2010: Advocacy in effect, we can effect new policy.

Recently, while in Washington DC, one of our Congressmen’s staff, the Honorable Tim Murphy (Rep-18th District, see map below), emphasized the need to hear more from constituents. Part of this, is because there is not already extensive bicycle, pedestrian, and transit infrastructure in place. Another part of that is because he is responsible for representing that region to the Senate. The constituents’ role is to vote, and in that, inherently, speak your views. Find your district’s Congressional representation, and send them an email, postal letter, or phone in, expressing your support for the following measures. Please personalize your message, so it is documented carefully.

CALL TO ACTION:  Please Support HR3734: Urban Revitalization and Livable Communities Act

(March 15, 2010) FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Tim Murphy (18th -PA) asked to hear from more of the community, so we need to hear from YOU! Please use the example below, but personalize your message to Congressman Tim Murphy by copying and changing the message to draw attention to your councilperson. Then, describe the businesses and people in the district that it affects. Feel free to tell a personal story about the difficulty to find cycling facilities in the district, limited athletic opportunity for youth, or other instances where additional recreational facilities would have been useful or necessary. It is also especially important to confirm your association with District 18 with your zip code and last 4 digits. This district's boundaries can be found here: http://murphy.house.gov/index.cfm?sectionid=27§iontree=27

Verify

Script by Dagon Design

Click Here for more information about HR3734: Urban Revitalization and Livable Communities, and to see if other Representatives support HR3734.
You may also choose to email Congressman Tim Murphy through his office.
Details on the National Bike Summit, and the report that followed.

Map of the 18th District in Pennsylvania
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Highland Park Trail Day: Sunday March 21

5:24 pm

UPDATE: 26march2010 Pittsburgh Post Gazette is impressed by our efforts. Let’s keep up the good work!!

Help out with the Pittsburgh Parks Conservancy

Sunday March 21st, 2010 @ 10am-1pm

Highland Park – meeting at the grove across from the pool on Lake Drive:

GPS coordinates = 40° 28′ 52.19″ N 79° 54′ 39.41″ W

MAP

Bring work pants, gloves and hard-toed shoes

We’ll be digging with tools and cleaning up as well

All are welcome!

Contact: ecopeland@pittsburghparks.org

Junior Devo Program launches tomorrow

7:47 pm

Who: Junior and High School students interested in cycling, and their parents.
What: Orientation and spin class open enrollment period through the end of this month.
When: Mondays and Wednesdays in March 2010 4-5pm, starting March 15.  Group rides will commence when the trails dry on the same days of the week, adding Sunday to the plan. Join the email list to be updated automatically with group practice changes.
Where: Penn Hills YMCA @ 11817 Frankstown Rd. (between Lime Hollow Rd and Rita’s Ice Cream shop)

Why: FREE during open enrollment the first few sessions, and scholarship available for club participation and group rides – try it out!
How: Attend spin classes, pass bike inspection, and join the club. Interested students may apply for Steward Scholarship participating in PTAG trail workdays for extra discounts on bicycles and accessories, deadline is March 31.  Email Eryn Hughes to apply.

The club fee will be $200, which covers registration and insurance, club
jersey, 3 1/5 months of group rides, spin classes, skills clinics, including
mountain biking, road cycling, and touring.  This program is designed to
provide a well-rounded spectrum of cycling, with USA cycling and First Aid certified professional staff.  We aim to provide youth opportunity through cycling, inspire healthy lifestyles, environmental awareness and help improve the economy by providing alternatives to .  We will be expanding throughout the Pittsburgh region and connecting with other regions in a race series and a potential state league.

Recommended Reading: Starting Junior Cycling Clubs

3:03 pm

Courtesy of the NorCal League, and the great minds behind the National Interscholastic Cycling Association.

PA Walks and Bikes Summit

1:53 pm

On May 4th, folks from around the state will come together for the 2nd Annual Pennsylvania Walks and Bikes Summit, in Harrisburg, PA.

Bicycling Directions gadget – get one for your page!

2:45 pm

Now that google has announced their directions by bicycle application, you can embed it in your page, and become a more bicycle-friendly business, non-profit, or just have all your riding buddies find you easier. I decided to send y’all to the YMCA, this time.

Update: National Bike Summit 2010

10:41 pm

Townhall Meeting at the National Bike Summit 2010

This is some awesome time to be in advocacy – with all the Health Reform and economic issues, there are so many lobbyists in Washington DC – its hard to get a word in edgewise!  The fact that we are able to make bicyclists’ presence known, and have their attention is huge.  Mike Doyle (Rep. 14th District- PA) is 100% behind the cycling issues, which is great for central Pittsburgh. There’s still time to show your support, by sending a letter to your congressman.  Tim Murphy (18th district) really wants to hear your support on these issues, and could use a little convincing that **there are REAL people, that vote in his district, who want this**, in order to adopt these Acts.  All in all, that is the general gist of this experience I got from my experience.  Tim Murphy (Rep. 18th District -PA) is on the fence, and anything you can do to get the word out, will go towards helping us all with bicycle access.  I’ve tailored some of my notes towards cyclists’ interests below:
HR 4722: Active Community Transportation Act (connections to parks, regional networks; pairing recreation and transportation to leverage support for all modes of transportation; walking, cycling -mtb and road- and transit)
HR 3734: Urban Revitalization and Livable Communities Act (develops and provides funding for new recreational facilities like pump tracks, jump parks in urban areas, providing outdoor experience to those within an urban area)
HR 4021: Safe Routes to Schools Act (expansion from previous SR2S Act to include Safe Routes to High Schools, who can say no to that?): http://www.saferoutespartnership.org/national
S. 2747 and in H.R. 3534: Land and Water Conservation Fund (basically releases funds already approved, and appropriates the FULL amount to environmental restoration efforts, which we have a lot of in Pittsburgh) http://www.opencongress.org/bill/111-h3534/blogs

Thanks to Dirt Rag and Bike Pittsburgh for cutting my teeth.

4/14/10:  Ray LaHood, Transportation Secretary, thinks bikes are the answer to many of the National transportation issues, and the Obama administration follows suit.  

National Bike Summit 2010

12:01 pm

Velomuse is attending the National Bike Summit next week, coordinating with IMBA, to discuss important issues with members of congress and observe what is happening in the rest of the nation. Clearly, this is a unique time in the economy, for government officials and cyclists alike.  We anticipate a receptive audience, not to mention a really fun Congressional Ride on Friday morning.  I don’t know what would be a better excuse to wear tweed.