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(Corner of Providence & Queens
Roads. Parking in the Myers Park United Methodist
Church on the corner of Queens Rd. & Pembroke Ave.,

Around About Town Cycling Happenings ~

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Bike!Charlotte - "Set your life in Motion"

http://www.charlottesportscycling.com/BikeCharlotte/BikeCharlotte.htm

Don't forget the Mayor's Ride on Fri. May 2

Mayor’s Ride/Bike to Breakfast
Seize your opportunity to show support for cycling in Charlotte. Ride and mingle with the Mayor, City Council Members, and other local politicians. Free breakfast provided by Lola’s will follow at the Wachovia Atrium.
Start Location: Dowd YMCA (400 E. Morehead St.)
End Location: Wachovia Atrium (Tryon St)
Time: 7:30 AM
Cost: FREE
Contact: Ken Tippette ktippette@ci.charlotte.nc.us or 704.336.2278

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NC BikeLaw.com - Click here for PDF

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CABA

From Martin Zimmerman / Executive Director ~ ~

I'll bet many of you are wondering – what is CABA accomplishing since last Fall ? What is CABA doing to forge alliances, to make streets safe for cycling, to expand both the on-road and off-road bikeway system, to advance the culture shift from horse-power to pedal-power, to provide better member services ?

Here is a snapshot of 6 action items in process or completed so far:

City Wide Bike Plan – After CABA's initial success soliciting Mayor McCrory as keynote speaker at the first community meeting, we continued to contribute directly to the plan process. Four CABA members served on the plan advisory committee, and worked on every detail of the plan – from big ideas, like overall system linkages, to smaller details, like lane markings. Stay tuned. The Plan goes to City Council shortly.

Safe Routes to Schools – A new program using Federal funds to promote kids biking or walking to schools instead of busing or soccer moms. Special thanks to Dan Faris, CABA Board Chair for helping shepherd this project along. The County health department has just created a full-time position to get the ball rolling.

Wachovia Championship - Bicycle Valet Services – CABA will be parking bikes at this premier golf tournament on May 3-4. This is a new and innovative way for advocacy groups around the country to spread the gospel of community cycling. Next goal ? The Panthers !

"Cycle Charlotte Festival 08" – Saturday a.m. - May 10 - Dowd YMCA parking lot.
Third annual community-wide celebration of safe bicycling for toddlers to senior citizens originally conceived to honor the life example of bike commuter Todd Weaver. 50% of net proceeds go to CABA's safety and education efforts.
Endorsed by Charlotte Center City Partners, Char-Meck Dept. of Parks and Recreation and Charlotte Department of Transportation.

See www.cyclecharlotte.org to pre-register.

Bike Safety Certification Courses – League of American Bicyclists -The first class is this month followed by an advanced course in early June to teach instructor skills. An opportunity to hone new skills and give back to the community. See CABA website to register.

CABA Blog and Annual Member Survey - By mid-summer CABA plans to convert our website into an interactive format and issue a second annual community-wide survey to help define CABA's future focus.

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Google - Bike there....

Hi friends, thought you might like to join the call. See below! Here's an opportunity to ask for biking directions on Google maps. Ask the kind and benevolent folks at Google to add 'bike there' as a choice to Google maps along with 'drive there' and 'take public transportation there.'

Sign the petition here: http://www.petitiononline.com/bikether/petition.html

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Don't have any one to play with? Check out these rides. (Click here)

If you would like to be included on an email list for any of these rides, email Jeff Viscount at jeff@guttershutter.biz and ask to be included. These are some nice rides, great group of cyclists.

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Trips of Kids Update:

With the support and help from Charlotte's cycling community, Trips for Kids - Charlotte continues it's outreach into Charlotte's fragile neighborhoods and it's kids. We have begun staging Saturday rides from our trailer that is located Fisher Farm Park in Davidson. This location makes it much more convenient for volunteers and groups that are in northern Mecklenburg County, as opposed to travel to Col. Beatty, near Matthews, where we've been hosting all of our rides. Our Earn-a-Bike program is also growing with the addition of two after-school programs on Tuesday and Thursday afternoons. The Earn-A-Bike Program offers kids a chance to earn their own bike by completing a series of hands-on lessons in basic bike mechanics and bike safety, which also focus on personal responsibility, achievement and self-empowerment. Email Harry if you would like more info: harryjohnson@att.net

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Green Way plans and more...

Harry Johnson and team are in the process of submitting a proposal to Park & Rec regarding the Lakewood Trail and will keep us posed on that aspect. The critical path is for Park & Rec to formally include the area in their Greenway Master Plan that will be coming out in the near future. Once that occurs they hope that The Catawba Lands/Carolina Thread Trails will approach Duke regarding the property that is desperately needed to make this all happen. An update about the new Fisher Farm location, the growing Earn a Bike Program, and the re-cyclery will be out shortly......stay tuned.

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Welcome to TailWind Tandem Club Web site. We are members of the Charlotte Piedmont area of tandem riders. Having fun, enjoying fellowship, riding back-roads, and enjoying the best life has to offer. Come join us on some rides you will remember.

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