discussion-l Mailing List: BikeAthens Discussion: BikeAthens announcement: 6/29/11

[Weekly announcements for BikeAthens (announcements-l]

Weekly Announcements 6/29/2011

1. Group Ride celebrating new 3 Foot Passing Law THIS FRIDAY!
2. Next Transportation Policy Committee Wednesday July 6
3. Your Weekly Read: In Europe, people prioritized over cars
4. Group Ride survey!
5. BikeAthens recruiting new board members
6. BRP volunteer nights- open June 28 and July 6
7. Elsewhere on the Athens bike scene
8. On the Horizon

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Group Ride celebrating new 3 Foot Passing Law THIS FRIDAY!

This monthâs BikeAthens Group Ride will celebrate the enactment of HB 101,
the âBetter Bicycling Bill!â  Of special interest to Georgiaâs bicyclists
is the billâs three foot safe passing requirement, which is being promoted
with â3 Feet 2 Passâ group rides and events in a number of cities,
including Athens!

The BikeAthens Group Ride will start at City Hall at 6PM July 1st, the day
the bill goes into effect. The ride will take a fun and highly visible
route around town and end downtown at Little Kings to celebrate. In
addition to their normal Happy Hour specials, Little Kings is offering
BikeAthens members $3 pints of terrapin rye and golden as well as $3 pints
of their new rotating seasonal new belgium beer.

The BikeAthens Group Ride is a leisurely, law abiding group bicycle ride
around Athens. The purpose of the ride is to provide a safe, enjoyable
atmosphere for all ages and skill levels to ride bicycles, and to
demonstrate that bicycles, vehicles under state law, belong on our public
streets and roadways.These rides are a great way to meet other cyclists,
become more comfortable riding in Athens, find easy routes around town,
and to gain some experience riding in a group.
Remember to bring your helmet, a water bottle, and your friends!

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Next Transportation Policy Committee Wednesday July 6

The next Transportation Policy Committee meeting will take place on
Wednesday July 6 at Little Kings Shuffle Club (223 W. Hancock St) at 5:30
PM.

For those of you who donât know, this committee of BikeAthens is charged
with working with transportation policy matters within Athens-Clarke
County (ACC). Transportation policy includes issues related to
transportation funding mechanisms, mode equity in funding priorities, and
community engagement in the civic process through which transportation
infrastructure is planned and built. The Transportation Policy Committee
meets regularly to engage the community on these issues as they arise, and
anyone is welcome to come and participate in meetings. No experience
necessary!
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Your Weekly Read: In Europe, people prioritized over cars

âIn the United States, there has been much more of a tendency to adapt
cities to accommodate driving,â said Peder Jensen, head of the Energy and
Transport Group at the European Environment Agency. âHere there has been
more movement to make cities more livable for people, to get cities
relatively free of cars.â

Check out the rest of the article to learn how many European cities are
prioritizing making walking, biking, and public transit safe, enjoyable,
and efficient, even if it makes things more uncomfortable for drivers.

http://www.nytimes.com/2011/06/27/science/earth/27traffic.html?pagewanted=1&_r=3
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Group Ride survey!

Thanks again to all those who came out to our latest Group Ride fun and to
meet the board afterwards. We have put a lot of effort into revitalizing
our Group Rides this year and we are having tons of fun, but want to know
what YOU think too! So if you have been on a Group Ride, or havenât been
on one because you donât find the idea appealing, tell us about it! Your
feedback will help us tweak things like distance, starting and ending
location, and the after ride social. And keep your eyes peeled about our
next ride- weâll be starting and ending at  new location this time!

http://tinyurl.com/groupridesurvey

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BikeAthens recruiting new board members

BikeAthens is currently recruiting new board members to begin one year
terms starting this August. It is a great way to get involved in your
community, contribute to a great cause, and get valuable experience in the
not for profit world. If you think you might be interested, email
chair [at] bikeathens.com to learn more!
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BRP volunteer nights- open June 28 and July 6

*BRP shop will be closed July 3 and 4 next week to celebrate Independence
Day, and we will resume normal operations July 6, we hope yâall enjoy the
holiday!*

BRP workdays are held Mondays & Wednesdays from 6-8 PM and Sundays from
2-4:30 PM at the Chase St. warehouses. Volunteers need not have any
knowledge of bicycle maintenance; just be willing to get their hands dirty
repairing, tuning up, cleaning, and outfitting bikes. Feel free to bring
your own repair stands and tools although it is not necessary that you
have these items to participate.

BikeAthens' Bicycle Recycling program, a cooperative venture with local
social support agencies, distributes reconditioned bikes to individuals in
the Athens community who are underserved by private and public
transportation. We rely exclusively on volunteers to recondition the
bikes.
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Elsewhere on the Athens bike scene

June 30- SORBA-Athens hosting bike parts swap
SORBA-Athens, the mountain bike advocacy group that maintains trails at
Heritage and Hawkes Creek and just got approval for new trails at East
Athens Community Park, will be holding a bike parts swap on June 30 at the
Five Points Jittery Joe's. Participants pay $15 for a table or space (all
proceeds to SORBA) and the event will run from 6-8pm.  Donations are also
lovingly accepted (e.g. from proceeds of parts sales) but voluntary. This
is a great opportunity to clear out old bike parts you arenât using, and
make some money for yourself and SORBA! For more info about SORBA, check
out their website: http://www.sorbaathens.org/

July 2- Special "3-Feet 2 Pass" Ride - "It Takes Three Feet to Ride"
Where: Bishop Park, Athens, Ga (map)
Description: AthensGaBicycling is proud to support BikeAthens and
GeorgiaBikes.orâg by getting involved with the celebration of the new
"3-Feet-2-Pass" law. As part of an awareness weekend for the new law, our
ride on Saturday, July 2nd, will be the "It Takes Three Feet to Ride"
ride. We leave from Bishop Park at 8 a.m. The full ride is a 45-mile Apple
Valley/Brockton Loop, and we are also including an escorted, flat 8-mile
out-and-back run on the Jefferson Road bypass. This shorter option is
ideal for new and less experienced riders. Questions: 
Ken [at] AthensGaBicycling.com.

Additional Information: As you probably know by now, HB 101 was signed by
Governor Deal! The changes made by the bill, including a 3 foot passing
distance requirement, goes into effect on July 1st. This new law is a
great step forward for bicycle safety, but it will only be effective if it
is widely known by Georgia's drivers.

AthensGaBicycling, in coordination with other cities and groups throughout
the state is having a ride to help raise awareness for the new law. In
addition to the Athens area, rides are currently scheduled in Atlanta,
Augusta, Norcross, LaGrange, & Savannah, with other sponsoring
organizations including the Southern Bicycle League, the Atlanta Bicycle
Coalition, BikeAthens, Wheel Movement, Ravinia Rollers, West Georgia
Flyers, and the Savannah Bicycle Campaign.

Check out athensgabicycling.com to see a calendar of rides of all lengths
and skill levels around town!
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On the Horizon

Weâve set the date for our Annual Meeting and Member Party for Saturday
July 30! So mark your calendars, start getting excited, and donât be
fooled by the word âmeetingâ in the title- this is also a party to
celebrate our members and all the things YOU have helped us accomplish!
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Keep in touch at our blog http://bikeathens.blogspot.com/ and facebook
page http://www.facebook.com/pages/BikeAthens/126325948567


-- 
BikeAthens appreciates your continued support towards its mission of
improving transportation options in Athens-Clarke County. Get more info,
join, renew your membership, or volunteer at at www.bikeathens.com
_________________________________________________________________
- BikeAthens appreciates your continued support towards its mission of 
improving transportation options in Athens-Clarke County. Get more info,join, 
renew your membership, or volunteer at at www.bikeathens.com

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