news and events

It's time to give a 2008 summer update on the Blue Urban Bikes project, our own innovative bike loan effort, brought to fruition by the volunteer efforts of the ReCYCLEry and SURGE. Awards and BUB Hub updates are here.

We can now officially call the program, the "award winning" Blue Urban Bikes. At the "Annual Kick Gas Celebration" held today at Research Triangle Park Headquarters, the Blue Urban Bikes Program was awarded the Go Chapel Hill Community Cycling Award and a shiny new plaque for which we need to find a humble, yet prominent placement.

The luncheon and awards ceremony celebrated the achievements of this year's transportation demand management (TDM) programs, including the Durham County Trip Reduction Ordinance and TDM Programs in RTP, Durham, Orange and Wake Counties. Other recognitions included this year's statistics for the Smart Commute Challenge and recognition of the accomplishments of the region's Best Workplaces for Commuters.

Please join us at the ReCYCLEry this Sunday, June 22nd to help tune up some bikes! The final plan is to arrive shortly before 9am when the ladies plan to arrive, and help them tune up their bikes in advance of their 75 mile goal for the day. Volunteers have offered to provide a light breakfast and at noon we will open up our regular Sunday workshop.

Please check our post, BBQ with the Wanderlust Reproductive Justice Story Collective and Bike Caravan, for more information on the group.

Help welcome the Wanderlust riders to Carrboro!

Saturday, June 21st, 2008

What:    Join the Wanderlust bike riders for an evening of story sharing, delicious BBQ, and good conversation!
Where:    117 W. Poplar Ave Carrboro, NC... MAP. No parking on the street—park at Basnight and Sons at corner of W. Main and W. Poplar or University Methodist Church (if there's no event going on) or Carrboro Elementary School—on Shelton Street.
When:      6-8pm
More info:    Pro-choice Public Education Wanderlust Page and blog updates from the tour at Wanderlustwithrhonda.com.

Information from the M.S. Fits Cycling Team website:

Wednesday, May 21st, 2008

What:    A 5-mile loop, in silence, no faster than 12 MPH in honor of cyclists and others killed or injured while cycling on public roadways. The ride, which is being held during Bike Safety Month, aims to raise the awareness of motorists, police and city officials that cyclists have a legal right to the public roadways.
Where:    Triangle Life Science Center Parking Lot (on Hwy. 54 just west of T.W. Alexander Dr. - former USEPA building), Research Triangle Park, NC... MAP

The culmination of Bike to Work Week is Bike to Work Day on Friday, May 16th. Read more to find local links.

Local Activities

7:00am    Raleigh Bikers' Breakfast and Bike to Work Week Celebration:

                 NW corner of Fayetteville & Hargett, Raleigh

7-9am    Bike to Work Brunch at the Research Triangle Park Headquarters:

                 12 Davis Drive, RTP

7:30am    Durham Bike to Work Day Gathering:

                 The Mad Hatter at Broad Street & Main Street, Durham

The ReCYCLEry Advisory Board met this evening and began setting up plans for a busy spring and summer!

Please note that Monday Classes for Mechanics resume on May 5th. Check back for specifics as the date approaches. Monday Classes will be held from 6-8pm, weather permitting.

We are also scheduling BUB workdays in advance of new BUB Hub openings.

We are going to redesign the website from the bottom up and be looking for a few good folks willing to be regular contributors.

Finally, expect to see some fundraising activities, and possibly an art auction. Look out for the ReCYCLEry design contest for new merch, and then we'll tie it all together with a big bike block party.

Stay tuned and spread the word!

This post sourced from an email to the RTP_bike_ped list-serv and reposted with permission, 4/17/08

Bikes on Buses Answers From Triangle Transit

Greetings-

Back in March, this list had a short discussion on Triangle Transit's
policy on bring bikes onboard buses. Sean had a few questions I
could not answer directly, and I said I would do research and return to
the list with an answer. Below are Sean's questions, followed by my
answers.

***********

Patrick -How is it that a bike that is tied down to one of the
wheelchair positions can become a projectile? and, Have you tested the
3-bike rack on the new buses? Why do other municipalities allow bikes on
the bus? I would really like to know the answers to these questions,
because the lack of capacity for bikes is what caused me to stop using
the transit system.- Sean

***********

from the website, smartcommutechallenge.org:

The SmartCommute Challenge is an annual non-profit public service campaign that works to reduce traffic congestion and improve air quality in the Triangle.

From April 15 through May 30, any employee or college student who commutes to work or campus in Wake, Durham, or Orange County can participate. To enter the Challenge, make your online pledge that at least once before May 30 you will carpool, vanpool, bike or walk, ride the bus, or telework (work from home).

Everyone who takes the Challenge will be entered into a drawing to win one of several prizes, including a free vacation for two!

You can take the pledge individually, or get your company to sign on collectively!

If you'd like to learn more about and offer input regarding Raleigh's Comprehensive Bicycle Plan, please visit www.greenways.com/raleighbike.html. There's a brief description here, and a link to a comment form.

The greenways site is the home of Greenways, Inc., a multidisciplinary environmental planning and landscape architectural firm that specializes in providing consulting services to government agencies, for-profit corporations and nonprofit organizations.

Greenways Inc. has done work across the country, but are currently involved in a good number of North Carolina projects, and worked with the Town of Carrboro as detailed below.

The Town of Carrboro Bicycle Transportation Plan
www.greenways.com/carrboro.html

We are pleased to share some information from our friends and partners in service...

http://www.durhambikecoop.org/events.htm

Saturday, April 12th, 2008

12pm Potluck Cookout
1pm Annual Meeting
2:30pm Social Bike Ride

723 N. Mangum Street, Bull City Headquarters