This has been another outstanding year for twowheeling in CBus! With the support of lots of folks like the Mayor, Consider Biking, MORPC, Yay Bikes, Battelle, the Corporate Cycling Caucus, and others we're moving the dial. Our 2009 accomplishments included: the inaugural Peletonia ride with Lance Armstrong, a bigger and better "Bike to Work Week" in May (Thanks, Matt Young and Battelle!), the creation and printing of the first ever central Ohio Bike Map (color coding the roads for their "bikeability"), the launch of the Columbus Corporate Cycling Caucus and the creation of the "Corporate TwoWheel Toolkit" (this toolkit explains to companies why encouraging employees to bike and walk to work is good for their bottom line and how they can facilitate and encourage biking to work--we're aiming to have bike ambassadors at every central Ohio workplace), the Pedal Instead folks are setting up bike corals at major area events (like OSU football games) and making it easy for folks to bike instead of drive to these events (Thanks Catherine Girves!), the City continues to improve the bikeway system (e.g. the newly reconstructed Henderson Road bridge is now a model of bikeability), Dublin created a new bicycle advisory committee (80 Dublin citizens applied for the 16 positions) to help make Dublin more bikeable and vibrant (City Manager Terry Foegler understands that this is what new economy workers want---go for it Dublin!), and with the income tax increase we should be poised to build the first phase of the Bicentennial Bikeway Plan. In short, lots of great things are HAPPENING to make it easier and safer for you to bike around CBus. (I'm sure my twowheelling friends will let me know if I missed any other great accomplishments this year.)
If you want a good read, check out "Pedaling Revolution" by Jeff Mapes (Oregon State University Press). A reporter for the Oregonian in Portland, Jeff traces the pedaling revolution going on in cities across America. This book confirms that we are RIGHT ON TRACK with our efforts in CBus and provides a road map and inspiration for where we need to move our community. I'd encourage you to buy this book, read it and pass it on to other CBus thought leaders. It can help us create the "right" new vision for our city.
I have to call out Mayor "Bikin Mike" Coleman. His leadership on our cycling initiatives has been OUTSTANDING! I have seen the Mayor at countless biking events, ON HIS BIKE!, and he has become a tireless advocate for the pedaling revolution in CBus. Mike, you're great! and we owe you big!
As has become our custom in CBUS, please join me on Friday, October 30, for the 2009 Closing Day ride and Happy Hour. We're gonna skip the morning ride, but will meet at "Bill's Feet" at 5 pm and ride to the Pig Iron BBQ on N. High (just north of Graceland Shopping Center). For those of you riding from other parts of the City, we should arrive at the Pig by 6 pm, so plan to meet us there............and as always the beers are on me!
Dang, I really want to be at Pig iron cuz, ya know, I do like beer and biking! I am no longer working down town but am now doing contract work out at Franklin County Childrens Services - I have worked for 4 days and haven't figured out how to bike to work. Thanks for the reminder that I HAVE GOT TO DO IT! Much more is on the line than a big butt! LOL
Posted by: www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=1321723953 | October 08, 2009 at 05:37 PM