The Blue Ridge Bicycle Club, Inc. of Roanoke has awarded Virginia Bicycling Federation Bicycling Friendly recognitions to the following:

Carilion Clinic: for promoting healthy lifestyle initiatives, sponsoring screening clinics in the downtown market building, financially supporting “the Artie” (the Blue Ridge Bicycle Club’s annual bike ride), and for Carillon’s involvement in the completion of the Hamilton Section of the Roanoke River Greenway.

Valley Metro: for commitment to accommodating cyclists on transit. Valley Metro has placed bike racks on buses. The transit company has incorporated “Bikes on Buses” policy, and provided driver training to share the road with cyclists. This is a national issue that is being dealt with in a proactive manner by Valley Metro.

MOJO Café: owned and operated by Nikki Litwiller and Sybil Barrett, is located on Brambleton Avenue. The Blue Ridge Bicycle Club has a 5:30 AM training ride from Brambleton. The café always has ready a hot cup of coffee and good food to eat.

ShareBike, the vision of Ron McCorkle, was named by his daughter, Reanna. Former VBF board member James Rosar has also been involved from the beginning. ShareBike’s goal is to promote sustainable transportation in Roanoke, by providing a bicycle library for bicycling advocacy, and bikes to rent or borrow — currently at 3 locations in Roanoke.

Senator John Edwards: Senate Bill 546 was patroned by Senator John Edwards of Roanoke. This bill specifically mentions the railroads as being protected from liability when they permit recreational users to cross their owned, or easement acquired property for recreational purposes. Though primarily pushed for by the paddlers and fishermen, and spearheaded by Roanoke’s Bill Tanger of the Friends of the Rivers of Virginia, the Virginia Bicycling Federation joined the coalition of groups supporting this bill in order to help the railroads remove the “liability” argument they have often used when access along, or across, their tracks has been requested.

Councilman Rupert Cutler has championed the bicyclist’s voice on City Council. He has advocated for a downtown connection between the Lick Run Greenway and the Mill Mountain Greenway, initiated dialog for extending the Railwalk to Wise Avenue, spearheaded the Roanoke Valley Kiwanis support for signage along the Lick Run Greenway, requested accountability of city departments for inclusion of bicycle accommodations in road projects, and championed Rails with Trail options to connect the Roanoke River Greenway and the Huckleberry Trail.

Any VBF member organization, or individual member, can give Bicycling Friendly awards to recognize businesses, organizations, or individuals who have made special efforts to be bicycling friendly, or promote bicycling.

Jake Helmboldt receives VBF's Bicycling Friendly Award. L to R: Champe Burnley, Jake Helmboldt, Sheryl Finucane & Bud Vye

No one is more deserving of VBF’s Bicycling Friendly Award than VDOT’s (now former) statewide bike and pedestrian coordinator. Jake Helmboldt has been a great ally and resource for us, and for cyclists throughout Virginia. We wish him well in his new position at the planning firm of Vanesse Hangen Brustlin.

Virginia Secretary of Transportation Pierce Homer receives VBF's Bicycling Friendly Award. L to R: Jake Helmboldt, Ron Corio, Bud Vye, Pierce Homer, Champe Burnley, Sheryl Finucane.

Following the ribbon cutting ceremony opening the Richmond section of the Virginia Capital Trail, the Virginia Bicycling Federation presented Secretary of Transportation Pierce Homer with VBF’s Bicycling Friendly Award.

Under the leadership of Secretary Homer, over $100 million in funds have been spent on bike and pedestrian facilities, including over $20 million in ARRA (Stimulus) funds.  Besides the Virginia Capital Trail, some major projects include the Dismal Swamp Trail, High Bridge Trail, and the Roanoke Greenway.

VBF commends Secretary Homer for his leadership, and prioritizing active transportation during these difficult economic times.

Update: River Laker, aka CarLessBrit, has posted video of this event: Part 1 & Part 2. Thanks CarLessBrit!

PRESS RELEASE
Saturday, May 02, 2009
Blue Ridge Bicycle Club, VA

Saturday in Roanoke was a great day! 90+ people of all ages and riding experience opted to go car less and ride with Mayor Bowers 2 ½ miles from Wasena Park to the Mayor’s monument in downtown Roanoke.

Many riders enjoyed the Strawberry Festival and the Chili Cookoff in the historic city market before cycling back to Wasena Park.

Bike month proclamations from the Governor and Roanoke City Council were presented. Dana Martin, Commonwealth Transportation board member, presented the Governor’s Bike Month Proclamation. The Mayor, representing Roanoke City Council, presented Roanoke city’s Bike Month Proclamation to Blue Ridge Bicycle Club President, Skip Huffman.

Senator Edwards rode a SHARE BIKE to the Mayor’s monument. Vice Mayor Lea and Valerie Garner rode in the Pedicab pedaled by Ron McCorkle with SHAREBIKE.

Elected officials attending included Senator Edwards, Sheriff Octavia Johnson, Vice Mayor Sherman Lea, and council member Rupert Cutler. Bike Patrol from the City Police and Sheriff’s office led the ride. Fire and EMS support helped “rescue” a few tired riders. Melvin Williams, a candidate running for Delegate Fralin’s seat, rode with his wife Pam Fulgham Williams.

The Mayor announced the July 1 start date for the completions of the Greenway near Roanoke Memorial Hospital. The project should take 120 days. Plans connect the Roanoke River Greenway at 13th Street SE with the Tinker Creek Greenway via a bridge over Roanoke River is planned for the near future. Congressman Goodlatte has secured $5 Million for future flood projects upstream from Wasena Park that will include the Greenway. Bowers also championed connecting the Roanoke River Greenway with Blacksburg’s Huckleberry Trail.

Virginia Bicycling Federation “Bicycling Friendly” awards were presented by the bike club to Dick Howard and Paul Chapman who founded and implemented the Roanoke Valley Mountain Bike Patrol.

Shane Sawyer, Transportation Planner for the Regional Commission and Jerome Holmes, Ride Solutions, are a dynamic duo working to map bicycle routes, update the Bicycle Plan and introduce new bicycle media median’s. Wake Fulp, is the organizer and team manager for the East Coasters/BRBC Jr. Racing Team.

Wes Best, owner of East Coasters, was recognized for his inspiration and financial support for the racing team. Mail-It Plus was recognized for their promotional and logistical support for bicycling activities. Jim Lee was recognized for including bicycle access in Greenway Planning, and River Laker was recognized for going car less and making a big deal of it! Mayor Bowers first bicycle ride was a tremendous success. Everyone looks forward to riding again next year!

Click here to see more pictures, & full-sized versions.

Barbara Duerk
Blue Ridge Bicycle Club Advocacy Chair
2607 Rosalind Ave. S.W.
Roanoke, VA 24014
barbgary@cox.net
540-343-1616 H.
540-580-1621 C.

If you’ve seen this decal pictured at the right, here’s what it’s about.

For several years now, VBF’s has offered the Bicycling Frendly Award for our members to give to businesses, organizations, and indviduals in their communities who have made special efforts to support bicyclists and bicycling. We finally have a page up to explain the award, and the process, along with the downloadable forms and templates.

Response to these awards has been terrific. Business owners have been very pleased with the show of gratitude and the publicity. The good PR goes all around to include the bike club giving the award.

Please encourage your bike club to give these awards to those in your community who deserve it. RABA has issued 31 Bicycling Friendly Awards so far, the BRBC in Roanoke a bunch, with a few more scattered around the state. We’d like to see a lot more. Please note the new link in our navigation, and visit the Bicycling Friendly Award page.

The Richmond Area Bicycling Association (RABA), upon the nomination of one or more of its members, has now granted a total of 31 Bicycling Friendly recognitions since the program was developed by the Virginia Bicycling Federation (VBF).

Of the recognitions thus far granted, a total of 14 are country stores where we make stops during rides, and in all cases are welcome to use their rest room facilities. These include (their area is mentioned, if not included in their name) the Coatesville Country Store, M. L. Kersey General Merchandise in Inez, Walkerton Country Market, Columbia Country Market, Studley General Store, Horizon Food Store in eastern Henrico county, Thornton Store in Sussex Courthouse, Price’s Pantry in Orchid, B & L Store in Bumpass, Do Drop In on Rt. 13 west of Powhatan Court House, Chestnut Level Store in southern Chesterfield county, the Countryside Shoppe in northern Amelia county, the 600 Market in Point Eastern, and Verbeeck’s Country Store on Bike Rt. 76 in Bumpass.

Another fourteen are restaurants where we have meals before, during, or after rides, and in several cases, park there while we are riding. In this category are Homemades by Suzanne, Hardee’s, El Azteca, Virginia Barbecue Co., and Ashland Coffee & Tea in Ashland; Crossroads Coffee & Ice Cream on Forest Hill Avenue in Richmond; Maria’s in the Laurel Park Shopping Center in Henrico County; the County Seat Restaurant in Powhatan Courthouse, Coppahaunk Tavern in Waverly, Hickory Notch Grill in Oilville, Stuart’s Restaurant in Highland Springs, The Hanover Cafe in Hanover Courthouse, Smithfield Station in Smithfield, and Trail Head Cyclery on the south side of the James River in Richmond.

The final three recognitions thus far granted have been to two State Parks — Pocahontas (a very popular venue for RABA’s off road riders) and Westmoreland (the mid-point of one of RABA’s popular overnight camping rides) and the City of Richmond’s James River Park system, which contains a number of off road cycling trails (and whose Director, Ralph White, is one of the most Bicycling Friendly public officials in the area).

In each case, the RABA member who nominated the establishment, and/or an officer of the club, has scheduled a ride to the location being recognized, so that as many RABA members as possible have been present for the presentation of the framed certificate and window decal. We also make certain that we have a camera with us so we can take a picture of the presentation to submit to the local newspaper if there is one, and to publish in the RABA Pedaler (after which we will give the establishment a copy for their files).

RABA has found this to be a very effective (and very inexpensive, at $5 per decal and about the same for the framing of the certificate) way to make friends for our cyclists, and encourages its members to nominate any further establishments they feel should be considered for recognition. It also encourages the other member clubs in VBF to participate in the program, so we can recognize the friends of cycling all across the Commonwealth.

Under a full moon and unseasonably warm weather, the Ashland Dinner Club set a new attendance record September 26 with seventeen well lit riders making the trek north to Ashland.

The Ashland Dinner Club (ADC) is RABA’s group of cyclists who enjoy night riding each Wednesday evening following the regular ABC route from Laurel Park. The year-round ride will celebrate its one year anniversary in October.

The group took the opportunity to present the Virginia Barbecue Company with a Virginia Bicycling Federation, “Bicycling Friendly” award.

The Virginia Barbecue Company, Ashland’s other barbecue restaurant, is located on Route 54 (England Street), one block west of Route 1.

Owners Sarah and Jon Meyer have always gone out their way to accommodate the ADC. Though the group often arrives en masse close to the 8 p.m. closing time, the Meyers do whatever is necessary to make sure everyone is served and leaves well fed and happy.

Circumstances this week really demonstrated just how bike friendly these folks are.

Bobby Weitzel, an ADC regular, decided to bring an old Specialized bike out of storage this week for a change of pace on the ride. Apparently, Bobby failed to take his old steed out for a spin before arriving. Only a few miles from Laurel Park, Bobby sensed his rear tire quickly going flat. He was right. The group stopped, supervised the tire change, (making, of course, comments and suggestions on optimal tire changing techniques) and within a few minutes, they were back on the road, heading to a well deserved dinner.

Just south of the Elmont turn, around five miles into the 20 mile ride, it appeared Bobby’s tire was flat again. Indeed, a quick inspection confirmed the hunch. Another tube was borrowed and another tire change was made.

All in all Mr. Weitzel had a total of four flats on the trip up to Ashland.

It should be noted, too, that if you can be prepared for such a situation, Bobby had planned well; he had invited Mark Batterson, former bike racer and longtime cycle mechanic at Rowlett’s, along for the ride. Having your own bike mechanic really takes the work out of changing a flat tire. This is even more convenient than carrying an AAA card.

Though we can’t confirm this fact, we believe Bobby may have set a new club record for the most number of flats on a single ride. Surely this is a record for the number of flats per mile.

Bobby and Mark finally rolled into the Virginia Barbecue Company around 8:30 (a half hour after closing) yet Sarah and Jon were gracious enough to stay and serve them dinner. Not only were the Meyers friendly and cheerful about staying late, when they heard about Bobby’s trying experience, they packed Bobby’s bike in their car and gave him a lift back to Laurel Park, truly demonstrating how bike friendly these folks really are.

(For the record, Bobby’s mileage was corrected on the ride sheet to reflect an 11 mile ride!)

Though I wouldn’t encourage replicating this experience on your next ride to Ashland, drop by the Virginia Barbecue Company for a great barbecue sandwich and let them know we appreciate their accommodating and friendly attitude.

The Virginia Barbecue Company
600 England Street
Ashland, VA 23005
804-752-4838