True confessions of a bicycle scofflaw (Grist.org)

Nice article on how many of us really commute by bike:)From grist.org

The Grand Valley Receives Federal Safe Routes to School Funding

The City of Grand Junction in partnership with Grand Valley Bikes was awarded $44,000 recently by the Colorado Department of Transportation's Colorado Safe Routes to School program for comprehensive projects that will engage local school children to walk and bike safely to school.

The Colorado Safe Routes to School (SRTS) program creates a sustainable culture of walking and bicycling at each school by increasing the safety skill-set of all students as well as incorporating parents and guardians
to monitor routes to school. Tope Elementary will host SRTS November 7-11, 2011; Rocky Mountain Elementary SRTS program will be held for two weeks in the spring of 2012.
Children in physical education classes will participate in lessons that
prepare them for real-life scenarios while planting the seed for an active
lifestyle. “Studies show that kids who are regularly active tend to do better
in school and on tests because there is more oxygen going to the brain.” says
Josh Warinner, Tope Elementary School P.E. Teacher. He also noted that SRTS aligns with the Colorado State Physical Education Standard which identifies the importance of physical activities and learning many different life-long activities.

Numerous municipalities and organizations including the City
of Grand Junction; Grand Valley Bikes; Mesa County; City of Fruita; Bicycle
Colorado; The Riverfront Commission; Colorado Plateau Mountain Bike Trail
Association (COPMOBA); Tope and Rocky Mountain Elementary School principals, PE
teachers, and PTAs have come forward to support this important program. The community partners intend to continue bicycle education and the positive effects it will have on this and coming
generations in the Grand Valley. “The City of Grand Junction is committed to accommodating all modes of transportation and believe programs that encourage children to walk and bike safely to school contribute to achieving our goal of ‘Becoming the Most Livable Community West of the Rockies’” says Kathy Portner, Neighborhood Services Manager for the City of Grand Junction and liaison to the SRTS program.

SRTS supports the mission of Grand Valley Bikes (GVB), which
is to improve safety and infrastructure for cyclists in the Grand Valley. The 501c3
bicycle advocacy organization formed from a group of concerned commuter and
recreational cyclists who believe that bicycling is a sustainable
transportation alternative with health, environmental, and community benefits. “Safe Routes to School program has been very successful in other parts of the state.
Grand Valley Bikes aims to have hundreds of school children become safe and
confident when commuting to school in the Grand Valley for years to come,” says
GVB president, Jason Wedemeyer. GVB plans to use the bicycle fleet in perpetuity and in accordance with SRTS objectives.

Childhood obesity rates have more than tripled in the past 30 years while the number of children walking and biking to school has declined. According to the 2001
National Household Travel Survey, less than 16 percent of students between the
ages of 5 and 15 walked or biked to or from school, compared to 42 percent in
1969.

For additional information visit www.saferoutesinfo.org

Bike-In Movie!

When: Thursday, October 13th at 6:30pm

Where: Hot Tomato's backyard at 124 N. Mulberry Street in Fruita

Why: Ride your bikes to learn more about what GVB does to make the Valley a safer and more fun place to ride; while you're at it eat some great pizza, enjoy a movie and meet new friends.

Details: We will be re-screeening Portland's "Filmed by Bike" Shorts, a movie for all ages. Door prize and silent auction! Bike ride to Fruita will leave 10th & Main in Grand Junction at 5pm. A shuttle back to GJ will be provided after the event, RSVP required. To help with shuttle or to RSVP, please contact grandvalleybikes@gmail.com

350.org

From: Carson Coates
Date: Thu, Jul 21, 2011 at 6:58 AM
Subject: Moving Planet (350.org) - Sept. 24

350.org is a global grassroots movement working to solve the climate crisis. 350.org is planning a massive worldwide rally on September 24, 2011 to demand solutions to the problem. I would like to see an event in the Grand Valley, but need help organizing and planning. Right now I am thinking about a mass bike ride and need help working out the details. Anyone interested in helping shape the event can contact me at threefifty.gv@gmail.com.

For more information about 350.org, Moving Planet, and 350 Grand Valley, check out the links below.

350.org

http://www.350.org/

Moving Planet

http://www.moving-planet.org/

GJ Event Webpage:

http://www.moving-planet.org/events/us/grand-junction/245

350 Grand Valley on Facebook:

https://www.facebook.com/pages/350-Grand-Valley/145285102176542

Blog:

http://threefifty-gv.blogspot.com/

Thanks,

Carson

World Naked Bike Ride

This summary is not available. Please click here to view the post.

Bike To Work Door Prize Winners

Here is the list of drawing winners from the Bike to Work Event:

Giro Helmet: Alaina Smith

Bell Helmet: Randall Hoobler

Beacon Mtn Bar Light: Edwardo

Bontrager Light: Thad Tuin

Bike Light: Carson Coates

Helmet: Steve Landman

Bike Light: Sue Nall

Please stop by Brown Cycles to claim your door Prize, and thanks for coming to Ride your Bike to Work Day !

June is "Colorado Bike Month"!

Grand Valley Bikes is excited to celebrate and participate with Colorado Department of Transportation's Bike Month. GVB, Urban Trails, Mesa County, the City of Grand Junction, and the Junk Ride invite you all to come to Bike to Work Day, Wednesday, June 22nd, at the Grand Junction City Hall fountain,at 5th and Rood from 6:30am – 9:30am.

Please click here to learn more about Bike Month in Colorado, and please ride your bike (and encourage others) for commuting around town.

North Avenue Corridor Survey

Hello All,

This is an excellent opportunity to respond strongly for bike advocacy. The
survey is quick it’s mostly about bike lanes, sidewalks, and parking options on
North Avenue. Again, the survey is quick and the city is asking for feedback.

--

Enjoy the ride,

Grand Valley
Bikes

--

This survey relates to North Avenue and efforts to plan for the
future re-development of it.

Please go to a web page first before you complete the survey. There
you will review six different options for the potential re-development of
North Avenue. You will need to select your top two choices from among those
six before taking the survey. The link to the survey is on the web
page underneath the six options. Here is the link to the web page:
http://bit.ly/jUILGe

Thank you in advance for taking the time to provide your feedback to us.
This survey will be open through Wednesday, June 15.

Earth Day

Come down to the Botanic Gardens this Saturday, April 23rd, for Earth Day.
The first ten people to arrive by bike at the GVB booth will receive DT Swiss schwag!
Join in a bike ride along the Riverfront Trail from 9:30 - 10:30am.
Booths open 8am – 3pm, music 3-11pm.
Check out the full itinerary at www.gjearthday.com

AASHTO wants to weaken US DOT bicycle accommodation policy

Take Action!

Contact Your State Department of Transportation

On Friday, the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO) released a letter and supplemental document, which asked the US Department of Transportation to weaken their guidance on accommodating bicyclists and pedestrians. The supplemental document, submitted as part of a formal review of regulations, asks that the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) withdraw their guidance on the meaning of “due consideration” of bicyclists and pedestrians to make it easier for states to ignore the needs of non-motorized travelers. AASHTO prefers the weaker “consider where appropriate” to allow states to avoid having to justify failure to accommodate bicycling and walking.

This request is misguided. At a time when cities are building entire bicycling networks for the cost of one mile of urban four-lane freeway, bike projects are putting people to work, and benefiting business, this is not the time to move backwards. When more and more states – 23 and counting – are embracing Complete Streets policies, AASHTO should be a leading voice in shaping holistic and comprehensive transportation systems, not resisting them. In fact, AASHTO’s own 12 year-old Bicycle Guide, due to be up dated this year, says that bicyclists and pedestrians can be expected on any roadway they are legally allowed to operate and therefore should be accommodated.

Grand Valley bikes Officially a 501(c)3 Non Profit !!

In a letter to Grand Valley Bikes (GVB) dated March 22, 2011, the IRS determined that Grand Valley Bikes is "exempt from Federal income tax under section 501(c)3 of the Internal Revenue Code ", and has cladssified us as a Public Charity under section 170 (b) (1) (A) (vi). Contributions to GVB are deductible under section 170 of the Code. We are also now qualified to receive tax deductible bequests, devices, transfers and gifts under sections 2055, 2106 and 2522 of the Code.

Thanks for Coming Out !!!

A big shout out and Thank You to all who came out to support Grand Valley Bikes for the Worst Day of the Year Ride. Costumes were creative and diverse, weather was dissappointingly good, and a fun time was had by all ! How often do we get to ride with Zebras, Smurfs, Wicked Witches and Chickens ?

Thanks also to all the event sponsors: Brown Cycles, Single Tracks, LTR, Board andBuckle, The Bike Shop, Grass Roots Cycles, Bicycle Outfitters, the Free Press, and Dos Hombres, and the Media who covered the event.

Stay tuned for more fun events this spring and summer !

Bicycle Colorado Action Alert

http://co108w.col108.mail.live.com/mail/InboxLight.aspx?n=1006036670: "Action Alert:
Colorado Open Roads Act

Please Contact Your State Representative!

Please contact your Colorado Representative and ask them to support House Bill 1092 for Open Roads. Voicemails and emails are great, and be sure to include your home address so they know you are from their district. The House vote may be any day this week, so please call today.

Step 1: Find your Colorado House District (1 through 65)

Enter your home address at this linked website.

Click the 'Find Your Districts' button and see your 'CO House ##' on the right

Step 2: Talking Points (please be polite)

I am asking for your support of House Bill 1092 (Kerr-Brophy)
-This bill will give people the freedom to travel the state by bicycle.
-Banning bikes gives Colorado's bicycle and tourism industries a black eye.
-Bicycles simply need an alternate route if a road is closed.

Step 3: Call or Email the Representative from Your House District

Contact information for each Representative can be found on our website. Please spread the word and share this with other friends of cycling.

Thanks for your help keeping roads open to bicycling!

Learn more about House Bill 1092

email: info@bicyclecolorado.org
phone: 303-417-1544
web: http://www.BicycleColorado.org"

February Events!

Grand Valley Bikes Maintenance Social - February Meeting!

Brown Cycles, 549 Main Street

5:45pm-8pm, Tuesday February 1^st

Do you have a bike in slight disrepair, and with the cold weather have delayed fixing it?

Bring your fix-it project to Brown Cycles at 5:45pm this Tuesday, February 1^st. Repair materials can be purchased from 5:45-6pm, then the doors close and the fixing begins! Two mechanic stations will be available: Basic and Advanced.

Don’t have a project? Learn about GVB doings and bike maintenance or meet and help others.

Pablo’s Pizza buy-in $5, BYO beverages, bikes and repair tools.

_____________________________________________________________

“Worst Day of the Year” Ride--- Support GVB!

Sunday February 27^th 11am – 2pm

Register now at 254-FUNN (3866)

This 10 mile path loop ride is fashioned after the ‘Worst Day Ride’ in Portland, Oregon. It will start and end at Dos Hombres on the Redlands; a ‘Big Eat’ awaits you at the finish line! Dress up in your cheeriest costume to fight off the winter frost; prizes offered for best dressed person and best dressed bike.

Fee: $25 adults, $10 children 12 & under (Admission includes a burrito, a margarita or beer for those 21+, and all the fun of the ride!)

Proceeds to Benefit Grand Valley Bikes!!!!!!!!

Grist.org 2011 in bikes!

Check out this link for a fun article that can give us GJ residents some hope and ideas for the future.