HAPPENINGS AND UPDATES

October 23, 2010

In and around Charlotte

  • Dateline: Observer, October 23 – Editor Mary Newsom comments on Envision Charlotte (campaign by business leadership to drastically reduce energy use in Uptown buldings by 2016 -”After all, “sustainable” – a word I’m coming to dislike for its fuzzy applicability to almost everything – means more than electrical use. What about the carbon footprint of the people who drive daily into uptown? ..I asked Duke Energy’s Charles Pfeiler, who spoke Wednesday, whether the Envision:Charlotte initiative would focus only on electricity or would also measure (or try to) activities such as reduced driving. The core of it is electric use, he said, but they may try to devise ways to pull in other data on other behaviors.”  For full article CLICK: Hog Happy
  • More from the Observer - Dateline: October 24 – Letter to the Editor from Paula Fricke titled -”Don’t kill me before I get to church; make way for cyclists”, Paula says: “Sundays I bike to church, 10 miles up Providence Road. I’ve biked near the curb and on sidewalks, but have found both life-threatening due to oblivious or reckless drivers. I’ve concluded the safest way to arrive at church is to create my own bike lane. (By riding towards the middle of the lane) … drivers become humane, slow down and pass with plenty of room to spare. I’m 58, healthy, and my gas bill is minimal. Biking is all good. Please, let all bikers do it safely”. Paula is president of Trips for Kids ( a bicycle non-profit outreach group) and a member of CABA.
  • More from UNCC – Guess what ? Off-campus housing firms are now promoting bicycling. Here’s an ad that appeared last week in the campus newspaper. Not a bad idea since it’s so difficult to park a car on campus and the parking charges are getting totally out of wack. The ad in this photo is for the University Walk apts. across US 49 from campus.
     

    • New Corporate membership – Much thanks to DPZ architects, and especially Tom Low, for their generous contribution to CABA programs and the cause of bicycling. DPZ is a nationally prominent firm with a Charlotte branch and a leader in design of Smart Growth/New Urbanist projects.

NEWS FLASH ! BIKE RIDE THIS SUNDAY

October 12, 2010

Carolina Berg Wanderers club

We just received this from new CABA member David “Zeke” Safdy:  The Carolina Berg Wanderers is a club in the Charlotte area for people who enjoy outdoor activities including cycling. (The name is rooted in the club origins –  a 1975 group trip to the Alps; “Berg” is German for “mountain”). Here are the stats:

  • Meet at BikeSource, Park Road Shopping Center (4301-A Park Rd) – 11 A.M.

Ride on Charlotte’s published bicycle routes, the Trolley Rail-With-Trail, Mint St. along Panther’s Stadium, Uptown, CPCC campus, Plaza-Midwood neighborhood (with a stop at Kickstand’s for lunch/beer). Return via Little Sugar Creek Greenway through Dilworth. Great views of the city and maybe some leftover fall colors. I ride about 15 mph on average. Helmets required, rear-view mirror highly advised. We’ll cover about 15 miles. Will only cancel if rain/snow is forecasted.


LAST SATURDAY’S PRESBY HOSPITAL CRITERIUM

August 13, 2010

Uptown Charlotte - great day and great event !! Photo by Weldon Weaver


THIS WEEK – Ride of Silence

May 12, 2010

 

May 19 – Wednesday 7pm

Booty Loop – only three laps – Join cyclists worldwide in a silent slow-paced ride (max. 12 mph) in honor of those who have been injured or killed while cycling on public roadways in and around Charlotte. Meet behind Queen College on Wellesley.

Ride of Silence logo

Ride of Silence logo

Thanks much to Mike Gibbons, Mike Stieglitz and others of the MoJo riders who have been instrumental in making this happen and growing its ranks over the past three years. Let’s get lots of folks to show up !

CLICK: RoS for website.


CAR-FREE FRIDAYS IN PITTSBURGH

June 30, 2009

If they can do it so can we

Pittsburgh is a city about the same size as Charlotte (and just as hot in the summer !). The local bicycle advocacy group – Bike PGH – (which just happens to have over twice as many members as CABA….ugh) launched a city-wide initiative earlier this summer to encourage commuters to leave their cars at home at least once a week.  “Car Free Fridays” – are  days  when the air is a little cleaner and the streets a little safer.  A day to welcome the use of smart transportation. For more info, see: Pittsburgh rides proud.


HANGING OUT AT THE COMMON MARKET

June 30, 2009

Hanging out at the Common Market

Single speeds - yea; tattoos - sure; socks - no way, jose; helmets - maybe


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