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Transforming Community through Everyday Cycling 

 NOTE TO ALL FACEBOOK FRIENDS 

CABA’s Facebook page was corrupted in early March. We have a new page, new administrators and tighter editorial controls in place. We apologize for the inconvenience. 

Mark your calendar !

National Bike Month

• Bicycle Advisory Committee – Citizen appointed group which advises the Mayor, City Council and County Council. Membership open to the general public. Great opportunity to stay current on city sponsored bicycle projects and planning. Room 601, Char-Meck. Government Center – Third Tuesday of each month – May 22. Staffed by Ken Tippette, CDOT Bicycle Program Manager. Newest CABA members include Haley Beaupre and Chris Gladora.
• National Bike to Work Week - May 14-18
• Annual Clean and Green Festival – Little Sugar Creek greenway- May 19.

From Martin Zimmerman, Executive Director -

It has been eight years since assuming my post with CABA and a great ride it has been.  But the time has come to pass responsibilities onto others. It is my intention to vacate my post by the end of June. After that I hope to continue a commitment to a sustainable future through a variety of bicycle-related advocacy pursuits, some with higher profiles than others. It has been eight, great years, easily the most fun I have ever experienced, but all good things must come to an end.

To friends, colleagues, supporters and allies a heartfelt thank you for your support and encouragement along the way. Among other successes, CABA’s membership has grown five fold, and financial support has kept pace with this growth from a variety of sources – -  government, foundation, corporate, family and individual. But equally important, CABA’s reach in the community has expanded to new levels, perhaps most significantly, the granting of the 2012 first place award by Sustain Charlotte in the transportation category earlier in April – -  a gala celebration held at the new UNCC Uptown building.

Specific names and organizations to thank are too numerous to list. They include current Mayor Anthony Foxx, former Mayor Pat McCrory and former Chairperson of the CountyCommissioners, Jennifer Roberts, whose support for bicycling as an essential component of transportation policy has been unflinching. Thanks to Michael Smith, Debra Myers, Allison Billings and others with Charlotte Center City Partners, who, in concert with Planning Department Director, Debra Campbell and her capable staff are committed to a “City of Bikes” priority for the 2020 Center City Vision Plan. Thanks to those members of City Council who voted in favor of  the trend-setting 2007 Urban Street Design Guidelines and the 2008 city-wide bicycle plan, and who have consistently approved CIP funding for bike budgets. Thanks to Jim Garges, Gwen Cook and colleagues at theCountyParkand Recreation Department, who, on concert with Ann Browning and others, are putting more and more bicycles on greenways and the ever-expanding Carolina Thread Trail. Thanks to the many grassroots partnering organizations with whom I have had personal contact, ranging from the Sierra Club, to Clean Air Carolina to Green Drinks; to neighborhood groups and their representatives, especially those within eco-districts; to Chancellor Phil DuBois and staff at UNCC who are committed to a mission of sustainability that reaches far beyond the enviable campus setting.

A word of appreciation to the many folks in the bicycling community itself – - ranging from bike shop owners and employees to the myriad members of cycling clubs and groups – - Dirt Divas, Trailblazers, MoJos, Jeff Viscount’s Weekly Rides, Attorney Ann Groninger of “mybikelaw”, Harry Johnson and Paula Fricke of Trips for Kids, and many, many others. And perhaps most of all, the individuals who put in countless hours of time simply because they have a passion and commitment to a cause. People like Pamela Murray, a CABA “member of the month” and Plaza Midwood activist; Rich Haag, Shane Hockensmith, and Ray Atkinson for their invaluable assistance in University City;  Jane Cacchione and members of the Bicycle Advisory Committee; CABA members Josh and Jamie Rimany, proprietors of Dilworth Drug, which offers discounts to customers who ride bikes to their establishment; Haley Beaupre for taking a lead on bike share.

To numerous corporate entities -  – Harris Teeter, Bank of America, Food Lion, the Crosland company and others who have approved the installation of 87 bike racks on their properties throughout the city of Charlotte.

And last but not least, a very, very special thank you to Dan Faris, CABA Board chairperson and Kelly Picarsic, membership coordinator, for going the extra mile at a 24/7 pace !

You all have my continued respect and trust.

Here’s to better days for CABA and its evolving mission; but most importantly, the community it serves !

As Safe Routes to School Coordinator for Mecklenburg County Health. Department, Dick has recently added “Let’s Ride to SafetyTown” to his list of programs.“Safety Town” is made possible by an ongoing grant from the Carolinas Healthcare System Foundation, and it has been operating in CMS for 23 years. This is a program for kindergarten students where they ride “scoot” bikes (no pedals, no training wheels!) to learn how to balance on 2 wheels.  It commenced last November and continues through the school year, engaging 65 elementary schools.   Dick is also a member of the CABA Advisory Board, the Advisory Board to the Char-Meck. Dept. of Parks and Recreation, the Board of the North Carolina  Active Transportation Alliance and other civic ventures. Thank you Dick for your tireless efforts and passion for the cause ! Contact info: .704 432-4596 or dick.winters@carolinas.org.

We did it! On March 31 at the gala event dinner party at the Uptown UNCC tower, as hosted by our sister organization, Sustain Charlotte, CABA received the first annual award before an audience of 200 sustainability activists and leaders. Thanks to all of you who sent emails, tweets or facebook nominations that helped us attain this worthy status.

CLICK: Charlotte Business Journal for full article listing all award winners.

People like you ! Find out who is riding bikes in Charlotte and why and how frequently. Find out what they think of the progress made to expand the bike infrastructure.  Find out how often folks ride bikes. Find out who knows what a “sharrow” is. This and more !

Interested in viewing it ? CLICK: Survey 2012

CABA member Haley Beaupre steers her magic mystery tricycle

]]> http://charlottebikes.org/2012/05/01/wanted-caba-volunteers-for-spring-events/feed/ 0 martinzimmerman8 1Haley_edited http://charlottebikes.org/2012/05/01/mark-your-calendars-ride-of-silence/ http://charlottebikes.org/2012/05/01/mark-your-calendars-ride-of-silence/#comments Tue, 01 May 2012 10:00:53 +0000 martinzimmerman8 http://charlottebikes.org/?p=1936 ]]> May 16 – Wednesday 7 pm

Myers Park Traditional Elementary School

Booty Loop – only three laps – Join cyclists worldwide in a silent slow-paced ride (max. 12 mph) in honor of those who have been killed or injured on our highways.  2012 marks the 10th anniversary of this ride which originated in Dallas, Texas.

Charlotte Ride Leader: Jeff Viscount

CLICK: RforS for ride and post-ride details and names of other ride leaders. After ride party at BikeLaw.com offices compliments of  Attny. Ann Groninger - a CABA and Dirt Diva member.

GUEST SPEAKERS: Dick Winters and Dean Brodhag – CABA  members with a passion for community service. See Dick’s “Member of the Month” post below >

DISCUSSION TOPIC: Biking for health –  Progress with CMS school programs, and senior citizens. How to bring the positive messages of bicycling to wider audiences. This will be an informal, open ended discussion on two topics that don’t get the attention or resources they deserve.  Talk about your concerns. You can make a difference. 

LOCATION: Kickstand Burgers -n- Bar  – 1101 Central Avenue at Heath Court a few blocks towards Uptown from Plaza Midwood.  We have a relaxed, quiet meeting room to the right of the front entry. Ample bike racks.  CLICK:  Mapquest. 

TIME: 6:30 – 8 p.m.  Meet kindred spirits. You don’t have to be a CABA member to participate. Meetings start and end on time.

Join Pamela Murray, CABA volunteer for an after-meeting ride in the Plaza Midwood neighborhood.