Bike To Work Week 2012

Hello Durhamites!

May is Bike Month, so various biking groups have put together a fantastic slate of events for bicyclists this week.  Check them out:

• Tuesday, May 8^th: Cyclist’s Social, 5 to 7 pm, Sunset Grille (5850 Fayetteville Rd. # 101 or milepost 5.75 on the American Tobacco Trail). Cyclists enjoy free food and giveaways. Free bike checks provided by REI mechanics. Sponsored by Durham BPAC
• Wednesday May 9^th: National Bike to School Day.
• Wednesday May 9^th: Bicycle Movie Night at The Pinhook (117 W. Main St.). Movie begins at 8 pm. Sponsored by Seven Stars Cycles.
• Thursday, May 10^th: SmartCommute@rtp from 11:30am to 1:00pm will host a free lunch and learn event on bike commuting basics at RTP Headquarters (12 Davis Dr.). Taught by Ken Kaye, a League of American Bicyclists Certified Instructor (LCI), the seminar will cover the basics of commuting by bicycle, safe cycling, riding in traffic, crash avoidance, and cyclists’ rights and responsibilities. The course is open to anyone, and both novice and experienced riders are welcome and encouraged to attend. Attendees can register for this event or by going to http://www.smartcommute.org/lunchandlearn.
• Friday, May 11^th: Bike Commute Coffee Club, meets every Friday at 7:45 am at Loaf Bakery, 111 W. Parrish St.
• Sunday May 13^th: Seven Stars Cycles Bloody Bike & Brunch, 10am, an approximately 20 mile self-supported, no-drop, group ride with Seven Stars Cycles followed by MotorKoKyu Bloody Brunch. Starts and ends at Seven Stars Cycles in Downtown Durham.

Hope to see out at some of these great events!

Ninna

Earth Day 2012 Featuring Bull City Open Streets – A Wet Story…

Mother Nature had her own ideas about Earth Day a couple of weeks back. She may have wanted rain, but those attending Durham’s Earth Day celebration sure didn’t!

Despite the rain, several city streets, including parts of Foster Street, Corporation Street, and Rigsbee Avenue were closed to vehicle traffic—letting bicyclists and pedestrians have free reign of the streets.  Because of the rain the turn-out was smaller than usual, but people were still out and about in jackets and rain gear or toting umbrellas.  They stopped at the booths of vendors offering information about recycling, energy savings, and biking.

The weather conditions didn’t stop a few brave souls from stopping by our booth to sample a bike-blended fruit smoothie that they blended themselves by pedaling on our bike blender.  The supplies for the smoothies were donated by Whole Foods Market—representing a shared mission to encourage people to exercise and to be healthy.

We are grateful that three Durham bike shops helped out along the Bull City Open Streets route—providing bike services to riders.  Thanks Durham Cycles, Tip-Top Cycles, and Seven Stars Cycles!

On Rigsbee Avenue, Durham Cycles was holding tricycle races to raise money for Bike & Build, an organization that works to support affordable housing through service-oriented cycling trips.  “I think cyclists are a hearty bunch, they will compete regardless of the weather,” owner David LoSchiavo said.

Although the weather on Earth Day left much to be desired, we are excited about the upcoming Bull City Open Streets on June 9^th, on Driver Street in Northeast Central Durham, where we hope for great weather and attendance!

Ninna

Successful Bike & Pedestrian Move in Durham!

On Sunday, March 4^th, friends and neighbors of Katherine O’Brien were asked to bring their bikes, trailers, bungee cords, wagons, hand trucks, wheelbarrows, backpacks, and any other non-motorized means of transportation for a ¼ mile bike and pedestrian moving parade! There were 22 people participating—8 pedestrian and 13 bike movers.  In only two trips they managed to move nearly all of Katherine’s smaller household goods, some small furniture, boxes, clothes, and kitchen items.  Not to mention a stylishly undressed mannequin torso, a bright green parasol, a pink guitar that Katherine’s friend Brian played while moving it on foot down the street, and lots of faux stuffed beavers!

Veteran bike mover Debbie Campbell West of East Coast Greenway coordinated the bike and pedestrian move.  Katherine thought it would be a great way to show people how much they can do on bike and on foot—and have fun to boot!

The host provided pizza and beer following the move, and naturally laughter…

To anyone else who is thinking about moving by bike—do it!!  Debbie will be glad to help anyone prepare and organize a bike move to ensure that it goes smoothly, and if she’s close enough to bike to your house, she just might bring her trailer and help you out!

Ninna

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Test Drive an Electric Car!

On March 21^st from 10:30 am to noon at the Durham Main Library at 300 N. Roxboro Street, there will be electric vehicles available for test driving around downtown Durham.  This is part of the Durham City-County Sustainability Office celebration of the installation of electric vehicle charging stations throughout Durham and the purchase of electric vehicles for the City fleet.

Government official speeches and a ribbon cutting will take place starting at 10:00 am, followed by the Electric Vehicle Ride and Drive.

Pre-register

This event is part of Durham’s Strategic Electric Vehicle and Charging Station Plan and the County’s Strategic Plan.  See a map of current charging stations (City, County, and others).

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Welcome Durham Cycles to Ninth Street!

Dave, Jeff, and Kelly at Durham Cycles are a new addition to cozy 9^th Street’s boutiques.  The shop provides two-wheelers in Durham a variety of bikes, but specializes on road bikes and especially triathlon.  Recently they added their stock of commuter bikes – with brands like Felt & Jamis.  Durham Cycles is a dog friendly shop—K9s are welcome! Dave’s sweet dogs, Stella and Satellite, are a lovely addition to a bike shop, peering out from the shop’s window.  The shop has sitting stations where staff take photos of you on your bike and use software to analyze your position, this is a feature especially for triathlons (one customer of theirs is Duke Triathlon).  For more information go to their website http://durhamcycles.com/. There’s an events calendar on their website—be on the lookout for their Sunday Brunch rides in January.

Hours of operation are: Monday-Friday 10am-8pm, Sat 10am-6pm, Sun 12pm-5pm

Ninna

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Designing Better Bus Service in Durham

This January Durham citizens can play a continuing role in helping to shape Durham’s growing transit system, through an effort called “Designing Better Bus Service.”  This workshop will review the draft service changes that would affect every route in the DATA system.

A workshop today, January 11^th will allow the public to learn more about initial recommendations to improve DATA’s existing services, given an unchanged level of financial resources. The session will offer the opportunity for open and honest discussions about transportation issues.

Wednesday, January 11^th – Durham Station – 515 W. Pettigrew St., Second Level

• 2 p.m. to 3 p.m. Open House
• 3 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. Presentation
• 4:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. Open House
• 6:30 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. Presentation

Staff will be also available for questions and comments during two additional open house sessions on the second level of Durham Station on Jan 17^th & 18^th.

• Tuesday, January 17^th 12 p.m. to 3 p.m.
• Wednesday, January 18^th 7 a.m. to 10 a.m.

The feedback is needed to ensure that the diverse needs of the community are considered in evaluating current and future service.

To learn more about Designing Better Bus Service in Durham, please visit dbbs.gotriangle.org

Smart Commute Event

Learn about discounts, incentive plans, and other things to help you plan a smart commute.

Who: Naima Rorie, Transportation Education Specialist with Clean Energy Durham and Dale McKeel, Pedestrian & Bicycle Coordinator for the City of Durham
Where: South Regional Library in Durham
When: Sunday, January 8, 3:00-4:00 p.m.
Contact: Cathy Starkweather cstarkweather@durhamcountync.gov or (919) 560-7410

Co-sponsored by South Durham Green Neighbors
No registration required

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Become a Neighborhood Bus Buddy

A Neighborhood Bus Buddy is a frequent transit rider who is interested in sharing with their neighbors their knowledge and experience about using the transit system.  Neighborhood Bus Buddies are available to discuss and share transit riding information with their neighbors.

This is a great opportunity to share your knowledge about how great it is to ride the bus.  Fill out an application or contact DeDreana with any questions.

FREE Bicycle Maintenance & Safety Training

Clean Energy Durham is seeking committed individuals who enjoy hands-on projects to be trained as “Bicycle Transportation Trainers”:  volunteers who help teach their neighbors bicycle maintenance and commuting techniques.  This free class will be limited to ten people from south Durham neighborhoods:  West End, Lyon Park, Morehead Hill, Lakewood Park, Tuscaloosa-Lakewood, Forest Hills, Rockwood, Hope Valley, Hope Valley Farms, Woodcroft & Parkwood.

Clean Energy Durham will provide trainees 14 hours of training in seven sessions during the first and third Tuesdays of the month (beginning Jan 17^th).  The sessions are hands-on and taught by skilled professionals.  Each trainee will be provided with the necessary supplies and bike maintenance & safety pamphlet during the course.  Trainees must be able to attend all sessions.

In return for this training, trainees will be expected to organize bike-related activities in their neighborhood by June 30^th. Examples include:

• host a bicycle clinic
• start a group bike ride
• lead a bike safety workshop
• be a bike mentor for a beginner commuter

Clean Energy Durham will help all trainees organize their neighborhood events.

Classes will be located at the Durham Bike Co-op at 715 Washington Street (around back, lower level).   Additionally, trainees will be asked to provide additional 10 volunteer hours at the Durham Bike Co-op, which will allow them to hone and share their skills.

Download Bike Trainer Application

See post on Gotriangle.org

Ninna

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Heads-Up On A New Bike Shop on 9th Street

A new bicycle shop, Tip-Top Cycles, has opened at 624 9^th Street next to Bruegger’s Bagels and under the Zola Craft Gallery.  The shop will sell used bicycles that have been refurbished and biking accessories, and it will offer bicycle repair services.  Owners Sarah Taylor and Colin Barry moved from New York City about six months ago.

The shop will be open Monday through Saturday from 10am to 6 pm.  Let’s give the folks at Tip-Top Cycles a warm Durham welcome!

Ninna

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