Bus Buddy Coffee Stops Continue

We are continuing our Coffee Stops along the Bull City Connector.  If you are in the East Durham area stop by for a cup of coffee and some transit info THIS Wed. 2/20 – @ E. Main St. at Elizabeth St.  Enjoy a FREE “Cup of Joe” (compliments of Blend Café) while learning the best route to keep money in your pockets from a Personal Transportation Advisor. All current or future pedestrians, bike riders, bus riders, carpoolers, vanpoolers, and telecommuters are WELCOME!

When: Wed, February 20, 7am – 9am
Where: East Main Street & Elizabeth Street bus stop

–DeDreana

Join Us for Bus Buddy ‘Coffee Stops’

This month Clean Energy Durham we will be holding coffee stops along the Bull City Connector route. The 1^st will be Wed. 1/16/13 from 7am-9am in front of Ninth Street Bakery, 136 E. Chapel Hill St., Downtown Durham. Please join us and invite others to join us for a free cup of coffee and answers to transit-related questions.  Check out the flyer for more information.

The Bus Buddy Program is a neighbor to neighbor transit education resource in different neighborhoods. With Bus Buddies in various neighborhoods volunteering their time to speak to their neighbors and friends about transit services and developing a transit network.

DeDreana

Bike Commuting in Winter — Not Just for the Hardcore

Winter bike commutes can be fun, even magical! Let our pros show you their tips and tricks in this FREE Workshop by the Durham Bicycle Coalition!

Bike Commuting in Winter – Not Just for the Hardcore
Saturday, December 15th, 3:00 – 4:15 pm at the Durham Bike Co-op, 715 S. Washington St. (Entrance in the Back of the Building)
FREE, Open to the Public

Experienced bike commuters will offer tips on gear, safety, maintenance, and more to help you enjoy your bike commute in winter. Meet other commuters and ask the questions that will help keep you rolling year-round! Questions? Email Casey. Thank you to the Durham Bike Co-op for hosting this event!

Stay for a fun, free social bike ride after the workshop! The Holiday Lights Bike Ride starts at 5:00 pm from the Co-Op – some sort of bike light recommended, but no big worry if you don’t have one – there will be safety in numbers! Read more and visit the workshop Facebook link.

Bus Buddy Program

Ride the bus?  Interested in riding the bus?  Check out Clean Energy Durham’s Bus Buddy program in partnership with GoTriangle.  Share info about your experiences on the bus or get connected to others who ride the bus to learn how you too can start riding!

Our Roles in Public Transit

How does a nearly 100 square mile city like Durham or an over 1,500 square mile region like the Triangle expect to maintain sustainable growth without public transportation? Each of us in the community has a role to play in making sure we have an excellent public transportation system by USING IT!  Consider your current commute and the amount of time and energy wasted in single passenger vehicles each day by commuters commuting to and from work or school.  Consider the impact of each person in your neighborhood using an alternative mode of commuting at least once a week.

In our Bus Buddy Program, Bus Buddies recruit neighbors to try transit at least 3 times in a month. If you are interested in learning more, please contact DeDreana at 919-323-3244 or by email – busbuddy@cleanenergydurham.org

See below for the top 10 reasons to make a commitment to commute by bus.

How does a nearly 100 square mile city like Durham or an over 1,500 square mile region like the Triangle expect to maintain sustainable growth without public transportation? Each of us in the community has a role to play in making sure we have an excellent public transportation system by USING IT!  Consider your current commute and the amount of time and energy wasted in single passenger vehicles each day by commuters commuting to and from work or school.  Consider the impact of each person in your neighborhood using an alternative mode of commuting at least once a week.

In our Bus Buddy Program, Bus Buddies recruit neighbors to try transit at least 3 times in a month. If you are interested in learning more, please contact DeDreana at 919-323-3244 or by email – busbuddy@cleanenergydurham.org

See below for the top 10 reasons to make a commitment to commute by bus.

Transit Art in Durham

Last month marked the 1^st Durham Bus Shelter Art unveiling.  As Mayor Bill Bell pointed out, the art marked the creativity Durham is known for.  The new bus shelter at 519 E. Main Street in front of Oldham Towers apartments gives seniors in the building a visually appealing place to sit as they wait to catch the bus.

Check out our photo album on Facebook and media coverage.

DeDreana

The SmartCommute Challenge is Here!

Click here to take the SmartCommute Challenge today!

Don’t miss your chance to GoSmart by trying a new commute AND be rewarded with great prizes! The SmartCommute Challenge is September 1^st – October 15^th. Try carpooling, taking the bus, biking, walking, or vanpooling to work:

• You will save gas (and money)!
• You will improve the air quality in the Triangle!
• You can track your trip to win prizes!

If you are already a SmartCommuter – get rewarded! Take the Challenge and keep up the good work!

Prizes? The SmartCommute Challenge is giving away more than $4,000 in cash plus tons of other prizes like Whole Foods gift cards, Kindle Fires, a bike from REI, and gift cards for other great retailers across the region.

DeDreana

Next Bull City Open Streets Coming Up Tomorrow!

Bull City Open Streets invites you to North East Central Durham
June 9th 4-7pm
BIKE, WALK, SKATE, DANCE, and PLAY!

During Bull City Open Streets, Driver Street, from Southgate to Ashe, will be closed to vehicle traffic, and OPEN to all on foot, bike, skate, etc.  There will be a bike rodeo for kids (4-5pm)—they will learn basic bike safety skills.  Check out the Durham police K-9 dogs, and grab a tasty and refreshing bike blended smoothie!  There will also be a zumba class, drumming performance, demonstrations of African dance, and demonstrations of skateboard tricks.  But wait, wait, there’s more…there will be a Kids Zone, where at 5pm we will have a contest for the kids in: jump ropes, hula hoops, dance off, and basketball hoops. Kids can enter a drawing to win a bike!

We hope to see you out tomorrow for some fun!  For more information and a pdf flyer.

Ninna

More Bike to Work Month Events

Thurs., May 17, 7-9am
Mad Biker’s Breakfast
Mad Hatter’s Café @ corner of Main and Broad Streets
Food and drink courtesy of Mad Hatter’s, and free bike checks provided by Tip Top Cycles mechanics. Sponsored by Durham BPAC.

Sun., May 20
Bull City Tipping Point Ride
Low mileage social ride held monthly.

Sun., May 27, 10am
Fourth Sunday ride sponsored by Seven Stars Cycles
Seven Stars Cycles in Downtown Durham (starts and ends)
Approximately 35 mile self-supported, group ride with Seven Stars Cycles. This is not a no-drop ride, but will be moderately paced (18 mph average). Starts and ends at Seven Stars Cycles (309 E Chapel Hill Street) in Downtown Durham.

Sat., June 2
East Coast Greenway Community Tour 
Runs May 12 – July 7. The group will be in Durham on June 2.

Ninna

New Bicycle Transportation Trainers Get Pumped

From left to right, back row: Joanne Fairhurst; Scott Rodgers; Gretchen Gehrke; Instructor Adrian Fletcher; Brandon Jozwiak; Program manager Ninna Gagnon; Durham Bike Co-op volunteer Robert Walpole. Front row: Janet Hitti; Debbie West (Michael Brooks-absent)

Seven new Bicycle Transportation Trainers recently graduated from Clean Energy Durham’s training program, which equips them to train neighbors and community members about bike transportation, maintenance, and safety.  The Trainers also learn about organizing fun, educational neighborhood events to get their neighbors pedaling to work, for exercise, to save money, and the sheer joy of riding a bike.  Bicycle Transportation Trainers go through 14 hours of training where they learn basic maintenance skills: fixing flats, adjusting brakes, fine-tuning gears, etc.  In addition, they learn outdoor biking skills, such as quick stop, rock dodge, and instant turns.

Congratulations to our latest Bicycle Transportation Trainers: Gretchen Gehrke and Joanne Fairhurst from Morehead Hill, Janet Hitti and Michael Brooks from Parkwood, Debbie West and Brandon Jozwiak from Woodcroft and Scott Rodgers from Hope Valley North.