Consider Biking Newsletter - April 2009

Consider Biking Activity Update April 7, 2009 Greetings! Consider Biking is gearing up for Bike Month (May) with promotion of Bike to Work initiatives. We've gained access to the leadership of our community's largest employers, and have started the long-term process of championing the benefits of bicycling for their workforces. See how we're reaching this audience, and why the corporate community and the City administrations...are listening! In order to advocate for better cycling accommodations, we need to learn about your bicycle commuting behavior. Take 5 minutes to log your cycling data, and you'll be entered to win gift certificates from our local bicycle retailers. Help us....help you! Bike Month and Bike to Work activities wouldn't be complete without a few appearances by Mayor "Bikin' Mike" Coleman. We've got some great announcements, and a few other surprise guests up our seatpost. Stay tuned! And again, thanks to all the bicyclists that provided feedback to the long-awaited Bicycle Usability Map! We should see the finished product by May 1st. In This Issue How we Help Business & Potential Bicycle Commuters Enter your Bicycle Commute Data! Bike to Work Kick-off Events Commuter Challenge Join Consider Biking

How we Help Business and Potential Bicycle Commuters Bike Month and Bike to Work Week/Day are programs of the League of American Bicyclists, the nation's oldest bicycle advocacy organization. Bike to Work Week/Day is a national event that is locally supported here in Columbus by many of the largest companies in town, and the number is growing each year. Consider Biking hosts several large celebration and awareness events in May. Most importantly, Consider Biking provides educational and consulting services, year around, to employers and employees, to encourage their use of a bicycle as a mode of transportation to work. We have convened a "Cyclist Corporate Caucus" to leverage access to our region's most significant workplaces, and to create a "Two-wheeling Toolkit" which will provide targeted resources for each specific audience within a business. Consider Biking provides the following consultation efforts: We consult with CEOs to unify in developing strong public/private partnerships that will enhance the environment for cycling, and thus, the economic development of our region. We consult with Human Resource departments to develop appropriate incentives for their employees to bicycle. We consult with Wellness Coordinators to include bicycling in the wellness program. We provide "Commuter 101" bicycle education programs to the workplaces, and additional education as needed. We provide consultation to building operations to ensure the availability of end-of-ride facilities. We offer a "Bike Friendly Building" designation program. Contact us so we can help your business become more bicycle friendly. Help us Learn about Commuter Cyclists! Consider Biking has launched a long-term initiative to collect data from existing and prospective bicycle commuters, so we can effectively advocate for needed enhancements to the bicycling environment in our community. We're learning exactly where bicyclists are riding to work, where they would ride if certain obstacles are removed, and exactly where end-of-ride facilities and spot fixes are needed. If you complete the 5-minute survey, you'll be entered into a drawing for one of ten, $25 gift certificates from our local specialty bicycle retailers! Submit your bicycle commute data here. Bike to Work Kick-off events on May 11th High Street Share the Road Campaign 7:30 am - Join us at OSU Gateway South as Mayor "Bikin' Mike" Coleman and OSU President "Big Gears" Gee will unveil the Share the Road campaign targeted for the 6.5 mile stretch of High Street between Morse Rd. and downtown. The entire 6.5 mile stretch will be marked with either pavement markings called "sharrows," or traditional signage. Wow, are we in Portland? Cycling Convoy from OSU to Ohio Statehouse for Consider Biking's Kick-off Event - depart 8:00 am for ride with Mayor Coleman down High Street. Bike to Work Kickoff Event on Statehouse West Lawn - 8:30 am - Join Mayor Coleman and other community leaders as Consider Biking celebrates several significant announcements that will benefit the bicycling environment in our area. Coffee, food, live music, and cycling displays will be available from 7:30 am until we await the arrival of Mayor Coleman to begin the program at 8:30. If you only ride your bicycle one day - we encourage you to ride to this event! The attendance of hundreds of cyclists will convey the message to our civic leaders that accommodations for bicycling are a viable and sustainable alternative to traditional transportation models. Save the Date of these other actvities: May 20th (Wed) 7:00 p.m. - 6th annual Ride of Silence May 30th (Sat) BikeColumbus Tour with Mayor Coleman - presented by the Institue for Active Living. Commuter Challenge The Bike to Work Week Challenge is a friendly competition among Columbus employers to see who 1) replaces the most automobile commutes with bicycle commutes and 2) bikes the most miles. One point is awarded for each one-way commute to or from work by bicycle starting Monday, May 4 through Friday, May 15. Consider Biking would like to thank member Matt Young from Battelle, for providing leadership in collecting and compiling the Commuter Challenge registrations. Jim Tarpinian (pictured above) has been another champion from Battelle, that has been an active voice on our "Cyclist Corpoaret Caucus." Can any company out there unseat Battelle as the reigning Commuter Challenge champion?? Last year's teams cycled a combined total of 10,115 miles, which is the equivalent of saving 10,000 lbs. of CO2 from being released into the atmosphere. There are 5 categories based on company size (1-19, 20-99, 100-499, 500-999, 1000+). The 2009 Commuter Challenge will run for two weeks this year: May 4 - May 15, so mark your calendars. On Friday, May 15 all participants will be encouraged to converge on downtown Columbus for a lunch and award ceremony at Buca di Bepo! Register Your Team Other ways to grow the Commuter Challenge: Invite coworkers to join you Suggest that coworkers get their bike tuned-up now for off-season rates at the local bike shops Consider hosting a brown bag lunch meeting for those interested in trying bicycle commuting for the first time. Consider Biking offers an educational presentation that will encourage your co-workers to get "two-wheeling!" Contact Consider Biking to learn more about our educational and consulting services. Invite your friends to create Challenge Teams in their office: neighboring employers, friends and neighbors. Please forward this email along. We need your help with this! Check with your employer about being a sponsor for the Challenge Awards lunch on May 15. This can be in the form of a tax deductible donation to 501(c)(3) Consider Biking. Can you pitch in? We're eager to promote active transportation in Columbus. If you get out of the car and onto a bicycle for a week...or even a day, you'll feel energized and willing to commute by bicycle more often. It's a movement that will make our city more livable, more attractive and more fun. Register Your Team Be Counted - Join Today! Consider Biking is a member-supported organization. We can only accomplish our goals through the support of our cycling constituents. There are over 130 peer organizations across the country, demonstrating a need for cycling advocacy groups. Many of these organizations have THOUSANDS of members, and benefit by the financial support, and the "body of cyclists" that stand behind them when they advocate for enhancements to cycling accommodation. We'd like to ask you to join Consider Biking. We need your support to represent our common interests in Central Ohio. You benefit by knowing we'll have the resources to fight for our needs. You'll benefit by knowing that we're working hard so you can "just ride." You'll benefit by knowing we partner with strong coalitions to advance the healthy movement of people, not just cars. You'll benefit by knowing we coordinate unique events that serve some of the dynamic segments of our cycling audience. And, you'll benefit by helping us become the primary information resource for bicyclists in Central Ohio. Your membership donation to Consider Biking is tax deductible to the fullest extent of the law. We thank you for your support. Information on membership here. Volunteer Needs Consider Biking needs your volunteer help! Won't you get directly engaged in helping us meet our bicycling community's needs? April 19 - Earth Day - volunteers needed for display booth May 2 - Calvin's Challenge 12-hour bike race in Springfield (fundraising event) May 8 - TOSRV Registration Festival - volunteers for display booth May 9 & 10 - TOSRV - Parking control at Chilicothe Lunch Stop May 30 - Bike Columbus - Registration, course volunteers, etc. Ongoing - Event planning & support, committee work, clerical, data entry, map & brochure distribution, etc! Contact us to see how your strengths and interests fit with our activities!

Contact Information Web site - www.considerbiking.org Executive Director, Jeff Stephens - jeff@considerbiking.org 614-579-1127

People, not speed.