Mayor speaking
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Consider Biking Activity Update
April 26, 2011 
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Thanks for your continued support of Consider Biking. Through your support, we've been able to continue to build the organization, which enables us to better represent and serve the needs of all bicyclists in our region. 

 

LAB Bike MOnth logoThis e-newsletter will really focus on our celebration of Bike Month, and our requests (and incentives!) to log your rides on our RideNet system. 

 

And remember, we continue to communicate breaking news and updates on our Facebook and Twitter accounts.  Please use this opportunity to follow Consider Biking on these two social media sites so we can activate our troops quickly to ensure the voice of the cycling community is heard at public meetings, legislative chambers, and in the appropriate judicial systems when needed. 

 

Franklin CO press eventFor example, yesterday, we posted news and pictures from our press event with the Franklin County Commissioners adopting the 2 BY 2012 campaign.  We post both local news and resources...and many fun & thought-provoking resources from our peers across the country (and world).  Follow us on Facebook & Twitter.

In This Issue
Bike Month - Log your Rides & Win Prizes & Discounts
CBus Bike Bus
Bike to Work Week Launch & CEO Challenge
8th Annual Ride of Silence
BikeColumbus Festival - Save the Date

Bike Month - Log your Rides - Win Stuff!  Earn Perks & Benefits!
 
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

2 by 2010 logoWe traditionally feature and celebrate bike-to-work activities in May. Hopefully, however, you've noticed that we have been working on a utilitarian bicycling program CONTINUOUSLY for the past year. Our 2 BY 2012 program transcends Bike to Work Day/Week/Month. 2 BY 2012 has been adopted by over 80 businesses, representing over 150,000 employees, students and participants, and has helped facilitate and encourage people to replace automobile trips 2 days per month. We encourage, and count -bike to work, school, or errands for 2 BY 2012.

 

RideNet is the Tool that helps us.... help you!

 

RideNet screen shotWhy Log Your rides?  When you log your rides on Consider Biking's online RideNet program, there are benefits for you, other bicyclists and the community. Plus it's free and easy.

 

RideNet is:

� Ongoing - Ride Net is an established tool that has served the racing community since 2001! Consider Biking partnered with RideNet and launched the enhanced functionality in September 2010. You can log your rides 24/7/365 and know they'll be captured for future reference.

 

� Established - 1,000 registrants and users to date

 

� Inclusive - log rides to work, rides to school, errands and your recreational & training rides

 

� Part of a larger public goal - as a key component of 2 BY 2012, RideNet will help Consider Biking achieve its goal of a 2% mode, or about 11,000 people riding 2 times/month

 

� Inspiring - see your rides and others' on the RideNet feed on display at local businesses and encourage more people to "consider biking."

 

� A Community - check out the calendar to find out about upcoming rides and events. Improve your riding skills by joining in a BikeBus with more seasoned riders. 

 

Mobile appMobile - starting in mid-May, use Consider Biking's new mobile app to log your rides. Uploading your rides to RideNet will be simple, and more importantly, your GIS data gets automatically logged into the RideNet database. This information will be compiled with many other cyclists data, and shared with local and state officials to leverage the investment in more bicycling infrastructure. These jurisdictions have been asking Consider Bikng for data...and with your help, we can deliver!

 

� Interactive - starting in May, registered RideNet members will be able to set goals for themselves and/ or their teams, log on to see progress, offer encouragement and more.

 

Log your Rides & Win Prizes!

 

To celebrate Bike Month, we've compiled $5,000 worth of prizes from our partners to distribute to 100+ lucky riders that log a minimum of 2 days of riding in May.

 

Log 2 ride days in RideNet in May and be qualified for 100+ prizes such as:

  • 2 bicycles from Specialized !!  (Wow!)
  • $25 gift certificates (at least 50) from local bicycle retailers
  • Overnight "staycation" hotel accomodations (Crowne PLaza & The Lofts)
  • Dining certificates from local restaurants 
  • Fresh Roasted Coffee from Backroom Coffee Roasters
  • And more.....  Here's the link to the ever-growing incentive page 

Sign up for RideNet now! Either identify your company team, cycling club, or we'll place you on the "Friends of Consider Biking" team.  Log your rides and win stuff!

 

SBB cardLog 10 ride days on RideNet (beginning May 1st) and earn a Consider Biking Small Business Beanstalk discount card that can be used at more than 400 local retailers. Exclusive discounts for Consider Biking cardholders! When you earn the Consider Biking card....you'll be treated like royalty at many of the selected SBB partners.  They support bicycling...and will reward you for having logged your rides in RideNet!

 

Log 25, 50 or 100 ride days and be eligible for even bigger prizes at year-end...Think bicycles!

 

Let's Have a Party!

Consider Biking will host a Celebration Party on Friday, June 3 at happy-hour time...at our offices in Clintonville.  Stay tuned for details.  We'll award the Bike Month incentive prizes at the party.   (random drawing from all those that logged 2 rides on RideNet in May) 

 

Sign up for RideNet now!

  

To get started on RideNet or get support, inquire via www.RideNet.net or contact Bryan Saums at 614-447-8894 or email bryan@considerbiking.org  

CBus Bike Bus - You Personal Teacher & Coach on the Road!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

 

Bike busThe Cbus Bike Bus links experienced bicycle commuters with folks who are brand new, fearful of riding on the road, or want to improve their commuting skills. Experienced commuters lead rides with a planned start, stops and end. Leaders reverse the commute at the end of the work day. Cbus Bike Bus rides are Tuesdays and Fridays throughout the riding season!

 

It has been proven that having more bicyclists on our roads....will increase the safety of our roads. And, once you've been coached by an experienced & trained Cbus Bike Bus leader, you'll be a more confident and competent road warrior. Here's more info.

 

Just go to www.ridenet.net/calendar.php and find a Cbus Bike Bus that you want to join. Your ride leader will provide you with bicycle commuting safety and route finding information and lead you on a great ride.

 

With gas prices projected to hit $5.00 a gallon this summer, the Cbus Bike Bus is a great way to save money, get healthy, meet nice people and have fun. We've already gotten leadership for about 20 Bike Bus routes across our region; however, we'd like to add many more. Will we offer more routes than COTA? We'd love the experienced commuters among us to volunteer and lead a Bike Bus. (You could share the leadership with a buddy, too) Can you be a leader?  Contact Bryan Saums at 614-447-8894 or email bryan@considerbiking.org.

 

Bike to Work Week  Launch & CEO Challenge - May 16

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Join Mayor "Bikin' Mike" Coleman, members of Congress, members of Columbus City Council, Capitol Crossroads SID, and Consider Biking for our 4rd Annual Bike to Work Launch and Cycling CEO Challenge on May 16th!  Ride with dozens of area CEOs as they champion the pedaling revolution! Let's draw a huge crowd and demonstrate why it's important for our business leaders to make accommodations for cycle commuters!

 

Note the "new" starting point at Franklin Park Conservatory!  (1777 East Broad Street)

 

 

Monday May 16th

bike to work launch7:30 a.m. - Franklin Park Conservatory - Join Mayor "Bikin' Mike" Coleman and other elected officials to celebrate the investment in bicycling improvements for central Ohio. Coffee provided at the Conservatory.

 

8:00 a.m. - "CEO Challenge" Cycling Convoy w/ Mayor Coleman from Franklin Park to Columbus City Hall for Kick-off Event - Ride with over 70 of your business leaders as they champion the pedaling revolution! Let's draw a huge crowd and demonstrate why it's important for our business leaders to make accommodations for cycle commuters!

 

7:30 - 8:30 Bike to Work Kickoff Event at Columbus City Hall - Free coffee, food, 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.

 

We'll unveil our RideNet mobile app, and update the community on our bold "2 by 2012" Mode Shift program which has been working within Columbus' major workplaces to encourage and incentivize active transportation. With the support of our corporate and civic leadership, we have demonstrated that there is a direct relationship between increased levels of active transportation and/or bicycling (in any form) and the economic competitiveness of our businesses and community! 

 

8th Annual Ride of Silence - May 18th

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

ride of silence

This event jump started our advocacy work 8 years ago! Consider Biking hosts one of the original (and 2nd largest!) Ride of Silence events in the country. Help us send a message that bicyclists should be respected on our roadways. 

 

We've experienced more painful carnage on our roadways (and our courtrooms) in the past year. So, we've planned some solemn reminders for this year's event, and encourage you to join this massive statement from our constituency.

 

Wednesday, May 18, 2011 7:00 pm  (assemble at 6:30-6:45)
Ohio Statehouse - South side
Downtown Columbus, OH

 

Purpose
The Ride of Silence is a slow group ride of 12 miles, akin to a funeral procession, in total silence. The ride is a safe, responsible, professional and mature response to the aggressiveness, intimidation, and carnage that cyclists face on the roads we ride.

 

 

 

More history and details here   

 

BikeColumbus Festival - Save the Date - July 15-16

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Festival logo banner 2011

Save the Date to Crank it Up! Register and ride in theBikeColumbus Festival, July 15 and 16.This two day celebration of all things bicycling has something for everyone and is your chance to benefit bicycling and healthy living in Central Ohio. Detailed information and registration will be available at www.bikecolumbusfestival.com by April 15.

 

Mayor's Twilight Ride - Friday, July 15th - Join Mayor Coleman and over 500 of his closest friends, in this fully supported tour that starts and ends in the heart of downtown Columbus. We'll offer 12 & 25 mile options with full safety and support. Enjoy many of Columbus' grand neighborhoods at dusk, in a way that'll have you smiling with joy. Entertainment, festivities, street party (free food!) included post-ride.

 

Steve Barbour Memorial Tour - Saturday, July 16th - This fully supported tour will offer routes of 25 up to 125 miles of riding on quiet, scenic and challenging roads towards Hocking County. We'll start & finish the ride from the brand new Bicentennial Park on the Scioto Mile. Entertainment and post-ride meal included.

 

Family Fun Day - Saturday, July 16th - This event will be targeted toward families, children, casual riders, or prospective riders. Activities will include bike history, bike safety, bike rodeos, earn-a-bike, free give-a-ways, short escorted rides between our downtown park system on the multi-use trails and more.

 

We need volunteers! - Help us meet the needs of over 1,000 bicyclists. We need help in the months leading up to the Festival, as well as day-of volunteers. Contact us here 

 

 

Join Consider Biking Now!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
headshot 4Consider Biking is a member-supported organization. We can only accomplish our goals through the support of our cycling constituents. Consider Biking has an incredible list of successes in the last few years. This has been driven by the passion and commitment of a few. However, we can't expect this to continue without the support of our cycling community as a whole. Our future lay in your hands. Now's the time to support Consider Biking...so we can continue the "in the trenches" advocacy work that allows you to "just ride."

headshot 3Like our peer groups across the country, we've updated our membership program to span a year from the time you join.  So, when you join NOW, you'll ensure our long term success, and enjoy the benefits of membership for an entire year!  
 
We're grateful for your support; it allows us to work with full-time, professional capacity, to build a better environment for bicycling in our communities. Its been demonstrated across the country, that a vibrant bike advocacy organization is a vital determinant to building a bike-friendly community. Let's build a better community for our next generation!
 
Jeff StatehouseWhat's in it for you? 
  • A voice for bicycling at the government level. Consider Biking is already recognized and invited by government to sit at the table during all critical planning and decision meetings that could impact bicyclists
  • An advocacte working for more investment in our trails and on-road systems such as bike lanes and sharrows
  • Input, committee and volunteer opportunities
  • Member-only events
  • A safer bicycling environment throughout Ohio
  • Turnkey programs for businesses to accomodate their cycling employees
  • Two preiodic newsletters that keep you informed of bicycling advocacy news, Consider Biking successes, and local events
  • www.considerbiking.org - the area's most comprehensive centralized resource of local cycling information
  • Consider Biking members enjoy discounts and benefits at retail partners

Headshot 1Membership will be valid one year from the date you join. 

Consider Biking, an Ohio 501c(3), was incorporated in 1991 as the Central Ohio Bicycle Advocacy Coalition, and is governed by a 13 member Board of Directors. Consider Biking is also a member of the Community Shares of Mid Ohio Workplace Giving federation and recognized by the Columbus Foundation.
 

 You can join in three ways:

  1. Go to our website and join on-line  with a credit card (its easy & secure!) 
  2. Mail a membership form to 4041 N High St., #201 43214
  3. Join at one of our Bike Shop Retail Partners - read on below...   
Headshot 2Please visit these partner bike shops as soon as possible, and join Consider Biking!
  • B1 - Downtown
  • Baer Wheels - Clintonville
  • Bicycle One - Gahanna
  • Bike Source - 3 Stores - Clintonville, Sawmill, & Westerville
  • Cyclist Connection - Canal Wichester
  • Paradise Garage - Short North
  • roll - 3 Stores - Easton, Polaris & Lane Ave
  • Trek Stores Columbus - 3 Stores - Lane Ave., Sawmill & New Albany
  • Westerville Bike Shop - Westerville
Contact Information
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Facebook - Facebook Page
Twitter - Consider_Biking 
Office Phone - (614) 447-8894 

Executive Director, Jeff Stephens - jeff@considerbiking.org 

2 by 2012 Campaign Manager, Bryan Saums - bryan@considerbiking.org
Membership & Events, Suzanne Birk - suzanne@considerbiking.org
Operations, Jody Dzuranin - jodydz@considerbiking.org
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~