My apologies to any that came to Woodcrest Station at 7:30.

I overslept and was a no show...my regrets !! 

Secretary of Transportation Ray LaHood stood on a table at the National Bike Summit to thank the crowd and show his support for bicycling and walking, he was just getting started.

He announced his new Policy Statement on Bicycle and Pedestrian Accommodation Regulations and Recommendations. It is simply the strongest statement of support for prioritizing bicycling and walking ever to come from a sitting secretary of transportation.

On his blog, he writes:

Today, I want to announce a sea change. People across America who value bicycling should have a voice when it comes to transportation planning. This is the end of favoring motorized transportation at the expense of non-motorized.

We are integrating the needs of bicyclists in federally-funded road projects. We are discouraging transportation investments that negatively affect cyclists and pedestrians. And we are encouraging investments that go beyond the minimum requirements and provide facilities for bicyclists and pedestrians of all ages and abilities.

To set this approach in motion, we have formulated key recommendations for state DOTs and communities:
•Treat walking and bicycling as equals with other transportation modes.
•Ensure convenient access for people of all ages and abilities.
•Go beyond minimum design standards.
•Collect data on walking and biking trips.
•Set a mode share target for walking and bicycling.
•Protect sidewalks and shared-use paths the same way roadways are protected (for example, snow removal)
•Improve non-motorized facilities during maintenance projects.

Now, this is a start, but it’s an important start. These initial steps forward will help us move forward even further.
Ray LaHood is making a statement that is long overdue. We now are raising a generation that will live shorter lives. The main cause is due to the lack of exercise that includes bicycling. Is there anything more important than our children? Can we quibble about cost? As such, an argument can be made that priority should be given over that of motorized vehicles.
Comment has been made that bicyclists do not share the costs of highways. That is incredibly wrong. We cyclists already share these costs. Who among us do not own a car in addition to our bikes. Any additional taxes would be doubling those already being paid.

Yes…there are powerful lobbies that will attack any common sense discussions on this topic. There will be those that will even ridicule. We should be prepared and not be distracted…our children, our environment and our very future depend on moving forward on this enlightened policy. We can only elect those that share that belief.

RePete have been a long advocate of bicycling and shared responsibilities of the roadways with many comments on the internet and with two local bicycle clubs. I was there pushing for helmet use back in the 80’s. Then helping with many club and charity events. Now…look forward to participate with this policy!

RePete purposes the following:
• Update home page of website stating support for the policy
• Include a link to the policy from the home page
• Create small stickers/patches or arm bands for give away at our rides stating support for policy.
• Purchase large display of policy to be shown at rides.
• Create and maintain a signature book for people to sign showing support
• Enlist ideas and support from our sponsors
• Reach out to other clubs in area for support and help
• Plan to participate in any events supporting policy

We need to be united, vocal…visible and non-confrontational in our support.

Anyone have other ideas?


RePete

Hi Gary,

You were right, message board does work. Walt, Al and I are going to Performance bikes to pick up some Xmas presents this AM (Sunday) hope to get to ride this afternoon. I think Some of the best riding is when the ground is frozen, it's bumpy but you can really FLY. Hope to ride with you next week.

Jim

  Hi Jim
It's Saturday morning. I thought I might get in a ride before the rain but  no way. Just a reminder, I can't ride tomorrow. Mary and I are going to the Kimmel Center  in Philly   Hopefully we will ride next weekend.
later Gary

 

TOUR DE FRANCE…POSTSCRIPT!  Wow…what a great tour!!!  As predicted in the last release of Freewheel’n, Alberto Contador won the Yellow Jersey with Lance Armstrong finishing third.  The competition between these two on and off their bikes brought excitement back into this race.  Lance announced the formation of Team Radio Shack that he and Johan Bruyneel will run in 2010.  This will put Lance and Alberto on different teams.  Can’t wait until next July?  Go to http://www.letour.fr/indexus.html for a preview of 2010 as well as videos of 2009 race.  

If you missed the Tour, there are excellent wrap-ups at Bicycling Magazine at http://www.bicycling.com/tourdefrance/0,6805,s1-7-0-0-0,00.html as well as Versus at http://www.versus.com/cyclysm


SUNSHINE FOUNDATION CHARITY TOUR…did you know about this interesting local ride that benefits the Sunshine Foundation (http://www.sunshinefoundation.com)? This noteworthy group that answer the dreams of chronically ill, seriously ill, physically challenged children.    Under bike advocacy and community involvement, RePete participated, supported and successfully lobbied the SJW.  An exclusive offer was provided only to riders and support staff of the Foundation Tour.  They were allowed to ride the 2009 Devil and become a 2010 member with our club donating $10 to the Foundation for each registration.  All of this for the discounted price of only $30.  Permission was then obtained to mingle and distribute flyers at the finish of this ride. RePete arranged with Forms and Flyers, a local printer; and with Philadelphia Insurance Company, his employer, to have 200 color flyers printed as a coutersy informing the riders of this special offer. These were handed out at the end of the tour. When you wish to dine, remember the Library IV in Williamstown and the Berkshire Grill in Egg Habor.  Ask for either Brian or Tony and mention me to them.  Don’t forget to include this tour in your schedule for next year.  A full review of this tour is provided separately at http://www.sjwheelmen.org/smf/index.php?topic=566.0.


JERSEY DEVIL!!!  What a great day…the weather was perfect with full sun and a blue sky.  Unofficially, a total of 281 ridders parcipated...and yes, RePete was the 281st.   Can assume some of those flyers circulated at the Sunshine Foundation Tour helped with this number.  Once again the club provided great riding over 25, 50, 75 and 100 mile routes.  Food was plentiful and so were the goodies. RePete and the Mrs. also helped. RePete pulled sag duty on the newly created second half 25 mile route.  The Mrs. helped with general maintainance and clean-up around the food tables at Parvins.  All that helped and provided on this September 19th tour need to thanked.  This is an awesome event and an equally awesome task to pull together.   Here is my personal thank you!


CONVENTION…can you believe it?  Our last event of the year is now upon us!! This year we are going to Flemington, New Jersey. Information and details on this event is provided separately at http://www.sjwheelmen.org/Newsletter/Septnews-09.pdf.


FAREWELL…where did the year go?  Really seems only like yesterday when the February/March 2009 release of Freewheel’n was being prepared!    At that time concerns about my health, and the upconing Peach Blossom.  Happy to say my health is stable and the Peach Blossom was successful.  Also bitter sweet is the fact that this marks the last regular release of Freewheel’n for this year!! Next month will be my special annual holiday release…with God’s blessing, regular bantering will begin again in late January.  Thanks for reading and providing another great year!!!

  
Safe Cycling…Wear Your Helmet!
RePete
mailto:NJCyclist@hotmail.com

 

A very interesting 30+ mile tour from Library IV in Williamstown down to the Berkshire Grill in Egg Harbor.  Riders then elected to be transported back by a volunteer or on their own.  Weather was overcast at the start and cleared for the finish.  Online advance registration cost $35 with a $3 surcharge.    Start time was at 10:00 and I biked to the start arriving around 9:15.  Registration was smooth, efficient and quick.  Food was provided featuring bagels and an assortment of other goodies. 

Ride started shortly after 10:00 and consisted of about 100 riders.  We were treated with a police escort through Williamstown.  The streets were closed to vehicles crossing the Black Horse Pike.  This allowed the cyclist to ride out of town without stopping for traffic signals or traffic!

Riding on the Black Horse Pike was surprising nice.  The shoulder is an extra wide 5-6 feet and mostly flat.  There were several gentle rolling climbs that made this part of the route enjoyable.  The storms from the last couple of days did leave much debris including glass that required careful navigating and attention to avoid.

The route took the riders onto Rt. 40, a busy two lane road.  After making a right to enter this road, a left turn was necessary a short distance later without the benefit of any traffic control.  I rode on a narrow shoulder and decided to ‘take the lane’ after noticing a break in the traffic.  I was almost instantly rewarded by the motorist’s horn.  However…yet another difficult maneuver was necessary.  This was to make the left in front of oncoming traffic.  Luckily there was another small break in the traffic allowing the turn to be completed.  Fortunately all the cyclists made it through without incident.  This part of the route was the most difficult.

We were then treated to riding on a bike path that took us to English Creek Avenue.  This was punctuated with having to cross a number of lightly trafficked streets.  English Creek is a main artery that required a left off of the bike path.  Fortunately, this is controlled by a traffic light.  The shoulder on English Creek is from narrow to non-existent.  After riding on this for about a mile, Berkshire Grill and the finish was a short ride on Black Horse Pike/US 40…yet another busy roadway.  I spoke with a rider who was informed to cross over English Creek and continue on the bike path.  This approach would then require the cyclist to travel for a short distance in the opposite direction of the traffic on the Black Horse Pike.  This is not only illegal but highly dangerous.

Berkshire is a nicely appointed restaurant.  Food provided was plentiful and included a tasteful selection of shrimp, Buffalo wings, mozzarella sticks, Swedish meatballs, salad and more.  This is perhaps the best selection offered in any ride I attended.

As a seasoned cyclist, I did miss having a cue sheet.  Instead a direction sheet was provided that lacked the distance between major points clearly marked.  Then road markings consisted of one smallish neon green sign placed curbside before a turn.  This could be missed if not expected.

Overall, this is a good ride that has the potential of becoming a great ride and would especially recommend to those who can handle roads containing traffic.  The stretch after leaving Black Horse Pike, except for the bike path is especially troublesome.  Also would suggest improvements with providing minor route changes, true cue sheet and more road markings.


Safe Cycling...Wear Your Helment!

RePete