Blacksburg Bike Counts: Volunteer Call

The Town of Blacksburg’s Corridor Committee is conducting another Bike Count, which is designed to generate usage figures to help Blacksburg plan and design appropriate bicycle facilities and to measure the positive benefits of those new facilities.  The Town of Blacksburg is currently developing a Bicycle and Pedestrian Master Plan, and the bike count information will be used along with other data previously collected to help route planning throughout the Town.

The proposed counts will take place on Wednesday, September 28th (7 am- 7 pm) and Saturday, October 1st (10 am – 2 pm) at key points along corridors routinely used by bicyclists.   Additional basic information, such as
frequency of wrong-way riding and riding on the sidewalk, will be collected.

The Corridor Committee needs over 50 volunteers to help conduct the counts.  Volunteers will be asked to fill a two-hour shift at one of the count locations.  Each volunteer will be required to attend a 45-minute training class – the date and time of which are to be determined, to receive an assignment, to learn how to complete the count forms, and what to do with the information when the shift is completed.

Please volunteer two hours of your time to assist with this project.  To participate, please contact:

Beth Lohman
ealohman@gmail.com

A summary report of the 2009 count data can be viewed on the advocacy page.

Burkes Garden Thank Yous

The NRVBA would like to thank all the volunteers and riders who made the 2011 Burkes Garden Century & Metric Century Ride a safe and successful event. The weather even cooperated to keep us dry and provide one of the most beautiful days (following weeks of scorching weather) for the event.

Specifically, we’d like to thank:

• 

  The train coming back from Burkes Garden (Photo by: Mark Zhu)

  Laurie Hudgins, Registration Coordinator

• Curt Nuenighoff, Registration & Pre-ride Arrangements
• Everett Peterson, Registration
• Lee Matthis, Registration
• Liz Hokanson, Rocky Gap Registration
• Emmy Bender, Rocky Gap Registration
• Beth Kipp, Online Registration
• Geoff Saunders, Pre-ride Arrangments
• Jennifer Hendrix, SAG
• Tom Martin, SAG
• Ed Hokanson, Signage & Parking
• Dale Kipp, SAG and Signage Coordinator

When you see these folks out and about in the community, be sure to thank them for their efforts in hosting this long-time favorite ride.

2011 Regional Bikeway-Walkway-Blueway Plan

Planning Efforts

Over the last year, the New River Valley Planning District Commission (“PDC”) met with member jurisdictions to update and revise the 2000 Regional Bikeway, Walkway, Blueway Plan. The updated plan includes information on existing recreational opportunities and future planned projects. The electronic version of the plan contains nice interactive features on the associated maps.

Draft Plan Review

The PDC has created a web page for the Draft 2011 Bikeway, Walkway, Blueway Plan. If you have a moment, the NRVBA encourages you to visit the site located here: http://www.nrvpdc.org/Transportation/bwwwbw.html.

Things that you can do to assist the PDC with finalizing the plan include:
1. Review the 2011 Draft Plan by chapter or as a whole
2. Review each Area’s Plan: hotlinks provided across the bottom for the Floyd Area, Giles Area, Montgomery Area, Pulaski Area, and the Radford Area.
3. Visit the Interactive Map: hotlink provided on the lower left edge; explore existing facilities and access points for different facilities in the NRV.
4. Provide comments on the materials or site
5. Revisit the 2000 Plan

Things to come include: local endorsements (including an endorsement by the NRVBA and its members), and helpful resources for planning and design. This is a work-in-progress, so any feedback that you have will be very valuable to help the PDC make improvements to the overall plan.

The important thing to remember is that the plan is still under review by local governments (most are still receiving hard copies). Because of this, the Hierarchical priorities may change based on additional review. Also, the Regional section is not complete. The PDC is asking for input on how to define specific regional projects or criteria that could be used to support regional efforts.

The PDC hopes that you will find the site very useful and looks forward to your feedback.

Where to send the feedback

Please submit your comments on the draft regional plan to Beth Lohman (ealohman@gmail.com) where the comments will be compiled into one document and submitted to the PDC.

Burke’s Garden Ride registration and info

The Ride leaves at 8:00 AM from the Narrows Community Center (Old Narrows High School) in Narrows, Virginia and travels along Wolf Creek up to Rocky Gap. Metric century riders can join the fun at the Rocky Gap Elementary School at 9:15 AM. All participants continue to Tazewell and climb over Rich Mountain into Burke’s Garden, where local cuisine is served at the Burke’s Garden General Store. Climb back out of the Garden and retrace your route back to Narrows.

THE SUPPORT (OR LACK THEREOF)

In keeping with tradition, the New River Valley Bicycle Association likes to run this ride as simply as possible. There are several stores (about every 20 miles apart) where drinks and food are available for sale and porta-potties are provided for riders.

SAG vehicles will be on the course for emergency situations and mechanical problems. Please do not depend on them to supply you with food or fluids for this ride!

DIRECTIONS

Narrows, VA is about 30 minutes west of Blacksburg, VA on Hwy 460. From Hwy 460, turn on to SR 61 towards the business district of Narrows. The Narrows Community Center is one half mile down SR 61 on the left. Those doing the metric century should continue on SR 61 for 20 miles to Rocky Gap. SR 61 will intersect SR 52. Turn right on SR 52 and park at the elementary school on the left just a few hundred yards from SR 61.

REGISTRATION

You can register for either ride at:

http://www.bikereg.com/events/register.asp?eventid=13944

Online registration closes Wed. August 17 at 11pm.

The entry fee is $8 online and $10 on the morning of the ride.

Registration fees are non-refundable and non-transferable.

CHECK IN!

All riders must check in prior to their ride to receive a number and sign a ride waiver/release form. Century riders should check in at the Narrows Community Center between 7:00 and 7:45 AM. Metric Century riders should check in at the elementary school in Rocky Gap between 8:45 and 9:15 AM.

NRV Bike Recycle – Job Announcement

The New River Valley Bicycle Association (NRVBA) is partnering with the VT Center for Student Engagement and Community Partnerships (CSECP) to develop a Bike Recycle Program in the NRV that will serve income-eligible people with transportation needs and challenges.  While focusing on transportation issues, the program will build community service opportunities for adults and youth in the NRV, including after-school programs, earn-a-bike programs, and events to raise awareness surrounding cycling-related issues.

The NRVBA and CSECP have partnered to cost share the administrative costs for hiring a Americorps VISTA to establish the program in the NRV.  This is a 40-hour per week paid position with benefits under the Federal Americorps VISTA program.  See the job announcement here: http://www.idealist.org/view/volop/j26G6p3WmgW4 .

If you have questions about the job, please feel free to contact Beth Lohman at ealohman@gmail.com .  If you are interested in applying for the position, please follow the above hyperlink for instructions on how to apply.

2nd Annual Fix Fest – April 30

Get geared up for Bike Month! Come out to the Second Annual Fix Fest

• When: Saturday, April 30, 9 am – noon
• Where: 110 Draper Road adjacent to the Blacksburg Farmer’s Market

Dust off your bike, pump up the tires, and lube the chain.  Spring is here!  Has your bike been sitting in the garage over the winter – or even for the last few years!  If so, it’s time to get your bike ready to ride!  Everyone can bring their bikes downtown for a *free* safety check and basic tune up.  Our local bike shops – Bike Barn, East Coasters, and Hokie Spokes, will be on hand with mechanics offering basic services.  (Participants that require part replacement or more involved repairs will be referred to the bike shops.)

 You can also download a poster to help spread the word. If you have questions about the event, email cstraight@nrvpdc.org

 This event is made possible with our sponsors’ help: Town of Blacksburg, NRV Bicycling Association, RIDE Solutions, Hokie Spokes, Bike Barn, East Coasters, Sustainable Blacksburg and Modea.

Once you’ve got your bike in working order, join other commuters on Clean Commute Fridays.

Clean Commute participants pledge to use a cleaner commute mode – biking, walking, riding the bus, carpooling – on one or more Fridays in May. Pick one Friday to try a clean commute mode, or challenge yourself to carpool, bike, bus, walk, or telecommute every Friday.

Each day pledged is an entry for the prize drawing which will include a variety of prizes. There is also a Cleanest Team competition open to any group (workplace, clubs, informal groups). For more information go to http://www.ridesolutions.org/cleancommute/index.shtml

We’ll be celebrating Clean Commute on Friday morning, May 20, at the Blacksburg Farmers’ Market. Be sure to stop for coffee and pastry!

NRV Ride of Silence

On Wednesday, May 18, 2011, join cyclists worldwide in the annual Ride of Silence.  Participate locally by coming to Radford for a slow-paced, silent ride in honor of those who have been hurt or killed while cycling on public roadways.

The 6.8-mile route winds through downtown Radford, Bissett Park and Wildwood Park with a police escort. This is a family-friendly event, and children are encouraged to participate (helmets are required).  Though solemn, the group ride is enjoyable and inspirational to even the youngest riders. There is just something cool about being in this quiet, rolling parade.

Co-sponsored by the NRVBA and Pathways for Radford, the NRV Ride of Silence was first organized in 2008 after the untimely death of Fess Green, local professor, veteran cyclist, and advocate of Wildwood Park. This year’s event will follow the same route, traversing Radford’s roads and scenic Riverway, which Fess was instrumental in building.

Staging will begin in the Sal’s parking lot at 6:30. Armbands will be available to those who wish to wear them.

Schedule of events:

6:30 – staging begins
6:45 – speakers and instructions
6:59 – moment of noise
7:00 – Ride of Silence begins

Participants are invited to gather at Sal’s and El Charro following the ride.  Please feel free to share this with friends and families!!!

Sharrows Come to Blacksburg

In spring 2011, a new pavement marking will be used in Blacksburg:  a sharrow.  What’s a sharrow?  It’s a shared-lane pavement marking that consists of a bicycle with two chevron markings above it. The purpose of a sharrow is to remind vehicle operators to share the road when driving or riding in town.

Benefits

Sharrows are designed for use in areas too narrow for a separate bike lane and have several applications for improving interactions between cyclists and motorists: 

• Sharrows tend to keep bicyclists from riding too close to parked vehicles, which puts them at risk for unexpected opening car doors.
• With sharrows on the road, motorists tend to give more space to bicyclists that they pass.
• Sharrows help reduce wrong-way riding by bicyclists.
• They help decrease aggressive bicycle-car interactions.
• They can help reduce the level of pedestrian-to-bicycle conflicts on sidewalks.

Technical Information

All signs and pavement marking designs and uses are defined by the Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices (MUTCD).  The MUTCD was revised in 2009 and included the sharrow.  

The City of Alexandria, Virginia put together an excellent FAQ page that you can access here.

As the pavement markings are added, we’ll update the website so you can go out and check them out!

NRVBA Makes Donations to Community Organizations

As part of the NRVBA’s Mission and Goals, we work to develop partnerships with other organizations to promote cycling in the region.  These partnerships are especially important when it comes to planning the organized rides, such as Mountains of Misery (MoM) and the Burke’s Garden Century, and to promoting bicycling in the region.  To recognize the help and assistance these organizations provide, the NRVBA commits to giving  25% of the proceeds from MoM to partner organizations.

The NRVBA is happy to announce the financial donations made in 2010.  Recipients included:

• Radford Rescue Squad
• Blacksburg Volunteer Rescue Squad
• Burkes Garden Volunteer Fire Department
• Narrows Fire and Rescue
• Newport Volunteer Rescue Squad
• Mountain Lake Conservancy
• Town of Pulaski for the Draper Mountain Trail Project
• Craig County Rescue/EMS

 The NRVBA is proud to be able to support these groups and is grateful for their commitment to helping promote cycling in the region.

Registration for Mountains of Misery

Mountains of Misery registration is now open to the public!  Reserve your space now at www.mountainsofmisery.com and don’t forget to watch for updates on this year’s Wilderness Road Ride.

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