Good Causes « Bike Friendly Richardson

January 23, 2012 • 7:07 am 1

Wheels That Heal: A Bike Benefit for Liberty Kat

A fellow cyclist has fallen and needs your help. From their Facebook page:

We are working on a fundraiser for our fellow cyclist Misty “Liberty Kat” who was seriously injured on a group ride recently. She sustained broken bones and even a fracture in her neck among other things–she was wearing a helmet or the damage might have been worse. We’re happy to report that Liberty is out of the ICU where she was Care Flighted and she seems to be recovering quite well with the help all of your positive thoughts and well wishes.

The fundraiser is January 29th at the AMAZING Fitzgerald Loft at 2814 Canton in Deep Ellum. We are SO LUCKY to have generous people like Sean & Karen Kohler Fitzgerald in our community, so please make sure you thank them for their hospitality when you meet them

Your donation of $10 at the door gets live entertainment and FREE BEER which is being donated by the kind folks at Franconia Brewery!

Raffle tickets will be sold for our long list of AWESOME prizes (see comments section for details). Prize values are $20-$600!

If you own a business or have connections to anyone who may be interested in donating cash or items for raffle/auction at the event, please contact either Toni Youngblood or Susan Reeves ASAP.

PLEASE CLICK HERE TO DONATE $ DIRECTLY TO LIBERTY

Every little bit counts – even $5 or $10. These donations my not pay for all of her bills, but will help her get back on her feet.

Date: Sunday, January 29, 2012
Time: 1:00pm until 6:00pm
Location: Fitzgerald Loft at 2814 Canton in Deep Ellum
Cover: $10 Donation at the door (FREE beer) – Raffle tickets will also be sold.

Filed under: Bicycle Events, Good Causes, Liberty Kat, Wheels That Heal

January 11, 2012 • 8:39 pm 0

WildRide! Against Cancer 2012 – Registration Now Open

Registration is now open for the 2012 WildRide! Against Cancer. If you would like to save a little on the registration, check out the one-time early registration event.

From the email from event organizers:

Registration is now open for the 9th annual WildRide! Bike Rally and 2nd annual 5K Timed Run & Fun Run/Walk! More than 2500 cyclists and runners participated in the event in 2011!

Register as a cyclist, runner or walker for only $15 on February 20, 2012 at Richardson Bike Mart from 4-7pm! This event is offered just this one time! To take advantage of the special $15 registration fee – you MUST register in person between 4-7pm on February 20th at RBM!!!
Go to WildRideBikeRally.com for event details!

I’ve done this ride twice and enjoyed it both times – plus, it’s all for such a good cause. You don’t have to be a racer or sports rider to do this, so please join me on Saturday, May 19 for the Richardson WildRide! Against Cancer.

Filed under: Bicycle Events, Good Causes, 2012 WildRide, Richardson Wild Ride, WildRide

January 6, 2012 • 6:56 am 0

Support BikeDFW By Watching A Bike Movie

Our friends over at BikeDFW are hosting the movie Bicycle Dreams and would like you to come see it. The money raised will help support BikeDFW and their local bicycle advocacy efforts. Here are the details from BikeDFW:

Bicycle Dreams, the award-winning feature-length documentary about the Race Across America (RAAM), will premiere in Dallas/Fort Worth at the Studio Movie Grill Royal Lane on Wednesday, February 1 at 7 p.m. The screening is a benefit for BikeDFW.

The film, which has won numerous awards at film festivals all over the world, “is an up-close look at what RAAM riders go through,” says Stephen Auerbach, the director and producer of Bicycle Dreams. “They deal with searing desert heat, agonizing mountain climbs, and endless stretches of open road. And they do it all while battling extreme exhaustion and sleep deprivation. It’s a great subject for a film.”

“Bicycle Dreams is a spectacular and heartfelt film that offers a riveting portrait of extreme courage in the face of inhuman obstacles,” writes TheLoveOfMovies.com. “It is an artistic triumph that renewed my belief in the power of desire and the strength of the human will.”

Date: Wednesday, February 1, 2012
Time: 7 p.m.
Location: Studio Movie Grill Royal Lane
RSVP (via Facebook): Click Here
Tickets: Click Here or get them at the door.
Supporting: BikeDFW

Filed under: Bicycle Events, Good Causes, Bicycle Dreams, Bike DFW, Bike Movie Screening, BikeDFW, Dallas, Studio Movie Grill

December 13, 2011 • 10:31 pm 1

Last Minute Holiday Gift Idea – Bicycle Advocacy Group Membership

If you’re looking for that last minute gift to give your bicycle enthusiast friend, you might want to think about giving them a membership to a bicycle advocacy group - or perhaps making a donation in their name.

No, not to Bike Friendly Richardson. We’re not set up to take in and allocate funding. Quite frankly, there are other organizations who are much better advocates for bicycling. Here are just a few:

Let’s start locally:

BikeDFW – a Texas nonprofit organization working for safe, healthy, and more livable communities, in the Dallas/Fort Worth area, by promoting bicycling for transportation and recreation. Through their individual membership program, and bicycle club and industry sponsor programs, BikeDFW represents nerly 2,000 cyclists in North Texas. These guys are great at bringing great information to local cyclists. Keeping a close watch over local and city government, they make efforts to attend and represent cyclists at biking and infrastructure related meetings. They also offer bicycle education classes throughout the year.

When you become a member of BikeDFW you’re acting to decrease traffic congestion, decrease air pollution, and increase public health by promoting increased bicycle use in North Texas.
Your tax-deductible gift supports our efforts to:

Increase the accessibility and safety of cycling in North Texas by promoting bicycle-friendly policies, infrastructure, and legislation
Increase bicycle use and safety in North Texas through bicycle education programs that foster safe and confident riding
Raise awareness of the role of bicycling in commuting, multi-modal transportation, recreation, and promoting better health in North Texas
Expand the capabilities of BikeDFW and ensure its sustainability

Click here to join (or buy a gift membership) – starting at $25.

Next up, the state level:

BikeTexas - The mission of BikeTexas is to advance bicycle access, safety and education in Texas. BikeTexas, formerly known as Texas Bicycle Coalition, was formed in 1991 to unify the voices of thousands of bicycle enthusiasts, the bicycle industry, Texas bicycle clubs and Texas-based bicycle rides and events. With the support of these members and community partners, BikeTexas seeks to develop and steward the future of bicycling in Texas and encourage bicycle use as a healthy and mainstream lifestyle and transportation choice. More.

When you become a member of BikeTexas, you get these benefits:

A Voice in Austin and Washington, DC
BikeTexas.org website which is a member-supported, member-driven hub of information about bicycle safety, access, and education in the Lone Star State
BikeTexas Today eNewsletter
Action Alerts & Event Updates
Membership ID Card
BikeTexas Gear (with higher level membership)

Click here to join (or buy a gift membership) – starting at $30.

Then there’s the national level:

League of American Bicyclists - The League was founded as the League of American Wheelmen in 1880. Their mission is to promote bicycling for fun, fitness and transportation and work through advocacy and education for a bicycle-friendly America. They do this by representing the interests of the nation’s 57 million cyclists. With a current membership of 300,000 affiliated cyclists, including 25,000 individuals and 700 affiliated organizations, the League works to bring better bicycling to your community.

When you become a member you are an integral part of the nation’s premier cycling organization that brings together more than 300,000 cyclists including a membership of 40,000 individuals and over 600 organizations. You also get these benefits:

6 issues per year of American Bicyclist magazine, including the annual Bicycle-Friendly America yearbook.
11 issues per year of Bicycling magazine.
Annual Mileage log.
Professional bike shipping discount.
Discounts to League events.
Discounts from participating retailers.

Click here to join (or buy a gift membership) – starting at $40.

Lots of Options:

If they are already members to these groups, there are plenty of other charitable organizations that are bike related: Alliance for Biking and Walking, Streetsblog.net, People for Bikes, Spokes for Folks, Pedal-Power and 88bikes – just to name a few.

Filed under: Advocacy, Good Causes, Bike DFW, Bike Texas, BikeDFW, BikeTexas, League of American Bicyclists

December 9, 2011 • 11:42 pm 0

SPOKES for FOLKS Christmas Push – This Sunday, December 11

This popped up on the BFR Facebook page, so we thought we should share:

SPOKES for FOLKS CHRISTMAS PUSH THIS SUNDAY–Please come if you can

We have a lot to do—
• We are still trying to fill a 50 bike request for the four locations of Family Gateway
• Just received a new request for 36 bikes from the Heart of Africa associated with Lover’s Lane United Methodist Church.
• 30 – 50 families are coming from Jubilee Center to work and earn bikes for their kids—we need mechanics to help them learn!

Come rebuild bikes for several really good causes!

Sunday from 10 AM until about 2 PM
Everyone is welcome and needed, experienced or not. Bring tools if you have them.

8901 Chancellor Row at Hans Johnsen Company - south of 183 of Regal Row just past Superior Foods
Map: http://g.co/maps/7qt55

It will be our last chance to rebuild bikes to give to others for the holidays.

Come for the camaraderie, come for the fun, come to learn more about repairing your own bikes.

PLUS—Dea Henson, expert massage therapist, is donating her time and skill—if you’re sore from riding, come build a bike and get a free massage!

Spokes for Folks is a non-profit organization that refurbishes donated bicycles that are then given to children of families that could not otherwise afford to buy them.

Filed under: Bicycle Events, Good Causes, Charity Bikes, Dallas, DFW, Spokes For Folks, Texas

December 9, 2011 • 6:20 pm 1

City of Richardson Receives “Safe Routes to School” Funding Grant

Again, if you get the City’s newsletter, you’ve probably already seen this:

The City of Richardson has been awarded federal funding through a Safe Routes to School grant from the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) for two schools in Richardson: Richland Elementary and Yale Elementary.

At Monday’s work session, the City Council was briefed by staff on the City’s efforts to acquire this funding, the status of the programmed projects and the improvements that will be made around the schools.

The work that will be funded by the grant includes installation of barrier-free ramps, sidewalks, bike routes, bike lanes and bike racks.

The City Council will consider a resolution to approve funding agreements with TxDOT at a future meeting. Click here to view the work session presentation.

This is fantastic news for families with kids going to these schools. This is especially good news to me, since one of these schools is in my neighborhood. We’re grateful that the City kept up with this, even after not getting selected the first time.

Filed under: Advocacy, Bike Change, City Stuff, Good Causes, City Of Richardson, Richland Elementary, Safe Routes To School, Texas, Yale Elementary

November 3, 2011 • 4:20 pm 1

Help Build Bikes For Kids This Saturday For Children’s Advocacy Center

Saw this post from BikeDFW and thought we should spread the word:

The Children’s Advocacy Center of Collin County helps abused kids. A donor has donated about 300 bicycles that are currently in boxes and need to be assembled. This Saturday, November 5th, from 8:30 am to 5 pm,the Advocacy Center will be open for volunteers to help assemble these bikes. We encourage everyone to bring their family to the Children’s Advocacy Center for an hour or two and help put bikes together. You’ll leave knowing that you helped an abused child smile this Christmas.

The Center does not have enough tools, so please bring your own tools.

Your help is badly needed and hugely appreciated.

Posted on Facebook by the Plano Bicycle Association.

Date: Saturday, Nov. 5th
Time: 8:30 AM to 5 PM
Place: Children’s Advocacy Center
2205 Los Rios Blvd.
Plano, TX 75074
972-633-6600

Filed under: Advocacy, Bicycle Events, Good Causes, Bike DFW, Build Bikes, Children's Advocacy Center

October 27, 2011 • 5:26 am 1

Spreading The Word About Pedal Power – A North Texas Bike Charity

When we were at the Bike Friendly Oak Cliff, Richardson Bike Mart Cyclesomatic Bicycle Fair last weekend, we discovered a great bicycle charity called Pedal Power. Based out of Mansfield, Texas, Pedal Power is a division of Mansfield Bike Charity, a non-profit organization dedicated to refurbishing and redistributing used bikes. Their bikes benefit kids and adults in need of transportation to school and work, and provide increased access to health care. Bikes are distributed in the DFW area as well as Central/South America and Africa (more).

We think this is a fantastic service, giving some folks a chance to give back to the community, while making it possible for others to get hold of a bicycle. More importantly, their focus is to get these bikes to people who actually need them for daily transportation and not just recreation.

Check out their website and learn how you can help. They are looking for cash donations and in-kind donations. You can also run a bike drive or donate your used bike.