BikeDFW and BFR Bike To Work Day Energizer Station – 2016
It’s Back! Friday, May 20, 2016 is The League of American Cyclists‘ National Bike To Work Day. IF there is ever a day to ride to work, make it this day. Think about the positive statement we’ll be making as cyclists, safely using an alternate form of transportation.
Based on our great success in Richardson 4 years ago (which grew to 5 stations around Dallas 3 years ago, and continues to grow every year) BikeDFW, DART and local bike groups, like Bike Friendly Richardson, have partnered up to host another 8 Bike Commuter Energizer Stations around the Dallas/Fort Worth area – including the original stop at Arapaho Station.
Richardson Energizer Station info:
LOCATION: RICHARDSON – DART Arapaho Station
DATE: Friday, May 20, 2016
TIME: 7:00-9:00 am
We will be providing snacks, beverages and FREE bicycle safety checks at most stations.
Let us know you are coming on our Facebook Event Page.
SPONSORS FOR ARAPAHO STATION:
Richardson Bike Mart
DART
KIND Snacks
League of American Bicyclists Presents Richardson With Our Bronze BFC Certification
It was one thing to be honored with becoming the 5th city in Texas, and the first city in north Texas, to be recognized as a Bike Friendly Community. It was even better to actually have a League of American Bicyclists Board Member present us our certification, in person.
Gail Spann, one of the most active and influential board members of the League, also happens to live in north Texas. Instead of sending a League staff member from Washington D.C., Gail came out to personally congratulate Richardson residents and the Richardson City Council for a very difficult accomplishment. We are privileged to to get such a personal visit to welcome us into a growing community of exceptional bike friendly cities.
There is now a sign that marks our designation, that is installed in front the west entrance to City Hall. I would love to see these pop up at every road leading into the city.
Richardson Texas Gets Recognized As A Bronze Bicycle Friendly Community
Today, the League of American Bicyclists recognized Richardson, Texas with a Bronze Bicycle Friendly Community (BFCSM) award, joining 350 visionary communities from across the country.
With the announcement of 42 new and renewing BFCs today, Richardson joins a leading group of communities, in all 50 states, that are transforming our neighborhoods.
“We applaud this new round of communities for investing in a more sustainable future for the country and a healthier future for their residents and beyond,” said Andy Clarke, President of the League of American Bicyclists. “The growing number of leaders taking up bicycling as a way of solving many complex community problems is encouraging. We look forward to continuing to work with these communities as we move closer to our mission of creating a bicycle-friendly America for everyone.”
The BFC program is revolutionizing the way communities evaluate their quality of life, sustainability and transportation networks, while allowing them to benchmark their progress toward improving their bicycle-friendliness. With this impressive round, there are now 350 BFCs in all 50 states. The Bronze BFC award recognizes Richardson’s commitment to improving conditions for bicycling through investment in bicycling promotion, education programs, infrastructure and pro-bicycling policies.
This is a big deal in north Texas. Even though many cities in the area – including Fort Worth, Plano and Frisco – have received an Honorable Mention, Richardson is the first north Texas city to be recognized as a Bike Friendly Community. With it’s many bike lanes, growing trail network and interconnecting neighborhoods, this is a well deserved recognition.
There were many other variables involved in earning this status, including a great city management team – encouraged by a city council with a vision to create a great city. Richardson is also growing a strong bike community – supported by local and regional advocates like Bike Friendly Richardson and BikeDFW.
Richardson is just getting started. They’re hoping that Bronze is just a stepping stone to an even better, more robust bike community. They also hope to see that the many great efforts of their neighboring cities get recognized by the League as well.
We hope that this recognition becomes a way to motivate other north Texas cities to work harder to become bike friendly as well. Let’s keep this momentum going.
You can find the latest list on the League of American Bicyclists site or click here.
BikeDFW and BFR Bike To Work Day Energizer Station – 2015
Mark your calendars! Friday, May 15, 2015 is The League of American Cyclists‘ National Bike To Work Day. IF there is ever a day to ride to work, make it this day. Think about the positive statement we’ll be making as cyclists, safely using an alternate form of transportation.
Based on our great success in Richardson 3 years ago, which grew to 5 stations around Dallas 2 years ago, and up to 9 stations last year, BikeDFW, DART and local bike groups, like Bike Friendly Richardson, have partnered up to host another 9 Bike Commuter Energizer Stations around the Dallas/Fort Worth area – including the original stop at Arapaho Station.
Richardson Energizer Station info:
LOCATION: RICHARDSON – DART Arapaho Station
DATE: Friday, May 15, 2015
TIME: 6:30-9:00 am
We will be providing snacks, beverages and FREE bicycle safety checks at most stations.
Let us know you are coming on our Facebook Event Page.
SPONSORS FOR ARAPAHO STATION:
Richardson Bike Mart
KIND Snacks
MORE DETAILS TO COME.
Protect Biking and Walking Federal Funding
We received a message from the League of American Bicyclists, requesting our support. We would love to get our local cyclist friends involved with this initiative:
Thank you for you dedication to building a Bicycle Friendly Community. We appreciate the work you are doing to make bicycling safer and more accessible. We wanted to make you aware of a sign on letter for Mayor’s, championed by the US Conference of Mayors and the League of Cities, asking Congress to continue to support the Transportation Alternatives program. The Transportation Alternatives program is the biggest funding source for bicycle and pedestrian projects and an important source of funding for small, local transportation projects. Protecting and expanding this funding source ensures communities like yours can continue to make it safer and more convenient for people to bicycle (and get the recognition for it too)!
The current transportation bill expires September 30, 2014 and Congress is now debating policy for the next bill. Please consider encouraging the mayor to sign onto this letter to let Congress know that the community supports continuing and increasing funding for the Transportation Alternatives Program. We have sent a request directly to your mayor as well.
Thank you,
BILL NESPER, Vice President, Programs
With respect to our hard working City Council, we hope that you would take the time to politely encourage Mayor Laura Maczka to participate in this. Let her know that her constituents recognize the progress the city has already made for cycling and we are proud to support this initiative.
Richardson Bike To Work Day Station – Recap And Pics
Last Friday was the Bike League’s National Bike To Work Day. For the third year, Bike Friendly Richardson, worked with BikeDFW, DART and NCTCOG to set up a bike commuter Energizer Station at Arapaho rail station in Richardson. Because interest in these stations continues to grow, BikeDFW and DART were able to set up 9 stations throughout the Dallas/Fort Worth area.
Reports are coming back that those stations had great success greeting the many bicycle commuters who came through. This indicates to me that folks around the Dallas area are starting to look at bicycle commuting as an viable form of alternate transportation – which most feel is hard to do in a city built for cars.
The Richardson station was quite successful. We had 25 bike commuters stop by our Energizer Station, where we provided them with snacks and breakfast tacos. We also handed out lots of swag donated by DART and NCTCOG as well as energy bars provided by Clif Bar and KIND. Richardson Bike Mart was out to do bicycle safety checks.
We even had a news camera man from Channel 11 stop by and interview us, but we never made the news cast that day. Fortunately, other stops in Dallas got some coverage:
– The local Fox News station
– KERA, our local public radio station.
Here are some pics from this year’s Bike To Work Day Energizer Station in Richardson:
Bike To Work Day – Bike Commuter Energizer Stations – MAY 17
Mark your calendars! Friday, May 17, 2013 is National Bike To Work Day. IF there is ever a day to ride to work, make it this day. Think about the positive statement we’ll be making as cyclists, safely using an alternate form of transportation throughout the DFW Metroplex.
Based on our great success in Richardson last year, BikeDFW and DART have partnered up to host 5 Bike Commuter Energizer Stations in:
GARLAND – Downtown Garland Station (Partnered with The City of Garland)
DALLAS – Akard Station (Partnered with the City of Dallas)
OAK CLIFF – Jefferson St. Viaduct (Partnered with Bike Friendly Oak Cliff)
RICHARDSON – Arapaho Station (Partnered with Bike Friendly Richardson)
PLANO – Intersection of Bluebonnet & Chisholm Trail (Partnered with The City of Plano)
DATE: Friday, May 17, 2013
TIME: 6:30-9:00 am
If you are in the area, please stop by. Also, let them know on Facebook.
MORE DETAILS TO COME.
EVENT SPONSORS:
KIND Healthy Snacks – on Facebook (All Stops)
Clif Bars – on Facebook (All Stops)
Neuro Energy Drinks (Akard Stop)
Re-Geared – on Facebook (Akard Stop)
Generator Coffee House – on Facebook (Garland Stop)
Zang Triangle Apartments – on Facebook (Oak Cliff Stop)
Plano Cycling and Fitness – on Facebook (Plano Stop)
Richardson Bike Mart – on Facebook (Richardson and Akard Stops)
Don Johle’s Bike World – on Facebook (Garland Stop)
Oak Cliff Bicycle Company – on Facebook (Oak Cliff Stop)
ALSO: There will be other stations available:
Dallas Bike Works will have coffee and doughnuts and free minor repairs from 7:30 – 9:30am at White Rock Creek Trail where it passes under NW Highway (opposite the shop on Lawther). Facebook Event here.
The City of Fort Worth will have food and beverages and a bike share station set up at the Inter-modal Transit Center from 7:30 – 9am. There will be group rides to the Fort Worth event starting from various locations (map).
Recap Of The Traffic Skills 101 Class In Garland
Last Saturday was a pretty big day for Bike Friendly Richardson folks Jenny Rilling and Richard Wezensky. They got to help teach a Traffic Skills 101 class for the first time. As League of American Bicyclists LCI graduates, Jenny and Richard both have to co-instruct two classes before they can teach on their own. They were there to assist head instructor-extrodinare Mike Freiberger and veteran instructor Brad Ramsey, with 11 students from Bike Friendly Garland.
Click here to read more at Suburban Assault.
Start The Year Off Right With Traffic Skills 101
Our neighbors, Bike Friendly Garland, are hosting the first Traffic Skills 101 class of the year. This is an official League of American Bicyclists course, taught by local instructors. This class is for any cyclists (with any experience level) who is interested in developing their knowledge in bicycling and build their confidence and competence on the road.
Here are the details:
Cost: $25 – due at the start of the on-site class.
Location: Don Johle’s Bike World, 5513 Broadway, Garland, TX 75043, Phone: (972) 240-7678
Date: Saturday, February 2, 2013
Time (parking lot/road course): 8:00 am – 2:00 pm
Course Description: Traffic Skills 101 (TS101) gives cyclists the confidence they need to ride safely and legally in traffic or on the trail. Through TS101, students learn how to conduct bicycle safety checks, fix a flat, on-bike skills and crash avoidance techniques. We recommended this class for adults and children above age fourteen. The curriculum is fast-paced, nine-hours, and prepares cyclists for a full understanding of vehicular cycling. TS101 is a League of American Bicyclists (LAB) course.Mike Freiberger, DORBA‘s (Dallas Off Road Bicycle Association) Commuter Coordinator, will be the lead instructor. As DORBA’s Commuter Coordinator, Mike is authorized to include one year memberships in DORBA with the price of the course. Mike is a LAB League Cycling Instructor. He will be accompanied by a couple of new instructors from Bike Friendly Richardson.
Yes, it is 9 hours of instruction, but the first four hours will be completed online prior to this event. If you plan to attend, please start your on-line coursework at www.bikeed.org. When you register PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE use the DALLAS area as your location in the pull down menu.
There will be approximately 5 hours of in person instruction.
The course is being offered to us at a 50% discount (and that’s starting from an already low price. There is a TS101 course being offered in Florida for $125!), so this is a great deal. We want everyone who wishes to attend to be able, so if money is a problem, please send us a message.
What to bring:
Bike in good working condition
Helmet
Lunch moneySIGN UP: Via Facebook or by contacting us at bikefriendlyrichardson@gmail.com
Pics From Last Week’s Traffic Skills 101 Class In Richardson
A couple of Sundays ago, we had our first – in quite some time – Bike League Traffic Skill 101 class in Richardson, Texas. The class was lead by League Cycling Instructors Mike Freiberger, Warren Casteel and Renee Jordan.
They had a great group of students with a broad range of riding experience. Their bicycles ranged from super light road bikes to incredibly long and heavy utility bikes.
Since it was a really wet weekend, the parking lot drills were held in a parking garage. I was really impressed with how well all of the cyclist handle their bikes – even the big ones – through the parking lot drills. Scroll down to see a video of how well a long frame bike handles the really tight Avoidance Weave.
Here are some pics from the parking lot drills. Click here to see the rest.
Check out THIS Avoidance Weave:
leave a comment