Virginia Bicycling Federation

Ride through the rolling countryside of Charlotte County, Virginia, hunting grounds of the Saponi tribes and final homes of Governor Patrick Henry (18th century), Congressman John Randolph (19th century), and Ambassador David Bruce (20th century). Ride on our own century or metric century bike routes, or choose from shorter rides of 11 to 33 miles. Meals, rest stops, SAG, optional camping spaces, all routes marked and on paved roads. Century includes Patrick Henry’s Red Hill and Staunton River Battlefield State Park. Other rides visit either Red Hill or the Battlefield Park. Contact Nancy Carwile, ncarwile@hotmail.com or (434)248-6407. Details and online registration at www.bikeheartland.org.

As the Washington Post reports, Washington DC’s bike sharing program is open for business today. SmartBike DC will provide 120 bikes at 10 self-service racks in various locations downtown. A $40 annual membership fee allows cyclists to take a bike from any of the racks and return it to any other, with no limit on the number of trips. City officials hope the program will replace cab rides and public transit trips for many people, as similar programs have done in cities such as Paris and Barcelona.

As most Virginians (should) know, our beloved Chesapeake Bay is in trouble, suffering from nitrogen and phosphorus pollution, oxygen depletion, and toxic contamination.  So the Chesapeake Bay Foundation has launched its Cyclist for the Bay campaign, whereby cyclists can be part of the solution.  Those who take the Cyclist for the Bay pledge will receive free water bottles and stickers, a pledge card with useful Bay information, membership in a Cyclist Network for Chesapeake Bay cycling information, and discounts on merchandise from the Foundation’s online store.

Fess Green was a friend of mine, so this is difficult to write about. He died April 29 from injuries received in an accident April 23, when 20 year old Ryan Sherman failed to yield to oncoming traffic and made a left turn across Fess’s path.

Ryan Sherman had a history of recklessness behind the wheel — driving too fast for road conditions, and driving “outside restrictions on his license.” (In other words, he probably drove anyway while his license was suspended.) But despite this history, after killing a man, Ryan Sherman received only another temporary suspension of his license, and had to pay only $1500 of a $2500 fine. I am speechless.

Help determine the future of popular trails like the IMBA Epic Southern Traverse during the George Washington National Forest forest plan update. The process, which is restarting after a year-long lull, features five public meetings, July 14 through July 28, to identify management needs for the forest. Mountain bikers packed the house last year and we need you to attend these meetings and voice support for more and better singletrack.

George Washington singletrack faces real threats, including trail-to-road conversions to support mineral leasing and closures due to budget cuts or management changes. But we have a lot to gain: miles of new loop trails, protected access for bicycles, a larger trails budget and improved trail restoration after fires.

This forest plan will guide management actions for 15-20 years, making it imperative that mountain bikers are at the table when important decisions are made. Let’s make sure we are as closely involved in speaking for better singletrack as we were last spring. [Read more →]

When chased by an attacking dog, most people are afraid of being bitten. But the greatest danger to a cyclist, by far, is that the dog will cause a crash. Though painful and unpleasant, dog bites are rarely serious, even if they require a trip to the emergency room. Dog-bike crashes, on the other hand, frequently cause injuries that are very serious indeed.

An unfortunate example is the cyclist who suffered a serious head injury during this year’s Bike Virginia. As also reported by the Bristol Herald Courier, local cyclists cite dogs as their greatest hazard. [Read more →]

The Blue Ridge Bicycle Club’s 20th annual Artie Levin Memorial Ride, a September favorite of southwest VA cyclists, has joined forces with Bike MS to become Bike MS Best of the Blue Ridge, Sept. 27-28, 2008. Artie Levin was Roanoke’s own physical fitness celebrity, television host, and newspaper columnist. He was also an avid cyclist, and dynamic BRBC member, who did a lot to promote cycling in southwest VA. Held in his honor, “The Artie” is a weekend-long fun event featuring a century ride, food, and live music. For details and to register, see the Bike MS website. Proceeds benefit the National Multiple Sclerosis Society.

Update: the Roanoke Times has more on this year’s Artie Levin and Bike MS ride.

For 2008, the Governor’s Conference on Greenways, Blueways, and Trails, the 54th annual Virginia Recreation and Park Society Conference, and the 10th annual BikeWalk Virginia Conference will be merged into one event October 4-7 in Richmond. It will be the largest conference ever held in Virginia focusing on outdoor recreation, trails, and non-motorized transportation. Conference details are available at the BikeWalk Virginia website.

VBF urges all bike advocates to attend, but mostly, to encourage your local officials and staff to attend — especially those from your regional (MPO) planning authorities. There is no better opportunity to network with people from state agencies like DCR and VDOT, to gain knowledge about best practices, and learn how to move your local projects forward.

Let’s be clear: at VBF we’re non-partisan in the Republican vs. Democrat sense. Both are well-represented on our Board. The only “party” we belong to is the pro-bicycling one!

Many of you may be asking, “Which candidate best represents our interests as cyclists? Is Obama the bike candidate?”

Last week Obama met with bike industry leaders , and went on a bike ride, seizing the usual photo ops. Fox News has more on Obama’s adventures in bicycling.

But how much of this is lip service, and how much is geunine concern for bicycling and transportation issues? [Read more →]

Something for every rider: a 25-mile Family Ride; a 27 mile Short Ride; a 40-mile Historic Ride; a Metric Century; a 72 mile Metric Century Plus, and a challenging , 100 mile English Century with just enough hills to give you a workout. Ride through Virginia’s history among Civil War battlefields and historic sites.

The 2008 Heart of Virginia Century and Bike Festival is RABA’s premier annual event, sponsored by the Town of Ashland, the Hanover Mental Health Association, and Hanover Habitat for Humanity.