Newsletter - Spring 08

CABA Charlotte Area Bicycle Alliance

Spring 08 – Web Newsletter

…….to CABA members and friends

From Martin Zimmerman / Executive Director ~ ~

I’ll bet a lot of you are wondering – what is CABA accomplishing for member and community benefit ? What is CABA doing to forge alliances, to make streets safe for cycling, to expand both the on-road and off-road bikeway system, to advance the culture shift from horse-power to pedal-power, to provide better member services ?

Here is a snapshot of 6 action items in process so far this year:

• City Wide Bike Plan – After CABA’s initial success in getting Mayor McCrory to speak at the first community meeting, we continued to contribute directly to the plan process. Four CABA members served on the plan advisory committee, and worked on every detail of the plan – from big ideas, like overall system linkages, to smaller details, like lane markings. Stay tuned. The Plan goes to City Council shortly.

• Safe Routes to Schools – X school has been selected and a full-time coordinator from the County X department are advancing this program using Federal and state funds for kids to bike or walk to schools instead of busing or relying on soccer moms. Special thanks to Dan Faris, CABA Board Chair for helping shepherd this project along.

• Bicycle Valet Services – CABA will be parking bikes at the Wachovia Masters golf tournament on May 3. This is a new and innovative way for advocacy groups around the country to spread the gospel of cycling. Next goal ? The Panthers !

• Cycle Charlotte Festival 08 – May 10 – Dowd YMCA parking lot - The third year of this community wide celebration of safe urban bicycling for everyone from toddlers to senior citizens. Originally conceived in memory of commuter Todd Weaver. CABA is working with representatives from the Dirt Divas, Tarheel Trailblazers and Rank Riders to make it all happen. 50% of net proceeds go to CABA’s safety and education efforts.

See www.cyclecharlotte.org to register.

• Bike Safety Certification Courses – The first in mid-April and the follow up in June. See New and Views page of CABA website for details and signup. An opportunity to learn new skills and teach them to others.

CABA Blog and Annual Member Survey - By mid-summer we plan to convert our website into an interactive format and issue a community-wide survey crafted to further define the future focus of CABA. Stay tuned !