| Virginia Safe Routes to School Website Developed |
BikeWalk Virginia has created a website devoted entirely to Safe Routes to School (SRTS) in Virginia. 
The Safe Routes to School program encourages and enables children to walk or bike to school. Due to concerns about rising fuel prices, childhood obesity, and environmental decline, many people are finding SRTS to be an innovative way to address these critical issues. When interest in developing a school or community SRTS program grows, the new Virginia SRTS website will serve as a resource for starting a program, sharing success stories, and providing other pertinent information.
BikeWalk Virginia welcomes information on your SRTS program! Please contact Stephanie Smith. To subscribe to the SRTS newsletter, scroll to the bottom of this email and click on Update Profile/Email Address.
The Virginia SRTS website is funded by DMV Highway Safety Funds.
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| Governor Kaine Proclaims May is Bike Month |
Governor Timothy Kaine has proclaimed that May is Bike Month in Virginia. You are invited to join us at the Virginia Capitol in Richmond on Thursday, May 1 at 9:00 a.m. for the reading of the May is Bike Month Proclamation, which will be held either on the Capitol steps or at the bell tower.
Attendees will receive a copy of the Proclamation to carry back to their county, city, or town to present and be read by elected officials. If you are unable to attend, watch our website for a link to download a copy of the Proclamation when it becomes available.
If your bike club wishes to participate, call BikeWalk Virginia at 757-229-0507. Richmond, Roanoke, and Williamsburg area bicycle club members plan to participate. The Blue Ridge (Roanoke area) Bicycle Club will bike the Proclamation back to Roanoke afterward. To bike part or all of the distance with them, contact Barbara Duerk at barbgary@cox.net.
The May is Bike Month Proclamation event is an endeavor of BikeWalk Virginia, the Virginia Bicycling Federation, and the Virginia Department of Transportation. |
| Bike-to-Work Day is May 16 |
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Bike-to-Work Day in Richmond
 BikeWalk Virginia is planning Bike-to-Work Richmond! on May 16, 2008 to celebrate BikeWalk Virginia's upcoming move from Williamsburg to the Commonwealth's capital city.
Help us create a fun experience for bike commuters that day. We are looking for business partners to help in two ways:
- Provide Energy Stations with free or reduced price refreshments along common bike routes.
- Offer incentives and prizes to employees, co-workers, and friends for riding to work on Bike-to-Work Day.
Let us know if you wish to participate by April 16, 2008.
Participating businesses or groups and individual donor names will be included on our map and promotional materials. Check out our website soon for full details on the associated festivities.
Bike-to-Work Day in Your Town?
If your bike club, bike shop, city, county, town, planning district, business district, restaurant, organization, or business is a retail, organization, sustaining, or sponsor level member of BikeWalk Virginia, contact Sara Lewis at slewis@bikewalkvirginia.org or 757-229-0507 to get your event and logo posted on our website. |
| New Chapter Forms on the Middle Peninsula |
BikeWalk Virginia's newest chapter is forming on the Middle Peninsula (Gloucester, Mathews, Middlesex, and King & Queen Counties). Members of the Middle Peninsula Trails Partnership have already been involved in attending Middle Peninsula Chesapeake Bay Access Authority meetings concerning development and management of the Hawthorn Tract in King & Queen. The BikeWalk chapter is advocating for multi-use trails and two members have been appointed to the Land Management Plan Steering Committee.
Public meetings have been conducted by the supervisor of Gloucester's Beaverdam Park. MPTP equestrian members advocated for additional trail mileage and discussed issues concerning bike and equestrain use of trails: bikers should stop for horses!
A new Virginia State Park is being planned in Gloucester and MPTP members have written to State officials asking to be involved in the process. 
When visiting Mathews for the Tour de Chesapeake, stop by the BikeWalk booth at Tent City to meet representatives from MPTP. While many of the current members are equestrians concerned about access to trails, they invite bikers, walkers, hikers, kayakers and other area citizens to join them in education and advocacy efforts for more and safer non-motorized transportation routes for local communities.
 The Dragon Run Saddle Club is an organization partner of BikeWalk Virgina and MPTP.
Get moving, Middle Peninsula! Become a BikeWalk Virginia and local chapter member today.
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| BWV Chapter News: Active Williamsburg Alliance |
AWA members have volunteered to be group walk leaders for Williamsburg Walkabout, a collaborative program of Historic Triangle area (City of Williamsburg and James City and York Counties) Parks and Recreation Programs and BikeWalk that is coordinated by Sentara Community Health and Prevention, a new Sponsorship Level Partner of BikeWalk Virginia. To register, stop by the BikeWalk Virginia office for a packet or call 1-800-SENTARA.
Advocacy efforts in the area are focused on community meetings to review the James City County Comprehensive Plan and "Shaping Our Shores," a master planning effort for the long-range development of three large sites on the James River that are owned by the County.
AWA will provide City of Williamsburg Bike-to-Work participants with an Energy Station in Merchants Square on May 16.
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| BWV Chapter News: BikeWalk Alexandria |
BikeWalk Alexandria members are supporting Bike-to-Work Day initiatives, the Wilson Bridge Run/Walk on May 18, and a Arlington/Alexandria Community Bike Ride in June. They will be helping with bike parking at the Alexandria Waterfront Festival in June.
Community issues being watched by BikeWalk Alexandria include the Monroe Bridge and Potomac Yard developments and Northern Virginia Transportation Authority funding. BikeWalk Alexandria members hear reports from Yon Lambert, the City's Bicycle and Pedestrian Coordinator. They are also keeping up-to-date on trails including Eisenhower Avenue Trail, Holmes Run, and Tarleton Trail.
If you live in Alexandria, come to the chapter's regular first Monday night of the month meetings at St. Elmo's Coffee Pub at 2300 Mount Vernon Avenue.
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| BWV Chapter News: Northern Neck BikeWalk-Trails |
The Northern Neck Chapter celebrated the beginning of the 2008 cycling season at the Rappahannock Yacht Club in March. Sunday rides on the Northern Neck will begin in early April, and will be announced on the www.northernneckcycling.org website. Bob Fox, Chapter President, is working on ride sheets for shorter rides and will post them on the website soon.
The chapter will conduct a "Bicycle Rodeo" from 1:00-3:00 p.m., Saturday, April 12, at the YMCA Childcare Center on Harris Road in Kilmarnock.  Area non-motorized transportation enthusiasts are urged to join the Chapter! Lots of help is needed for the September 27 Northern Neck RiverRide 2008 Event!
Also, the Chapter would like to hear about any regularly scheduled rides or walks in the Northern Neck area beyond Lancaster and Northumberland Counties.
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| Events |
April 16
National Start! Walking Day
April 19
Earth Day 2008
Richmond, VA
April 19
Tour des Bibliotheque
Arlington, VA
May 1
May is Bike Month Proclamation at the Capitol
Richmond, VA
May 10
Va Capital Trail Foundation
Capital to Capital Ride
Richmond/ Williamsburg/
Jamestown, VA
May 16
Bike-to-Work Events in Virginia
May 16-18, 2008
Tour de Chesapeake
Mathews, VA
A Great Place to Ride!
June 7-8, 2008
Bike MS: Tour de Vine Charlottesville, VA
June 20-25, 2008
Bike Virginia
Abingdon & Bristol, VA; Kingsport, TN
July 31-Aug. 2, 2008
Southeastern Equestrian Trails Conference
Charleston, S.C.
Sept. 2-5, 2008
ProWalk/ProBike
Seattle, WA
September 13-14
Heart of Virginia Century (RABA)
Ashland, VA
Sept. 26-28, 2008
Northern Neck RiverRide
Kilmarnock, VA
Oct. 4-7, 2008
2008 Virginia Recreation and Park Society Annual Conference, with the Governor's Conference on Greenways, Blueways and Trails
Richmond, VA
November 15-19, 2008
American Trails 19th National Trails Symposium
Little Rock, AR
It's our policy to list relevant national and statewide events as well as organizational and chapter member events. Got news? Contact slewis@bikewalkvirginia.org.
Not a member? Join us! |
| Share Our Vision |
"A more active, safe, clean, and healthy Virginia where all Virginians and visitors can enjoy the benefits of walking, biking, hiking, paddling, and horseback trail riding for recreation or transportation." Can we count on you or your organization to help us educate and advocate, and make the vision a reality in Virginia's cities, counties, and towns?
Become a BikeWalk Member Today!
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A strong membership base allows BikeWalk Virginia to be more effective as we work with state and local decision-makers and agencies.
When you join BikeWalk Virginia, you automatically become a member of the local BikeWalk chapter near you. Local chapters are in: Alexandria, Fredericksburg area (RF&P), Northern Neck, Roanoke, New River Valley, and Williamsburg (Active Williamsburg Alliance). New chapters are forming on the Middle Peninsula and in Norfolk. Ask us about starting a chapter in your region, planning district, city, county, or town.
Already a member?
Thank you!
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Become a BikeWalk Member Today!
Spread the Word Are you attending an meeting or event with other outdoor enthusiasts? Do they want to see a more active Virginia and improved transportation choices? Be an ambassador for BikeWalk Virginia! Contact us and we'll send brochures and membership forms for you to pass around.
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Arlington Reads AND RIDES: The Tour des Bibliothéque |
A bicycle tour of Arlington's Central Library and six of the library's seven branches takes place on Saturday, April 19 at 9:30 a.m. (Plaza Branch Library is not open on weekends.) Riders will start their ride on the North Quincy Street side of Central Library. No pre-registration is required. The total circular route will cover about 29 miles but there will be options for a shorter excursion. Participants will receive a special Arlington Reads gift package. Due to the length of the ride, this activity is not recommended for children under the age of 12 unless accompanied by an adult. The ride will be canceled in case of bad weather. The program is supported by Arlington County Commuter Services, an organizational member of BikeWalk Virginia.
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| Explore Va Wine County with New Non-profit Organization Partner |
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, June 7-8, a fully supported fundraising bike ride that begins and ends in Charlottesville. In 2008, the ride celebrates its 20th anniversary, so it's the perfect time to join in! With fully stocked rest stops every 10-15 miles, mechanical support, trained medical professionals, entertainment and a finish line wine festival and party, all you need is a bike and some determination.
Multiple route lengths including a 25, 50, 75 and 100 mile route each day give you the freedom to choose your challenge. Unlike racing events, this event is designed to provide a scenic, challenging route for both the experienced cyclist and the energetic novice. The finish line both days will feature live music, plenty of food and entertainment. This fully supported ride not only connects you to more than 100,000 other riders but also to a growing movement to end multiple sclerosis. MS stops people from moving - together, we can make sure it doesn't.
The Blue Ridge Chapter of the National Multiple Sclerosis Society
became a BikeWalk Virginia
Non-profit Organization Partner
, committed to an active lifestyle that benefits health and fitness, in early April.
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