| From the Executive Director |
 I would like to extend greetings to our members, affiliates and supporters. Since starting on March 31 my time has been very busy. This is an energizing time for our organization not only due to the sense of eager excitement as we look forward to Bike Month activities, then Tour de Chesapeake and Bike Virginia, but also because we are in full planning mode for our relocation to Richmond. The office move will be complete by mid-June; more information soon.
Richmond promises to provide BikeWalk Virginia with the opportunity to reach deeper into state level advocacy and education. I am also hopeful that we will have an active Richmond chapter to help move our mission forward on a local level. Please let me know if you are interested in joining and helping make positive changes around Richmond for pedestrians, cyclists, and other non-motorized recreation and transportation users.
Happy Riding, Paddling, and Walking!
Dr. Kimberly Likens Perry
Executive Director
BikeWalk Virginia
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| May is Bike Month! |
 Virginia officially recognizes May as Bike Month! Kick it off right by joining us in your riding gear for the Bike Month Proclamation on May 1, 2008 at 9:00 on the Capitol's Bell Tower. The text of the Proclamation is on the BikeWalk Virginia website and will be posted to Governor Kaine's website The proclamation will be read by Ralph Davis, Virginia Deputy Secretary of Transportation. Lots of things are happening across the state for cyclists this month. In celebration of our move to Richmond, BikeWalk Virginia has compiled a list of bike rides and social activities being held by Richmond's cycling community. Richmond events are listed on our website as well as activities statewide. Send us yours and we'll add them.
Don't forget to bike to work on Bike-to-Work Day, May 16!
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| June 7 is National Trails Day |
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| BWV Chapter Trail Days Event: RF&P |
 BZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ TOOT-TOOT CHIRRRRRPPPPP! A Kids' Nature ABCs Treasure Hike in celebration of National Trails Day will be held on June 7, 2008 from 11:30 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. at the Dahlgren Railroad Heritage Trail. The hike is sponsored by the RF&P Chapter of BikeWalk Virginia Trails, King George County Parks and Recreation, and the Friends of the Dahlgren Railroad Heritage Trail.
From ants to bumblebees, beavers to caterpillars, eagles to egrets, ladybugs to maples, marshes and moths to tall trees and train tracks, add very vivid violets and waxwings, and wrens to the mix, and you get an amazing 1.5 hours of exploration and adventure on 3.5 miles of trail. This FUNtastic, Bugalicious, and BEEutiful day costs $6 and includes a lunch, hayride, and bugtastic goody bag and is open to children ages 5 to 12. Pre-registration with the King George County Parks and Recreation Department is required; only 20 spots available.
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| New Activate Coordinator |
 Melissa Crowell-Gravely has recently taken the position of Education/Outreach Coordinator for Activate Martinsville/Henry County (AMHC), an innovative three-year initiative to transform the southern Virginia community into a showplace that supports a livable, healthy, and sustainable community. The $1.56 million investment by the Harvest Foundation for the AMHC program was made with the goal of improving the quality of life in the county and city by increasing active living and active tourism.
In her position with AMHC, Ms. Gravely oversees promotional activities and public information campaigns and is responsible for designing and implementing the Safe Routes to School (SRTS) program at several schools in the Martinsville area. SRTS is a national program that encourages walking, biking, and active lifestyles among children in grades k-8.
Formerly a Supervisor at Enterprise Consulting Partners, Ms. Gravely is a long-time local community activist. Her volunteer work includes serving on the Board of Directors for Citizens Against Family Violence and as Vice-president of the Albert Harris Elementary School PTO.
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| Short Cuts |
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Register
May 17 is Tour de Chesapeake. You can register right up to the last minute, but a late fee will be applied. Join the fun in Mathews!
Register your ride for $1 a year. In addition to cables, padlocks, and electrical tape, there's another anti-theft device at your disposal that you may not be aware of: an identification label from the National Bike Registry. The voluntary NBR program allows police to quickly locate the owner of a register bike. To sign up, visit www.nationalbikeregistry.com or a participating police station, pay a $10 fee (good for 10 years of coverage), and add your bike's serial number to the NBR database.
Read
Walkers, Beware: Urbanization of Rural Areas Is Linked to Pedestrian Perils, by Daniela Deane, Washington Post Staff Writer, Thursday, April 24, 2008. The topic received a lot of press coverage after a media release was distributed by the Coalition for Smarter Growth, "Washington Area's Mean Streets: Where pedestrians face the most danger and what is being done about it."
The Week magazine's May 2 issue featured a compilation of the best columns concerning the price of gas. The Charlotte, North Carolina, News-Observer reported that construction supervisor Jim Miller has swapped horsepower for leg power. "'He keeps his Subaru parked for days at a time,' commuting nine miles each way by bicycle to his job at Durham's Research Triangle Park. With the spring weather coming, the bike path he takes is starting to get more crowded."
Put Virginia on the map! The Pedestrian and Bicycle Information Center offers a searchable database of bike maps from across the United States. Submit yours at to their website.
While you're at it, check out their Bikeability Checklist. Present it to community leaders along with the Governor's May is Bike Month Proclamation.
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Events |
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May 1
May 10
Va Capital Trail Foundation Capital to Capital Ride
Richmond/ Williamsburg/
Jamestown, VA
May 16
May 16-18, 2008
Tour de Chesapeake Mathews, VA - A Great Place to Ride!
June 7-8, 2008
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
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
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!
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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."
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When you join BikeWalk Virginia, you automatically become a member of the local BikeWalk chapter near you. Local chapters are in:
Northern Neck ,
A new chapter is forming in Norfolk.
Already a member?
Thank you!
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VDOT to Reconvene BAC |
Jakob Hembolt, Virginia Department of Transportation Bicycle and Pedestrian Program Coordinator, has announced that VDOT will reconvene regular meetings of the statewide Bicycle Advisory Committee. For more information, contact Jake at jakob.helmboldt@vdot.virginia.gov.
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LAB Retreats & Rides with Henry County Bike Club |
The League of American Bicyclists held their annual Strategic Planning Retreat in Martinsville from April 13-15. While in the area, they cycled through Martinsville and Henry County to unwind. On Monday, the public was invited to join Activate, the League of American Bicyclists and the Henry County Bike Club as they prepared for a 25-mile ride.
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"Car Free Breakfast" a Success |
Activate Martinsville/Henry County and the MHC Coalition for Health and Wellness challenged area residents to come to Uptown Martinsville for free breakfast in Uptown Martinsville. Over 170 people showed up for the "Car Free" event and some were surprised to find street parking unavailable. To get a breakfast coupon, participants had to park in a public parking lot and walk.
"The purpose of this event was to celebrate National Start Walking Day," said Jeannie Frisco, Activate Program Manager. "Many people feel there is not enough parking Uptown. While there may not be convenient, prime parking spots right in front of store fronts, there are several parking lots within easy walking distance of area restaurants and shops."
Information about the number of steps taken from the parking lot to Uptown restaurants was distributed as well as information about walking, bicycling, the environment and better health.
"We had a huge response at the Daily Grind: walkers, bicyclists, young and old," said Cathy Nelson, co-owner. "So many NEW people came into the coffee house, and they loved it. Most of all they were having fun!"
Send us your feedback, news, and information for the May BikeWalk Virginia e-newsletter. It's our policy to include relevant national and statewide news while limiting other news to that provided by current members and partners.
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Read more about trail planning and development and link to other informative trail-related websites on the 
May 1 is the last day to register for Bike Virginia 
