Category: Lawrence Biking (Page 23 of 34)

Wanted: Volunteers to count bicyclists, pedestrians in Lawrence, Eudora Sept 4,5,6

August 8, 2012 /

Phil Minkin, left, and Carey Maynard-Moody volunteered to count passing bicyclists and pedestrians in 2009 at Ninth and Louisiana streets. Photo by Mike Yoder

Below is a repost from this WellCommons article by Karrey Britt:

One. Two. Three. … 120, 121, 122 …

Volunteers are needed to count bicycles and pedestrians next month in Lawrence and Eudora.

The Lawrence-Douglas County Metropolitan Planning Organization and the city of Lawrence will be conducting counts from noon to 2 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 8, and from 10 a.m. to noon and 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 12.

Rain dates have been scheduled for Sept. 13 and Sept. 15.

Those interested in volunteering are required to attend one of the following training sessions:

• Sept. 4 — 6 p.m. to 7 p.m., Carnegie Building conference room, 200 W. Ninth St.

• Sept. 5 — 11 a.m. to noon, Carnegie Building conference room.

• Sept. 6 — 3:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m., Kansas Union’s Pine Room, 1301 Jayhawk Blvd.

• Sept. 6 — 6 p.m. to 7 p.m., Eudora Community Center, 1630 Elm.

Volunteers who received training in previous years are not required to attend a session.

The data collected will assist city and regional leaders in estimating usage and demand for bicycle and pedestrian facilities. The counts also will be used to track the region’s progress on increasing the use of nonmotorized transportation, strengthen grant applications to leverage additional federal funding for bicycle and pedestrian projects, evaluate existing projects, and help determine the location of future investments.

To sign up visit www.lawrenceks.org/mpo/volunteer.

For more information, contact Jessica Mortinger, transportation planner, at 832-3165 or [email protected].

Lawrence Mountain Bike Club – New Year’s Day Ride

July 26, 2012 /

This annual ride takes place every year at 12:00 noon on New Year’s Day. The ride was started in 1996, and now draws over 50 riders. The ride goes regardless of the weather, and is appropriate for riders of all abilities.

The ride happens on the Lawrence River Trails, and riders can do as much of the trail as they like, then meet afterwards for burgers and refreshments at Johnny’s Tavern.

The New Year’s Day Ride is sponsored by the Lawrence Mountain Bike Club.

Web Site: lawrencemountainbikeclub.org
Location: Lawrence, KS

Lawrence’s 2012 Community Bike Ride

July 22, 2012 /

It was a nice 70 degrees at 7AM when we arrived to set up at the Rotary Arboretum. In the middle of one of the hottest summers in memory, a small army coordinated Lawrence Central Rotary’s Steve Lane and George Brenner descended to set up registration tables, tents for safety, first aid, complimentary bike check outs, an up on top of a gentle hill an area for the training wheel take-off staff.

The back of a rented truck has dozens of water coolers filled with liquids and ice to stave off the oncoming midday heat.

Once ready registrants signed up, got their complimentary t-shirt and other goodies from local bike clubs and at 8AM the first batch of riders took out on the 10 mile ride – 5 miles up to the 6th Street underpass and back. We has a SAG (support and gear) stop at the underpass which was mainly a bunch of iced water, but thanks to the local bike clubs if anyone encountered trouble tools and help were readily on hand.

For safety along the way, volunteers were at the major intersection crossings to make sure traffic was not a problem, for peace of mile for the less seasoned riders.

At 9Am the next larger, group set out to ride a mile and a half out to the Clinton Park Lake overlook and back. It included a lot of the people who had ridden up and back on the 10 mile already too, it was amazing to see the pack of bikes head off down the trail.

Interspersed the entire morning were toddlers and younger kids taking advantage of the 1 mile closed loop course. Kids that did not have helmets and even those will ill fitting ones were set up with a nice new helmet and given a lesson on how to wear it and be safe.

Walking a quarter of the way around the training wheel take-off station was set up.. staffers removed wheels and coached kids running alongside them down the gentle incline until the centrifugal force and a little balance kept them upright. It was amazing to see the big smiles on faces when they realized they were actually riding a two-wheeler!

After each ride or lap around the Arboretum pond the fine people from the Merc had healthy snacks set up for a little post ride energy or in some cases a celebratory granola treat for riding a two-wheeler bike for the first time.

From all of us at Ride Lawrence, Lawrence Central Rotary we want to thank all the sponsors and supporters below – without them this wouldn’t have been possible.

We plan to keep this yearly tradition going and growing, and thanks to everyone involved it looks like we’ll be able to do that!

Below is a gallery of pics from the event taken by Chris Ralston of GP VeloTek. If you have any you’d like to add please email them to us and we can get them posted!

Update: We’ve added some more pics by Scott Wagner too! If you have more keep them coming and we’ll post them!

2012 Ride Lawrence Community Bike Ride Set for July 21st

July 2, 2012 /

Lawrence Central Rotary and Ride Lawrence are proud to announce the 2nd Annual Lawrence Community Bike Ride. This year’s ride is scheduled for July 21st at the Lawrence Rotary Arboretum / Youth Sports Complex. The ride is completely free and open to all ages. This year’s ride has three paved-path rides that anyone can participate in.

People looking for a longer ride will commence a 10 mile ride at 8:00am while at 9:00 a shorter 3 mile ride will depart. All morning anyone can participate in an easy 1 mile mini-course around the wide pathways in the Arboretum.

Other activities include a Training Wheel Take-off where experts help kids who are ready to take off their training wheels in a safe and fun environment and a Safety Zone where Gary Long w/ Cycle Works, and Lisa Hallberg will help outfit kids with helmets and other safety gear, while supplies last, along with providing cycling safety tips for kids of all ages – and for adults too. Make sure to stop by during the event!

Registration is required. Free T-shirts will be issued, while supplies last, at registration. You may print off the registration form in advance by clicking this LINK – or they will also be on hand the morning of the 21st.