Category: Education

Ride of Silence

Posted on by RideCoordinator

The annual ride to honor those killed or injured on our streets, to raise awareness that cyclists are here and to ask that we all share the road. Please join us this Wednesday (May 16th). Starting point will be “The Educational Memorial Plaza” on Bailey Hill Road (nearest intersection is Westleigh St.). Ending point is “The David Minor Theater. Meeting at 6:00 pm to listen to the introduction, instructions, and an invited speaker. Starting time of the ride is 6:30 pm. Helmets are required and lights are recommended.

Everyone welcome. Free of charge. No registration necessary.

More general information: http://www.rideofsilence.org

GEARs Awards Local Groups $2,500 For Bike Education

Posted on by RideCoordinator

GEARs has awarded $2500 in mini-grants to promote bicycle education and safety.  Recipients of the 2012 mini-grants are Safe Routes to School, Nearby Nature, the University of Oregon Outdoor Program, the City of Eugene “Sunday Streets” program, and St. Vincent dePaul’s.

Applications for GEARs mini-grants totaled over $16,000, reflecting a huge need for bicycle safety in the Eugene area.  Mini-grant funds will be used to provide bicycle parts, lighting, and locks for students and low-income people, purchase bicycles for bike safety classes in the Bethel School District, and install a 24-hour “Bike Fixit” station on the University of Oregon campus.

GEARs also has offered free registration in its “Confident Cycling” classes to organizations that applied for mini-grants.  These classes provide both classroom instruction and on-the-bike practice in riding safely and legally on city streets.  For more information on GEARs Confident Cycling classes, see http://edu.eugenegears.org/classes.

 

 

UO Bike Program To Install Five Self-service Bike Repair Stations

Posted on by RideCoordinator

It’s been so great to see the energy grow on the UO campus with both the LiveMove student group and the UO Bike Program continually pushing for positive changes to the campus area for cyclists. The latest news from the Bike Program involves some assistance from GEARs Education to help them purchase five self-service bike repair stations and to create educational material for the campus area. We look forward to continuing to work with these student groups to grow cycling in our community at large!

—–News Release—-

The University of Oregon Bike Program is leading a project to install a network of five self-service bike repair stations around the UO campus, to support and encourage bicycle transportation for our campus community.  The Bike Program has received $7,000 in support from the UO Sustainability Center’s Student Sustainability Fund, and $750 from the Greater Eugene Area Riders to pay for four stands and educational materials.  A fifth stand will be paid for with funds left over from a grant for another project from the Associated Students of the University of Oregon, which came in under budget.

The stands, which will be installed in central, high-visibility locations on campus, will provide bicycle users with air, tools, and a stable spot to hoist their bike for maintenance.  Each station will include an info panel with bike repair and safety information, as well as directions to our campus DIY repair shop in the Outdoor Program Barn.  Web resources will include new how-to-fix-your-bike videos produced by the UO Bike Program in partnership with Erb Memorial Union Marketing and the Oregon Daily Emerald.

“It will be great to see these repair stands around campus as reminders of the university’s commitment to sustainability and active transportation.  We all see reminders of our societal commitment to cars every day.  I think this project sends a strong message about our priorities as a community,” said Ted Sweeney, the student coordinator of the UO Bike Program. “People need to be able to trust their bicycles to get them where they need to go every day, and knowing that tools and air are always nearby might give some the confidence they need to start commuting by bike.”

The Bike Program is working with staff in the Department of Campus Planning and Real Estate to approve the final siting for the FixIt stands, and hopes to install the network by the end of spring quarter 2012.


More about the UO Bike Program: The University of Oregon Bike Program, a branch of the UO Outdoor Program, works to connect students with bicycles. Since 2008, the student-run program has offered low-cost bicycle loans, a free do-it-yourself bike maintenance shop, and related classes and events for the UO Community.

For more information, please contact Ted Sweeney, UO Bike Program Coordinator. bikes@uoregon.edu, (503) 737-4419

 

Bicycle Touring Informational General Meeting

Posted on by RideCoordinator

Bicycle Touring: What is touring all about?  What to take on a tour and how to pack it.

June 21; 6:00pm-8:00pm at the Hilyard Community Center

Are you considering a bicycle tour?  Do you need some guidance on what to take and how to pack it?  Do you pack differently if you are carrying your own bags or using a support vehicle?  The purpose of the General Meeting in June is to answer these questions and many more.

We are fortunate to have three GEARS members to share some of their experiences with bicycle touring.  Ray Hull, Jackie Murdoff and Sue Wolling will present their opinions about their motivation for touring, handling the nuts and bolts of an extended tour, and how touring changed their perspective on cycling.  They have varying experiences with touring and represent thousands of miles traveled.

You will learn about essential gear, the use of panniers, trailer or support vehicle and what you need to have a successful tour.  They will share experiences and answer questions.  This is not only for people who are new to touring. People with tour experience will also be invited to share some of their experiences.

The second part of the evening will involve packing panniers and trailers.  Packing your gear for a support vehicle will also be covered.  After you observe what and how to pack panniers or trailers
you will have the opportunity to ride a bike that is fully loaded and ready to go.

GEARS is offering a short 4-day three-night tour in September (see article in this newsletter) and anyone going on that tour would greatly benefit from this presentation. Please join us for this fun and informative evening.  We welcome those new to touring, touring veterans, and those who just love bicycling in any form.

Bike Safety Education- Last Volunteer Opportunity Before Summer

Posted on by RideCoordinator

From Clare with the BTA. These classes are the foundation for future bikers and drivers on our roads. These great classes only happen because we have volunteers help out on these essential neighborhood rides. This class is trying out 4J’s brand new bike fleet, the start of a more intense and complete bicycle safety education program for the district.

—–

Hey everyone,

I am looking for a few more volunteers this Wednesday, June 15th, at Monroe Middle School for our community ride.  For all of you who have been thinking about joining us on a community ride and haven’t quite gotten the chance, this Wednesday is the last day of bike safety this spring!  So, come on out and ride with us!  It will hopefully be a beautiful day.

The class times for this Wednesday, June 15th, at Monroe Middle School are:

3rd period  10:50-11:48
5th period  1:30-2:21
6th period   2:25-3:15

Come for one class or come for all three! As a volunteer you will be riding along with the students providing an extra set of eyes on the road.  You can also help to make sure every student stops at stops signs or does their turns properly.  How much you are involved is up to you.  I am just happy to have a few extra sets of eyes on the road with us.

If you are interested in joining us on our community ride this Wednesday, send me an email and let me know which classes you can ride with Clare Gordon (gordonc@bta4bikes.org).

Happy biking,

Clare Gordon
Statewide Instructor
Bicycle Transportation Alliance

gordonc@bta4bikes.org

Bike Commuter Nite Out

Posted on by Paul Adkins

And how to get around town on a bike.

May 10, 6:30 to 8pm. Hilyard Community Center (directions)

Are you trying to find out if riding a bike might be right for you? Or are you just getting started and need some great tips and safety guidance from some experienced helpful people? If yes is the answer to either of the above, you will not want to miss this “Nite Out!”.

GEARs is pleased to have Paul Adkins present an evening that both teaches and reinforces good cycling. He’ll have a short presentation with information about proper gear and clothing, riding skills, technique, cycling laws, street confidence, and bicycle maintenance.

A very diverse panel of six women (see below for bios) will take over and share their personal stories. They’ll talk about their fears and barriers to getting around by bike and how they have overcome them. Then you can ask them questions.

And for those that want to stay, we’ll give a lesson on fixing a flat tire.

The Panelists

Cortney Mild: As a dancer, Cortney started commuting by bike so that she could squeeze triathlon training into her active schedule. One thing led to another and she ended up at the University of Oregon as a masters student in planning with a focus on bicycle transportation.
Caroline Forell: Caroline is Professor of Bike Law at the University of Oregon. She has commuted by bike to the UO for 30 plus years as well as in San Francisco, Honolulu, Iowa City, and Hobart and Brisbane, Australia.
Kathryn Wells: “I hadn’t ridden a bike in 20 years. My husband got one for me when I had the chance to ride to work, and after a very wobbly start, a class, and some practice, I’m really enjoying my commute!”
Emily Swenson: Emily is the parent of two young children and a part-time teacher. She and her family went car-light in the spring of 2010, and she gets around town primarily by bike, but also on foot and by bus. She writes a family cycling blog, mamafiets.blogspot.com.
Claire Dannenbaum: Claire has been riding a bike as part of everyday life for over 20 years. She has integrated biking into parenting, work life, and all manner of daily chores and errands from groceries to gardening.
Holly McRae: Holly is a mother, advocate and self proclaimed dirt worshipping tree hugger. She sits on the City of Eugene’s Bicycle Pedestrian Advisory Committee and has worked at WREN as the Environmental Education Coordinator.

This evening is a great way to get you ready for the summer and to gear up to participate in the Business Commuter Challenge that starts the week of May 14-20. Businesses, schools, offices, and factories all around Eugene will be encouraged to bike, walk, and take a bus or carpool during that time. Our aim is to get people on bicycles and and help them to enjoy that experience enough to keep it going.

GEARs found good partners to work with on this event!