GreenCityBlueLake [Cleveland]

Sustainability Update September 10, 2012 What a week to be on a bike! As the cooler fall weather approaches, it's a great time to go biking. This week features some moving in-town rides and an appearance from Pedaling Revolution: How Cyclists are Changing American Cities author, Jeff Mapes. Also tops on our to-do list—share with ODOT what the state's bike infrastructure priorities should be in its long-range plan. See below for all of the details. Friday, September 14 Jeff Mapes at Cleveland Museum of Natural History, 7 p.m. A humble 19th century invention - the bicycle may turn out to be the most important urban vehicle of the 21st century. In cities around the U.S., the bicycle is coming into its own as a serious transportation. Oregon political journalist Jeff Mapes spent three years investigating the growth of the urban bike movement for his book, and he talks about how it is changing the look and feel of cities. * * * Saturday, Sept. 15 Ride for Sylvia, 7 a.m. The cycling community will come together to commemorate the life and death of Cleveland cyclist Sylvia Bingham. Sylvia's parents will be in town as the ride from Edgewater to the corner of East 21st and Prospect Avenue, where Sylvia was struck and killed by a truck on Sept. 15, 2009 while commuting to work by bicycle, includes a memorial plaque ceremony. * * * Sunday, Sept. 16 Ride for Miles, 10 a.m. The annual, non-competitive bike ride raises funds for the John Carroll University Biology Department's Miles Coburn Environmental Symposium. By riding, you support the legacy of Miles' work educating students and the community about the urgency of environmental activism. * * * How do we make Ohio's roads safer, more inviting for cycling? Ohio Department of Transportation is updating its long range plan. Hearing from cyclists (and pedestrians) will help set the stage for ODOT transportation policies and investment strategies for the coming years. Take this short survey to make your opinion known. * * * Who's advocating for cyclists in Northeast Ohio? Bike Cleveland is a new group formed to "build livable communities by promoting all forms of cycling and advocating for the rights and equality of the cycling community." Join in their efforts to shape important policy and developments like Cleveland's new bike lane on Detroit Avenue. * * * Bike Cleveland was the first to note that Cleveland had dropped out of the Top 50 cycling communities in the U.S. Their blog post inspired Tom Breckenridge to write a Plain Dealer article over the weekend that asserts Cleveland is falling behind many cities doing the work of making streets safe for biking. It's noticeable now that cyclists have increased 269 percent in ten years. * * * To end on a positive note, last month's Cleveland Critical Mass ride attracted 700 cyclists of all shapes and ages from across the region. Cleveland Critical Mass rides meet up the last Friday of the month at 6:30 p.m. at Public Square, downtown Cleveland. Everyone is welcome. * * *