Learn about Fun, Safe, and Legal City Biking

Maybe you read Emily's piece today about the delights of the pedi-cab. Did it recall to you how much fun you had when you first started riding a bike? That exhilarating sense of freedom, power, and pleasure.

Want to free yourself from gas and traffic? Would you like to feel more confident on bike lanes and busy roads?

Life's too short not to have more fun!

Even if your workplace is too far from your home for a short bike trip of a few miles, what about going to the market or running other short errands on the weekend?

If you'd like to learn more about city biking, tomorrow, Saturday, August 6th, Gary Obery and the Salem Bicycle Club will offer the fourth "Introduction to Smart Cycling" clinic for the summer!

It's a great way to learn safe and legal practices for fun and effective travel.

The ride will feature a 20 minute pre-ride presentation focusing on tips for riding safely on neighborhood and busy streets. You'll practice a few bicycle handling drills in the square before the ride. Then out on the road! The ride course will take you through a variety of types of city streets and intersections. We'll stop periodically to talk about strategies to share the road in fun, style, and safety. (Minimum age 12. Minors must be accompanied by a parent. Helmets required.)

Meet at 9:30am at the Wall of Water fountain on the south end of the Capitol Mall. The cherry tress provide pleasant shade for the outdoor class! The clinic will take about two hours, including instruction and riding time.

For more information contact Gary at 4bikes [at] comcast.net!

Learn about Fun, Safe, and Legal City Biking

Want to free yourself from gas and traffic? Would you like to feel more confident on bike lanes and busy roads?

Do you remember how much fun you had when you first started riding a bike? That exhilarating sense of freedom, power, and pleasure.

Life's too short not to have more fun!

Even if your workplace is too far from your home for a short bike trip of a few miles, what about going to the market or running other short errands on the weekend?

If you'd like to learn more about city biking, this Saturday, July 2nd, Gary Obery and the Salem Bicycle Club will offer the third "Introduction to Smart Cycling" clinic for the summer!

It's a great way to learn safe and legal practices for fun and effective travel.

The ride will feature a 20 minute pre-ride presentation focusing on tips for riding safely on neighborhood and busy streets. You'll practice a few bicycle handling drills in the square before the ride. Then out on the road! The ride course will take you through a variety of types of city streets and intersections. We'll stop periodically to talk about strategies to share the road in fun, style, and safety. (Minimum age 12. Minors must be accompanied by a parent. Helmets required.)

Meet at 9:30am at the Wall of Water fountain on the south end of the Capitol Mall. The cherry tress provide pleasant shade for the outdoor class! The clinic will take about two hours, including instruction and riding time.

For more information contact Gary at 4bikes [at] comcast.net!

Learn about Fun, Safe, and Legal City Biking

Want to free yourself from gas and traffic?

Remember how much fun you had when you first started riding a bike? That exhilarating sense of freedom, power, and pleasure.

Life's too short not to have more fun!

Even if your workplace is too far from your home for a short bike trip of a few miles, what about going to the market or running other short errands on the weekend?

If you'd like to learn more about city biking, this Saturday, June 4th, the Salem Bicycle Club will offer the second "Introduction to Smart Cycling" clinic for the summer!

It's a great way to learn safe and legal practices for fun and effective travel.

The ride will feature a 20 minute pre-ride presentation focusing on tips for riding safely on neighborhood and busy streets. You'll practice a few bicycle handling drills in the square before the ride. Then out on the road! The ride course will take you through a variety of types of city streets and intersections. We'll stop periodically to talk about strategies to share the road in fun, style, and safety. (Minimum age 12. Minors must be accompanied by a parent. Helmets required.)

Meet at 9:30am at the Wall of Water fountain on the south end of the Capitol Mall. The cherry tress provide pleasant shade for the outdoor class! The clinic will take about two hours, including instruction and riding time.

Gary Obery leads the clinic and ride. Please contact Gary at 4bikes [at] comcast.net if you have further questions.

First Smart Cycling Clinic of the Season this Saturday

Remember how much fun you had when you first started riding a bike? That exhilarating sense of freedom, power, and pleasure.

Where did it go?

Now you're stuck in traffic each day, paying for gas and the car.

Recapture some of that elemental joy on your commute to work! Quit paying so much for gas!

Or if your workplace is too far from your home for a short bike trip of a few miles, what about going to the market or running other short errands on the weekend? Life's too short not to have more fun!

If you'd like to learn more about city biking, this Saturday, May 7th, the Salem Bicycle Club will offer the first "Introduction to Smart Cycling" clinic for the summer!

The ride will feature a 20 minute pre-ride presentation focusing on tips for riding safely on neighborhood and busy streets. You'll practice a few bicycle handling drills in the square before the ride. Then out on the road! The ride course will take you through a variety of types of city streets and intersections. We'll stop periodically to talk about strategies to share the road in fun, style, and safety. (Minimum age 12. Minors must be accompanied by a parent. Helmets required.)

Meet at 9:30am at the Wall of Water fountain on the south end of the Capitol Mall. The cherry tress provide pleasant shade for the outdoor class! The clinic will take about two hours, including instruction and riding time.

Gary Obery leads the clinic and ride. Please contact Gary at oberyfamily [at] comcast.net if you have further questions.

City Open Houses on Improving Walking and Biking Tuesday and Wednesday

Would you like to have an easier time walking around Salem?

Would you like to feel less pressure to drive your kids to school?

Would you like to be able to bike around town while avoiding heavy car traffic?

If you said "yes" to any of these, you'll be interested in attending one of four Open Houses on Tuesday or Wednesday:

Come review the proposed bicycle, pedestrian, and safe routes to school recommendations at one of four open houses. Pick a time and location convenient to you:

• April 26, 2011, 11:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m., Center 50+, 2615 Portland Road NE, Salem
• April 26, 2011, 4:30 p.m.-6:30 p.m., Pringle Hall, 606 Church Street SE, Salem
• April 27, 2011, 11:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m., Mid-Willamette Valley Council of Governments, 105 High Street SE, Salem
• April 27, 2011, 4:30 P.M.-6:30 p.m., West Salem Library, 295 Glen Creek Road NW, Salem

The City will have large posters with routes and road improvements detailed.

Click through for more on the City's Bike + Walk Salem project, as well as the full poster here.

Come to Walking and Biking Open Houses

Did you take the survey or comment on the crowd-sourced map? Have you ever thought about what will make Salem a better place to walk and bike?

Bike & Walk Salem, the process to update the walking and biking plan for Salem, is making progress!

Whether you took the survey or not, the City wants to hear from you!

They are holding several open houses this week.

• Tuesday, January 25, 2011, 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m., Center 50+
• Tuesday, January 25, 2011, 5 p.m. to 7 p.m., West Salem Library
• Wednesday, January 26, 2011, 5 p.m. to 7 p.m., Main Library, Anderson Rooms
• Thursday, January 27, 2011, 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. Houck Middle School Media Room, 1155 Connecticut Street SE, Salem, 97317

For the downloadable Poster click through!

Holiday Parade on Saturday to Fill in for Festival of Lights

You might have heard the Festival of Lights Parade is off this year. Go Downtown Salem and the Salem Bicycle Taxi have a solution!

They are sponsoring a Holiday Bike Ride on Saturday, December 11th, at 6:30pm. From Salem Weekly:

“We are open to people being as creative as they can be,” said [Michele Darr of the Bike Taxi]. The route starts at Salem Riverfront Park in front of the Christmas tree, and goes across the bicycle bridge to West Salem. At Roth’s IGA carolers will serenade bicyclers along the parade route. Hot chocolate and prizes will be part of the first annual event.

“We still want people to 'light up.' We hope to see lots of bicycle lights,” said Darr. “This is the first year, and we hope to make it bigger and better each year.”

The entire event is free and Salem Bicycle Taxi will be offering free pedi-sleigh rides with Santa, led by a human reindeer.

(Last year's Festival of Lights ride was sponsored by Salem Bicycle Club - whether you ride 100 miles every weekend, or have a fat tire cruiser just for summer, everyone is invited!)

(Top Photo: Commute by Bike)

LED lights are a cheap way to decorate your bike for the holidays - and improve your visibility beyond the minimum of front light and rear reflector in the dark of winter!

They take 2 AA batteries (an excellent use for rechargables!) and they come in stars, snowflakes, icicles, and "regular" holiday lights. The strands have a 3 position switch - off, on, and blinky.

$4 each at the big chain stores. Maybe the small stores, too. (If you find locally owned stores with them, please drop a comment.)

Secure the battery packs and the strands with black electricians tape or the ever-handy duct tape. Just make sure they are out of way of moving parts like spokes and pedal arms.

Or make a tree or stand to strap on to your handlebars or pannier rack.

There are also other lighting systems like hokey spokes and FlexPro, some of them much higher quality.

Bike fun doesn't have to stop during the winter! Come on out!

New Salem Travel Agency To Hold Open House Friday

Deborah McNair and Nita Gesner (formerly of Cruise Holidays and Globe Travel) have opened their own office. They have been agents in the Salem area for several years. Deborah specializes in cruises and Nita books cruises as well as many other travel options. They are having an open house at their new office - 494 State St, Ste 290 (Oregon Building @ corner of State & High) - on Friday, Sep 10, from 9 am to 4 pm.

OPEN HOUSE

Friday, Sep 10 – 9 am-4 pm

Please stop by and see us in our new location!

Deborah’s & Nita’s Cruises and Tours

494 State St, Ste 290

(Oregon Building @ corner of State & High Streets)

Salem, OR 97301

(503) 385-8741