Whether they admit it or not, cyclists have a lot in common with Blanche DuBois, the Southern belle in the play, “A Streetcar Named Desire.”
That's because cyclists — especially those hanging it all out on long bicycle tours — have always “depended on the kindness of strangers.”
Several years ago, the Adventure Cycling Association began recognizing these “strangers” so they'd be known to all cyclists for their good deeds.
The first, June “Cookie Lady” Curry (above, in 1984) from Afton, Virginia, was actually no stranger to cross-country cyclists. She has opened her Bike House to cyclists and offered them cookies and lemonade ever since the TransAmerica Bicycle Route opened in 1976. That first Trail Angel Award was named for her, and since then the association (formerly Bikecentennial) has added bike shops and bike advocates for recognition.
This year, the 2005 June Curry Trail Angel Award goes to Monroeville (Ind.) Community Park Board. Since 1976, the city has offered its community center to touring cyclists with cots, showers, washer and dryer, and kitchen. We all know how nice those things are after nights spent sleeping in grubby tents. Monroeville is at the intersection of the association's Northern Tier and North Lake routes.
The 2005 Sam Braxton Bike Shop Award went to Berlin Bicycle in Berlin, CT. The shop offers “world-class service to bicycle tourists,” and the chief mechanic has experience touring on singles and tandems. Michael Spier of Durham, CT, wrote on his nomination that the staff always asks the right questions when recommending equipment for a trip.
The first-ever volunteer of the year award went to Kerry Irons of Midland, MI. Irons inspires others to take up bicycling touring and has worked on the association's National Bike Route Network, The Underground Railroad, The Cyclists’ Yellow Pages, the TransAmerica Mile Program, and Adventure Cycling maps.
Here's a press release on the Adventure Cycling Association awards.
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