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Bicycle Studies at Lees-McRae

Minor in Bicycle Studies at Lees-McRae in North Carolina

Permanent link to this article: https://www.bikingbis.com/2011/02/05/bicycle-studies-at-lees-mcrae/

High Point – Preston Trail: Another gap closed in the Mountains to Sound Greenway

Another missing link in an off-road bicycling route between Seattle and the Cascades has been closed.

The state transportation and parks departments completed a 1.2-mile connector trail between the Issaquah-High Point Trail and the Preston-Snoqualmie Trail in December.

The trail, which cost $4.7 million, eliminates one of the gaps in the Mountains to Sound Greenway that runs from the Seattle waterfront to Central Washington generally along the Interstate 90 corridor.

I rolled up there last month to check it out. It starts across the street …

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Permanent link to this article: https://www.bikingbis.com/2011/02/04/high-point-preston-trail-another-gap-closed-in-the-mountains-to-sound-greenway/

High Point – Preston Trail

Follow this link to Google maps.

Permanent link to this article: https://www.bikingbis.com/2011/02/04/high-point-preston-trail/

Women in Uganda choosing careers in bicycling

Women in an isolated district of southwestern Uganda are learning to ride bicycles to make their daily chores easier and to even earn money as bicycle tour guides and mechanics.

The program called Ride 4 a Woman in Buhoma was set up with the assistance of US-based nonprofit One Street to offer local women the opportunity for more social and economic power.

It's just another example where bicycles can be used to improve the quality of life.

Ride 4 a Woman is located near the aptly named Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park, which is the home to the mountain gorilla and a destination of eco-tourists from around the world. The project rents bicycles and sends tours through the park and the surrounding countryside …

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Permanent link to this article: https://www.bikingbis.com/2011/02/03/women-in-uganda-choosing-careers-in-bicycling/

Women wrench a bike wheel in Uganda

Ride 4 a Woman project teaches new skills and opportunities.

Permanent link to this article: https://www.bikingbis.com/2011/02/03/women-wrench-a-bike-wheel-in-uganda/

January ride-stat discovery: the rainfall-bicycling relational hyperbole theory

My annual goal for bicycling since moving here to Washington state 10 years ago has been 4,000 miles. I've achieved that three times. Three for 10 is not a good record, unless we're talking batting averages.

At the end of 2010, when I missed my goal by about 500 miles, I announced I was shooting for 4,000 miles again this year. By making my monthly totals in a public setting, I'm thinking it will inspire me to keep my eyes on the prize.

So in the spirit of public disclosure, I'm proud to announce that I rode 309 miles in January. That's only about 24 miles off the 333 miles I must average monthly to hit 4,000 miles at the end of the year….

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Permanent link to this article: https://www.bikingbis.com/2011/02/02/january-ride-stat-discovery-the-rainfall-bicycling-relational-hyperbole-theory/

Update: Cascade to offer new ride — RSVP2; February registration details

Because of the huge demand for Ride from Seattle to Vancouver and Party (RSVP) in recent years, the Cascade Bicycle Club has announced it will host a second identical ride this year — dubbed RSVP2 — that leaves one-day later.

Unlike the grandfather ride, registration for the new RSVP2 will be handled on a lottery basis with winners selected by random.

Registration for the lottery runs from next Wednesday, Feb. 9, to Feb. 23 …..

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Permanent link to this article: https://www.bikingbis.com/2011/02/02/update-cascade-to-offer-new-ride-rsvp2-february-registration-details/

Technology leading travelers astray in the desert

Don't believe everything you read, especially if you're relying on GPS maps in the desert.

The Sacramento Bee has a fascinating story about what one wilderness coordinator in Death Valley calls “death by GPS.” It involves people heading off into the desert with the latest technology and finding themselves directed down roads unsuitable for most cars.

The story doesn't mention bicyclists getting lost and dying in the desert on bad roads; I hope it's because we have the sense to carry enough water and to confirm the suitability of our routes ahead of time ….

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Permanent link to this article: https://www.bikingbis.com/2011/02/02/technology-leading-travelers-astray-in-the-desert/

3-foot passing bill roundup: rejected in WY and ND

Legislative bills requiring motorists to give bicyclists and pedestrians at least 3 feet of space when passing were rejected in Wyoming and North Dakota in the past week.

Currently, there are 16 states that require a safe-passing distance of 3 feet.

The North Dakota Senate rejected the bill by a vote of 17-29. Opponents doubted there could be “consistent and meaningful” enforement of the law, according to the Grand Forks Herald. …

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Permanent link to this article: https://www.bikingbis.com/2011/02/01/3-foot-passing-bill-roundup-rejected-in-wy-and-nd/

Convincing communities that bicycling makes dollars and sense

What's one of the best ways to get business and government leaders to support bicycling? Convince them that bicycling brings dollars into their communities.

The Bikes Belong Foundation realizes this and is launching a $40,000 fund this year that pays for research into the economic benefits of bicycle infrastructure and events.

Research over the years has shown that community investment in bicycling has huge dividends. Some of these findings were summarized in a slideshow — “The Economic Benefits of Bicycling” — that the Adventure Cycling Association presented to the South Dakota Bike Summit last week ….

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Permanent link to this article: https://www.bikingbis.com/2011/01/31/convincing-communities-that-bicycling-makes-dollars-and-sense/