Saturday, June 21, 2008
ST0L3D!!1
Our friend Matt Kime's bike was stolen recently. You probably know Matt as the tall fellow who was a cook at Square Foods (RIP) and now works at Pizza Cafe. His bike is a 60cm silver and blue Trek. It's fixed, has blue tires, blue chain, and blue Oury grips. I built it for him last year so I'd really like to see it back in good hands. If you see anyone who looks out of place on a fixed wheel bike call one of the local bike shops asap. Thanks.
PICTURES!!
It's been a lot of words lately so thankfully we can break this up with some pictures of the Thursday Night Ride. "Meat Soup" is what Emily called the after-ride swim.
Check the rest of the set here.
Check the rest of the set here.
That's more like it
Because of errors in the way the Sustainable Shelby Digital Congress Votes were counted there was a re-tally. You can read about the congress and the results here.
Thursday, June 19, 2008
Problems inherent in the system
We were honored today to be a part of the Sustainable Shelby Digital Congress. The subcommittees all presented feasible recommendations for future governmental policy. Of all the recommendations the top 10 will be implemented 90 days after July 8th. One thing that was really cool was the almost unanimous support for biycle lanes. However, the problem with the system is this: a consulting firm did a random sampling telephone poll of 610 Memphians but that poll made no mention of bicycles. So when you combine the results of the congress with the public the results are skewed so that bicycling didn't even make it to the final Top 10. The silver lining is that some of the recommendations are rather broad and talk about revitalizing neighborhoods, which could include adding bicycle lanes.
Anthony Siracusa of Revolutions Community Bike Shop is on the Traffic and Transportation sub-committee and hopes that there will be some kind of concession made for these system errors, if not a full-on public re-poll.
The Top 10 results will be released on July 8th in a ceremony led by Shelby County Mayor A.C. Wharton at 2:30pm at the Memphis Botanical Gardens.
Later that night at First Congo Church in Cooper-Young at 6pm Mr. Siracusa will make a presentation to the Cooper-Young Community Association (CYCA). In this presentation Anthony will explain ways to solve parking problems, create bicycle lanes, and increase business. He will also unveil the bicycle rack designed by Cooper-Young artist Yvonne Bobo. These bicycle racks will cost between $300 - $500 each and 5 businesses have already stated an interest.
As you know, every bicycle event that we plan in the future is donation a portion of the proceeds to install one of these bicycle racks in the name of Revolutions Community Bike Shop. Twenty dollars has been raised so far and there are several upcoming events: Flat Track Attack 2 on June 28th and The Moon Landing Anniversary Alleycat (details soon!) on July 19th.
So mark your calendars for all these dates.
Anthony Siracusa of Revolutions Community Bike Shop is on the Traffic and Transportation sub-committee and hopes that there will be some kind of concession made for these system errors, if not a full-on public re-poll.
The Top 10 results will be released on July 8th in a ceremony led by Shelby County Mayor A.C. Wharton at 2:30pm at the Memphis Botanical Gardens.
Later that night at First Congo Church in Cooper-Young at 6pm Mr. Siracusa will make a presentation to the Cooper-Young Community Association (CYCA). In this presentation Anthony will explain ways to solve parking problems, create bicycle lanes, and increase business. He will also unveil the bicycle rack designed by Cooper-Young artist Yvonne Bobo. These bicycle racks will cost between $300 - $500 each and 5 businesses have already stated an interest.
As you know, every bicycle event that we plan in the future is donation a portion of the proceeds to install one of these bicycle racks in the name of Revolutions Community Bike Shop. Twenty dollars has been raised so far and there are several upcoming events: Flat Track Attack 2 on June 28th and The Moon Landing Anniversary Alleycat (details soon!) on July 19th.
So mark your calendars for all these dates.
Wednesday, June 18, 2008
First Things First
After some e-mails and talking with Anthony it has become clear that the Sustainable Shelby meeting is not open to the public. HOWEVER, Anthony has informed me that 3 more votes have been made available to the cycling community in regards to future policy. While the meeting is not open to the public there is nothing stating that demonstrations are not allowed. I will recommend that any confrontation be avoided. If you would like to show support please direct it in a positive manner. For instance, I plan to have a sign that says, "I want to ride my bike to school!" Also, please plan on getting there early, 8:15am or so. ON YOUR BIKE!!!
This is a MAJOR chance to show support for the kind of change we all talk about. I'll be sending out a text message to everyone I know about this. If you don't get the text, email me your phone number. If you do get the text, I'll see you there.
This is a MAJOR chance to show support for the kind of change we all talk about. I'll be sending out a text message to everyone I know about this. If you don't get the text, email me your phone number. If you do get the text, I'll see you there.
Tuesday, June 17, 2008
Call To Action
Friends--
This Thursday, the city engineer, the county engineer, the director of MATA, policymakers, community specialists and other leaders from all over the county will gather to vote on Shelby County's sustainable agenda. It will be a very important and very historic meeting, as you can stated by the MPO's Paul Morris. His comments are attached below.
This is an opportunity for us to put bicycling at the forefront of city and county planning. I have served on the Sustainable Shelby Transportation Committee for the last 6 months or so, and we have written bicycle lanes, bike signs, and bike paths into the set of recommendations submitted by the transportation committee. Now, six other committees will join us to decide how high bicycling will be on our county priority list. The recommendations that receive the most votes will begin to be implemented within 90 days.
If you can come to the University of Memphis this Thursday at 9 a.m., your support would be greatly appreciated--not to mention that if other voters see you ride your bicycle to the meeting it may influence how they vote on bicycle policy. I do not think you can vote if you were not on one of the seven committees appointed by the mayor, but if you can come and support the bicycle vote it would be a great asset to developing a truly sustainable Memphis.
Please pass this on to anyone you think might be interested.
Thanks so much,
Anthony Siracusa
--
First Congregational Church UCC
Revolutions Community Bicycle Shop
1000 S. Cooper St.
Memphis, TN, 38104
(901) 949-1201
www.revolutionsmemphis.com
Thursday 6:30-8:30 p.m.
Sunday 2-5 p.m.
At Thursday's meeting from 9-12 in The Zone at the FedEx Institute of Technology at University of Memphis, you and your fellow committee members will rate these priorities using wireless keypads. In addition, Steve Ethridge will cast votes on behalf of the public, based on the results of the polling that was done for Sustainable Shelby.
Each committee co-chair will explain the recommendations of that committee and the voting will be conducted at the end of each committee's overview. That's why there are boxes besides the priorities on the attached document of recommendations, so you can jot down the values that you give to each priority – from 1, strongly disagree, to 7, strongly agree. There will be copies distributed at Thursday's meeting as well.
As Mayor Wharton has said, this will be a unique experiment in public policy development, so we hope that you can be with us. Once this list is set, Mayor Wharton says these will be the priorities for immediate action and within 90 days, staff members will develop plans of implementation for each of them. However, while these are the immediate priorities, all of your recommendations, including your goals, values and other material, will be included in the final report to be presented July 8 at the Sustainable Shelby Call to Action meeting at 2:30 p.m. at the Memphis Botanic Garden.
If you have any questions, please let us know. We look forward to your help at the Digital Congress Thursday morning.
Continental breakfast will be from 8:30 until 9 a.m., and we will begin promptly at 9. Parking is available across the street at the Fogelman Executive Center garage. Please bring your parking ticket to the Digital Congress so we can provide you with a parking pass.
If you have any questions please let us know.
Paul Morris
Transportation Planner
Memphis MPO
1075 Mullins Station Road
Memphis TN 38134
901-379-7849 (office)
901-379-7865 (fax)
paul.morris@shelbycountytn.gov
This Thursday, the city engineer, the county engineer, the director of MATA, policymakers, community specialists and other leaders from all over the county will gather to vote on Shelby County's sustainable agenda. It will be a very important and very historic meeting, as you can stated by the MPO's Paul Morris. His comments are attached below.
This is an opportunity for us to put bicycling at the forefront of city and county planning. I have served on the Sustainable Shelby Transportation Committee for the last 6 months or so, and we have written bicycle lanes, bike signs, and bike paths into the set of recommendations submitted by the transportation committee. Now, six other committees will join us to decide how high bicycling will be on our county priority list. The recommendations that receive the most votes will begin to be implemented within 90 days.
If you can come to the University of Memphis this Thursday at 9 a.m., your support would be greatly appreciated--not to mention that if other voters see you ride your bicycle to the meeting it may influence how they vote on bicycle policy. I do not think you can vote if you were not on one of the seven committees appointed by the mayor, but if you can come and support the bicycle vote it would be a great asset to developing a truly sustainable Memphis.
Please pass this on to anyone you think might be interested.
Thanks so much,
Anthony Siracusa
--
First Congregational Church UCC
Revolutions Community Bicycle Shop
1000 S. Cooper St.
Memphis, TN, 38104
(901) 949-1201
www.revolutionsmemphis.com
Thursday 6:30-8:30 p.m.
Sunday 2-5 p.m.
At Thursday's meeting from 9-12 in The Zone at the FedEx Institute of Technology at University of Memphis, you and your fellow committee members will rate these priorities using wireless keypads. In addition, Steve Ethridge will cast votes on behalf of the public, based on the results of the polling that was done for Sustainable Shelby.
Each committee co-chair will explain the recommendations of that committee and the voting will be conducted at the end of each committee's overview. That's why there are boxes besides the priorities on the attached document of recommendations, so you can jot down the values that you give to each priority – from 1, strongly disagree, to 7, strongly agree. There will be copies distributed at Thursday's meeting as well.
As Mayor Wharton has said, this will be a unique experiment in public policy development, so we hope that you can be with us. Once this list is set, Mayor Wharton says these will be the priorities for immediate action and within 90 days, staff members will develop plans of implementation for each of them. However, while these are the immediate priorities, all of your recommendations, including your goals, values and other material, will be included in the final report to be presented July 8 at the Sustainable Shelby Call to Action meeting at 2:30 p.m. at the Memphis Botanic Garden.
If you have any questions, please let us know. We look forward to your help at the Digital Congress Thursday morning.
Continental breakfast will be from 8:30 until 9 a.m., and we will begin promptly at 9. Parking is available across the street at the Fogelman Executive Center garage. Please bring your parking ticket to the Digital Congress so we can provide you with a parking pass.
If you have any questions please let us know.
Paul Morris
Transportation Planner
Memphis MPO
1075 Mullins Station Road
Memphis TN 38134
901-379-7849 (office)
901-379-7865 (fax)
paul.morris@shelbycountytn.gov
Thursday, June 12, 2008
Update
I had an oppurtunity to talk to Chase today and he and his family are doing well. They have been busy taking care of funeral arrangements. The funeral will take place this Saturday. In lieu of flowers, the family asks that you make a charitable donation to the Lee Becker Memorial Fund. Lee Becker (Ashlee's father) leaves behind four children, not including Ashlee. Your donation can be made at any 1st Tennessee branch location.
In addition, a portion of the proceeds from the upcoming July 19th Alleycat will be donated. Chase says Thank You to everyone and that he'll be back in Memphis on Sunday and is very anxious to ride.
In addition, a portion of the proceeds from the upcoming July 19th Alleycat will be donated. Chase says Thank You to everyone and that he'll be back in Memphis on Sunday and is very anxious to ride.
Tuesday, June 10, 2008
Talk, Talk, Talk
The word is spreading about this year's non-existent Midnight Classic. Apparently more and more people are ready to ride on June 14th (that's this Saturday night!) regardless of "police services." Like I said in an earlier post, I'll be at the library on Poplar that night. But keep in mind I'm not organizing this nor is anyone for that matter.
Monday, June 9, 2008
Good news and bad news
As many of you know Chase and Ashlee are officially Mr and Mrs. Hardin. The couple exchanged vows yesterday in Hendersonville, TN at a lakefront gazebo. The ceremony was beautiful and everyone looked like they had a great time.
Unfortunately, Ashlee's father died in his sleep that night. Our condolences go out to the entire family. Chase and Ashlee are an integral part of our bicycling community and always a pleasure to be around. It's iportant to support our brothers and sisters when they need us most. I'll keep you all informed with funeral arrangements if you would like to send flowers.
Unfortunately, Ashlee's father died in his sleep that night. Our condolences go out to the entire family. Chase and Ashlee are an integral part of our bicycling community and always a pleasure to be around. It's iportant to support our brothers and sisters when they need us most. I'll keep you all informed with funeral arrangements if you would like to send flowers.
Tuesday, June 3, 2008
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