Courteous Mass February 2013

It's Tonight!

Weather says 28 degrees at ride time.  Coldest ride yet this year but sounds about right for February. Don't be afraid just throw on another layer or two!

Here is the drill.  Happens every 2nd Friday of the month. 
This is not a training ride.  This is a City ride.
All parties are welcome to join and help bring common courtesy back to the streets. For those who need a refresher on what Courteous Mass is, here is the deal:

1. The ride will respect and abide by the city’s traffic laws.
2. Even though this is a 3RVS sponsored ride, rides will be on the slow side to ensure no one is dropped and that the Mass stays a mass
3. The Mass will only take up one lane, two when necessary for safety.
4. The ride will stop at red lights and stop signs. If a light turns red mid-mass, the riders who made the light should safely pull over to wait for those who were caught by the light.
5. Riders are asked to signal turns, call out danger, and communicate their intentions to other riders.
6. All riders are required to wear helmets

The goal of these rides is to be a visible and positive example of the cooperation that can exist between cars and bicycles when people respect the laws and each other.

So join the Mass and help make Fort Wayne a better place for bicycles. 

Rally at 6:15 at Lawton Park at the trailhead.

Ride at 6:30.

Comfortable Pace, no one is dropped. (But please make sure that your equipment is in working order)

 

Courteous Mass January 2013

You can read all about what we try to accomplish on these rides HERE
The weather is supposed to be rainy in the morning but do not let that deter you from this fun, easy city tour ride!
It is supposed to be 50 degrees and cloudy at ride time!
Unbelievable for January.
So pump up the tires, lube the chain, check the brakes and get out there.
Leaves Lawton Park at the Trailhead at 6:30pm sharp.  9 miles.
See you there.

2012 Year in Review

2012 Year in Review

Yes this is an opinion piece so please, if I have forgotten anything please comment or shoot me an email.

Highlights in no particular order

1.        3 Feet Passing Law – From the Bike Fort Wayne Plan - The attention to local and state regulations and laws pertaining to bicycles represents another aspect of the policy orientation of the plan. Changes in laws and policies that define and promote safe use of roadways will reinforce the project and program components of this plan. For example, a state law that requires motorists to give cyclists at least three feet of space when passing, raises awareness of a safe practice and, since it is enforceable, can quickly facilitate a desirable shift in motorist behavior.

I have to tell you that this is by far the highlight of the year.  Thanks to the Planning and Policy Office for pushing this forward and for the City Council to see the value of safety for Fort Wayne Cyclists.  Next up on the Legislative Agenda, according to the Bike Fort Wayne Plan, Complete Streets.  Let’s do it!

2.       Fort Wayne named Bronze Level Bicycle Community by the League of American Bicyclists.  It is totally sweet that the efforts over that last few years have been recognized!

3.       The Towpath Trail Completed and Dedicated – All of those wishing to get near downtown from the Aboite area can now do so.  I haven’t been on this section as of yet but I hear it is awesome.  Read about it HERE

4.       The Fort 4 Fitness Spring Cycle Criterium and Bike Tour – I did not participate in the tour but I heard that it was a nice route and fairly well attended.  I actually spent all day at the Criterium and it was so cool that I will be there again next year!

5.       Return of Courteous Mass – Last year a couple Lawyer friends of mine scared the crap out of me about liability regarding the marginally popular Courteous Mass Ride so we quit it.  That changed this fall with the return of the ride thanks to 3 Rivers Velo Sports sponsorship and most importantly, insurance.  Every 2^nd Friday at Lawton Park.  Leaves at 6:30PM.

Not Necessarily Highlights

1.       The Fort 4 Fitness Bike the Fort – I volunteered and worked at a stop station for this.  I feel as though in order to increase participation in this event it needs to be free!  Cyclovia. Close the streets and let everyone ride everywhere with not a car in sight. We can make this happen!  I was surprised that anyone participated in this at all.  Why does it always have to be about money?  They actually charged people to go ride their bikes on City streets and quite a few people paid.  Obviously I am not the target market.

2.       The Lack of Implementation of Bike Fort Wayne Plan – The Bike Fort Wayne Plan was approved over 2 years ago and it called for bike infrastructure to be built all over town including on Calhoun and Fairfield and Ewing among many others.  It has not materialized at all!  We, the cyclists, are the losers here.  I have said it before and now I will say it again.  Trails (which I love!) cost hundreds of thousands of dollars per mile to get built.  Bike lanes/Bike Routes are a fraction of that cost per mile yet we seem to be hung up. Why?  I don’t get it.  

Hope to see you all at the Chilly Challenge tomorrow.

Later

Yeah we really do stop at red lights!

Thanks to the 10 riders that attended.  By far our biggest turn out during the winter months.  It helped that it was about 40 degrees F!

Courteous Mass December 2012

It's Tonight!
The weather is supposed to be terrific.

Here is the drill.  Happens every 2nd Friday of the month. 
This is not a training ride.  This is a City ride.
All parties are welcome to join and help bring common courtesy back to the streets. For those who need a refresher on what Courteous Mass is, here is the deal:

1. The ride will respect and abide by the city’s traffic laws.
2. Rides will be on the slow side to ensure no one is dropped and that the Mass stays a mass
3. The Mass will only take up one lane, two when necessary for safety.
4. The ride will stop at red lights and stop signs. If a light turns red mid-mass, the riders who made the light should safely pull over to wait for those who were caught by the light.
5. Riders are asked to signal turns, call out danger, and communicate their intentions to other riders.
6. All riders are required to wear helmets

The goal of these rides is to be a visible and positive example of the cooperation that can exist between cars and bicycles when people respect the laws and each other.

So join the Mass and help make Fort Wayne a better place for bicycles. 

Rally at 6:15 at Lawton Park at the trailhead.

Ride at 6:30.

Comfortable Pace, no one is dropped. (But please make sure that your equipment is in working order)

3RVS sponsored ride so helmets are required

Hell yeah we're riding tonight! Critical Manners Ride

Why? Because it is the 2nd Friday of the month!
Here is the drill.
This is not a training ride.  This is a City ride.
All parties are welcome to join and help bring common courtesy back to the streets. For those who need a refresher on what Critical Manners is, here is the deal:

1. The ride will respect and abide by the city’s traffic laws.
2. Rides will be on the slow side to ensure no one is dropped and that the Mass stays a mass
3. The Mass will only take up one lane, two when necessary for safety.
4. The ride will stop at red lights and stop signs. If a light turns red mid-mass, the riders who made the light should safely pull over to wait for those who were caught by the light.
5. Riders are asked to signal turns, call out danger, and communicate their intentions to other riders.
6. All riders are required to wear helmets

The goal of these rides is to be a visible and positive example of the cooperation that can exist between cars and bicycles when people respect the laws and each other. So join the Mass and help make Fort Wayne a better place for bicycles. 

 

Rally at 6:15 at Lawton Park.

Ride at 6:30.

Comfortable Pace, no one is dropped.

3RVS sponsored ride so helmets are required.

Taking a break for a while

Hey Ya'll,
I have been posting to this thing for a while now, and it is time to take a break.  I will continue to update the twitter feed with planning and bike related stuff though (seen on the right hand side of the page).  I want to go back through all of the old posts that I did not label so that the page is more easily explored. That is all for now, thanks for reading and don't forget Courteous Mass 2nd Friday of the month 6:15PM meet up at Lawton Park, ride at 6:30PM.
Ride Safe!
FWBC

Courteous Mass July 2012

We are excited to get back into it.
Here is the drill.
All parties are welcome to join and help bring common courtesy back to the streets. For those who need a refresher on what Courteous Mass is, here is the deal:

1. The ride will respect and abide by the city’s traffic laws.
2. Rides will be on the slow side to ensure no one is dropped and that the Mass stays a mass
3. The Mass will only take up one lane, two when necessary for safety.
4. The ride will stop at red lights and stop signs. If a light turns red mid-mass, the riders who made the light should safely pull over to wait for those who were caught by the light.
5. Riders are asked to signal turns, call out danger, and communicate their intentions to other riders.
6. All riders are required to wear helmets

The goal of these rides is to be a visible and positive example of the cooperation that can exist between cars and bicycles when people respect the laws and each other. So join the Mass and help make Fort Wayne a better place for bicycles.

Ride is every 2nd Friday of the Month which is TOMORROW FRIDAY THE 13TH Meet at Lawton Park by the Softball Fields at 6:15, Ride at 6:30.

This is a 3 Rivers Velo Sports sponsored ride.  Thanks again to their Board for allowing us to bring it back!

Courteous Mass 2012

Hey Ya'll!
As you may or may not know, we discontinued the Courteous Mass ride due to the fact that we did not have insurance for our ride leaders (Vince and me).  I had a couple of lawyers tell me that I was crazy for putting myself in that position.  Their arguments made a heck of a lot of sense.
Fast forward to last Thursday.
Vince and I presented Courteous Mass to the Three Rivers Velo Sports Board of Directors as a viable touring ride for cyclists who want to ride in town.
They agreed and now our ride will be added to the 3RVS touring schedule!  Whoo Hoo!
Thanks to 3RVS especially Board President, Patrick Stelte for his support.

Will the ride change you ask?
Not really except we will have a more designated routes and all participants will be required to ride with helmets.
We are excited to get back into it.
Here is the drill.
All parties are welcome to join and help bring common courtesy back to the streets. For those who need a refresher on what Courteous Mass is, here is the deal:
• The ride will respect and abide the city’s traffic laws.
• Rides will be on the slow side to ensure no one is dropped and that the Mass stays a mass.
• The Mass will only take up one lane, two when necessary for safety.
• The ride will stop at red lights and stop signs. If a light turns red mid-mass, the riders who made the light should safely pull over to wait for those who were caught by the light.
• Riders are asked to signal turns, call out danger, and communicate their intentions to other riders.

The goal of these rides is to be a visible and positive example of the cooperation that can exist between cars and bicycles when people respect the laws and each other. So join the Mass and help make Fort Wayne a better place for bicycles.

Ride is every 2nd Friday of the Month.
Meet at Lawton Park by the Softball Fields at 6:15, Ride at 6:30.

July 13, 2012 is the next one.
Hope to see you all there.
Best,
FWBC

Critical Manners Courteous Mass

Due to high winds and the probability of rain, there will be no ride tomorrow evening. Maybe next month.

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Critical Manners Courteous Mass for September 2011

Hey Gang.
Here is the drill.
All parties are welcome to join and help bring common courtesy back to the streets. For those who need a refresher on what Critical Manners/Courteous Mass is, here is the deal:
• The ride will respect and abide the city’s traffic laws.
• Rides will be on the slow side to ensure no one is dropped and that the Mass stays a mass.
• The Mass will only take up one lane, two when necessary for safety.
• The ride will stop at red lights and stop signs. If a light turns red mid-mass, the riders who made the light should safely pull over to wait for those who were caught by the light.
• Riders are asked to signal turns, call out danger, and communicate their intentions to other riders.

The goal of these rides is to be a visible and positive example of the cooperation that can exist between cars and bicycles when people respect the laws and each other. So join the Mass and help make Fort Wayne a better place for bicycles.This Friday at Lawton Park by the Softball Field. We meet at 6:15 and ride at 6:30

Hope to see you there.

Bunch o bikes not enough racks

For the overflow that occurred for after CM2 ride on Friday. We hit the Dash In. It was great. See you next month!

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critical manners courteous mass.

This Friday. Lawton Park. 630 pm. Hope to see you there.

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