American Hiking Society’s National Trails Day® is the country’s largest celebration of trails. Mark your calendar for Saturday June 1, 2013 to make sure you don’t miss out on the thousands of NTD activities happening all over the country. Locally, the Linn County Trails Association will provide free food and beverages to trail enthusiasts at the Cedar Rapids Downtown Farmers’ Market. Visit the LCTA booth in Greene Square Park and find out about 2013 trail development. In addition, you can ride your bike to the market and park it at the Bike Corral located next to the LCTA booth. Volunteers will watch your bike for you while you visit the market. Either way, be sure to grab some breakfast items (thanks to several area sponsors) and enjoy the season’s first market. It is our way of saving thank you for your continued support of trail development in Linn County. The event is rain or shine, food or beverages while supplies last.
Mindy’s collarbone x-ray.
By: Mindy Seiffert, LCTA Board Member
Five weeks ago, on the first beautiful day of spring, I broke my right collarbone in a bicycle accident on the Cedar River Trail-South.
Always Wear a Bike Helmet!
This was my first serious bike accident (after about 15 years of riding). I am relieved that all I had was a broken collarbone along with some bruising, scrapes, and soreness. On that day–like every day that I ride–I was wearing a helmet. And thank goodness! I landed on my helmet and my right-shoulder. I knew immediately that my collarbone was broken.
Luckily, the young man that I collided with was not injured. However, he was not wearing a helmet. Hopefully, this accident will be enough to make him start wearing one.
Pass with Care!
Teaching kids about trail safety is critical in order to create an enjoyable experience for all trail users. It is very important that children understand they should always ride their bikes on the right-hand side of the trail. Frequently, younger children do not understand the speed that others may be traveling at or even be aware that others may be coming towards them.
And just like on roads, there are certain times when you should NEVER pass on the trails. For example, if you are approaching a tunnel and can’t see if someone is coming out of the tunnel, you should stay in your own lane.
On the day of my accident, the young man I mentioned earlier went to pass some pedestrians as he was approaching the tunnel on the trail. I am confident he had no clue that someone was coming out of the tunnel. And unfortunately, that someone was me.
There was not enough time or space for me to react in order to avoid the situation completely but I did manage to slow down, avoid the pedestrians, and avoid injuring the other biker.
Be a Good Trail Citizen!
Thankfully, there was no shortage of good trail citizens on that day.
I would like to thank the very kind bikers who happened to be out on the trail that day. Numerous people stopped to see if they could assist and offered everything from phones to ibuprofen. Many of them even stayed and waited until my husband arrived to take me to the hospital.
Get Back Out There!
Until this happened, I hadn’t realized how common broken collarbones are for cyclists. Apparently, I was lucky to make it as long as I did!
Today, my damaged bike is still leaning up against the wall in the garage (not that I could ride anyway). Soon, I will take it in to Hall Bicycle to get repaired. But in the meantime, I am still using the trail—now just as a walker instead of a biker.
Saturday, May 18 is looking to be a wonderful spring day! Take advantage of the great weather by volunteering with LAMBA!
7-9 am: We will start the morning at Squaw Creek Park in Marion by helping Linn County Conservation load trees for Operation ReLeaf.
9-10 am: Potluck style breakfast at tables near the upper playground. Bring something to share and socialize. Learn about the new trail.
10-?: Spend as much time as you like participating in Rake and Ride! This is the first event of its kind and it will be a great way to learn about the trail building process!
Bring a lawn rake and gloves and of course, your bike. We will be raking the flagged trail corridor and then riding to try out different lines within the trail corridor.
Please email me at michelle.e.barker@gmail.com if you plan to attend!
Thanks,
Michelle
Jennifer Sparks
City of La Porte City
202 Main Street
La Porte City IA 50651
lpccity@lpctel.net
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
GRAND OPENING OF THE McFARLANE BRIDGE ON THE CEDAR VALLEY NATURE TRAIL
BRIDGE-2-BRIDGE CELEBRATION
Saturday, May 4, 2013 from 11:00 am to 1:00 pm
La Porte City, IA -The City of La Porte City along with the Black Hawk County Conservation Board will be hosting the Grand Opening Ceremony for the McFarlane Bridge on the Cedar Valley Nature Trail. The trail sustained heavy damage due to the floods of 2008 causing sections of the Cedar Valley Nature Trail to close until repairs could be made. With the opening of the Evansdale Bridge in 2011 and now the McFarlane Bridge opening in 2013, the Cedar Valley Nature Trail will again connect communities along its entire 52 mile corridor. Come and enjoy the “Bridge-2-Bridge” celebration with us.
The ceremony will be held on Saturday, May 4th at the trailhead near the entrance of McFarlane Park located at 13619 King Road, La Porte City. The celebration will begin at 11:00am with music by “The Ramblers” and the La Porte City Fire Rescue crew will be serving up lunch for a nominal fee. The ribbon cutting ceremony will begin at 1:00pm. Guests are encouraged to bike to the event. Area bike clubs are organizing a large ride to the event beginning at Gateway Park in Cedar Falls. To get more information or to join their ride visit www.cvbikecolletive.org or www.CedarValleyCyclists.org. Otherwise, jump on the trail at any entry point between Evansdale and Hiawatha and make your way toward the dedication.
The Cedar Valley Nature Trail is a segment of the American Discovery Trail and is one of the country’s oldest rail trails. This trail is a vital part of the Cedar Valley’s recreational infrastructure and links the Cedar Valley to communities south to Cedar Rapids.
For more information about the Grand Opening Ceremony, please call Black Hawk County Conservation Board at (319) 433-7275 or the City of La Porte City at 319-342-3396. To print an invitation, please go to www.blackhawkcountyparks.com or see flyer here: McFarlane Bridge Event
April – July 2013 Events
NewBo Bike Collective Women’s Bike Maintenance Classes https://www.facebook.com/NewBoBikeCollective
Wednesdays evenings April 3 through May 8, 2013 7:00 pm – 8:00 pm at NewBo Bike Collective located at 1100 3rd Street SE in Cedar Rapids. Sign-up at new.bohemia@gmail.com
Beverly Park Wednesday Night Rides http://lambaonline.org/
Wednesday nights 5:30 pm – 10:00 pm at Beverly Park. Bring your mountain bike and join Linn Area Mountain Bike Association for Wednesday night singletrack rides.
March For Babies https://www.marchofdimes.com/iowa/events/events_mfbcedarrapids12.html
4/28/13 9:00 am at Rockwell Collins campus, fundraiser walk and kids’ activities to benefit March of Dimes
Meet Me At The Market http://newbocitymarket.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=41&Itemid=26
Thursday evenings May 2 through October 31, 2013 Starting at NewBo City Market, walk, run or bike
Gems Of Hope Bike Ride http://gemsofhope.com/content/goh-ride-gems-hope-bike-ride-2013
5/4/13 7:00 am Starting at Greene Square Park, Cedar River Trail to Ely, then returning and ending at Parlor City Pub
Let’s Move Together Arthritis Foundation Walk http://www.kintera.org/faf/home/default.asp?ievent=1050663
5/4/13 8:00 am – 11:00 am at Veteran’s Memorial Stadium 950 Rockford Rd SW, fundraising event for Arthritis Foundation programs, services advocacy and research.
Bridge 2 Bridge http://lpcia.com/mcfarlane-park-trail-bridge-grand-opening/
5/4/13 Celebration for the opening of the McFarlane Bridge on the Cedar Valley Nature Trail, starting at 11:00 am on Saturday, May 4, 2013 at the trailhead near the entrance of McFarlane Park, located at 13619 King Road in LaPorte City. The Ramblers will provide music, and the LaPorte City Fire Rescue crew will serve pulled port lunch for $5.00. Ribbon cutting ceremony begins at 1:00 pm. Guests are encouraged to bike to the event. Vehicle parking available in the Group Camp area at McFarlane Park.
29th Annual Ronald McDonald House Charities of Eastern Iowa 5K Run Walk & Half Marathon
http://rmhcrunwalk.kintera.org/faf/home/default.asp?ievent=1039002
5/5/2013 7:30 am Half Marathon start, 8:45 am Kid’s Dash to Ronald, 9:00 am 5k Run/Walk start at the Ronald McDonald House of Iowa City located at 730 Hawkins Drive.
Bike Month Iowa May 2013 http://bikemonthiowa.com/
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Bike-To-Work-Cedar-Rapids/480245282045885
Lace Up For Learning http://www.laceup.cr.k12.ia.us/
5/11/13 7:00 am Starting at Kingston Stadium, Cedar Rapids Community Schools fundraiser 5K, 10K and fun run
Ride of Silence Cedar Rapids http://www.rideofsilence.org/main.php
5/15/13 6:00 pm Starting at Greene Square Park
Marion Arts Festival 5K and Half Marathon Races https://www.runningwall.com/marion-arts-festival-race
5/18/13 7:30 am Races begin and end near the library an City Square Park in downtown Marion.
Walk MS: Cedar Rapids Walk http://walkmnm.nationalmssociety.org/site/TR/Walk/MNMWalkEvents?fr_id=19607&pg=entry
5/18/13 8:00 am at Kirkwood Community College 1 mile and 3 mile run/walk, fundraiser to support programs and research for MS.
Woof Walk
5/19/13 9:00 am at Noelridge Park, Cedar Valley Humane Society fundraiser for animal care
Cedar Rapids Fire Department Memorial 5K http://crfd5k-eorg.eventbrite.com/#
5/25/13 7:00 am Starting at Prairie High School
Run The Flood http://www.crruntheflood.com/
6/8/13 8:00 am Starting at Great America, 5K and 7 Mile fundraiser for flood recovery
Hard Charge http://www.hardcharge.com/eastern-iowa
7/20/13 8:00 am at Seminole Valley Park, obstacle course race
Hy-Vee IronKids http://www.ironkids.com/2013_Schedule/Hy-Vee_IronKids_Cedar_Rapids.htm
7/27/13 8:00 am at Cherry Hill Aquatic Center and Park, swimming, running and bicycling events for youth
For more information, contact:
Daniel Gibbins
Parks Superintendent
City of Cedar Rapids Parks and Recreation
Office: (319) 286-5760
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
April 17, 2013; 8:50 a.m.
Prairie Park Fishery Trail Construction Scheduled to Begin This Week
CEDAR RAPIDS, IA – April 17, 2013 – Construction of the trail connection from the Sac & Fox Trail to the Prairie Park Fishery Loop is scheduled to begin this week, weather permitting. The Prairie Park Fishery Loop is expected to be closed through June 1, 2013.
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A social walk, run or bike event every Thursday from May through October, rain or shine!
The first Meet Me at the Market event is this Thursday, May 2, at the NewBo City Market. Check-in is from 5 to 6:30 pm. This is a family event. Begin your walk/run/bike at any time, there is no mass start. There are suggested routes but you may go as far or short as you wish. Businesses along the route will offer discounts to participants that have the hand stamp obtained at check-in. Free t-shirts to anyone who participates in 4 events. Music at the Market during and after the event.
Online registration and more information
To participate you must register and accept a waiver once for the entire season. While you may register on paper at check-in, it will be easier and faster to register online. For online registration and more information go to http://newbocitymarket.com/meetme. Be sure to register all of your family.
LCTA has partnered with several other community organizations to organize Meet Me at the Market to encourage a healthy lifestyle. This is within the LCTA charter to encourage trail usage and demonstrate the need for more trails! Please come check it out.
Run the Flood is a 7 mile and 5k run/walk scheduled for Saturday, June 8th at 8AM. The event starts and ends at the GreatAmerica Building in downtown Cedar Rapids. The 7 mile route goes up to Veterans Memorial Stadium, through Czech Village, and finishes along the Cedar River Trail. Most importantly, the route highlights the development Cedar Rapids has seen and still reminds participants of the need for flood recovery.
Volunteers Needed
Run the Flood is looking for volunteers to act as route leaders on bicycles. The 7 mile route begins at 8AM and the 5k route begins at 8:15AM. There is a need for bicyclists to lead the runners and walkers along the course route. If anyone is interested in volunteering for this event, please contact race director Kari Lammer at kari@crruntheflood.com.
Trail Notice
Please note that there will be large amount of runners and walkers along the Cedar River Trail from the GreatAmerica Building and south to the entrance of the Solid Waste Agency while the race is underway. If you have any questions, please contact race director Kari Lammer at kari@crruntheflood.com.
Looking for upcoming trail and biking events? Check out the BikeIowa website calendar of events:
Yesterday’s post stated the wrong month for New BLUEhemia. It is Saturday March 2 and free t-shirts are available to anyone that registers before March 3 and attends the first MMM event on May 2. Otherwise you must attend 4 events to qualify for a free t-shirt. Sorry for the confusion.
