Take a Kid Mountain Biking
On Saturday, October 1st, 2011 from 11:30AM - 1:30PM LAMBA will be sponsoring the IMBA Take a Kid Mt. Biking Day at Beverly Park. Bring the kids out for a fun day of riding small obstacles and the trails near the parking lot. Also, feel free to take your kids on a tour of the whole park.
A grill will be available for anything you want to bring for lunch.
*Parents, please plan to stay at the park while your child is riding.
Trail Supporters
Did you know that Linn County Trails Association has a Trail Supporter program?
LCTA "Trail Supporters" really help in building the network of trails in Linn County. For those already a Supporter - thank you! Interested in learning more about becoming a Trail Supporter? Click here!
Healthiest State Iowa Initiative
On August 10th, Governor Terry Branstad announced the "Healthiest State" initiative. According to the Governor's website, " "This Healthiest State Initiative will assist Iowans in learning about and applying proven methods to live longer, happier, and healthier lives,” Branstad said. “We control more than 70 percent of the factors that influence our health. It is within our power to make a positive difference in our lives." "
The goal of the initiative is to be the #1 Healthiest State by 2016 (5 years) in the Gallup-Healthways Well Being Index. Iowa is currently ranked #19.
Brandstad envisions this initiative to be community and business-led, with the support of government.
According to the Governor's website, one of the centerpiece's of this initiative is the Blue Zones Project. Over the next five years, 10 Iowa communities will be transformed to Blue Zone Communities, supported financially by Wellmark Blue Cross and Blue Shield. To learn more about Blue Zone Communities, click here.
To learn more about the Healthiest State initiative, click here.
Trail Ride Video: Ely to Czech Village
Thank to you community member Paul Jenkins for submitting this video! Any trail users that have video or photos to share can always send them to LCTA! We have a great collection of trail supporters and creatives in the region! Thanks for sharing your work Paul!
An email from: IA Bicyclist Coalition
Alert: Funding for bicycling is at risk. Ask your member of Congress to support Transportation Enhancements.
Click to send a message to your member of Congress.
This year, around $700 million of Federal transportation funds, which in reality is less than 2 percent of total transportation dollars, will be spent on bicycling and walking. In 2012 that figure might be a big zero. We expect that in the next few days, Senator Coburn (R-OK) will ask Congress to eliminate the federal Transportation Enhancements program – the primary funding source for the past 20 years for bike lanes, trails, bike racks on buses, bike education etc. This isn’t safe or smart; it’s not good for the economy or the environment; this is bad health policy and bad transportation policy. But they are going to try because they don’t think bicycling matters.Even though bicycling projects create more jobs per dollar than highway-only projects and cutting enhancements won’t impact the deficit – the money just won’t be spent on bicycling – some Members of Congress want to force us backwards to a 1950s highway-only mindset: as if oil embargoes, congestion, smog, the obesity epidemic and climate change never happened.Now is the time to Save Cycling, so we are asking you to contact your Senators and urge them to support continued funding for biking and walking. Don’t let them take away this vital investment program for smart, sustainable, safe transportation choices.
Please Take Action Today.
Thank You,
IA Bicyclist Coalition
Cedar Valley Nature Trail Improvements
A notice from Anderson-Bogert Engineers and Surveyors
RE: Cedar Valley Nature Trail Improvements
Linn County Conservation Department Project No. 3-10
Dear Property Owner:
The Linn County Conservation Department is in the process of completing final design work on the Cedar Valley Nature Trail Improvement Project from County Home Rd to Schultz Rd. The project includes paving the length of this trail segment with asphalt, drainage improvements, and seal coating the crossings at intersecting county roads. Currently used field access locations crossing the trail will be maintained.
You are invited to a public open house on Tuesday, September 13th, at Linn County Conservation Board Room, 1890 County home Road from 4:30 p.m. until 6:00 p.m. You will have the opportunity to see project renderings, schedules, and speak with engineering staff and County representatives. You may come at any time during this period.
This trail improvement project (County Home Rd to Schultz Rd) is scheduled for construction beginning in Spring 2012. We are requesting input from adjacent property owners along the project corridor to provide input during the final design process.
We have attempted to notify all property owners along the corridor. However, in case we have missed someone, we encourage you to share this information with your neighbors and other stakeholders. If you have any questions, please contact Mr. Todd Happel, with Anderson-Bogert Engineers & Surveyors (319-377-4629 – [email protected] ). Thank you for your input on this trail improvement project.
Sincerely,
ANDERSON-BOGERT ENGINEERS & SURVEYORS, INC.
Todd J. Happel, P.E.
Project Manager
The Bike Lane
The Bike Lane
CITY OF CEDAR RAPIDS BICYCLE ADVISORY COMMITTEE NEWSLETTER
Progress towards a Bicycle Friendly Community
September 2011
ANNUAL LINN COUNTY MAYORS BIKE RIDE ON LABOR DAY SEPTEMBER 5
The annual Linn County Mayors’ Bike Ride will be on Monday morning September 5, 2011. Linn County Trails Association and the Bicycle Advisory Committee and Bicycle Ambassadors are hosting the ride which will start and end at the Ellis Park swimming pool parking lot. It’s free and open to the public. Helmets are required.
Registration starts at 9:00 am in the parking lot near Ellis Blvd and Ellis Lane NW. Ride starts at 10:00 am. 2.5 or 8 mile route. Last year approximately 400 cyclists participated.
Live music from KantiRocks will follow in Ellis Park 10:45 am – 12:45 pm. www.kantirocks.com
Food and beverages will be available for purchase: Blue Strawberry will have hot coffee, cold coffee, smoothies, muffins, scones, cookies, and other breakfast items. Linn County Cattlemen’s Association will have burgers, chips and pop after the ride. Proceeds will be donated to Linn County Trails Association. www.linncountytrails.org
After the ride, there will be a drawing for a Northtowne Cycling and Fitness $25 giftcard.
The Linn County Mayors’ Bike Ride sponsors include Linn County Trails Association, KantiRocks, Northtowne Cycling and Fitness, Acorn Acoustics, Parlor City Pub, Cedar River Landing, Linn County Cattlemen’s Association, Blue Strawberry Coffee Company, Jules Bakery and Cedar Rapids Bicycle Ambassadors.
LINN COUNTY SAFE KIDS DAY AT FARMERS MARKET SEPTEMBER 17
Linn County Safe Kids Coalition will have several booths with safety information including car seats, fire safety, and bike safety at the Farmers Market in Greene Square Park on September 17 7:30 am - Noon.
They will be fitting and giving away 200 free bike helmets for kids. They are a member of Safe Kids USA, a nationwide network of organizations working to prevent unintentional childhood injury, the leading cause of death and disability for children ages 1 to 14.
Linn County Safe Kids Coalition is lead by the Cedar Rapids Fire Department and Cedar Rapids Police Department. They educate families, provide safety devices such as child safety seats, helmets and smoke alarms to families in need and advocate for better laws to help keep children safe and healthy. The Fire Department will have a fire truck on display at the Farmers Market.
FIRST ANNUAL PAWS IN THE PARK FUN RUN/WALK SEPTEMBER 24 AT NOELRIDGE PARK
Cedar Rapids Animal Care and Control and Critter Crusaders of Cedar Rapids will host their first annual PAWS in the Park fun run/walk on Saturday Sept. 24 10 am – 2 pm at Noelridge Park. Emcee at the event is Brain of 98.1 KHAK’s Brain and Steel Show. Fly Ball and Agility demonstrations, exhibits, pet food and supply vendors, pet information booths, and food vendors. Walk/run alone, with a pet, with a friend, with your family, or with a group or team. Enter your pet in the pet contests to win prizes.
Register online www.pawsintheparkcr.com or at local veterinary clinics. All registrants receive a goodie packet, PAWS in the Park T-shirt and a doggie bandana. Participant collecting the most money over $500 in pledges receives a $200 prize. Proceeds benefit the Cedar Rapids Animal Care and Control Spay/Neuter Fund.
http://www.cedar-rapids.org/government/departments/animal-control/pages/default.aspx
http://www.crittercrusaderscr.com/
BIKESTOCK IOWA 2011 AT HAWKEYE DOWNS OCTOBER 8 AND 9
BikeStock Iowa is a 24 hour bike relay and music event on the half-mile oval at Hawkeye Downs Speedway and Expo Center in Cedar Rapids. Bands include West66, Dani Lynn Howe Band, Exit 113, The Blue Band And Greenbrier. The Iowa Hawkeye football game versus Penn State will be shown on a large screen. Food and beverages available for purchase.
Register online for ½ hour shifts.
http://register.myonlinecamp.com/camp.cfm?sport=24&id=17062
Proceeds will be donated to the Especially For You Foundation breast cancer awareness program.
Great Video!
A special thank you to Rich Gray for submitting a video to share on the LCTA website. The video is his collection of photographs from various parks, trails and lakes throughout the area. Enjoy the video! Click the link to enjoy: http://youtu.be/NRXbv_GQqA0
Reminder- Mayors' Bike Ride
Please mark your calendar for 9:00 on Monday September 5th. Linn County Trails Association invites you to participate in the annual Mayors' Bike Ride Event. Thank you to all the partners who help organize this event, the elected officials who participate and the bicyclists that continue to support trail development! For full details, visit the events page of the LCTA website.
lLCTA Supporter Campaign
Linn County Trails Association is inviting trail users to get move involved with LCTA by becoming a Trail Supporter. There are multiple ways to become a trail supporter, and more importantly, many reasons why. To learn more about LCTA's Trail Supporter Program, click here.