You can’t help but notice the puzzled expressions on friend’s faces when they hear the words ‘Iowa’ and, ‘vacation’, or ‘entertainment’ in the same sentence. Cyclists however, have the privilege of proudly responding by proclaiming the vast network of trails and cycling resources Iowa offers people in seek of adventure on two wheels.  

The 2010 Iowa Bicycle Summit equipped non-engineer bike advocates with information and tools needed to advocate for, and contribute to, the further development of Iowa as a premier destination for cyclists.

Notable achievements in the past year include: bike lanes on Ingersoll Avenue, completion of the Regional Trails Maps, the Fort Dodge riverfront system, the introduction of B-Cycles in Des Moines and the soon to be completed High Trestle Trail, formally known as the Ankeny to Woodward Trail.

Iowa boasts over 1,400 miles of trails, and with experience and expertise gained annually at the Iowa Bicycle Summit, Iowans continue to contribute to a world-class trail system.  The coordination of nine public entities, community advocates, donors, and a dedicated network of people working to enhance Iowa’s trails, the state recently introduced the nearly completed High Trestle Trail.

Lisa Hein, Program and Planning Director of the Iowa Natural Heritage Foundation comments on the magnitude of this accomplishment pointing out that, “given the limited funding available the $15 million project was completed in a [relatively] short time frame” (8 years). Getting all nine jurisdictions to support a systematic maintenance and management plan, she says, is a big challenge; however, Hein anticipates, the hard work will pay off and, “Central Iowa will become known as the Trails Capital, thanks in part to this project!”

People have yet another reason to “discover a new view” of Iowa, and Iowans have another reason to take pride in their efforts. The 25-mile trail will connect two 100-mile trial loops, part of the Central Iowa Trail Network, running through Ankeny, Sheldahl, Slater, Madrid and Woodward.

The bicycle friendly communities are a result of the well-informed people in these towns. The Summit aims to provide attendees with the information needed to get trails created in their area as well as how to inform their neighbors about the influence bikes have on communities. “We expect that communities along the trail will embrace it and support it to its fullest potential, we are just getting started,” says Hein.

A formal celebration of the completion of the High Trestle Trail will be held Saturday, April 30^th, 2011. The pleasant towns, 13-story half-mile bridge, scenic overlooks, and public art that comprise the trail are sure to allure riders from all around. Thanks to those who envisioned a route worth riding, collaborated, and had the strength and to make it happen.

The Iowa Bicycle Coalition is a state-wide bicycle advocacy organization with 1,150 members and over 5,000 partners through affiliate organizations throughout Iowa.  The Iowa Bicycle Coalition builds partnerships, educates Iowans, and helps to establish safe and enjoyable bicycle transportation and recreation networks throughout Iowa.

Just a few reminders of some upcoming events that are all at Hy-Vee Hall in Downtown Des Moines:

Iowa Bicycle Summit
January 29-30, 2010

For more information on the Iowa Bicycle Summit or to register, visit  www.iowabicyclecoalition.org.  Click here for the Iowa Bicycle Summit Schedule

RAGBRAI Meetings for Clubs and Teams
January 30, 2010

This is the annual January meeting of the RAGBRAI club and team representatives, but interested individuals may attend as well.  Click here to download a PDF of the agenda, click: Agenda Club Team Meeting 2010

RAGBRAI Route Announcement Party
January 30, 2010

Do you want to be there as the RAGBRAI XXXVIII overnight towns are revealed? The inaugural RAGBRAI Route Announcement Party benefits the Iowa Bicycle Coalition .  Over 350 tickets have already been sold for the event.  

Click here to purchase tickets online
Or click here to download a printable order form

John LaPlante will lead the bicycle facility design workshop on Friday, January 29, 2010 Iowa Bicycle Summit. John LaPlante is currently Director of Traffic Engineering for T.Y.Lin International, working out of their Chicago office.   

The Saturday, January 30th session features an expanded panel format that will allow for more presentations than before. Twenty speakers will present information during the Saturday sessions. Session topics include Bicycle Facility Design Innovations, Safe Routes To School Successes, Improving Bike Safety, New Marketing Ideas for Bikes, and Urban Dirt. Bicycle advocates are advised to come ready to learn about building bicycling in their home communities.

Here are some more details about the Iowa Bicycle Summit sessions:

Design Innovations

Adrian Holmes, P.E., 100-Year Bike Plan
A solid, well conceived master plan has become all but required in order to receive state and federal trail construction funding. This workshop style session will provide non-engineers enough information to be able to go back to their communities and either create their own trails master plan or at least know what to expect when working with a planning consultant.

Brian Keierleber, P.E., Railcar Bridge Innovations
Any bridge can be expensive to build. Bridges on trails are difficult at best. Buchanan County has found an innovative way to convert retired rail cars into bridges – not just for people on bicycles, but for motor vehicles too. Learn how Buchanan County is leading the way with bridge innovations at a fraction of the price of a conventional bridge.

Jeff Geertz, GreenStreets
Green Streets promote public health, energy efficiency, water conservation, smart locations,  operational savings, and sustainable building practices. As a result, the strategies enhance affordable housing, community facilities, town centers, and communities as a whole.

Safe Routes To School

Melissa Stovers, Imagine Grinnell
Grinnell-Newburg School District joined schools from around the world to celebrate International Walk-to-School Day with a district-wide contest encouraging all of the district’s families and students to take a break from driving and walk or bike to school.

Lynette Anderson, NE Iowa Food and Fitness
The five county region is on the ground floor of a movement to improve the policies, practices, and systems that determine how food arrives on our tables and how NE Iowa communities can grow opportunities for physical activity for all.

Traci Kepley, Go The Distance Day
Go The Distance Day is a FREE one-day event for Iowa Schools! Its purpose is to show Iowa youth that physical activity is fun and makes them feel good; increase public awareness of youth physical inactivity; and inform the public that physical education programs are needed in our schools!

Patty Guevara, Bookin’ on Bikes
A little more than a year ago, I wrote and received a grant from the Michael Jordan Foundation (yes, MICHAEL Jordan of the Bulls) to start up a bike club at Scavo Alternative High School. We have no physical education program at our school. We have a lot of students with major obstacles to overcome in order to just GET their education. With some help from the Bike Collective and other great cycling souls, “Bookin’ on Bikes” was born! We do quite a bit more than cycling.

Cycling Safety

Julie Engeman, Drivers Ed Presentations
Julie and Steve Engeman have presented “Share The Road” sessions at drivers education classes across central Iowa. Their objective is to show younger drivers that a real person operates a bicycle. They use letters and photos from victims and personal stories to make an impact.

Ken Sherman & Bill Rosebrook, Cycling Safety in Iowa
While the debate rages over whether cyclists should continue to be allowed on the highways of Iowa, serious cycling accidents on our roadways continue to grow in both number and severity; and the circumstances of these tragedies seem to be getting more and more egregious, including  recklessness, serious driving impairments, impatience (road rage?), distraction and even unprovoked and intentional violence directed at cyclists who ride our roads.

This presentation explores what may be behind the deplorable situation outlined above, and it addresses what might be done to improve cycling safety on the streets and highways of Iowa.

New Marketing Ideas

Nannette Rodriguez, Social Media and the Latin Consumer
TBA

Lee P. Jones, B-Cycle
B-cycle is the only “next”-generation bike-share program. Integrated data tracking will automatically capture information such as your distance traveled, equivalent calories burned, and carbon offset after each ride. It will then upload this data to your personal user profile on Bcycle.com. B-cycle is the future of bike sharing, and it’s available to your city now.

Ryan Hanser, Building Cycling Community Through Social Media
TBA

Urban Dirt
TBA

Click here for the Iowa Bicycle Summit Schedule

For more information on the Iowa Bicycle Summit or to register, visit  www.iowabicyclecoalition.org.

Click here to download a printable order form for the Iowa Bike Summit.

———————————————————————————————-

Following the Iowa Bicycle Summit, join us for the RAGBRAI Route Announcement Party at Hy-Vee Hall in downtown Des Moines.  RAGBRAI will reveal the 2010 route to those in attendance.

Over half of the allotted tickets have already been sold.  A surprising and sizable percentage of attendees are traveling to this event from outside of Iowa including visitors from Oregon and Florida.  Only 500 tickets will be sold for the event.

The evening will feature live music with a special acoustical duo performance by The Nadas, who have entertained RAGBRAI riders for many years including recent stops in Greenfield, Ames and Cedar Falls.

In addition to live music and the RAGBRAI route announcement, this special night will feature:

* Live Auctions on Great Cycling Items
* Silent Auctions on Great Cycling Items
* Door Prizes
* “Guess the Route” Raffles
* Iowa Bicycle Coalition Updates
* Complimentary RAGBRAI-style Snacks & Soft Drinks
* Complimentary Drafts (also a Cash Bar)
* Special Commemorative Souvenir Gift
* Fun for ALL!

Tickets on sale now: $30
Click here to purchase tickets

All proceeds from the event benefit the Iowa Bicycle Coalition.

The Iowa Bicycle Coalition builds partnerships, educates Iowans, and helps to establish safe and enjoyable bicycle transportation and recreation networks throughout Iowa.

RAGBRAI and the Iowa Bicycle Coalition have worked together for the past several years to bring you the Iowa Bicycle Summit.   This year’s Summit will again include advocacy workshops and the January Meeting for Clubs and Teams. 

The Summit has traditionally ended with the “Bike Night” celebration.  This year, the event takes on a new spin as a cycling-filled evening of fun concludes with the revealing of the much anticipated RAGBRAI XXXVIII route.

The evening will feature live music with a special acoustical duo performance by The Nadas, who have entertained RAGBRAI riders for many years including recent stops in Greenfield, Ames and Cedar Falls.

In addition to live music and the RAGBRAI route announcement, this special night will feature:

• Live Auctions on Great Cycling Items
• Silent Auctions on Great Cycling Items
• Door Prizes
• “Guess the Route” Raffles
• Iowa Bicycle Coalition Updates
• Complimentary RAGBRAI-style Snacks & Soft Drinks
• Complimentary Drafts (also a Cash Bar)
• Special Commemorative Souvenir Gift
• Fun for ALL!

Tickets on sale now: $30

All proceeds from the event benefit the Iowa Bicycle Coalition.  The Iowa Bicycle Coalition builds partnerships, educates Iowans, and helps to establish safe and enjoyable bicycle transportation and recreation networks throughout Iowa.  

Click here for more details on the RAGBRAI Route Announcement Party. 

Click here to purchase tickets online 

Or click here to download a printable order form

———————————————————————————————-

For those traveling in the night before or staying the evening, a special RAGBRAI rate of $89.95 will be offered by the nearby Holiday Inn in Downtown Des Moines.  For reservations, directions or more information visit the Holiday Inn Web site or call 515-283-0151 and request the RAGBRAI rate (Group Rate RJT) when making reservations.