Wednesday, April 20, 2011

Earth Day

Come down to the Botanic Gardens this Saturday, April 23rd, for Earth Day.
The first ten people to arrive by bike at the GVB booth will receive DT Swiss schwag!
Join in a bike ride along the Riverfront Trail from 9:30 - 10:30am.
Booths open 8am – 3pm, music 3-11pm.
Check out the full itinerary at www.gjearthday.com

Thursday, April 14, 2011

AASHTO wants to weaken US DOT bicycle accommodation policy

Take Action!

Contact Your State Department of Transportation

On Friday, the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO) released a letter and supplemental document, which asked the US Department of Transportation to weaken their guidance on accommodating bicyclists and pedestrians. The supplemental document, submitted as part of a formal review of regulations, asks that the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) withdraw their guidance on the meaning of “due consideration” of bicyclists and pedestrians to make it easier for states to ignore the needs of non-motorized travelers. AASHTO prefers the weaker “consider where appropriate” to allow states to avoid having to justify failure to accommodate bicycling and walking.

This request is misguided. At a time when cities are building entire bicycling networks for the cost of one mile of urban four-lane freeway, bike projects are putting people to work, and benefiting business, this is not the time to move backwards. When more and more states – 23 and counting – are embracing Complete Streets policies, AASHTO should be a leading voice in shaping holistic and comprehensive transportation systems, not resisting them. In fact, AASHTO’s own 12 year-old Bicycle Guide, due to be up dated this year, says that bicyclists and pedestrians can be expected on any roadway they are legally allowed to operate and therefore should be accommodated.

Grand Valley bikes Officially a 501(c)3 Non Profit !!

In a letter to Grand Valley Bikes (GVB) dated March 22, 2011, the IRS determined that Grand Valley Bikes is "exempt from Federal income tax under section 501(c)3 of the Internal Revenue Code ", and has cladssified us as a Public Charity under section 170 (b) (1) (A) (vi). Contributions to GVB are deductible under section 170 of the Code. We are also now qualified to receive tax deductible bequests, devices, transfers and gifts under sections 2055, 2106 and 2522 of the Code.