Jan 13-16 Edgewater Brewery benefit for The Riverfront Trail

	Save-the-Date    Join us for a fundraising event January 13-16 Edgewater Brewery will graciously host a fundraiser for the Riverfront Trails Project January 13th through the 16th from 11:00am to 9:00pm with $2 bottle beer specials (Lands End Amber and Standing Wave Pale Ale). The Riverfront Project will receive $1 for every bottle of these two beers sold during the 13th through the 16th! The Riverfront Commission and Foundation have benefitted from great community support and continues to work towards their vision of a trail from the Garfield/Mesa County line to the Utah state line. To date, there is more than 20 miles of public, multi-use trails linking over 300 acres of park areas. The work goes on and the expenses continue. Please ensure the progress of trail construction and maintenance by joining us with friends and family at the Edgewater Brewery for this fundraising event. Fundraiser Details Order a bottle of Lands End Amber or Standing Wave Pale Ale  $1 from every bottle purchased goes to the Riverfront Project January 13-16 Edgewater Brewery, Grand Junction Trail Update: Final phase of the Grand Junction to Fruita trail connection has begun! City of Grand Junction has completed numerous trail repairs 2014 Summer Concert Series schedule info coming soon For more information, please contact the Riverfront Commission 970-683-4333. Looking forward to seeing you there, The Riverfront Commission and Foundation

Joy Covey helped catapult Amazon.com from a small company to the global powerhouse it is today. Earlier this year, on a bicycle ride in San Mateo County, Calif., she was struck by a delivery van and killed. She was 50 years old. 

Joy is one of hundreds of men and women killed while bicycling or walking on our streets each year.

This has to change -- and a one-sentence bill in Congress could do it. 

Please contact your members of Congress today to ask them to co-sponsor H.R. 3494 / S. 1708, which requires the US Department of Transportation (USDOT) and state DOTs to account for and work to reduce bicyclist and pedestrian deaths.  Take Action Here.

Last week, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) confirmed that biking and walking fatalities have continued to increase – now representing 16.3 percent of all traffic deaths and a total of 5,469 people killed.

Last year, Congress mandated the US DOT to set performance goals, including safety goals. We believe that those goals should include a plan to make biking safer. However, the US DOT has refused to set a safety goal for non-motorized transportation.

Congress doesn't agree: Members of the House and Senate, from both sides of the aisle, have introduced identical bills specifically requiring US DOT to set a goal to reduce the deaths of those biking and walking.

The Bicycle and Pedestrian Safety Act states clearly that the lives of all roadway users are important -- and creates accountability toward ending needless deaths.

It gives US DOT the flexibility to determine the best method to meet these safety measures, and calls on our leaders to reduce the number of people biking and walking who are killed or injured on our streets every year.            

It’s time that we all stand together to say that the deaths of bicyclists and pedestrians deserve to be counted and prevented, too. Please help us build the momentum for this important legislation by contacting your members of Congress to ask them to co-sponsor these bipartisan bills.

Without it, people who bike and walk, like Joy, will remain in the blindspot of our transportation system.

Join this effort, and tell your lawmakers to vote for these straightforward, bi-partisan bills. Take action. 

Thank you for your support!

This media release was sent out from CDOT today. This is an opportunity for you to voice your opinion about the future of transportation in Colorado around bicycling and walking.

Coloradoans Invited to Help Chart State’s Transportation Future

DENVER – The Colorado Department of Transportation (CDOT) is asking citizens to get involved in planning the future of the state’s transportation system.   

With the unveiling of the Statewide Plan website at www.coloradotransportationmatters.com, CDOT is inviting the public to play a major role developing the Statewide Transportation Plan (SWP), set for release in mid-2014. 

“We really want to hear from people throughout Colorado because this plan guides us on how limited dollars will be invested in the transportation system and how projects will be selected and scheduled in the future,” said CDOT Executive Director Don Hunt.  “Public participation is crucial for its development since it’ll reflect the priorities and needs of our citizens.”

The website serves as a central point of contact for CDOT, its planning partners and the public at large.

Website visitors will discover what opportunities and challenges are facing Colorado’s transportation system.  It allows the public to provide comments and take on-line surveys and examine the financial practices and organizational policies used by CDOT to stretch resources and meet statewide needs.  In addition, local planning processes, upcoming events and data on the state’s economy, environment and transportation system is available on the site.

Coloradans are encouraged to check the website often to learn about new developments and provide input on the direction of the SWP.  

Contacts: Michelle Scheuerman, Statewide Planning Manager, (303)757-9770

michelle.scheuerman@state.co.us

Bob Wilson, CDOT Communications, (303)757-9431

Dear Riverfront Project Supporters:

Since 1997, our elected officials from Grand Junction, Mesa County, Fruita and Palisade have contributed financially to the operational expenses of the Riverfront Commission. Mesa County notified the Riverfront recently, that they will not be allocating funds for 2014. This represents a substantial problem for the continued success of the Riverfront Project.




The Riverfront Commission will be meeting with the Board of County Commissioners on Wednesday, November 20. Please contact your Board of County Commissioners and let them know you support the Riverfront Project and would like to see taxpayer money being spent toward a very worthwhile effort.



A personal story of how you use the trail, what value you place on it, or how the community as a whole benefits from the Riverfront Project is always a good touch. And please keep things in a positive tone.



The Riverfront Project is a citizen-driven idea, carried out by our government partners across the Valley. The small cost to our governments, creates more livable communities and the continued use of the trail provides great physical health and mental benefits.

County Commissioners can be reached:

Rose Pugliese email: rose.pugliese@mesacounty.us              244-1606

Steve Acquafresca email: Steve.Acquafresca@mesacounty.us   244-1604

John Justman email: john.justman@mesacounty.us                   244-1605

2013-2014 Grand Junction Safe Routes to School (SRTS) Program

                The program has hit the ground running this year with our first school, Orchard Avenue Elementary.  The PE teacher, Principal, staff and PTA have been incredibly engaged in the road-safe education.  The encouragement week (dubbed "Walking and Wheeling Week") was a huge success. We had an unbelievable turnout of kids, starting with 70 kiddos walking or wheeling in to school and 10 helmets worn on Monday. By Friday the classic Colorado sunshine/sleet/rain/snow/wind/sun day happened and still 144 students walked and wheeled to school, 20 of them wearing helmets (a few were walkers with helmets on for the double-raffle ticket offer).  A local bike shop and R-5 high school bike mechanics came to an after-school rodeo/maintenance event and replaced about 30 tubes and performed simple repairs to another 30 bicycles; Grand Valley Bikes instructors were on hand to adjust 15 student’s helmets.  

                Last Friday we held the SRTS training/refresher course  We had 10 new PE teachers training in SRTS education, 2 teachers in for a refresher, and 3 Colorado Mesa University student-teachers attend for a high-energy course!  They all signed up for the program and we even sent one home with helmets to teach proper helmet fit to her students the following week.  This program continually astounds me, and after these last few weeks I'm reminded that it leaves a positive impression on the schools accepting this program, too!

                 

Check out some media coverage the program received at: 

http://www.nbc11news.com/home/headlines/Bike-rodeo-teaches-kids-how-to-be-safe-225429382.html 

http://www.krextv.com/news/Elementary-Students-Learn-Bike-Safety--225439832.html). 

                The Mesa County Health Department (MCHD) has gotten involved in the sustainability aspects of the program: mobile bicycle classroom annual scheduling, transporting and housing, walk audit coordination and compilation, SRTS annual training for PE teachers and instructors, and the extended offer to provide any additional services we might need.  The MCHD will also be using the community walk audit template and inventory the entire School District 51 area as part of their Built Environment efforts! Thanks for the leadership and support, MCHD!!

 

                 We are thrilled to have the opportunity to expand this comprehensive Safe Routes to School program in our community, and for the positive embrace the Grand Valley has taken to the program. 

more cowbell

Participants and Shenanigans Wanted for This Friday’s Community Clunker Criterion

If you don't have Labor Day Weekend fully booked, then consider spending part of it at the inaugural Grand Junction Off-Road. Details for all events are at the Epic Ride website: http://epicrides.com/

This event will provide Grand Junction with a great economic boost; it will place our community and trails in a positive light with the media, locally and nationally; and will otherwise be a fun final weekend of the summer season.

Clunker Criterion - Registration + Helmet Required

Registration is free but required of all who plan to enjoy this whimsy opener to the Pro Criterion. Located in the DT SWISS event hub on Main Street near 4th between Noon-5:45pm on Friday, 8/30 we encourage all to decorate their bike and body as they deem appropriate. Participants will get a paper number plate to write a number, slogan or if artistically gifted, a mural on. Creativity is highly encouraged and may even be rewarded.  Come out and goof off on the bike while the downtown streets are closed!

START TIMES

Friday, August 30

6:00p - Clunker Crit - 2 laps + tons of entertainment

6:15p - Women's Pro Race - 20 minutes + 3 laps

6:50p - Men's Pro Race - 20 minutes + 3 laps

Pizza Party

Are you available to enjoy FREE PIZZA and help stuff Goodie Bags for the GJ Off-Road on Thursday, August 22 from 6-8pm?

RSVP online at: http://grandjunctionoffroadvolunteers.com/ 
Or contact the Volunteer Coordinator, Biz Collins, directly at biz@grandjunctionoffroadvolunteers.com or 970 433 6388.

The Grand Junction Off-Road endurance mountain bike event, festival and concert is coming this Labor Day weekend! This inaugural event really has the potential to shift our community in a positive direction, but it needs your help and the help of other volunteers to pull it off.

There is a spectrum of opportunities to help during the Off-Road Event, Festival and Concert! 

Friday, August 30

• Set-Up Expo, Start/Finish Line and Stage; 6am-12p on Main Street
• Pro Packet Pickup; 10am-2pm at Two Rivers Convention Center
• Amateur Rider Packet Pick-Up; 12-9pm on Main Street
• Criterion set-up at 4pm (Clunker Crit starts at 6pm and Pro Crit is at 6:15pm) downtown

Saturday, August 31

• Start/Finish Line; hand out wine glasses to amateur finishers and wrangle riders
• Concert; 10am-8pm free for the community!
• Course Marshal & Aid Station out along Little Park Road and the course

Sunday, September 1

• Start/Finish Line; hand out wine glasses to the pro finishers
• Kids Ride; registration, course marking, chaperoning, and Popsicle distribution

 

Sign up online at: http://grandjunctionoffroadvolunteers.com/

Cycling Commuter Challenge Winners

Grand Junction Economic Partnership (GJEP) was the Cycling Commuter Challenge winners for 2013. 

GJEP had 100% employee participation and 100% style as they pedaled throughout Bike to Work Month.

Camera Skills

Lee Gelatt was kind enough to photograph and share his Bike To Work Day downtown breakfast pictures.  Enjoy.


Thanks for supporting BTWD, Mesa County Commissioner Rose Pugliese!

 Have you noticed the major golden presence? Those are Mesa County employees, who had 79 people bike to breakfast and back to work en masse! 

Kaitlin Lubeley from Kannah Creek and Edgewater, another local business who supported BTWD 2013.  Thanks Kaitlin & Kannah crew!!
 Ilana is sporting a hip and visible version of the Bike Month tee shirt.  What style. 

Nice helmets, ladies!


Like what you've seen? Check out Lee's website at www.LeeGelattPhotography.com.

Bike to Work Day 2013

We had over 300 people bike-in for breakfast yesterday between the Horizon Drive and City Hall kiosks!!!  Among the impressive groups to bicycle-train in, 79 Mesa County Health Department employees wearing golden Bike Month shirts arrived en masse. 

That was a fun-filled month of free bike classes, rides, food and prizes, and it could not have been possible without our local organizations and businesses.  Please see below for a list of 2013 Bike Month sponsors to tell them thank you and support their business.  And thank YOU for joining the fun!

Mesa County Health Department

Rocky Mountain Health Plans

Crossroads to Health & Fitness, Inc.

Horizon Drive Business Improvement District

Rocky Mountain Tops

Kannah Creek Brewery & Edgewater Tap
Pablo's Pizza

Chomp's Deli

All of our local bike shops:

The Bike Shop

Bicycle Outfitters

Board & Buckle

Brown Cycles

Palisade Rapid Creek Cycles

Grassroots Cycles

Ruby Canyon