3-Foot Bill Update, Slow Roll, Help Some Kids, Get Involved!
3-Foot Passing Bill Update
Hopefully you’ve seen our action alert regarding passage of a state-wide 3-foot passing bill recently. Many people certainly did as Speaker Rosenburger’s Policy Director, Shawn Kasych has been receiving many calls and emails; thank you! We spoke with him yesterday on the phone and have a bit of an update.
His office is reviewing the bill and conducting educational outreach to other representatives who still have questions about the bill. He asked us for a letter with talking points he can use, which we supplied. He suggested we have supporters contact their local representative one last time. You can find your local representative here, and download a copy of the letter we supplied Mr. Kasych for your own correspondence with your local rep.
A follow-up call to Representative Henne’s office (Primary Sponsor) reassured us they have the necessary support if it makes it to the floor for a vote, but a note to your local rep is never a bad idea for legislation you support.
Slow Roll Season Opener
Bike advocates know that if you can increase ridership beyond a certain point, that crashes start to decline. When bikes become part of the everyday landscape, people in cars learn to expect other road users more and anticipate them better. One way to do this is to create an inviting environment for beginners or others new to urban riding to get out on the road.
Slow Roll Cleveland have been doing just that for the last few seasons, and their 2016 Season Opener is this weekend as part of University Hospitals Community Bike Fair! We’ll be there along with Beat Cycles, OCBC, VeloSano, Heights Bicycle Coalition, Pan Ohio Hope Ride, and others. Let’s go for a ride!
Where: UH Case Medical Center (11100 Euclid Ave)
When: Sunday, May 1st. Fair and Registration at 11am, ride depart 1pm (3:30pm return)
Bikes and Bands
Live in or near Lakewood? Like good music? Want to do something good for your community? Come to Mahall’s in Lakewood for H20 (Help to Others) and Lakewood Division of Youth’s Bikes and Bands this Saturday! Part of this event is collecting and fixing bicycles so they can be donated to kids who don’t get to experience the joy and freedom of riding because they don’t own a bike.
Hear some great music, enjoy some delicious food from Mahall’s, and support this annual project which provides bikes for kids in Lakewood!
Where: Mahall’s (13200 Madison Ave, Lakewood)
When: Saturday April 30th, 4:30pm – 8:30pm
Public Meeting Reminders
Where: St. Malachi Church (2459 Washington Ave, Cleveland)
When: Tuesday, April 26th, 6:30pm.
Thursday! Come to Collinwood Rec Center for a discussion about road diets and reconfiguring Lakeshore Blvd for modern needs. Hopefully Councilman Polensek will lead an open and honest discussion.
Where: Collinwood Recreation Center (16300 Lakeshore Blvd, Cleveland)
When: Thursday, April 28th, 6:00pm.
Monday Meetup Happy Hour
People always say they’d like to get to know us better, but with a busy schedule it’s hard to make it to the bigger event. So we’re starting a regular monthly happy hour on the first Monday of the month, every month. 5:30 – 6:30. Drop in for a beer on the way home from work, meet the Bike Cleveland staff and some of our board. A chill, informal way to get together with us and other bike minded folks.
Where: Platform Brewing Co. (4125 Lorain Ave, Cleveland)
When: Monday, May 2nd. 5:30pm – 6:30pm.