Bike The Valley...
PRESS RELEASE
For Immediate Release: Regional Bike Advocacy Group Launches Website –
www.bikethevalley.org
For more information: contact Bonnie Riedesel, Interim Executive Director, Central Shenandoah Planning District Commission 112 MacTanly Place Staunton, VA 24401 540-885-5174 or bonnie@cspdc.org
With the growing popularity in bicycling for exercise, recreation, and as a means of transportation, citizens and tourists are looking for safe and convenient roads to bike.
Now there is an online resource assembled by riders of the area to help you choose your route whatever your reason for riding the roads of the beautiful Shenandoah Valley.
The website is a product of the Central Shenandoah Planning District Commission’s (CSPDC) Bike Pedestrian Committee – an advocacy group with representatives from the 10 local jurisdictions in the planning district and staffed by the CSPDC. In 2004 a group of concerned citizens approached the CSPDC and their local governments with hopes of making their communities more bicycle friendly and safer for all users of the Valley’s roads.
For the past several years, the committee has raised funds through state grants, local government contributions, bicycle clubs and recreation departments, to develop a bicycle plan and raise awareness about bicycling and walking issues. The group has been instrumental in working with the Virginia Department of Transportation to make improvements such as bicycle lanes, wider paved shoulders, and safety signage.
Additionally the group has identified and mapped over 40 on-road bicycle routes throughout the region. The routes offer a great variety of length and difficulty so that there is something for families and beginners, recreational cyclists, and veteran riders. These routes and associated information can be found on the group’s new website (www.bikethevalley.org). The website includes route maps along with turn-by-turn directions, lengths, elevations and other information. The maps can be downloaded and printed to use. Other important information can be found on the website including links to local bicycle clubs and shops, safety tips and rules of the road, bicycle tours and events as well as links to each of the cities and counties in the region.
Nancy Sorrells, chairman of the bicycle committee and a cyclist, is enthusiastic about the new website. “These routes were developed by the riders who know from personal experience the best roads and routes around. Our committee hopes that local riders can use the website to explore new, soon-to-be favorite, rides, and that visitors can use this website as a guide to the wonderful outdoor recreational possibilities that exist in our area. You could not ask for a better area to ride. We have something here for every skill level and there is no better way to view our scenic countryside than from the saddle of a bicycle.”
Lee Hersch, founding committee chairman says that, “It is our intent that this website will promote the health, recreational, tourism, transportation and economic benefits of cycling for everyone. Our goal is to make roads in the Central Shenandoah Valley safer for people who cycle including children, families, and commuters. Safer roads for cyclists will also make roads safer for motorists”.
For more information about the Shenandoah Valley Bicycle and Pedestrian Committee please visit the www.bikethevalley.org or call the Central Shenandoah Planning District Commission at 540-885-5174.
For Immediate Release: Regional Bike Advocacy Group Launches Website –
www.bikethevalley.org
For more information: contact Bonnie Riedesel, Interim Executive Director, Central Shenandoah Planning District Commission 112 MacTanly Place Staunton, VA 24401 540-885-5174 or bonnie@cspdc.org
With the growing popularity in bicycling for exercise, recreation, and as a means of transportation, citizens and tourists are looking for safe and convenient roads to bike.
Now there is an online resource assembled by riders of the area to help you choose your route whatever your reason for riding the roads of the beautiful Shenandoah Valley.
The website is a product of the Central Shenandoah Planning District Commission’s (CSPDC) Bike Pedestrian Committee – an advocacy group with representatives from the 10 local jurisdictions in the planning district and staffed by the CSPDC. In 2004 a group of concerned citizens approached the CSPDC and their local governments with hopes of making their communities more bicycle friendly and safer for all users of the Valley’s roads.
For the past several years, the committee has raised funds through state grants, local government contributions, bicycle clubs and recreation departments, to develop a bicycle plan and raise awareness about bicycling and walking issues. The group has been instrumental in working with the Virginia Department of Transportation to make improvements such as bicycle lanes, wider paved shoulders, and safety signage.
Additionally the group has identified and mapped over 40 on-road bicycle routes throughout the region. The routes offer a great variety of length and difficulty so that there is something for families and beginners, recreational cyclists, and veteran riders. These routes and associated information can be found on the group’s new website (www.bikethevalley.org). The website includes route maps along with turn-by-turn directions, lengths, elevations and other information. The maps can be downloaded and printed to use. Other important information can be found on the website including links to local bicycle clubs and shops, safety tips and rules of the road, bicycle tours and events as well as links to each of the cities and counties in the region.
Nancy Sorrells, chairman of the bicycle committee and a cyclist, is enthusiastic about the new website. “These routes were developed by the riders who know from personal experience the best roads and routes around. Our committee hopes that local riders can use the website to explore new, soon-to-be favorite, rides, and that visitors can use this website as a guide to the wonderful outdoor recreational possibilities that exist in our area. You could not ask for a better area to ride. We have something here for every skill level and there is no better way to view our scenic countryside than from the saddle of a bicycle.”
Lee Hersch, founding committee chairman says that, “It is our intent that this website will promote the health, recreational, tourism, transportation and economic benefits of cycling for everyone. Our goal is to make roads in the Central Shenandoah Valley safer for people who cycle including children, families, and commuters. Safer roads for cyclists will also make roads safer for motorists”.
For more information about the Shenandoah Valley Bicycle and Pedestrian Committee please visit the www.bikethevalley.org or call the Central Shenandoah Planning District Commission at 540-885-5174.
posted by MRussell at 11:23 AM
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