"Free rides aimed at awareness" in today's Beacon

Pick up the paper today to read John Streit's article on page 17:

...Golden, owner of triathlon outfitter Final Kick Sports, is as conscious of bicycling safety along the Shore Drive corridor as anyone. But in April, just days after tragedy struck, he got a poignant reminder of how dangerous pedaling on the busy thoroughfare can be.

The discussion on how to make sharing Shore Drive safer continues

From a recent email to us:

Share Shore Dr??????
Mr. Hersch made a tragic and foolhardy choice.

Would you ride on I95? It is morally irresponsible and totally reprehensible to encourage people to ride in an area such as the Shore Drive corridor until such bike paths exist that offer a SAFE riding experience.

The Shore Dr corridor is hazardous for motor vehicle traffic. I am appalled that you would even consider anything akin to encouraging people to ride a bike in such an unsafe environment.

I suggest you get legal counsel, and consider the possible civil actions that you and your group would invite should your actions result in death or injury to other cyclists.

Your efforts would be far better directed in working with the city and state to have the bike paths built.

One need only drive Shore Dr or Atlantic Ave to see many, many irresponsible and unsafe riders who court grave injury to themselves and motorists by riding unsafely in this area. I understand that you WANT to be able to ride there, it’s a beautiful spot. But the REALITY IS that it is patently UNSAFE.

Please reconsider how you expend your energies. It is INEVITABLE that this tragedy will repeat itself UNTIL a separate bike path exists.

There is no glory, or martyrdom for Mr. Hersch or subsequent victims of this foolhardy behavior.

I love to ride as much as anyone, I’m just not willing to orphan my children or sacrifice my physical well-being to do so.

Most Sincerely,

xxxxx xxxxxx

Gov Kaine first on bike interview

Gov. Tim Kaine rides the Roanoke Greenway

Follow this link at Virginia Bicycling Federation for more.

Thanks for new pavement!

Be sure to thank Public Works for the new pavement being installed today on Shore Drive at Pleasure House Rd.

As of July 3rd @ 9:18pm the pavement is still torn up on east bound lanes of Shore Drive at Pleasure House Road.

We hope to find out Monday if it will be repaved before SSDD.

Police Report about Mr. Hersh's tragic accident

Posted with permission.

bikewise compiles Crashes, hazards & threats

VBF's Twitter feed has info about bikewise:

bikewise is a place to learn about and report bike crashes, hazards, and thefts. By sharing our experiences with each other, and with researchers and relevant agencies, we aim to make biking safer and more fun. You can help by adding your reports.

Follow Share Shore Drive Day at Twitter.
"Chat" about Share Shore Drive Day at Twitter using #shareshoredrive.

What & when is Share Shore Drive Day?

The purpose of the rides & run on July 11th is to call attention to the need to cycle safely, to have all users of Shore Drive share it safely, to emphasize the need for bicycle lanes on the roadway, and to advocate for more equitable treatment for bicyclists in bicycle-motor vehicle crashes.

Final Kick Sports
Located in the Marina Shores Shoppes between West Marine and O'Leary's Pub

Free bike safety check. FREE bike safety check Thursday & Friday.
Short Ride [does not use Lesner Bridge] & Run Start/End.
Be there by 7am.

Kokoamos Island Bar, Grill & Yacht Club
Located in the Marina Shores at Lynnhaven Drive & North Great Neck Road.

Long Ride Start/End.
Be there by 7am.
FREE BBQ for everyone starts about 10am on deck.

Virginia Beach Resort Hotel & Conference Center
Located at 2800 Shore Drive

Has suites at a discount.
Suites available for Friday & Saturday.

Everywhere

Pedestriate! Be a pedestrian & get out & walk.
Come out to Final Kick Sports.
Any time you want.

All bicycle riders must wear an approved cycling helmet, carry adequate personal identification, not wear headphones, and obey all traffic laws. Riders less than age 18 must be accompanied on the ride by a parent/guardian or a designated adult rider.

Tidewater Bicycle Association Ride Roster. [1pg PDF from TBA's site.]

Learn more about the purpose of SSDD.

Two-wheel protest Letter to the Editor

Read letter to the editor & follow the "Two-wheel protest" comments at Pilotonline.com.

Post your comments here if you'd rather not register at Pilotonline.com to comment.

Article in this Sunday's Beacon

Thanks to John Streit, a Freelance Sportswriter who works around Hampton Roads and Northeastern N.C., for writing an article about SSDD in this Sunday's Beacon.

John's email.

Join us for the Invocation before the Long Ride at Kokoamos

Administrative Pastor Jack Eling of Trinity Church will be doing the invocation at about 7:25am.

Trinity Church currently holds their services at First Baptist Church at 35th and Holly.