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Active Living

SUP on the water this summer!

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SUPing in Dayton (ok, this isn't Dayton but you get the picture)

The increasingly popular sport of stand up paddleboarding (SUP) is sweeping the Miami Valley.  Cruising around local waterways is fun and easy to get out and play on the water for all ages. You can paddle anything from lakes and rivers to the ocean—no waves required.

Anyone who has been on a SUP can tell you it is an amazing full body workout and provides an excellent cross-training activity for skiers, snowboarders, cyclists, runners and other athletes. While standing up you all get a new perspective and view of the natural surrounding you might not get while sitting down. It’s almost like walking on water!

What You Need To Get Started:

  • Stand up paddleboard: By far the biggest investment. Sizes are based on the paddler’s weight and experience. More experienced and lighter paddlers can choose narrower boards. Novice paddlers should choose wider, flatter boards, which offer more stability.
  • Paddle: Yes, they are different. They have an angle or “elbow” in the shaft for maximum efficiency, are much longer since you are standing up and are usually taller than the paddler themselves (roughly 6” to 8” taller than you are)
  • PFD (Personal Flotation Device): No matter what you are paddling, you should wear one, and that includes a SUP.  The U.S. Coast Guard classifies stand up paddleboards as vessels, so always wear a PFD whenever you’re paddling navigable water.
  • Proper clothing: For cold conditions where hypothermia is a concern, wear a wetsuit or dry suit. In milder conditions, wear shorts and a T-shirt or bathing suit—something that moves with you and can get wet.
  • Sun protection: Wear sunscreen, sunglasses.

 

Where to buy, rent, or try in the Miami Valley

Whitewater Warehouse, fulfilling the regions paddle sports needs for years.  Located in downtown Dayton. Stand Up Paddleboard (SUP) Demo – Sunday, June 3

Great Miami Outfitters, where you can find anything to suite your next adventure in the heart of Miamisburg

 

Here is a great video to show you what it is all about and some tips to get started.

[yframe url=’http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WakICTRuWoI’]

 

Naked Karate Girls and Bikes

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Ya Ya, I know that since the word naked was in the title you opened this up.  Or just maybe it was because it was a combination of naked, girls, and bikes.  Who am I kidding.

Now that I got you here you should know that the title is spot on, the band Naked Karate Girls will be playing at the Fraze and you can not only get VIP bike parking but also a free ticket if you ride the bike to the event.

Here is the skinny:

The Miami Valley Regional Planning Commission (MVRPC)  is sponsoring the Fraze Pavilion’s $2 Tuesdays Concert Series.  As a special bonus,

MVRPC will be providing FREE, secure/preferential bike parking for cyclists and up-close/preferential parking for those who carpool to these family-friendly concerts.

Spaces are limited to the first forty (40) cyclists (total of 40 cyclists) and the first twenty (20) carpools (carpools must have exactly 4 people in them).  Everyone who registers for the special bike/carpool parking, and actually uses the bike parking/carpool parking, will receive a FREE ticket to that evening’s concert.  They must check-in with a Drive Less Live More team member upon arrival.    Addition prizes and goody bags will also be given out to participants.

Bike parking will be located near Lincoln Park Boulevard and Shroyer Road on the Lincoln Park Plaza.  Look for the bike racks and signage.

Here’s how it works:  Concert goers MUST pre-register for the special bike/carpool parking online and select the concert you’re interested in attending.  Complete all fields of the on-line registration for whichever parking space (bike or carpool) you’re interested in.  Once registered, you’ll receive a confirmation email so you’ll know you’re all set for the free concert ticket and free reserved parking.  Pre-registered bike and carpool parking open at 6:00 p.m.  All $2 Tuesday concerts begin at 8:00 p.m.

$2 Tuesday Concert Series dates and acts are as follows (click on each to see event details and listen to band tracks):

June 19 – Mountain Heart

July 17 – Big Sam’s Funky Nation

August 7 – Naked Karate Girls

August 21 – MojoFlo

The Drive Less Live More initiative also supports this effort to encourage cycling or carpooling to events.  For information on other Drive Less Live More events go to www.drivelesslivemore.org

For questions regarding the preferential bike/carpool parking at the City of Kettering’s Fraze Pavilionduring the $2 Tuesday Concert Series, contact Laura Loges, MVRPC’s Director of Marketing & Public Affairs, at (937) 223-6323.  For details about biking and the regional Rideshare Program, go to www.mvrpc.org .

Get Inspired to “Get out and Live” at this week’s Adventure Summit

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The Adventure Summit

The Adventure Summit

(from our friends at Five Rivers MetroParks)

When cabin fever hits its apex, Five Rivers MetroParks and Wright State University come to the rescue, co-presenting the biennial Adventure Summit. This year’s event is set for February 10-11 at the Wright State Student Union. Admission and parking are free. There is a full slate of inspirational speakers, engaging hands-on activities, and intense competitions:

Gary Fisher - Trek Bikes

Speakers

This year’s featured speaker is Gary Fisher, noted as the “father of mountain biking” who broke the mold on traditional bicycle racing and took his sport to the hills, riding on bikes he modified to better negotiate the craggy surface of Mt. Tamalpais in California. Fisher is credited with early mountain bike prototypes and now works for Trek, where he participates in designing innovative cycling products as well as racing. Catch Fisher’s presentation, “The Past, Present and Future of Cycling,” at 8:00 p.m. Friday, February 10, in the Apollo Room. Other speakers this weekend include Deia Schlosberg and Gregg Treinish, who will share their experiences on a two-year, 7,800-mile trek of the Andes. Their presentation will be 12:30 p.m. Saturday, February 11. Local speakers also are on tap.

Activities

Once you’ve been inspired by a speaker or classroom presentation, why not try a few activities? Take a kayak for a spin in the pool, get a grip on the climbing wall or participate in a fitness session such as yoga or cycling. There’s something for everyone, and because there’s no cost, you can try it out risk-free.

Bouldering Competition

Bouldering Competition

Competitions

There are several competitions throughout the weekend that are as much fun to watch as they are for those competing. The indoor duathlon includes a 2-mile run/walk, followed by a 6-mile bike ride and concludes with a second 2-mile run/walk. One of the most popular competitions is the bouldering challenge, in which participants (many of whom come from all over the Midwest) face off on the climbing wall. New this year is the Canoe Battleship. Teams compete to try and “sink” the opposition’s canoe while bailing out their own. Rounding out the weekend is a kayak challenge, where slalom racing hits the pool.

Expo

Those who are ready to bring adventure into their lives can do so at the exposition area. Mingle with local, regional and national outdoor-related exhibitors, a variety of outdoor clubs, specialty retail shops, outfitters, resorts, and more organizations that will help you reach your outdoor adventure goals.

Cultural Exhibits

In addition to all things outdoors, Adventure Summit patrons can enjoylive music and craft beer tastings.

This will be a special year for mountain biking enthusiasts. In addition to attending an inspiring presentation from Gary Fisher, the 2012 Adventure Summit will showcase the region’s mountain biking community through inspiring presentations, engaging discussions and appearances by industry leaders. The Great Lakes Mountain Biking roundtable takes place Saturday, February 11. Participants will be able to mingle at the continental breakfast and submit their questions to Gary Fisher, International Mountain Biking Association President and Executive Director Mike Van Abel, national bike manufacturers, regional bike shop owners, state mountain bike club leadership, and IMBA’s new Great Lakes regional director. The focus of the mountain bike-specific tracts will be advocacy.

The Adventure Summit has something for everyone, from the “armchair adventurer” to the hard-core enthusiast. Visit www.theadventuresummit.com  for a complete schedule, competition registration, sponsorship details and more information. For further information, call Outdoor Recreation Special Events and Development Coordinator Tom Helbig at (937) 567-4478.


Fall Recreation Activities In Dayton!

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Megan Lachey and friends after a recent 5K race

Editor’s note: please welcome Megan Lachey, another Dayton Campus Connect intern, to our Active Living section.

With fall here many people start to turn their active living styles inside. There is still so much outdoor recreation to do. The Dayton area offers quite a few events throughout the year. Here are just a few of the upcoming events.

On September 30th the much anticipated Gearfest will be taking place at Eastwood MetroPark. Gearfest has quite a few things to offer from mad river kayaking, athletic demonstrations to much more. It will be a fun filled and outdoor recreation event.

Fall is also a big time for 5k’s and fast paced races. Just a few of the 5k’s are: The New Carlisle Annual Heritage of Flight 5K walk/run will take place on October 2nd. The 35th Annual Dayton River Corridor half-marathon and 5K will be held at Welcome Stadium and University of Dayton on October 9th. On October 18th the 26th Annual Ghost N Goblin 5K will be at RiverScape MetroPark.  Join Miamisburg on November 24th for the ever famous Turkey Trot that has been going strong for 33 years.

For some slower paced recreation activities try Hike for the Health of it at Sugarcreek MetroPark. The events begin on October 1st and will repeat more times at other MetroParks throughout October. On the 5th Bellbrook will hold a Stroller Fit walk at Ron Kehl Park. Even look for Zumba, yoga and other fun classes at fitness centers and studios in the area that are held every week.

For family and children activities try Gymbus which is held in Miamisburg at Sycamore Trails Community Park. Gymbus has 4 sessions and starts on the 24th, is a fun way to get children motivated about moving and staying active. The Metroparks are also a great place to enjoy family recreation everday with their many walking trails, biking trails and some even offer horseback riding.

Fall is a beautiful season, with the leaves changing and the nice weather, it is easy to stay active outside. Take time and enjoy the many recreational activities Dayton has to offer.

Calling All Outdoor Enthusiasts – GearFest is here!

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Editor’s note: please welcome Rebecca Weaver, another Dayton Campus Connect intern, to our Active Living section.

Outdoor families and enthusiasts of all sorts are welcome to join in the 2011 Five Rivers Metroparks’ GearFest, a multi-day event packed with all the Midwest Outdoor Experience has to offer. The fun-filled event takes place on Friday, September 30, from 6 p.m. to 10 p.m. and Saturday, October 1, from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m., and not to mention parking and attendance is completely free!

GearFest has something to offer for all of our outdoor adventurers including camping, off-road races, regional music acts, competitions, a Friday and Saturday night beer garden, and much more! The two-day event has grown to be more than just a place to offer great outdoor gear, it has evolved to become a nature lover’s paradise. GearFest is one of the Midwest’s largest festivals celebrating the many thrilling activities mother nature has to offer.

On Friday night there will be the GearFest Off Road 5 K, the start of the National Slackline Competition, live music presented by WYSO including Front Porch Revival and The Spikedrivers, and a chance to watch the Earth Joy Tree Climbers. There will also be places and opportunities to try Backpacking, Fly Fishing, Geocaching, Skateboarding, and much more. Stop by the Subway Fresh Fit Youth Adventure Zone to learn about healthy and active outdoor lifestyles for the kids.

Saturday features the finale to the National Slackline Competition, Freestyle Whitewater Kayaking, speed rock climbing, a ski/snowboard competition, the Hub Trex Bike Ride, more live music presented by WYSO featuring the Buffalo Killers, and many other musical talents. There will also be a chance for guests to try many other activities including: disc golfing, snow tubing, kayaking, canoeing and much more.

[yframe url=’http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2nfRFfVm4oY&feature=player_embedded‘]

Not only will GearFest be the hot spot for some of the Midwest’s best outdoor fun, they will also be featuring some deliciously appealing food and drinks. This year’s food vendors include: All Souped Up, Bolaskos Concessions, Las Americas, Skyline Chili, Smokin’ Bar-B-Que, Kona Ice, and The Monch On. The Yakima Beer Garden will be featured on both Friday and Saturday night, and it will be hosted by Bonbright Distributors. All of the proceeds will be going towards the Mad River Mountain Ski Patrol.

Help GearFest in the effort to go green and reduce plastic cup waste by purchasing the world’s first and only Silipint, provided by Green Earth Outdoors. The Silipint is BPA free and practically indestructible, purchase one when you stop by the beer garden or pre-order one by calling Green Earth Outdoors (502) 475- 7455.

Enter the Ultimate Gear Giveaway for your chance to win your very own “Ultimate Outdoor Experience.” Simply like the “Get Out and Live” Facebook page and become automatically entered to win one of the many prize packs provided by GearFest sponsors. Some of the packages include items such as kayaks, mountain bikes, snowboards, skis, backpacks, and much more!

This year GearFest will be hosting many opportunities for all you nature nuts with a competitive edge. Along with the Gibbon National Slackline Competition, many other competitions will be taking place at the event as well. The featured events include the GearFest Off-Road 5K Run/ Walk, Colavita-Zipp Speed Time Trials Finale, Ohio Valley Cyclocross GearFest CX, “The Hunt for Shred October” Freestyle Competition, and the “Rock the Climb” Speed Climbing Competition. So if you’re seeking an outdoor escape this weekend, stop on out to Five Rivers Metroparks’ GearFest 2011, and grab yourself a breath of fresh air and some friendly competition.

Five Rivers MetroParks – A Bronze-Level Bicycle Friendly Business

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(from Five Rivers MetroPark)

Five Rivers MetroParks has been awarded bronze-level “bicycle-friendly business” (BFB) status, conferred by the League of American Bicyclists on Wednesday, Sept. 14, during the Interbike trade expo in Las Vegas. Five Rivers MetroParks was one of 111 new bicycle-friendly businesses that “actively promote bicycling for transportation, recreation, exercise, and sport,” according to information from the LAB. “A BFB practices social responsibility by weaving bicycling into the business culture and gives employees the opportunity to be active stewards of their personal and environmental health through bicycling.”

According to MetroPark officials, the process of obtaining the certification was as valuable as the title itself. “The application contains checklists and indicators that help you evaluate what you’re doing—or not doing—in terms of being bicycle-friendly,” says Five Rivers MetroParks Outdoor Recreation Program Manager Andy Williamson. “The process helped us, as an entire agency, to see what we’re doing well and what we can do better. It’s an eye-opening experience.”

There are a total of 344 awardees in 40 states—the Buckeye State boasts three businesses based in Columbus and one Cincinnati-based business. “We are happy to recognize these businesses for their investment in bicycling as a vehicle for improved employee health, social responsibility and economic growth,” said LAB President Andy Clarke. “Some of the most successful companies in the world are showing that investing in bicycling is not only good for health and sustainability but also the bottom line.”

Microsoft, Inc. is one of the new BFB winners, recognized at the silver‐level for incentive programs such as supplying funds for employees to purchase bikes and gear, subsidized bike tune‐ups, bicycling skills clinics and a free shuttle service for cyclists cut off by an interstate bridge. “For Microsoft, supporting bicycle commuting is simply a smart business strategy and helps us do our part to protect the environment,” said Lynn Frosch, Microsoft real estate and facilities transportation manager. “It helps us attract and retain employees and reduces our carbon footprint. That’s why we offer programs and amenities that help offset the cost of biking to work and make it as convenient as possible. It’s an integral part of our sustainable transportation program.” As a result of Microsoft’s efforts, the company has increased bike commuting, reduced parking demands, improved health and productivity.

Five Rivers MetroParks currently is the single BFB in the Miami Valley and the only park district in the country to earn such distinction, but it doesn’t have to be lonely at the top. “The LAB provides technical assistance, a report on your application, and feedback on what you’re doing right and how you can improve,” Williamson explains. “The best part is that the application and feedback are free! You don’t have to be a huge corporation to become a BFB—anyone can promote cycling at work or incorporate cycling as an employee benefit.”

In addition to an extensive network of bikeways, downtown Dayton employees can take advantage of the state-of-the-art RiverScape Bike Hub located at RiverScape MetroPark. Amenities such as these contributed to Dayton obtaining bronze-level bicycle-friendly community status in 2010. Bicycle-friendly status is conferred following these “5E” guidelines:

  • Engineering: Safe cycling access; bike racks for employees and guests; showers and lockers for commuters and lunchtime riders.
  • Education: Bike-safety programs; mentorship for new commuters; and equipment tutorials.
  • Encouragement: Benefits for bike commuters; paid mileage for trips made by bike; loaner bikes for errands and short trips; and earn-a-bike programs.
  • Evaluation: An assessment of what’s already being done and what to aim for in the future; in-house bike coordinators; and target ridership numbers. This is also the section to highlight your business’s unique programs and policies that promote and celebrate bicycling—from loaner bikes for short trips and in-house spin classes to supporting charity rides and sponsoring bike-racing teams.
  • Enforcement (for communities, not businesses): Measure the connections between the cycling and law enforcement. Identify if there are bicycle divisions of the law enforcement or public safety communities, if the community uses targeted enforcement to encourage cyclists and motorists to share the road safely, and the existence of bicycling-related laws such as those requiring helmet or the use of side paths.

Five Rivers MetroParks hosted the inaugural Miami Valley Cycling Summit and has helped coordinate concurring summits, bringing community leaders, government representatives, cyclists and business owners together to discuss the potential for cycling and how it can be a boon to the region. “A recent study by Miami Valley Regional Planning Commission revealed that bikeways helped bring about a $15 million return on investment to the region annually,” Williamson says. “This is one example of a direct benefit from cycling.” This dollar figure is just one measure based on tourism; the Miami Valley has not yet realized the long-term effects of improved wellness through active, healthy lifestyles and reduced stress from traffic congestion or respiratory benefits from reduced vehicle emissions. “We are proud of the roadmap that the Bicycle Friendly Business program provides and how these companies used it to transform into a BFB,” said Bill Nesper, director of the League’s Bicycle Friendly America program. “When employees bike, great things happen.”

To apply or learn more about the free BFB program, visit the League online at bikeleague.org/businesses. Learn more about the region’s bicycle amenities, download maps, find classes and get connected at metroparks.org/cycling.

BIke Miami Valley – The Rebirth!

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For decades Bike Miami Valley has played an important role in the development of the cycling community in the Miami Valley. As many of you heard at the Miami Valley Cycling Summit, Bike Miami Valley is being reborn with a new vision and mission to meet the current needs of cyclists in the region. They need your help and hope you will join them for a Meet-Up at Brixx to review where the organization has been, what is currently being done and how you can utilize your skills and interests to make an even greater impact.
The meeting will be on Tues, Sept 20th upstairs at Brixx (500 East 1st Street, Dayton)  and servers will be available if you would like some food and a tasty beverage.  For more info checkout the event on facebook.

A Little (Miami River) group makes a big difference

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The Little Miami River Keepers are up for a grant and you can help.

Do you know the Little Miami River Keepers? They have a great story of a simple initiative among neighbors that has grown into a major volunteer project attracting national attention. And – they need your help with a simple click.

The River Keepers are in the running for a grant from Tom’s of Maine – if they end up in the top 6 (currently they’re at 13, so you need to get clickin’), they will receive some much needed funding. Click here to vote for them. Learn more about why below.

I spoke to River Keepers Founder Steve Knopp and Barry Tiffany, Sugarcreek Township Administrator and all-around volunteer for the River Keepers, to learn more about this great initiative; they shared with me their history and future plans.

Barry started the conversation by sharing the story of neighbors who care enough to do something. Steve Knopp loves being out on the river to fish (although he admits he rarely catches much), but he doesn’t like to see the trash. Hope Taft (Former First Lady of Ohio) and her family use the river for relaxation and recreation, and each time they’re out, they do their small part to pick up some trash as they ride. These neighbors started talking about their vision for a cleaner environment and decided to do something about the trash that was damaging the river. In 2010, Steve and Hope arranged approximately 60 volunteers who came together to cover 7 miles of the river and pick up one ton of trash.

Yeah, that's a 40 ft. long wire getting pulled out of the river

Everyone was hooked on the great success and what a difference people working together could make. So they did it again in 2011 – only bigger!

This July, the initiative grew. The Little Miami River Keepers – in partnership with other river protection organizations across the region – orchestrated a clean-up of  400+ volunteers covering all 105 miles of the Little Miami (from its source in Clark Co. to the southern tip where it meets the Ohio River) and they collected 10-15 tons (20-30,000 pounds) of trash – everything from Styrofoam cups and plastic bags to hundreds of tires and multiple television sets. Barry and Steve shared a unique clean-up story: They were in a group that pulled out a 28 foot wrought iron utility pole (weighing approx 300 lbs) out of the river. Being unsure how to deal with it in the canoes (and after losing it a few times), Barry hopped on and rode it down the river to a point where they could get it out.

I asked Barry how the river gets so dirty. He explained that the challenge is never-ending. Some trash accumulates from drains washing into the tributaries and making their way to the river, some trash is from people in canoes who tip over and everything floats away, and other trash is specifically dumped. One team of volunteers who started their clean-up by a bridge in Greene County found 5 TV sets dumped down by the river – presumably just tossed out of cars. They lugged the sets up to the side of the road for pick-up and began work. So many tires were found during the clean-up because even when fully submerged, the tires just go with the flow of the water until hung up by a tree root or something that stops it. Broken glass is a major concern due to the danger element.

Some of the grossness that came out of the river. Now imagine 15 tons of it. Ick.

River cleanliness is important to different people for different reasons. Talking to Barry, you can feel a pride in his voice for the Miami Valley and the region. He wants to highlight one of the great natural resources that’s available here. Steve thinks of the river as Dayton’s own amusement park. He says, “You can take your kids, grandkids, friends – and for absolutely zero cost you can enjoy what the river has to offer – fishing,  canoeing, picnicking, you can take your own intertube and just have a blast with a group of friends.” But more than just having a fun time in the river, he knows the value of making a recreation spot clean. He continues, “When you visit the (amusement) park, they’re pristine clean and there’s no trash. Now imagine going to the Little Miami with styrophoam and a car turned upside down.” He knows trash in the river isn’t going to attract fun-seekers, so he wants to clean it up to get it to its “complete natural state.” Steve said that he’s a much more visual person, whereas Hope can tell you the types of fish and the number of species and what’s happening in the river as a natural environment. Everyone has their reason for wanting it clean, but getting the job done is what’s most important.

Barry said that the River Keepers are doing what they can to create awareness and encourage people to stop dumping, but he acknowledges that it’ll always be a problem. So – the focus of the River Keepers is to clean. In doing so, they have applied to Tom’s of Maine for a grant. The six organizations from across the county who are voted to win will each receive financial support. If they win the $10,000, that will support an individual clean-up project. If they come out as the big winner of the $50K, they will be able to turn it into a trust for the long-term success of the group.

Are you telling me you don't see government officials riding poles down the river everyday?

Why would the organization need so much money for a few volunteers to clean up the river? It’s a major undertaking that needs more than just manpower. In addition to the supplies each volunteer needs, the renting of the canoes, and the River Keepers plan to make a major impact by bringing in some big machinery. According to Steve, even though they’ve picked up a lot of trash – there’s easily ten times the debris still in the river. So much of the trash is large-scale and can’t be handled by canoes – they’ve found old cars that have been in the river for over 20 years, dozens of 55-Gallon barrel drums, big truck tires (with rims), a hot tub and a dumpster among the larger items to be pulled out of the river. The grant from Tom’s of Maine will help fund this major endeavor by allowing them to contract with construction companies who can pull out these large items and cover the expenses incurred by private residents who have their property damaged when a back-hoe drives through “Farmer Joe’s” field pulling out an old car.

So, help out a great initiative of neighbors banning together and making a major difference for all of us who enjoy the over 100 miles of what the Little Miami has to offer. Vote today (and tomorrow, and everyday until voting ends).

Learn more:

Info on the Little Miami State and National Scenic River – the first river to receive that official designation from the State of Ohio.

Get info about the River Keepers on their Facebook page or their Web site.

And don’t forget to VOTE for them to win the grant!

New trail connects Miami, Montgomery counties

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CELEBRATION, GROUP RIDES PLANNED

Photo by Elzora.com Photography

The Miami Valley’s regional bikeway system keeps getting better. Construction has finished on a portion of trail connecting Montgomery and Miami County’s bikeways together. The public is invited to attend grand opening festivities in Kyle Park in Tipp City. Group bike rides leaving from Troy and Vandalia will take place at 9:00 and 9:30 a.m., respectively, and meet in Kyle Park for the 10 a.m. ribbon-cutting ceremony on Friday, August 12.

The 2.5-mile trail connector is part of a regional plan created to make the region even more bike friendly. Cyclists and others using the trail no longer have to use the road and share their space with cars. “It opens up access to new, exciting rides and to the larger regional bikeways system, giving more people a chance to establish an active lifestyle and have more fun on bikes,” says Outdoor Connections Director Greg Brumitt. “This connector opens a key corridor to connect Miami County, Tipp City and Troy to Montgomery County’s bikeways.”

This initiative—a combined effort of Five Rivers MetroParks, Miami County Park District, Monroe Township, and Tipp City—was funded by a congestion/mitigation air quality grant from the Miami Valley Regional Planning Commission.

Miami and Montgomery counties are now linked by a continuous bikeway.

Bikeways have demonstrated a positive economic impact on the region, a trend Brumitt says he hopes will continue. “A 2009 economic impact report found our regional bikeways system generated  $13 million of economic activity annually by local and visiting walkers, hikers, runners, skaters and cyclists,” he says. “This trail opening represents continued progress in implementation of the Local/Regional Comprehensive Bikeways Plan adopted by MVRPC board of which Five Rivers MetroParks help fund and was a founding steering committee member. Both connecting trail systems are part of an even larger network of trails—the 1,440-mile Buckeye Trail state-wide loop and the 4,600-mile North Country National Scenic Trail, which passes through seven states, 10 national forests and more than 150 public lands as it winds from New York to North Dakota. “We are proud to be able to have this trail opening during the North Country Trail Conference, taking place this week right here in the Miami Valley, as trail enthusiasts from across the country get introduced to the great things happening in the Dayton region,” Brumitt says.

On Friday, August 12, the Miami County group bike ride will leave from Troy at the Hobart Arena parking lot near the levee gazebo at 9 a.m. The Montgomery County ride departs from the Tadmor parking lot at Taylorsville MetroPark at 9:30 a.m. Both groups will meet at Kyle Park for the 10 a.m. event. Five Rivers MetroParks Executive Director Rebecca Benná, Miami County Board of Park Commissioners President John Wannemacher, Monroe Township Trustee Ron Thuma, and Tipp City Mayor Dee Gillis will give a brief presentation before cutting the ribbon, officially opening the new trail connecting Miami and Montgomery counties.

Ride the River Trails, Explore the City

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River Ride Route - Click to open larger version

Cyclists of every spoke are welcome to join in the 2011 Dayton River Ride, a leisurely exploration of urban recreation trails and attractions on Saturday, July 30, from 9 a.m. to noon. Participation is FREE.

The Dayton River Ride kicks off at RiverScape MetroPark plaza and rolls southward to Carillon Historical Park before returning to the starting point. Optional side-trip attractions include the Dayton Aviation Heritage National Historical Park, Wright-Dunbar Village and historic Woodland Cemetery and Arboretum.

The nine-mile ride will progress mainly along the Great Miami River Recreation Trail, with some additional riding along dedicated street lanes. Traffic will be maintained by police and volunteers.

Cool drinks and delicious snacks will be served at the half-way point, and restrooms will be available to riders. After the ride, cyclists are welcome to join in the Dayton Celtic Festival at RiverScape. Families and groups are encouraged to participate; riders under age 12 must be accompanied by an adult.

Check-in and on-site registration will be held from 8:30 to 9:30 a.m. the day of the ride. For more information, a ride map and advance registration, visit www.daytonohio.gov/riverride.

Participants will receive a River Ride goodie bag. Early registrants will be eligible to win Dayton Dragons luxury suite tickets and other prizes.

Bicycle Dreams Coming To Dayton

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(from Garry Harrington – promoter for Bicycle Dreams)

Bicycle Dreams, the award-winning feature-length documentary about the Race Across America (RAAM), will premiere at several cities along the route of the epic 3,000-mile bicycle race that will be held for the 30th year in 2011. This year’s race begins on June 14 in Oceanside, California, and will end 10 days later in Annapolis, Maryland.

To commemorate the 30th edition of what is considered by many the most challenging sporting event in the world, Bicycle Dreams will follow alongside the racers by showing the film in 10 cities along the route, including Dayton. The film will be shown at The Neon at 130 E. 5th St. at 7:30 p.m. on Wednesday, June 22.

The film, which has won numerous awards at film festivals all over the world, “is an up-close look at what RAAM riders go through,” says Stephen Auerbach, the director and producer of Bicycle Dreams. “They deal with searing desert heat, agonizing mountain climbs, and endless stretches of open road. And they do it all while battling extreme exhaustion and sleep deprivation. It’s a great subject for a film.”

“Bicycle Dreams is a spectacular and heartfelt film that offers a riveting portrait of extreme courage in the face of inhuman obstacles,” writes TheLoveOfMovies.com. “It is an artistic triumph that renewed my belief in the power of desire and the strength of the human will.”

The upcoming tour of the film is scheduled to coincide with the 2011 Race Across America, which begins on June 14 when riders leave from Oceanside, California. Bicycle Dreams will be shown in Flagstaff, Arizona; Durango, Colorado; Wichita, Kansas; Columbia, Missouri; St. Louis, Missouri; Indianapolis, Indiana; Dayton, Ohio; and Cincinnati, Ohio, during the RAAM’s run across the United States. The race is expected to end on or about June 24.

“We are very excited to be able to bring Bicycle Dreams to so many locations along the route that have never had access to the film before,” says Auerbach. “Viewers will be overwhelmed by the amount of pain and suffering these riders go through, and they will be able to see it all first-hand in the days following the film when the 2011 racers come through their towns.”

To capture the mammoth scope of the race, Auerbach worked around the clock with a complement of 18 cameras. Embedded camera operators traveled inside the racers’ support crew vehicles, gaining unprecedented access to the cyclists and their teams. Their footage captured emotional and physical breakdowns, late-night strategy sessions, and great moments of personal triumph, all in intimate detail. Auerbach then took on the enormous task of editing hundreds of hours of material and forming it into a powerful and inspiring look inside the most difficult race on the planet.

Bicycle Dreams has won major awards at the Fallbrook and Breckenridge film festivals, as well as the Yosemite, Grand Rapids, Red Rock and All Sports LA film festivals, among many others.

Most recently the film added the Best Foreign Film trophy from the Krasnogorski International Festival of Sports Films in Moscow and was also invited to be included in the 2011 World Cinema Showcase in New Zealand as well as the Mountain Film Festival in Istanbul, Turkey. And before that it made its Australian debut at the Big Pond Film Festival in Adelaide.

Critical acclaim for the film continues to pour in from all sources.

“An astonishing documentary.  This film is a ride of many stark contrasts; when it ended I felt both shattered and triumphant. I realized I was experiencing its genius. A central theme of Bicycle Dreams is the profoundly inspiring strength of the human in facing monumental challenge and tragedy. Bicycle Dreams is a race of truth.” –  Pez Cycling.

“This film isn’t for those who want to shy away from the tragic side of the human experience, unwilling to risk the cracking of their shell of denial, not willing to risk their coping mechanism,” writes Cycling-Review.com. “Bicycle Dreams captures the human condition like few other films. Bicycle Dreams moves us to break through the barrier of the fear of death. I have seldom found a film that captures this ‘life drama’ as powerfully as does Bicycle Dreams.”

Adds Podium Café, “Bicycle Dreams is the ultimate inner journey. If you thought the life of a cyclist was an internal struggle, wait until you see what Auerbach unearths in this film. Bicycle Dreams is an unprecedented exploration of the subject of the suffering on the bike.”

About.com writes, “As we fall deeper and deeper into Bicycle Dreams, what we witness grows more terrifying, yet more compelling. Auerbach’s masterful direction exposes the raw lessons that drive people to push beyond the limits of human endurance. Revealing what lies at the heart of every impossible human endeavor is what Bicycle Dreams is all about.”

And finally, Bicycle Touring Pro comments, “If you’ve ever dreamed of challenging yourself to a place far beyond what you previously thought was possible, Bicycle Dreams is a film you must see. It’s beautiful, thought provoking, exciting, emotional and scary. The experience of watching this film will leave you with a new perspective on life that will remain with you for a very long time to come.”

Bicycle Dreams also has been named one of the top 10 adventure films of all time by both The Matador Network and Playground Magazine.

The upcoming nationwide tour to be held in conjunction with the 2011 Race Across America will include a screening at the Neon in Dayton at 7:30 p.m. on Wednesday, June 22.

Tickets are $10 in advance and $15 at the door. To purchase advance tickets go to www.imathlete.com/events/bicycledreams. For more information on the film, go to www.bicycledreamsmovie.com or find us on Facebook.

[yframe url=’http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y1ZWZrKSxxs’]

Homecoming for ‘Captain Blue’

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What in the blue blazes would prompt someone to endure backpacking in scorching temperatures and frequent deluges? Better ask local hiking enthusiast Andy Niekamp. You’ll have the opportunity to do so Wednesday, June 15, when he completes his hike of the entire Buckeye Trail, a 1,444-mile journey looping through Ohio.

Andy Niekamp will complete his 1,444-mile hike of the Buckeye Trail on June 15 at Deeds Point MetroPark. Photo courtesy Andy Niekamp.

Niekamp has been hiking since his Boy Scout days, tackling such terrain as the 7,400-mile Appalachian Trail, a continuous footpath that runs through fourteen states from Springer Mountain in Georgia to Katahdin in Maine. He has been awarded three “2,000 miler” certificates by the Appalachian Trail Conservancy, recognition conferred on hikers who have completed the entire trail. Last year alone, he logged nearly 1,600 miles of backpacking on 16 different trips in 15 states.

The Buckeye Trail, which is the longest circular trail in the country, is a new challenge for Niekamp. “Hiking the Buckeye Trail is about discovering Ohio. It is not a wilderness experience. It is about learning Ohio’s history. It is about the people of Ohio,” he writes in his blog, outlining his trip. “It is a journey around Ohio on trails and roads in both rural and urban areas. Hiking the Buckeye Trail is about the people, the places, the present and the past.”

Photo courtesy Andy Niekamp. Discover Ohio's past, present and future along the Buckeye Trail.

Marked with “blue blazes” along the volunteer-maintained trail, the Buckeye Trail reaches all four corners of the state. It passes through several MetroParks (Eastwood, Deeds Point, Island, Taylorsville and Wegerzyn Gardens MetroParks), running with the North Country National Scenic Trail. You can learn more about this 4,600-mile trail stretching across seven states from North Dakota to New York at the annual conference that takes place right here in Dayton August 11-14!

The public is invited to welcome Niekamp, who started his journey on the Buckeye Trail from Dayton on March 20, as he wraps up his hike at Deeds Point MetroPark on June 15. If you want to be part of the action and hear Niekamp’s experiences, head to Eastwood MetroPark at 3:00 p.m. on the Buckeye Trail/Mad River bike path near the bridge in the parking lot farthest from Harshman Road. Finish the hike with Niekamp around 4:00 p.m. and be rewarded with a reception at the Five Rivers MetroParks office at 224 N. Saint Clair St. (There will be cake and ice cream!)

Photo curtesy Andy Niekamp. Encounter nature as you hike the Buckeye Trail!

Getting inspired to get out and hike? Why not join a group of friendly folks who will keep you motivated? Niekamp is the founder and leader of the Dayton Hikers group, Dayton’s largest and most active hiking group. You’ll be in the company of about 500 members who take advantage of the group’s variety of day hike and backpacking trips. You can also get outside and enjoy the nearly 175 miles of trail available at any MetroPark. Why not check out an upcoming fitness and health program? It doesn’t matter what your skill level, intensity or frequency with which you hike, just as long as you get out and live!

Available Bike Parking

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SO, you want to ride your bike around town, but you don’t know where to park it to keep it safe? I’ve heard enough complaints about finding parking for cars (even though there’s this great Web site), so before I started letting my bike be a source of transportation, I wanted to know where to park it. If I have a meeting across town, would have I have park so far away that biking wouldn’t be worth it? Are there bike racks available that will make a stop downtown or in the Oregon District feasible for a quick lunch? I wanted to know.

Two emails and I had a great answer. First email – Five Rivers MetroParks (a pretty solid cycling authority). From there I was referred to Andrew Rodney at the City of Dayton who has “working list” that he’s developing for this purpose. Disclaimer – this list isn’t verified up to 100% of his satisfaction, but props to him for sharing it with me (and by extension you).

Address Location Amenity Covered Landmark
318 E 5th St Sidewalk Rack No Omega Records
123 W. Third St Garage Rack Yes City Hall Garage
131 South Main St Garage Rack Yes Reibold Garage
207 E. 4th Street, Sidewalk Rack No Drake’s Gym
215 E. 3rd Street Sidewalk Rack No Dayton Metro Library – Front Entrance
215 E. 3rd Street Park Rack No Branch Dayton Metro Library – Drive up Window
200 W. 2nd Street Plaza Rack No Federal Building – North Side
E. 1st Street at Main Street Sidewalk Rack No Victoria Theater
Sinclair CC Campus Plaza Rack Yes Between Buildings 1 and 2
Sinclair CC Campus Plaza Rack Yes Entrance to Building 7
E. 5th Street at Perry St Plaza Rack No Behind Building 14
4th and Perry Streets Parking Lot Rack No North of Building 9, along Perry
Monument at Patterson Blvd Plaza Rack No Main gate to 5/3 Field
E. 5th Street at Brown St Sidewalk Rack No Oregon Express
107 N. Ludlow St Garage Rack Yes Schuster Garage
600 E 2nd St Sidewalk Rack No 2nd Street Public Market
16 S. Ludlow St Garage Rack Yes Fifth Third Center Garage
Monument Ave. at Jefferson Sidewalk Rack No Riverscape
1394 Brown Street Sidewalk Rack No Ben and Jerry’s Ice Cream
1001 Brown Street Sidewalk Rack No Cornerstone Bar and Grill
430 E. Fifth Street Sidewalk Rack No Blind Bob’s
237 E. Monument Ave Sidewalk Rack No Five Rivers Bike Hub
371 W. Second St Sidewalk Rack No One Stop Center, west side
237 E. Monument Ave Indoor Bike Hub Yes Riverscape Metropark
Monument Avenue at I-75 N/A Trail Access No Under I-75
425 N. Findlay Street N/A Bike Shoppe Yes Life Enrichment Center
1102 Gateway Drive N/A BMX Track No Gateway BMX Track
1600 Princeton Drive Front Door Rack No Northwest Recreation Center
2021 W. Third St. Front Door Rack No Greater Dayton Recreation Center
2730 Lyons Road Sidewalk Rack No GDRTA South Hub
122 Elmhurst Drive Sidewalk Rack No GDRTA Westown Hub
1218 Falke Drive Sidewalk Rack No GDRTA Eastown Hub
4 S. Main Street Sidewalk Rack No GDRTA Wright Stop Plaza
1134 Brown Street Sidewalk Rack No Starbucks

Watch out Road (specifically you in the cars)

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We all got the news last year that Dayton is an official Bronze Level Bike Friendly Community. We’ve got the yellow bikes downtown (are there any left?) and the new tri-cabs popping up. There are bike lanes and sharrows through the city and trails that lead all around the Miami Valley. Bikes are gaining prominence in our fair city as the weather turns warmer. So, I needed to know the most bike-friendly routes and where I could park as I prep for my week without a car.

I turned first to the internet. MY GOSH there are so many organizations and people in the region promoting biking. Since this experiment is less about recreation and more about transportation, I first went to the bike/walk map provided by the City of Dayton. Overall it’s a great tool, but when I see that it claims that Wayne Avenue is a bike-friendly road (albeit for experts only), I’m not quite sure that the map represents my reality. I’ll stick to the beginner routes. I’ll also give the City props for a working list of places to park a bike downtown. Andrew Rodney is working on this, and although he’s not 100% satisfied with its level of completion, it’s something to work with.

This bike needs a little help...

I also appreciated the bike portal provided by the Miami Valley Regional Planning Commission – great recreational info, but the portal also provided links specifically for the Bike Commuter. And if I ever feel totally alone in the adventure there’s:  Courteous Mass, Bicycle Buzz Miami Valley, Dayton Cycling Club, the Outdoor Evangelist, Five Rivers MetroParks, the Miami Valley Cycling Summit, and many, many more organizations and individual bloggers that share their experiences. I’m all info-ed up and ready to go!

Except that my bike has been sitting in a cold, wet, and icky garage for the last year. Some years I attempt to clean it up myself, but seeing as I have to actually rely on it and not just take some happy spins around the block, I’m leaving it up to the experts. I hit K&G Bike Shop (they have three around the region) for a “tune-up” and to be sure nothing was going to break.

John Duerr at K&G is getting my bike road ready

Good thing I went for the experts. As soon as I got there with my bike, friendly manager John took it from me and pointed out that I already had it set up in a pretty unsafe way. Okay – good lesson. For my seasonal tune up, they cleaned and oiled and realigned and inflated. Pretty much the basics of making sure that it’s not going to fall apart when I hit my first pothole.

While I was there I even picked up a helmet. I can’t tell you how hard that was for me. I grew up in a time when my parents sent my siblings and I out on bikes for the day just to get us out of their hair. We never used helmets! We went all over the city and through construction sites (that we stupidly usurped as our own little BMX park) and through scraped knees and broken arms we still remained helmet-less. But (I guess) I’m older and wiser and now I’m driving down busier streets. This adventure requires a helmet – but at least it’s pretty.

So, I’m now ready to go. Watch out road, here I come!

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Cycling Sells Cities – 2011 Miami Valley Cycling Summit

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Portland (OR), Boulder (CO), Madison (WI), Austin (TX), Ann Arbor (MI) – these cities have often been included in lists of the most livable cities in the U.S.  But they have something else in common – they are all recognized by the League of American Bicyclists as Bicycle Friendly Communities, and there is certainly a correlation between these two lists.  Dayton made the latter list last year as a Bronze-level Bicycle Friendly Community, and local advocates continue to plan and organize efforts that will move us up on that list.  This Friday on May 20, you can learn more about some of these efforts as well as how the power of cycling drives economic development in communities both large and small.

The 2011 Miami Valley Cycling Summit, hosted by the City of Dayton at the Salvation Army Ray & Joan Kroc Center, will bring together over 400 cycling enthusiasts from across the Miami Valley, the state, and the nation.

The cycling summit was last held in 2009 and was one of the largest in the nation reaching bike enthusiasts and community leaders from across the region.  350 people attended the day-long event that was free and open to the public.  This year’s focus is on the economic development opportunities that bike friendly regions create.  Other break-out session examples will include advocacy advice for creating bike friendly communities, as well as how bike communities combat obesity and promote healthy communities.

Over the past year communities and organizations spanning 4 counties have joined forces to ensure our region continues to move closer to a more connected and collaborative biking community. This level of engagement crosses jurisdictional lines and is sure to facilitate and even greater impact.  Planning Committee Partners include representatives from the City of Dayton, City of Miamisburg, Clark County-Springfield, Five Rivers MetroParks, Greene County Parks, Miami Conservancy District, Miami County Parks, MVRPC, Yellow Springs Chamber, City of Troy

The summit actually begins on Thursday with a screening of the movie Veer at Downtown Dayton’s Neon Theater at 7:30pm, followed by Bike to Work Day Breakfast at Riverscape Friday morning from 6 to 9:30am.  From there, the group will do a mass ride to the Salvation Army Ray & Joan Kroc Center where the rest of the summit will be held.

The opening keynote at 10am will be Bruno Maier – Vice President of Bikes belong, a national coalition of bicycle retailers and suppliers working to get more folks on bikes more often. Bruno is a Miami Valley native who will speak about how cycling infrastructure supports economic development and increases vitality throughout the US.

From there, four different breakout sessions will happen throughout the day:

  • Session One (10:35am – 11:30am)
    • Track One: Alternative Transportation and Impacts on Economic Development -Bruno (Bikes Belong)
    • Track Two: Supersized Kids: What can be done? – Bruce Barcelo CTTS, Dayton, OH (Creating Healthy Communities Coordinator)
  • Lunch (11:30am – 1:00pm)
    • Kroc Center Tours and Miami Valley Community Showcase
  • Session 2 (1:00pm – 1:55pm)
    • Track One: Panel Discussion – Completing the Bike Friendly Community Application – Riverside, Troy, Dayton
    • Track Two: Upping your Bike Engagement & Education; organizing events and programs -Tom Helbig (Five Rivers MetroParks) and Jeff Sorrell (Life Enrichment Center)
  • Session 3 (2:00pm – 2:55pm)
    • Track One:  Engaging Local Businesses in Bike Friendly Efforts – Jeff Stephens (Consider Biking, Columbus)
    • Track Two: Regional Bikeway Master Plan Reports: What Is Next? – Matt Lindsey (Miami Valley Regional Planning Commission)
  • Session 4 (3:00pm – 3:55pm)
    • Track One: Federal/State Funding Left On The Table – Jeff Peel (League of American Bicyclists)
    • Track Two: Relaunching Bike Miami Valley; Fulfilling the needs of Miami Valley cyclists – Bike Miami Valley Board Members
  • Summit Closing

Then after the summit, the action continues at Brixx Ice Co. with a Bike Miami Valley Grassroots Social Happy Hour!

If you are into biking and want to learn more about the biking community here in Dayton as well as the exciting things yet to come, you’ll want to come to this summit.  Don’t forget your bike!

Free Program Promotes Pedal Power Downtown

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Volunteers ride the Yellow Bikes downtown.

Volunteers give some of the first yellow bikes off the assembly line a spin downtown during the May 6 First Friday.

Cycling culture in downtown Dayton is about to burn rubber with the roll out of the Yellow Bike program.

This free bike sharing program is the brainchild of Jeff Sorrell, vice president and executive director of the Life Enrichment Center, a faith-based nonprofit organization serving Dayton. The center’s new Yellow Bike program will provide brightly painted yellow bikes available free of charge for anyone to ride between downtown destinations. People simply grab a yellow bike, ride it to their destination and park it in a bike rack for the next person to use.

“The Yellow Bike program provides a free means of transportation and gives anyone access to bicycles to use at any time,” Sorrell said. “This program also promotes a healthy lifestyle and encourges people to get outside and be active.”

The Yellow Bike program will be officially launched during the Friday, May 13, Urban Nights, held from 5 to 10 p.m. throughout downtown. Riders can pick up one of 50 yellow bikes at Courthouse Square or whereever they see one parked throughout downtown. The Life Enrichment Center is seeking donations of helmets in all sizes, which can be dropped off at Courthouse Square during Urban Nights or at the center, 425 N. Findlay St.

The Yellow Bike program is part of a larger effort to enhance cycling culture in the City of Dayton, the only Ohio city to be selected as a Bicycle Friendly Community by the League of American Bicyclists in its spring 2010 rankings. Dayton was awarded a bronze-level status for its efforts to help make the city more bicycle and pedestrian friendly through such efforts as the addition of bike lanes to downtown streets and the opening of the bike hub at RiverScape MetroPark.

“Enhancing downtown Dayton as a bike-friendly city is about more than recreation ― it’s about regional economic development,” said Dr. Michael Ervin, co-chair of the Downtown Dayton Partnership and the Greater Downtown Dayton Plan. “That’s because cities where it’s easy to have the kind of active lifestyle that’s integral to cycling culture are more attractive to residents, visitors and businesses. Strategies that make it even more convenient to have an active lifestyle downtown, such as the Yellow Bike program, increase urban vibrancy, improve quality of life and, in the long term, attract new jobs and investment.”

Andy Williamson of Five Rivers Outdoors shows off the first yellow bike at the April 15 Young Creatives Summit.

Andy Williamson of Five Rivers Outdoors shows off the first yellow bike at the April 15 Young Creatives Summit.

The Yellow Bike program also is supported by the City of Dayton’s Bike/Walk Committee, which is overseeing the work of the City of Dayton 2025 Bicycle Action Plan. The City is seeking public input on the plan through this summer.

“A simple, accessible, inexpensive and environmentally friendly form of transportation, the bicycle continues to be a pivotal part of the City of Dayton’s vision for an active citizenry, vibrant economy and engaging street life,” said Dayton City Commissioner Nan Whaley. “Individuals and businesses are choosing to locate in areas where alternative transportation options are both abundant and convenient. The Yellow Bike program does much to help achieve this.”

The Yellow Bike program is one of several at the Life Enrichment Center’s new Bike Shoppe, renovated by volunteers and made possible by a grant from the UPS Foundation and private donations. The yellow bikes are refurbished by Life Enrichment Center clients, teaching them new skills while providing a service to the community.

To help keep the bikes in the downtown area, the Life Enrichment Center has worked with the Dayton Police Department, scrap yards and pawn shops. Anyone who finds a yellow bike that needs repaired or is outside the downtown area is asked to call the Bike Shoppe at 937-252-7780 so it can be picked up, returned to the center, repaired if necessary and put back into circulation. All the yellow bikes also will have stickers with the center’s phone number. Riders are reminded to always wear a helmet and obey traffic laws.