Smart Trips Commuter Challenge

Take 2012 Smart Trips Commuter Challenge this June and July and you could win one of these great prizes:

• Apple iPad
• Timbuktu Messenger bags
• Kindle Fire tablets
• Bike tune-ups
• GRAND PRIZE - $1,500 towards the purchase of an airline, cruise or vacation package from AAA Travel of East Tennessee.(Our 2011 winner is shown as he embarks on his cruise!)

If you aren't signed up for Smart Trips yet, register online. If you're registered already, just remember to log your commutes! All you have to do is choose an alternative to driving alone to work once a week during the Challenge -- that is just 8 days total! We can help you find a carpool partner with the free online ridematching database. Looking for a good bike route to work? Just email Kelley with your start and end locations. Want transit info? Just email us and we can help!

Things kick off on June 1 with our Downtown Prize Trolley. Hop on, answer a trivia question (correctly!), win a prize! It’s that simple. It’s our take on the popular show Cash Cab.

In July, check out our Window Display contest. During our fun, urban contest windows around downtown will be dressed up in their Smart Trips finery and you’ll have the chance to vote on your favorites! Interested in having your window in the contest? See details.

Bike to Work Day

Do you like to save money? Want to be healthier? Would you like to arrive at work feeling energized? Then you should join us on Bike to Work Day!

Here in Knoxville, we have twice as many people who bike to work every day as the national average. We’ve got an easy way for you to try out bike commuting. Friday, May 18^th, there are bike convoys leaving from each direction heading to Market Square
for the Bike to Work Day celebration. The convoys are led by experienced bike commuters who can show you the ropes. Don’t worry about the pace; the group will stay together, whatever speed everyone needs. 

We’ll be on Market Square with free coffee and biscuits from 7:30 – 8:30 a.m. for bike commuters. Mayor Rogero will present the Best Dressed Commuters awards at 8 a.m.. We like to show that if you have a short commute, you can wear your normal work clothes—or even something more special than your regular attire!

Here are the convoy details:

Friday, May 18

6:30 a.m.          Halls to downtown and UT.

Meet at Halls Center, 6950 Maynardville Pike, near Ace Hardware.

7 a.m.               North Knoxville to downtown and UT.

Meet at Office Depot/Food City parking lot on Broadway, 4212 N Broadway.

7 a.m.               East Knoxville to downtown and UT.

Meet at Holston River Park, 3300 Holston Hills Road (top parking lot by pavilion).

7:15 a.m.          Bearden to downtown and UT.

Meet at Third Creek Greenway trailhead, 130 Forest Park Blvd, near Earthfare.

7:15 a.m.          South Knoxville to downtown & UT.

Meet at Food City parking lot, 4580 Chapman Hwy.

Thursday, May 17

7:45 a.m.          Oak Ridge to ORNL.

Meet at Jackson Square

More details and all other Bike Month events are online at:

http://www.knoxtrans.org/bikemonth

Fundraising for bicyclist hit by motorist

Damon Foster, a cycle instructor at the Rush was hit by car on Kingston Pike recently. He had two additional surgeries and spent several nights in the ICU.  He was released on April 17th but still has a long road to recovery ahead of him.  Knox Revolution is holding a greenway ride as a fundraiser to assist with hospital bills.

Sunday, April 29th
3:30 p.m.

Meet at The Well (4620 Kingston Pike) at 3:30 pm and then ride Third Creek Greenway to World’s Fair Park and back. The ride will be around 12 miles total, so ride the whole thing or just part of it. Afterwards, come back to The Well for ½ price food & drink specials. They will be there taking donations from 2:00 - 9:00 p.m..

If you can't make it, you can still donate via the Jeff Roth Cycling Foundation website.

Seeking Kids on Bikes for Dogwood Parade

Do you want to be in the Dogwood Parade Friday, April 27 at 7 p.m? The Bicycle Program's entry will feature kids ages 5 - 10 and their parents. Kids should come in a spring-themed costume (adults can too!). What does spring mean to you? Flowers, sunshine, bees? You and your child should also decorate her/his helmet and bicycle. We want to show how festive and fun bicycling is!

If you are interested in participating, RSVP to kelley.segars@knoxtrans.org Space is limited so email soon! Your email should include:

1) Name and age of child (or children; it's ok if a sibling doesn't fall into the 5 - 10 age range)
2) Idea for costume theme
3) Phone number

Kids should be able to bike at a sloooowwww parade pace, but also should be able to keep up when we're told to catch up to the float in front. Adults will walk. (Kids must be accompanied by a parent--no drop offs!)

Helmets required for kids. Should be available for parade line-up by 6 p.m. at the latest. (We will have more instructions once we receive them from Dogwood Arts.)

Bike Month calendar

Tour de Cure planning

Do you like planning parties or bike rides?

The Knoxville Tour de Cure is looking for volunteers to join us as we grow this Tour into one of the best in the nation. Knoxville Tour de Cure COMMITTEE Interest Meeting(This is a meeting for anyone who is interested in helping to learn how more about all the opportunites we have to be a little more involved)

Thursday, February 16th
6pm to 8pm
Barley’s in the Old City.
200 East Jackson Ave
Knoxville, TN

The Tour de Cure Volunteer Committee is looking for hardworking passionate individuals to help us make the 2012 Tour de Cure the BEST EVER!! It’s our vision to double our goal in 2012, but to make that work we need to double the size of our planning committee! If you are interested on serving in any capacity, please attend the meeting to learn everything you need to know about the Volunteer Committee and what we are responsible for and how you can help. There is a great fit for your skills from PR to Route Logistics to planning a party! Everyone is welcome!

Please Bring a friend and get ready to throw one of the biggest parties Knoxville has ever seen. WE NEED YOU!

Please contact Ben Bass at bbass@diabetes.org or 865-524-7868 ext 3342 to RSVP for this exciting event.

Tyson Park detour

The closure of Third Creek Greenway in Tyson Park since December has been a real problem, and KUB doesn't seem to be close to finishing. I just found out about a great option for a detour, though. From the west via the greenway, get on the park road and go past the skatepark. The road continues under Alcoa Highway to the UT Kingston Pike property, and turns right, taking you out to Kingston Pike at a traffic signal. You can either use the traffic signal to enter Kingston Pike, or take the sidewalk up to 22nd. Depends on whether you are going downtown or to UT as to where you go from there. If you use the sidewalk, remember to anticipate drivers turning or pulling out in front of you, so go slowly and watch out!

Save the Date: TN Bike Summit

2012 Tennessee Bike Summit
May 2-4, 2012, Chattanooga, TN

In just a year, Tennessee rose from ranking 43 to 24 of the League of American Bicyclists' Bicycle Friendly States list. To continue building this momentum, the 2012 Tennessee Bike Summit will serve as an opportunity to share successes, challenges, and strategies for moving Tennessee forward as a bike-friendly state. Join us for exciting sessions and mobile workshops!

Who should attend: Practitioners, technical professionals, researchers, advocates and anyone with an interest! There is something for everyone!

**The 2012 Tennessee Bike Summit immediately precedes the 25th Anniversary 3 State 3 Mountain Challenge being held in Chattanooga May 5th.**

Registration details for the bike summit will be made available soon. To receive future communication regarding the summit, including registration opportunities, sign up for the mailing list. The mailing list will be used for important updates only.

To inquire about sponsorship opportunities, please email Cody Roney at tnbikesummit@gmail.com.

Job announcement for Safe Routes to School

Job Announcement for Tennessee State Advocacy Organizer

The Safe Routes to School National Partnership is hiring a state advocacy organizer in Tennessee who will build and maintain a network of diverse partners to achieve three main policy objectives: (1) Leverage funding for bicycle and pedestrian construction projects including Safe Routes to School and Transportation Enhancements funds, (2) Facilitate additional street-scale improvements through Complete Streets policies and other mechanisms and (3) Advance joint-use agreements. Policies must benefit lower-income communities and improve the built environment to increase physical activity to help reverse childhood obesity. Applications are due on Thursday, February 2, 2012 at 5:00 p.m. PT. The position begins on March 1, 2012.