Holiday Breakfast on Bikes - Dec 12

Tireless bicyclist Eric L sends another newsy update on Salem's bike scene:

Last night Salem City Council held a work session to discuss the proposed bridge connecting Riverfront Park and Minto Island. OBEC Engineers and Todd Klocke with Urban Development gave a presentation on cost estimates, schedule, and four design concepts. Mayor Taylor joked, "When can we start?" Because of environmental mitigation and navigability issues, the project is not simple, but it appears there is significant city support! For more information, including slides of the four design concepts see the city's site - http://www.cityofsalem.net/Departments/UrbanDevelopment/DepartmentProjects/Pages/MintoIslandBridge.aspx

Breakfast on Bikes - Friday, December 12

West Salem commuters! We'll be under the Center Street Bridge, next to the AC Gilbert House from 7am to 9am. We'll have hot coffee and snacky things to fortify you against the cold! Thanks to Cascade Baking Company, Coffee House Cafe, LifeSource Natural Foods, the Salem Bicycle Club, and Willamette University for support! For more see -

http://breakfastonbikes.blogspot.com/2008/11/holiday-schedule-friday-dec-12.html

Keizer Christmas Lights Ride - Wednesday, December 17

The Salem Bicycle Club's annual Christmas Lights Ride. The ride starts at the BiMart in Keizer at 6:30pm.. Decorated bikes are encouraged, but not required. Bring a can of food or other donation for the Marion-Polk Foodbank. There will be a stop for Hot Chocolate!

For more see - http://www.salembicycleclub.org/content.plx?page=rides

Ho Ho Holidays Ride - Thursday, January 1 Start the New Year with the Salem Bicycle Club's New Years Ride. The ride starts from the Red Lot downtown at 10am. See -

http://www.salembicycleclub.org/content.plx?page=rides

Breakfast on Bikes - Friday, January 30 We'll be on the Capitol steps for a special "legislative session" of Breakfast on Bikes!

Union Street Railroad Bridge Opening - Saturday, February 21 (tentative date) Save the date! Join Friends of Two Bridges in celebrating the grand opening of the Union Street Railroad Bridge. (Date to be confirmed; time and exact place TBD.) For more see - http://www.cityofsalem.net/Departments/UrbanDevelopment/DepartmentProjects/UnionStreetRailroadBridge/Pages/default.aspx

At the Vision 2020 Bike/Ped Group earlier this month, Julie Warncke with the City announced they would be completing the pre-application for two Transportation and Growth Management Grants, one focused on downtown circulation for non-auto traffic, the other for a comprehensive update to the Bicycle and Pedestrian Elements in Salem's Transportation System Plan. The Bicycle Element needs to be updated, and this is terrific news! The 2009-11 grant cycle has a special focus on climate change, and improving bicycle traffic in the city will relieve congestion and reduce greenhouse gases. For more see - http://www.oregon.gov/LCD/TGM/grants.shtml

For the TSP see -

http://www.cityofsalem.net/Departments/PublicWorks/TransportationServices/TransporationPlan/Pages/default.aspx

This summer 21 volunteers helped out with Salem's first bicycle count. A big thank you to you all! It will provide a solid baseline with which to evaluate Salem bicycling progress each year. Here's a report with a map of the sites -http://breakfastonbikes.blogspot.com/2008/12/summer-2008-bike-counts.html

Remember the Salem Happy Riders for Friday bikey socializing! See the

google group at -http://groups.google.com/group/salem-happy-riders?hl=en

Finally, a big ol' tip-of-the-cap to 18 year old Salemite Alex Kohan. Early in October, Alex completed the Furnace Creek 508, a 508 milerace through Death Valley, featuring 35,000 feet of elevation gain.

Here's his account of the race - http://www.ohpv.org/albums/alex508-2008/index.htm It's an amazing

accomplishment, a terrific account, and pretty much just leaves me gasping in admiration. Congratulations Alex!