WHAT: Cycling advocates from throughout Virginia will convene at Sophia House in rural Louisa County to share information and guidance on local and statewide cycling advocacy matters. This annual strategic planning weekend will address vital bicycling issues in your community and across Virginia. All VBF members are warmly invited for the full weekend or simply for a brief membership meeting at noon on Saturday where VBF members will elect our board of directors for the coming year and vote on proposed amendments to the VBF bylaws.
WHO: YOU and your cycling friends are invited to attend.
PURPOSE: As bicyclists, we increase our cycling advocacy work during the winter months to improve cycling conditions throughout the year. VBF requests state legislation annually to improve bicycling in Virginia and will actively monitor bills that affect bicycling during the 60-day 2008 Virginia General Assembly session.
VBF needs your help to achieve our common advocacy objectives, including the effective implemention of VDOT’s 2004 bicycle and pedestrian accommodation policy.
GUEST SPEAKERS:
Bob Munson, Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation
Jakob Helmboldt, VDOT State Bicycle & Pedestrian Coordinator
David Dorfman, citizen-bicyclist consultant to VDOT/VTRC
TOPICS FOR DISCUSSION:
Rails with trails advocacy
VDOT Bicycle Program updates
Bicycle access on access-controlled highways
Cross-state bicycle routes upgrades
Citizen input to VDOT districts
Statewide and regional bicycle advisory committees
Bicycling promotion and accommodation
Virginia traffic law reforms
Bicycle education
Safe Routes to School programs
Statewide bike map…AND much, much more!
The weekend will be informative, energizing, and fun with excellent, yet inexpensively priced, food and accommodations.
TENTATIVE AGENDA (to be amended by group consensus).
FRIDAY
6:00 pm+ We’ll leave the light on for you.
SATURDAY
8:00 am Breakfast
9:00 Team discussion, regional reports
10:00 Trails with rail in Virginia
12 Noon Lunch and VBF Membership Meeting
12:30 pm VDOT Bicycle Program updates
2:00 Access-controlled highway access
4:00 Bike rides or alternative activities
6:00 Dinner and cleanup
7:30 After dinner roundtable
9:00 + Kitchen politics
SUNDAY
8:00 am Breakfast
9:00 VBF board meeting
1:00 pm Adjournment, Lunch and Cleanup, optional bike ride
PRICE: $20 for VBF members for the full weekend. One representative of each VBF-member bicycle club may also attend for only $20.
$40 for nonmembers and additional club representatives (includes a 1- yr VBF individual membership for each participant).
The price includes overnight bunkbed/dorm room accommodations with linens and food for Saturday breakfast through Sunday lunch.
Attend one day session or stay one night for $10.
VBF retreats are not fund raisers. The event is underwritten to provide cyclists an opportunity to network and to collaborate as a group for a Bicycling Friendly Virginia.
Sophia House is located between Richmond and Charlottesville. Directions and facilities information are posted at [http://www.sophiahouse.org] .
Carpooling is encouraged. Make this a FUN weekend with friends!
Payment will be collected at the retreat, but please RSVP as soon as possible so we can plan food purchases correctly.
RSVP to Barbara Duerk (barbgary@cox.net, 540-343-1616) Name: Email: Phone: Phone: Address: (check one) _____ Entire Weekend Friday Evening through Sunday Afternoon, _____ Saturday through Sunday _____ Saturday, day only
Special food needs:________________________________________
BRING: Personal items Clothes for weather conditions Bike and accessories for Saturday and/or Sunday riding Materials for group discussions Snacks to share–there are no vending machines or nearby stores Passion for cycling and the willingness to make Virginia bicycling friendly!
Please share this with other cyclists in your community who are interesting in bicycling advocacy.
WE LOOK FORWARD TO SEEING YOU!
Barbara Duerk, VBF retreat chair: 540-343-1616 or for additional information
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Great road riding around Sophia House and Louisa — hope to see you all there!
will be there