On Friday, May 1, Virginia Bicycling Federation board members, BikeWalk Virginia members, and bike club representatives from throughout Virginia will convene in Richmond’s Capitol Square at 9:00am, to receive the Governor’s Bike Month Proclamation and ride the document back to their home communities. As in previous years, the group will meet in the Belle Isle parking lot, just west of the Tredegar Iron Works National Park Service Visitors Center on Tredegar St., to leave at 8:30 and ride over to the Capitol Bell Tower, which is at 9th and Franklin.
Directions: to parking lot — 5th St. comes down the hill to Tredegar, and then right on Tredegar to the parking lot, which is almost under the Lee Bridge.
Depending on the interests of the group, we will then decide which ride we will do after the Proclamation Ceremony. Tidewater Bicycle Association members will attend the ceremony and ride the document back to Virginia Beach, Portsmouth, and Norfolk, for presentation to mayors and city council. Blue Ridge Bicycle Club members will ride the document to Roanoke.
On Saturday, May 2, 10:00 AM, Roanoke’s Mayor David Bowers will lead a 2 ½ mile bike ride on Roanoke Greenways from Wasena Park to the Mayor’s monument in Elmwood Park. Riders of all ages and riding experience will be able to enjoy the Community School Strawberry festival and the Chili Cookoff in historic downtown Roanoke by bike. Escorted rides returning to Wasena Park will be from the Mayor’s monument every ½ hour.
Read more about the event at the Roanoke Times, the Blue Ridge Bicycle Club, and at Bike Roanoke, who have set up a Facebook page to RSVP and send invitations.
Dan Casey of the Roanoke Times has a great article this weekend about a cultural change in Roanoke due to bicycling, at least partly. Weve noticed the difference too. What about your community? How do you think bicycling is affecting our cities?
Well over 100 cyclists took part in a ride this Sunday in memory of Daniel Wayne Hersh, and to advocate for bike safety in Virginia Beach. Our own Bill Hart was along for the ride, and reported there being a great spirit among the riders, a fitting tribute to Mr. Hersh.
The Virginia Bicycling Federation (VBF) announces the creation of a bicycling education fund in remembrance of Daniel Wayne Hersh, an avid Virginia Beach cyclist who was killed by an overtaking motorist while bicycling locally on April 19.
We are deeply moved that Gregory and Stephen Hersh, the sons of the late Dan Hersh, have designated the Virginia Bicycling Federation as the recipient of memorial donations honoring their late father. VBF will dedicate these funds for bicycling education initiatives within Virginia–targeting motorists, law enforcement personnel, and/or bicyclists–with the goal of decreasing the incidence of future bicycling tragedies within our state.
Contributions to the Hersh Memorial Fund can be mailed to the Virginia Bicycling Federation at P.O. Box 5621, Arlington VA 22205-5621. To properly direct their contribution, donors need only include a simple note on their check stating “Hersh Memorial”. The Virginia Bicycling Federation is a 501(c)(3) charitable organization, and all contributions to the Hersh Memorial Fund are tax deductible to the full extent of the law.
Every bicycling fatality is a tragedy, but nearly all bicycling crashes are preventable when motorists and bicyclists share our roadways lawfully, carefully, and courteously. The Virginia Bicycling Federation will proudly honor Dan Hersh’s memory by using this new fund to advance bicycling education and traffic justice and to otherwise enhance the rights and safety of bicyclists on Virginia’s roadways.
A memorial ride will be held Sunday, April 26, 8am, at Conte’s Bicycles in Virginia Beach.
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