The Northern Indiana Mountain Bike Association (NIMBA) is holding free “Intro to Mountain Biking” sessions at each of the 4 trails that it maintains. Each session will include a discussion and demonstration of basic Mountain Biking skills followed by a guided ride on the trail where we will put the skills to use and review features of the trail.

What do you need to participate?

• Bike Helmet
• Mountain Bike that has brakes and gears in good working order
• A desire to have fun

The sessions are geared for beginner adult Mountain Bikers, but teens can also attend with an adult. They will be held from 9:30AM – Noon EDT at these locations:

• 6-16-12 Potato Creek State Park – Peppermint Hill Parking Area
• 7-14-12 Rum Village Park, South Bend – Nature Center Parking Lot
• 8-11-12 Bendix Woods County Park – Otahnagon Picnic Area
• 8-25-12 TK Lawless County Park (MI) – Main Parking Lot

Attend one, or attend them all!  Please RSVP by sending an email to NIMBA.BIKE@GMAIL.COM.

Ride with Mayor Allan Kauffman on Monday, May 14, to kick off Goshen’s Bicycle-to-Work Week.

As a way to kick off the week, the MCBAC has asked Goshen Mayor Allan Kauffman to lead an after-work “Mayor’s Ride” on Monday, May 14. Any interested cyclist is welcome to join the 4.5 mile ride. Last year the first Mayor’s Ride attracted about thirty riders.

The Mayor’s Ride will start at 5:15 p.m. from the parking lot east of City Hall, 202 South Fifth Street, proceed south to the Goshen dam pond, return north on the Mill Race Trail and end at The Chief. The Ride is free, and no advanced registration is necessary.

The purpose of Bicycle-to-Work week is to encourage people to leave their cars at home for a week and try cycling instead. “For trips of less than two miles, it’s often faster to go by bicycle than by car in the city,” said Evan Bontrager, a MCBAC member. “We hope people will ‘test the water’ of bicycle commuting next week and enjoy the exercise and not having to pay the high price of gas.”

The MCBAC is a partnership between dedicated residents and City employees to address bicycle-related issues covering recreation, commerce, transportation, parking, and safety.

Note that Goshen is celebrating two Bike to Work Weeks. The first (May 14 – 18) coincides with the National week, and the second (May 21-25) coincides with the Michiana week.

About 70 cyclists, along with over a dozen walkers/runners, and motor vehicles joined in the procession meant to draw attention to the need for all users to share the roadway and crosswalks. The procession concluded at the County-City building in downtown South Bend where there was a press conference, and short speeches by local dignitaries. The gathered crowd seemed especially inspired by the words of Yatish Yoshi, the chairman of the event.  I am re-printing his speech below, and it is well worth reading.

Let it be known to humanity of mankind, to citizens of South Bend, Mishawaka, St. Joseph County and all surrounding counties and cities: we as bicyclists, we as walkers and runners, we as wheel chair users, are here to stay. We as motorists and motorcyclists are here to stay.  The roads and streets belong to all of us: bicyclists, motorists, walkers/runners, motorcyclists, wheel chair users. We all must feel safe all the time while we are using the roads/streets/sidewalks/bike paths and trails.

Hi, my name is Yatish Joshi, appointed Chair of the Procession Committee. The Procession Committee came about because various groups and citizens in our community wanted to raise the awareness “Share the Road….Every Life Counts”.

The fact is that accidents will happen: the most important thing is how we as individuals and citizens of our community can reduce the number of accidents; how we can make our community, our city, our state, our nation and world as a whole a better place to live where everyone can enjoy their freedom: freedom to walk, freedom to ride bicycles, freedom to drive motor vehicles.

As Louise Addicott said “It is not what we can do for ourselves but what we can do for others: that is what matters”.

The accidents of Steve Carey, a bicyclist hit by a car from behind in St. Joseph County, and Edna Mast, a motorist who was hit by a semi-truck from behind in Goshen while stopping for a bicyclist: they both were killed and are the catalysts for this procession. We as individuals and as community have to take these accidents as a starting point and make our community better. And by doing that, bicyclists, motorists and walkers/runners all can coexist side by side and share the road. It is not about “them” vs. “us”. We as a community, we as news media, we as elected officials must focus dialog and solutions on a common approach that all users of the roads can live by.

As Martin Luther King Jr. said “I have a dream……” and yes, we all are here because we also have a dream to make our communities, our cities better places to live. Another great man said “We as an ordinary people have a capacity to do extra ordinary things” and that we shall do.

I will now present to you Mike Keen, Office of Sustainability, Indiana University-South Bend, Alfred Guillaume, Vice Chancellor, IUSB, representing area higher education institutions, Hodge Patel, representing Congressman Joe Donnelly, and our Mayor Pete Buttigieg.

Thank you for believing in yourself and having a dream.

May – all month. South Bend Bike Month, as proclaimed by Mayor Pete of South Bend. And, of course, National Bike Month and Indiana Bike Month.

May 2- Mishawaka & South Bend. The Share The Road…Every Life Counts procession. This procession is an outgrowth of cyclists wanting to give final respects to Steven Carey, an area biker who was recently struck and killed by a motorist. But further, the cyclists wanted to raise awareness that roads and crosswalks are to be shared by a lot of folks: cars, motorcyclists, pedestrians, people with disabilities, even infants in strollers.

May 20 – South Bend, Mishawaka, St. Joseph County.  Bike the Bend. This will be the third year for this event, which is causing a lot of excitement in St. Joseph County and beyond. It is a unique, non-competitive bicycle tour for all ages and skill levels – riding side-by-side on vehicle-restricted streets. Riders may start and stop at any point along the 34-mile route. Highlights are St. Patrick’s County Park, the St. Joseph River, Monkey Island, historic neighborhoods, Potawatomi Park and Zoo, Northern Indiana Center for History/Studebaker National Museum, the Indiana University South Bend campus, Kamm Island, Beutter Park and Eberhart-Petro Golf Course. Overnight camping is available at St. Patrick’s Park, the northern terminus of the ride. Last year there were 1,926 registered riders coming from 7 states.  Within the state of Indiana, there were registered riders from 17 counties. Bike the Bend is the kickoff event for Michiana Bike to Work Week.

May 20 – Elkhart. The city is inviting people to try three newly established bicycle routes through Elkhart  from 2:00 – 5:00 pm. Riders are meeting at NIBCO Water and Ice Park on the Riverwalk in downtown Elkhart. Cyclists who are considering riding their bicycle to work, will get a chance to experience the Elkhart routes and make suggestions to the city. The city is in the process of making maps available online at the city’s web site www.ElkhartIndiana.org.

May 21 – 25. Michiana Bike to Work Week is the oldest annual urban event in the area. The main highlight is the Corporate Challenge, where teams compete for bragging rights based on how many miles a team can log on their bikes (even public transit miles counts as a bike miles!). In 2011, colleges led the way with three teams in the top ten: Notre Dame, Indiana University at South Bend, and Goshen College. Other highlights of the week are the Tuesday Organic blueberry pancake breakfast, free to those on a bike, and Bike to School Day on May 24.

Goshen. A repeat of last year’s Mayor’s Ride is being planned, but details are forthcoming.

Wednesday, May 2nd

Call for Riders, Walkers, Drivers and Wheelchair Users in South Bend, Indiana

A coalition of local citizens seeking to promote road-sharing awareness and enhance area transportation safety announces its inaugural Share the Road….Every Life Counts procession, Wednesday, May 2. This event is the first of its kind featuring a positive, proactive approach to urge road-sharing awareness. All citizens are encouraged to join the Share the Road….Every Life Counts procession.

The procession can be joined by bicyclists, motorcyclists and motorists at the Medical Plaza parking lot immediately north of the Indiana 23 Toll Road overpass at 5:30 p.m. Citizens wishing to walk, parents with strollers and wheelchair users will meet at Howard Park at 6:15.

Both legs of the procession will conclude at the north side of the County-City building in downtown South Bend. A news conference highlighting the need for understanding and mutual respect among public transportation pathway users will be held at 7:00 p.m. and will feature procession organizers, Mayor Pete Buttigieg, and other elected officials.

For more information please contact Yatish Joshi at yjoshi@gtacontainers.com or at
(574) 288-3459.

SPONSOR: Fulton County Habitat for Humanity
DATE: April 28, 2012
TIME: 8:00 AM
LOCATION: Rochester City Park on Park Rd
LENGTH: 20 & 50 mile rides.

See below for a map to the starting location and additional details, including contact information.

COST: $20 for the 50 mile ride and $15 for the 20 mile ride; T shirt included

DESCRIPTION:

• 50 mile ride includes Lake Manitou, small section of the Nickel Plate Trail and country roads west of Rochester to Kewanna and Bruce Lake.
• 20 mile ride includes Lake Manitou and a section of the Nickel Plate Trail.

CONTACT:
Don Christenson
574-223-2760
donaldchristenson@comcast@.net

SPONSOR WEBSITE: fultoncountyhabitat.org

Facebook Fulton County Habitat for Humanity

The ride features scenic routes through country roads, live entertainment at each support and guidance (SAG) stop as well as a post-ride party at St. Patrick’s County Park with pulled pork, live music and a beer tent.

Courses include a 3.5 to 11.5 mile family ride (riders can choose the distance) as well as longer rides from 25 miles to 200 K (124 miles). Helmets are required for all riders. SAG stops will feature some of the area’s leading restaurants including Fiddler’s Hearth, LaSalle Grill, Indulgence Pastry Shop & Cafe, Yesterday’s and Grande Mere Inn.

Registration proceeds benefit The Hospice Foundation and Bike Michiana Coalition. Riders may also use an online donation form to raise funds for The Hospice Foundation. One hundred percent of those funds will go to support the Center for Hospice Care’s mission to provide quality, compassionate care for anyone in need of hospice or palliative care services, regardless of their ability to pay.

The information and text for this post were provided by Debra Mayfield, and she can be contacted at 800-413-9083 for more information regarding the event or registration.

Please visit the YWCA event page to register and for the latest information.

On the First Friday of every month – throughout the year – businesses, artists, and entertainers throw a party in downtown Goshen. On May 6, Goshen’s First Fridays event will be all about bikes with several special events. Organizers encourage event-goers to “bike to First Fridays”.

• The first annual I ♥ Goshen Bicycle Criterium: There will be three races for riders of various skill levels.
• Bicycle Safety & Info booth: Learn helpful hints about bicycle safety: from how to properly fit a helmet to pumping up tires. Free bicycle registration available. They will also have information on the endless bicycle trails in Elkhart County.
• Bike Decorating Contest: Participants will, deck out their bikes, Pedal, and Participate!
• A  Family Bicycle Parade will follow the decorating contest.
• Girl Scouts Pedal Car Derby: Human powered and eco-friendly transportation for the little tykes.

On May 6, the emphasis is on bicycling because May is National Bike Month, and May 16-20 is National Bike to Work Week.

For more information visit The First Fridays Website

For more information, please visit the official website.