GUMBO RIDE DETAILS

Who:      Everyone who rides any kind of bicycle in Acadiana

What:     Group bicycle rides for all interests and ability levels, followed by food and talk

When:    Sunday, November 13, 2011

• 9:30 a.m. start for 40 mile ride outside Lafayette at moderate pace (16-18 mph)
• 10:00 a.m. start for 10-15 mile ride inside Lafayette at cruiser pace (12-14 mph) 
• 10:30 a.m. start for bicycle safety instruction and ride around Girard Park for families at young child pace (all ages welcome!) 
• 12 p.m. start for post-ride gumbo and discussion of cycling safety issues
  

Where:  Girard Park in Lafayette

Why:     Three cyclists were killed by cars in a single week this October, in New Iberia, Lafayette and Grand Coteau. A fourth was killed in Broussard in August. Regardless of the type of cycling we favor – road biking on country roads, commuting or cruising in town, triathlons, time trials, BMX, fixie, fitness, or other – safety is a universal concern. This ride and gumbo is an opportunity to meet, share and unite with other cyclists to increase safety awareness and brainstorm about how we can make Acadiana safer and more friendly to cyclists.

Rain or shine.   

Free of charge.  Sponsored by Bike Lafayette, Cajun Cyclists, and T.R.A.I.L.

For more information email social@bikelafayette.org

Ride Planning Get Together 11/1 @ 6P

Tomorrow evening a group of folks will be meeting near UL to plan the 11/13 event.  If you want to join, call 233-9627 for location.

November Cycling Social / Gumbo Ride

After some brainstorming on what brings cyclists together (riding) and keeps them together after a ride (food), I decided to float to the idea of a cycling social followed by breaking bread with LCG leadership and talk of bike safety.  Over the past few days, I've reached out to folks from Cajun Cyclists, Petit Paris, BikeLafayette, and T.R.A.I.L., and all have seconded the thought with enthusiasm and support.  And with that bit of encouragement, we're doing it!

So, mark your calendars and join us for a community-wide Gumbo Ride on Sunday, November 13 at Girard Park.  Toward the end of building community among all cyclists in and around Lafayette, we're planning a little something for everyone, including a choice of three rides (roadie, townie & family) between 9 and 12 with food and drink to follow (in the Rec Center in case it's cold).

We've extended invitations to Tony Trammel and Joey Durel and hope they will agree to join us over lunch to hear our concerns and address our questions.  We should hear back in the next day or so.  But even if they don't come, we'll still have the opportunity to discuss amongst ourselves what we want to see/make happen on the cycling front in the future -- oh, and pass a good time, yeah.

There are details yet to be worked out -- like ride routes, leaders and start times, and meal planning, so if you want to lend a hand (ideas, time, etc.), please reach out.  Direct your offers by emails to velomaman@yahoo.com and we'll coordinate volunteers from there.

LCG forum for cycling community

Last week when there was so much TV and newspaper attention to the latest cycling deaths, I (Jen) got inspired to take advantage of the moment to initiate a longer term public awareness campaign.  I searched around for readily available Public Service Announcements that we could use here.  Beginner's luck, I guess, but on Friday I got in touch with the New Orleans Regional Planning Commission's bike guy, Dan Jatres, and by Monday he got the ok and emailed me the radio and print media ads NORPC recently produced with public transportation funding.

From there, I naively sent an email with the ads to Cajun Cyclists and Petit Paris Cycling group members floating the idea of getting the "share the road" graphic on the back of city buses (I'd seen a photo of it done in the U.K. on the Bike Lafayette Facebook page and it seemed like a good idea) and the radio spots on local stations.  In under 24 hours, an overwhelming number of fellow bikers responded with offers of support for he effort.  Enough people forwarded the email around LCG that it hit leadership (Joey Durel and Tony Trammel) multiple times and generated quick responses.

LCG said that they are busy planning a response to bike safety concerns and would announced those plans soon.  I went a step further and asked to schedule a forum where Joey Durel, Tony Trammel and others at LCG could present those plans to the cycling community, address our questions/concerns, and get our feedback/input.  They response was favorable, so now guess who's looking for help with organizing a forum.  As soon as I have more concrete plans, I'll share the news.

The death of three cyclists in a single week earlier this month, in New Iberia, Lafayette and Opelousas, have area cyclists mindful of the risks of road riding and inspired to increase cycling safety in Acadiana.  Regardless of the type(s) of cycling we favor -- whether roadie, tri, time trial, bmx, fixie, cruiser, fitness, commuter, or other -- safety is a universal concern and a reason to come together.  The purpose of this blog is to provide a common space for communication and organizing to promote bicycling, increase safety, and improve conditions in and around Lafayette, Louisiana.