Nov 29 - Thanks for everything

Good evening,
I didn't think it would be fair to let Thanksgiving go by without giving thanks to these people and organizations who have been an immeasurable help throughout the year - contributing time, talent, money, passion and inspiration toward making Morgantown's transportation more sustainable.  Please forgive me if I left you out, and don't be too shy to let me know if I forgot to list you.

Businesses
Pathfinder Cycles - James, Gabe, Andy, Andrew, Shane, Steve
Wamsley Cycles - Chip, Colin, Jeremy, Steve, Matt, John
Adventures' Edge - Jan Kieger
These businesses provide us with parts and service throughout the year.  They also offer a 10% discount to our members on regularly-priced merchandise.

Organizations
Morgantown Municipal Bike Board - Frank, Derek, Marilyn, Don and others
Morgantown Pedestrian Safety Board - Christian, Jonathan and others
Mountain Line Bus Service - Dave Bruffy and his staff
WVU Tau Beta Pi Engineering Honor Society
WVU Transportation Dept - Hugh Kierig
WVU Office of Sustainability - Clement Solomon
WVU Office of Recycling - Barbara
WVU Center for Civic Engagement - Kristi Wood-Turner and staff
BOPARC - Marc Wise and a merry band of office and field staff
Morgantown City Traffic Commission
Morgantown County Commission
Mon County Schools
These organizations are doing the planning, designing, construction and refining of government and institutional facilities to make Morgantown transportation more sustainable.

Individuals
Will Ravenscroft, John Lozier, Chase Hixson, Nancy Scheuerman, Bill Reger-Nash, Councilmembers Don Spencer and Jenny Seline, Mayor Bill, Former Mayor Ron Justice and many more
These individuals have helped in the shop, at events and advocating for transportation that creates better mobility and living quality.  A special thanks to all our members, your dues help provide us with a steady base of funding that supports our activities and advocacy.  Thank you again - and again, and again....

Nov 24 Items for Sale

Good morning,
Throughout the year we tend to accumulate excess items, either from donations or items that are ordered and not needed.  This is the time of year we like to clean house, it has the added benefit of providing us funds to help fix Christmas bikes and support our operating costs at a time of the year when donations are down.  If any of these items are something you need please call 304-276-0213. We also appreciate your donations (bikes, parts, volunteer time or cash) at this busy time of year.  Cash donations can be made through our PayPal link at the website (positivespin.org)
(See updated list at this link)

Nov 22 - Update on Christmas Bike Drive

Thanks to everyone who has donated bikes for the Fall drive to support the Christian Help Toy Drive coming up in December.  We've collected over 200 bikes, 44 of which came in on one day.  We now have about 50 of them ready to send out but hope to rehab at least 20 more to beat last year's contribution of 70 bikes.  If you or your group would like to do a service project please contact us at 304-276-0213 and schedule a time to come in.  This week would be a great time to do it, since it's pretty quiet with students gone home for the Thanksgiving Holiday.  Most of the work doesn't require bike skills.  It's mostly cleaning and primping the bikes to make them look like something a kid will be excited to find under their Christmas tree. The final days before Dec 17 will be extremely busy as we give bikes their final check and transport them to the Armory for the event and vehicles will be greatly needed and appreciated.
Also, if you know someone who needs a bike and wouldn't be able to get one otherwise you can contact us also since we have extras.  Thanks again to the entire community for the tremendous support we've received every year - and thanks for relieving traffic in Morgantown by using sustainable transportation.
Nick

Nov 21 - A new appreciation for biking

I've been working with Otho for the past few weeks to help him re-learn how to ride a bike in the face of MS that has been progressing over the past 5 years.  Today we had our third session - in the first he learned to ride and made a few short runs.  Yesterday he got on the bike himself and showed that he could start/stop by himself and turn around in the width of the trail.  Today it was time to really go somewhere.  He rode from the Seneca Center to Star City and back nearly unaided.  I did give him a little push at the end as he got tired toward the end.  However, that doesn't diminish the fact that when he rides he looks as able-bodied as anyone else.  He was jubilant after the ride, talking about the feel of the wind in his face and the sounds around him - all under his own power.  I can't take much credit for his success, he did all the hard work while I just gave a little guidance and encouragement.  I think with more riding he'll get stronger and be able to ride further without help, although he's considering a trike for times when he doesn't have the strength or control to power a bike.  Congratulations Otho!

 

 

Nov 11 - Happy Veterans' Day

It's been a few weeks since the last post. Here's what's happening.
Fall Bike Drive: Anne Mallow and Tau Beta Pi have been doing a great job on publicity and George Lasner and Will Ravenscroft have been picking up bikes as the calls come in. We've collected over 100 bikes so far and are still getting about 15/day. Already 30 bikes are ready to go, but we'd like to beat last year's number of 70. If you or someone you know has bikes to donate please mention us. If you have an organization that needs a service project, contact us and we'll get you in here to clean and repair the donated bikes.

Board Development: Chase Hixson has taken over this activity. We've had 3 meetings to try and elect officers but there haven't been enough attendees to fill the vacancies, leave alone vote. If you or someone you know wants to see less gridlock on Morgantown streets and is willing to serve on the board to make that happen, contact me or Chase via the info@positivespin.org email address.

WVU Multi-modal Center: While I was in the neighborhood this morning I looked in on the bike room to see if it's getting used. There's one bike in there, I addded mine and took the picture that you see above. Security cameras are still awaiting installation, but otherwise everything is ready to use. Try it out!
Nick