Dec 12 update

Good evening,
Sorry for all the posts but there's a LOT happening and this is a good way for me to get it out, without having to repeat myself. (I just hope someone is reading it). Tonite I joined the Mon River Trails Conservancy (MRTC) for their Holiday Social at Voyager Airport Restaurant. It was primarily a social occaision, and as such we had a great time talking about bike rides and anything else that came up. However, we did get into some substantive discussions about transportation planning and advocacy. I met a member who is willing to hand-deliver a letter to Governor Manchin expressing our wishes to see a Safe Routes to Schools coordinator appointed, and a process established that allows us to get program funding for street/sidewalk/intersection improvements and Safe Routes educational programs.

If anyone is interested in helping me draft this letter please contact me by phone or email. If we get the state moving now we'll be ready to use it next school year. In the mean time we plan to work with local schools and youth groups to establish bike clubs as a means of building our credibility as the bike/ped authorities that can put that money to the best local use.

Before all that, however, we need cash donations. We now have a PayPal link on the website (Thanks Jonathan!). If we can raise $1250 by Christmas it will pay all our debts (for repair parts on bikes we've sent out), buy helmets and locks for donation bikes (both Christmas and Katrina), purchase tools to equip 2 shop benches and leave enough to start planning programs for next year. Help in any way you can and ask your friends to help support our mission too.

Tomorrow (Tuesday) We'll distribute the first of our local Christmas donation bikes to 3 organizations. Thanks to all of you who helped give the gift of fun and transportation to kids and adults - their Christmas will be brighter because of you. In the following days there will be more. If you have more bikes to donate we can still use them.

Thank you.