May will be a busy month for Bicycle Advocacy. On May 3, BACA will have our monthly meeting at the Oyster Bar, 7:00 p.m. Representative David Johnson, whose District includes part of the Little Rock River Trail, will provide an update on actions taken and not taken by the past General Assembly which affected bicyclists and trail users. Johnson, who is a bicyclist, will also address how bicyclists can be more effective in advocating for their interests in the General Assembly. Additionally, students from Park View High School will report on the project aimed at upgrading Little Rock to a Bike Friendly Community which they presented at the national east lab conference in Hot Springs, and for which they received a “Superior” award – the best on e – for their efforts. Please plan on attending to support the work of Rep. Johnson and the Park View students in promoting the interests of bicyclists, and to learn about other items of interests to bicyclists.

On May 5th and May 12th BACA will put on a bicycle safety rodeo for the city of North Little Rock and Kaleidoscope Kids respectively. A bicycle safety rodeo is really a bicycle safety school. The events start each at 8:30 AM. Experienced cyclists are needed to teach the kids the curriculum. More volunteers are needed to do the instructing. Both events are excellent public education opportunities and the NLR event will help fund in part the bicycle racks in the Argenta district.

On May 16, we will join with others nationwide in honoring those who have been killed or injured while cycling on public roadways, as well as to raise awareness of cyclists' desires and efforts to share the roads. Our ride will also honor John Woodruff, an intrepid bicyclist/runner who died recently of a rare form of cancer. He was an active supporter of BACA and continued to join the Bike to Work Fridays group even after the cancer had severely diminished his lung capacity. The Ride of Silence will be held at 6:00 p.m. beginning at the boat ramp at Murray Park (first Murray Park entrance from the east with an iron sign in front which says Murray Park soccer fields/boat ramp). We will ride two abreast, in silence, keeping a speed of no greater than 10 mph. The ride will proceed over the Big Dam Bridge and will continue on the North Little Rock side to the parking lot at the Boat Ramp. Please plan on participating in this very moving memorial. Please wear your BACA t-shirt if you have one.

On May 18, we will sponsor what is probably the major advocacy event nation wide for bicyclists, Bike to Work Day. There will be two rides, one from the North Little Rock side beginning at 6:45 a.m. from the boat ramp east of the golf course and one from the Little Rock side beginning at 6:45 a.m. from the boat ramp at Murray Park(see description of location above). Both groups will ride along the respective portions of the River Trail, merge at the entrance to the Medical Mile on Arch Street and proceed to the River Market where there will be a light breakfast, free t-shirts, and a drawing for prizes. We are urging people to preregister. Registration forms will be at the May 3rd BACA meeting and at local bike shops. Begin now to organize people at your workplace to form a contingent. Get your employer to help sponsor you. It is important that as many people as possible participate to demonstrate the feasibility of commuting by bicycle to work, and urge the development of bike friendly facilities and amenities. In connection with promoting Bike to Work Day, we will be having a bicycle-commuter challenge on May 7th. Stay tuned for more information as a bicyclist attempts to reach the River Market before an automobile commuter does.

Ron Rizzardi,
President, BACA

It would seem, after the last couple of days, Camp has decided to take a little more of their land (and our trails) and clear trees. I will find out ASAP what I can of why, and if more is to come, but for now steer clear of Ten Bridges, especially if you hear a bulldozer or heavy machinery. It could be very dangerous to wander too close to a falling tree. As soon as it is safe, and we get the OK that Camp is finished, We will go in, evaluate, repair, and salvage as much trail as we can. Keep an eye out on the website or your email to hear if more trails will be effected or closed. Hopefully it is over.

Anyone with more information please contact Gary Lamb 835-6721 or gary@carpclub.com.
Thanks,
Gary

---Cannondale is recalling 2007 and 2008 bikes equipped with two-piece road and MTB integrated cranksets. The company has learned from Full Speed Ahead, the manufacturer of the cranks, that a heat treating error caused a defect in the cranks' aluminum spindle. Approximately 2,300 bikes may have the defective part. A new spindle will be installed without charge. For more information, visit http://www.cannondale.com or call the company at (800) BIKE-USA. Cannondale's three-piece integrated Hollowgram cranksets and three-piece carbon integrated cranksets are not part of the recall.

From "The Ride"...

Join us for our third annual birthday celebration (see details in the "Latest News" below) and try out some sweet rides while you're here. The Specialized Demo trailer will be here Saturday, April 7th all day long. Test ride Roubaixs, Tarmacs, Epics, Stumpys, and even the brand new Roval wheels. This is a great opportunity that you won't want to miss, I mean how often is it that you get to ride other people's sweet stuff for free.