May is National Bike Month and we have several activities planned.
(1) Celebrate the beginning of National Bike Month by attending the May 1st BACA meeting at the Oyster Bar, 7:00 p.m. Tom Ezell will give a presentation on Complete Streets, an exciting national movement to build road networks to make streets accessible to all citizens. We will also have updates on items of interest to bicyclists. As always, there will be good company and good food.

(2) May 2nd is FIRST FRIDAY BIKE TO WORK: Bike from the first parking lot at the foot of River Mountain Road to Downtown Little Rock River Market at 6:45 a.m. or bike from the North Little Rock Trail Parking lot between the Main Street and Junction Railroad bridge to Jacksonville (LRAFB) beginning at 6:00 AM and returning at the end of the day departing Jacksonville at 5:00 PM.

BOTH FIRST FRIDAYS BIKE TO WORK

To participate in First Fridays Bike to Work you need only show up & be ready to ride. The rides are very informal. THERE IS NO POLICE ESCORT, NO TRANSPORT FOR CLOTHING, NO PLACE TO LOCK UP YOUR BIKE (at the River Market there are bike racks to which your bike could be locked), NO EXTRA SECURITY FOR CARS LEFT IN THE PARKING LOTS, ETC. In short, no services, security, or support other than the group ride itself. Of course, participation does not require that you actually bike to work downtown. Some participants bike to breakfast at the
River Market & then return.

Hope to see you there.

For details - Call : H - 225-5343; W - 324-9952; e-mail -
lanskygould@comcast.net or rrizzardi@comcast.net

(3) Join Team Rubicon in support of the Lance Armstrong Foundation on May 7th at 5:30 p.m. For more information, contact Jenn Shaw at 247-8443.

(4) Don't forget Bike to Work Day on May 16th and the Ride of Silence on May 21st. For more details, go to www.bacar.org.

Hope you will join us at these events.

Ron Rizzardi
President BACA

From "The Ride"....

FYI, there are two upcoming meetings in Conway to discuss the possibility for some new paved and unpaved bike trails running along the Old Morrilton Corridor (Hwy 64W). An open public comment period will give you the opportunity to participate in the planning process. I think we definitely could see some action on this one. If you would like to express your opinion or show your support please do one or some of the following (please at least fill out the survey):

Kick-Off introduction Event
Thursday, April 24th
6:30PM at McGee Center
3800 College Avenue
Conway, AR

Public Workshop
Saturday, April 26th
9:00AM at Ruth Doyle Int School
800 Padgett Road
Conway, AR

Take the Visual Preference Survey
April 24-May 2 on line at
www.conwayplanning.org

For more info contact....
Phone: 501-450-6105 :: Fax: 501-450-6144
City of Conway Planning & Development Department
1201 Oak Street
Conway, Arkansas 72032

Snagged from the ABC News....

"Summer camp staff needed at Kia Kima Scout Reservation located in Hardy, Arkansas . I have a few positions available that require staff members skilled in areas such as Mountain Biking, Kayaking, Backpacking and Climbing.

Other support positions are available as well. You can reach me at jarmstro (at) bsamail.org or give me a call at 901-569-5852.

All summer positions are onsite. Food, lodging, and salary provided. Camp positions begin at the end of May and beginning of June and will conclude by July 15th.

Thanks for your interest!

Drew Armstrong
Program Director
Chickasaw Council, BSA"

On Thursday, April l0, at 6:00 p.m. Chainwheel will host an informal workshop on bicycle commuting. As cyclists, we all love biking, would like to do more, and enjoy expanding our cycling options. This is a great opportunity to learn more about bicycle commuting. Experienced commuters, including BACA members, will be present to assist the "faint of heart" who need an extra push.

The bicycle commuting workshop will also be good preparation for BACA's National Bike to Work Day, May 16th. More information on BTW Day will be forthcoming, but we hope you are planning on participating in either of the two rides that day - the one from Rebsamen Park or the one from Burns Park. Last year we had over 150 participants in Bike to Work Day. Let's have an even greater showing as the price of gas inches to $4.00 a gallon.

Cycling is fun and gas is tooooo high. Chainwheel's bicycle commuting theme:
Don't get hosed by gas prices!!!