PA Walks & Bikes announces First PA Bike Summit

Press Release: PA Walks & Bikes announces First PA Bike Summit

In cooperation with the Bicycle Coalition of Greater Philadelphia, Bike Pittsburgh, WalkBikeBerks, Lebanon Valley Bicycle Club. Special Thanks to Harrisburg Bicycle Club members.

Harrisburg, PA, May 5, 2009: Bike to the Capitol

When:

Tuesday, May 5, 2009
8:30 AM: Assemble At Farm Show Building
9:00 AM: Ride to Capitol

No Bike? No Problem! Join us to support healthy communities and active living.
10:00 AM: Rally at Capitol (Third & State Streets)


Why:
To Promote Bike Month and Support Bicycle Safety Legislation

Contact:

610.779.9702 or sign up online at http://www.pawalksbikes.org/

Join hundreds of cyclists from across Pennsylvania for the first statewide bicycle rally. Cyclists from areas such as Williamsport, Birdsboro, Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, Reading, Lebanon, Harrisburg, and State College will join guest speakers Representative Dave Kessler, Representative Ron Miller, Senator Michael O'Pake, Senator Mike Folmer, Secretary of Community and Economic Development George E. Cornelius, Sharon Brumbaugh, Special Assistant to the Secretary of Education, Brenda Barrett, Director of DCNR's Bureau of Recreation & Conservation, Tom Sexton, Rails-to-Trails Conservancy's Northeast Regional Office Director, Representative Rick Geist, and Represenative Joseph F. Markosek to promote active transportation and recreation in Pennsylvania.

Your help is needed to make a difference for bicycling in Pennsylvania. Cyclists will assemble and ride in Harrisburg May 5th, 2009 to demonstrate bicyclists' interest and concern from all sections of the state. Recreational, on-road, and commuter cyclists will unite to ride and speak together for bicycling in PA. The Summit will provide an opportunity to increase public awareness of the many benefits of bicycling, to promote bicycle safety, and to encourage bike riding – we encourage you to participants to speak to elected officials about Safe Routes to School and other programs that can benefit communities across PA.

For more than a century, the bicycle has been an important part of the lives of many Americans, and today residents of all ages and abilities throughout our great Commonwealth engage in bicycling for transportation, recreation, fitness and fun. Bicycling is the most efficient form of transportation and offers independent mobility for many Pennsylvanians traveling between work, school, and home; moreover the use of bicycles benefits everyone by easing traffic congestion, reducing air pollution, increasing PA tourism, and saving highway construction dollars.

Join PA Legislators and Executive Officers as they support Bike Month. At 10:00 AM participants will gather on the Capitol Stairs to hear Representative Dave Kessler lead the event with a reading of PA Bike Month House Resolution. This event is promoted by PA Walks & Bikes, a new statewide advocacy organization whose mission is creating healthy, sustainable communities across Pennsylvania by making bicycling and walking safer, more convenient and more enjoyable.

Attendees will meet with legislators throughout the day to gain more support for pro-cyclist legislation, HB1110 introduced by Representative Ron Miller and SB776 Introduced by Senator Mike Folmer. -- important legislation that will require motorists to provide a safe passing distance for more vulnerable road users such as bicyclists. Everyone is encouraged to share why bicycling is important to them.

PA residents who are not able to attend the Summit can still help bring bicycling issues to the forefront in Pennsylvania. PA Walks & Bikes encourages everyone in PA to contact representatives and senators to schedule appointments in their district offices. The event will be held rain or shine. We encourage you to register at http://www.pawalksbikes.org/ today so we can better prepare for you.

Getting There:
Driving Directions to the Farm Show Complex

AMTRAK train departs 30th St Station at 7:25AM and arrives in Harrisburg at 9AM.
($23 one way)



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