Our first quarterly membership social is just around the corner!   Saturday, July 19 6:30 PM Edwin Warner Park Picnic shelter #6 Pot-luck picnic   We're excited to offer this opportunity to our members to not only get to know the executive director and the board of directors, but meet each other and possibly introduce others concerned with walkability and bikeability to Walk/Bike Nashville. We'd like to hear from you regarding our work, we'd like your feedback and this is an excellent chance for our members to share their comments and for potential members to learn more about our efforts. Bring your family and your friends and don't forget to wear some comfortable walking shoes because we plan to walk the newest stretch of greenway! (Note: Length is 2 miles.)

Advocacy Corner   Meeting Called to Address Parking in Bike Lanes   Parking in designated bike lanes has been an issue across the city and continues to increase. As seen in this photo, this can create a hazard for cyclists who use the bike lanes.   Council members Erik Cole and Mike Jameson have responded to East Nashville neighbor concerns by calling a meeting to discuss the issue. We need you to attend.   Tuesday, July 22nd 6:00 pm Eastwood Christian Church 1601 Eastland Avenue, 37206   We have an opportunity to set the standard here and possibly change the language of the city ordinance that has been deemed "not clearly stating it is illegal to park in bike lanes."   This meeting will bring together both sides of the issue. We feel this meeting will set the tone not just for East Nashville but for the entire city when it comes to parking in bike lanes. Your attendance is requested, especially if you live in East Nashville/Inglewood ...as we need to turn out a solid group in support of bicyclist safety. Please plan to attend if your calendar allows and please send this along to those you believe are interested in this issue.   Green Ribbon Committee Formed   Nashville Mayor Karl Dean has established a "Green Ribbon Committee on Environmental Sustainability" to assure that Nashville continues to be a livable city with clean air, clean water, open spaces, transportation infrastructure and an energy use profile necessary to provide a prosperous community for current and future generations.   To assist the committee in forming an agenda of action items, please take a minute to fill out a brief survey on the Mayor's webpage:   http://www.nashville.gov/mayor/green_ribbon/index.htm

More bikes on the road = less cars on the road.   Safety is the most important element when riding. As more and more folks are getting the old bicycle out of the basement or garage and taking it in to the shop for repairs, we thought we'd remind our readers of how to ensure your safety. When bicycling on the road, it is best to be predictable and follow these guidelines for keeping yourself safe: Always wear your helmet. Make sure the helmet doesn't wobble around on your head, the straps make a V under your ears and the buckle is close under your chin. ABC Quick Check your bike to be sure it's safe.  Air-be sure those tires are properly inflated; Brakes-be sure there is no less than a thumb's width between the lever and the handlebar when applying the brakes; Crank & Chain-make sure the chain is sitting on those little teeth, wiggle the pedals to be sure they're tight, and rotate the pedals a few times to be sure it's all working smoothly. And if your bike has quick release wheels and/or seats be sure those quick-release levers are tight. Now, take your bike for a brief spin around to be sure everything is working properly. Ride a straight line and ALWAYS use signals to notify drivers of your intent to turn left or right. Wear wicking clothing because if you sweat while you ride you can get cold, even in hot weather! Hydrate, hydrate, hydrate! Drink water before you ride and carry a bottle with you. Carry lights with you just in case you have a late meeting or get stuck and need to ride in the dark. Ride an arm's length from the curb. It keeps you in the line of sight for motor-vehicles and keeps you from clipping the curb with a pedal. The following laws exist to protect you and affect you when riding your bicycle: The state of Tennessee recognizes and classifies a bicycle as a vehicle. This means you are entitled to travel in the motor-vehicle travel lane. This also means you are required to follow all traffic laws. As a vehicle, a bicycle must travel in the same direction as motor-vehicles. Nashville city ordinance prohibits riding a bicycle on a sidewalk in a business district, so apply that to downtown, Hillsboro Village, 5 Points, and other business areas around town. Tennessee state law requires a motorist to provide no less than three feet when passing a bicyclist on the road. All bicyclists are entitled to take the lane. This means that if it is unreasonably safe to share a lane with motor-vehicles and your are not impeding the flow of traffic you may occupy the lane. Tennessee state law requires all bicycles at night to have a front white light and either a rear reflector or a rear red light. Consider the following: Riding two abreast in traffic or on busy roads can impede the flow of traffic and make motor-vehicle drivers angry. They are bigger and more dangerous. Keep 'em happy! A bike lane is designed for one bicyclist's width. Riding two abreast does not provide ample space to ensure safety. Riding a bicycle against the flow of traffic either on the road or on the sidewalk are the top two reasons for car-bike collisions. 80% of bicycle accidents do not involve a motor vehicle. You have control over your own safety. Practice it by following laws and guidelines developed to keep you safe. Almost every part of your body is replaceable - your brain is not. Wear a helmet. If you are a parent and you take your kids out to ride bicycles, think about the lesson you teach if you make them wear a helmet but you don't wear one. If you don't have enough air in your tires you can get a flat at any time, even by just going over a bump such as a driveway entrance. A rear reflector can be seen from approximately 50 feet away in headlights, whereas a red rear light can be seem from as far away as 500 feet. That's 450 more feet of space for a motor vehicle to slow down as it approaches you.

Share Your Ideas and Experiences    We're adding a new section to our next newsletter and it's all about you, our members. Email us about your bike commuting experiences. What kind of panniers do you use for your commute to work? What kind of bike works best? What are your best experiences? When did you begin commuting? How often do you commute? What else would you like to tell us about your commute? We'll compile member/reader responses into an article in the next newsletter. Please submit your stories to info@walkbikenashville.org with subject line: Commuter Experience Submission.

News and Updates   We scored another grant!   REI awarded Walk/Bike Nashville with a cash and gear grant. We'll be adding 8 new bicycles to our fleet, all sized appropriately for middle school age kids (since we already have a fleet sized for elementary age, also thanks to a grant from REI a few years ago). Included in the grant will be journals for kids to keep track of their mileage and other incentives to keep them riding.