Bike Walk Alliance for Missoula

Want to explore new cycling routes in Missoula, meet some cool women, learn how to maintain your bike and discover resources to help you upgrade your cycling equipment? At the same time, you will stay in shape and meet new women biking partners! The MizzB’s have an event planned to get you started. We would love to have you join us!

• Who:  MizzBs and women friends you want to come along! Women of all ages and abilities – beginners are highly encouraged to attend.
• What:  Meet new biking buddies!
  • Learn to change a flat tire.
  • 12 mile easy pace bike around Missoula on safe, flat routes (see map).
  • Celebrate the completion of our first ride at Holiday Inn’s Brooks and Browns.
• Cost:  Our insurance requires you to be a member of BWAM click to our  ”Join Us” page to participate.
• When:  Friday, April 25 at 5:15. Presentation will start at 5:30 sharp.
  • Get there early to buy bike supplies or rent a bike at a discount prices:
  • 20% off rentals and accessories – 10% off a new bike Read the rest of this entry »

A Cycling Saavy adult traffic cycling workshop will be in Missoula May 30 & 31, sponsored by Journeys From Home. See the information poster for more information.

Cycling Savvy is an adult traffic cycling course that teaches the principles of Mindful Bicycling:

• empowerment to act as confident, equal road users;
• strategies for safe, stress-free integrated cycling;
• tools to read and problem-solve any traffic situation or road configuration.

This adult cycling course is offered in three 3-hour components: a classroom session, a bikehandling session, and on-road experience session. The classroom and bike-handling sessions may be taken individually; the road tour experience requires the first two as pre-requisite. The purpose of the course is build confidence through education and guided practice.

A limited number of scholarships are available, apply today!

BWAM’s new committee, Women Bike Missoula, (MizzBs) will have a kickoff social event Friday, March 14, 5:15-7 pm at Adventure Cycling conference room, 150 E. Pine Street.   All interested women and girls are invited, but in order to be sure of having plenty of food and drink we are asking that you sign up on the MizzBs page.

So what is this committee all about?  Women are a distinct minority when it comes to bicycling, and many of us in BWAM have talked for a long time about how we could encourage more women to use the bicycle for transportation. A sign-up list at the BWAM annual meeting began the process to form a committee, and through e-news and sharing, the e-mail list grew to 15 names. Since February a core group of seven has been meeting every Tuesday at 7:45 a.m. at the Adventure Cycling Association conference room, 150 E. Pine Street. We have a mission statement, a page on the BWAM site (click on MizzBs above), lots of ideas for reaching more women with fun activities and information to encourage them to bike, or if they bike now for recreation, to also bike for their daily commutes to work or errands.  We look forward to engaging many women of all ages, abilities, economic, social and employment groups.  We welcome those who are already committed bicyclists to join us to help by sharing their experiences, expertise, and ideas.

The March Association of Pedestrian and Bicycle Professionals webinar sponsored by Bike/Walk Alliance for Missoula will be “Design for Cyclist and Pedestrian Comfort“ originally shown by APBP on 2/19/14. Please click here to register.

• Date: Thursday, March 13, 2014
• Time: 12:00 till 2:00 pm (presentation at 12:15)
• Presentation Length: 60 minutes
• Location: Garlington, Lohn & Robinson, Conference Room, 350 Ryman Street, Missoula, MT

A complimentary lunch will be provided to those who preregistered. Please register here.

Increase funding for bike & pedestrian infrastructure!

Last year, the League and Sierra Club released a report – “The New Majority: Pedaling Toward Equity” – that highlighted the prevailing disparities in safe biking and walking in low-income and communities of color nationwide.

Now, a bi-partisan bill in Congress, introduced by Rep. Albio Sires (D-NJ), would take steps to advance equity for bicyclists and pedestrians, and boost funding for bike/ped projects low-income communities.

Take action now – tell your member of Congress to support H.R. 3978! Read the rest of this entry »

The February Association of Pedestrian and Bicycle Professionals webinar sponsored by Bike/Walk Alliance for Missoula will be “Strategies to Enable Winter Cycling and Walking” originally shown by APBP on 1/15/14. Please click here to register.

Presenters in this session will discuss:

• On overview of different types of winter climates and how facilities and maintenance should be adapted to local climate
• Different policy approaches to snow removal from sidewalks
• The importance of prioritization and predictability of snow removal in encouraging winter cycling
• A pilot program to determine operation and funding requirements to achieve improved snow clearing and street sweeping along on-street bike routes.

Presenters:
Tyler Golly, General Supervisor – Sustainable Transportation, City of Edmonton
Marc Jolicoeur, Research Director, Velo Quebec
Nicole Losch, Bicycle/Pedestrian/Environmental Planner, City of Burlington
Arthur Ross, Pedestrian/Bicycle Coordinator, City of Madison

Date: Thursday, February 13, 2014
Time: 12:00 till 2:00 pm (presentation at 12:15)
Presentation Length: 90 minutes
Location: Garlington, Lohn & Robinson, Conference Room, 350 Ryman Street, Missoula, MT

A complimentary lunch from Pita Pit will be provided to those who preregistered. Lunch registration is closed.

Gather with us as we welcome and connect with our fellow advocates and experts in active transportation, celebrate the past year’s accomplishments, and plan for better bicycling and walking in 2014 and beyond. Good food and beverages plus a chance to meet informally with many of our local civic staff to share how you can help improve biking and walking in Missoula. Click here for more details and to register.