Frederick Bicycle Coalition

On January 4th, 2011 we will be having a Frederick Bicycle Coalition event at Brewers Alley in downtown Frederick. All day long, 20 percent of your food/bar bill will be donated to FBC. So visit Brewers Alley for some great food and beer and help support Frederick biking at the same time.

Plenty of bikers and FBC board members will be there in the evening, so come on out and introduce yourself, enjoy some great food and beer and help support the Frederick Bicycle Coalition.

Brewers Alley is located at 124 North Market Street in downtown Frederick, MD and will be open from 11:30AM to 11:30PM on the day of the event.

And of course, you are encouraged to ride your bike to the event. Hope to see you there!

The Frederick Bicycle Coalition turns 1 year old this month. In that short time we have gotten a lot accomplished. Many thanks to our members and sponsors for the support to make this happen. We hope to make 2011 an even more successful year. In the meantime, let’s take a look at all the great things FBC got done and participated in this year:

• Participated in and promoted Frederick’s Bike to Work Day 2010
• Led road and mountain bike rides including ones at the inaugural Tour de Frederick , a series of Introduction to the Watershed MTB rides and women’s rides.
• Conducted a Bicycle Usage Survey focused on Frederick City and County
• Contributed to Frederick’s annual ALTA bike count and synthesized two years of data
• Worked with Frederick City elected officials and staff to sign the Bicycle Friendly Action Plan and work to become a designated Bicycle Friendly Community
• Participated in the Maryland Trails Summit
• Helped craft a Maryland Trails Vision document for mountain biking in MD
• Hosted the first Ride with the Mayor to the Frederick Keys game
• Worked with Frederick’s Mayor McClement to establish Frederick’s first Bicycle Advisory Committee
• Held the first FBC BBQ and bike rides
• Provided housing for musician Ben Sollee and his crew on their bicycle powered tour of the Mid-Atlantic
• Held a fundraiser dinner at Agro Dolce, partnering with Heavy Seas Beer
• Helped an FBC member recover his stolen bike by getting the word out through our vast electronic network
• Contributed to and promoted the Frederick County Bicycle and Pedestrian Planning meetings.
• Assisted with Frederick bicycle rodeos promoting safe riding for children
• Hosted the IMBA Trail Care Crew visit in Frederick which included presentations to government officials and land managers, a trail building school and mountain bike rides (shout out to local MTB advocacy group MORE who partnered with us on this effort)
• Organized a pre-winter bicycle tune up Community Outreach Event
• Achieved 501(c)3 non-profit status
• Purchased an FBC branded bike rack for downtown Frederick

People are noticing not just the Frederick Bicycle Coalition, but bicycling in general in the Frederick area. Take a look at the coverage FBC and local cycling had this year:

• Aldermen take steps to make Frederick more bicycle-friendly
• Frederick Plans to Pursue Bicycle Friendly Designation
• FBC members tackle Snowpocalypse 2010
• Bicycle-friendliness could bring benefits to Frederick
• Cyclists hope to attract more bicycle commuters
• Aldermen hear Bicycle Ad Hoc Committee’s suggestions to boost biking on Frederick city streets
• Bike group prepares for presentation
• Local pastor, cyclist combines passions to help other people
• Pro mountain biker enjoys downtime at home before training begins
• Bicyclist pedals friendliness
• Golden Mile’s future gets mapped out
• Frederick Bicycle Coalition plans ride to ‘Sunday Funday’ Keys game
• Brunswick Bicycle Festival a thank you to cyclists
• Study plans for more traffic by car, foot, bike
• MacFawn’s pedals passengers along downtown streets
• Traveling Through – Mayor seeks input for bicycle
• Frederick aldermen, mayor ‘fully support’ bicycle committee’s ideas

Although temperatures barely rose above 42°, FBC’s first community outreach event was a big success. FBC, The Bike Doctor, The Bicycle Escape, and Wheel Base, all came together as one big team to provide free bicycle tune-ups and blinky lights (thanks anonymous donor!) outside the Hillcrest Latino Market last Saturday from noon to 4pm.  In addition to some of Frederick’s best bicycle mechanics, we also had a team of translators to help bridge the language gap (thanks for organizing this Jeanie!). Many thanks to Maria and Freddy from Centro Hispano de Frederick as well as FBC member Fernando Torres and Jeff Novosel from the Bicycle Escape for all your help! Local State Farm agent, Darius Mark, also provided free water bottles and everyone stayed fairly warm and well caffeinated throughout the day thanks to Hillary’s kerosene heater and coffee provided by Ana’s Pupuseria.

Although we didn’t take a formal count, it is estimated that over 20 bikes went home in much better shape than they arrived in. The event got off to a roaring start with several folks showing up exactly at noon with bicycles in need of repair, some showing up by bike and others showing up by car. By 2pm, things started to slow down, but we had a few very special visitors that I think really made the whole event a true success. Can’t wait for next time!

Thanks so much to our mechanics!
Tom Perperone (Wheel Base)
Greg Light (Wheel Base)
Dave Diehl (Wheel Base)
Matt Buckner (Wheel Base)
James Johnson (The Bike Doctor & FBC Board Member)
Tom Rinker (The Bicycle Escape & FBC President)
Jeff Novosel (The Bicycle Escape)

Thanks so much to our translators!
Fernando Torres (Avid FBC Member)
Freddy Rubio (Centro Hispano de Frederick)
Maria Shuck (Centro Hispano de Frederick)
Jeff Novosel (The Bicycle Escape)

Thanks so much to our helper-outers!
Darius Mark (FBC Member & State Farm Agent)
Henry Mark (FBC Member in training)
Mic Dunn (FBC Board Member)
Anna Kelso (FBC Board Member)

Thanks so much to the Bike Doctor for the pupusas!

Thanks so much to the Hillcrest Latino Market for letting us hold our event at your location!

Please, please forgive me if I’ve forgotten anyone!

More photos at our flikr site!

 I can’t stop using “!!!!”

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FBC will provide free bicycle adjustments and distribute free red blinky lights (while supplies last) in front of the Hillcrest Latino Market on Saturday, December 11th from noon to 4pm. This event is open to both children and adults. Come out and get your bicycle ready for the winter season! Many thanks to The Bike Doctor, The Bicycle Escape, Wheel Base, and Centro Hispano de Frederick for your gracious support! Si habla espanol!

Hillcrest Latino Market (out front)
10 Hillcrest Drive, Suite 22
Frederick, MD 21703

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(click to enlarge)