Rahel's Yay Bikes! Journey
Yay Bikes! Journeys recount how Yay Bikes! is transforming lives and communities, from the perspective of those we’ve impacted. In this installment, we hear from Yay Bikes! Board Member Rahel Babb about how Yay Bikes! has helped Columbus feel like home.
The one, the only: Rahel!
“I started riding primarily to reduce my car emissions.
I kept riding because of all the friends I’ve made and adventures
I’ve had along the way.”
RIDING FOR THE EARTH: "It's important to me that my lifestyle choices align with my personal and professional values. I started riding my bike for cleaner air."
As someone who works in the environmental field, sustainability-related concerns are paramount to Rahel Babb. And one way to pollute less is to drive less (duh). So when she began working at the Lazarus Building in Downtown Columbus, Rahel started riding to work with her colleague, Kelly, and slowly figuring out how to ride home on her own.
Rahel's sometimes office.
Rahel, second from left, with colleagues who also participated in 2012's National Bike Challenge.
JOINING UP WITH FELLOW CYCLISTS: "After a while it seemed a natural progression to join the community of cyclists that was beginning to emerge in Columbus."
Some time after Rahel and Kelly had mastered their daily commute they stumbled upon news of Yay Bikes!' new Year of Yay! ride series and decided to try it out. Rahel and her husband were still relatively new to town and to Rahel it seemed like a great way to get more deeply involved in the community. And then: SHAZAM! She loved it. Soon she was helping lead Year of Yay! rides when asked (and definitely not ever accidentally leading us the wrong way...cough cough...ahem... :), and eventually coordinating others to support the rides as well.
Rahel, in green, on an early Year of Yay! ride.
VOLUNTEERING FOR ALL THE THINGS: "Volunteer for all Yay Bikes! programs helps me stay in touch with how much of a difference we're making in people's lives."
Given all her excellent work supporting a Year of Yay!, Rahel was invited to join the Yay Bikes! board in March 2015; she was elected Secretary in 2016. Each year, Rahel commits to volunteering with every Yay Bikes! program, to stay in touch with what we offer the community and how it touches people's lives. She does it all—parks bikes; organizes, leads, sweeps and coordinates volunteers for rides; supports advocacy efforts; helps plan fundraising events; etc. Her involvement has given her countless opportunities to serve, lead and impact her community, and meet some amazing people along the way.
Rahel, center, on the night she joined the Yay Bikes! board in March 2015.
Rahel, center, reviewing a map of proposed changes to Downtown Columbus' streetscape.
Rahel at the ready, leading April 2017's "Healthy Earth" Year of Yay! ride.
FEELING AT HOME: "I can call up any number of people in Columbus now and generate instant adventure. I love it!"
When asked what stands out to her most about the impact Yay Bikes! has had on her life, Rahel is clear it's the relationships—with solid friends and also, to a certain extent, the city she now calls home. Her bike friends are people she can call up any time for instant adventure. She's explored most of Columbus by bike—which, as we all know, makes all places seem a bit more special. She is grateful for this crazy Yay Bikes! journey of hers, and looking forward to seeing where it takes her next.
Rockin' a purple hat, with friends, on a recent Tweed Ride.
Yay Bikes! is grateful to Rahel for her kindness, her generosity and her thoughtful, steady leadership. We appreciate her role in supporting the hundreds of people who have learned to ride roads under her guidance.
Helmets off to you, friend!
To share your Yay Bikes! Journey, contact Meredith to set up a chat!
June 2017 activity report
Our Executive Director Catherine Girves chats with City Council Member Shannon Hardin about West Side bike lanes.
Welcome to the monthly feature in which we round up all our events, earned media, program delivery, meetings and speaking engagements for the month. Representation and outreach like this is what you fund with your membership dollars and major gifts, folks! Behold, June:
June 1
Bike the Cbus planning meeting
June 3
Meeting with Columbus City Council Member Shannon Hardin regarding bike lanes on West Broad Street
Year of Yay! vetting ride
Community engagement: Pride Bicycle Ride
June 5
Delivered 2 Professional Development Rides in Sandusky
June 6–8
Attended ODOT's Active Transportation Conference as subject matter experts assisting 5 communities throughout state; moderated a panel on education strategies in Ohio's Active Transportation Plan; and led and ride for 20 conference attendees
June 9
Rode with City of Columbus engineers to provide input on South Side–area infrastructure under consideration through the Urban Infrastructure Recovery Fund
June 10
Year of Yay!, 'Candy' theme
June 10–11
Yay Valet! at Buckeye Country Superfest
June 12
Delivered 2 Professional Development Rides in Shaker Heights
June 13
Led a ride with Wellness Ambassadors from several State of Ohio agencies
June 14
Community engagement: Grove City Bike Night
June 15
Bike the Cbus vetting ride
June 16
Community engagement: Tour de Grandview
June 19
Delivered a Professional Development Ride in Lima
June 20
Led a ride with Wellness Ambassadors from several State of Ohio agencies
Meeting with Julie Walcoff of the Ohio Department of Transportation about upcoming training and partnership opportunities
June 21
Presentation to the State Highway Safety Plan Steering Committee regarding Professional Development Rides
June 24
Bike the CbusPLUS vetting ride
Community engagement: Black Girls Do Bike / Major Taylor ride
June 25
Community engagement: Tuesday Night Ride
Community engagement: Metro Parks Bicycle Tour 2017 @ Glacier Ridge
June 26
Chaired the MORPC Community Advisory Committee meeting
June 27
Smart City partner appreciation event
Community engagement: Steady Pedaling ride
June 28
Learn, Connect & Collaborate with Smart Columbus
Tour de Brew planning meeting
Presented "How to Grocery Shop by Bike" @ Lucky's Market
June 29
Press conference with Defend our Future, City Council Member Elizabeth Brown, the Environmental Defense Fund and Green Columbus
June 30
How We Roll for Yay Bikes! members
The Daily Sentinel: Creating Healthy Communities Program
The Spirit of Columbus
Updated August 2018
On April 17, 1964, a woman named Jerrie Mock became the first woman to fly solo around the world when she landed her single-engine Cessna, named “Spirit of Columbus”, at Port Columbus International Airport. In 2013, The Columbus Foundation created the Spirit of Columbus Award to recognize individuals who, like Jerrie, “have exhibited an exemplary community spirit through their accomplishments”. Today, the phrase has taken on new life as our community has embraced it to celebrate anything local “that distinguishes and inspires us”. As someone who has lived in and been inspired by Columbus my entire life, I’m clear that list is long. Columbus is the best city in the world!
Oh! Oh, my...! Photo credit: Bryan Barr
Which is largely why I was so thrilled in 2015 when Yay Bikes! was invited to take over Bike the Cbus, Columbus’ annual neighborhood bike ride event. Now in its 11th year, Bike the Cbus is a shining example of all that makes this city exceptional. In the tradition of rides like NYC’s Five Boro Bike Tour, Pittsburgh’s PedalPGH and Detroit’s Tour de Troit, Bike the Cbus showcases 30 miles of the best of our city’s urban core and surrounding neighborhoods—Southside! Merion Village! Franklinton! Victorian Village! OSU Campus! Clintonville! University District! Weinland Park! Milo Grogan! King Lincoln Bonzeville! Olde Towne East! Children’s Hospital! Downtown! Brewery District! Whittier Peninsula! Bicentennial Park! German Village! More! And for Bike the CbusPLUS riders, all of Franklin County!
The Shoe in view. Photo credit: Bryan Barr
You’ve experienced many of these places, sure. But have you experienced them at the speed of bike? Because THAT is when you know, truly and intimately, the magic of a place—its smells, its hidden nooks, its vibe, its story. I promise you this. Ride a bike through Columbus and you’ll fall in love with it, or fall in love all over again. Something you experience riding Bike the Cbus or Bike the CbusPLUS will surprise and delight you. Whether it’s the hospitality of a local business, a route that shows you a better way to get somewhere, a picturesque view of the city, the new friends you make or something else entirely, you’ll emerge from this ride Columbus Proud. Guaranteed.
Wait, what?!?! Photo credit: Ben Ko
A friendly hello greets a Bike the Cbus rider. Photo credit: Ben Ko
This is our ride, Columbus! Yet another reason to be proud of this place and its people!
So I personally invite all of you to embrace this community asset and join me in celebrating the Spirit of Columbus by registering for Bike the Cbus or Bike the CbusPLUS today! All profits from the ride go directly to support the advocacy work of Yay Bikes!, which works to make bicycling better all year round. It's a feedback loop that keeps making this city of ours a national draw. Yay you! Yay us! Yay ColumbUS!
Over the bridge into Downtown. Photo credit: Ben Ko
Mark it. September 1. See you there!
'Candy' ride
Thanks to ride leader Daria Hopkins for a fantastic experience and this write-up!
Twenty-five cyclists gathered at Whole Foods for June ‘s Candy ride, which fell on a beautiful sunny day.
Our first stop at Rocket Fizz began with a brief introduction by the store’s friendly owner, Lindsay, who allowed for us to indulge in complimentary salt water taffy samples. We were also able to explore the store’s diverse soda collection, consisting of over 600 types of soda imported from hundreds of microbreweries throughout the world!
The group then ventured over to German Village to visit Schmidt’s Fudge Haus. Their friendly chocolate maker, Nathaniel, provided us with a demonstration regarding the chocolate making process. The chocolate and sweets at this store were so tasty that many of us had to be coaxed out of the store, as we went well past our allotted visit time.
Fudge demo!
The group then headed over to Northern Lights to visit Clown Cone and Confections. Our timing was perfect, as the store had just celebrated its 41st anniversary. The owner, Mark, whipped up one of the store’s well known specialties for us to see, the Clown Cone sundae. We were also able to see the store’s clown collection, which consists of approximately 875 clowns.
41 years of clown cones!
875 clowns?!?!!?!
Mmmmmm.....
Oh yeah: MORE CANDY!
After many of us enjoyed a frozen treat at Clown Cone, the group returned to Whole Foods to socialize and recap the morning’s adventures.
Thanks to everyone who came out for the ride! See you next month!
May 2017 activity report
ODOT transit employees learning to use the COTA bus racks during a Professional Development Ride with us this month.
Welcome to the monthly feature in which we round up all our events, earned media, program delivery, meetings and speaking engagements for the month. Representation and outreach like this is what you fund with your membership dollars and major gifts, folks! Behold, May:
All month
Delivered Columbus Bike Maps to bike shops throughout Central Ohio
May 1
Chaired the MORPC Community Advisory Committee meeting
May 2–3
Trained Bike Cleveland to deliver Professional Development rides
May 4
Columbus Alive: Things We Love: Picks from Emily Monnig
Vet the Bike the Cbus route
May 5
Vet the June Year of Yay! route
May 6
Tabled at Pinchflat Bike Poster Blowout
May 9
Delivered a Professional Development Ride in Cleveland and another in Euclid
May 10
Meeting at the Ohio Department of Health regarding our upcoming Ride Buddy / How We Roll program for state employees
May 12
Met with a national representative from Dero
May 11
Tabled at the Worthington Community Bike Rodeo
Columbus Green Team meeting
May 13
Year of Yay!, 'April Showers Bring May Flowers' theme
May 15
Delivered a Professional Development Ride with ODOT transit professionals in Columbus
Yay Bikes! board meeting
May 16
nbc4i.com: "Groups aim to make biking to work safer and more convenient"
ODOT Messenger: "Bike to Work Week"
Led a bike ride with members of the press
May 17
Participated in 2 Columbus Foundation Big Table conversations
May 19
The Loop: "5.19.17"
Led a ride to Columbus' Bike to Work Day celebration
May 21
Delivered a How We Roll ride for Yay Bikes! members
May 22
Delivered 2 Professional Development Rides in Defiance
May 23
Attended a planning meeting for the Statewide Active Transportation Institute
May 24
Attended a Central Ohio Greenways board meeting
May 30
Delivered a Professional Development Ride in Dublin
May 31
Delivered 2 Professional Development Rides in Meigs County (Pomeroy and Middleport
The sounds of silence
My son Alex and I, embarking on our homeward journey.
Never did it occur to me I could ride 263 miles in one weekend—at least, not until the century I recently completed with the help of friends. But over Memorial Day weekend, my son and I did it: Columbus > Parkersburg, WV > Columbus! What a fascinating turn in my bike life journey, with takeaways including:
Rolling hills are great fun. Wicking fabric in 3-hour rains save rides. Nature sucks (as do allergies). No thanks, gravel inclines! I love music! Birds are pretty rad, too. I CAN DO IT.
This last is a particularly Good Thing to know about oneself. I'm proud of all times I managed my discomfort to pedal one additional mile. I'm in awe of all the times I wanted to call for a pickup but didn't. I'm stronger than I thought I was.
But even more than that, was the silence. During much of the ride I did not talk, think (not even about work, which for anyone who knows me is...miraculous), distract myself with electronics: I was blank. So blank, in fact, that I began to understand what bird watchers are all about (which, for anyone who knows me, was NOT something that was ever gonna happen). It took a veeerrry long bike ride for me to reconnect with the stillness inside me. And what a gift that has been.
When I began riding a bicycle—a poor quality, ill fitting bicycle—for transportation, more than a decade ago, I could not have guessed where it would take me (literally or figuratively). Certainly I never would have thought I'd actually enjoy all my daily short-mileage trips. And definitely not long-distance recreational riding. And absolutely not a 263 mile journey to Parkersburg and back.
Now I'm not saying that everyone should follow my path. If sewing or soccer or cooking is your path to transformation, rock on with your bad self. But I AM saying that if you've been thinking that biking just might be your thing—you're probably right, and I'm here for you. Yay Bikes! is here for you. Come on out for a ride! You'll not know where it will take you, but you can pretty much guarantee discovery, community, fun and adventure. None too shabby, eh?
Yay bikes! Yay you!
'April Showers, May Flowers' ride recap
The long boardwalk approaching Innis Park—part of the Alum Creek North greenway. Photo credit: Pete Heiss
Thanks to ride leader Gloria Hendricks for a fantastic experience and this write-up!
On May 13th, we had 45+ riders for the April Showers Bring May Flowers ride. The ride was 17 miles and took us out to Clintonville for Flowers and Bread, then back to Easton for Oberer's Flowers. This was my first time leading a Yay Bikes! ride and I was really nervous, but we had great weather and I was with great people.
A Cooke Rd processional. Photo credit: Pete Heiss
Flower and Bread is located on High st. and is very unique to Columbus. This shop serves flowers, bread, and coffee all in one, but that is not the best part. All of the flowers come from local flower nurseries on that day. You can also take arrangements classes there. Flower and Bread works with all local businesses for all of the products they use.
What a cute new place in Clintonville! Photo credit: Pete Heiss
Yummy samples! Photo credit: Pete Heiss
Hearing about flowers (or was it 'flour'??) and bread. Photo credit: Pete Heiss
The last stop was Oberer's Flowers on Morse Crossing at Easton, a unique flower shop that allow customers to walk into the cooler and pick out their own flowers. This flower shop has a long history with Ohio—it has been family owned since 1890. They used to sell vegetables, and in 1922 they started selling flowers. Now they have six shops and four of them are in Ohio. The Easton store welcomed us with open arms during one of the busiest times of the year for them (Mother's Day weekend) and we are grateful.
Descending upon Oberer's. Photo credit: Pete Heiss
Boom! Flowers! Photo credit: Pete Heiss
After the ride we had a big surprise from Jeff Goves—donuts and cookies waiting for us at Whole Foods! Thanks, Jeff!
Donut-buying goof! Selfie courtesy Jeff Gove
Thanks to everyone who came out for this ride. See you next month!
Life outside your car
The Ohio Department of Transportation and the Ohio Department of Health are unveiling their new active transportation campaign this month!
People often share with me that they'd like to ride their bicycles for transportation...if not for X. And, to be fair, there are plenty of obstacles one might encounter when navigating a bike life from scratch on your own. So take a deep breath and start where you are. Ride to a festival or to grab coffee with friends. You don't have to give up your car today or start with a work commute. As lovely as it is to commute by bicycle to work—really, I can't recommend it highly enough—it's among the higher-stakes rides you could attempt out the gate.
That said, if you're thinking of going for it, THIS IS YOUR MOMENT! May is National Bike Month, and that combined with several initiatives occurring locally means you'll be uniquely supported as you hit the streets this month:
Yay Bikes! is heading up local coordination of the National Bike Challenge. Log your trips to encourage friendly competition within Central Ohio and throughout the country—and for a chance to win prizes, of course.
Yay Bikes! will be participating in two local Bike to Work Day events—the May 19 ride and the May 18 tabling event. Come say hi, and ride with us!
The Ohio Department of Transportation and Ohio Department of Health are launching their Statewide Active Transportation Plan "think outside your car" campaign to encourage Ohioans to choose active modes of transportation, and pass bicyclists safely when traveling by car. Soon Yay Bikes! will also announce the 5 agencies to benefit from this spring's How We Roll / Ride Buddy pilot program for state employees!
COTA launches their systemwide overhaul this month with FREE rides May 1–7. Too far to ride all the way to work? Ride to a bus stop, load your bike on the front rack (here's how!) and veg during the journey!
The Mid Ohio Regional Planning Commission's 2016 Columbus Metro Bike Map is available online, and coming to a bike shop near you (courtesy Yay Bikes! special delivery) soon.
Our original Bike Life 101 content provides lots of valuable information on how to use your bicycle for transportation. For more personalized support, Yay Bikes! is offering How We Roll rides FREE to our members—this month with an extra weekend time slot to accommodate every schedule!
If you are looking to make a change in your life, to finally begin exploring the joys of a life outside your car, let's get together and help you figure out how. Yes, you can!
'Healthy Earth' ride recap
Riding the Lane Ave bridge on a beautiful day. Photo credit: Keith 'Lugs' Mayton
Thanks to ride leader Rahel Babb for a fantastic experience and this write-up!
For April’s Year of Yay ride, we celebrated a Healthy Earth by joining our friends at FLOW (Friends of Lower Olentangy Watershed) to plant trees along the banks of the Olentangy River at the OSU Fawcett Center! It was a beautiful day spring day and everyone was excited to get on the road. For some, this was their first big ride of the year.
Ride leader Rahel Babb (in green) greets people as they arrive to Whole Foods Market. Photo credit: Keith 'Lugs' Mayton
Because the FLOW event had already started by the time we departed, we took the most direct route to get there, which meant tackling 5 miles on Morse Road. Some riders were a little nervous about this part of the route, but our experienced leads and sweeps were there to make sure everyone felt comfortable and confident with the ride.
A long ride down Morse Road is better with friends. Photo credit: Keith 'Lugs' Mayton
We made it to the Fawcett Center ready to work. FLOW provided all of the tools: gloves, shovels, clippers, etc. Not realizing this, one of the riders brought his own shovel!
An extra shovel is never a bad thing! Photo credit: Rahel Babb
FLOW had a goal to plant 2,100 trees along an Olentangy River floodplain, and we were excited to help them meet that goal. However, because of a large volunteer turnout, by the time we got there, most of the trees had been planted. Instead of planting trees, we were tasked with removing honeysuckle (a very invasive shrub). Armed with saws and clippers, the group was led to an area overrun with the invasive plant. After a brief instruction on what to cut, the group got to work! It wasn’t long after we got going that a FLOW volunteer showed up with a bucket of tree saplings that had been overlooked, so some of us got to plant trees, too.
The crew clears invasive plants. Photo credit: Keith 'Lugs' Mayton
...a LOT of invasive plants! Photo credit: Keith 'Lugs' Mayton
Snip, snip! Photo credit: Keith 'Lugs' Mayton
Not to be messed with! Photo credit: Keith 'Lugs' Mayton
Unlike the ride to the site, our route back was much more leisurely and laid back. We meandered our way through North Linden over to Stelzer Road. After the ride, some of us gathered around the fire at Whole Foods and continued to enjoy each other’s company and the beautiful day.
Mmmm...post-ride beverage, fire, friends! Photo credit: Keith 'Lugs' Mayton
Thanks to everyone who rode with us this month! For more information on our ride partner and invasive species, check out Friends of Lower Olentangy Watershed (FLOW) and Ohio Invasive Plants. Cheers!
April 2017 activity report
Catherine leads a Professional Development Ride in Dover, OH for representatives from the city and ODOT District 11. Photo credit: Deo Martinez
Welcome to the monthly feature in which we round up all our events, earned media, program delivery, meetings and speaking engagements for the month. Representation and outreach like this is what you fund with your membership dollars and major gifts, folks! Behold, April:
All month
Delivered Columbus Bike Maps to bike shops throughout Central Ohio
April 3
Chaired the MORPC Community Advisory Committee meeting
April 5
Presented to 8th graders @ Columbus Gifted Academy
CDC.gov: Step It Up! Status Report for The Surgeon Generals Call to Action to Promote Walking and Walkable Communities (pdf, page 21, regarding the Ohio Active Transportation Plan, which Yay Bikes! helped develop)
April 6
Bike the Cbus planning meeting
April 7
cleveland.com: Summit Cycling's 'How We Roll' tours teach Akronites to ride bikes safely in the city
April 8
Year of Yay!, 'Healthy Earth' theme
April 10
Delivered a Professional Development Ride in New Philadelphia and in Dover
Pinchflat: Bike Poster Blowout planning meeting
April 11
Met with Connex, Portsmouth's bicycle advocacy group
Presented to the Westerville Bicycle Club
Presented to the Italian Village Society
April 13
Delivered a Professional Development Ride in New Albany
Part of the Ohio Active Transportation Team that received the Ohio TZD (Toward Zero Death) Award for Regional Collaboration at their Spring 2017 meeting
April 14
Ohio Action Institute planning meeting
April 15
Yay Valet! @ OSU Spring Game
April 16
Delivered 2 Professional Development Rides in Portsmouth
April 17
Attended the State Route 161 study Advisory Committee Meeting
April 20
Bike the Cbus planning meeting
Columbus Underground: Pinchflat: Bike Poster Blowout
April 22
Yay Valet! @ Earth Day
April 24
Delivered a Professional Development Ride in Racine
Met with the Director of the Athens County Library System about a bike rack purchase
April 25
Attended a Comfest Grant Committee meeting
April 27
Attended the Ohio Active Transportation quarterly team meeting
WOSU, All Sides with Ann Fisher: Ohio Bike Laws (rebroadcast)
April 30
Hosted a Yay Bikes! member appreciation event
Duane's Yay Bikes! Journey
Yay Bikes! Journeys recount how Yay Bikes! is transforming lives and communities, from the perspective of those we’ve impacted. In this installment, we hear from Yay Bikes! Board Member Duane McCoy about how Yay Bikes! has helped him feel safe riding the streets in his neighborhood, and given him a meaningful outlet for uplifting his community.
No matter the weather, you'll find Duane among the crew parking bikes (Duane = hero in the blue coat).
“I’m not the biggest bike guy you’ll ever meet, but I’m a big promoter of Yay Bikes! because I’ve seen for myself how our work has made my neighborhood a better place. Also, the people are great! ”
A HAPPY ACCIDENT: "I didn't know a thing about Yay Bikes! when I signed up for a volunteer shift at the Comfest bike corral."
Duane McCoy's passions are volunteerism and community. With a personal goal to devote at least 10 hours a month to giving back, he is always looking for new ways to help. And so, one year for Comfest, he randomly picked a gig that seemed fun: volunteering in their newfangled bike corral. He claims to have fallen in love immediately with Catherine (as in Girves, current Yay Bikes! Executive Director), who was running the show at that time. "She's awesome at cultivating followers," he said. Indeed, he's followed her for almost 9 years since...
Where it all began: the Comfest bike corral.
Best buds Duane, Stinger and Catherine (Girves) at a Bike to Work Day event. Photo credit: Bryan Barr
ASSUMING LEADERSHIP: "I was really looking for a way to take my passion for volunteering and community to a new level."
Many shifts in the bike corral later, and Duane had graduated from the United Way of Central Ohio's Pride Leadership program, which prepares LGBT community members for board leadership. Catherine had recently assumed the role of Yay Bikes! Executive Director, and set to snatching him up before other organizations had a chance. Duane joined the Yay Bikes! board in May of 2014 and, though he won't quite admit it, has since become a powerful advocate for bicycling, both in Columbus and Grange Insurance, where he works in operations.
With former Columbus Mayor Michael "Bikin' Mike" Coleman, promoting bicycling alongside several Grange colleagues.
Riding with his colleagues to lunch on a Yay Bikes! Ride Buddy ride.
Duane (blue hoodie, left) and his husband, Mike, at the Columbus Ride of Silence.
SAFER TRAVELS: "My neighbors love, love, LOVE the new bike lanes on Summit and Fourth Streets—as do Mike & I. We haven't had to use a trail to get around in ages!"
Duane still doesn't consider himself a big-time cyclist-type, but he appreciates how Yay Bikes!' education and advocacy efforts have improved his experience of traveling in his neighborhood. When he does ride, he feels far more peaceful than he used to—the new bike lanes near his house help him feel protected, motorists seem more aware of cyclists, bicyclists have become more predictable. There is much less chaos on the roads than there used to be, he says. "We have such a fun, vibrant, kind bicycle community here, and it's making a real difference for people—even people like myself, who aren't that hardcore. I feel fortunate that Yay Bikes! provides me so many opportunities to make my neighborhood, my workplace and my city even more fantastic than they already are."
Duane pores over a map of the proposed (now installed!) bicycle infrastructure on Summit & Fourth Streets, near his Italian Village home.
Yay Bikes! is grateful to Duane for his spirit of giving, his integrity and his good humor. We appreciate his willingness to step up no matter the task—advocacy, bike parking, tabling events, board leadership and more—and bring his lovely husband, Mike, along for the ride. What a lucky 'twofer' for us!
Helmets off to you, friends!
To share your Yay Bikes! Journey, contact Meredith to set up a chat!
March 2017 activity report
Deo & Meredith accepting an award from the Greater Ohio Policy Center, who nominated us for a Greater Ohio Sustainable Development Award in the Non-profit Luminary category.
Welcome to the monthly feature in which we round up all our events, earned media, program delivery, meetings and speaking engagements for the month. Representation and outreach like this is what you fund with your membership dollars and major gifts, folks! Behold, March:
All month
Delivered Columbus Bike Maps to bike shops throughout Central Ohio
March 7
Ride of Silence planning meeting
March 8
Attended the Greater Ohio Policy Center's annual Award Ceremony, to accept a Greater Ohio Sustainable Development Award in the Non-profit Luminary category
March 9
Tabled @ the annual Battelle Bike Expo
March 11
Year of Yay! ride, Prohibition theme
March 14
Attended the State Route 161 study Advisory Committee Meeting
March 16
Bike the Cbus planning meeting
March 18
Tabled @ Cyclist Connection's 10th Annual Garage Sale/Swap Meet
March 19
Tabled @ the Ohio Bicycle Swap Meet
March 20
Yay Bikes! Board of Directors meeting
March 20–22
Delivered Commuter Ride Leader training to 8 people from cities throughout Ohio,
in Columbus
March 21
WBNS 10TV: Columbus city engineers using bikes to better survey roads
March 23
Spoke to Maria Conroy's City & Regional Planning class on Sustainable Development
March 24
MC'd the Columbus Green Spot Awards
March 27
WOSU, All Sides with Ann Fisher: Ohio Bike Laws
March 28
Happiness on Two Wheels: How to Roll
March 29–31
Delivered Commuter Ride Leader training to 8 people from cities throughout Ohio,
in Fremont
Training trainers
A cohort of trainees from around the state learns to deliver critical info while leading a How We Roll ride, at our Columbus-based training.
In March, we trained 16 people from throughout Ohio—Dayton, Cleveland, Fremont, Marietta, Columbus, Waverly, Lima and Massillon—to deliver How We Roll and Ride Buddy rides to members of their communities. The 3-day trainings, which occurred in Columbus and Fremont, were funded by the Ohio Department of Health as part of their commitment to promoting active transportation in Ohio. An additional 9 people were trained in August of 2016 to lead commuter-oriented educational rides, the "Yay Way!". Participants were planners, advocates, public health professionals, engineers and more. All = total badass rock stars.
A trainee practices leading a How We Roll ride through the University District.
With 3 commuter ride leader trainings in the span of 6 months, it's clear that Ohio has gotten real when it comes to promoting active transportation, and bicycling in particular. Having 25 people trained to lead educational rides throughout the state represents a massive surge in our capacity to transition people from driving motor vehicles to riding bicycles. More importantly, it represents a shift in the way our leadership is thinking about—and investing in—bicycle education. Gone are the days in which print materials were the beginning and end of our education campaigns! As Yay Bikes! has always insisted, bicycle education works when people teach people how to navigate traffic by bicycle. Now, we are proud to note that our expertise in this area is being employed to enact uniquely effective "mode shift" programming statewide. And we are very proud of the people who completed our extremely rigorous, mentally and physically challenging training, knowing they will be a great service to Ohio in the years to come.
A cohort of trainees from around the state practices delivering critical info while leading a How We Roll ride, at our Fremont-based training. Photo credit: Nelson Shogren
Remember, Yay Bikes! now offers members a FREE How We Roll ride—we are here to help you sharpen your road riding skills and ride more confidently than ever before. Check for upcoming rides and register today! Not a member? Join today! Not in Columbus? Hit us up and we'll put you in touch with one of our new ride leaders.
A vast and mighty army is at the ready, waiting for you to take the leap into your fabulous bike life. 3...2...1...JUMP!
Gloria's Yay Bikes! journey
Yay Bikes! Journeys recount how Yay Bikes! is transforming lives and communities, from the perspective of those we’ve impacted. In this installment, we hear from Gloria Hendricks about how Yay Bikes! has profoundly affected her family's life.
The Hendricks clan is a biking clan.
“Our family has explored many places and had many adventures on our bikes, and what’s especially meaningful about that to me and Rob, as parents, has been connecting with our kids during those rides without screens occupying all their attention. We feel very lucky that Yay Bikes! was there to support us as we became a family that bikes—everywhere!”
FEELING AFRAID: "I said, 'You put my babies on THE ROAD...in snow and ice?!'"
On a wintery January morning in 2012, Gloria Hendricks went to work, and her husband, Rob, took their kids on a bike ride (in fact, the very first Year of Yay! ride ever!). On the road. In snow and ice. Rob called later, when they were home safe and sound, detailing their adventure. "So that was my first reality to Yay Bikes!. I’ll never forget that" she said, chuckling. The family was extremely new to bicycling at that point, with Rob just having taken it up after knee surgeries prevented him from running. But Gloria didn't yet own a bike, and she hadn't ridden since she was a kid. And she was very, very clear that she didn't want to start up again now—especially with her boys being out there on the road.
Gloria's youngest on his first Year of Yay! ride (Jan 2012).
Gloria's oldest (lower left) rode his own bike on super slushly streets during his first Year of Yay! ride.
JOINING THE GANG: "Mom, I think you'll really like it!"
For Valentine's Day that year, Rob bought Gloria a bicycle, and she took her first ride since earning a driver's license in high school. But the bike was a tank and not so much fun, so they traded it for a new one that was lighter and faster. Which was super, except that she was left without an excuse to beg off rides! With her boys badgering her and Rob pressuring her to join the family during her limited time off work, she agreed to attend her first Year of Yay! ride in March of 2012. As she rode on the road, she remembers thinking "Oh, this is not right!" and being scared out of her mind. But she bravely returned for April's ride...during which her oldest fell and injured his arm while he was riding far in front of her. As she caught up to him, she saw several fellow riders around him and felt...calm; he was safe, because everyone had his back. Regardless of where they fell in the pack, she realized, they were never alone.
Gloria joined a Year of Yay! ride in March, two months after the rest of her family.
Obviously, she got the hang of it!
FACING TRAGEDY: "I didn't really start to enjoy riding until Rob's accident—is that weird?"
In October of 2012, a driver who was texting at the time rear-ended Rob as he was riding to work. He very nearly died (saved by his helmet and sheer luck!), but he was especially sad not to have made his goal of riding 4,000 miles that year. So Gloria got to thinking—what can I do for him? "I took over riding," she said. "I took over riding for him so he could make his 4,000 miles. That's what started it. It made me more independent to ride on the road by myself, it made realize I could do things." People thought she might quit riding after the crash—and she did too—but she just couldn't let fear dominate their lives, or have her kids see them giving up. Everything has risk, she figured, and this was one worth taking. Her family's bicycle adventures had become more than just rides. Yay Bikes! was introducing them to fascinating parts of Columbus, plus surrounding her kids with good role models and developing their characters through conversation and volunteerism. It was too good a thing to let go of.
The car that rear-ended her husband.
Gloria's boys visit their dad in the hospital on Halloween, just a couple of weeks after his crash.
GOING ALL IN: "Biking is very peaceful; it shuts your mind down in certain ways. It makes you think about what's important to you."
Five years into her now-lifelong bicycling adventure, Gloria isn't necessarily proud of how many bikes she has, but hey! They each do different things! Gloria is a commuter cyclist, goes mountain biking, races (slowly, but it counts!), vacations and camps by bike and does a 100-mile ride on each anniversary of Rob's accident. She is officially all in! Gloria credits Yay Bikes! with helping her gain independence and self confidence, and connecting her with people who have become like family to her, both on the bike and off.
Gloria on her 100-mile ride, to commemorate the 1-year anniversary of Rob's crash.
Gloria and Rob, riding together, forever. <3
Yay Bikes! is grateful to Gloria for her spunk, her sense of humor, her perseverance and her extreme dedication to family. We appreciate the hours she has devoted to volunteering with us, and all the joy and hardship she has shared with us over the years.
Helmets off to you, friend!
To share your Yay Bikes! Journey, contact Meredith to set up a chat!
'Prohibition' ride recap
Thanks to ride leader David Curran for a fantastic experience and this write-up!
The Prohibition-themed Year of Yay! ride on March 11 started out on a sunny, brisk 23-degree morning from Whole Foods.
Hi there! Photo credit: Deo Martinez
The 20-or so riders braved the cold all the way up the Alum Creek Trail to downtown Westerville to visit the main library and the Anti-Salon League Museum contained within. Nina Thomas of the museum gave us an introduction to it, and a great history lesson about Westerville's place in the Prohibition era.
Nina Thomas, welcoming and educating our group.
Next, on a quick tour into downtown Westerville, we saw a couple of locations of significant events that heralded the beginning and the end of the city's long prohibition of alcohol. We saw where it all ended in 2006, at Michael's Pizza (now closed). We then saw where the original Corbin's Tavern stood, which was bombed by angry Temperance supporters at the beginning of Westerville's Whiskey Wars in the late 1800s.
Michael's Pizza, celebrating the end of Westerville's long dry spell in 2006.
Corbin's Tavern, upon being bombed by Temperance supporters.
We then returned south via the Alum Creek Trail and a quick spin through Easton Town Center. Since we all had our cold-weather gear already on, we relaxed afterwards around the outdoor fire pit at Whole Foods and celebrated with legal and well-deserved libations of choice.
Socializin'. As we do. Photo credit: David Curran
Total mileage for the ride was about 17-miles. A big thank you to everyone who helped make the ride possible.
Getting to Know Mr Deo
Deo Martinez, Yay Bikes! Program Manager
Recently, Yay Bikes! hired a new Program Manager—one Mr Deo Martinez. This is the guy you'll be volunteering with to support all the awesome Yay Bikes! programming, so we thought you'd wanna know a bit about him. Here goes:
Hometown
Saginaw, Michigan
College & major
Columbus College of Art & Design, Illustration
Former jobs & employers
Slinging food here and there
What's your everyday ride?
Fuji Track 2016:
When and why did you start riding your bicycle for transportation?
I've been into bikes for a long time, I rode my BMX bike for transportation and recreation for years. I ended up getting injured doing it and decided to give it up. I sold my BMX and bought Road bike, thus a real bike commuter was born.
What was your most spectacular crash?
I once fell over it front of a sorority party, because my feet were stuck in foot retention.
Fave ride fuel (aka food)?
Anything Seafood! Shrimp, Squid, scallops, mussels! Pass it all my way.
What's the biggest reason you're excited to work for Yay Bikes!?
I'm happy to be part of something that's much bigger than I am. I'm lucky to be in a position to help move this city forward with bicycle commuting and safer transportation.
What most stellar qualities / skills / attitudes / superpowers do you bring to your work with Yay Bikes!?
I believe that I bring a bit to the table in terms of skill and qualities; a different perspective towards bike culture, tallness, art. My attitude is calm, kind and determined. Working under pressure doesn't bother me at all. As for super powers, there might be a rumor out there that I can dance, but who knows?
Why will people definitely want to volunteer this year with Yay Bikes!?
Psh, because I'll be there! I want to know all about your lives while wemake our community a better place forCyclists. Come have fun with me!
Anything else fun we should know?
I have 2 dogs named Alice and Vivan.
I'm a Nerd.
I like to Dance.
I enjoy cooking.
Yay Bikes! is excited to welcome Deo into the fold. So far, so good! We're pretty sure you'll wanna know this guy! ;)
It's your year!
Happiness is volunteering with friends.
I’ll be the first to admit that it’s not always been easy to plug into the work of Yay Bikes!. With a small staff, it’s been challenging for us to adequately support everyone who wants to be involved. This year, however, we’re ready. We have a new plan, a new person and plenty of opportunities for you to apply your passion to what we're up to. I encourage you to explore, reach out, stick your toe in or your neck out, get trained, take ownership, step into greatness, have fun, settle into a community, make a difference. Yay Bikes! is all that for you, and more. Below are some ways to learn how to plug into all that awesome.
THE PLAN
Read our 2017 Strategic Plan to find out where we're headed, and how you might help advance our goals this year.
THE PERSON
Meet Deo, our new Program Manager
Reach out to Deo (deo@yaybikes.com) for a chat. Deo will be largely taking over the role I've been playing in delivering our programs and coordinating volunteers. And he's lovely, folks! He will take good care of you. When you feel ready to step into volunteering with Yay Bikes!, Deo is your man.
THE OPPORTUNITIES
Stay attuned to the opportunities posted on our Volunteering page; more will be added all the time as our season unfolds (there are often others as well, which may not get posted—again, contact Deo to learn more). If biking is your passion and you want to serve through Yay Bikes!, pick up some shifts parking bikes or tabling or making Year of Yay! buttons. As you model our values doing the small tasks, we just may tap you to get trained for volunteer leadership positions. There is always the chance for growth in our organization.
Nick's Yay Bikes! journey
Yay Bikes! Journeys recount how Yay Bikes! is transforming lives and communities, from the perspective of those we’ve impacted. In this installment, we hear from Nick Tepe, Director of Athens County Public Libraries, about how Yay Bikes! has enriched his life and made his community of Nelsonville more bicycle friendly.
Nick rides Ohio
“We’ve really been able to move the needle on cycling awareness in not just Franklin County anymore, but the entire state. The people who are making decisions about how we can be safe and have fun riding our bikes on the road are actually paying attention to us now, and it is 100% because of this organization. Which is why I am proud to continue to support Yay Bikes!, even though I no longer live in Columbus.”
RIDING SOLO: “That’s just what I do, I ride my bike to where I want to go.”
Nick has, for as long as he can remember, ridden his bike to get where he wants to go. Thanks to the gift of 70s-era parents, he even rode his bike several miles to get to his elementary school! So it was a no brainer that he took his bike to college in Lancaster, Pennsylvania, and then grad school at OSU. And when he got his first library job at the Columbus Metropolitan Library, of course he’d ride his bike to work. “For me,” he says, it was no big deal—that’s just what I do, I ride my bike to where I want to go.”
Nick, on one of his early big boy bikes.
FINDING COMMUNITY: “This is great! Yay Bikes! is connecting me to a whole new network of friends and activity.”
The first contact Nick had with Yay Bikes! was the Bike to Work Challenge in 2009. And what struck him about it most was the approach of getting people not just to ride their bikes to work, but also to have fun doing it. Nick’s CML team did have fun—so much so that they ended up winning their category that year and growing their team each year thereafter. Then, when Yay Bikes! announced the Year of Yay! rides in 2012, Nick had just gotten divorced and was looking for ways to get himself out there, keep active, meet new people and take his mind off what he was going through. So he came out for the St. Patty’s Day Parade ride (Year of Yay! 12.3, March 2012), had such a blast that he decided he was going to do the rest of them, which he did. About which he remembers thinking, “This is great! Yay Bikes! is connecting me to a whole new network of friends and activity, and the organization is doing a lot of good, too.”
The first known photo of Nick in his new Yay Bikes! milieu, during a post-ride trip to Hal & Al's in March 2012.
Rockin' the Year of Yay! 2012 button series.
Ringing the bells of Trinity Episcopal on the Year of Yay! ride he led to various places of worship.
SEEING RESULTS: “I think [Yay Bikes! Executive Director] Catherine Girves is a bike infrastructure fairy. She visits a town and magically bike infrastructure appears.”
Nick was driving to work shortly after Yay Bikes! led his Nelsonville’s City Manager and a City Council Member on a Professional Development Ride and saw, to his great surprise, sharrows on the road leading from the bike path to the Nelsonville Public Library. He notes with excitement that it’s been great for his patrons, who can now rent a bike for free from the library’s established “Book a Bike” program and use sharrows to make their way safely to the trail for a ride. And he credits “The Yay Way!” with making the difference: “I don’t think that Yay Bikes! would have been as successful as we’ve been with advocacy if we hadn’t done that initial front-end work of making bicycling a fun activity for people, making it something that anybody can do, by making people feel comfortable, by hosting rides that have both more and less experienced riders, on and on and on.“
Downtown Nelsonville received sharrows just days after Yay Bikes! led a Professional Development Ride there
FEELING PRIDE: “I have just been more and more blown away by everything that we’re pulling off with this group.”
“It’s a credit to Yay Bikes! that people around the state have become aware of the work Yay Bikes! is doing and are reaching out to us as experts on how to improve cycling for everybody in their communities. We’ve really been able to move the needle on cycling awareness in not just Franklin County anymore, but the entire state. The people who are making decisions about how we can be safe and have fun riding our bikes on the road, are actually paying attention to us now, and it is 100% because of this organization. Which is why I am proud to continue to support Yay Bikes!, even though I no longer live in Columbus!”
Party on, Nick!
Yay Bikes! is grateful to Nick for his joyful presence, his deep knowledge of all things bike (and every other topic under the sun—yay librarians!) and the innumerable ways he has helped his friends, colleagues and community members achieve happiness and health through bicycling. We look forward to riding with him again soon on a Year of Yay!, when baby Piper is finally ready to rock that trailer. Helmets off to you, friend!
To share your Yay Bikes! Journey, contact Meredith to set up a chat!
February 2017 activity report
Yay Bikes! member Rob Hendricks (by the door) represents on behalf of people who ride bicycles for transportation at the Linden-area Smart Columbus Community Planning Meeting. Photo credit: MurphyEpson
Welcome to the monthly feature in which we round up all our events, earned media, program delivery, meetings and speaking engagements for the month. Representation and outreach like this is what you fund with your membership dollars and major gifts, folks! Behold, February:
Feb 2
Bike the Cbus planning meeting
Feb 4
Year of Yay! vetting ride
Feb 8
BG Independent News: BG completes first ‘Complete Streets’ efforts
Columbus Chamber of Commerce Annual Meeting
Meeting with the General Property Manager of the Huntington Center about indoor bicycle parking for employees
Feb 9
Columbus Green Team meeting
Feb 10
COTA NextGen project advisory stakeholder meeting
Smart Columbus Community Planning Meeting in Linden
Feb 11
Smart Columbus Community Planning Meeting in Linden
Feb 14
Meeting at Ohio Department of Health about the upcoming train the trainer program
Feb 15
Meeting with Mark Wagenbrenner about Wagenbrenner Development's sponsorship of Bike the Cbus
CoGo Bike Share quarterly stakeholder meeting
Feb 16
Bike the Cbus planning meeting
Ohio Active Transportation Plan team leader meeting
Meeting with Sideswipe Brewing about hosting a membership event
Feb 20
Yay Bikes! Board of Directors meeting
Feb 22
City of Dublin Mobility Study stakeholder workshop
Feb 24
How We Roll ride for members
Ride of Silence fundraiser @ Cafe Brioso
Feb 27
Mid Ohio Regional Planning Commission Community Advisory Council meeting, which is chaired by our Executive Director
Battle ready
Emotions are running high these days.
Amidst all the chaos, I’ve been tempted to wonder—where does bicycle advocacy belong? I ride my bike as transportation almost every day, so I’ve had the time and space to thoroughly consider this point. And I tell you—people who ride, bicycle advocacy has everything to do with building the Beloved Community we all need.
People who ride, advocating for ethical engineering
What was the most photographed slide by the sold-out crowd of engineers and other transportation professionals atODOT's Active Transportation Engineer’s Forum earlier this week? Remarkably, the one reading:
Vision Zero takes the position that it is unethical to create a situation where fatalities are a likely outcome of a crash in order to reduce delay, fuel consumption, or other societal objectives. It is unethical to prioritize the mobility of one person over the safety of another person.”
The goal of transportation engineers is shifting dramatically, from an emphasis of moving cars to an emphasis of moving people. The future is ours, but we have to show up to claim it. As with any change, many may be on board, but some are not. Federal guidelines for bike and pedestrian infrastructure still do not adequately support engineers ready to implement it. And leadership change begets priorities change. We must continue demanding accommodations for those who ride, or inertia will stall our progress and engineers’ best intentions to facilitate it.
People who ride, advocating for sanity
As a seasoned activist, I am cheered to note that most of the survival guides out there highlight self care as a critical element of our effectiveness. To settle in for the long haul, we must make time to unplug, be silent, recharge. I’ve noticed when I ride to my destination I am able to recharge en route and arrive fresh and clear-headed. When I ride with friends, my faith in humanity is restored. Bicycling beats burnout.
People who ride, advocating for transportation options & intersectionality
All people deserve to have viable transportation options that allow us to successfully navigate our lives. And while many of us have the choice to ride or drive, others among us do not. During the 10 years in which I first became a transportation bicyclist it was out of economic necessity. When conversations about affordable housing, safety, education, sustainability, economic development and equity omit transportation, it's a missed opportunity. It's on us to communicate to potential partners how bicycling is a solution to many of the concerns we share.
People who ride, advocating for an expanded notion of safe streets
"It's Trump time, nigger!” A man yelled this out a truck window to a friend of mine as he was riding his bicycle to work. "Mooooo!" A group of men called out to another friend as her large body pedaled down the street. Yes—in Columbus. Our movement, which has focused on achieving infrastructure that promotes safety, needs to become more attuned to the culture in which people have to ride. Let us now understand that not everyone who rides has the same experience of their ride, regardless of the infrastructure available—some of us, due to our sex, body shape or skin color, assume more risk than others. Our community must rally around to forcefully denounce these threats.
People who ride, banding together
It’s time to advocate. Are you battle ready? I am. Let's join together.
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