Cyclists:

Right now, even as we speak, bike racks are being installed on all COTA
buses by Sportworks. The installation will be completed -- or nearly
completed -- by September 22nd, which happens to be International Car
Free Day.

So, we are planning a big rollout event to introduce the bus bike racks
to the Central Ohio community, and especially the bicycling community.
Please save this date: Wednesday, September 22nd. And plan to attend
the event. Here are the details....

WHO: Central Ohio Transit Authority (COTA), Mid-Ohio Regional Planning
Commission (MORPC), Central Ohio Bicycle Advocacy Coalition (COBAC),
City of Columbus, Franklin County, Columbus Outdoor Pursuits (COP),
Baer Wheels, The Ohio State University, and more.

WHAT: COTA bus bike rack rollout/ Car Free Day event: demonstrations of
buses with bike racks, proclamations and speeches by civic leaders,
exhibits by bike dealers and bike clubs and other organizations, FREE
WATER BOTTLES, TV and radio, and much, much more.

WHEN: Wednesday, September 22nd, International Car Free Day starting at
11:30 a.m. proclamations and speeches at 12:00 noon

WHERE: Ohio Statehouse at Broad and High Streets in Downtown Columbus

WHY: >The bicycling community (through the Columbus Bikeway Advisory
Committee) ASKED COTA to put bike racks on its buses.
>Bike racks on buses is the first, major, concrete way that
bicycling is being made a part of the mainstream transportation system.
>If we want to continue this progress and continue to
integrate bicycling into the transportation mainstream and to make
Central Ohio bicycling friendly we MUST show up at this event in large
numbers to show our gratitude, our interest, and our determination to
make this a success both for COTA and for the whole community.

HOW: Preferably on bike or on foot or by bus; but BE THERE!!! This is
for US!!!

Important Note: As part of this rollout event COTA will be offering,
beginning on September 22nd or as soon thereafter as the bus bike racks
are installed on the entire COTA bus fleet, a week of free bus rides to
anyone who puts a bike in a bus bike rack and rides the bus. This is
being made possible by Columbus Outdoor Pursuits through a generous
donation from its Bike Development Fund, which is created by the
participation of the bicycling community in COP's major bicycle events.
Everyone who does a "Bike and Bus" will ride the bus for free during
the free rides week. Try it and see how EASY it is.

Stay tuned for more details. And check out the official Car Free Day
website at:

http://www.carfreedaycolumbus.org/CarFreeDay.ht

MORPC has produced a poster for the event. If any bike dealer or club
in Central Ohio would like a poster to promote the event, please email
me or call me.

John

John Gideon
President
Central Ohio Bicycle Advocacy Coalition
Post Office Box 2003
Columbus, Ohio 43216-2003
Voice: (614) 844-3954
Email: jgideon@...
Web: www.cobac.org