DCBC board of directors

Minutes of December board meeting

Minutes of November board meeting

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A message from Sam Rombokas, DCBC Advocacy Director  

Hello and Happy New Year!

Tonight (January 3, 2012) the Mayor and City Council took a great step forward in making the City of Tuscaloosa a safer and more bicycle friendly community. We have received passage of our requested "3-Feet Please" ordinance.

Please help me in thanking our city officials for passage of this local ordinance. It is great to live in a city that is progressive and forward thinking. This is a great day for the Druid City Bicycle Club, University of Alabama cyclists and all persons who use a bicycle for commuting, recreation, health or environmental concerns.

Our commitment and plan is to use this ordinance to provide public service announcements and other avenues to educate and bring public awareness to motorists and bicyclists of how to safely "Share the Road".

The ordinance reads:

a) The driver of a motor vehicle overtaking and passing a bicycle that is proceeding in the same direction shall pass the bicycle at a safe distance between the motor vehicle and the bicycle of not less than three (3) feet and shall maintain such clearance until safely past the overtaken bicycle.

b) The driver of a motor vehicle that passes a bicycle proceeding in the same direction may not make a right turn at any intersection or into any roadway or driveway unless the turn can be made with reasonable safety.

Sam Rombokas
DCBC Advocacy Director
Sent from my iPad

Randonneuring     

You may remember some time ago when Carol Livingston did some brevets in Georgia.  We now have another DCBC member who has taken an interest in these long-distance, self-supported rides.  In fact, on December 10th, Patrick Martin rode and completed his first brevet out of Atlanta called the Silk Sheets 200K.  It was sponsored by the Atlanta Audax. These rides are not supported like the Hot Hundred with SAG and food set ups.  They are self-supported, which means the other riders help each other out.  Each rider is issued a cue sheet for the ride and usually has to stop at 5 or 6 controls, usually convenience stores, and take their card to be initialed and time marked.  That proves the rider passed by that point on the route.  One of the control stops in the Silk Sheets was a barbecue restaurant at mile 72.  The group Patrick ended up riding with all went in and ate together!

All of the Alabama Randonneuring rides are on the Birmingham Bicycle Club calender and we will be posting ride info on our Rides page. You don't have to be a member of the RUSA to participate in the rides. The fees are inexpensive, $10 for a 200K. If you are a member, your brevet completion automatically goes to Paris to count for qualifying for certain awards and rides like the Paris-Brest-Paris (PBP) 1200K, which is every 4 years. It was recently held in the fall of 2011. A rider has 90 hours to complete the PBP. The events are "rides" not races. However, there are  maximum time limits to finish a brevet. The goal is to finish. An individual membership for the RUSA is only $20 which includes some very informative books.

The web link that gives more info on randonneuring is: http://www.rusa.org/faq1.html

Steve Phillips is in charge of the Alabama Randonneurs and is trying get riders interested. He makes and plans all of the ride courses. GA and TN have stronger organizations. AL is relatively new.

• Mobile Good News
  On Nov 30 the Mobile Metropolitan Planning Organization voted unanimously to recommend that the Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Committee (BPAC) be established as a permanent standing subcommittee of the MPO.  Thus the Mobile Area will have a standing Bicycle advocacy committee.
•  Good Happenings for Bicycling Tornado Victim
  Sam Rombokas , Druid City Bicycle Club Advocacy representative, had his home and his prized Cannodale bicycle destroyed by the tornado that hit the Tuscaloosa area this spring. After the club president talked with Cannodale, a company representative made contact and supplied Velocity, a local bike shop, with a new 2011 Synapse SL1 replacement frame for Sam. Kudos to Cannondale and Velocity for making this happen (see photos below).

New Bike

 

 

 

 

 

 

More from Sam

 

 

 

 

 

• The Tuscaloosa Public Safety Committee Council unanimously passed a "Three Feet Please" ordinance recommendation onto to the full City Council that Sam Rombokas first presented to the City Council several weeks ago. Will be voted on in January. Congratulations to Sam for his work despite having to deal with many personal difficulties. 
• Add a reference to our Facebook page.
  Link: http://www.facebook.com/pages/AlaBike/145380133354

Biking chances abound during holiday season

by Becky Hopf, Tuscaloosa News           December 20, 2011

Read the story

A message from DCBC President, Bruce Henderson:

Hurrah! Once again, for the sixth straight year, Tuscaloosa will host the USAT National Triathlon Championships!!! Congratulations Tuscaloosa!

USA Triathlon Announces 2012 National Championship Schedule – usatriathlon.org

BAMA Football & A Bike Ride Anyone?

Read the article here 

Meet the newest member of the local cycling community. Congratulations Greg!

Meet our little boy Levi Gregory Kitchens, born Tuesday. He and Kelli are both doing great. Praise Be to God!

~Greg Kitchens