The ValloCycle Board wishes you a happy new year! Did you make any new year's resolutions about being more fit and healthy? There's no better way to explore our beautiful community, reduce carbon emissions, and get great exercise than riding a bike!

 
When riding, make sure that you are aware of state and local biking ordinances. Page 4 of your ValloCycle membership form (avaiable for download or at City Hall, 545 Main Street) outlines both state laws pertaining to bikes, and Montevallo biking ordinances.

 
Did you know....

 
...That you are required to wear a helmet while riding a bike (according to Montevallo's ordinance)?
...That you are allowed and sometimes encouraged to take up the full lane of traffic?
...That you are required to stop at all stop signs and stop lights?
 
Check out these 10 Ways to Not Get Hit By Cars--a must-read for everyone who rides on the road (this means YOU!).

 
Happy cycling in 2013!

We will host a two-hour “Transportation Solutions” program this Sunday, October 28, to present unique public transportation opportunities available to our community citizens.
The event will take place at the Parnell Memorial Library, 277 Park Drive, from 6-8 p.m.
Joining ValloCycle for this program will be representatives of United Way partner agency Shelby Emergency Assistance, the Regional Planning Commission of Greater Birmingham’s CommuteSmart Program, and the Birmingham Regional Paratransit Consortium’s ClasTran Program.
The program will consist of introductions to the unique public transportation access services provided to community members by each agency. These services include:
-Free and low-cost transportation for senior and persons with disabilities (ClasTran).
-Vanpooling coordination for employees of an organization; financial incentives for commuters (CommuteSmart).
-Free and low-cost access to bicycles, ADA-accessible handcycles (ValloCycle Program).
Participants will be able to become involved with certified members of each program. Participants are encouraged to bring a picture ID of any form. Proof of age/disability is required for involvement with the ClasTran Program. Food and drinks will be served.
View the Shelby County Reporter Article here!

Our 2nd Annual Montevallo Tour By Bike on Sunday, August 26 had approximately 50 participants, mostly incoming freshmen. Everyone had an amazing introduction to some of the awesome things Montevallo has to offer! We also led an alternative walking tour for 10 people, since we had DOUBLE the amount of riders this year! Our tour ended with a delicious free meal at Eclipse Coffee and Books, where representatives from ValloCycle and UM Environmental Club explained different ways that students can get involved in environmental activism on campus. Many thanks again to everyone who helped make this tour such a success, especially our riders, Aaron Traywick, Courtney Bennett, John Nicholson, and Hollie Cost with ValloCycle, Jason Cooper with Carmichael Library, Sheryl and Michael Patton of Eclipse Coffee & Books, and Bridget Benson and Brandy Holt of UM Environmental Club!

...and that's not the only good news! Version 2 of our amazing Town Map of Montevallo has been designed and sent to print. Town Map 2.0 includes updated information about changes in our local business community, incuding adding new business Darmuh Records, the Office of Global and Community Outreach (a.k.a. "GloCo," where we hold our ValloCycle Board meetings), the UM Sustainability Initiatives Office, and Sweet Ink Tattoo's new location.
 
Do you have any good news to share with us?

During the month of June, the ValloCycle program graduated eight students from its six-week course in bike repair, “Repairs to Resumes” program. Students from local Montevallo Middle School were engaged with a curriculum of bicycle technical skills centered specifically on increasing students’ employment opportunities in Shelby County’s burgeoning bicycle repair industry. In addition, students received numerous lessons in safe cycling practices on roadways and trails, as well as how to effectively communicate their technical skills in a professional resume. The program was made possible through a grant from the All-Terrain Natural Products Company of Sunapee, New Hampshire, and ValloCycle will continue to offer this course free of charge to the general public on a quarterly basis.

The ValloCycle Program is committed to showcasing the economic viability of cycling in Shelby County. By providing comprehensive, trade-level education in a specialized field to local youth, our program coordinators hope to bring unique economic opportunities both to our students as well as our greater community. In reference to the potential impact that bicycle technical courses could have on the economic potential of our region, Barbara Malki, owner of Cahaba Cycles, had this to say:

“On any city block, in any city, there’s always going to be a bike shop looking for a good mechanic. This is a trade that will give students future access not only to technical professions in the repairs industry, but also those existing in the manufacturing, specialty, and racing worlds.”

Cahaba Cycles presently maintains four locations in the Jefferson-Shelby area.

Based in the City of Montevallo and operated jointly with the University of Montevallo, the ValloCycle Bike-Share Program has made low-cost bicycle rentals available to all residents of Shelby County since its debut in October of this past year. Since that time, over 100 members have rented bicycles from a fleet of over fifty single-speed cruiser, mountain, road, and children’s style bicycles from three separate rental locations.

View My Green Birmingham's article here.