Biking

This article was orinally posted on GOBikeBuffalo.org on April 19, 2013.

May is National Bike Month!  Over the past couple of years our local celebrations have increased so much that we need a whole dedicated page for it. So scroll through and see what we’ve got in store for Buffalo cyclists and enthusiasts.  Most events are free or free for GO Bike Buffalo members unless otherwise noted.

BIKE MONTH BLAST OFF

BLASTING OFF BIKE MONTH with a Bike Drive, BBQ & Open House at our Community Workshop. Whether you’re a GObike member or not, come by to see what we’re all about and leave a little lighter.

Join us for a bike drive-member-party-BBQ-open-house-EXTRAVAGANZA.. more details to come!

PLAY STREETS

On the first Sunday of each month from May through September, 2013, select city streets will be closed to cars and opened up to the community to get together, get active and have fun.

Come ride your bike, climb a rock wall and practice some new dance moves! We’ve got plenty of ways to get you moving.

BIKE TO SCHOOL DAY

Join us for National Bike to School Day!   This event is in right in line with the Buffalo Board of Education’s Physical Activity Committee regarding the district’s stated initiative of achieving 60 minutes of physical activity per day for students.

You may remember last fall’s successful Safe Routes to School’s Walking School Bus, which aimed to promote a healthier school environment (fewer vehicles), and also encourage more physical activity. National Bike to School Day puts the same theory on wheels.  See the list below to join in on the fun!

Presently, 15 Buffalo Schools are signed on to participate in National Bike to School Day.

These schools are currently signed up:

DINNER & BIKES

GObike, Massachusetts Avenue Project (MAP) and Burning Books team up to host this incredible event.  Vegan Chef Joshua Ploeg will serve up some delicious eats while authors Elly Blue and Joe Biel discuss bicycle inspired books and documentaries.  Following the discussions and presentations event-goers can peruse the bike and cooking themed pop-up book shop.

Suggest donation: $10.  We have limited seating so sign up today!

CYCLOFEMME

A ride that honors the past, celebrates the present, and empowers the future of women on bikes and the opportunity for positive social change.

BYOP!  Join us this Mother’s Day for a leisurely ride through Delaware Park and along the Scajaqueda Pathway to Squaw Island where we will hang out and enjoy a picnic.

This ride is Bring Your Own Everything!  We will meet at the GObike Community Shop on 98 Colvin Avenue at 11:00 am.

All women, men, and children are welcome to participate!

Families are highly encouraged.

The event is FREE but we’d like to know if you’re participating.  Register here.

PS: For those of you interested, the Niagara Frontier ADK Mountain Club will ride beforehand and meet up with us at the GObike Community Workshop.  They will “begin at the Lincoln Park Pool Parking Lot on Decatur Rd. near Parker Blvd. Town of Tonawanda.  Going over quiet residential streets of southern Town of Tonawanda and North Buffalo, we will arrive at the Go Bike Buffalo Community Shop on Colvin Avenue near Amherst St. at Delaware Park in time to participate in their CycloFemme Ride to Squaw Island”

BIKE TO WORK WEEK COMMUTER BREAKFASTS

Various Locations

Each location will provide their own discount or special- most will have a free cup of coffee and snack for bicycle commuters who stop in!

PEOPLE POWERED MOVEMENT

GObike Buffalo is seeking artists, sculptors, poets, and writers to celebrate bicycling as a form of transportation.  What are the benefits, issues, and impacts that come with riding a bike?  Works expressing the effects of cycling on personal health and wellness, the local economy and environment, issues of safety and infrastructure, motorist-cyclist interactions, the earth as a whole and more are encouraged.

The goal of the show is three fold: to engage the art and cycling communities, to draw awareness to the benefits, issues, and impacts of cycling as a form of transportation, and to raise money for GObike Buffalo, the region’s only organization whose primary focus is bicycle advocacy.

20% commission for each piece of work sold will be donated to GObike Buffalo.

All mediums of work accepted: 2-D including drawing, painting, montage, photography, etc., 3-D including repurposed bike parts, sculpture, etc. as well as poems and writing pieces not exceeding two pages.

Submitting: Please follow this link to submit your work. Visual submissions must be JPEG or PNG files not exceeding 2MB and must include a description of dimensions.  Written submissions must be submitted in PDF format. There is a fee of $10 per 3 submissions, each additional is $5.

All submissions are due by MAY 5^th; you will be notified by May 9^th. Works must dropped off at Main (St)udios by May 16^th during open gallery hours (Tues.-Fri. 11-5 & Sat. 12-3) labeled with Name, Title, & Price and ready to hang.

BIKE TO THE BISONS GAME

We’re selling tickets!  $10 for GObike members, $12 for non members

Please visit GOBikeBuffalo.org for more information.

In case the name didn’t give it away, Akron Falls Park is home of two very beautiful waterfalls—one that is natural, and the other man-made. I read about the falls on a variety of websites, like Erie.gov/parks, and NYfalls.com, before heading to Akron. As I was driving to the park, all I could think about were the falls and the legend behind the waterway that fed them, Murder Creek. When I got there however, I was blown away before I even got to the water.

Akron Falls Park is full of playgrounds, ball fields and shelters. As I drove through the park, I could just envision what a popular place this must be in the summertime. The pavilions create a central gathering space for an experience that will blend both natural recreation, and man-made recreation. Almost every shelter was positioned just a short walk away from Murder Creek, allowing families to go and explore the upper and lower falls together. Then it would be back to the shelter, where the adults could cook lunch while the children play on the nearby playgrounds. It is definitely a location to consider when planning your next outdoor birthday party or family barbeque.

When I went to Akron Falls Park, there was still some snow on the ground that was obstructing the paths to the falls. This meant that, unfortunately, I was unable to safely make my way to the falls. Although I was upset about not seeing the falls in person, I found a serene and peaceful escape tucked away in the middle of the park. The Rock Garden was absolutely delightful, and after wandering around this enclosure I was perfectly satisfied with the park despite the fact that I didn’t hike to the falls. The stones in this garden were ornately arranged to create circular pathways around a small pond.

I can’t wait for some nicer weather, so I can head back to Akron Falls Park and take full advantage of it. I’m glad I got the chance to pass through the park ahead of time, because now I know to pack a cooler, rather than just some granola bars and water. A hike along Murder Creek and a barbeque in the park are definitely on my to-do list this summer.

What parks are on your summer to-do list?

Over the past couple of weeks, it seems as though Mother Nature has had a tough time deciding what she wants to do. More than once I have found myself with plans to go snowshoeing on the weekend only to wake up to soggy green landscapes, rather than the pristine, white blanket that I needed. Well, I’ve recently visited one of our Go Outside Map locations that will have something for you to do, snow or shine! Beaver Island State Park has a sledding hill, tons of trails, lots of birds, and much more.

When you head to Beaver Island, make sure to pack a little of everything, and check out the State Park Map to plan your route once your inside. I was lucky enough to visit while there was still some fresh snow on the ground. My friends and I took advantage of the weather and enjoyed the sledding hill. There was a parking area right behind the sledding hill, so we didn’t have to drag our sled far. It was an easy climb up the hill through two rows of trees.

Winter roads can be hazardous to those who commute on their bikes and to those who choose cycling for their continued fitness year round. Be wise and keep yourself safe this winter by following a few safety guidelines. To all those who are on the roads please remain vigilant to surrounding cyclists and other modes of transportation.

Know Your Routes

Roads tend to get narrower in the winter with snow and ice build up on the roadside, leaving you with little to no shoulder/bike lane. Research the safest possible route to your destination and choose one with the fewest possible cars. Avoid traffic, especially when dark! GoBikeBuffalo is a wonderful resource for all cyclists.

When the idea of going to Knox Farm State Park was brought up to me, I envisioned a large patch of land with a few benches, a pavilion and a small pond. This is the standard for most parks I have visited and I love them all, but Knox Farm knocked my socks off. This 633-acre park, just outside the bustling, but quaint, village of East Aurora, transports you to a relaxing country get-away as soon as you step onto the first trail.