Welcome to the League of American Bicyclists' electronic newsletter, BikeLeague News. Feel free to forward this to fellow cyclists and others who may be interested, but please make sure to credit the League of American Bicyclists as your source. To join or learn more about the League, visit http://www.bikeleague.org.
LOSE WEIGHT AND GET FIT DURING NATIONAL BIKE MONTH Contrary to popular belief, it is possible to lose weight and have fun at the same time. The proven method: ride your bike. Recreational bike riding is a safe, low-impact, aerobic activity for Americans of all ages; not only that, it�s fun and gets you where you need to go. A 150-pound cyclist burns 410 calories while pedaling 12 miles in an hour�almost the equivalent calories of a McDonald�s Quarter Pounder�. A 200-pound cyclist burns 546 calories while going 12 miles per hour�almost the equivalent of a Big Mac�. Increasing the number of trips Americans make by bike could be a serious antidote in the fight against overweight and obesity. According to the 1995 Nationwide Personal Transportation Survey, 25% of all trips are made within a mile of the home, 40% of all trips are within two miles of the home, and 50% of the working population commutes five miles or less to work. Yet more than 82% of trips five miles or less are made by personal motor vehicle. The President, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the Surgeon General, and the Secretary of Health and Human Services have all recently expressed concern over America�s overweight problem. According to the CDC, 61% of adults in the U.S. are overweight or obese; 13% of kids aged 6 to 11 and 14% of kids 12 to 19 are overweight. Obesity is second behind tobacco in U.S. health risk factors, contributing to 300,000 deaths a year. President Bush, introducing Surgeon General Dr. Richard Carmona, said, "The doc and I are going to encourage all our country to either run or walk or swim or bicycle for the good of their families, for the good of their own health, and for the good of the health of the nation.� The year 2002 marks the 46th consecutive year the League has declared May to be National Bike Month. The League is also promoting Bike to Work Week from May 13 - 19 and Bike-to-Work Day on Friday, May 17. The League invites communities, corporations, clubs, and individuals to join in bicycling activities during May to increase awareness and acceptance of bicycling throughout the country. Visit http://www.bikeleague.org/educenter/factsheets.htm to learn how easy it is to fit bicycling into your lifestyle. If you are writing about bicycling or need press information, visit http://www.bikesbelong.org and click on �Welcome Media.� For more on Bike Month, visit http://www.bikeleague.org/educenter/bikemonth.htm. To help promote Bike Month in your area, see http://www.bikeleague.org/educenter/bikemonthposter.pdf and write mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] to order the poster. Want to try bike commuting but keep talking yourself out of it? Then read an excerpt from Ed Pavelka�s new ebook, �Bicycle Commuting for Fun and Profit,� on http://www.roadbikerider.com/bc_excerpt.htm. GREAT NEW (AND FREE) HELMET SAFETY VIDEO FOR KIDS FROM NHTSA Write us at mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] to get a free copy of the new helmet safety video for kids from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (http://www.nhtsa.dot.gov). The film is just under nine minutes long and perfect for use in classrooms. The focus is on the importance of buying and wearing approved bicycle helmets, as well as proper fit; the rules of the road are discussed briefly, but not in sufficient depth to substitute for safe cycling education (see http://www.bikeleague.org/educenter/education.htm for info on the League�s education program with nationally certified instructors in your area.) The video stars a diverse cast of teens and pre-teens, and is funky and fast-paced, with plenty of compelling demonstrations and computer graphics. IMBA SUMMIT MOBILIZES MOUNTAIN BIKE ADVOCATES The 2002 IMBA Mountain Bike Advocacy Summit attracted 170 leaders to the Utah desert April 18-21 for four days of strategic planning, networking and information exchange. This unprecedented event will help create and preserve riding opportunities for mountain bikers worldwide. Participants included nearly all of IMBA's state and international reps, key federal land managers from the National Park Service, U.S. Forest Service, BLM and Army Corps of Engineers, journalists, top IMBA sponsors, and leaders of other cycling and conservation groups. "This was far and away IMBA's best event ever," said executive director Tim Blumenthal. "Everyone left Moab with new energy, new ideas and a stronger commitment to work for the future of our sport. IMBA's network is more talented and motivated than ever. We've got unprecedented momentum." For more information, visit http://www.imba.com. BICYCLE EDUCATION LEADERS CONFERENCE The early registration deadline for the Bicycle Education Leaders Conference and the Wisconsin Bicycle Conference is next Wednesday, May 1st. After May 1st, registration prices will increase by $75. Register online now at: https://league2.securesites.com/commerce/wiscsummitreg.htm. We continue to develop the conference seminars and programming. A preliminary schedule of all of the events is now available on http://www.bikeleague.org/educenter/wisconsin_conf.htm. MORE INTERNATIONAL MOUNTAIN BIKING NEWS--U.S. TROOPS IN MIDDLE EAST ARE RIDING TO WORK The Paratrooper� tactical mountain bike, designed by Montague Corporation, has recently been deployed by troops in the Middle East in support of Operation �ENDURING FREEDOM�, where it is being used as an alternative form of transportation in the war against terrorism. Montague developed the folding bike with the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) to provide �next-generation� ground mobility to bridge an important transportation gap between walking infantry and heavy military vehicles. The Paratrooper� is a full-size, 24-speed mountain bike designed to endure any terrain at high speed in silence with no heat signature. In addition to the high performance features, the bike folds simply without the use of tools into a 3�x3� pack that can be dropped from a plane, or thrown in the back of a truck. One unidentified officer felt the bike would �enhance productivity exponentially,� and said, �men can bike to a location in 5 minutes that would normally take 40-50 minutes on foot�my productivity has gone up 10 fold, I am absolutely amazed at what this machine can do�. For more information, go to http://www.militarybikes.com. U.S. CONGRESS HANDBOOKS AVAILABLE Copies of the League�s U.S. Congress Handbooks, produced for the National Bike Summit� , are still available. These great advocacy tools include Congressional directories, advocacy tips, and much more. Just write mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] with your contact information. Cost is just $10. NATIONAL PARK SERVICE�S RIVERS, TRAILS AND CONSERVATION ASSISTANCE PROGRAM NEW PROGRAMS ONLINE The Rivers, Trails, and Conservation Assistance Program, also known as the Rivers & Trails Program or RTCA, is a community resource of the National Park Service. Rivers & Trails staff work with community groups and local and state governments to conserve rivers, preserve open space, and develop trails and greenways. Rivers & Trails provides assistance to non-profit organizations, community groups, tribes or tribal governments, and local or state government agencies. This assistance includes: * Building partnerships to achieve community-set goals * Assessing resources * Developing concept plans * Engaging public participation * Identifying potential sources of funding. National Park Service staff for the Rivers & Trails program are based in 35 field locations to make them more readily accessible to nonprofit organizations and local and State governments in all 50 States. In 2002, they are assisting 315 community projects. Visit http://www.nps.gov/rtca to see the latest from the community outreach arm of the Park Service. BIKEFEST 2002 Grownups will love this year's BikeFest rides around the Pioneer Valley of Massachusetts, but don't forget that kids will have fun too! For the youngest, we have several short, nearly traffic-free routes starting from the UMass-Amherst campus or nearby attractions and cruising down the scenic Norwottock Rail Trail. Along the trail, stop in at Pete's Drive-in or the Ice Cream Pedaler scoop shop, or continue over a 1/2-mile long railroad bridge spanning the Connecticut River. Just a little bit farther brings you and your family to Look Park in nearby Florence, for a miniature railroad ride, petting zoo, bumper boats, mini golf, and more. Older kids will enjoy candlemaking at the world-famous Yankee Candle Company, Historic Deerfield Village, and swimming at Lake Wyola, all close to campus. For more information on all of BikeFest's fun rides, informative seminars, and more, visit http://www.bikeleague.org/events/bikefest2002.html. To get in on the action now, register at https://league2.securesites.com/commerce/bikefest2002.htm. We hope you enjoy BikeLeague News. Please forward this to fellow cyclists and others who may be interested, but please be sure to credit the League of American Bicyclists as the source for your information. 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