Dear HBC members,

This morning another cyclist was hit and killed in Cumberland County.  A 74 year old cyclist was struck and killed by a tractor trailer along the Carlisle Pike across from the Hess station in Silver Spring Township.  Investigators are still working on identifying the victim.  Read More at: http://local21news.com/news/features/top-stories/stories/bicyclist-struck-killed-cumberland-county-8149.shtml

This Monday April 28^th has been designated as Janet Pontius Day.  If you are leading a ride on that day or know of any leader planning on doing so the OPS Committee asks that you make a brief announcement about Janet and the fund established in her name.  See below.  Please spread the word and be safe.

This year HBC is stressing safety and prevention.  Please wear ID, a helmet, bright colored clothing, follow traffic rules and regulations and use lights on your bike.  Respect other cyclists and motor vehicles on the road.  Call out hazards, use hand and voice signals, DO NOT CALL “CLEAR”, do not pass another cyclist on the right shoulder, call out “on your left” when passing, single up well in advance when a car is approaching.

Thanks,

~ Cindy Gorski, President HBC

Read about what's new in Bicycle Advocacy:

Regional Bike Transportation Study

Funding was secured for this study that looks at improving biking facilities and conditions in the area running from western Lebanon County to the City of Harrisburg. Consultants interested in performing the study were interviewed and one was selected. 

Transportation Funding and Advocacy Training

The new regional bicycle advocacy group, Bicycle South Central PA, and the Tri-County Regional Planning Commission will be hosting a 2-part training on May 29 and 30 at the Giant Community Center in Camp Hill. 

Bike Harrisburg

Bike Harrisburg is once again putting together a full calendar of bicycling activities in May to celebrate National Bike Month. There will be “Women Bike” rides, the Spoke-n-Gear Festival, Historic Harrisburg Bike Tours, Bike Law information sessions, guided rides around the Capital Area Greenbelt, special Bike to Work promotions and more. 

Starting April 1st!

Ride leaders are the HEART of HBC.  We are a cycling club and our main function is to RIDE.  Leaders put in much time and planning when volunteering to lead a ride, plus they do it over and over again.  We also ask our leaders to attend an HBC training which is essential to ensure consistency in ride protocol. 

Leaders need to be aware about what is expected when leading a ride, safety guidelines, what to look out for when leading a group, policies of the club, trouble shooting, club insurance, biker bucks, etc.  We expect a lot from our ride leaders because they determine the safety and enjoy ability of our HBC rides. 

As a thank you to our ride leaders HBC offers an HBC ride leader jersey when a trained leader leads 10 rides with submitted ride reports.  This program has now been expanded and starting April 1^st, now includes HBC embroidered thank you gifts when leaders have led 25, 50, 100 and 150 rides. 

All HBC Scheduled Rides on this date are designated in honor of Janet A. Pontius

Our bike club Secretary in 1976. Janet was riding her bicycle on a beautiful Fall day when struck by the mirror of a vehicle and she died at the age of 41 later that day from her injuries. Reports indicate Janet was on the shoulder of the road and doing everything according to the safety rules for bicycle riding.

The Janet A Pontius Bicycle Safety Foundation was established “... by concerned citizens of Central Pennsylvania who wish to honor the memory of a fine woman and with the desire to help avoid further tragedies such as the one that took Janet's life on Oct. 15, 1976. The Harrisburg Bicycle Club, Inc. is the Administer of the Foundation”. This fund has contributed thousands of dollars in bike-safety activities in each of recent years. In 2012, Janet's fund contributed nearly $5,000 in support of the purchase of bike helmets, Road ID, “4-ft” signs to alert motorists to the new law passed last year in PA, Traffic Skills and CPR training classes for HBC members.

Donations in Janet's memory are gladly received by the Harrisburg Bicycle Club to support bike-safety initiatives.