OmahaBIKES Meeting Minutes
February 9, 2010
Attending: Mark Siepker, Bob Brindamour, Tammie Dodge, Ben Brownlow, Scott Redd, Joe Simoens, Sarah Johnson, Chris Wolff, Dale Rabideau, Julie Harris, Chris Seitzer
Existing Business:
The group reviewed the 4 potential logos for OmahaBIKES – majority ruled on one, pending a different color choice.
Handlebar Happy Hour committee – The group is proposing to merge their smaller, more frequent events into one larger event: the Urban Bike Festival. Aksarben Village was discussed as a potential location, as they have shown interest in bringing events to Stinson Park. Date yet to be determined; May would be ideal due to bike month, but early July was determined to be a more realistic timeline. Mark and Julie will follow up with the rep from Noddle/Aksarben Village to discuss the possibilities.
Bike Friendly Merchants – It was decided that this group and the new Membership subcommittee should merge, as their goals are intertwined. A revenue stream is needed for OmahaBIKES, and various models for this were discussed that involved businesses and other bike-related organizations.
Bike Parking – the first of the bike racks (U-shaped) that have been funded from the Eastern Nebraska Trails Network (via the Corporate Cycling Challenge proceeds) will be installed later in the week. Tammie will send a link to the Google map that the committee is using to identify existing racks and potential new locations. Please send any recommendations for rack locations to Tammie! The group is also considering the formation of bicycle parking ordinance that could be recommended to the Mayor.
Youth/School Engagement – Julie would like to create a short video that can be shown to kids that features local cyclists and how they use their bikes in their every day lives. Julie will also be calling on OB members to come to Saddlebrook to help with their walk ‘n roll project.
Web Committee – Scott is working on a new website for OmahaBIKES. It will be set up so that content can be added by all of us.
Bike/Ped Advisory Committee Update – Bob and Tammie brought us up to speed on what was discussed at the last meeting. Much time was spent discussing the trail snow removal concerns that our group has identified. It was noted that the trails were plowed within 24 hours of the most recent snow, which was an improvement from past storms.
Adams Park Update: Tammie updated the group on the IMBA trail project that is in the works for Adams Park. It will be a beginner, kid-friendly “gateway trail,” and we will need plenty of sweat equity from the bike community to make it happen. More information about how to get involved will be made available when the work plan is finalized this spring. The trail could potentially be open as early as June.
New Business:
Social Media: We need help with keeping the blog, twitter and facebook pages current. Please talk to Bob if you are interested in helping. Several members already have author privileges on the blog – so feel free to add content anytime you see something interesting! We have to keep things extremely current to keep folks tuned in.
Inviting Others: If other bicycle-related organizations that would fit with our mission are identified, please let Bob know so that a formal invitation can be sent to join our group. Five local bike shops are represented in our group as of February, and we would like to have all of them around the table.
Activate Omaha update: AO has a new intern, Kassi, who is a senior at UNO. She will be helping to organize the Bike Month calendar, and helping with the Bike Friendly Merchant project, Safe Routes to School, and the Urban Adventure Race.
News and Upcoming Events:
Sarah is helping with World Environment Day group, and they have designated May 2-8 as “Alternative Transportation Week.” Great addition to the Bike Month calendar!
Julie, Tammie and Matt Martin will be attending the National Bike Summit in Washington D.C. in March. Julie will take over the OB twitter, facebook and blog and bombard with regular updates.
June 5 – Activate Omaha’s 2nd annual urban adventure race: Urban Omaha: The Ultimate Adventure (Note: we need lots of volunteers for this event and would love to have your help!)
“Blanchard and Back” ride this spring – Bob is organizing – ride the Wabash with an overnight in Shenandoah.
Upcoming Events for potential booth presence:
Union Pacific Earth Fair, April 21
Omaha Health Expo – April 24 & 25 (Omaha Pedalers table) – also a group bike ride, same route as CCC.
Green Expo May 2 (can somebody provide details? Didn’t get them.)
May 17-21 is Bike to Work Week. Plans for the Mayor’s Ride yet to be determined.
Next Meeting: Tuesday, March 9, 11am. Location TBA
February 9, 2010
Attending: Mark Siepker, Bob Brindamour, Tammie Dodge, Ben Brownlow, Scott Redd, Joe Simoens, Sarah Johnson, Chris Wolff, Dale Rabideau, Julie Harris, Chris Seitzer
Existing Business:
The group reviewed the 4 potential logos for OmahaBIKES – majority ruled on one, pending a different color choice.
Handlebar Happy Hour committee – The group is proposing to merge their smaller, more frequent events into one larger event: the Urban Bike Festival. Aksarben Village was discussed as a potential location, as they have shown interest in bringing events to Stinson Park. Date yet to be determined; May would be ideal due to bike month, but early July was determined to be a more realistic timeline. Mark and Julie will follow up with the rep from Noddle/Aksarben Village to discuss the possibilities.
Bike Friendly Merchants – It was decided that this group and the new Membership subcommittee should merge, as their goals are intertwined. A revenue stream is needed for OmahaBIKES, and various models for this were discussed that involved businesses and other bike-related organizations.
Bike Parking – the first of the bike racks (U-shaped) that have been funded from the Eastern Nebraska Trails Network (via the Corporate Cycling Challenge proceeds) will be installed later in the week. Tammie will send a link to the Google map that the committee is using to identify existing racks and potential new locations. Please send any recommendations for rack locations to Tammie! The group is also considering the formation of bicycle parking ordinance that could be recommended to the Mayor.
Youth/School Engagement – Julie would like to create a short video that can be shown to kids that features local cyclists and how they use their bikes in their every day lives. Julie will also be calling on OB members to come to Saddlebrook to help with their walk ‘n roll project.
Web Committee – Scott is working on a new website for OmahaBIKES. It will be set up so that content can be added by all of us.
Bike/Ped Advisory Committee Update – Bob and Tammie brought us up to speed on what was discussed at the last meeting. Much time was spent discussing the trail snow removal concerns that our group has identified. It was noted that the trails were plowed within 24 hours of the most recent snow, which was an improvement from past storms.
Adams Park Update: Tammie updated the group on the IMBA trail project that is in the works for Adams Park. It will be a beginner, kid-friendly “gateway trail,” and we will need plenty of sweat equity from the bike community to make it happen. More information about how to get involved will be made available when the work plan is finalized this spring. The trail could potentially be open as early as June.
New Business:
Social Media: We need help with keeping the blog, twitter and facebook pages current. Please talk to Bob if you are interested in helping. Several members already have author privileges on the blog – so feel free to add content anytime you see something interesting! We have to keep things extremely current to keep folks tuned in.
Inviting Others: If other bicycle-related organizations that would fit with our mission are identified, please let Bob know so that a formal invitation can be sent to join our group. Five local bike shops are represented in our group as of February, and we would like to have all of them around the table.
Activate Omaha update: AO has a new intern, Kassi, who is a senior at UNO. She will be helping to organize the Bike Month calendar, and helping with the Bike Friendly Merchant project, Safe Routes to School, and the Urban Adventure Race.
News and Upcoming Events:
Sarah is helping with World Environment Day group, and they have designated May 2-8 as “Alternative Transportation Week.” Great addition to the Bike Month calendar!
Julie, Tammie and Matt Martin will be attending the National Bike Summit in Washington D.C. in March. Julie will take over the OB twitter, facebook and blog and bombard with regular updates.
June 5 – Activate Omaha’s 2nd annual urban adventure race: Urban Omaha: The Ultimate Adventure (Note: we need lots of volunteers for this event and would love to have your help!)
“Blanchard and Back” ride this spring – Bob is organizing – ride the Wabash with an overnight in Shenandoah.
Upcoming Events for potential booth presence:
Union Pacific Earth Fair, April 21
Omaha Health Expo – April 24 & 25 (Omaha Pedalers table) – also a group bike ride, same route as CCC.
Green Expo May 2 (can somebody provide details? Didn’t get them.)
May 17-21 is Bike to Work Week. Plans for the Mayor’s Ride yet to be determined.
Next Meeting: Tuesday, March 9, 11am. Location TBA
3 comments:
I just want to encourage you guys to keep posting as much as possible about what's going on. Let everyone know when you need help with a project or committee.
We all love helping; make sure you put the call out!
!
Thanks.
We have a lot of stuff in the works for this year and I'm sure we will need a decent amount of help when the time comes. Stay tuned.
What's really fun is seeing all the various cycling related groups coming together and sharing ideas and resources. 2010 is going to be interesting.
Post a Comment