Albany Strollers & Rollers Newsletter

November 2020

AS&R Happy Hour Zoom Meeting
Transportation Commission - Zoom Meeting
Free Bike Safety Online Webinars and Classes!
Albany Inside Out - Outdoor Dining Replaces Car Parking!
Pass on the Gift of Bike Safety for the Holidays and Any Time!!
Biking During Shelter in Place
CALENDAR

If you like our work and want two-way participation, please CLICK HERE to subscribe to our Discussion List

AS&R Happy Hour Zoom Meeting

Thursday, December 3rd, 5-7pm - your computer or phone
(Zoom Link to be emailed to GREENways list)

Got an idea, question or gripe about cycling or walking around Albany? Hungry or thirsty? Take care of ALL those needs in one place!

Join your AS&R neighbors at our Happy Hour meeting and snack while you're doing it to discuss policy and projects. Unfortunately we're still meeting virtually but we'll still enjoy each other's company!

These Happy Hours are right before Transportation Commission Meetings so you can bring up any thoughts about agenda items.

Transportation Commission - Zoom Meeting

Thursday, December 3rd, 2020 - 7:00-10:30pm, your computer or phone

(register and get Zoom link at https://albanyca.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_3FcUC7XkQgC_FdLTTkSpPw)

Transportation Commission Meeting - Bring your concerns or comment on the agenda. Agenda available at https://www.albanyca.org/Home/Components/Calendar/Event/18418/275?backlist=%2fgovernment%2fboards-commissions-committees%2ftraffic-safety-commission when published.

Free Bike Safety Online Webinars and Classes!

Raise Your Skill Level From Home and on Bike

Do you, a friend or family member want to ride more but don’t feel confident enough and need helpful safety hints? AS&R's Fiscal Sponsor, Bike East Bay, is offering its award-winning bicycle education classes online throughout the duration of the COVID-19 shelter in place order. Register for a FREE webinar workshop, access online blog posts and resources, and have fun on every bike trip!
EVERYTHING IS ABSOLUTELY FREE, BUT YOU MUST PRE-REGISTER!

Adult Learn-to-Ride
(limited spots available)
Saturday, November 21st, 2020
10am-1pm
Rockridge BART west side parking lot
Near Shafter Ave and Forest St, Oakland
Click Here to Register

Urban Cycling 101: Day 1
Sunday, November 29th, 2020
6-8pm
Online webinar, register for access link
Click Here to Register

Adult Learn-to-Ride
(limited spots available)
Saturday, December 12th, 2020
10am-1pm
Rockridge BART west side parking lot
Near Shafter Ave and Forest St, Oakland
Click Here to Register

MORE TO COME AS LONG AS SiP LASTS - CHECK THIS SPACE!

Albany Inside Out - Outdoor Dining Replaces Car Parking!

You may have noticed that a lot of space previously reserved for car parking has been repurposed for customers of restaurants and cafés - that's Albany Inside Out (AIO)! Many of the people volunteering on this program are your fellow AS&R members.

AIO not only helps businesses serve customers on site after months of Covid-induced restrictions, but encourages people to walk, bike and otherwise use active transportation when they go out for a meal, coffee or snack. Of course, many of the restaurants and cafés taking advantage of the outdoor space have bike racks so you have a safe place to lock up.

By helping Albany's small businesses repurpose outdoor space to welcome customers under Covid-19 limitations, we hope that this will help Albany's family owned businesses not only to survive, but to thrive!

If you are able, please support these small businesses on site or with takeout!
A full list of participating and supporting businesses is here.

Mr.Dewies, Souvenir Coffee

Pass on the Gift of Bike Safety for the Holidays and Any Time!!

It gets dark very early now so we all have to do more to be seen by drivers! So give friends and family members some REFLECTIVE LEG & ARM BANDS! Thanks to supporting business Rendez-Vous Cafe Bistro, we have produced 12" long, reflective leg and arm bands so you and your family will be more visible to drivers when you're riding and walking. A donation of only $3 per band helps visibility and safety!

CheckForBikes Youth Cling

Sending out holiday cards or notes to your friends, family and colleagues? Albany Strollers & Rollers member Lynn Eve Komaromi had a great idea about how to spread the gift of cycling safety by including Albany Strollers & Rollers 'CHECK FOR BIKES' CLINGS in her cards - why don't you do the same? These are clear, repositionable, vinyl clings for drivers to put on the inside of their windshield or window - a simple and friendly reminder to watch for bicyclists on our roads while driving. We also have 4x4 inch stickers! All are available in English, Youth and Spanish versions.

Email Amy Smolens at amy@albanystrollroll.org to get any of these items or if you have any questions.

Reflective Leg & Arm Bands

Biking During Shelter in Place

A Brief Pandemic Primer with Links

Most folks are aware that cycling is allowed for transportation and exercise. It can be a great way to exercise with your family and get out of the house! Please remember that you may not ride with anyone who is not in your household (Alameda County Public Health Dpt. Covid-19 Page, Shelter in Place FAQs). Face coverings are now recommended while exercising outdoors, and you should at least have a face-covering ready and visible for when you encounter a situation where it is difficult to maintain six feet of physical distance (Alameda County Order of April 17, section 7). All group rides are canceled for now, and cycling events are postponed for the foreseeable future.

Solo Rider

There are fewer cars on the roads, making for great cycling on city streets. In fact, we recommend cycling on the street as they're often less congested than our trails and it's easier to maintain appropriate social distance. Most bike/ped trails remain open, but some parking lots have closed due to overcrowding. You can often walk or bike in even if the lots are closed. Check websites before heading to a park. The Bay Trail is now open over Fleming Point in Albany!

Albany Bulb at the end of Buchanan remains popular. The bathrooms and other East Bay Regional Park District portions of the Bulb area were open at last check. Social distancing may be hard to maintain at the Bulb due to the crowds, and car parking can be difficult, but there are plenty of bike racks in the Cove and by the Beach.

Biking With Kids
Biking as a family can be a great break from being inside. With playgrounds closed, it's also one of the few ways for kids to get the workout they need. Take advantage of fewer cars on the roads to introduce younger kids on two wheels to ride on the road. A Bike East Bay class is a great introduction to the rules of the road (see below). Choose calmer streets, like our Most Relaxed Cycling Routes, and model helmet use for your kids. This is a great time to practice riding to their school and even practicing locking their bike if the racks are available.

More Information
Bike shops are considered essential for repair and service. See our note, below. Bike East Bay, our Fiscal Sponsor, has a Covid-19 biking page that offers even more information. Their page is updated as East Bay health orders are modified. Got a question you don't see answered by any of these resources? Post your question on the AS&R Discussion List and someone is sure to have more information (email if you are already a member, or join the discussion list).

CALENDAR

November

21, Saturday: Adult Learn-to-Ride
10am-1pm Rockridge BART west side parking lot (info & Register here)
29, Sunday: Urban Cycling 101: Day 1
6-8pm - online webinar (Info & Register here)

December

3, Thursday: AS&R Happy Hour Zoom Meeting
5-7pm (Link to be emailed to GREENways list)
3, Thursday: Albany Transportation Commission Zoom Meeting
7-10:30pm - Info & Register here)
12, Saturday: Adult Learn-to-Ride
10am-1pm Rockridge BART west side parking lot (Info & Register here)

Thanks for reading! If you like our work and want two-way participation, please CLICK HERE to subscribe to our Discussion List

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Albany Strollers & Rollers · 634 San Carlos Ave. · Albany, CA 94706 · USA