Duke City Wheelmen is proud to present Cycling Skills Clinics, starting May 7, 2013 and running throughout the summer. The three session, 1.5 hour clinics will all start at 1613 Arizona St NE, 6:30 pm. Day of the week and dates depend on which clinic you choose. More information and registration is available at https://www.usacycling.org/register/2013-1971

Each clinic will span three weeks. Every week riders will expand their control over their bike, knowledge of best practices for safety, confidence in traffic, skills necessary around other riders as well as their overall comfort on the bike.

Duke City Wheelmen President Jennifer Buntz will lead these clinics. She combines her own riding experiences, requirements of New Mexico law and knowledge gained as a safe cycling advocate with curriculum points from two of the best recognized authorities on cycling skills: the League of American Bicyclists and USA Cycling. “These clinics are unique because I bring together material from these two organizations as well as my knowledge of what is required of cyclists in New Mexico,” Buntz reports.

Bunts goes on to say, “Clinics are being offered for adults, women only and families. I hope this will enable everyone to find a learning environment that works for them.”

The adage “You never forget how to ride a bike” is generally quite accurate. However, that doesn’t mean that you learned how to ride in the conditions that today’s world presents. There is more motor vehicle traffic and more people are using Albuquerque’s multi-use paths. There are many different kinds of bicycle infrastructure (like bike lanes) that probably weren’t there when you learned how to ride a bike. These clinics are designed to help you make sense out of today’s bicycling environment

What we have added this year are new activities that are aimed at preventing crashes as well as encouraging and supporting more people who want to cycle. DCW will continue to place ghost bikes and remember fallen cyclists through the two memorial rides we promote annually.

The two memorial rides DCW promotes are The Ride of Silence which will take place May 15, 2013 as well as “Can You See Us NOW?” scheduled for September 29, 2013.

For the Ride of Silence, May 15, 2013, sign-up is between 5 and 6 pm at Wilson Park, 1099 San Pedro SE, with the ride starting 6:30 pm. The ride will be 6.4 miles long and proceed at a pace under 12 miles per hour. The Ride of Silence happens on the same date around the world to honor fallen or injured cyclists and to call for increased awareness of cyclists on the road. The ride is free with a $5.00 dollar donation suggested to cover expenses.

Details for all the events that Duke City Wheelmen are sponsoring can be found at www.dukecitywheelmen.org

Jennifer Buntz

bikefunsafe@gmail.com
505-306-1443

To get a limited quantity inaugural cinch sack,

just sign-up today and let us know that you are coming, Tour del Bosque…count me in!

May 10, 2013

Bosque Trail Ribbon-Cutting Ceremony

10 a.m.

Along the Bosque Trail, where it crosses Bridge Boulevard

(parking available at the National Hispanic Cultural Center)

Refreshments will be served

May 11, 2013

Mountain Bike Race in Oak Flats (registration fee for this event only)

Go to http://www.newmexicosportsonline.com/events/details.aspx?id=515, to participate.

Bike Riding Clinic | North Valley Bike Park, 9800 4th Street NW
8 a.m. – 2 p.m.

Bike Rodeo & Bike Swap | South Valley Gateway Park, 100 Isleta Blvd SW
8 a.m. – 2 p.m.

May 12, 2013

Ride, run, walk the Bosque Trail

8 a.m. – 2 p.m.

Bachechi Open Space (Alameda & Rio Grande Blvd)

to the Rio Bravo Boulvevard trail head

Just jump onto the trail anywhere you want

and go as long or as short as you want

Activities and free giveaways

Music

Rock climbing wall

Photo ops

Special treat for mom

Tour del Bosque is an adventure-filled event that brings the whole family outdoors. Tour del Bosque will span two days over the course of Mother’s Day weekend, May 11 and 12. There will be mountain bike racing, bosque trail bike riding and walking.

This is the inaugural year for this countywide event. It is a FREE event!

Activities are scheduled across the county to reacquaint residents with the wonderful recreational facilities and open spaces that exist within Bernalillo County.

Friday, May 10, will be the official ribbon-cutting ceremony of the Bosque Trail to celebrate recent improvements made to the trail. Five miles of bike trail was completely reconstructed and connections to nearby facilities were improved. Now it is a smooth ten-mile stretch from Rio Bravo Boulevard north to Alameda Boulevard.

On Saturday, May 11, the action gets going on the backside of the mountain. It is the Oak Flats Mountain Bike Race and it is happening in Tijeras. The bike trails range from 1.6 miles for children to 18 and 24 miles for adult women and men. There are non-competitive and competitive events.

Go to http://www.newmexicosportsonline.com/events/details.aspx?id=515, to register.

Down in the North Valley, also taking place on Saturday, May 11, there will be a bike riding clinic underway at the North Valley Bike Park. A team of BMX riders will be on-site demonstrating their skills and offering instruction to all riders on trail and riding technique.

Simultaneously, in the South Valley, a bike rodeo and bike swap will be taking place at the new Gateway Park located on the corner of Bridge Boulevard and Isleta Boulevard.

There, younger participants will learn proper bike safety techniques and improve their bike riding skills. The bike swap is where bike enthusiasts will be able to find or sell all things bike.

All day on Sunday, May 12, all along the Bosque Trail, residents can bike, walk or run.

During the Tour del Bosque, every five miles there will be a county booth set up that will have water supplies, music and activities for all participants.

Because festivities are taking place on Mother’s Day, every mom will be treated extra special during this event.

All residents are encouraged to come out and spend a day or both days in the great outdoors here in Bernalillo County — on the trails of the Tour del Bosque.

Want a limited quantity inaugural cinch sack, sign-up now at Tour del Bosque Registration. Then you can claim your reserved cinch sack during registration packet pick-up happening on Friday, May 10, from 6 – 8 p.m. at the Embassy Suites located at 1000 Woodward Place N.E.in Albuquerque.

Hope to see you on the Bosque Trail!

_________________________________

Forwarded to you in the public interest by:

Darrell Dady

Neighborhood Coordination Specialist

BERNALILLO COUNTY

468-7364

http://www.bikeabq.org

For more information on this event, call:

M. Andrew Garrison

Bernalillo County Health and Wellness Administrator

One Civic Plaza

4th floor Human Resources

Albuquerque, NM 87102

505.468.7541

The May 2013 monthly meeting of the Downtown Neighborhoods Association was held at the Harwood Art Center, pursuant to prior approval.
Board members in attendance: Holly Siebert, Rick Miera, Miriam Ortiz y Pino, David McCain, Curtis Hunt, Chan Graham, Dick Deichsel, Ric Higginbotham, Bob Yuhas, Melanie Lewis, Sue Brych, Rowan Wymark and Margaret Connealy. Two board members were absent. Seven other neighbors also attended. Sign in sheets are on file.
Board Chair Reba Eagles was unable to attend so Vice Chair Sue Brych called the meeting to order at 7:00 p.m. Introductions were made. The agenda was approved. The April 3 minutes were approved.
Dick Deichsel gave the Treasurer’s Report. For the month of April, income was $285.00 and expenses totaled $183.49. The April 30 balance was $26,088.54. The report was approved and is on file.

There was no officer present from APD and no police report.

HISTORY PROJECT
Chan Graham gave a progress report on the history project, including some examples of photos of residents by their houses and some of the histories. Bernadette Miera (with Bernalillo County Cultural Services) was at the meeting and Chan thanked her for the grant and her assistance.

FILM INDUSTRY
As discussed at the April 27 board retreat, Miriam Ortiz y Pino met with Ann Lerner (768-3283) with the City. They discussed filming in DNA and the City’s general policy on filming in neighborhoods. The policy recommends that neighborhood associations receive $100 per day during filming. The crews must obtain a permit in advance and notify households in the area that filming is scheduled. There are also negotiating guidelines for homeowners when film companies ask to use interiors. Ric Higginbotham said that there seemed to be a consensus that DNA would follow the City’s guidelines and there was no objection.

FACILITATED MEETINGS ON ZONING ISSUES
Ric Higginbotham reported on two facilitated meetings he had recently attended, representing DNA. The first involved a proposed mixed upscale residential and commercial project near Laguna and Central in the Huning Castle neighborhood. Huning Castle has negotiated several compromises from the developers and is in favor of the project. The next hearing is scheduled for Thursday, May 9 at 8:30 a.m. Miriam Ortiz y Pino moved and Rowan Wymark seconded a motion to send a letter of support for the project.
Ric also attended a facilitated meeting regarding the proposed Silver Moon Workforce Housing apartments at 10th and Central. The developers intend to break ground in July. They have requested an advisory group of neighborhood people, but have made no compromises on density or parking. Ric recommended the book Walkable Cities.
There were no other zoning issues to discuss.

COMMITTEES
Bob Yuhas that he will assemble neighborhood crime statistics for the Safety Committee.

Miriam Ortiz y Pino solicited suggestions for evening events for the Downtown Discovery Club. She suggested a movie night and Rowan Wymark said the Kimo has scheduled a series of Hitchcock films and a Stanley Kubrick series. The Project Committee will meet at Miriam’s, 819A 12th NW, on Monday, May 20 at 6:00 p.m. Potluck.

Curtis Hunt reported that a draft final report on traffic may be available in two weeks. There are no more scheduled meetings on the report unless DNA or other neighbors want to discuss issues in the draft.

Rowan Wymark (Communications Committee) announced that articles for the summer newsletter should be submitted to her (rowymark@gmail.com) by the middle of June. Rowan will edit and Chan Graham will design. The newsletter is scheduled to be mailed in mid-July, in time to announce the Neighborhood Night Out in early August.

Holly Siebert (Care Committee) announced that the annual Neighborhood Night Out is scheduled for Mary Fox Park on Tuesday, August 6.

Dick Deichsel announced that the Curb Appeal award for May is the Foster home at 224 14th NW. For June it will be the Tellis home at 303 12th NW.

ANNOUNCEMENTS
Anna Muller announced that the first weekly Growers Market of the season will be Saturday, May 18 at Robinson Park, 8th and Central. There are still “abbreviated” Saturday markets on Gold between First and Second thru May 11.

Rowan Wymark said that Café Miche has taken over P’tit Louis at 3rd and Gold. She also believes that Lee Gamelsky is proposing a second version of a residential project on 8th between Marquette and Roma. As long as he needs no variances, the project would not come before DNA.

Nick Gentry (415 11th NW) described the poorly maintained rental property next door to him (409 11th NW?). The property is owned by Antoine Predock, the architect whose offices are at 12th and Marquette. Curtis Hunt said that Predock has rentals in the 300 block of 12th that are also not well kept up. Curtis volunteered to talk to his neighbors on 12th and try to get signatures for a letter to Predock.

Ric Higginbotham announced that a new round of hearings on the proposed Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) system will begin on Tuesday, May 7.

Bernadette Miera, with the County Cultural Services Department, discussed the history project grant with Chan Graham. She also discussed and distributed brochures describing services offered by the Department of Senior Affairs (764-6400, cabq.gov/seniors).

The meeting was adjourned at 8:27.

Respectfully submitted,
David McCain
Secretary

This couple met at the Farina Pizzeria, from where their relationship blossomed, and they decided to make Albuquerque their home. They rented a loft in EDo, and had been regularly bicycling up the “Bicycle Boulevard” on 14th Street in-route to ride along the Bosque, when they noticed a For Sale sign posted in the yard of this house. They hadn’t given much consideration to buying a home at this point, but after seeing this charming bungalow and it’s casita, the seed was planted. The home was built in 1910, and a thorough renovation was completed inside and out in 2011 by Dave Liotta, including converting the attic to a master bedroom suite. Glenn and Jennifer closed escrow on October 31, 2011. In addition to tastefully decorating their home inside, they had a beautifully designed fence built to enclose their yard and create privacy for their outdoor living space. They also planted a number of trees, and created planting beds for greenery and color.

The Fosters and their dog, Trevor, have experienced bonuses to living in our neighborhood, such as the walkability to our Lowe’s Corner Market and good restaurants, friendly neighbors creating a feeling of community, and all the fun family activities in Mary Fox Park. By the way, Glenn and Jennifer were married last month,

so congratulations to them from our community which appreciates the efforts they have made towards the curb appeal of their home.

Submitted by: Dick Deichsel

For the first time since implementing annual Customer Service Satisfaction Surveys, the Rio Metro Regional Transit District and the New Mexico Rail Runner Express are expanding their target audience to include non-riders as well as regular riders of the train. The survey–which is available online beginning April 26 through May 5–is part of Rio Metro’s and the New Mexico Rail Runner Express’ efforts to be more responsive to the needs of passengers and the public.

In addition to the standard questions that rate customer service and performance of the train, the survey also asks respondents to weigh in on the factors most important to them such as shorter travel times, more express trains, and additional parking at stations.

People who complete a survey will be entered into a random drawing for one of the following: an iPad, a monthly pass on the NM Rail Runner Express, Isotopes Tickets, and passes to Cliff’s Amusement Park.

Those interested in submitting a NM Rail Runner Customer Satisfaction Survey can do so by visiting nmrailrunner.com or clicking here.

Pump Up Your Tires–Bike to Work Day Coming Up

National Bike to Work Day is Friday, May 17th. Several organizations are teaming up to hold Bike to Work Day celebrations around the Albuquerque-Rio Rancho metro area. This event is planned to give commuters both information and incentive to use a bicycle to get to work. There will be three new breakfast stops this year. At each stop, bicycle commuters can enjoy a free breakfast from General Mills, Starbucks Coffee and Albuquerque Public Schools. In addition, reflective leg bands, patch kits and t-shirts will be given away while supplies last.

This year MRCOG and UNM Civil Engineering are conducting a Bicycle Travel Study to evaluate what influences people to travel by bicycle and how they choose their routes. This survey will be available at each food stop and online at http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/BikeStudy

If you are interested in maps to the food stop locations, please visit BikeABQ’s website.

bike to work day logo

Albuquerque Area/Rio Rancho Breakfast Stops 6:30AM-8:30AM:

Downtown: Civic Plaza Northwest corner off Marquette
Uptown: Uptown Transit Center (near America’s Parkway & Indian School)
Heights: Erna Fergusson Library next to Paseo del Nordeste Trail near San Mateo
Westside: Park northwest of Montaño and Winterhaven
Journal Center/Los Ranchos: North Diversion Trail and NM Rail Runner Journal Center/Los Ranchos Station (Edith & El Pueblo)
Intel: NM 528 and 19th St with access from Sara Rd/Meadowlark
Journal Center/I-25(NEW!)Doc & Eddy’s on Eastside of new bridge over I-25
Bosque Trail (NEW!) Eastside of Gail Ryba bridge over Rio Grande River
KAFB/Sandia Labs/VA Hospital (NEW!) Ridgecrest and Gibson at the ‘Chevy on a Stick’

If you are interested in cycling with a group or creating a team, Sport Systems is hosting the 1st Annual Bike Commuter Challenge. Individuals or groups can log miles ridden commuting to work during the month of May, join group rides and sign up for cycling clinics.

Updated Public Participation Procedures Available for Review

MRMPO’s Public Participation Procedures have been updated and are now available for review and comment. The Public Participation Procedures is the guiding document for all public outreach undertaken by MRMPO and describes how the organization’s plans and projects (including the MTP, TIP, Title VI Plan and special studies) will incorporate public participation.

The comment period runs from May 1 through June 20, 2013. The Draft Public Participation Procedures will be discussed at the next Public Involvement Committee meeting on Thursday, May 2nd, 2013 at 5:30pm in the MRCOG Board Room. The public is welcome to attend.

All comments received on the draft will taken into consideration and presented to the Metropolitan Transportation Board, who will decide if the procedures are adopted. For any questions on the Public Participation Procedures, contact Eric Webster at ewebster@mrcog-nm.gov or 505-724-3602.

Public Involvement Committee Meeting Presenting Updates on Transit Studies

In addition to discussion on the updated Public Participation Procedures (see blurb above), then next Public Involvement Committee meeting will include presentations on the Paseo del Norte High Capacity Transit Study and the UNM/CNM/Sunport Transit Study. The meeting will be held on Thursday, May 2 at 5:30pm in the MRCOG Board Room. As with all Public Involvement Committee meetings, the public is welcome to attend.

MRMPO Welcomes New Staff Member

picture of Andy GingerichAndrew “Andy” Gingerich is MRMPO’s newest hire and started working with the organization in late April. Andy will be responsible for managing socioeconomic and land use data, developing socioeconomic community profiles, helping with the land use model, and assisting others with GIS, maps, and data requests. Andy is a recent graduate of UNM’s Community and Regional Planning program. He completed his master’s degree there last fall with an emphasis in physical planning. Andy’s family lived in Albuquerque when he was young, having moved here from the Midwest after a tornado destroyed his family’s house. He moved back as an adult to attend graduate school at UNM. Andy’s professional interests include urban design and urban history, maps and visual communication, and the relationship between public health and the built environment. “So really I’m just interested in helping to create meaningful and healthy places that people would want to belong to,” he explained. MRMPO is pleased to add Andy to its transportation planning team. Please feel free to stop by and introduce yourself to him, and you can direct any GIS or data-related inquiries to him at agingerich@mrcog-nm.gov or 505-724-3616.

Summary of Public Comments on Paseo del Norte High Capacity Transit Study

Open house meetings conducted in late March offered attendees the opportunity to state their preferred alignments in the northwest portion of the study area and through the Jefferson St/Journal Center corridor, as well as give feedback on the most convenient park and ride locations, service design and connections to other transit routes. A summary of all written and verbal comments can be found on the project page of the MRCOG website under the “Public Involvement” section. Comments on the project are still being accepted and can be submitted to Tony Sylvester at (505) 247-1750 or tsylvester@mrcog-nm.gov. mixed flow roadway typical section

Transportation News and Information

Study Finds Walking or Biking to School Improves a Student’s Concentration

A Danish study found that kids who cycled or walked to school not only performed better on tasks requiring concentration, but that those effects lasted up to four hours after they arrived at school. The study also found that having breakfast and lunch helped with concentration, but not as much as the exercise gained from walking or biking to school. The author of the article pointed out that “…many parents pay for test prep and after-school enrichment programs to make their kids more academically competitive, and go to great lengths to schedule time for those activities. Imagine if they invested those resources instead in something as simple as helping their children to travel safely from home to school on foot or by bike, arriving ready to learn.” [MORE] (Accessed April 26, 2013)

National Train Day Event on May 11

2013 National Train Day LogoCelebrate America’s love for trains on Saturday, May 11. This year, the Rio Metro Regional Transit District will host the third annual National Train Day event from 1-5pm at the Alvarado Transportation Center in downtown Albuquerque. The event will feature free live entertainment, local food vendors, interactive and educational exhibits, activities, raffles and elaborate model train displays, plus tours of the New Mexico Rail Runner Express and Amtrak rail cars. [MORE]

Las Cruces Interchange Project Completed

The I-10/I-25 System Interchange Project was recently completed and an official ribbon cutting ceremony with New Mexico DOT officials, the Governor, and FHWA representatives was held to commemorate its completion.

The $37 million dollar project included construction of a new flyover ramp for I-10 east to I-25 north and a new ramp from I-25 south to I-10, as well as lighting, curb and gutter improvements to local roadways near the interchange. The project was primarily funded with federal funds.[MORE] Accessed April 26, 2013

Can Bike Shares Happen in Smaller Cities? Why, Yes, they Can!

Chattanooga, TN, a city with a population of 170,000 is providing a good example of (not to mention inspiration for) smaller cities implementing bike share programs. “Our purpose with bike-sharing was to put a larger amount of cyclists on the street in a short time, to change the dynamic, to improve air quality, our health and active transportation overall…,” said the Chattanooga Bike Coordinator. [MORE] (Accessed April 26, 2013)

New Cabinet Secretary Named for NM Department of Transportation

Tom Church, a longtime Department of Transportation official and acting department secretary, has been named cabinet secretary of the NM Department of Transportation by Governor Martinez. The appointment is subject to confirmation by the state Senate. [MORE] (Accessed April 26, 2013)

City of Albuquerque Step it UP! Program Distributes Free Pedometers to Participants to Track their Walking Progress

picture of two people walking on trailAs part of his plan to promote health and wellness, Mayor Berry and the City of Albuquerque have launched a program called Step it UP! Participants will receive a free pedometer and are invited to join the Mayor the first Saturday of every month at different walking events held around the City. The next event will be May 4 at Loma del Norte Park at Loma del Norte and Wyoming Blvd NE. [MORE] Accessed April 26, 2013

New U.S. Secretary of Transportation Nominated

President Obama has nominated a new Secretary of Transportation, Anthony Foxx, to replace Ray LaHood, who announced his planned departure a few months ago. Foxx, who has been the mayor of Charlotte, NC since 2009, does not have a transportation background, but has overseen some major transportation projects while in office.[MORE] Accessed April 30, 2013

New Light Rail Line Opens in Denver

2013 FasTracks System Map

Source: rtd-denver.com

Denver’s first light rail line, the West Rail Line, opened on April 26. The 12.1-mile line will travel between Denver’s Union Station and the Jefferson County Government Station in Golden, CO. The line will provide transit service to government centers, college campuses, and a hospital. The West Rail Line is part of FasTracks, the Denver Regional Transit District’s multi-billion dollar plan to build 122 miles of commuter and light rail and 18 miles of bus rapid transit. [MORE] Accessed April 26, 2013

May Calendar

Public Involvement Committee (PIC)
Meeting

May 2,

5:30pm

MRCOG Board

Room

National Bike to School Day

May 8

Association of Pedestrian and Bicycle Professionals webinar–Bike Signals

May 15,
1-2pm

MRCOG First
Floor
Conference
Room

National Bike to Work Day

May 17,
6:30-
8:30am

Breakfast stops at Multiple
Locations

Metropolitan Transportation Board

Meeting

May 17,

10:00 am

MRCOG Board

Room

Rio Metro Board Meeting

May 17,

1:00 pm

MRCOG Board

Room

ITS Subcommittee Meeting

May 22,
1:30-
3:30pm

MRCOG

Bernalillo County – Registration begins today for Bernalillo County’s Youth and Senior Services Summer Recreation Program.

The programs offer up to seven weeks of summer childcare for as little as $63.

The programs are based at four elementary schools and offer a wide range of activities including sports, outdoor recreation, a book club and field trips. One program offers childcare from 9 a.m. – 6 p.m. Four others offer childcare from 2 p.m. – 6 p.m., after summer classes end at those schools.

Details include:

Location: Mission Avenue Elementary

Dates: June 10 – July 26

Programs: Regular, from 9 a.m. – 3 p.m. Extended care, from 3 p.m. – 6 p.m.

Cost: $43 per child, plus one $20 registration fee per family.

Locations: Adobe Acres, Barcelona and Helen Cordero Elementary Schools (Students from Edward Gonzales Elementary can go to the Helen Cordero Elementary site.)

Dates: June 19 – July 25

Times: 2 p.m. – 6 p.m., after summer school classes end at those schools

Cost: $43 per child, plus one $20 registration fee per family.

Registration begins today from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. and is on a first come, first-served basis. Register in person at the Bernalillo County Parks and Recreation Department, 111 Union Square Street S.E., Suite 202. Call 505.314.0425 for more information.

Tours will begin at 10 AM, 10:30 AM, 11:30 AM, 1 PM, 2 PM, 3 PM, and 3:30 PM.

Tickets for tours are available through HoldMyTicket.com, an Albuquerque-based ticketing service.

For National Train Day only, a nominal ticket price of $0.50 (plus a required $1.50 processing fee for a total ticket price of $2.00) is being charged.

Things to know before registering:

1. Must be 12 years of age or older.

2. Tours are anticipated to last around 90 minutes.

3. The Rail Yards site includes uneven surfaces, broken glass and other potential hazards and is not wheelchair accessible in most places.

Tour Day Information:

1. Parking and registration will be in the vacant lot on 2nd Street between Santa Fe and Pacific (1001 Second Street SW). Do not park on the site as there will be other activities taking place on the site. The tour will depart from 1001 Second Street SW.

2. Close-toed shoes required.

3. Hard hats will be provided and are required to be worn for the duration of the tour. You may want to consider bringing a bandanna to wear.

4. We recommend that you bring a bottle of water, a hat, sunglasses, and apply sunscreen.

5. Bathroom facilities are very limited at the site and will not be accessible during the tour. We encourage you to plan accordingly.

6. Photography will be allowed, but groups will be required to stay together. Professional photographers are encouraged to contact the property manager (Build New Mexico – 268-1200) to set up a separate time for special photography sessions.

7. Do not pick up and/ or remove anything from the site.

In addition to the tours, there are other events occurring as a part of National Train Day

This day of tours is designed to be a kick-off event for regular monthly tours, if you aren’t able to join us on Train Day, we look forward to seeing you on a future tour!

Kind regards,

Petra Morris

Planner, Long Range Planning Section

Urban Design & Development Division

Planning Department

City of Albuquerque