We’re back and ready to welcome a slew of bicycle and pedestrian planners and advocates to town for the Pro-Walk/Pro-Bike conference Sept. 13-17. Look for the lightning bolt ~to see new outdoor events and activities.

~Bike Night at Riverfront Nights Sept. 11
Ride your bicycle to Bike Night at the free Riverfront Nights concert this Sat., Sept. 11, beginning at 6 p.m. on the Ross’ Landing Green. Ride your most spiffy bike and wear your hippest cycling clothes, participate in a slow bike race, and meet some folks from our local bike clubs and advocacy organizations. The headliner this week is Stratospheerius, who specialize in a mixture of funk, jazz and world music in what they call "psychojazz trip funk." Bicycle activities begin at 6 p.m. Music begins at 7 p.m.

~Jane’s Roll – 3Rides/3Hoods Sept. 12
Celebrate the bike-ability of Chattanooga this Sun., Sept. 12, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., with free, guided rides through three of Chattanooga’s bicycle-friendly neighborhoods. The 3Rides and 3Hoods are the Downtown/N. Shore area, the Southside, and St. Elmo. Participate in one, two, or all three loops. Along the way, the group will share perspectives on the city, meet local community leaders, learn about Chattanooga, discover sites for urban wilderness experiences, and discuss our city’s successes and opportunities to become more bicycle friendly.
3Rides/3Hoods Schedule
9 – 10:30: N. Shore/Downtown Loop (Start at Outdoor Chattanooga, 200 River St. in Coolidge Park)
10:30-11:00: Ride to or meet at the First TNPavilion, 1826 Carter St.
11 – 12:30: Southside Loop (Start and end at First TN Pavilion)
12:30-1:30: Lunch at Chattanooga Market
1:30-2:00: Ride to or meet at the Incline Railway base station, 3917 St. Elmo Ave.
2:00-3:30 St. Elmo Loop (Start and end at Incline Railway base station)

~Pro-Walk/Pro-Bike Sept. 13-17
The National Center for Bicycling and Walking will host their biennial Pro-Walk/Pro-Bike conference in Chattanooga Mon., Sept. 13 through Fri., Sept. 17. The national gathering will attract engineers, officials, directors, transportation professionals, and bicycling and walking advocates from all over the U.S. The conference will focus intensely on Chattanooga’s accomplishments and efforts in making our city a more bicycle and pedestrian friendly community. To register, volunteer, or learn more, email or call Chattanooga Bicycle Coordinator Philip Pugliese at (423) 643-6887.

~“Pioneering Healthy Communities” Free Workshop Sept. 17
Livable Chattanooga, Outdoor Chattanooga, and Blue Cross/Blue Shield of TN will host a special mobile workshop on pioneering healthy communities on Fri., Sept. 17, from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., beginning at the Chattanooga Convention Center. The free workshop will give participants a view of specific public health issues facing our community and the innovative solutions that are developed to address these issues. Participants will have a choice of mobile workshops in the afternoon, including guided walks and bicycle rides throughout the downtown area that focus on bicycling, walking, public transit, food deserts, public art, and transportation planning. Pre registration is required by Tues., Sept. 14. Download a mail-in registration form or register online. To learn more, email or call Chattanooga Bicycle Coordinator Philip Pugliese at (423) 643-6887.

~Chickamauga Battlefield Bicycle Ride Sept. 18
Outdoor Chattanooga and Chickamauga and Chattanooga National Military Park will host a free, guided bicycle tour of Chickamauga Battlefield on Sat., Sept. 18, 9:30 a.m., beginning at the Chickamauga Battlefield Visitors Center. Ride five to six miles at leisurely pace, while a NPS interpretive ranger offers the history and human drama of the Battle for Chickamauga. Bring your own bicycle or borrow one from the Outdoor Chattanooga Mobile Bicycle Fleet. To reserve a bicycle, call (706) 866-9241. To learn more, email Outdoor Chattanooga.

~Rock/Creek Kayak Adventure – Williams Island Sept. 19
Outdoor Chattanooga and Rock/Creek will co-host a kayaking day trip around historic Williams Island on Sun., Sept. 19, from 1 to 5 p.m. We’ll paddle around the 400-acre island and make a stop to check out the island itself, which hosts pre-historic archaeological sites, an organic farm, and a TN River Blueway campsite. Reservations and some kayaking experience are required. The trip is appropriate for adults and kids ages 14 and older when accompanied by an adult. Limit 10 participants. For more information, email Outdoor Chattanooga or call (423) 643-6888.

Volunteers Needed – Pro-Walk/Pro-Bike (Sept.)
Sign up to help at the National Center for Bicycling and Walking’s Pro-Walk/Pro-Bike conference, coming to Chattanooga on Sept. 13-17. The conference will attract a wide variety of professionals and officials, all dedicated to making the U.S. a more bikable and walkable place. If you, your club or your organization would like to help out with jobs like manning a local information table, organizing mobile workshops, and directing conference attendees to sessions, please volunteer now. To learn more, email or call Chattanooga Bicycle Coordinator Philip Pugliese at (423) 643-6887.

Volunteers Needed –American Trails National Symposium (Nov.)
Please consider volunteering your time to the American Trails National Symposium, to be held in Chattanooga Nov. 14-17. Volunteers are needed as early as Nov. 12 to set up the conference and opportunities will be available through Nov. 17. No experience is necessary and the conference has a variety of tasks that need support, from manning the conference information table to helping with mobile workshops. If you are able to volunteer, please sign up on the American Trails Website or email Volunteer Coordinator Alison Bullock.

More Events
Race Across the Sky Screening Sept. 9
Some of our toughest local mountain bikers will join nationally recognized cyclists as subjects of the final film in the Arts and Education Council of Chattanooga’s 2010 Back Row Film Series, "Race Across the Sky," showing on Thurs., Sept. 9, 6:30 p.m., at Create Here, 55 E. Main St. The documentary chronicles the 2009 Leadville Trail 100 Mountain Bike Race, one of the most intense endurance races of all time. The evening starts with an opening reception at 6 p.m., followed by the screening the a Q&A panel discussion with local cyclists immediately after the film. Tickets are $10 ($5 for AEC donors) and can be purchased in advance online or by calling (423)-267-1218. Seating is limited. Advanced reservations are strongly encouraged.

~Black Bear Rampage Mtn. Bike Endurance Race Sept. 10-12
The Black Bear Rampage, Sept. 10 – 12, is a 42-mile mountain bike race utilizing the best trails of the Tanasi trail system in the Cherokee National Forest. Only those interested in a serious flogging should register. New this year: a 20-mile course for those who want to try endurance off-road racing. Entry fees and national forest recreation user fees apply. For more information, please email david@scottsbikes.com or call (423) 472-9891.

~Open Arms Care Bike Challenge Sept. 11
Ride 62 or 26 miles in the Open Arms Care Bike Challenge on Sat., Sept. 11, 8 a.m., beginning in Ooltewah, TN. Cost is $35 and registration fees benefit Open Arms Care programs for people with disabilities. The organization offers life skills development, vocational services, recreational therapies and community integration 24/7. Register online or on the day of the race, beginning at 6:30 a.m.

~Reflection Riding Open House and Native Plant Sale Sept. 11
Reflection Riding Arboretum and Botanical Gardens will host a free open house and Fall Native Plant Sale this Sat., Sept. 11, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., and Sun., Sept. 12, from 1 to 5 p.m. The Fall Native Plant Sale features hearty native plants, guided wildflower walks, a variety of talks on gardening, wildlife, and conservation topics and a few longer hikes exploring the Riding property, demonstration and activities for children, and live bluegrass music. For more information, call Reflection Riding at (423) 821-9582.

~Park(ing) Day Sept. 17
Chattanooga citizens, artists and advocates will create public parks from parking spaces during Park(ing) Day, 2010, on Fri., Sept. 17. Any member of the public can participate. All you need do is put up a few benches, maybe a couple of flower boxes, and feed the parking meter for the allowed time. In Chattanooga, Main St. will serve as the hub of activity. Visit CreateHere to learn more.

~N. Chickamauga Creek Gorge Hike/Work Day Sept. 25
The N. Chickamauga Creek Conservancy will host an educational hike/volunteer work day on the Flipper Bend Trail at N. Chickamauga Creek Gorge State Natural Area on Sat., Sept. 25, from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. We will take a hike with an interpretive ranger and blaze the trail as we go. Volunteers should bring water, a bag lunch, and rain gear. This event will be the first of a series of volunteer work days in the N. Chickamauga Creek Gorge State Natural Area. Future work days will take place on the last Sat. of each month. For more information and directions, call (423) 842-1163 or email vista@northchick.org.

~Free Day at GA State Parks Sept. 25
In honor of National Public Lands Day and National Hunting and Fishing Day, Georgia State Parks will waive parking and entrance fees to all of their parks and historical areas. This is your chance to visit Cloudland Canyon, Ft. Mountain, Tallulah Gorge, and a slew of other beautiful parks for free.

Adventures
S. Cumberland State Park Activities
The South Cumberland State Park, near Monteagle, TN, hosts weekly activities and programs to get people out and about in the park. To see a complete schedule of activities visit the Friends of South Cumberland State Recreation Area Website. All times are CDT.

Wednesday Night Swim in the TN River with Karah
Adult swimmers ages 18 and older are welcome to join in on an open water swim in the TN River with distance swimmer Karah Friberg, beginning at 5:45 every Wed. in Coolidge Park. Swimmers who have a competitive background and who are comfortable swimming freestyle in an open water environment are welcome. Kayakers are also welcome to come help support swimmers. Outdoor Chattanooga will provide kayaks for those who do not have them. For details, email or call Karah Friberg at (423) 488-3143.

News
~Pictures from 1st Annual Chattanooga Mud Run
The first annual Chattanooga Mud Run to benefit Habitat for Humanity was a huge success. Check out these great pics.

~Take the TDOT State Bicycle Route Survey
The Tennessee Department of Transportation is currently gathering information for an update to the state bicycle route network. Citizens are invited to complete a short online survey regarding their experiences bicycling Tennessee's highways. Input from the survey will help guide the department in developing a comprehensive bicycling network that will assess state routes with respect to bicycle suitability and determine future action items pertinent to the furtherance of the goals of TDOT's Bicycle and Pedestrian plan. The survey will close on October 10, 2010.

TDOT Public Meeting About Apison Pike Sept. 14
The Tennessee Department of Transportation will conduct a public information meeting on Sept. 14, from 5-7 p.m., in the West Room of the Collegedale City Hall, 4910 Swinyar Dr., Collegedale, TN, to discuss Hamilton County SR-317 (Apison Pike) from SR-321 (Ooltewah-Ringgold Road) to E. Brainerd Rd. The proposed project would add travel lanes, a continuous turn lane, bike lanes, and sidewalks. A brief presentation will be followed by a question and answer period. The public is invited to provide comments and will be given the opportunity to make their opinions known concerning the need for the project. Representatives of the department will be available to provide information on various aspects of the project.

Nominate Your Group for “Southern Living Magazine’s” Fitness Buddies
Southern Living Magazine has begun a new feature called "Southern Living Fitness Buddies," beginning with the September issue. Each month the magazine will spotlight one group of Southern women who enjoy fitness and fun together. Women who enjoy walking, running, cycling, paddling, climbing, and other fitness activities are encouraged to enter for the chance to be featured. To nominate your group, tell the magazine's editors where you live, what you do together and how often, your fitness goals and results and why you should be featured. You can post your entry online or via email. Send photos, too.

Volunteer Opportunities
~Cumberland Trail Volunteer Work Days Sep 25-26 and 27-30
Volunteers are needed to help the Cumberland Trail Conference with bridge and trail repair in the Tennessee River Gorge segment of the Cumberland Trail on Sat. and Sun, Sept. 25 and 26, and for work sessions Sept. 27 - 30 to prepare for the Rock/Creek Stump Jump. To learn more about how you can help, email or call (931) 456-6259.

~Help Needed for Festival of Jack ‘o Lanterns Oct. 15-17
Help the Chattanooga Nature Center with their big annual fall fun festival. Volunteers are needed to do almost everything, from help set up and break down, to supervising kids’ activities. Perks include free admission to CNC and the event for you and a friend. Email Beth Harris or call CNC at (423) 821-1160 to learn more.

~Bicycle Volunteers for Chickamauga Battlefield Marathon Nov. 13
Cyclists are needed to help support the Chickamauga Battlefield Marathon, happening on Sat., Nov. 13. Riders will be stationed on the marathon course to provide any needed assistance to runners. There are seven different positions and the volunteers would be on shift for about two to two and a half hours. To volunteer or get more information, email Mark Wisdom or call (423) 304-5258.

Web Hit of the Week
We honor the National Center for Bicycling and Walking, who will host the Pro-Walk/Pro-Bike conference here next week.
Last Week’s Web Hit
Are you a MAMIL?

Upcoming . . .
September
25 National Public Lands Day
Disc Golf in the Clouds
25/26 TVCC BYO-Boat Paddle – Town Creek, AL
Skyhoundz World Disc Dog Championships
26 Komen Race for the Cure

October
1-10 River Rocks Outdoor Festival
2 TN River Blueway Canoe and Kayak Race
Rock/Creek Stump Jump
Sequatchie Valley Century
Tennessee River Rescue
9 Chattanooga Head Race
10 ~ChickStock
16 Signal Mtn. Road Race/Pie Run
TVCC Ocoee River Race
Chickamauga Battlefield Bicycle Ride
Swim the Suck 10-Mile Open Water Swim
16/17 Festival of Jack ‘o Lanterns
23 TVCC BYO-Boat Paddle – Raccoon Mtn.
23/24 Fall Colors Weekend at Fall Creek Falls
30 Wild Foods Day at Fall Creek Falls

November
6 TVCC BYO-Boat Paddle – Wolftever Creek
6/7 Head of the Hooch
Rock Climbing Workshop at Fall Creek Falls
13 Upchuck 50K
Chickamauga Battlefield Marathon
14-17 20th American Trails National Symposium
20 TVCC BYO-Boat Paddle – Chester Frost Park