(All: this is my current draft of a project to be presented Wednesday night to the Traffic Commission. Although the plan is quite clear, we are somewhat divided as of now whether to call it the Uphill Struggle, or the Uphill Challenge. (My original draft said Struggle.) Of course, anyone with thoughts on this and other details is very welcome to join the committee. Just reply to Marilyn Newcome or to me. JL)
MAX'S UPHILL STRUGGLE (CHALLENGE) Local 7-year-old Encourages Community to Bike
It is an uphill struggle to get people to think of bicycles as transportation. However, cyclists young and old in Morgantown are gearing up to change the way people think about bikes.
"Max's Uphill Struggle" will be celebrated in mid-August with an all- ages group ride up Monongahela Boulevard, past the Creative Arts Center, and down to the Star City Park. The point of the ride is not speed but success in arriving at the top. The biggest reward will be coasting down the other side.
Starting in spring, the Uphill Struggle committee is scheduling a series of regular bicycle training events for riders of all ages and skill levels. Tentatively set for 2 PM every Sunday, riders will meet in Sabraton and ride up the Decker's Creek trail. Veteran cyclists will offer guidance about bicycle safety, comfort and fitness.
The idea springs from conversations between Laura Kemp-Rye and her 7- year-old son Max. Like so many of us, Max learned to ride on a gently descending slope. Faced with the greater challenge of riding uphill, Max came up with an idea to make it fun.
"Riding a bike is good exercise and it is a great way to reduce pollution," says Max. "We're going to have a lot of fun on this ride, and afterward we'll have a party!"
Since then, the idea has grown to encompass a challenge not just to cyclists, but to drivers, who need to understand that bicycles help reduce traffic congestion, have a right to be on the road, and take up a lot less room than cars.
After Max's mother mentioned the idea to several local cyclists, the Uphill Struggle Committee was formed. Headed by North Elementary teacher Marilyn Newcome, members and other interested parties include Kemp-Rye, John Lozier, Nick Hein, Bill Reger-Nash, Alice Vernon, Lynn Ryan, and Tim Nelms.
The concept has been positively received by Morgantown mayor Ron Justice, and Star City mayor Allen Sharp, and also by the Morgantown Bicycle Board. The committee is currently seeking the widest possible endorsement from civic and government units concerned with topics such as transportation, education, and fitness.
In decades past, becoming a competent bicyclist as a child meant freedom to travel independently, to school, playground, and the homes of friends. Today, more than ever, getting from place to place can be an uphill struggle. Especially here in Morgantown, where no matter what your destination, it seems to be uphill both ways!
If you would like to be involved in the planning and implementation of this project, or to be a sponsor or mentor, please contact Marilyn Newcome at 598 5078, or mjcycling@msn.com.