[IndianaTrails] Pedal & Park at the Indiana State Fair

[tom mcCain]

Pedal & Park begins again

As they have done for more than a decade, dedicated volunteers opened 
the gates to another year of free bicycle parking and dollar-off 
coupons for admission to the Indiana State Fair. The first cyclist (and 
his son) dropped off a bike and a child's trailer at 9 a.m. Wednesday 
morning; if weather is favorable this year, they could be followed by 
as many as 1,500 other cyclists in the course of the 12-day north side 
Indianapolis event.

"Our racks are ready," said Pedal & Park Volunteer Coordinator 
Catherine Dusing. Just like a coat check, volunteers tag bicycles and 
owners with numbered bands. Cyclists can then enjoy the Fair while 
their bikes wait in a monitored corral surrounded by chain link fence; 
when they're ready to go, volunteers match owners' claim stubs to bikes 
and send them on their way.

And it's free. Thanks to a sponsorship from the Metropolitan Planning 
Organization, cyclists pay no fee (though donations are accepted). Some 
people also park skates. Volunteers represent the Central Indiana 
Bicycling Association, the Indiana Bicycle Coalition, the Greenways 
Foundation and Indy Parks Greenways, and those volunteer organizations 
receive proceeds from the MPO sponsorship based on the number of hours 
worked.

If you're considering a trip to the Fair, bring your bike and park near 
the Monon Trail in Broad Ripple or Carmel, or along the Fall Creek 
Trail, and ride those paths to the Pedal & Park corral at 38th Street 
and the Monon Trail. Visit the Greenways Foundation web site 
(http://www.greenwaysfoundation.org) for trail maps and more 
information about Pedal & Park.

Volunteers welcome

As with any volunteer group, we can use more people to staff our 
corral. The pay is 100% satisfaction with promoting alternative 
transportation and healthy lifestyles, plus some camaraderie and fun. 
There are three shifts daily: 8:30 AM - 12:30 PM, 12:30 PM - 4:30 PM, 
4:30 PM - 8:30 PM, from now through Sunday, August 20. To volunteer, 
please contact Catherine Dusing with your dates and times at 
317-255-0559 or on her cell phone at 317-374-7866. Since Catherine is 
almost always in the corral these 12 days, the cell may be your best 
bet.

Thanks! Hope to see you at Pedal & Park.


. . / tom mcCain

Chair, Pedal & park Steering Committee
317 414-7784 (cell)  /  317 251-4992 (home)  /  www.crittur.com  /  
Indianapolis