Back and Bike Week is coming!

Here's your chance to dust off that bike...

May 17-22 is Bike Week

During Bike Week in northwest Ohio and southeast Michigan, Toledo Metropolitan Area Council of Governments (TMACOG) is creating opportunities for people to explore their neighborhoods and cities by bicycle. Cycling is great exercise for the biker and is a whole lot less expensive than driving a car. Cycling has other social benefits. More
people cycling to work and errands means less air pollution and less congestion on the roads. Off-street recreational trails that accommodate bikes, rollerblades, and pedestrians make a city more attractive and increase property values. During Bike Week, please join in one of the planned activities, or just get out and enjoy our region's bike facilities. All Bike Week events are free, no registration required.


For more information visit here.

Bike to a Bus
All week, TARTA fare is only 25 cents for people using the bike racks.

Tuesday, May 18
Family Fun Ride & Safe Kids Bike Rodeo
Wildwood Metropark, 6-8 p.m.
Meet at the Wildwood parking lot labeled for the University/Parks Trail. The Safe Kids Coalition will have a bike rodeo set up to demonstrate safe cycling for the younger riders. Then we’ll enjoy a family bike ride around Wildwood, out to the University/Parks Trail, to UT, and back to the park. Experienced riders will lead the ride.

Wednesday, May 19
Ride of Silence
University of Toledo, 6:45 – 8 p.m..
Start and end at UT Parking Lot 1 North, at Bancroft St. and North Towerview Blvd.. This community ride, at slow speeds and with a police escort, raises awareness of the need to share the road safely. The ride is in memory of people who were killed or injured while riding bicycles on public roads. A map, poster, and more details are at www.biketoledo.com, or contact Keith Webb (keith@planetwebb.com) 567-703-6378.

Friday, May 21
Bike to Work Day
A bicycle is a realistic commuting vehicle for a lot of people. Try it this week. Riders can gather at Ottawa Park (on Kenwood, near the Police substation), and Walbridge Park (close to the Zoo). Experienced commuters will lead groups downtown, leaving the parks around 7:30 a.m. Organized rides are also scheduled in Bowling Green, Fostoria, Holland, and Oregon.

Friday, May 21
Bike to the Capitol 2010
Join Senator Teresa Fedor on her fourth annual bike trip from Toledo to Columbus. Senator Fedor and friends are leaving Friday, May 21 from Glendale-Feilbach Elementary School at 9:30 a.m. and arriving in Columbus on May 23. The trip will include stops in Findlay, Upper Sandusky, and Marion. Different groups will join in for different sections of the ride. All are welcome to ride. For more information call Senator Fedor’s office at 614-466-5204.

Saturday, May 22
Bike Extravaganza at the Farmer's Market
Bicyclists are invited to take a Saturday morning ride and meet up at the Farmers Market, Superior Street in downtown Toledo, at 10:30 a.m. Do a little grocery shopping and then we’re off to Manhattan’s on Adams Street for lunch.

All Bike Week events are free and open to all. No registration is required.

Office of Fleet Management wins award for alternative fuels

State of Ohio wins national award for alternative-fuel-use scorecard

Efforts by the State of Ohio to increase the use of alternative fuels in state vehicles has captured national recognition.

The Ohio Department of Administrative Services’ Office of Fleet Management has been named a winner of the 2009 Larry Goill Memorial Quality Fleet Management Idea Award from the NAFA Fleet Management Association for the creation and use of a scorecard measuring the use of alternative fuels in state vehicles.

This international competition recognizes creative ideas that improve productivity and/or favorably impact bottom-line cost savings.

“This national award further confirms that the State of Ohio has made great strides during the past two years in our efforts to increase the use of alternative fuels. There is more work to be done, but we accept the responsibility of being a leader among our peers,” said Director Hugh Quill of the Ohio Department of Administrative Services.

The Ohio Revised Code mandated the use of alternative fuels in capable state vehicles in October 2006. The code spelled out the minimum amounts of biodiesel and E85 fuel required to be used annually. To illustrate usage in an easy-to-read format, in 2007 the Office of Fleet Management created a scorecard indicating each state agency’s alternative fuel use and its progress toward reaching its goal. The scorecard has been shared with agency fleet managers and posted to the State of Ohio Web site at http://das.ohio.gov/gsd/Fleet/pdf/E_85_Bio_Feb_09.pdf.

The results of the implementation of the scorecard have been astounding. During calendar year 2008, E85 use increased 701 percent and biodiesel use increased 2,364 percent.

The State of Ohio was one of two winners of the 2009 Larry Goill Memorial Quality Fleet Management Idea Award. Applications were accepted from anyone employed in a vehicle management role by any company, utility, government agency or not-for-profit organization in the United States or Canada.

The awardees were announced April 27 at the NAFA Institute and Expo in New Orleans.