Batemen, 3rd Friday, and Bikeways Grant News!

We have a lot to celebrate this week!

First, I was invited last week to pick up a gold shovel & ceremoniously toss a scoop of fresh dirt in the air to celebrate the start of construction of pedestrian and bicycle improvements at Batemen Street on SU's East Campus. This long-anticipated project is fully underway and completion is anticipated before the end of August. The improvements will feature east and west-bound bike lanes and will be ready in time for this year's Sea Gull Century roll-out. Pretty exciting!

Next, we had a fantastic ride last Friday on the proposed Orange route, connecting downtown Salisbury, PRMC, and SU. Over twenty riders came out, donned our new bike-SBY t-shirts (thanks to Dave and Vonda at Chesapeake Screen Printing), and rode the 2-mile course.  The ride was part of Salisbury's 3rd Friday celebration?  We dodged rainstorms and met a number of very people who were really interested in our work. The ride went so well that we plan to do it again on August 17.  Be there before 5:30 and get a free t-shirt (while supplies last!). 

I saved the best news for last.  Maryland's Govenor O'Malley announced this week that our project for Salisbury along with 27 other Maryland projects were selected to recieve grant monies from Maryland's Bikeways program!  This grant will fund the improvments along the Orange route that will construct our initla 2-mile route that forms the "spine" of our bike lane system.  Many people in our group, City of Salisbury, and SU worked hard in preparing this grant application and shoudl be congratulated for making this possible.  Look for more news about a formal press conference soon, and wear your orange shirt to the press conference with pride!

See you on the road!

Matt