Joomla! site syndication http://www.sorba.org Fri, 20 Nov 2009 23:10:49 +0100 FeedCreator 1.7.2 http://www.sorba.org/images/M_images/joomla_rss.png http://www.sorba.org Joomla! site syndication http://www.sorba.org/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=173&Itemid=2 The Army Corp of Engineers at Lake Thurmond has approved the building of a 9 mile extension of the Bartram Trail. The extension will connect the existing Petersburg Trail Head to Columbia County’s Wildwood Park. SORBA-CSRA Chapter is currently discussing with Columbia County officials about building a connector trail from the Wildwood Trail Head for the Bartram Trail to Washington Road at the entrance to Keg Creek Trail. Both of these trails are expected to be complete by early next year. Once the existing Bartram is connected to the Keg Creek Trail, Augusta will have another epic ride to compete with the FATS trail system. Riding all 6 loops at FATS (one way) is approximately 35 miles. The new Bartram / Keg Creek Trail ride will be considered a lollipop ride consisting of approximately 45 miles and only riding across paved road and riding about 1/8th of a mile of gravel road. The lollipop ride will start at Lake Thurmond West Dam Recreational Area, go past Lake Springs Trail (a 3 mile loop off of Bartram Trail), Petersburg Trail Head, Wildwood Park, to the Keg Creek loop and back to West Dam Recreational Area. The existing Bartram Trail is a flat, easy flowing single-track. The new addition will have more dips similar to FATS, but will not have as much elevation difference. Keg Creek trail is the most technical of the lollipop. It has numerous creek crossing and twisty single-track. The combination of these trails will offer a unique riding experience. News - Chapter News Mon, 16 Nov 2009 14:31:48 +0100 http://www.sorba.org/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=172&Itemid=2 The final phase of mountain bike trail construction is now underway at the new Harbins Park located in Dacula, GA, despite budget challenges. Affectionately referred to as MB5, the 5th and longest section of mountain bike trails at Harbins Park has officially survived a budget crisis. Not long after the initial layout and design work was on the drawing board, GATR got the call from Gwinnett County officials informing them that finances were tight, and the construction of MB5 would be postponed until it was "re-approved", pending budget reconciliations in July. Both GATR and the county rallied behind this project and fortunately, the story has a happy ending, as the trail has been flagged and rough cutting began in October. Weather permitting, the 6-mile trail should open sometime this upcoming winter. Volunteer efforts are welcomed and needed throughout the construction process. The first work party had a large turnout, indicating an outstanding level of community support. News - Chapter News Mon, 16 Nov 2009 14:23:31 +0100 http://www.sorba.org/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=171&Itemid=2 The National Park Service is preparing an Environmental Assessment to consider the environmental consequences related to three proposed trail connection projects within the Chattahoochee River National Recreation Area. The park aims to make each of the 16 separate park units part of an accessible and integrated park system along the Chattahoochee River corridor. This project will develop a more cohesive trail network within individual park units to enhance visitor use and experience, while at the same time protecting natural resources. News - IMBA-SORBA News Mon, 16 Nov 2009 14:12:32 +0100 http://www.sorba.org/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=170&Itemid=2 Prestigious award honors City’s efforts to promote bicycling GREENVILLE (SC) The League of American Bicyclists has honored Greenville with its prestigious Bicycle Friendly Community award. Greenville joins Columbia and Spartanburg as South Carolina's only Bicycle Friendly Communities. The League of American Bicyclists’ mission is to promote bicycling for fun, fitness and transportation and work through advocacy and education for a bicycle-friendly America. Greenville was granted the bronze-level Bicycle Friendly Community designation for four years and the League of American Bicyclists will provide the City with feedback on what it can do to make Greenville even more bicycle-friendly. Announcement of the Bicycle Friendly Community designation comes at an ideal time as the City plans to begin a comprehensive Bicycle Master Plan study in January 2010. The City began its Bicycle Friendly Community initiative, named Bikeville in 2006 with a City Council resolution endorsing the League of American Bicyclists Action Plan for Bicycle Friendly Communities. Bikeville is a committee of volunteers comprised of City staff, engineers, planners, retailers and advocates who collaborate on efforts to encourage and educate bicyclists, and the plan established specific goals that ranged from installing bicycle racks on all Greenlink buses to celebrating National Bike Month every May. News - Chapter News Wed, 21 Oct 2009 12:55:14 +0100 http://www.sorba.org/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=169&Itemid=2 Chattahoochee River National Recreation Area (CRNRA) would like to invite you and members of your organization to attend a public scoping meeting for an upcoming Environmental Assessment (EA) of new trail connections in three different units of the park. The meeting will be held at the following location and time: CRNRA Headquarters Hewlett Lodge Conference Room 1978 Island Ford Parkway Sandy Springs, GA 30350 Thursday, October 29, 2009 7 – 9 p.m. News - IMBA-SORBA News Wed, 21 Oct 2009 12:53:12 +0100