Show #261 – August 29, 2015

Guests: East Coast Greenway’s Eric Weis; Journalist and author Ian Dille

Last show of August also means the upcoming anniversary of The Outspoken Cyclist. Next week, we begin year #6 and it’s been quite a ride! (sorry for the bad pun) It’s difficult to even begin to thank all of you for your support. So, I’ll just say thank you and please continue to listen, offer suggestions for topics you’d like to hear, and like our Face Book page!

Let’s move on to this week’s show. My first guest is the trail program coordinator for the East Coast Greenway AND the force behind both the New England Bike-Walk Summit as well as the New England Builder’s Ball.

Eric Weis seems to wear all the hats at once and well! He fills us in on this year’s September 24th one-day Bike-Walk Summit, which will be held in Worcester, Mass. The Summit offers the 6 New England States a forum to move pedestrian and cycling issues forward with a full program including collecting data, design and engineering projects, a poster session, and off-season projects. Eric’s hope is that the Bike-Walk Summit breaks even and that some of the projects from the summit come to fruition.

We also talk about the Providence Cyclocross Festival which begins with the New England Builder’s Ball – a party celebrating the hand builders of New England including Richard Sachs, Firefly, JP Weigle, Zancanato, Bilenky, and more.

The Builder’s Ball, which takes place on Friday, October 2nd from 7-11pm at the Roger Williams Park Casino, offers a portion of its proceeds to the East Coast Greenway! There is music, food, and beer! What could be better?

After a break and our news, we head on down to Austin, Texas to talk with journalist and author Ian Dille. Ian, who is one of my favorite writers, has a new book, The Cyclist’s Bucket List – A Celebration of 75 Quintessential Cycling Experiences.

What is most interesting about this, the first of the “coffee table – gift” books of the 2015 fall season, is that it encourages you to develop your own bucket list of unusual, interesting, and fun places that are connected to cycling.

Each entry has a “Get There” side bar that helps you find your way. Great photos, great writing, and some venues you just might not have expected!