2019: BIC is On a Roll
The year just past was a great one for Bicyclists of Iowa City (BIC). Sure, the weather cut into some biking time last spring. Yet many of our 400 members made up for lost time the rest of the season—helped along by our array of approximately 125 organized rides in and around Iowa City/Coralville/North Liberty throughout the year.
Some highlights of BIC activities and achievements in 2019:
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Our more than 125 organized events served a cumulative 1,500 riders
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BIC’s RAGBRAI charter drew 170 riders
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BIC’s two weekend trips drew around 50 riders
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Our Cruise with the Candidates event Sept. 26 attracted 18 riders
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BIC volunteers help with community events, including the Old Capitol Criterium and the Jingle Cross, each of which drew 40 volunteers
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BIC co-sponsored the 15th annual Courage Ride in August to benefit the University of Iowa’s Sarcoma Research Program (100 riders), the Rotary Bike Ride Fundraiser in June to benefit completion of the TAKO (Take a Kid Outdoors) / Rotary Shelter and World Bicycle Relief (50 riders), and helped with 15 bike rodeos in the community, helping to show the next generation the benefits of bicycling (800 participants)
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Bike Month events included the following:
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Bike Shop Hop (30 riders)
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University Kick-Off (75 participants)
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Move Naturally to the Market (600 participants)
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Trueblood 100 (30 riders)
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Bike to the Bookmobile (50 riders)
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Providing Ride With GPS is now a complimentary part of your membership fee.
BIC participation in the Iowa City community and beyond extends to monetary support of worthy community projects, activities, and advocacy organizations. In 2019, with board approval, BIC donated to the following organizations:
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Iowa City Community School District (ICCSD) Bike Education: $1,000
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Iowa City Bike Library: $500
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Iowa Bicycle Coalition: $500
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Neighborhood Centers of Johnson County Youth Off-Road Riders Cycling Program (YORR): $500
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The Bike Ministry, founded by BIC member Gordon Doak in 2005 as part of the Children and Youth Ministry at First United Methodist Church in North Liberty, $500
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League of American Bicyclists, which promotes cycling for fun, fitness and transportation through advocacy and education: $100. Bob Oppliger attended the League of American Bicyclists conference.
Additionally, in 2019, BIC received more than $4,500 in contributions and in-kind donations from area businesses and biking supporters to support our education and advocacy activities. Some of these contributions enabled BIC to donate about 140 helmets to low-income kids.
Looking forward to 2020, BIC will continue to deliver value for your membership, enhanced by our new status as a 501(c)3 organization, which means we are officially a non-profit, tax-exempt organization. Our new status makes it easier for us to solicit and accept charitable contributions.
Renewing your membership is easy, using our website (www.bicyclistsofiowacity.org). The Club Express software at our website helps us organize the processes and information needed for membership, news, and ride activities. Should you encounter difficulties renewing your membership, please contact Ken Wall (kenw@hawkinswealth.com)
In addition to providing access with Ride with GPS (which makes it easy to map, analyze, record, and share your bike rides), club membership in BIC offers additional insurance while participating in BIC group rides. (That is why we ask participants to fill in some information ona a sign-up sheet at the beginning of each group ride.) BIC group rides on Iowa scenic roads and parkways offer multiple benefits, including the following:
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Enhanced safety
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Maps posted ahead of time, and linked to the navigation features in Ride with GPS
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Routes and times based around local events, celebrations, and special bike-related programs
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Varying departure points that allow us to see more of our part of Iowa
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The camaraderie of friendly, like-minded people who love exploring Eastern Iowa by bicycle
Membership in BIC means a bounty of great rides and club events coming up this year, including our growing Tuesday Two Wheelers rides, our energetic Wednesday Night Social Rides, our Thursday Night Leisure Rides, and our Saturday Tours Series. We’ll kick off our 2020 season with a potluck gathering (and a ride) Sunday, April 26, at North Ridge Park Pavillion, 2250 Holiday Road, Coralville (watch our website, https://bic.clubexpress.com , for details). Also, don’t forget our annual Thank Goodness it’s Spring (TGIS), this year headed from Marengo to Toledo, and scheduled later in the month for the possibility of warmer weather and to give participants more time to get in shape. The new date is Saturday-Sunday, May 30-31.
Plus, look for a new, improved departure location for the annual BIC RAGBRAI charter. Our use of a lot at Pearson, 2510 N. Dodge St, will provide more convenient parking for those who leave their cars in Iowa City for the week, and a quicker route to and from I-80.
BIC—on a roll in 2019 and into the 2020s!