My name is Bob Fisch and I am the Chief Bike Fun Officer of Poky Pedaling Stevens Point.
Tonight, I would like to give you an update on Poky Pedaling Stevens Point. 2014 is the third year of these slow themed urban rides.
On some rides, we visit notable locations where I speak about important people and events in Stevens Point’s history. On other rides, I choose a route on uncommonly chosen neighborhood streets to show off our scenic city. And on other rides, we visit parks, museums and other destinations to expose residents to the resources our leaders past and present have provided us.
In short, Poky Pedaling Stevens Point builds community and instills pride in our city.
I want to clarify that I realize no financial benefit from these efforts. My Poky Pedals are all free, and I accept no advertising on my website. I don’t get paid to write my blog posts or to speak to you about bicycling. I have no financial stake in any bicycle oriented business.
I simply believe that encouraging more people to ride bicycles more often creates a better city. This is my motivation.
Last year had 10 Poky Pedals averaging 13 Poky Pedalers. We had 20 Poky Pedalers three times. My main demographic is between 45 and 65 years old equally split between men and women. I have had children under 10 and adults over 80 share Bike Fun with us.
Poky Pedalers do not dress up in lycra to ride fast for long distances on fancy bikes. Poky Pedalers are ordinary people in ordinary clothes riding ordinary bicycles going to ordinary places. And they form the vast majority of people who ride bicycles.
When I speak to you about making bicycling better in Stevens Point, Poky Pedalers are the people who will benefit. Regular non-athletic folks who look just like you and who like using bicycles to get around our city.
The 2014 Bike Fun Calendar will add 4 more Poky Pedals for a total of 14 through October. I have copies available to hand out tonight. The first Poky Pedal took place last week and attracted a record 33 Poky Pedalers. My efforts are obviously getting noticed.
I invite each of our alderpersons to participate on one or more Poky Pedals this year. In doing so, you will gain a better understanding of both the good and bad aspects of bicycling for transportation around Stevens Point.
Let me call your attention to one Poky Pedal in particular. On August 23, the Bike/Ped Plan Vision Ride will give you an opportunity to visit places in Stevens Point where the Portage County Bicycle and Pedestrian Plan recommends biking and walking accommodations. This will be an excellent opportunity to learn about the scope of this plan for Stevens Point.
In closing, I hope you will visit my website, PokyPedalingStevensPoint.org, and learn more. While you are there, you can find transcripts of these and all my past comments to Common Council under the Speak Your Poky menu to read at your leisure.
Thank you for listening.
Poky Pedaling Stevens Point 