Buffalo Rising Online

Sep 26th 2008, 9:18am By queenseyes

As The City prepares to install bike racks throughout our commercial districts, a group of cyclists have been meeting to ensure that mounted bike rings will follow. Justin Booth of GO Buffalo tells me that there were 350 requests for bike rings and bike racks. Installation of 25-30 bike racks will be completed this year. The bike-friendly momentum has started, and that momentum has led to a bit of brainstorming. What happens to the parking meter poles that have been left for bike ring installation?

Since there are parking meter poles on the streets jus waiting for the bike rings, we’ve decided to host a fundraiser to install 40 rings in a timely fashion. Our first meeting (yesterday) proved to be very effective in ways that we never expected. In order to pull of this bike benefit, we needed some sponsors… quick. First, we chose Atlas Steel, the company that will fabricate the rings and fasten them to the poles. GO Buffalo is in the process of rounding up bike donations for the auction. Buffalo MicroParks has offered to run the event that will take place on October 23rd at Campieri’s 888 on Main Street (near Allen).

Also, a heavyweight sponsor has surfaced that will hopefully take the concept of ‘bike-friendly city’ to another level. Flying Bison has agreed to brew a special beer for cyclists (and supporters) in Buffalo. It is up to the fundraising committee to find 20 bars and restaurants willing to carry the craft brew – a beer that we’re calling Rusty Chain (thanks to Wayne Mag and Johnny Cash's version of Rusty Cage). Tim Herzog at Flying Bison has agreed to sell the remaining 15 or so half barrels to justify crafting and producing Rusty Chain. In the future, every time a beer-lover orders a Rusty Chain from a local establishment, he or she will be promoting biking in Buffalo (partial proceeds will go to GO Buffalo). That means that if the beer continues to sell, biking will continue to grow. We already have two bars signed up. Next week the committee will head over to Flying Bison to sample some different styles of beer – what do you think would be the most popular beer to brew?

We’re still finalizing last minute details for the October 23rd fundraiser – designing a beer tap, etc. If there are any designers out there that would like to donate a logo, we could sure use the help (plus you can come help to taste test some brews). Also, if anyone out there has any bike memorabilia that they would like to donate for the auction, plus we’re still looking for 18 additional bars and restaurants to purchase a half keg, and last but not least, if anyone out there would like to donate a bike ring to their favorite urban business ($125 fabricated and installed), please send me an email.

We’ll keep you posted on the fundraiser details. Tickets will be $20 – the first 100 people will be given an honorary membership to the Bicycle Benefit program (normally a $5 cost). The goal is to raise $5000 at the benefit. Dan Campieri has offered to put out some free gourmet pizzas, and we’re hoping to have news on the style of beer by as early as next week.