SavageLlama
06-10-2005, 14:20
Free bikes for hikers to use - Now this is a great idea!
Town is about to get 'hiker friendly' with bikes
By Jennifer Huberdeau
Bennington Banner
June 10, 2005
BENNINGTON -- Bright yellow bicycles will soon be a prominent feature along the streets in an effort spurred by local businesses to make Bennington more accessible to hikers.
"We're just starting to distribute them now, but hopefully they will all be available within the next couple of weeks. They will all be bright yellow, all free of charge [for people to use]," Steve Hinchliffe, owner of Nature's Closet. "We call them hiker's bikes, but they'll also be available to the community."
Use of the bikes will be provided free of charge to anyone over the age of 18. Users will be required to sign the bikes out and return them to the business from which they were originally borrowed.
"In Bennington we're right off the Appalachian Trail and that's a pretty big deal and a pretty big asset for the town. We've never really, as a town, taken advantage of that," Hinchliffe said. "The bike program is really designed towards them because they are walking 2,000 miles. It takes six months to get from Georgia to Maine and we're about the 1,500th mile on their journey."
Initially 15 bikes will be available at businesses in the downtown area. Bike racks, supplied by the Better Bennington Corp. and the town of Bennington, will also be available.
"I think it will be nice to see Bennington become a little more biker friendly," said Renny Beal, owner of Isabella's Eatery. "I'd also like to see more trails and bike lanes in the area."
A new shuttle service from the Appalachian Trail and Long Trail head began on June 1. The hike from the trail head into Bennington is about five miles.
"We're running the shuttle twice a day from Nature's Closet. One at 6 p.m. and one at 9:30 p.m.," Hinchliffe said.
"The hike from Route 9 to Kelly Stand is the longest roadless stretch of the trail. It's an 18 mile hike," said Brendan McKenna of Nature's Closet.
Said Robin Andrews owner of South Street Cafe: "We have a bike. We already have a fair amount of hikers that come in and drop off their back packs."
In addition to providing mobility to the hikers, information sheets with critical resources, such as directions to the post office, shopping centers and the recreational center will also be available for hikers.
Hinchliffe said all of the bikes are second hand and were either bought or donated.
"We bought quite a few at the Salvation Army," he said.
Peter Hall from Highland Bike Shop and Faith Rhodes of Roads and Trails bike shop lent the services of their businesses, repairing the bikes. Both shops also have the yellow bikes on hand.
"Dan and I always say when the kids grow up we're going to hike the Appalachian Trail. I hope that when we stop in a city, they'll be bikes for us to ride," Rhodes said.
There will be free dinner for hikers, catered by the Rattlesnake Cafe, in July.
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Town is about to get 'hiker friendly' with bikes
By Jennifer Huberdeau
Bennington Banner
June 10, 2005
BENNINGTON -- Bright yellow bicycles will soon be a prominent feature along the streets in an effort spurred by local businesses to make Bennington more accessible to hikers.
"We're just starting to distribute them now, but hopefully they will all be available within the next couple of weeks. They will all be bright yellow, all free of charge [for people to use]," Steve Hinchliffe, owner of Nature's Closet. "We call them hiker's bikes, but they'll also be available to the community."
Use of the bikes will be provided free of charge to anyone over the age of 18. Users will be required to sign the bikes out and return them to the business from which they were originally borrowed.
"In Bennington we're right off the Appalachian Trail and that's a pretty big deal and a pretty big asset for the town. We've never really, as a town, taken advantage of that," Hinchliffe said. "The bike program is really designed towards them because they are walking 2,000 miles. It takes six months to get from Georgia to Maine and we're about the 1,500th mile on their journey."
Initially 15 bikes will be available at businesses in the downtown area. Bike racks, supplied by the Better Bennington Corp. and the town of Bennington, will also be available.
"I think it will be nice to see Bennington become a little more biker friendly," said Renny Beal, owner of Isabella's Eatery. "I'd also like to see more trails and bike lanes in the area."
A new shuttle service from the Appalachian Trail and Long Trail head began on June 1. The hike from the trail head into Bennington is about five miles.
"We're running the shuttle twice a day from Nature's Closet. One at 6 p.m. and one at 9:30 p.m.," Hinchliffe said.
"The hike from Route 9 to Kelly Stand is the longest roadless stretch of the trail. It's an 18 mile hike," said Brendan McKenna of Nature's Closet.
Said Robin Andrews owner of South Street Cafe: "We have a bike. We already have a fair amount of hikers that come in and drop off their back packs."
In addition to providing mobility to the hikers, information sheets with critical resources, such as directions to the post office, shopping centers and the recreational center will also be available for hikers.
Hinchliffe said all of the bikes are second hand and were either bought or donated.
"We bought quite a few at the Salvation Army," he said.
Peter Hall from Highland Bike Shop and Faith Rhodes of Roads and Trails bike shop lent the services of their businesses, repairing the bikes. Both shops also have the yellow bikes on hand.
"Dan and I always say when the kids grow up we're going to hike the Appalachian Trail. I hope that when we stop in a city, they'll be bikes for us to ride," Rhodes said.
There will be free dinner for hikers, catered by the Rattlesnake Cafe, in July.
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