Contact: Peggy Holland 
Phone: (336) 373-2921

City of Greensboro Launches
Bicycle Safety Awareness Campaign

GREENSBORO, NC – (October 1, 2007) – Starting Tuesday, October 2, the City of Greensboro Department of Transportation (GDOT) will recognize the month of October as Bicycle Safety Awareness Month. The City will spend the next 30 days publicizing practices and benefits of bicycle safety both from the viewpoint of the cyclist and the motorist.

The month-long events' calendar begins with an unveiling of a bicycle safety billboard campaign.  Billboards feature the new website www.gsosharestheroad.org, offering useful bicycle safety information and tips. Scheduled to speak at the billboard unveiling are Greensboro Mayor Keith Holliday, GDOT Director Jim Westmoreland, and North Carolina Bicycle Committee member Hanna Cockburn. Joining the officials is WFMY News 2 Sports Director Greg Kerr, who is also an avid cyclist in the Greensboro area. 

During the unveiling, Mayor Holliday will issue a proclamation declaring October as Bicycle Safety Awareness Month. The unveiling and proclamation will take place at 8:30 am at Fairway Outdoor Advertising of the Triad, 1920 W. Lee St. 
 
Throughout the month, topics to be covered during the bicycle safety awareness campaign include:

• Bicycle and Motorist Safety Tips – Live coverage on WFMY News 2’s Good Morning Show on Monday, October 8, will offer bicycle safety tips for cyclists and motorists and interactive safety demonstrations with Greensboro Police Department.
• Cycling Etiquette – Courtesy from cyclists and motorists on Greensboro’s shared roadways will be emphasized.
• Safety Basics for Cyclists – Coverage on WFMY News 2 will target safety basics for the cyclist such as choosing the correct helmet, and laws and restrictions related to cycling.
• Where to Cycle in Greensboro – A look at the best areas to take your two-wheeler on- and off-road. Instruction will be provided for reading new Greensboro bicycle route maps that are available free of charge through local bicycle retailers, Greensboro's Department of Parks and Recreation, and the City of Greensboro.

“With the growth in motor vehicle traffic as well as recreational and commuter cyclists, there is a growing need to understand their respective roles on our roadways,” says Peggy Holland, bicycle planner for the City of Greensboro. “This campaign will help to bridge the divide between motorists and cyclists, both of which have rightful use of our roadways. Through mutual education, we can work towards creating harmony between the two groups and enhance safety for all.” 

Throughout the campaign, the public is encouraged to submit questions regarding bicycling on the website www.gsosharestheroad.org and enter four weekly drawings for great prizes including a new bicycle.

Partners in the October Bicycle Safety Campaign include Friendly Bike, Higgins Cycle Shop, Paceline Bicycles, Recycles Bicycle Shop, Fairway Outdoor Advertising of the Triad, and WFMY News 2.  Associate partners include City Motors Mazda-Jeep, Flow Lexus of Greensboro, and Rice Toyota.

GDOT seeks to increase public safety and mobility through the effective planning and delivery of transportation services and operation of municipal transit. For more information about GDOT, call (336) 373-GDOT (4368) or visit www.greensboro-nc.gov/gdot.

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About the City of Greensboro: The City works with the community to improve the quality of life for residents through inclusion, diversity, and trust. As the seventh largest employer in Greensboro, the City has a professional staff of 2,800 employees who maintain the values of honesty, integrity, stewardship, and respect. The City is governed by a council-manager form of government with a mayor and eight council members.  For more information on the City, visit www.greensboro-nc.gov or call 373-CITY (2489).