As some of you probably know by now, a young cyclist who happened to also be a beloved TA volunteer, James Langergaard, was struck and killed by a car at Queens Blvd. and 69th street on August 14th (if you are hearing of this sad story for the first time, you can find the full story here: http://www.streetsblog.org/2009/08/17/in-memoriam-james-langergaard/).

This Friday (October 2) there will be a special Queens Boulevard Bike Pool ride in honor of James. Please come out and join us to help send a strong message to the community that these casualties of the Blvd. will not be forgotten, and that work to prevent future tragedies is ever-increasing.

As of now, we will be meeting at the Queens side of the Queensboro Bridge for a 6:30 PM departure, as usual, on Friday, October 2nd; We ride on the service road of the Blvd. eastward towards the Queens Mall and will stop for a tribute to James at the site of his accident.

Please save the date and make this ride a priority if you can. It is a short, slow ride and every rider's presence will have a significant impact.

Hey all - don't forget this Friday, July 10th is the next monthly Bike pool ride down Queens Blvd.

Here is Streetfilms' excellent video on May's ride for Bike Month.

Join us at the off ramp of the Queensboro Bridge (Queens Plaza North and Crescent Street).

We depart at 6:30 PM.

You will get an Orange safety vest to wear for the ride.

We go slow and safe.

We'll end at Asif Rahman's Ghost Bike at 55th Road, by the Queens Mall (although you are welcome to turn in your vest and split off whenever and wherever you would like).

If anyone would like to grab eats or a drink afterward, it's open to group discussion!

We're in the best riding weather of the year so don't miss it!

Here is Streetfilms' excellent video on May's ride for Bike Month.

EVERY SECOND FRIDAY OF THE MONTH!

Streetfilms just posted a video of last month's ride: http://www.streetfilms.org/archives/queens-blvd-bike-pool/

This ride is a slow, easy ride that occurs every second Friday of the month. It is a group ride at easy pace, with all riders wearing orange "Share the Road" vests (provided for the ride), heading eastward down the south service road of Queens Boulevard. It was started following the tragic death of Asif Rahman, who was killed while riding on Queens Boulevard in February 2008.

The ride meets at the Queens end of the 59th street bridge. We leave at 6:30 PM and the ride usually lasts no longer than one hour. Again, we ride slowly, for a show of presence to motorists, pedestrians, local merchants and other cyclists, who we welcome to join us. We observe all lights and other traffic rules. Please bring your front and rear lights if you have them (and you should!)

The ride ends in a different spot each month; this month (Friday June 12) we are planning to turn right at the Queens Mall and go for Burgers at Five Guys in Glendale. If you would like to join us for dinner, please remember your bike lock!

For more info, go to: http://www.transalt.org/takeaction/actioncenter/3231