SHARE THE ROAD IN DOYLESTOWN

With its scenic roads, small-town feel, and Bike Route "S," Doylestown offers a perfect setting for cycling. To ensure a safe biking experience for all residents, DVRPC chose Doylestown as one of four area communities to launch its Share the Road Campaign. By teaming up with residents, bike clubs, and the Doylestown Bike and Hike Committee, DVRPC is reaching out to increase awareness of bicyclists' rights and responsibilities.

Over the past school year, the Share the Road program has provided materials to elementary school teachers throughout the Central Bucks School District. The materials included a video, workbooks, posters, contacts, and important teaching points for safe bicycling to support the existing bicycling curriculum.

DVRPC has teamed up with Doylestown Hospital to offer a two-day course in safe bicycling. "Streets Skills for Cyclists– Cycling with Confidence and Skill" teaches cycling skills for all levels of cyclists. Taught by a League of American Bicyclists-certified instructor, the course will feature both classroom and on-the-road instruction. The two-day course is on September 13 and 20, 2003. For more information, contact www.doylestownhospital.com/event.

Club rides abound in scenic Bucks County, especially on weekends. On club rides, stop at all stop signs and signals – resist the temptation to "follow the leader"; and show courtesy to motorists by allowing them to pass. If you're behind the wheel and encounter a group of cyclists, be courteous and patient – the delay is often minimal.

For giveaways and more information, look for the Share the Road booth at Doylestown's Oktoberfest celebration on October 3, 4 and 5, 2003.

The Share the Road program will continue in Doylestown through the end of 2003, so look for more information and programs in the coming months. And remember, bicyclists and motorists share the same rules of the road.

DOYLESTOWN SHARE THE ROAD EVENTS

The Doylestown Share the Road education campaign will continue through the Fall 2003. Some of the scheduled activities include:

Cycling 1: Streets Skills for Cyclists-- A two-day adult cycling class held at Doylestown Hospital on Sept. 13 and 20. The class was listed in the hospital's course book, noted in local bicycling newsletters, and will be featured in ads running in the Patriot and the Intelligencer for the next two weeks. Anyone interested in signing up for additional courses may do so through Doylestown Hospital at 215-345-2121.

An information booth at Oktoberfest, Oct. 3-5. If you would like to help staff the booth for a few hours any time during the festival, please contact Jenny Ruth at 215-238-2941.

Doylestown Bicycle Maps: DVRPC staff is in the process of merging Doylestown Township's and Doylestown Borough's bike maps to create a single map for the area. Maps should be available in December 2003.