Hello! If you’re reading this, you’re hopefully one of the many people who responded to our survey to tell Bike Cochrane that your #1 issue for us to advocate is ‘Improving Connectivity in Cochrane for Wheeling and Walking’!

Today, I wanted to share with our members some of the research your Active Transportation Committee has been doing around intersections in town. See below a clip of Strava Metro’s user data for the intersection of highway 22 and Fireside/James Walker Trail. Note that Strava (a self-recorded app for phones and wearable devices to track runners, cyclists, walkers) has opened their data set to Bike Cochrane to assist us in our efforts to advocate for improvements in cycling infrastructure. It will be supplemented with our planned traffic studies this summer using old-fashioned clipboards along with bike counter sensors, but for now it’s useful as a data set to set how our cyclists and walking traffic has increased dramatically (in the case below by 78% year over year from 2019 to 2020).

This data set helped Bike Cochrane push Alberta Transportation to prioritize re-painting this and other intersections ASAP in early 2021. It is also helping inform our project prioritizations with the Town of Cochrane and other stakeholders.

If you’re interested in this kind of data, and in advocating for safer cycling connectivity in Cochrane, please reach out to Paul@bikecochrane.com, and please fill in our Active Transportation Survey

Online Membership Drive!

Memberships are now available online! Support the growth of a bike-friendly community in Cochrane by renewing or purchasing your 2021 membership.  As we work with stakeholders to develop trails and improve bicycle connectivity, one of the questions we are asked every time is how many people we represent.  If nothing else, membership in Bike Cochrane gives us a mandate to advocate on your behalf.  Online membership is here: https://bike-cochrane.square.site/#RLxBwl
 

Anybody who purchases a Bike Cochrane membership before December 15th will be entered into a free draw for one of these 7 prizes, generously donated by local businesses (thank you!).

• A jersey, hat and bottle from Big Hill Cycle

• $50 Half Hitch Gift Card

• $25 M&M Meats Gift Card

• $20 Coffee Traders Gift Card

• A bike Pump from Ride Bikes & Service

• A Beer Den gift pack including t-shirt, hat and crowler

• Fat Bike Day Rental from Bike Bros

For an extra entry, snap a screenshot of your purchase and share it on Instagram or Facebook and tag @bikecochrane. Winners will be drawn at random on December 16th and will be contacted by email. Incase you don't follow us on Instagram yet, click here: https://www.instagram.com/bikecochrane/

Check out the new Bike Cochrane Sweatshirt - Great Christmas Present (wink wink)

This cozy blue crewneck is a limited edition, available by pre-order only.  Membership + Sweatshirt bundle is available.  Order by December 1st! You can pair your sweater purchase with your Bike Cochrane Membership and receive a discount. Sweaters will be ready for pick-up by mid-December.  https://bike-cochrane.square.site/#RLxBwl

Speaker Series

Thanks to Jeremy Wadell, and our Community Engagement Committee, there will be a monthly speaker series starting up for the Winter months, only available to Bike Cochrane members.  Topics include bike fitting, sports nutrition and more. Look for  e-vites coming to your inbox – and RSVP to get a meeting link.  

Upcoming Events

Bike Cochrane will be presenting as a delegation to Cochrane Town Council in January 2021.  Let us know what is important to you.

Volunteer Positions Available

Communication Coordinator – Do you ever read these newsletters and think “Oh man, I could write better than that!”  Well, we probably agree!  Still looking for some help to ensure that the Bike Cochrane membership stays informed with regular updates of our progress and upcoming events. 

Bike Park Manager – You may have seen the fencing went up around the LaunchPad Bike Park in October.  We have had questions about whether the park can open on snow free days, and when in the spring it might be open again more regularly.  Right now, we are still looking for a volunteer who can help coordinate the management of the park.  We need an owner in this role or it will be challenging to keep the park open through changing weather.

Thank you for your continued support!
Bike Cochrane

Hey Bike Friendly folks,

We’re heading into the long weekend and hoping things stay dry enough to get out on bikes a few times with family and friends to kick off summer properly. If you are coming out to the Canada Day celebration at Mitford Park, drop by our tent and visit us. Check out our new hats!

BIKE PARK PROGRESS

This week we received notification that the downtown jump park development received approval from the Town of Cochrane. Public notification of the permitting was announced yesterday in the Cochrane Eagle and we are working through final details to close off the process by mid-July. Following our request for help with the project, we are excited that Michael Fedun and Final Cut Creations have stepped up to manage logistics. With this progress, we’re on our way to having the permission, people and plan to add the first new bike facility in Cochrane.

Fundraising continues to go well. In June we received a $5000 donation from the Cochrane Pipeline Operators committee.

HORSE CREEK SPORTS PARK

Flow Trails and Pump Track Are Coming To Cochrane.

The Town of Cochrane shared the plans for the Horse Creek Sports Park on Monday night. These plans include allocation for a trail network and pump track, as well as connecting bike trails that tie the park into Cochrane. It is going to take time, planning, and a ton of effort; however, this is a significant milestone towards the dream of great bike rides here at home. This is a big accomplishment for Bike Cochrane, and we owe thanks to everyone who came out to the Ranche House on that cold Saturday in March to support our submission to the Parks committee.   

Fathers day at the Half Hitch

With ample sunshine on the weekend, people came out to celebrate Father’s Day with Bike Cochrane at the Half Hitch. This event was well attended and we’re looking to keep this going next year!

Charity Brew

Enjoy the long weekend! If you’re having a cold one, Bike Cochrane is the Charity Beer at Half Hitch for one more day.