2013 New Years Day Ride

The most epic hang over ride in town is closing in on us. The 2013 New Year's Day Ride to Randy's Bluffton Store. Tis' the season to make our annual homage to the birthplace of our savior, Randy's Bluffton Store. We will be meeting at 10 a.m. on Tuesday January 1st,for a casual ride to Bluffton, where we will eat, drink and be merry. The ride home will be even more casual as reindeer games often ensue. Be prepared to make a whole day of it, the route home can be tricky. This is the "most funnest"

ride of the year, why not get it over on the first day of the year, so you have nothing left to look forward to for the rest of the year. What: New Years Day Ride to Randy's Bluffton Store When: Tuesday, January 1st 10 A.M. Where: Decorah Bicycles parking lot, 10 A.M. How: Any damn way you want What do I bring? Bike, Warm stuff, Money, Beer and Booze

City Street Committee Meeting tonight at 6:00 p.m. to discuss downtown bicycle parking

City Street Committee Meeting tonight at 6:00 p.m.

City Street Committee to discuss bicycle parking

Posted: Sun, Dec 9, 2012 9:23 PM

Photo courtesy of Luther College Photo Bureau

The City of Decorah's Street Committee will meet at 6:00 p.m. Monday to discuss how to handle bicycle parking in the downtown area.

Committee members have been discussing various ideas, including turning some car parking spaces into bicycle parking spaces and increasing the number of bike racks downtown.

But the main purpose of Monday night's committee meeting is to give members of the public a chance to share their ideas with city officials.  Anyone with any suggestions is being invited to the City Council Chambers at 6:00 p.m. for the committee's meeting.

Trail Work Day

This Sunday at 10:30 we will be building a beginner singletrack trail on the west end of the river trail (The Toppling Goliath side), for all you non orienteering folks. I will have the trailer and all the tools there, so all you have to do is bring yourself.

December 3, 2012 DHPT Meeting Minutes

Cooper’s Pub—The Oaks, on Monday, December 3, 2012

7:00 p.m. Call to Order

Roll Call: Pete Blodgett, Kirk Johnson, Jeff O’Gara, Jon Wilmes, Lee Hackman, Deke Gosen, Eric Sovern, Jim Tripp, Eben Tripp.

Treasurer’s Report

$2,813.34 in Judy’s Park and Rec DHPT Account

$635.03 in the checkbook

Recent Expenditures for Nov.

-$121.01                        Mower Power (repairs for chainsaw)

Minutes from the Last Meeting Motion to approve, KJ; 2^nd O’Gara; All Ayes.

Reports of Officers, and Committees

1.      Beginner Trail development (more discussion/ideas)

½ mile of new trail near the entrance of River Trail has been identified to be developed as “beginner” trail, in addition to some improvements on the far end (near Twin Bridges) to make all of the River Trail accessible for beginners.  It was also suggested to work on the short “Elevated Section” of trail that Gary Timmerman put in last year that has never been fully built.  It will move the trail a little higher away from the River’s edge… and then permanently Close the old lower trail. Work day is suggested for this Sunday at 10:30 a.m. to work this trail in.  Meet at Oneota River Cycles.

2.    Sponsor Hat distribution (status)

Some have been distributed.  Need to see where Lars is with this next time.

3.    Trail Closures (tabled last meeting)

Motion by Deke and second by J. Trip to assemble a small group of people to study the issue of trail names and routes etc.. and bring a recommendation to the group at a later date: Vols: Deke, O’Gara, Jim Tripp, Lee Hackman, Kirk Johnson.

Unfinished Business

1.     2013 Pugsley Worlds – Call to Jesse Reyerson: Date set for Saturday Feb. 23^rd, 2013.

2.     Update Blog appearance. Nothing new here…

3.     Iowa Bike Coalition Meeting Jan. 26, 2013 -- http://iowabicyclecoalition.org/events/iowa-bicycle-expo/ Nothing new here…

4.     Updated e-mail list. Nothing  new here…

5.     unspent trail dollars.

Some discussion of two projects related to water quality.  One a bridge on Public Television over the “Wash Area” that comes down from the road near the Pugsley Pit, and another a small bridge at the stream on the end of the River Trail near Twin Bridges. Other public entities would need to be involved. Tabled for later.

New Business

1.      Fred Trail and maybe a few other spots (safety)

Recommend cutting off or capping the steel posts on Fred Trail.

2.      Downtown bicycle parking-City Council

DHPT members are encouraged to attend next week’s City Council Street/parking Committee Meeting to weigh in on providing bicycle parking in the downtown area.

Meeting adjourned at around 8:30 p.m.  Next Meeting will be Monday, Jan. 7^th. Site TBA. Submitted by Kirk Johnson, recording secretary and treasurer