Nick Hein is a new club member, having moved to Morgantown from Seattle in 2003. Since then he’s been an active commuting, transportation and recreational rider. In addition he’s been the spark for several new biking programs that have energized the cycling community. Positive Spin is one of these programs.
Nick Hein and several friends decided In August 2005 to set up a new organization with the purpose of inspiring the Morgantown community to develop transportation that respects its natural environment without sacrificing mobility. They named this organization “Positive Spin.” Less than a week later Hurricane Katrina hit the Gulf Coast and within a few days it became clear that transportation infrastructure had been seriously impaired and most residents had lost everything. Since bikes require little infrastructure the group’s founders decided to find ways to collect repairable bikes from garages and basements and get them to hurricane coast residents.
In September Morgantown-Cares (a charity collecting relief supplies at the Morgantown Armory) invited Positive Spin to share their space and about 200 bikes were collected within a few weeks. Some 65 were repaired immediately and shipped on a semi to Feed the Children’s distribution centers in the devastated region. The following week events and funds came together to take 85 more bikes directly to “Plan B” – a community bike shop in the French Quarter of New Orleans. At 3 pm on October 21 after driving a U-haul all night to get there John Lozier and Nick Hein helped unload the bikes, get them in running condition and distribute them to area citizens and relief workers. Within an hour they had fixed and given away the first Morgantown bike.
Nick notes, “Other similar groups from around the country have contributed thousands of bikes to the region and the results have been visible. In particular we thank Working Bikes of Chicago who gave us a grant that made our trip possible and FreeRide of Pittsburgh who donated 35 bikes to go with our shipment. A friend returning from the area at the time described how bikes are the primary transportation in New Orleans. Public transit and private autos continue to be impeded by the slow recovery, but bikes can get citizens anywhere they need to go. New Orleans’ current population is close to that of Morgantown but its mild weather, flat terrain and empty roads make it especially bike-friendly to cyclists.”
After fixing and distributing 50 Christmas bikes to Morgantown-area charities, another 100 bikes are nearly ready to go to Biloxi, Mississippi where the hurricane came ashore. Nick confirms, “It’s cities were so devastated that residents are just beginning to return, and bikes will provide them basic transportation while they rebuild their lives and homes.” He adds, “ Positive Spin’s next project will be to engage our own area youth – teaching them bike/pedestrian skills and positive alternatives to our current transportation choices. We invite you to join our members and volunteers in this mission and learn how to create bright transportation futures.” Nick and Positive Spin can be reached at www.positivespin.org or (304) 599-1791.
In 1987 Martin Krieg suffered massive head injuries in a near-fatal auto accident. His recovery gave him time to reflect on his priorities and decide what he would do with his life when he got back to normal (which doctors didn’t consider possible). To inspire his recovery he set himself the goal of riding across America from coast to coast. He did it – twice – and then set a goal of making it possible for anyone of any age and cycling ability. The National Bicycle Greenway was born, and with it the annual NBG Mayors’ Ride Relay. Two years ago Nick joined the ride for the first time, and last year successfully campaigned to make Morgantown an NBG city with its own NBG day and mayor’s proclamation.
This year Nick is again looking for riders to join him, on either the 7-day, 400-mile DC-Pittsburgh leg (C&O trail and Great Allegheny Passage) or the one-day 70-mile Morgantown-Pittsburgh leg. The rides start May 12th and 19th respectively. The Mayors’ Ride Relay is a self-supported tour - riders will be given route, food and lodging guidance -but are responsible for their own final arrangements. Each major city will have a ceremony with the mayor proclaiming that city’s commitment to connect its existing and developing bike routes with those of neighboring cities to form one bike-friendly corridor from Washington DC to San Francisco (branch lines like Morgantown’s are forming to connect to this trunk line). The ceremonies will be covered by local media and the NBG website (bikeroute.com) and give Morgantown positive national exposure with a cycling spin.
To join up visit the MonNBG website