Cyclist kills crossing CR 127

We received word this morning that the cyclist hit by an SUV last week while crossing CR 127 on the Pumpkinvine Nature Trail has died. Here's the story:WNDU website.  Note that the article mistakenly calls CR 28 CR 128.

This road crossing is probably the most dangerous on the Pumpkinvine. Cars routinely speed over the hill north of the crossing and just as routinely bikers don't stop or slow down to look to see if cars are coming at that intersection. The speeding cars have little time to slow down if a biker happens to be crossing the road as they speed down the hill.

The Friends of the Pumpkinvine wrote and received a grant in May to place signs on the road warning motorists of a trail crossing, but problems with the county sign-making process has delayed getting the signs up. The signs have come to late for Dale Ewers, 38.

Middlebury trail construction update

The area around the DQ is now rideable, but it's not finished.

The area between U.S. 20 and Wayne St. is scheduled to be open Aug. 1. It will be fall before the seeding and planting is done in this area.

Photos of bike ride from Paul Meyer Reimer

More photos of the Pumpkinvine Bike Ride from Paul Meyer Reimer: Pumpkinvine Bike Ride

2013 Pumpkinvine bike ride photos

The photos from the bike ride are now online: 2013 Pumpkinvine Bike Ride

Pumpkinvine Bike Ride - 2000 to 2013

The ride total for 2013 is 1238.

Elkhart Truth had a nice article on the ride in today's paper.  I think the predicted rain had some impact on the day-of-ride registration. But except for he late afternoon showers, it was a cool and pleasant day.

Ten ways to observe National Trails Day, June 1, 2013

Tomorrow is National Trails Day, a designation promoted by the American Hiking Society. Here are 10 ways to show your support of trails tomorrow.

1. Walk or ride on your favorite trail.
2. Try a new one trail with a different bike.
3. If you normally walk on your favorite trail, try biking. If you normally bike, try walking. You'll see the trail at a different pace and perhaps in a new way.
4. Organize a group to ride a trail together. End up at an ice cream shop.
5. Contribute to a local trails group, e.g., Friends of the Pumpkinvine
6. Post photos of the trail on Google Earth. (The photo can't contain recognizable people.)
7. Pick up litter along a trail.
8. Join a national trails group like Rails-to-Trail Conservancy or American Hiking Society.
9. Write an email or letter of thanks to the managers of local trails. For the Pumpkinvine, that list would be:
   • Elkhart County Parks
   • Goshen Park and Recreation
   • Town of Middlebury
   • Town of Shipshewana
10. Volunteer to help with a trail event like the Pumpkinvine Bike Ride.