News From Virginia Capital Trail Foundation

The Virginia Capital Trail Foundation is a non-profit organization with a mission to oversee completion, enhancement, and promotion of the Virginia Capital Trail into a world-class amenity.
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June 2013

Keep on Keepin' On

Here we are, almost eight years since the first groundbreaking of the Virginia Capital Trail. We have all enjoyed exploring the sections that make up the sixteen miles of completed trail, and we're excited about thirteen more currently under construction. This new portion will connect the James City County phases to the Charles City phases, creating twenty-nine beautiful, continuous miles of asphalt on which to run, walk, ride, and stroll.

All remaining portions are in the final stages of design and, with the exception of the four-mile Varina Park phase near Dorey Park in Henrico County, should be complete by fall of next year. And those last four miles are scheduled to be finished by spring of 2015. birdwatching

Even though we appear to be in the home stretch, we're not yet home free. We need to continue to tout all the benefits of this awesome amenity. Let's make sure we help V-DOT and the City of Richmond get this across the finish line without further delay. What might cause a delay? Opposition. Here are two things we've learned about opposition:

1. People need to see the Virginia Capital Trail to fully understand its impact. For example, I've watched James City County neighborhoods oppose the trail's early development for fear of crime and the expectation that it would leave an ugly scar through their community, then become fervent supporters once it was built. I've heard an elected official from a county originally opposed to the project say, after seeing the Charles City section, "I had no idea this is what you were talking about. This shouldn't be about politics, it's about quality of life." In showing a trail's true value, no statistics on crime rates or economic development potential are as effective as a field trip.

2. Let's stop calling it a bike trail. Enthusiastic trail supporters are people of all ages and athletic abilities, which gets lost when it's referred to as "that bike trail" If calling it a multi-use trail for any non-motorized activity is too cumbersome, just go with sidewalk or paved path. Suddenly, the perception is much different and more realistic. Everyone loves sidewalks, and in truth, that's what this is.

So on we go. We'll continue to advocate and push for completion. But as you'll read below, we have a public input meeting coming up on the New Market Heights phase. Let's fill the room, and talk about what a wonderful amenity the Virginia Capital Trail is. If you can't make it, make sure to find time to tell everyone, especially your local officials, how excited you are that it's so close to being done. If we're successful, we're going to have a celebration in the spring of 2015 befitting the completion of the longest and most beautiful sidewalk ever built.

Beth Weisbrod

Executive Director

VCTF

A Couple of Important Dates:

The Virginia Department of Transportation is planning an informal meeting for the New Market Heights phase on Tuesday, June 11, at the Charles City County School Board Administration building auditorium (10900 Courthouse Rd., Charles City, VA 23030) from 5 - 7 pm. Click here for directions, or email info@virginiacapitaltrail.org with questions.

The VCTF would like to thank all our Williamsburg volunteers by hosting a thank-you reception at Eco Discovery Park on June 12 from 4-6 pm. We'll have some Capital Trail Pale Ale on ice, and some good food to go with it. Let us know if you can join! Email Mandy Loy at mandy@virginiacapitaltrail.org.

The Richmond volunteer thank-you party is in the works, and we'll be in touch soon with a date and time. The location will be the same as last year, the delicious Palani Drive restaurant in the west end.

Speaking of Awesome Support

trail patrol trailer

Check out the very cool trailer that our volunteer trail patrollers are using in James City County to carry away litter and any other trail debris they might encounter. A huge thank-you to Dean Dunbar, one of our charter members of the Virginia Capital Trail Patrol group, for purchasing this. He bought this himself and donated it to the cause. Dean also repaired a broken floodlight at the Jamestown trailhead and paid for some of the patrol vests for our volunteers to wear. On behalf of our James City County trail users, thank you, Dean for your generous donations of time, expertise,
and money!

Cap2Cap ReCap

Thank you, sponsors, volunteers, and riders for another great event. We had the most registered riders ever with 2,400. And based on responses from our rider satisfaction survey sent out last week, over 95% of them had a great day. There were a lot of people working very hard to deliver a great ride, so again thank you, everyone for your time and energy.

This is an important fundraiser for the VCTF. Where does the money go?

It goes to many things, including our current project to design, fabricate and install signs and amenities all along the trail. We are in the midst of creating a master plan for 50 miles of enhancements that will add to the trail experience. We're also building a trailhead facility at Shiplock Park along Richmond's riverfront. This is the meat and potatoes of our mission, and with new sections scheduled to open, we'll be spending a lot of money over the next two years to make them great. Revenue from the Cap2Cap goes a long way to making these plans become reality.

Back to Ride Day

We were honored to have Richmond's Mayor Dwight Jones be the starter for the Richmond 50-mile route. Thank you, Mayor Jones, for supporting us.

Some random C2C rider facts for our numbers geeks:

65% were male

51% rode the half century

45% rode last year

35% visited local restaurants

31% rode the century

14% rode the 25 miler

Youngest: 7

Oldest: 113 (Really?)

Pictures!

Richmond venue photos: Thank you to Jesse Peters at Backlight Digital.

Chickahominy venue photos: Thank you to Wendy Bardrof.

Raffle Winners

(We've tried to contact each of you. Email us at mandy@virginiacapitaltrail.org and we'll get your prizes to you.)

Allen Knapp, winner of a private tour of the Governor's Mansion for 10 ($1,000 value)

Jenny Morton, winner of the Outdoor Enthusiast Package ($700 value)
Elyse Devereux, winner of the Adrenaline Rush package. ($400 value)

Liliana Abella, RVA Fun and Food weekend ($350 value)

Michele McLean, 8 tickets to the Richmond Funny Bone Club ($175 value)

Sallie Deuel, winner of a family membership to the Children's Museum ($165 value)

Mike Casey, winner of 8 diamond club seats to a Flying Squirrels Game ($450 value)

Mary Sheridan, winner of 6 weeks of X-Team Fitness boot camp plus extras ($850 value)

Garry Shoemaker, winner of a 6-month American Family Fitness membership ($600 value)

Dawn DiBenedetto, winner of a 3-month Am Family Fitness membership ($200 value)

Bill Huster, winner of a 3-month Am Family Fitness membership ($200 value)

Volunteer Raffle

Congratulations to our SAG communications volunteer Mara George, winner of a Trek cruiser.

Mara George with her sweet
new ride

Cap2Cap Jerseys

Did you have jersey envy on May 11? You can still order the Cap2Cap 2013 official ride jersey.

Email us at info@virginiacapitaltrail.org by Tuesday, June 11, if you'd like to be included in the order (jerseys are expected to arrive in August). Price: $80

Jesse Peters, Backlight Digital photography

Update on Injured Riders

Most of you know about the hit-and-run accident that befell two of our riders. They were both seriously injured, one critically, while riding the Richmond 50-mile route. Thank you to those riders who immediately assisted them. One is recovering at home, and one is still hospitalized. If you'd like to keep up with Jon Clark's healing journey, click here. We've been reading in inspired awe as he recovers from his injuries.

Bike Shop Partners

Thank you again to our bike shop partners who provided technical support throughout the routes:

Agees -- Rocketts Landing

Whitworth Cycles -- Ft. Harrison National Battlefield Park

Pibby's Bike & Skate -- Colonial Mart
Ed Jones -- Charles City Courthouse
BikeBeat -- Chickahominy Riverfront Park
Red Barn Bicycles -- Mt. Pleasant Baptist Church
REI -- Citgo, Horizon Mart

Cap2Cap Sponsors

And one more time: Thank you to the Cap2Cap 2013 sponsors! We appreciate your generous support of this growing community event.