Bicycle advisory panel formed

By Ken Paxson, 

Dayton Daily News

November 15, 2001 -- Xenia -- Hoping to help other communities connect and build bikeways similar to those in Greene County, the director of the Greene County Park District has joined forces with Bike Miami Valley.

Tim Leiwig, who has served as park district director for the last four years, has accepted a position on the newly created Bike Miami Valley advisory council.

"Quite frankly, our bike trail system is something the community should be proud of," Leiwig said. "We've been a leader in the trail system being developed and we want to continue to do that.

"We're trying to be the contact for trails throughout Greene County, and we've already identified areas that need to be developed. It just comes down to dollars and cents."

Dollars and cents are one of the things Bike Miami Valley and executive director Gary Boulanger will put on the agenda during advisory council meetings.

Boulanger has arranged for Leiwig and community leaders from throughout the Miami Valley to serve on the council.

"We need to build a relationship in the business community," Boulanger said. "The advisory council will help us get back in touch with the corporate world and provide outreach.

"Our goal is to raise the profile of Bike Miami Valley and advocate biking through the council. I can say that our first meeting reminded me of my wedding. Everyone got together, met for the first time and jelled wonderfully."

Bike Miami Valley, which is a nonprofit organization, relies on grants, corporate contributions and individual donations to operate, and helps cities and counties plan and map out their strategies for bikeways.

"We're at the point now where we're looking to increase bike trails 65 percent in the next five years," Boulanger said. "It's really expanding and the epicenters are RiverScape (in downtown Dayton) and Xenia Station.

"The biggest growth period has really come in the last five years."

Boulanger says there are about 200 miles of trails in the Miami Valley, with Montgomery and Greene counties accounting for about 60 miles apiece.

"The council will be looking at what needs to be done to get issues on the table and out to the general public so things can move forward," Leiwig said. "We want to provide recreation opportunities and the opportunity for individuals to bike to and from work.

"That's part of the key."

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Bike Miami Valley Advisory Council Objective: Get in touch with the business community, discuss issues and advocate use and expansion of bike trails in the Miami Valley.

MEMBERS

Tim Leiwig, director of Greene County Parks

Jeff Boudouris, director of budgeting and planning for Sinclair Community College

Timothy Gocha, senior pastor of Parkview Church of the Nazarene in Kettering

Raymond Keyton, executive director of the Miami Valley AAA

Alan Koehler, Dayton attorney

John Moore, assistant fire chief for the city of Dayton

James Nunez, vice president of Westminster Financial in Vandalia

Maureen Patterson, vice president of membership services for the Dayton Area Chamber of Commerce

Grant Petersen, owner of Rivendell Bicycle Works in Walnut Creek, Calif.

Arthur Porter, publisher of the Dayton Business Journal

David Schmitz, vice president of commercial banking at Provident Bank in Dayton

Lee Whitney, former partner of Baldwin & Whitney Insurance in Dayton

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