Firefly Trail Ticket to Ride, March 21
March 11, 2015
Dear Elected Officials,
We would cordially like to invite you to the 4th Annual Firefly Trail Ticket to Ride, a bicycle event and educational fair on Saturday, March 21st, to raise funds and awareness for creation of the Firefly Trail. We are pleased this year to have Athens-Clarke County Mayor Nancy Denson to send the riders off! We are sure that 2015 will prove to be our most exciting year to date as Athens-Clarke County plans to begin construction from East Broad Street almost to the Athens Loop. When complete, this segment of the trail will be 14 feet wide and will include two bridges - the first, spanning Wilkerson Street and the North Oconee River, and the second carrying the trail over Peter Street. The ACC SPLOST team is in negotiations with CSX to purchase even more abandoned right-of-way and get the trail to the other side of the Loop.
As you know, the Firefly Trail is a proposed 39-mile rail-trail from Athens to Union Point, roughly following the route of the historic Athens Branch of the Georgia Railroad. Based on participation at our three previous events, we expect up to 250 bicyclists will ride in support of the rail-trail and the opportunities it will provide to enhance economic development, health, recreation, transportation, and historic preservation in our communities.
This non-competitive event includes options for riders of a wide range of abilities, from 16 miles round-trip to the full 84 miles from Athens to Union Point and back. It will begin and end at the new Jittery Joe’s Roaster at 425 Barber Street, Athens. Registration will open at 7:30 a.m. with the ride starting at 9 a.m. and the route support closing at 4:30 pm. We will have rest stops along the route that will provide excellent opportunities for you to interact with riders and volunteers. We would be honored if you would join us at any location and time that is convenient for you. We expect peak times will be as follows:
• Athens – 8:00-9:00 a.m.
• Winterville Depot – 9:30-11:00 a.m.
• Crawford – Almar Self Storage, 154 S. Broad St.,10:00 -11:30 a.m. (The depot is undergoing renovations)
• Maxeys City Hall – 10:30-11:30 a.m.
• Historic Union Point Theater – 11:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m.
We will also host a celebration for returning riders, starting at 12 noon at the Roaster.
Thank you for all you do in support of the Firefly Trail and the great communities it will serve. Along with the Board of our non-profit organization, Firefly Trail, Inc., I look forward to seeing you at the Ticket to Ride on March 21.
With best wishes,
John Stephens, Maxeys, Ga.
Member and Past President, Firefly Trail, Inc.
Dear Elected Officials,
We would cordially like to invite you to the 4th Annual Firefly Trail Ticket to Ride, a bicycle event and educational fair on Saturday, March 21st, to raise funds and awareness for creation of the Firefly Trail. We are pleased this year to have Athens-Clarke County Mayor Nancy Denson to send the riders off! We are sure that 2015 will prove to be our most exciting year to date as Athens-Clarke County plans to begin construction from East Broad Street almost to the Athens Loop. When complete, this segment of the trail will be 14 feet wide and will include two bridges - the first, spanning Wilkerson Street and the North Oconee River, and the second carrying the trail over Peter Street. The ACC SPLOST team is in negotiations with CSX to purchase even more abandoned right-of-way and get the trail to the other side of the Loop.
As you know, the Firefly Trail is a proposed 39-mile rail-trail from Athens to Union Point, roughly following the route of the historic Athens Branch of the Georgia Railroad. Based on participation at our three previous events, we expect up to 250 bicyclists will ride in support of the rail-trail and the opportunities it will provide to enhance economic development, health, recreation, transportation, and historic preservation in our communities.
This non-competitive event includes options for riders of a wide range of abilities, from 16 miles round-trip to the full 84 miles from Athens to Union Point and back. It will begin and end at the new Jittery Joe’s Roaster at 425 Barber Street, Athens. Registration will open at 7:30 a.m. with the ride starting at 9 a.m. and the route support closing at 4:30 pm. We will have rest stops along the route that will provide excellent opportunities for you to interact with riders and volunteers. We would be honored if you would join us at any location and time that is convenient for you. We expect peak times will be as follows:
• Athens – 8:00-9:00 a.m.
• Winterville Depot – 9:30-11:00 a.m.
• Crawford – Almar Self Storage, 154 S. Broad St.,10:00 -11:30 a.m. (The depot is undergoing renovations)
• Maxeys City Hall – 10:30-11:30 a.m.
• Historic Union Point Theater – 11:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m.
We will also host a celebration for returning riders, starting at 12 noon at the Roaster.
Thank you for all you do in support of the Firefly Trail and the great communities it will serve. Along with the Board of our non-profit organization, Firefly Trail, Inc., I look forward to seeing you at the Ticket to Ride on March 21.
With best wishes,
John Stephens, Maxeys, Ga.
Member and Past President, Firefly Trail, Inc.