It may be getting nippy out there, but in Flagstaff, we all know biking is a year-round activity! Some of you may be slathering on your layers to stay spinning, while others are spinning in place and inside. Either way, FBO has some cycling news you will be interested in…

Bashas’ Shop & Give Program-Give $ to FBO by buying groceries!

Just in time for your Thanksgiving shopping trip, With Bashas’ Shop & Give, customers can shop for groceries as usual, and Bashas’ will give 1% of their shopping dollars to the local nonprofit of their choice. FBO’s number is 24120! Give this number to your cashier the next time you shop at Bashas’. FBO will automatically receive 1% of your grocery purchase amount, and that can add up for FBO!

*Double donation days!
From now until Nov. 30, Bashas’ is doubling the donation amount groups can earn with Shop & Give. MAXIMIZE your Thanksgiving shopping! Instead of the usual 1% donation, Bashas’ is giving 2% of the shopping dollars.

Do you think you’re already signed up?? Probably not!
Everyone, even if they participated last year, must link their group ID number to their Bashas’ Thank You Card beginning Sept. 1, or their purchases won’t count toward their group. So sign up TODAY!!!

Festival of Bikes-Orpheum December 13th!

Join FBO for our first annual year-end celebration, fundraiser and membership drive at the Orpheum! Help FBO and have a great time after the Festival of Lights parade! Doors open at 4pm for photos. Planned events include:

• Santa photos (on a bike, of course!) for kids AND adults! $5 donation gets you a 5×7 photo to take home! 4pm-8pm
• Beer specials from New Belgium Brewing Company
• Tiger Scare Baby (FBO Member, Perry Davidson’s, band) will rock the Orpheum starting at 8pm
• Ugly Sweater Contest! Come on…we know you’ve got some TERRIBLE holiday sweaters out there! Special prize to the winner!
• Bicycle Recycling Sale! Shop for a holiday present while supporting FBO!
• Bicycle Raffle!!

Admission to the Event is $5 per person. FBO Members are FREE!!

Welcome T.C. Eberly as FBO’s newest Board Member.

T.C. was elected to the Board in October. Find out more about him here!

Flagstaff considers a new ordinance requiring helmets on cyclists under 18 years of age.

FBO joins with Flagstaff Mayor Sara Presler in an initiative to require minors under 18 to wear helmets while biking. We can emulate other progressive communities that have successfully implemented similar laws. Besides teaching kids at an early age to bike responsibly and protect their greatest asset–their brain–getting young cyclists into the habit of wearing helmets saves lives and the compounding expense of head trauma to families and society. Help us pass this law by writing or emailing FBO a letter of support here!

Make your opinion on the County Parks count!

Coconino County is holding a meeting to review its Parks and Recreation Master Plan through the year 2019. Let them know what you want! The meeting in Flagstaff is Tuesday, December 2nd from ~2:45 – 4:45pm, at 219 E. Cherry Avenue. There will be 30 meetings within the county, check their agenda for upcoming details.

Many communities around the country and Arizona have passed similar laws (including Tucson, Yuma, Globe and others). Most by incentive programs that emphasizing rewarding those children that comply with the law, as well as with modest penalties imposed after an appropriate period of public education and encouragement.

Support the proposal to require children under 18 to wear a helmet in Flagstaff. Teaching children this simple and effective habit can save our kids, our families, and our community the pain and heartbreak of head injuries and multiplies the savings in health costs.