| Dancing Bear Lodge Educates Visitors About Cycling |
 |
 |
 |
| Written by Administrator | ||||||||||
| Tuesday, 27 May 2008 20:01 | ||||||||||
 With tourism destinations around the world going green and striving to land travelers, those with outdoor activities, such as cycling, are continually gaining popularity. In fact, according to the Travel Industry Association (TIA), more than 27 million travelers took biking vacations in the past five years, and the sport is ranked as the third most popular outdoor vacation activity in America (following camping and hiking). In the Smoky Mountains of East Tennessee, cycling and cycling safety have become a focus of one of the region’s premier destinations—Dancing Bear Lodge, which provides all-inclusive vacations for guests seeking a rustic vacation basecamp for their Smoky Mountain experience, but who don’t want to leave finer amenities behind.Located in the small East Tennessee community of Townsend, a gateway to the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, Dancing Bear Lodge has seen cycling become a tourist draw, serving as a means of transportation and recreation. “More than 30 million adults in the U.S. have taken an educational trip to learn or improve a skill, sport or hobby in the past three years,” said Matt Alexander, an avid cyclist and managing partner of Dancing Bear Lodge in Townsend, Tenn. “We’ve seen that trend at Dancing Bear, as well as in our community, as the popularity of cycling has attracted an increasing number of visitors to Townsend.” With the development of Townsend’s nine mile bike trail that runs through town providing historic markers educating people about the community’s rich heritage, along with endless rural roads to ride, the cycling opportunities are abundant in the area. “Our area is also home to one of the park’s most popular trails, the Cades Cove Loop Road,” said Alexander. “Cades Cove is the most visited spot in the national park, and those who explore it by bicycle get an experience unlike those who travel the loop by car. It’s an educational and beautiful ride that visitors always enjoy.” The 11-mile Loop Road is closed to auto traffic every Saturday and Wednesday from June through August until 10 a.m. to allow cyclists to ride the loop without motorist traffic. But to Alexander, attracting cyclists to the area is more than just economic impact. More importantly, Alexander wants to use the natural attraction of cyclists to the area as an opportunity to educate both motorists and bicyclists on cycling safety. It all began with the death of local cyclist Jeff Roth who was killed while riding his bicycle on Highway 321 in Maryville in 2006. Roth’s death brought local and state cyclists together, and the Jeff Roth Cycling Foundation (JRCF) was formed to promote safe cycling and motorist education. Additionally, the Jeff Roth and Brian Brown Protection Act was passed, which states that the operator of a motor vehicle shall leave a safe distance between the motor vehicle and the bicycle of at least three feet when passing, and failure to do so is a misdemeanor. “While we mourn the tragic loss of our cyclists friends, Jeff Roth and Brian Brown, I'm pleased the General Assembly took action to enact the three-foot law in their memory. Their unfortunate loss has been turned into something positive for the protection of cyclists all across Tennessee,” said State Representative Doug Overbey of Maryville, who was the prime sponsor of the Jeff Roth and Brian Brown Bicyclist Protection Act. In order to provide visitors with a unique experience as well as educate them on cycling safety, Dancing Bear has interwoven cycling into the lodge experience. “There are routes at Dancing Bear and throughout the Townsend community that will satisfy riders of all abilities, and by following the simplest safety rules, being aware and cautious, we can all ensure a safe cycling vacation,” said Alexander. Since 1932, the first year in which estimates of pedacyclists (riders of two-wheel nonmotorized vehicles, tricycles, and unicycles powered solely by pedals) fatalities were recorded, more than 51,000 pedalcyclists have died in traffic crashes in the United States. Additionally, 95 percent of the bicyclists killed in 2006 were not wearing helmets. “We want our guests, and everyone who rides in East Tennessee, to be aware of the ‘road rules,’ and to increase awareness to motorists that they share the road with cyclists,” said Alexander, who is also a member of the JRCF board of directors. “Motorists certainly are aware when 100 plus cyclists take off from our driveway at one of our events, but for individual riders, it can be much more challenging to maneuver the roadways if they aren’t aware of the rules.” To help promote and support the education, safety, awareness and fun of cycling, the Dancing Bear Bike Bash is held in the spring and fall at the lodge. The event, which began in 2006, has since grown to nearly 130 bike enthusiasts, racers and families, all who are interested in exploring the mountains, improving their skills and having a good time in an incredible setting. “We have a unique opportunity at Dancing Bear Lodge. We have an ideal location to bring people together to enjoy the outdoors, but I knew it was also important to use this time to educate both cyclists and motorists about biking safety and to help fund the Jeff Roth Cycling Foundation,” said Alexander. The JRCF was established to promote through advocacy and education cycling as a safe and healthy form of transportation, and to provide financial assistance to families who have been touched by cycling tragedies. “Losing a loved one in a cycling accident is tragic for any family and community. In order to help other families who have been through this, but also to educate cyclists and motorists to prevent accidents, the foundation relies on organizations like Dancing Bear Lodge for assistance with funding and resources,” said Kathy Roth, Jeff Roth’s wife and president of the JRCF. “With help from our local partners, the cycling community and our visitors, the Jeff Roth Cycling Foundation can educate people on cycling safety and the 3-foot law and make a difference in our local area and across the state.” A portion of the proceeds from the Bike Bash go to the JRCF. The Bike Bash includes a guided 35-mile ride in the Foothills of the Smokies; mountain biking opportunities; 30, 50 and 60 mile road ride options; bike games and demonstrations and additional riding choices. Additionally, this year Dancing Bear will again sponsor the Jeff Roth Memorial Critirium Race July 27 in Maryville, Tenn. The race will take riders on a fast and challenging ride through downtown Maryville. The next Bicycle Bash will be held September 5-7, 2008. Weekend Dancing Bear Bicycle Bash package rates are available for lodge rooms as well as the one and two-bedroom cabins and include two nights’ lodging, Friday night reception, daily breakfast, t-shirt and the Saturday celebration. Registration for the ride is included in the package price for guests of Dancing Bear Lodge and includes Saturday’s rides as well as social pace guided ride on Friday and mountain biking on Sunday. The ride is open to local cyclists also. Registration for cyclists not staying at Dancing Bear Lodge is $50 and includes the ride, t-shirt and the post-ride party. Friends and family members of cyclists who do not wish to ride can enjoy numerous activities at Dancing Bear Lodge, including fly-fishing, spa pampering, nearby shopping and golf. The 35-acre resort, purchased by Alexander and Blackberry Farm in August 2004, is well known among frequent visitors to the Smokies who enjoy great food and wine served with genuine hospitality along with unique accommodations, including lodge rooms and cabins featuring special amenities such as hot tubs and wood-burning fireplaces. For additional information about the Dancing Bear Bicycle Bash and Dancing Bear Lodge, call (865) 448-6000 or visit www.dancingbearlodge.com or www.jeffrothcyclingfoundation.org.
3.21 Copyright (C) 2007 Alain Georgette / Copyright (C) 2006 Frantisek Hliva. All rights reserved."
|
||||||||||
| Last Updated ( Wednesday, 11 June 2008 05:20 ) | ||||||||||
|
|
