American Public Television
Cycling Charity Events
Pedal America aims to make a difference. To have your charitable event posted on our site, go to our charitable cycling events page to make an informal request.
Safe Routes To School
Pedal America supports Safe Routes To School. Click here to learn if you live in a Safe Routes neighborhood. Let us know at comments@pedalamerica.tv so we can list you on the website and maybe give your neighborhood an on-air shout-out.
Pedal America Jersey
Purchase your own Pedal America-Voler cycling jersey made right here in the U.S.A. Ride with pride!
Pedal America donates a percentage of its net proceeds to the League of American Bicyclists. The nonprofit organization works to ensure that federal budgets include dedicated funds for bicycle pathways. So get your jersey and then " Get out there and Pedal America!"
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Ira David’s Pedal America Blog
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Strengthening Communities: One Episode At A Time
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Two weeks ago when attending the Tampa Bike Bash with my producing team, Susan and Stephanie, I had the honor of touching base with Michelle Calonge, who appeared in our Tampa episode. She's the one who shared her story about being diagnosed with a fatal disease and how bicycling with the Seminole Heights Bicycle Club has helped to sustain health. But it did more than that. It helped to rally a sense of community....And that is what makes it all worthwhile to me! Knowing that Pedal America is making a difference in people's lives and that I'm educating millions in how recreational bicycling strengthens communities has made this TV series more than I could have ever imagined. How do I do this? Simple! I share stories about how recreational bicycle travel has changed lives. Because when one life changes, others around that person also change. I've always believed in the strength of people and the positive impact we can each have on our respective communities.
Help me to bring more people’s stories and their communities to public television so I can continue to bring terrific travel ideas and helpful bicycle tips to the millions of Americans who seek inspiration. My dad taught me something that I've always carried with me: That's it's okay to ask for help; and that the more you help others, the more help you receive in return. Our Dec 16th deadline is fast approaching and I can really use your help!
Please support and encourage others to support Pedal America today! Cheers, Ira David
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Ira David on MAP-21 -- The New Federal Transportation Bill
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The response to a new survey on our FB page indicates many viewers would like to see more news articles about cycling. We can certainly do that, as the Pedal America team does more than just produce television and attend events to meet with our fans.
Behind the scenes, I do spend time advocating for improved bike lanes and infrastructure so that when you go out to ride, you have a safe place to do it. Each March I attend the National Bicycle Summit in Wash., D.C. to learn from advocates and visit with members of Congress to ensure they work to commit federal funds for more bicycle infrastructure. One of the most important developments this year is the federal transportation bill MAP-21 Moving Ahead for Progress in the 21st Century. The law basically gives more power to the states for deciding how to spend your tax dollars for transportation, including bicycle infrastructure and programs. I won’t weigh you down with details here. If you want to learn more on your own, click here, visit the League of American Bicyclists or talk to your local bicycle club leaders or bike shop.
In front of the camera I tend to steer clear of politics because that's not what Pedal America is about. We showcase cycling as fun, attainable, and a great way to enjoy the great outdoors with your friends and family. I do try to tell the stories of what makes communities and tourism destinations more bicycle-friendly. I feel it’s an important component to our story telling so you can learn the safest and most interesting places to enjoy when planning that next trip -- even if you have no intention of riding bikes at all. Yep, not all of our fans ride and that’s fine with me!
Just know that Pedal America is more than just a TV show. We care about travel, we love our bikes, and part of that passion means exercising a little political muscle during our down time to ensure fun, safe places for y'all to enjoy!
Did I say that right, "Youall?" "Yall?" Hmm, check our Savannah episode.
Ira David
Speaking of down-time activity, here our Sound Mixer, Wil Masisak, takes time for his daily dose of Espresso between shooting scenes in Savannah.
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Pedal America Joins Create® TV!
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Producing a new television series takes a tremendous effort and watching our viewers respond with questions and ideas makes the effort all worthwhile. The series is about you, the viewer. It’s about educating, entertaining, and treating you to new places and ways of exploring your own backyards.
I’m thrilled to share that starting August 15th even more viewers can enjoy Pedal America®. Please let your friends and family members know that their local PBS Create® TV stations will broadcast the series on Wednesday and Sunday mornings at 9:30 a.m. (EST) with re-broadcasts on Wednesday afternoons. Check local listings.
Continue to send us your ideas and comments and we’ll do our best to give you shout-outs on our show, website, and Facebook pages.
Visit our booth space at these up-coming events:
RAGBRAI; Souix City, Iowa (July 21)
Providence Bridge Pedal; Portland, Oregon (August 12)
MS 150 Ride; New Bern, North Carolina (September 8-9)
Bicycle Bash; Tampa, Florida (November 4)
Signed With Helmet Love,
Ira David
Here are just a few of Pedal America's team members who help to bring you the best programing possible. We'll continue to keep working on your behalf. Visit us at events to "hi" and win one of these fantastic Subaru-Pedal America jerseys.
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Alive and Well!
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A huge "thank you" to those who wrote in this week asking if Pedal America had been canceled. I'm trilled to report that the series is alive and well!
June is typically "pledge drive" month for many PBS and Public TV stations. During this time, many stations interrupt regular programming. Check local listings each week and soon enough you will see Pedal America back in the schedule, picked up from where it left off – you won't miss a single episode.
In fact, we have 86% of Public TV's total household reach, including PBS Create. Tonight, Friday, we begin to broadcast on WNYE-TV, Ch 25, at 8:30 p.m. and on Saturday at 11:30 a.m.
As a treat, here are a few behind-the-scenes pics from Season One. Enjoy!
--Ira David
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| The crew prepares our production bike for shooting along the Pinellas County Trail in St. Petersburg, FL while I'm off to the side enjoying lunch. Just kidding! I was actually warming up on my own bike after having thrown my back out the day before while lifting this very production bike onto the roof of our production vehicle. The steel production bike is fitted with at least 20 pounds of camera mounts and cameras. |
In Napa Valley, our Director of Photography sets up a scene wearing our team mascot watermelon helmet. We took out all the pits so they would not stick to his hair.
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In Sedona, our Videographer, Andrew Friend, expresses to our newest intern that it's not appropriate to sleep on the job. |
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Thank You to All Viewers!
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I'd like to thank all our viewers for a strong showing during our first two broadcast weeks. Lot's more wonderful episodes to come.
We proudly stand behind our efforts to both showcase and make cycling fun, accessible, safe, and attainable for all. But really, it's communities and people that make the big difference. We salute the bike community in Tampa, FL and the work they do to enhance bike safety and accessibility; and hope you enjoy our Tampa episode when it airs later in the series. Here's a link that looks at one of that region's issues.
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Florida MS Riders Turn Out On Day 2
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It doesn't take more than a little sun and two wheels to bring out the spirit of giving. After a soggy wash-out on Day 1 of the South Florida MS Ride, more than 400 riders showed up on Day 2 with full conviction for the cause. The sun beat down on the riders as they reached for bananas, instant oatmeal, bagel and orange wedges. Thanks to everybody who visited our Subaru of America booth! We had a blast meeting you.
Congrats to Michael Oosterman and Iliana for winning Subaru-Pedal America bike jerseys. Wear them in good health!
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Safety First at South Florida MS Ride
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 We booked the hotel rooms three months in advance, ordered 500 sport-bottle handouts, booked flights for my team, worked with Subaru of America, Inc. to set up the $500 raffle prize toward a Trek Bike and other give-aways, and drove more than 1500 miles from Chicago to Key Largo, FL. We had a blast setting up the "prime property" Subaru-Pedal America booth at the South Florida MS Bike Ride. We anticipated cheering on the riders as they pedaled to the finish of Day 1 and welcoming them into our booth. I even took the Subaru Outback to the hand-detail car wash.
But on Saturday, Mother Nature cast its own wash on our Subaru Outback and the 2000 MS Bike riders. Torrential downpours and lightning caused the event organizers to cancel Day 1. When the 5 a.m. phone call came I slipped back into bed and reflected on the travel, the expense, our sponsors, the riders, and all the volunteer efforts. A real bummer! And then, I smiled.
More important than the ride is the MS Society’s commitment to its cause and keeping each rider safe. Kudos to the South Florida MS Ride for accomplishing both! We all got behind the effort in some way, and for that we can all stand proud.
Pedal
America's Subaru Outback in all its glory confidently awaits South
Florida MS Riders. |
A Subaru-Pedal America banners set
to greet South Florida MS Riders at the finish line of Day 1. |
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Can You See Me Now?
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Tuesday night the Pedal America crew practically commandeered the Rapid Transit Cycles shop at 1305 S. Halsted, in Chicago, to shoot three Bike Tech 101 segments for Season One. One of the segments teaches the importance of bike or head gear-mounted mirrors. My comfort zone typically ranges between looking over my right and left shoulders to see what’s coming up from behind. But Rapid Transit’s owner, Chris Stodder, enlightened me when he demonstrated how looking over the shoulder takes your eyes off the road ahead. I never really thought about it like that since the motion of looking over the shoulder is so swift. Mirrors “help save lives,” Chris says. This resonates with many of the cyclists we met while shooting in Tampa, and you can hear their comments when we broadcast that episode. But bicycle mirrors are also personal. Choosing one is as personal as choosing a bicycle seat. Who says you can’t get intimate with your bike? Visit Rapid Transit’s bike blog to learn more. 
Pedal America Host and Executive Producer, Ira David, with Rapid Transit Cycles shop owner, Chris Stodder, shooting a Bike Tech 101 segment for Season One of the national tv series scheduled to air nationally on public television, in May 2012.
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Red Rocks: Where The Women Rule The Vortexes (Part 1)
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Only one word describes Red Rock country: Spectacular! The energy center vortexes and vistas are so bedazzling that it made no difference where we pointed the cameras; we always had a shot.
If the vortexes do emit energy forces that influence our inner male-female balance, well...uhm…hands down, the women win out in Sedona. I'm amazed at the number of women who have found the balance between tranquility and power just from cycling here. Thanks so much to Jan A. Sullivan and her friend Gina for guiding me along the Bellrock Pathway and Mystic Trails. I’m still not a mountain bike expert but my time in Raystown, Pennsylvania and Sedona are quickly diminishing my inhibitions and advancing my love for the activity. My full suspension Trek Bike helps too; I’m astounded at just how much of the work the bike does for me.
If you’re more the road cyclist, you’ll have little problem finding fun here thanks to the efforts of Sedona's Bicycle Coordinator, Dave Singer, who played a large part in building the designated bike lane on Hwy 179. We support his efforts toward proposing the additional bike lane along Hwy 89A – you go Dave! A special thanks to my road cycling partner, Heather Paris. Once the episode airs you’ll help to teach the world that women at any age and skill level can ride. Continued next blog…
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