MCV Campus Earth Day: Spotlight on Cyclus Bike Shop

Join the fun tomorrow, April 21st, 11am-3pm at Kontos Plaza for the 2nd annual MCV Campus Earth Day event. Free food, prizes, entertainment, a farmer's market, and green vendors await you on what promises to be a beautiful day! Among our many fabulous vendors, we are hosting Cyclus Bike shop, which will be offering a free bicycle tire-changing workshop from 11am-12pm, and free bike tune-ups 12pm-3pm.

Cyclus Bike Shop
2709 E. Marshall St.
Richmond, VA 23223
804-612-0968
cyclusbikeshop@gmail.com
Open 11AM-6PM Tuesday thru Saturday

After signing the lease in August 2008, owners, Suzanne Critchlow and Brett Eastman worked to renovate the empty space at 2709 East Marshall in Historic Church Hill. The 100 year-old structure had been unused for some time, and was in need of major renovations as well as cosmetic upgrades. With the help of local craftsman and friends of Cyclus, Critchlow and Eastman renovated the building. By November 8th, Cyclus Bicycle Shop had it’s soft opening.

"Our goal is to promote the bicycle as economically and efficiently as possible. We hope to accommodate comfort riders, touring buffs, BMX bros, fixie fanatics and anybody else who loves the familiar feeling of pushing pedals."
-Brett Eastman and Suzy Critchlow, owners

Alternative Transportation Fair: Spotlight on RideRichmond

Come out to a great day of events tomorrow at VCU Earth Week's Alternative Transportation Fair:

Wednesday, April 20th
11am-3pm
Bear Hall Lawn (Across form Larrick Center, 900 Turpin St.)

In addition to free, one-hour Segway tours, free bike tune-ups (courtesy of Carytown Bike Co.), and free snacks and prizes, we are also featuring many different organizations that will help you get around Richmond and the surrounding area, including local bicycling organizations, one of which is RideRichmond.

RideRichmond is a local organization dedicated to achieving a safer and sustainable city by establishing a hub for news, activities, and discussion for the communities within Richmond and surrounding areas.

RideRichmond is two things: A non-profit group of dedicated riders hosting events, activities, and rides in the greater Richmond area, and an internet forum for all users of the Richmond area to freely post and discuss news, activities and events. Whether it be a moped rally, or ride to Williamsburg, feel free to post it on there and inform your community.

RideRichmond has a number of programs planned for 2011. The biggest event is Richmond’s First Annual Bike-Week. Other programs include Spring and Fall Bike Symposiums and Bike Swaps, as well as events such as Goldsprints, Biathlons, a Holiday Bike Drive, and publishing a free Richmond Cycling Guide. We’ve also established relationships with VCU, Richmond Cycling Corps, and have input on the Mayor’s Pedestrian, Biking, and Trails Commission to help educate riders of all levels and make the City a safer and stronger community for all riders.

We hope you will join us for this amazing event.

William Snyder Leads Green Lunch Discussion for Tricycle Gardens

Snyder's Article for the East End Charette, August 2010

We are proud to partner with Tricycle Gardens for VCU Earth Week's Green Lunch Discussion with William Snyder.


Tuesday, April 19, 2011
12pm-1pm
Courtend Ballroom,
Larrick Student Center
900 Turpin St.
Everyone Welcome
Door Prizes to be Won!
Please RSVP for Free Lunch



Immediately following the Green Lunch, Tricycle Gardens will be offering tours of their Urban Farm (9th & Bainbridge), with free round-trip transportation provided from Larrick Center by To the Bottom and Back Bus (please RSVP).

Snyder is the Chairman of Tricycle Garden's Board of Directors, a writer for the Wall Street Journal, and the host of the newly debuted radio show, RVA Open Source.

The focus of discussion will be urban agriculture's role in a vibrant community and human health. About gardening, Snyder says,

"I started gardening as a child at my grandmother’s house. She lived in a grand old Southern house and kept her boxwoods and roses perfectly trimmed. But, she said her roots were country so she maintained about a ¼-acre vegetable garden in the backyard. From that I learned about crop diversity, beneficials, companion planting and so on. It was accidentally organic, fertilized with manure from the farm. All that’s changed since then is that I’m consciously organic now."

You can catch Snyder's radio show on WRIR, 97.3 FM, every Friday, 10-11am. In the meantime, check out the podcast of last week's show here.

Event Parking

MCV Campus has limited metered street parking, as well as parking day passes for select lots (unrestricted lots in green below) starting at $5 per day. Parking fills up quickly, so arrive early (or walk, bike, or bus to the event)!

Eco-Hero Nominations extended until April 14th!

Who's the Eco-Hero in your life? Is it your mailperson, for turning off their mail truck so it isn't idling while they make deliveries? Is it your neighbor, for watering their plants only in the morning or evenings, when water use is most efficient? Or is it you, who try to take the stairs instead of the elevator?

You now have until Thursday, April 14th to recognize the people you know who make these small changes towards living more sustainably. Because small changes do make a difference, and they do add up to saving natural resources, reducing greenhouse gases, and saving money! And now, making a small change, or even taking the VCU Sustainability Pledge, can win you an Amazon Kindle, free digital movies & ebooks, and much more!

Follow these simple steps to nominate yourself or someone else in the Richmond community as an Eco-Hero on Facebook or Twitter. Don't have an account, or stuck following the directions? Email mcv.earth.week@gmail.com and we'll post your entry for you.

We Want YOU! Sign-up to volunteer for MCV Campus Earth Week!

Sign up with your smart phone

The 2nd annual MCV Earth Week is fast approaching and we are looking for enthusiastic volunteers to make this event a green success! There are volunteer opportunities all throughout Earth Week, April 18-21, 2011 on MCV Campus. You can earn service hours, and receive a free t-shirt. Visit the online volunteer registration site or email Sara Buckheit at sbuckheit@mcvh-vcu.edu for more info. Please sign up by April 12th.

Volunteer to get this free tee!

Eco-Artist Deadline extended to March 29th

Calling all artists - you now have until 5pm, Tuesday, March 29th submit your original design for VCU Earth Week, like one of the posters featured here. You could win the grand prize, an Amazon Kindle, or win one of many other fantastic prizes just for entering. For more information check out the contest details.