It all happens Feb 10-12th and 18-19th!

Listed in the current issue of Vermont Magazine as an “Essential Vermont Event”, Great Ice in Grand Isle is a quirky compilation of fun activities focusing awareness on the many opportunities for winter outdoor recreation in Grand Isle County.

Activities include free Nordic Skate demos on Lake Champlain’s longest groomed track, a 2-mile trek across the ice to Knight Island State Park, a 9-hole Ice Golf tournament, ice bicycle races (grand prize - a Trek mountain bike from Earl’s Cyclery), free hockey on the lighted rink, and sled dog rides.  There’s also a free kid’s ice fishing derby with prizes and trophys, a chili cook-off with a Christmas tree bonfire, a movie and a dance in the newly-restored Community Hall.  For a full schedule of events as well as last year's pictures, click here!

It's so much worse than we thought.

This week, the US House released its transportation bill, the American Energy and Infrastructure Act.   We didn’t think it would go so far as to cut every reference to bicycling and walking out of the federal transportation policy.  See details here.

Please click here to contact Rep. Welch and ask for his help putting walking, biking and other transportation options back in the bill.

House leadership is pressing to eliminate bicycling and walking in the Transportation bill.  The bill would:

On the heels of the well-attended Local Motion and AARP Mayoral Debate on Transportation & Livability (watch it here), Local Motion is pleased to send out the results of our candidate survey.

All three candidates returned our survey on time and we've compiled the results.  See where the candidates stand on walkability, the Champlain Parkway, the Downtown Transit Center and more.

Download the candidates' responses here.

Photo: Local Motion Board Member Lisa Aultman-Hall welcomes the 225 attendees to the Mayoral Candidate Forum on Transportation & Livability.  Photo by volunteer Jeff Cohn.

You're busy.  You want better places to walk, bike, run and XC ski, but you're not sure how best to make it happen.  We're there for you.  Everyday, we're listening, watching and ensuring that people who want to be active and healthy aren't treated as second class citizens.

Just this month alone, we've been there to:

• Ensure that Burlington's Plan BTV tackles key issues including policies to improve walking, biking and smart growth
• Fight forces in DC that are trying to erase bike/pedestrian funding and reduce transit funding from the Federal Transportation Bill
• Help Chittenden County plan a multi-modal future that includes walking, biking, transit and other options
• Ensure the Champlain Parkway plans are improved, so that if built, the design includes complete bike/walk facilities
• Advocate for the Lamoille Valley Rail Trail so that this stunning 92-mile trail will get built this decade

You can click any of the above bullets to see the letters we've submitted or actions we've taken.  Behind each action, there are dozens of hours of advocacy, education and behind-the-scenes work -- to make sure we all get the best outcomes possible.

Want to be part of our advocacy team? Contact our This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .

Attention travel junkies: Register for the 8th annual VerMontreal Bike Tour and YOU COULD WIN YOUR TRIP FOR FREE!

General registration is now open for this springtime favorite: A 3- or 4-day pedal through the rural farmlands and quaint villages of Vermont and Quebec, culminating in Montreal's famed Tour de L'Ile. You won't want to miss all the cool things we've planned this year - not the least of which is your chance to travel for free (zip, zilch, zero actual dollars)!

Registration is easy, and secure. Visit our Tour Overview page for full details of the trip; and when you're ready to sign up, simply select the option (3- or 4-day) you're interested in, and follow the registration link.

Local Motion proudly presents VerMontreal 2012 in parntership with:

But please don't delay; member registration opened last month and spots are filling fast. A la prochaine!

READ BELOW TO FIND OUT HOW YOU CAN WIN A FREE TRIP!

When Travis - an 8th grader at Essex Middle School - began attending bike mechanics workshops at Bike Recycle Vermont on Friday afternoons, it never crossed his mind that he'd be leading a fundraiser for Local Motion. But then his best friend Austin, a 7th grader, received a letter in the mail - and the two hatched a plan.

"Austin had been volunteering at Bike Recycle Vermont, and because of that he was included in a solicitation mailing," says the boys' teacher, Kim Desjardins. "The program is close to their hearts and they wanted to do something meaningful to help."

If you love good music and good food, don't miss this!

As part of The Skinny Pancake's Fun-Waisin' Wesidency with Josh Panda & Friends - they will donate 10% of sales to Local Motion on February 8. So, come on down, grab your choice beverage and some delicious food, and "waise" some fun in support of a good cause!

In Montpelier? You can support our friends at the Vermont Bicycle & Pedestrian Coalition on the same night at The Skinny Pancake's Montpelier location!

Yes, it's true.  With help from many volunteers and groups, we groom 3 miles of XC ski trails in Burlington's Intervale.  It's sponsored by the good people at MVP Healthcare.

We're still waiting for snow, but it will come. Ski anytime (see map), but a few times a year we host the festival 'Wintervale' with the Intervale Center!  Save the dates:

Wintervale 2012

• Sunday, Feb 5th, 10-2 (Postponed due to lack of snow)
  
• Sunday, March 11th, 10-2

Wintervale features free XC ski and snowshoe demos, kids activities, hot chocolate and food, conservation walks...and more!

Thanks to our many sponsors and partners: MVP Healthcare, Intervale Center, Cloudveil, Skirack, Burlington Parks & Recreation, Vermont Design Works, Catamount Trail Association, RunVermont, Intervale Community Farm, and many other Intervale farms.

Please join us in congratulating Ron Manganiello, founding volunteer of Bike Recycle Vermont, for earning a presitgious eTown e-Chievement Award!

The award was broadcast nationally on Sunday, January 22, but you can still stream it to hear the full eTown broadcast featuring Moby, Suzanne Vega and Ron.  Watch Ron's interview by clicking the picture on the left.

Read LM member Annie's great blog post about Ron.

Watch Ron's eTown E-Chievement Award from eTown on Vimeo.