BeatTheTrain @ the Fort

Who's responsible for getting bikes down at the Fort? A. BeatTheTrain!

From May to October BTT rides leave the parking lot of Fort Wayne for a 30 mile trip through downtown Detroit. These rides alone have probably exposed literally 100's of cyclists to the accessible nature of riding in the city. They've also probably given $1,000's of new business to the restaurants of Mexican-town as hungry cyclists chow down post-ride!!! :)

What is BeatTheTrain? Well to put it into the words of BTT himself, it's:

We are mainly a tribute to normal folks who refuse to be a slave to public transportation, high insurance rates, outrageous fuel prices and of course parking charges.
These people are quietly doing all of us a huge favor simply by using their own God given power to get to where they are going.

The phrase "Beat the Train" is not a rebellion against any Rail company,
It's a call to arms. It's an anthem. It's a motivational consciousness. When you say you have to "Beat the Train", this means you don't want to be late. You have to beat traffic or get to the other side of the tracks before its too late.

I guess you could say, "Beat the Car" or "Beat the Bus" even "Beat the Cab". If you get an early enough start you can beat any other mode of transportation out there. Hate getting caught in traffic? Getting caught on the wrong side of the tracks can cost you valuable time.
Finally "Beat the Train" means simply, get off your butt! Stop making excuses. Get an early start. Find a way to avoid fossil fuels as much as possible. Even if you only ride to work on casual Friday, for that special day you are doing your best to "Beat the train" and for that we thank you and welcome you to this new mindset that is taking over our area.


Q. What does "Beat the Train" mean?
A. The phrase "Beat the Train" is not a rebellion against any rail company, it's a call to arms. It's an anthem. It's a motivational conciousness. When you say you have to "Beat the Train", it means you don't want to be late. You have to beat the traffic or get to the other side of the tracks before it's too late.




Q. Why did you start this?

A. To get people motivated and healthy. Get off your butt! Stop making excuses. Get an early start. Find a way to avoid fossil fuels as much as possible. Even if you only ride to work on casual Friday, for that special day you are doing your best to "Beat the train" and for that we thank you and welcome you to this new mindset that is taking over our area.

Q. When do I ride?

A. We have early morning weekend rides as well as weeknight rides. Check out our ride schedule in the happenings section of the site.

Q. Do I have to wear a helmet?

A. Although we cannot make anyone wear a helmet, we strongly encourage you to do so. We can't stress enough about safety and responsibility. Detroit can be a very aggressive city, especially for anyone on bike. Helmets can prevent serious head injuries and save lives.




Q. Who would want to ride in Detroit?

A. Anyone who wants to see and feel the real atmosphere of Detroit. Detroit is a vibrant, diverse, and cultural city on the go. It has a lot to offer, from its historical architecture to its industrial legacy. You'll get a real sense of its wonder from a biking point of view.



For more information check out the BTT website at:

http://www.beatthetrain.com/


Here's some other websites:
http://mmba.org/forum/viewtopic.php?f=1&t=65705

Hope to see you at the race on Saturday, October 17th!!!

Race flyer HERE !!!