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LEHIGH VALLEY WEATHER
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Walk/ride for local nonprofits

Published November 01. 2021 04:28PM
by Tami Quigley Special to the Bethlehem Press

Some pedaled for peace, some walked for justice, and together 23 riders and walkers raised over $3,000 Oct. 9 at the Bike/Walk-a-Thon sponsored by the peace and justice organization LEPOCO (Lehigh-Pocono Committee of Concern) to raise funds for its ongoing work.

Bikers and walkers set off at 9 a.m. from Rosemont Lutheran Church, where the LEPOCO Peace center offices are located in the church basement.

Nancy Tate serves as LEPOCO coordinator along with Amanda Zaniesienko.

“It was very successful,” said Zaniesienko, “and a nice, comfortable day for the event.” She said the 23 riders and walkers were joined by six additional volunteers, for a total of 29 people who participated in some way.

Joining Tate and Zaniesienko on the planning committee were Diane Dilendik, convener of the committee; Scott Slingerland, director of CAT – Coalition for Appropriate Transportation, who mapped out the bike route; and Walt Garvin.

“We were very pleased with our event,” said Dilendik. ”We had riders and walkers who had not participated in the past, always a good thing. We hoped to get many pledges from outside the LEPOCO community and this was accomplished as well.”

“The weather was perfect for the event – in the past it has taken place on Memorial Day weekend but the days became hotter and more humid. The October event gave us a much better climate for our activity.”

“And last but not least we have pledges of over $3,000 and some still coming in. This will help LEPOCO’s continued work for peace and justice,” Dilendik said.

“It was a great day for a walk and bike ride that brought together people supporting LEPOCO’s work for peace and social justice,” said Slingerland. “We had a great bike ride that covered 23 miles. I think many of the new riders were surprised to discover how easy and fun it is to connect Bethlehem and Hellertown by bike using trails and quiet streets – we even passed a horse farm and a bald eagle’s nest along the way.

“The rest stop at Upper Saucon Community Park was a welcome spot to rest our saddles and have a snack,” Slingerland said.

The Rev. Jack Steltzer, pastor of Rosemont, was one of the new riders and thought it was a great event. “It was a beautiful ride, very scenic. I saw streets in Bethlehem I’ve never been on before and cool neighborhoods.”

The event was first held in 1979. As a local peace group LEPOCO has worked locally since 1965 to build a just society and a peaceful world through nonviolent action.

CAT is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization serving adults and children of Lehigh and Northampton counties with educational programming, public outreach, and advocacy with local municipalities, police departments, schools and bike shops. Its programs include Bicycle Cooperative, Mechanics Classes, Traffic Training, Adult Bike-to-Work, Youth Bike Education, Yield to Pedestrians, Try Transit, Adopt-a-Bus Stop and Love Your Local Trail.

Press photos by Tami Quigley Scott Slingerland, director of CAT – Coalition for Appropriate Transportation – performs a complimentary mechanical check on Benton Schwartz's bike prior to the start of the Bike/Walk-a-Thon sponsored by the peace and justice organization LEPOCO (Lehigh-Pocono Committee of Concern). The event kicked-off at 9 a.m. Oct. 9 at Rosemont Lutheran Church, where the LEPOCO Peace Center has its offices in the church basement.
Diane Dilendik, convener of the event's planning committee, far right, leads bikers and walkers in warm-up exercises. Nancy Tate, who serves as LEPOCO coordinator along with Amanda Zaniesienko, is second from left. As a local peace group LEPOCO has worked locally since 1965 to build a just society and a peaceful world through non violent action.
Participants stretching before the Bike/Walk-a-Thon include, from left, Scott Slingerland; the Rev. Jack Steltzer, pastor of Rosemont; and Mike Schaadt. Amanda Zaniesienko, one of the LEPOCO coordinators, stands at back right.
Scott Slingerland, who mapped out the bike route, flashes a smile and waves to participants as the bikes start rolling.
And they're off! Bikers begin their 23-mile ride on Schaffer Street. This year's all-new route was a blend of neighborhood streets and multi-use trails that highlighted how to peacefully connect the LEPOCO Peace Center to Bethlehem's Southside Greenway Trail and the Saucon Rail Trail in Hellertown to the turn-around at Upper Saucon Township Community Park.
Walkers gather on Schaffer Street as they begin their trek, walking either 4.5 or 6.5 miles. Walkers strolled through lovely West Side neighborhoods to the towpath and back on the Southside Greenway. They had the option of taking a shuttle back to the church from Sand Island, cutting the miles walked to 4.5, or 6.5 if they walked back to Rosemont.