Volunteer Of The Month: Jon Korin Promotes Cycling Safety

Jon Korin has been cycling for the better part of his life. Like many people, he started when he was a kid, riding his bike to school, his friend’s house, a bowling alley – anywhere a kid needed to go. Now, he’s an avid cyclist, president of Bicycle Advocates for Annapolis and Anne Arundel County — BikeAAA for short — and the person who helped start the Lifeline 100 bike ride.

“We launched the event really with the motivation of just bringing attention to the joys and benefits of cycling,” Korin said.

The event got its start a decade ago. Korin wanted to get involved in the community after moving to Severna Park — the B&A Trail access being a big part of it — so he joined the Leadership Anne Arundel flagship program, which aims to help people become contributors to their community. Part of the course was doing a project to serve the neighborhood.

No bicycle advocacy groups existed yet in the county, so a national association couldn’t even give the area the lowest rating for its bike-friendliness.

“Six of us picked a project called ‘Let’s make Anne Arundel County more bicycle friendly.’ It was that simple,” Korin said.

That turned into BikeAAA. Now the organization works as an advocacy group for bike safety, working with Anne Arundel County government, and encourages everyday people to reap the benefits of a bicycle.

“Try to use the bike as much as possible,” Korin suggested, “both for exercise, fun and for transportation.”

That’s BikeAAA’s goal with the Lifeline 100. Set for October 6 this year, Lifeline 100 will fill the B&A Trail with cyclists on 15-, 20-, 60- and 100-mile routes. The different lengths are meant to attract cyclists of all skill levels, from avid fans to leisure bike riders. But, as Korin knows best, a love for cycling starts young; that’s why kids ages 4-10 can participate in the free Children’s Bike Rodeo at Kinder Farm Park. Spots require reservations, and they fill up fast. At the same time, the Family Fun Safari Ride will happen around the park as a scavenger hunt, encouraging participants to find all 20 hidden creatures along the course.

“You don't have to be a strong, strong road warrior cyclist,” Korin said. “Come out and do one of the trail rides. We encourage everybody to come out and ride.”

The event caps around 1,000 participants and it can get close to that number. Bikes of all shapes and sizes are welcome, from regular road bikes to lay-down bikes and anything in between.

“Since we launched … the event has raised over $350,000 for local nonprofits,” Korin said.

That total comes from 10 years of both registration fees and sponsors. Several nonprofits take a portion each year, and BikeAAA supports several charity programs with its share.

Wheels of Hope is one of the newer beneficiaries. The organization aims to take old bikes, refurbish them, and pass them to those who need them — from adults recovering from addictions to school athletes who need transportation to practice. Wheels of Hope is meant to give people access to transportation. Cycling Without Age gives seniors a chance to feel the wind in their hair on a trishaw while someone pedals on the back. And BikeAAA advocates for bike safety at a government level.

“One of the most basic rules for a driver encountering cyclists on the road is what? You give them three feet minimum space,” Korin said. “We got a bill passed a few years ago to make it legal for drivers to cross over the double yellow line in order to give a cyclist three feet of space.”

Korin said most drivers were already doing it, but since there was no exception for going over a yellow line, technically it was breaking the law. Now, it’s formally recognized, and cyclists are entitled to the three feet rule on all roads.

At the 10-year anniversary of the Lifeline 100 ride, BikeAAA always looks forward to the variety of skill levels the event brings out.

“It’s not a race,” Korin said. “It’s a ride. You do it at your own pace.”

Register for Lifeline 100 by clicking here.