Volunteer for the Harlem Valley Rail Ride!
More than 150 volunteers help us staff and manage the Harlem Valley Rail Ride. Volunteers at the 2007 ride included groups from the Mount Beacon Amateur Radio Club, Salisbury Bank, Ancram Angels, and the Poughkeepsie Courtyard by Marriott. Volunteers played a key role in running seven rest areas (up from six in 2006) and a very successful time trial on Winchell Mountain.
Residents of the area where the ride takes place, including members of the Harlem Valley Rail Trail Association and other local groups, as well as other volunteers who can drive to Millerton are especially welcome to help out. We will need help the day before the ride too, as we set up activities in and around Millerton, New York.
Volunteers receive a Harlem Valley Rail Ride T-shirt and meals as needed, depending on work assignment. Some positions allow the chance to ride a portion of the route. All volunteers will receive day-of instructions and training and are also invited to attend an optional orientation in Millerton (details TBD).
Sign up online or contact Steven Taylor, Tour Director (tel. 212 932 2453 x129). You will receive a confirmation e-mail with details of your assignment.
Please encourage your friends to sign up too!
Volunteer Positions
More than 150 volunteers help us staff and manage the Harlem Valley Rail Ride. Volunteers at the 2007 ride included groups from the Mount Beacon Amateur Radio Club, Salisbury Bank, Ancram Angels, and the Poughkeepsie Courtyard by Marriott. Volunteers played a key role in running seven rest areas (up from six in 2006) and a very successful time trial on Winchell Mountain.
Residents of the area where the ride takes place, including members of the Harlem Valley Rail Trail Association and other local groups, as well as other volunteers who can drive to Millerton are especially welcome to help out. We will need help the day before the ride too, as we set up activities in and around Millerton, New York.
Volunteers receive a Harlem Valley Rail Ride T-shirt and meals as needed, depending on work assignment. Some positions allow the chance to ride a portion of the route. All volunteers will receive day-of instructions and training and are also invited to attend an optional orientation in Millerton (details TBD).
Sign up online or contact Steven Taylor, Tour Director (tel. 212 932 2453 x129). You will receive a confirmation e-mail with details of your assignment.
Please encourage your friends to sign up too!
Volunteer Positions
| Position | Timing | Responsibilities |
| Setup | 6:00-11:00 a.m. | Set up the registration area in Millerton, NY, (including tables, chairs, signs, and food) and/or place signs and refresh markings along the route. |
| Parking and Traffic Management | 6:30-11:00 a.m. | Help with traffic control in Millerton to ensure that riders arriving in cars park in designated locations and don't block local businesses. |
| Registration/Check-In | 6:30-11:00 a.m. | Work at the start area to check in pre-registered riders and register those not already signed up. |
| Event Communications | 7:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m. | Help staff a communications hotline all day in the event command center. |
| Truck Drivers and Loaders | Sat. pickup, Sun. 6:30 a.m.-6:30 p.m. | We need seven extra-dedicated people to pick up rental trucks from area locations on Saturday afternoon, drive them to Rest Areas on Sunday morning, and unload, set up, and assist in running the rest stop. When the rest area closes, reload the truck and return everything on early Sunday evening. This is an especially important job. Requirements: Ability to handle relatively heavy and bulky items, ability to drive a 10- or 15-foot cube truck. |
| Rest Area Volunteers | 6-hour shifts, varies with location | Assist with rest area setup, greet and assist the riders, help keep the area clean throughout the day, assist with breakdown and truck loading. Rest areas are located throughout tri-corner region. |
| Bus Loading/Unloading | starting and ending in Manhattan | Assist with greeting and checking in riders; help load and unload buses (for people) and trucks (for bicycles) for our optional transportation between Manhattan and Millerton. |
| Finish Festival/Breakdown | 11:30 a.m.-6:00 p.m. | Help with setup, operation, and cleanup of the post-event festival in Millerton, including distribution of souvenirs and goody bags to riders. |
