PPTC Launches Website Upgrade

By the time you read this, a new PPTC website should have launched. The history of this project is long and varied and a wide range of PPTC volunteers are responsible for its implementation. The upgraded website has two main purposes: 1) online reference manual, and 2) online event registration and ride scheduling.

The upgraded website uses a content management system ("Drupal" for those technically inclined). This system uses "roles" to enable PPTC volunteers to add and maintain their own content (e.g. Lewes weekend, classified ads, etc.). Also available are databases enabling searchable ride start points, cue sheets, etc. This is still a work in progress and we are working hard to complete the automated event registration and ride scheduling system.

What's new: there is now a PPTC members only area (login required). The same content as before is available to the public (except the cue sheet library). The member area provides:

  1. Ride start points: tabular view for sorting by name, acronym and state as well as a search feature. Directions and links to online maps (google, etc.) - like a turbo-charged reference manual.
  2. Cue sheet library: searchable with a tabular view for sorting by title, state, mileage, and ride start point.
  3. Bicycling Forums
  4. Online member directory. Exactly the same information as in the reference manual, now searchable. A new feature includes the ability of members to add information on their bicycles under "bike(s)" for a more friendly environment. Suppose you were on a ride and met someone named Mike (what was his last name?), and, of course, you noticed he rode a Cannondale Six13. Using the search feature with "Mike" under first name and "Cannondale" under bike(s), you just might find him. Pretty slick, eh. (editor’s note: this is waaaaay cool. CAK)

There has been a great concern about identity protection and spam reduction, and this is quite understandable. Let me allay any concerns by informing everyone that there are many means of protection built into this system: password protection, no email lists, no membership list (names listed, contact info. only available one at a time), and, one can "opt out" just as before in the reference manual. Is it secure? Yes. Is this fool proof? No, but is anything (e.g. your home computer)? Remember, PPTC does not store your financial info, just your name, addresses, and phone number (so does the DMV/MVA and phone company).

As mentioned, certain areas of the website are available only to PPTC members. For efficiency, usernames and passwords will be distributed via email. The PPTC office's records, however, are accurate for less than 40% of the membership's email addresses. To get these into Sherri's database (for official PPTC business ONLY), there are two ways to handle this:

  1. contact Marc Currie at PPTCaccount@gmail.com
    • include your name (first, middle, last) and postal address (the address removes uncertainty)
    • family membership: list postal address and then list each family member with their respective email address.
  2. if #1 alarms you, contact Sherri at the PPTC office (although please try not to overwhelm her with thousands of questions and calls, as she is already quite busy).

Once I get these entered for Sherri, go to the new site and:

  1. click the "request new password" link in the "user login" block,
  2. This opens a user account page,
  3. Enter the email address you sent (in #1 or #2 above) to us (don't worry about the username field),
  4. Your username and password will be sent to the email address you just provided. You will be able to change both your username and password after your first successful log in.

Please let me know if you have any comments (problems, issues, etc.) with the site. Look for up-to-date announcements at bikepptc.org and enjoy.