Washtenaw Bicycling and Walking Coalition – October 2001 E-News

Dedicated to increasing the quality and quantity of bicycling and walking opportunities in Washtenaw County through advocacy and education

WBWC Annual Membership Meeting
The annual general membership meeting of the WBWC will be held on Thursday, November 1st, 7pm at the Ecology Center, 117 N. Division in Ann Arbor (just north of Huron). The meeting will last for 1 to 1 1/2 hours with the main agenda item being the election of WBWC Board members for a two-year term of office. Other agenda items include WBWC formalization, the Ann Arbor Capitol Improvements Plan, meeting with the Washtenaw County Sheriff over walking/bicycling concerns and pedestrian facilities in Pittsfield Township.

Limited parking is available at the Ecology Center as well as next to Tios restaurant. Everyone is welcome to attend. WBWC meetings are normally scheduled for the first Thursday of every month. Minutes of the September WBWC meeting are posted at the end of this newsletter and also will be available on the WBWC website (www.wbwc.org) in the near future.

WBWC Board/Officer Elections
As per the groups by-laws, the WBWC will be holding Board member elections at it's November 1st meeting followed by the election of officers at the December 6th meeting. Duties and responsibilities of the positions are indicated in the by-laws available through the WBWC web page at www.wbwc.org. If interested in serving in either a board member or officer position please contact Bob Krzewinski at 734/487-9058 or wolverbob@cs.com.

Monthly Bicycling Column
Attempts are being made by WBWC members to establish a regular bicycling column in the Ann Arbor News. Possible subject matter could include cyclist legal rights and responsibilities, basic bike maintenance, local ride routes and bicycle safety.

Pathway Grant Awarded
The Washtenaw County Parks and Recreation Commission received a $200,000 Community Foundation Land Grant to help establish a new non-motorized pathway between Ann Arbor and Ypsilanti. Specifically, the planned path would extend the current Gallup Park pathway east from Dixboro Road to Hewitt Road in Ypsilanti. A majority of the pathway would be off-road, using land adjacent to St. Joseph Mercy Hospital and Washtenaw Community College.

Could It Happen Here?
Atlanta area residents recently approved a series of bond issues that specifically focused on sidewalks, pedestrian safety improvements, green space and bike lane improvements. The bond issues passed with a margin of 75% to 25% or better.

Michigan Says Yes! To Cars, NO To Pedestrians
According to the Surface Transportation Policy Project, the federal government in Michigan alone spends $58.49 per person on highway projects but only .16 cents per person on pedestrian projects. This is in light of the fact that 12% of Michigan highway deaths involve pedestrians (168 Michigan pedestrians killed in 1997 and 174 in 1998).

Spring 2002 Education Efforts
The WBWC is planning on holding a series of biking and walking educational events in April and May of 2002, to include Earth Day (April) as well as National Bike Month (May). Volunteers are needed to help plan events as well as staff displays. If interested please e-mail the WBWC at wbwc@topica.com.

Neighborhood Makes Its Own Crosswalks
As reported by the National Center For Biking and Walking, residents of the Seattle, Washington Fremont neighborhood seemed to take the matter of crosswalk markings into their own hands, literally. In the area, crosswalk markings began to appear on streets that were clearly not the work of professionals. Errant brush strokes blurred the edge lines. Some lines crisscrossed. But still, a person could make out crosswalk markings where in the past none existed. In addition, some streets began to have additional stop signs erected with no record of the work being done by the Seattle Public Works Department.

Monthly Reminders
WBWC Membership Applications Available
WBWC membership applications are available through the WBWC website (www.wbwc.org) and in the literature racks of most Washtenaw County bike shops. Basic membership is $10 a year with. Also, those joining anytime in 2001 will have their membership extended through December 31st, 2002.

WBWC Volunteers Needed
Volunteers are currently needed for the following WBWC Committees...
Membership - Help maintain membership records, send out membership material
Publicity - Send out meeting and special event announcements, mail out printed version of E-News
Education - Help plan and staff educational efforts (i.e., Earth Day, Bike To Work Day/Week)
For details on any of these jobs, please contact Bob Krzewinski at 487-7058 or wolverbob@cs.com.

Ecology Center Library
It should be noted that the WBWC has a small, but growing, library of bicycling and walking advocacy publications for check-out at the Ecology Center in Ann Arbor.

Mark Your Calendar....
November 1 WBWC Monthly Meeting, 7pm, Ecology Center, Ann Arbor
December 6 WBWC Monthly Meeting, 7pm, Ecology Center, Ann Arbor