Archive of past newsletters

WBWC Board Meetings
The next two Board meetings of the WBWC will be held on Thursday, April 3rd and Thursday, May 1st. Both meetings will starting at 7pm, at the Ecology Center, 117 N. Division in Ann Arbor (just north of Huron). The meetings will last for 1 to 1-1/2 hours and are open to anyone interested in cycling and walking issues. Limited parking is available at the Ecology Center as well as next to Tios restaurant. Agenda items will be posted on the wbwc@topica e-mail list (reference the WBWC web page on how to sign up). WBWC meetings are scheduled for the first Thursday of every month throughout the year.

Get Out And Bike! Week
Plans are continuing to have the best-ever, "bike to work week" event in Washtenaw County. The event, called "Get Out And Bike! Week (featuring Bike To Work Day), will have numerous activities during the dates of May 11th through the 17th. Highlights include a number of bike rides, a city mountain bike tour, a bicycle forum at the Ann Arbor library, a bicycle themed movie night, bike maintenance clinics and Bike To Work Day on Friday, May 16th.

The central website for Get Out and Bike Week will be the WBWC site (www.wbwc.org) with a calendar page link to all events. Plenty of volunteers are needed to make Bike To Work Week 2003 (May 11-17) a success and if interested in helping out, please contact WBWC Bike To Work Week Committee Chair Rebecca Kanner at 994-5717 or e-mail at rnmik@yahoo.com.

University of Michigan Non-Motorized Projects
The WBWC has begun to work with the University of Michigan Transportation office in hopes of promoting the greater use of non-motorized transportation in the campus area. Suggested activities include bicycle racks on University buses, establishing a formal non-motorized coordinator and/or committee, promoting Get Out And Bike! Week, increasing the amount of secured/covered bicycle parking and incorporating non-motorized activities into all University construction projects.

Ann Arbor Alternative Transportation Coordinator Position
Ann Arbor's new Alternative Transportation Coordinator, Don Todd, has been busy with a number of projects including:

• Updating the City's Bicycle Master Plan, to be called the Citywide Non-Motorized Transportation Plan.
• Inventory, rate and prioritize all paved alternative transportation facilities using plan reviews.
• Gather bicycle count data.
• Develop and implement a standard procedure for counting non-motorized traffic volumes when counting motorized volumes and high-occupancy-vehicle counts.
• Create a website presence (including a bike map, parking locations, upcoming projects, etc.).
• Improve and expand the City bike locker program.

Again, thanks go out to everyone who contacted the Ann Arbor City Council to urge the creation of the Alternative Transportation Coordinator position.

Effective Cycling Training
The Ann Arbor Bicycle Touring Society (AABTS) will be sponsoring the acclaimed League of American Bicyclists Effective Cycling class in late May. The course will be the basic road curriculum which touches on almost all aspects of bicycling handling and safety. Past participants, even those who have cycled for decades, have almost always commented on how much they learn through one of the Effective Cycling courses. While there will be a limit on attendees, the goal of the AABTS is to be able to train local Effective Cycling instructors and then offer the course on a more frequent basis. For more information about the May Effective Cycling course, visit the AABTS website at www.aabts.org.

Street Smarts Booklet Distribution
Thanks to a generous donation from the Ann Arbor Bicycle Touring Society, the WBWC has received 1500 copies of the "Street Smarts" bicycle education booklet, and will be distributing them free of charge at area bike shops and upcoming events (Earth Day, Get Out And Bike! Week). Street Smarts condenses safe bicycling practices in an easy-to-read format, with much of the input coming from writers from Bicycling magazine.

Washtenaw - US 23 Intersection Improvements
A public hearing was held on March 25th on non-motorized improvements to the US 23/Washtenaw Avenue underpass, at which WBWC Board member Jim Nieters represented the WBWC. A steering committee has been established, composed of City of Ann Arbor, Pittsfield Township, Washtenaw County Road Commission, Washtenaw Area Transportation Study and other groups, to evaluate options for improvement. While the intersection may not appear to have any non-motorized activity, in reality the underpass area shows heavy foot traffic usage by well-worn footpaths.

Earth Day
The WBWC will be having bicycle education displays at two local Earth Day events, the first being at Washtenaw Community College on Thursday, April 17th from 9am-4pm. Also, the WBWC will be at the annual Ann Arbor Earth Day Celebration, which this year will be held at the Ann Arbor Farmers Market on Sunday, April 27th from 1-5pm (the event had been held in the past at the Leslie Science Center). Volunteers are needed for both events to staff a literature table. If interested in helping, please contact Bob Krzewinski at 734/487-9058.

Membership Renewal Thank You
Thanks go out to everyone who renewed their membership in the WBWC for 2003. A special thank you goes out to Fred Bach, Ken Clark, A.C. Tanner and the Ann Arbor Bicycle Touring Society for their generous extra donations to the WBWC.

Used Bicycle Program
A continuing problem with police departments and cities has been what to do with the number of bicycles that are found abandoned each year. Many communities would have police auctions, but these involve storage and the process of arranging sales. At lease one local police department (Ann Arbor),and perhaps others, has begun to ship abandoned bikes to either the Milan Federal Prison, where inmates repair bikes which are in turn donated to those in need, or to a Detroit area organization know as Back Alley Bikes.

Back Alley Bikes not only refurbishes used bicycles, but also encourages people to stop by to use bike tools,
get advice and assistance in fixing their bikes, and work on donated bikes for Detroit Summer volunteers and community groups around the city to use! Back Alley Bikes is a community bike space that aims to fix bikes, provide information and education, promote creative expression, and address issues of our time through the spread of bike culture.
Back Alley Bikes is open limited hours, so call ahead or stop by to see the hours. They now run Bike Repair Courses over the summer for youth to train them to be future Back Alley Bike repair specialists. They also host an Earn-a-Bike volunteer program, where bike repair volunteers can earn their own bike. Back Alley Bikes is located at the Detroit Summer Youth Center, 3611 Cass Avenue in Detroit with a phone number of (313) 832-2904.

New "Get Active" Issue - TEA 3
Tell Congress: Keep Supporting Bicycle and Pedestrian Projects!

By far, one of the main funding sources for almost all bicycle and pedestrian projects is the federal Transportation Enhancement Act, or TEA. Tax dollars are basically collected by the federal government and then funneled down through states into local projects. This year, however, the current Transportation Enhancement Act expires on September 30th and must be renewed.

The WBWC, along with other non-motorized advocacy groups, are encouraging individuals to write their two U.S. Senators, along with their U.S. Representative, asking them to support continued strong funding for bicycle and pedestrian projects in any Transportation Enhancement Act renewal.

Points to make in your letter could include:

• In recent authorizations of the Transportation Enhancement Act, Congress has wisely supported continued funding for bicycle and pedestrian projects.
• Non-motorized transportation has never been more important, with rising gasoline prices, increased traffic congestion and a rise in global warming.
• With a health crisis due to obesity rising, funding for non-motorized projects has the side benefit of people improving their health through physical activity.
• TEA reauthorization should include: Strengthening and protecting Transportation Enhancements, air quality (CMAQ) and other TEA programs, making sure that new and existing road/transit facilities accommodate safe bicycling and walking, and create a national Safe Routes To School program to encourage more children to exercise.

Letters, e-mails, faxes and calls can be made to:

Senator Carl Levin
U.S. Senate
Washington, DC 20510

Senator Debbie Stabenow
U.S. Senate
Washington, DC 20510

Representative John Dingell (15th District)
U.S. House of Representatives
Washington, DC 20515

Representative Nick Smith (7th District)
U.S. House of Representatives
Washington, DC 20515

U.S. Department of Transportation TEA-3 web site: http://www.fhwa.dot.gov/reauthorization/index.htm
Bikes Belong (Main TEA-3 Advocacy Site): http://www.americabikes.org/

Designing Healthy Communities Conference
On May 22nd, a "Designing Healthy Communities" conference will be held in East Lansing that will concentrate on making Michigan communities more health conscious. The event will feature national experts who will discuss how community-level decisions made every day make it either easier or more difficult for people to be healthy (to eat right and move more). Innovative programs in Michigan and around the country will be highlighted. There will also be six interactive workshops to choose from plus entertainment, awards and a chance to win a get-away weekend.

The conference is being presented by the Michigan Department of Community Health in cooperation with the National Governors Association, International City/County Management Association, Leadership for Active Living National Initiative and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. For more information visit www.michiganfitness.org.

Bike Stations: Could It Happen Here?
Bike stations are public facilities located near transit that offer amenities such as attended parking, changing rooms and bike repairs, to make commuting by bicycle more convenient. Bikestations currently operate in the California cities of Long Beach, Palo Alto and Berkeley. The Bikestation in Denver will be the most advanced facility of its kind in the country.

Located adjacent to the Denver Union Terminal, Bikestation Denver will offer cycling commuters valet bicycle parking, showers and lockers, bicycle repairs and rentals, a retail store with gear and accessories, and a RTD information kiosk. Electric bicycles will likely be available through a loaner program.

Designed by Studiocompletiva of Denver, the contemporary glass and steel structure will consist of about 1,800 square of space and will store up to 180 bicycles. The facility is being fabricated to be mobile in the event that future terminal expansion requires it to be relocated.

"Bicyclists represent a significant constituent in our city," says RTD Director Bill Elfenbein, a representative of the company's District A, "and more and more they are combining their bike trips with public transit. Bikestation Denver is a logical way to link these two transportation modes, and to help eliminate some of the inconveniences of each."

Cyclists will be able to access the facility through the Wynkoop bike lanes, the Cherry Creek Trail, the Free Mall Shuttle, regional and express bus service, and the Central Platte Valley Light Rail extension, scheduled to open in April (2002).

Denver maintains some of the best cycle-friendly infrastructure in the nation: it has an extensive, off-street trails systems and a well-defined network of on-street bike routes. All 1,200 of the transit system's RTD buses are equipped with bike racks, and bicycles are allowed on the Light Rail during off-peak or reverse peak trains. RTD leases out more than 500 bike lockers at various stations and Park-n-Rides.

The Bikestation project at the Denver Union Terminal is part of a larger-scaled effort to revitalize an historic train station into a modern intermodal terminal linking regional bus service, light rail, commuter rail, Amtrak, the SkiTrain, Greyhound buses, a free downtown shuttle, bicycles and electric vehicles. "With the new Southwest light rail line and potential plans for rail expansion throughout the District, Denver is becoming a world-class transit city," notes Elfenbein. "Bikestation Denver will help to link these two transportation systems, and create an important icon for environmentally friendly transportation."

Design and construction of Bikestation Denver will cost $476,000. The Federal Transit Administration will provide 95% of the project costs and RTD will provide 4% in local funds; the City and County of Denver will provide 1% of the funding. The project is a collaboration between the Denver RTD, the City and County of Denver, the Union Station Transport Development Company, two transportation management associations, Transportation Solutions and the Downtown Denver Partnerships, and a host of neighborhood groups and bicycle advocates.

Bikestation Denver is a member of the Bikestation Coalition, a non-profit organization that seeks to improve the quality of life in urban areas by assisting communities in developing bike-transit centers and related infrastructure. The Coalition has been advising the project team in Denver for the past three years. The city's expansion in bicycle infrastructure reflects its commitment to reducing congestion and making the city more livable. "RTD is more than just buses and trains. It's about getting people out of their cars," says Elfenbein. For further information about Bikestation Denver or related projects, go to www.Bikestation.org or contact Mark Shandrow, executive director of the Bikestation Coalition at (562) 733.0106.

National Bike Summit
The League of American Cyclists's 2003 National Bike Summit(r), March 5-7 in Washington, DC, was a resounding success, showcasing the strength of the bicycling community and its ability to unite for positive change on the reauthorization of TEA-21 and other critical education and advocacy issues. As Representative Earl Blumenauer (D-OR) said, "I don't think a national movement with more trajectory and momentum with a more diverse group has ever come together this quickly."

Participants met with 90 Senators and over 300 Representatives or their staffs to urge Congress to ensure that the reauthorization of the federal transportation bill focuses on supporting a balanced transportation system that embraces bicycling. The Summit brought together nearly 400 bicyclists from 47 states and abroad, representing the worlds of advocacy, industry, transportation and public health to share important concerns and best practices and educate Congress. Overall participation in the 2003 Summit grew by 45% from the 2002 Summit; bike industry participation more than doubled.

Among the Summit participants was three-time Tour de France champion Greg LeMond, who also took part in the Congressional Bike Caucus Ride that toured major sites on March 7, and Linda Armstrong Kelly, mother of four-time Tour de France champion Lance Armstrong. Mrs. Armstrong Kelly was also among the featured speakers, who included Senator Jim Jeffords (I-VT), Congressman Earl Blumenauer (D-OR), Congressman James Oberstar (D-MN), Dr. Jeffrey W. Runge, Administrator of the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, and John Burke, President of Trek Bicycle Corporation, President of Bikes Belong Coalition, and a member of the President's Council on Physical Fitness and Sports.

Summit participants urged their Members of Congress to ensure that the reauthorization of the Transportation Equity Act for the 21st Century (TEA-21), which authorizes over $200 billion in support for transportation,
including bicycling projects, provides for a balanced transportation system that embraces bicycling by:
strengthening Transportation Enhancements, Congestion Mitigation and Air Quality, Recreational Trails, and other TEA-21 programs; creating a bicycle-friendly transportation system and; providing a Safe Routes to School program to promote bicycling and walking to school

In addition, participants (and all cyclists) were also encouraged to:

1) Support the Bicycle Commuter Act, introduced by Representatives Earl Blumenauer (D-OR) and Mark Foley (R-FL), to give people who bike to work the same financial incentives as those who use transit or participate in a qualified parking plan under the Transportation Fringe Benefit

2) Support the Conserve By Bike Act, introduced by Senators Richard Durbin (D-IL) and Susan Collins (R-ME), to promote energy conservation and improve public health

3) Urge their legislator to join the Congressional Bike Caucus or the Senate Bike Caucus

The League is still tallying the Congressional successes, but some key achievements of the 2003 Summit include:

* The America Bikes message was hand-delivered to almost every single member of the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee and all but one Senator on the Environment and Public Works Committee. These Committees have most of the jurisdiction for the reauthorization of TEA-21.

* Greg LeMond and Linda Armstrong Kelly helped carry bicycling's message to key meetings, raising the profile of bicycling on the Hill.

* Five new cosponsors were added to H.R. 1052, the Bike Commuter Act.

* Fourteen new members "officially" joined the House Bike Caucus as a direct result of Summit meetings. Numerous others indicated that they would also join.

* Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) and Susan Collins (R-ME) introduced S. 542, the Conserve by Bike Act. Members in the Senate and the House expressed considerable interest in this measure. Co-sponsorship in the Senate is
expected to grow rapidly over the next few days and weeks. The League is working for companion legislation to be introduced in the House.

* A tremendous amount of interest was generated for the Senate Bike Caucus. Senator Durbin's staff is following up with more than a dozen Senators who expressed an interest.

* Summit attendees generated overwhelming support in Congress for Safe Routes to Schools programs, designed to make bicycling and walking to school a safe and valued activity for children.

* The League honored Senator Durbin by presenting him with its National Bicycle Leadership Award, in recognition of his leadership and support for bicycling.

* The Northern Georgia Bicycle Dealers Association received the League's State Bicycle Leadership Award. All but two of the organization's members participated in the Summit, and as a result, Georgia brought one of the largest delegations to the event.

Summit attendees presented and attended a wide range of educational panels on important elements for bicycling, including: America Bikes' policy goals for TEA-3, the role of the bicycle industry in TEA-3, several different sessions on bicycle friendly communities (www.bicyclefriendlycommunity.org), and the public health benefits of bicycling, bicycle networks, using statistics, the agenda for national mountain bike access, educating professionals (planners, engineers, and teachers), issue and advocacy training, working with state agencies, state and local advocacy success stories, safety and education initiatives, livable communities, implementing routine accommodation, state and local trail and path initiatives, and innovative state and local programs.

The League's Summit Sponsors were Federal Highway Administration, National Highway Transportation Safety Administration, and Bikes Belong Coalition. The League's Summit Partners included: Adventure Cycling Association, Association of Pedestrian and Bicycle Professionals, America Bikes, Bikes Belong Coalition, International Mountain Bicycling Association, National Center for Bicycling and Walking, Pedestrian and Bicycle Information Center, Rails to Trails Conservancy, Surface Transportation Policy Project, and Thunderhead Alliance. National Bicycle Dealers Association and Bicycling Magazine were Programming Sponsors.

A great deal of follow-up work continues on legislative initiatives and policy topics introduced at the National Bike Summit. To keep abreast of our ongoing work, subscribe to the League's e-newsletter at www.bikeleague.org.

New Code Puts Brakes On Fast Car Ads
In Austrailia, speeding cars, circle work and reckless driving will be banned from being shown in car ads following the introduction of a voluntary code which was passed at a meeting of transport ministers last week. The Federal Chamber of Automotive industries has released a seven-point code which promotes road safety, and safe driving and riding practices.

It outlaws the portrayal of reckless and menacing driving, speeding on public roads, unsafe driving practices, the use of drugs and alcohol, people driving while fatigued, and motorcyclists not wearing helmets. However Federal Chamber of Automotive Industries chief executive Peter Sturrock said images of speeding cars and reckless driving even on private property were banned because if they took place on a public road, they would
be illegal.

This would rule out past advertisements such as the Holden Ute thunder (circle work), the Holden Commodore TVC showing a driver swerving around toys in a driveway and the Mitsubishi VRX speeding bullet ad. The Advertising Standards Bureau will administer the code as part of its review of advertising practices and the guidelines have been agreed to by car, commercial vehicle and motorcycle distributors.The code also promotes responsible use of off-road vehicles. The Australian motor industry endorses the National Road Safety strategy and acknowledges the importance of increased road safety awareness, Sturrock said.

The code allows the use of fantasy, humour, self evident exaggeration and motor sport in creative ways, but calls on advertisers to be mindful of the importance of road safety, Sturrock said. The Advertising Federation of Australia welcomed the code, saying it would preserve the ability of advertisers to use fantasy, humour and creativity,
but addressed people¹s concerns.

The United Kingdom has a far stricter policy, yet some of the greatest creativity has come out of there, AFA public affairs manager Chris Thomas said.

Segway In Trouble
As reported in the March edition of Wired magazine, the makers of the Segway electric transportation device are encountering obstacles they did not plan on. The inventor of the device, Dean Karmen, originally stated that by the end of 2002 his company would be producing 10,000 Segways a week. In reality, only 10 a week are being manufactured, with many perceived customers (i.e. Federal Express) saying "no thanks". While the US Postal Service did buy 40 Segways in a demonstration project, postal workers have found the devices may only be able to be used for 45 minutes before they need a charge or a new battery. And in a poll taken by Wired readers, most said they would not even pay $500 for one of the devices, let alone the current selling price of $4950.

Motorists Want More Bike Paths
More than 3,000 AAA members responded to the poll in the January/February issue of the "AAA Midwest Traveler." W hen asked how they would allocate $100 of the highway users fees they pay (registration and fuel taxes) among selected transportation improvements in their area, they answered that they would spend their $100 this way:

Maintaining and/or expanding existing roads $60
New roads $17
Public transit $16
Bicycle/pedestrian projects $7

Decoy Pedestrians
For motorists in Berkeley, it's dangerous to roll through a crosswalk occupied by a pedestrian, because he or she just might be a cop. In an effort to protect pedestrians against reckless and impatient drivers, police have set up decoys in local crosswalks. In a recent sting operation, police handed out 34 tickets in an hour and 45 minutes, reports the Berkeley Daily Planet.

The Real Price Of Gas
A report by the International Center for Technology Assessment (CTA) identifies and quantifies the many external costs of using motor vehicles and the internal combustion engine that are not reflected in the retail price Americans pay for gasoline. These are costs that consumers pay indirectly by way of increased taxes, insurance costs, and retail prices in other sectors.

The report divides the external costs of gasoline usage into five primary areas: (1) Tax Subsidization of the Oil Industry; (2) Government Program Subsidies; (3) Protection Costs Involved in Oil Shipment and Motor Vehicle Services; (4) Environmental, Health, and Social Costs of Gasoline Usage; and (5) Other Important Externalities of Motor Vehicle Use. Together, these external costs total $558.7 billion to $1.69 trillion per year, which, when added to the retail price of gasoline, result in a per gallon price of $5.60 to $15.14. For the full report, visit http://www.icta.org/projects/trans/rlprexsm.htm

Monthly Reminders & Requests

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.

Perils For Pedestrians
Each Tuesday at 6:30pm on Ann Arbor area Community Television cable channel 17, the WBWC sponsors "Perils For Pedestrians", the award-winning show about walking and bicycle advocacy.

WBWC Volunteers Needed
Volunteers are currently needed for the following WBWC Committees...
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.

School Bicycling Volunteers Needed
In cooperation with the Washtenaw County Sheriffs Office, volunteers are needed to help with bicycling educational efforts at local elementary schools. No special skills are needed and a time commitment of 30 minutes at a school would be needed. Items to be discussed (basic traffic laws, how to wear a helmet, etc.) would be included in a written handout for volunteers. If interested, please call 734/487-9058 or e-mail wbwc@topical.com.

Member Discounts
Ann Arbor Cyclery, as of March 2003, is the only local bicycle shop to have joined the WBWC (all county bike shops had been contacted), giving a 10% discount on purchases by WBWC members showing their membership cards. A hearty "thank you" goes to Ann Arbor Cyclery for helping promote bicycling in Washtenaw County. And if you are in a shop that is not a member of the WBWC, a friendly word urging them to support bike advocacy though WBWC membership would be appreciated.

Sidewalk Inventory Continuing
The WBWC continues to solicit recommendations for areas where there is heavy pedestrian traffic and either there are no sidewalks or those that are available are in very poor condition. Suggestions should include as much specific data as possible and can be e-mailed to wbwc@topica.com. An added help on any sidewalk suggestions would be photographs which can be mailed to the WBWC, c/o Ecology Center, 117 N. Division, Ann Arbor, MI 48104 or dropped off at the Ecology Center during weekday business hours. Suggestions will be inventoried with follow-up to the appropriate governmental body.

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

Mark Your Calendar....
April 3rd WBWC Monthly Meeting, 7pm, Ecology Center, Ann Arbor
April 17th Earth Day - Washtenaw Community College
April 27th Earth Day - Ann Arbor Farmers Market, 1-5pm
May 1st WBWC Monthly Meeting, 7pm, Ecology Center, Ann Arbor
May 7th National Walk To Lunch Day