WBWC Board Meetings

WBWC Board and Officer Elections
At the November WBWC meeting, approximately half the WBWC Board will be elected for a two-year term. Then at the December WBWC meeting, 2005 officer positions for Chair, Vice-Chair, Secretary and Treasurer will be voted on by WBWC board members. Anyone interested in any of these positions should contact WBWC Chair Kris Talley at 734/913- 8604.

WBWC Meets With The University of Michigan
On Tuesday, the 28th of September, the WBWC's Kris Talley, Riin Gill, and Bruce Fields met with David Miller, Director of University of Michigan Parking and Transportation Services, as well as other staff from that department and the University Planner's Office. UM planning staff. Among the many subjects of
discussion:

• Bicycle parking: We looked at maps showing the results of a survey of current bike rack locations, and discussed plans for sheltered parking. Current possibilities include parking structures on Ann and Palmer, and a couple locations on South Campus.
• Crosswalks: The University just added an improved crosswalk at Murfin and Duffield and is interested in community input on other areas for improvement.
• Promotion of alternative transportation: Discussed were web site changes, mailings, and literature to help promote bicycling and walking in the university community.

Contact wbwc-umstaff@umich.edu if you have further ideas or would like to hear about future meetings dealing with non-motorized transportation at the U of M.

Washtenaw County Non-motorized Plan Steering Committee
In September, the Washtenaw Area Transportation Study (WATS) announced it was forming a new Washtenaw County Non-motorized Plan Steering Committee. The Committee will be composed of citizens, WATS staff and local planning officials. The Committee will assist in setting goals for the new county-wide non-motorized plan, participate in the development of an action plan and develop implementation strategies and schedules.

WATS will establish the Committee and begin meeting in the fall. Once the goals and plan of action have been established, WATS will call meetings of the committee as they are necessary and report on the progress of the data collection, analysis and ultimately, implementation. For more information, contact Ryan Buck at WATS, 734-994-3127 or buckr@miwats.org.

Senate Bill 1389: Riding Alongside Another Cyclist Illegal?
Michigan Senator Michelle McManus recently introduced legislation that would limit cyclists to riding singlefile on roads, bike lanes, and paths. The bill is sitting in the Senate Transportation Committee. Here's the specifics of the bill: http://www.mileg.org/mileg.asp?page=getObject&objName=2004-SB-1389.

Letters to Senator McManus, the Senate Transportation Chair, as well as your local State Senator, are encouraged. A sample letter, from Todd Scott of M-Bike (www.m-bike.org) is below. As a reminder, the most effective correspondence is polite, as well as brief and concise, especially if it's tied it to your personal experience (e.g. how would this bill affect you.)

Senator McManus, Bill Sponsor, senMMcManus@senate.michigan.gov
Senator Gilbert, Transportation Committee Chair, senjgilbert@senate.michigan.gov
Senator Beverly Hammerstrom (S. Washtenaw County), senBHammerstrom@senate.michigan.gov
Senator Liz Brater (remainder of Washtenaw County), senlbrater@senate.michigan.gov

Dear Senators McManus and Gilbert:

I am writing to express my strong opposition to Senate bill 1389 which requires cyclists to ride single-file on Michigan roads.

First, this proposed change makes road cycling impractical. A cyclist could not pass another cyclist nor could they pace-line (a very common practice for group rides and tours.) It even removes the exemption for bicycle paths and dedicated facilities (e.g. bike lanes.)

Second, this proposed change is contrary to the current NCUTLO Uniform Vehicle Code which supports riding no more than two abreast. We shouldn't be trying to take Michigan's motor vehicle code further from the national standard.

If the intent of this bill is to reduce bike-car conflict, it misses the mark. What needs to happen is for our Act 51 agencies, such as county road commissions, to provide proper on-road bicycle facilities. They are required to spent 1% of their Act 51 funding on such facilities, but few choose to do so nor are they audited. In addition, there is grant funding available for such projects through M-DOT.

A simple paved shoulder on most roads is the solution. It provides a safe option for road cyclists, reduces bike-car conflict, and actually reduces the long-term road maintenance costs.

Sincerely
(Signed)
Your Name

University of Michigan Walking Study – Volunteers Needed
The Environmental Psychology department at the University of Michigan is testing out a new methodology to find out how people sustain walking routines. They are seeking participants who are regular walkers (ideally, people who walk three to four times per week; 30 minutes each time). Their press release on the project is as follows…

“While we know that walking is important, many people who start a walking routine do not stick with it. We are working to test a new methodology to promote regular walking called the Conceptual Content Cognitive Mapping (3CM) technique. The 3CM technique is a relatively new interview technique designed to assess people’s mental models of a given issue. We are using this technique to get a better sense of ‘what’s in people’s heads’ about walking. We are using this technique for a few reasons:

1) the process of ‘mapping’ one’s thoughts on paper has been shown to be more engaging for the participant
2) the process can potentially uncover new information that traditional surveys/interviews cannot

Participants would be asked to meet with one of us at a time and location convenient to them. We would then ask them the following question:

“A lot of people say they have trouble sustaining a walking routine. If you were going to tell someone about what you have found helps you to walk regularly, what are all the things you would mention?”

Prior to reading the question, we would make sure to note that the process is entirely open-ended and there are no right or wrong answers. The process takes about 15 to 20 minutes but can take up to a half an hour. While asking participants the question, we would give them a series of cards with potential answers on them (these answers were generated as part of an initial pilot test of the study). They can then pick from those cards any answers that apply to them but they can also write their own answers on blank cards. After the participant completes this first part, we would then ask them to group their answers based on how they think they go together and then think of a label for each category. After they think of labels for each category, we would ask if there is any significance to how they have arranged their category groups (eg. groups are arranged according to what is most to least important, some categories are more closely connected than others, etc). If not, we would ask them if they think there is a significant way the cards could be arranged.

After the 3CM exercise is complete, we would give them a very brief (1/2 page) questionnaire to get their feedback on the process. Participants can write their address on the survey if they are willing to complete a follow-up survey. If they agree to a follow-up survey, we would mail them one (it’s two pages long) about a week after they complete the 3CM. We would then compare the 3CM technique to the traditional survey technique to see what different types of information we obtain through each.

We have received approval from the Institutional Review Boards (IRB) to conduct this research. If you have any further questions, please do not hesitate to contact Jason Duvall, at duvallj@umich.edu (phone (734/647-6159) or Raymond De Young, Principal Investigator, at rdeyoung@umich.edu (phone734/763-3129).”

Ann Arbor State Street Bike Program
A campaign to educate pedestrians, bicyclists, and motorists on their rights and responsibilities has begun in the State Street Business District. This educational campaign emerged from the recommendations presented in the State Street Area Bicycle and Pedestrian Plan commissioned by the Downtown Development Authority (DDA). Banners, posters and window clings, coupled with the used of shared-use arrows on State and Liberty, are being used to raise awareness about the campaign. The key educational points of the campaign are:

• Motorists should share the road with bicyclists
• Bicyclists should ride their bikes on the road, obey all traffic signals. and walk, not ride, their bikes on the sidewalk.
• Pedestrians should obey cross-walk signals and not disrupt traffic if crossing mid-block

Congress Passes 8-month Extension To Federal Non-Motorized Legislation
In September, the U.S. House and Senate passed an 8-month extension bill authorizing funding (as opposed to guaranteed funding) for highway, non-motorized, and transit programs at levels recommended in TEALU (H.R. 3550) for fiscal year 2005, providing 8/12 of the authorized total. However, the bill links the actual guaranteed funding to what the budget resolution for FY '05 assumed for highway and transit spending. This means that transit spending will remain at the FY '04 level, well below what the extension authorizes for FY '05. Highway spending, which includes money available for bike/ped projects, will rise for the first 8 months, with funding at roughly $23.1 billion (8/12 of the $34.7 billion authorized in TEALU).

While a lame duck session of Congress is still a possibility, albeit a remote one, this extension more than likely sets us up to tackle a 6-year bill in the next Congress. Bicyclists are encouraged to continue to speak to their Congressional members during this election season about the America Bikes agenda (America Bikes supports increased federal funding of non-motorized transportation). You can find a copy of the Congressional leave behind sheet on the homepage at http://www.americabikes.org .

Michigan Transportation Summit Meeting On Horizon
The 2004 Transportation Summit: Connecting Michigan, will be held on December 15, 2004 at the Kellogg Center, Michigan State University, East Lansing, Michigan.

The emphasis this year is to hear what the Action Teams have accomplished, their next steps, and making linkages between the teams & their activities. It will be a full day of panel discussions, speakers, and breakout sessions. More details will be coming later. Keep an eye on the website www.michigan.gov/transportationsummit for current Action Team Activities and upcoming events.

Input For Update of the AASHTO Guide for the Development of Bicycle Facilities
The American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO) Bike Guide is currently being updated. This effort is funded by the National Cooperative Highway Research Program (NCHRP), a division of the Transportation Research Board. Your input is essential to the success of this update. The Guide for the Development of Bicycle Facilities is produced by AASHTO and serves as the national guidance steering all bicycle facilities design in the United States. It "provides information on the development of facilities to enhance and encourage safe bicycle travel." The Guide provides design criteria for on-street facilities and shared use paths. We need your input into how this important document can be improved to better serve those who use it.

For your convenience, we have attached the link for the online/web-based user survey for you to complete. This may take up to 20 minutes and we highly recommend that you have your copy of the Guide for the Development of Bicycle Facilities to use while completing the survey. Your responses to the survey questions will indicate how well the existing guide serves your needs. In addition to reviewing the materials in the existing guide, the survey will prompt you to identify any areas you feel should be added to the guide. This will include questions about specific items and general questions on planning, design, operations and maintenance. We also ask you to forward this email to your colleagues who may also be interested in assisting in the update. Deadline for completion of the survey is November 4, 2004. The link to the survey is http://www.surveymonkey.com/s.asp?u=18790589654

Kryptonite Bicycle Lock Alert
The League of Michigan Bicyclists is urging all cylists to purchase an additional locking system if they own a bicycle lock utilizing the "axial pin tumbler" locking mechanism (in which a tubular key is inserted into a circular keyhole). Most of these locks are manufactured by the Kryptonite Corporation. It was recently learned that these locks are seriously compromised and are at risk of being picked. Additionally, bicyclists are advised to use two different types of locking devices: (1) a strong, U-shaped lock that can hold the frame and front wheel, and (2) a separate, thick cable (or chain) with a thick padlock that can secure both wheels and the frame. Bicyclists are encouraged to discuss the different locking systems with a local bicycle dealer and to contact the manufacturer of their bicycle lock.

If you do own a Kryptonite lock, that company is exchanging for free, old locks for new ones that have a theft proof key. For details on the lock exchange program, visit www.kryptonite.com.

Quantifying the Cost of Physical Inactivity
The scientific evidence is clear -- regular physical activity reduces the risk of developing diabetes, high blood pressure and some cancers. It also lowers blood pressure, helps build and maintain healthy bones, muscles and joints and promotes psychological wellbeing. And a physically inactive population costs money.

A health advocacy group has developed a very easy-to-use tool that can provide an estimate of the financial cost of physically inactive people to a particular community, city, state or business. The web site also provides companion resources and information you need to re-allocate resources and plan for healthier workplaces and communities that are more supportive of physical activity.

On the Active Living website, a lifestyle calculator is available. It calculates the annual costs of physical inactivity for a business or community based on census data and location. As an example if you entered the census information for Meridian, Mississippi and found that physical inactivity costs Meridian $24.5 million per year. This data is another figure that you can use in your arsenal of statistical information. The website can be found at http://www.activelivingleadership.org/costcalc.htm.

Innovative Sidewalk Funding
In many communities, sidewalks are not built due to a lack of funding. One town, Olympia, Washington found another solution. Recently the voters of that town approved a 3% increase in the tax on natural gas, electricity, and telephone service to fund parks and sidewalks. 2% is dedicated to parks, trails, and open space, and will fund 3 new community parks, 10 new neighborhood parks, 500+ acres of open space acquisition, and construction of ten new hiking trails through that open space.  Most of the trails are along creeks, through great wildlife habitat.

1% is dedicated to sidewalk construction and maintenance.  This amounts to a four-fold increase in City funding for sidewalks, adding $750,000 per year to a current budget of $175,000/year.  It turns a 100+ year backlog into something that even some adults will see through to completion.  The new money will be focused on sidewalks that enhance recreational walking -- those within a half-mile of parks, school playgrounds, trails, and other recreational destinations.  The existing sidewalk funds will continue to be used for those sidewalks that do not meet the "recreation-oriented" definition.  This limitation is necessary to keep the combined measure within the "single subject" rule of the Washington State Constitution.  It's not a problem -- the parks plan puts a park within a half-mile of 95% of the Olympia population, so funding "only" those sidewalks within a half-mile of a park should give us a fair amount of leeway.

This is the culmination of an 11-year process, spearheaded by the Capital Bicycling Club to get the City sidewalk deficit under control.  In 1993 the Club urged expansion of the City's Bicycle Advisory Committee into a Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Committee (BPAC).  A principal reason was tension over the conversion of one-sided curb-separated bike facilities (many of you saw these during the 1991 National Congress of Cycling here in Olympia) into two-sided bike lanes, with a perceived loss of pedestrian space.  Long-time bicycle advocates (Chris Hawkins, Larry Leveen, and myself) each served as Chair of the BPAC as the walking program was developed, and were principal architects of the sidewalk plan.  The Capital Bicycling Club was the largest contributor to the $12,000 campaign for passage of the ballot measure this year.  We were joined by more than 150 other donors, 400 supporters who sprouted yard signs, 100 doorbellers, and a campaign steering committee of parks, open space, seniors, and walking advocates.

The progress on walking facilities will go hand-in-glove with Olympia's now 75%-complete bikeway network, which earned the City the League of American Bicyclist's "Bicycle-Friendly City" award earlier this year. The Club spawned a pedestrian advocacy group, the Olympia Safe Streets Campaign,  back in 1991.  For this year's effort, Safe Streets helped form Walkable Olympia Neighborhoods (WON!), a grassroots group that worked to expand what the City Parks and Recreation Department thought would be a Parks-only ballot measure into a Parks and
Visit the campaign website at http://www.walkolympia.org/ for more information
 
City Found 75% Liable For Fatal Lack Of Sidewalks
Blaming Fontana, California for failing to construct sidewalks, a San Bernardino
County jury has awarded $37.5 million to the parents of a 14-year-old girl killed when a car struck her as she walked along a busy roadway after school.

Karen Medina, a student at A.B. Miller High School, was killed on Cypress Avenue in December 2001 when a car driven by a 15-year-old unlicensed driver veered out of control. In a verdict delivered Monday, the jury decided the city is 75% liable for the damages. The parents of the driver are liable for the remaining 25%.

Fontana spokesman Edward Raya said the city believes Karen's death was due to a negligent driver, traveling more than 50 mph, and not the absence of sidewalks. "How that makes us responsible, I don't know," Raya said. "We're shocked at the size of this verdict. It's extremely large for an accident of this kind." The city will appeal, he said.

The attorneys representing the girl's parents, Cruz and Agueda Miranda, argued that Fontana failed to act on reports that lack of sidewalks created a hazard because of the heavy volume of vehicle and pedestrian traffic before and after school at the 3,700-student high school.

"With all these kids coming and going, people speeding on that street, and kids driving to and from school, this was an accident waiting to happen," said Arash Homampour, who represented the parents, along with co-counsel Reza Mirroknian. "It happened because the city didn't do
its job. This was a preventable death." Homampour said Karen was less than a mile from school in a residential neighborhood when she was hit. He told jurors that the City Council had received many complaints about the dangerous conditions along Cypress Avenue.

The city had money to pay for the sidewalks, but decided to apply for state funding for them, Homampour said. The city received the state money after Karen was killed. The sidewalks that were installed cost $6,000, contractors said.

Autumn Bike Commuting Promoted By EPA/DOT
“It All Adds Up to Cleaner Air” is a unique public education and partnership-building initiative developed collaboratively by Federal Highway Administration and the Environmental Protection Agency and several partners to help regional, state and community efforts to reduce traffic congestion and air pollution. “It All Adds Up” seeks to inform the public about the connection between transportation choices, traffic congestion and air pollution by emphasizing simple, convenient actions people can take to improve air quality and reduce congestion—like bicycling.

Check out the new “It All Adds Up to Cleaner Air” website. Fall messages and materials that focus on alternate modes of transportation--particularly cycling. The Fall theme messages--including ride your bike or walk instead of driving, take mass transit, and share a ride or carpool—and materials are great tools to promote cycling and encourage drivers to consider biking or using other alternate modes of transportation for commuting or doing errands. Included are: event/activity suggestions, a “Three Simple Steps” flyer, consumer fact sheet, online quiz, “DJ Dialogue” suggestions, live-read radio ad scripts, print ads, outdoor and transit ads, press release template, newsletter article sample, and a “flash” animation.

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 until 2005. Memberships started after September 2004 are also effective for all of 2005

Member Discounts
Two Wheel Tango and Ann Arbor Cyclery are both WBWC members and have agreed to offer a 10% discount on purchases by WBWC members showing their membership cards. A hearty “thank you” goes to Ann Arbor Cyclery and Two Wheel Tango for helping promote bicycling in Washtenaw County. 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.

Mark Your Calendar....
November 4, 2004 – Annual Membership Meeting, location TBA, 7pm
December 2, 2004 - WBWC Monthly Meeting/Officer Elections, 7pm, Ecology Center, Ann Arbor

For those receiving this newsletter by e-mail, it is also posted on the WBWC website, www.wbwc.org, where you can direct link to web pages mentioned in articles.