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January-February 2006WBWC Board MeetingThe next regular Board meeting of the WBWC will be held on Thursday,
February 2nd at the Ecology Center, 117 N. Division in Ann Arbor (just
north of Huron), starting at 7pm. WBWC meetings are generally held on
the first Thursday of every month, 7pm, at the Ecology Center. In place
of the January WBWC Board meeting, there will be a WBWC Board and Officers
retreat held at a local location on Sunday, January 22nd (details will
be posted on the retreat time and location will be posted on the WBWC
e-mail discussion group at wbwc@topica.com). WBWC 2005 Membership MeetingThe annual WBWC Membership Meeting on November 3rd was held at the Arbor Brewing Company in downtown Ann Arbor and included a free screening of the documentary "The End of Suburbia" at 7pm. It attracted 35-40 people, including many new faces, and gave current members a chance to talk to community members who have an interest in non-motorized transportation for a variety of reasons. Also at this meeting, WBWC members elected the following Board members to a two-year term – Kris Talley, Tim Athan, Ana Iacob,and Ken Clark. At the December WBWC Board meeting, the WBWC Board members re-elected Kris Talley as Chair, Tim Athan as Vice-Chair, Ken Clark as Secretary and elected Ana Iacob as Treasurer, all for a one-year term of office. WBWC Membership RenewalsWBWC memberships are based on the calendar year, so at this time memberships for 2006 are becoming due. Basic membership is $25 a year and the renewal form can be accessed online . County Greenways – Moving Forward But Some SetbacksAt the November meeting of the Washtenaw County Parks and Recreation Commission Greenways Advisory Committee (GAC), updates were given on the many projects the County, along with various partners, are accomplishing for the betterment of non-motorized transportation in the County. A clear priority of the GAC is completion of a cross-county path, with spurs radiating out of the east-west main trail. In the past year, the County has completed new paths in the Ypsilanti area and through the new Dixboro Road bridge, but recent efforts of the County were to start work on a non-motorized path going east out of Dexter, with a crossing over the Huron River on a dedicated non-motorized bridge. Unfortunately, the Michigan Department of Natural Resources recently turned down the County application for this bridge, a move the County plans to appeal. Another project on the list of the County is a new path going north out of Parker Mill park (on Geddes, east of Dixboro Road) that would connect with a potential new dedicated trail on the west side of Dixboro road. Also, signs are being installed on portions of what will be the cross county path that currently exist in Ann Arbor and Ypsilanti. GAC meetings are generally held on the last Friday of the month, 8:30am, at the Washtenaw County Parks and Recreation Commission administration office on Platt Road. New Ann Arbor/County Bike Maps OutA newly revised, 2nd edition, of the popular Ann Arbor/Washtenaw County bicycle maps are now available at the Washtenaw County Parks and Recreation Commission headquarters (on Platt Road) and the Ann Arbor City Hall. The maps should also be available soon in most county bike shops. The new maps have numerous revisions due to new routes, changed traffic flows, and cyclist input (including members of the WBWC). Huron River Drive RepavingThe City of Ann Arbor is reported that the City’s portion of Huron River Drive, one of the most popular cycling routes in the County, will be repaved most likely in 2007, with engineering studies being completed in 2006. In the meantime, cyclists should use extreme caution as the surface pavement is in very poor condition, especially just west of Main Street. Serious potholes should be reported to the City Public Works office, and general concern about the state of the path should be conveyed to Ann Arbor City Council members so as to keep this project a priority. Ann Arbor Non-Motorized Plan Available For CommentAs of late 2005, the draft Ann Arbor non-motorized plan has been posted for public comment. As per the webpage, “The purpose of the plan is to identify the means to establish a physical and cultural environment that supports and encourages safe, comfortable and convenient ways for pedestrians and bicyclists to move throughout the city and into the surrounding communities. It is further envisioned that this environment will result in a greater number of individuals freely choosing alternative transportation modes (walking, bicycling, mass transit, etc.), which will lead to healthier lifestyles, improved air and water quality, and a safer, more sustainable transportation system”. The project cost is $100,000 with the City of Ann Arbor contributing $60,000, the DDA $20,000 and the University of Michigan $20,000.The Ann Arbor Non-Motorized Plan Advisory Committee, composed of representatives of key city departments, city advisory committees, affected public agencies, and the general citizenry, includes WBWC member John Hritz. Non-Motorized Transporation Meeting Held at U-MAttending the 12/1/05 meeting were WBWC board members Kris Talley and Erica Briggs. From the University of Michigan were Dave Miller, Director of Parking and Transportation Services; Brian Pawlowski, Alternative Transportation Coordinator; Patti Spence, Project Manager in the Planning Department, and Renee Jordan from Parking and Transportation Services.
More Bike Parking Coming Soon to Downtown YpsilantiIn early December, the Ypsilanti City Council gave unanimous approval to install a series of bike racks along the Michigan Avenue business district. Five of the inverted “U” style racks will be installed in front of businesses and two will be placed at City Hall, for a total of 14 bike parking spaces. The racks will be dedicated in a special ceremony in the spring of 2006, which the WBWC has been asked to attend. The racks are the first wave of bike parking to be installed in key locations throughout the city to support biking in the community. The bike rack installation is one of the Ypsilanti Health Coalition’s initiatives in the “Washtenaw Steps Up” project. The Coalition plans to host a community event in the spring to celebrate the bike rack installation project. “The bike racks will allow Ypsilanti residents to practice ‘active living’ by biking downtown and safely locking up their bikes,” said Debbie Young, facilitator of the Ypsilanti Health Coalition. “More biking will contribute to the health of the community and the business district.” Washtenaw Steps Up’s overall goal is to implement policy and environmental changes to make it easier for Ypsilanti residents to be physically active and eat healthily. A healthier nutrition and activity environment may lead to decreased obesity and cardiovascular disease among Ypsilanti adults and youth in the future. The Ypsilanti Health Coalition (YHC) acts as the lead community group for the Ypsilanti project, with support from Washtenaw County Public Health. As a long-standing local health coalition with representatives from Parents Together, Hope Clinic, U of M Health System, Saint Joseph Mercy Health System, and other organizations, the YHC has addressed childhood asthma and nutrition issues, focusing especially on at-risk groups within Ypsilanti. Several other community organizations have joined the YHC to work on Washtenaw Steps Up, including EMU, the Ypsilanti Chamber of Commerce, Downtown Development Authority, Growing Hope, the City of Ypsilanti, the Recreation Commission, and Ypsilanti Public Schools. Other community stakeholders are welcome to join the YHC at any time. For more information about the Ypsilanti Health Coalition, contact Deb Young at (734) 712-4543. WBWC Assists Washtenaw Area Teens For TomorrowOver the last few months WBWC Board member Tim Athan participated in The Transportation Action Team of the Washtenaw Area Teens for Tomorrow. The team's purpose was to write proposals for activities that would improve transportation for area youth. Five proposals resulted: The next step is to use these proposals to solicit a community champion and to garner resources and ideas for moving the projects forward. Washtenaw County Non-Motorized PlanThe Washtenaw County Area Transportation Study (WATS) is continuing to work on a non-motorized master plan for all of Washtenaw County. WATS is a local government transportation planning agency, of which local transportation plans are funneled through, for eventual construction. Earlier this year, WATS held a number of public workshops around the county to find areas where non-motorized facilities are either needed (and non-existent), in need of repair, or simply need to be completed (i.e. dead-end paths). Input from these sessions was presented to a Non-Motorized Transportation Steering Committee (of which WBWC Chair Kris Talley is a member) in November, and in December WATS plans to post a non-motorized project list for public comment. After public comment ends early next year, the plan will again go back to the Steering Committee. Final formulation of a County non-motorized plan is expected in the spring of 2006. getDowntown Program kicks off Ann Arbor Bike Winter 2006 The getDowntown Program kicks
off Ann Arbor Bike Winter 2006 during December with free, attended bike
parking during Midnight Madness, a winter cycling skills workshop led
by Officer Kathy Vonk of the Ann Arbor Police Department, and a social
gathering for bikers at Arbor Brewing Company. Ann Arbor Bike Winter,
modeled after programming in Chicago, Madison and Milwaukee, is a campaign
to encourage cyclists to ride year round and actively promote winter bicycling
as a form of transportation. While winter biking may seem daunting
at first, with the right gear and a little determination, you can continue
to enjoy bicycling year round. Biking through the winter is invigorating
and it's a great way to beat those winter blues, stay fit throughout the
winter months, protect the environment and save money! Visit www.getdowntown.org
to learn about future Ann Arbor Bike Winter events or contact Erica Briggs,
getDowntown Program Director, at 734.214.0100. Volunteers Needed For WBWC “Go” TeamThe WBWC is in the process of forming a “Go” team that would consist of individuals that could attend public hearings to speak in favor of bicycling and walking facilities. There is no need for individuals on this team to have expertise on non-motorized paths as most of the work would be to offer counter-statements to irrational comments. Quite often at public hearings for non-motorized facilities, statements can be made along the line of “a bike path will bring crime to my neighborhood” (as if building a street would not), or “bicyclists don’t pay road taxes” (as if cyclists were exempt from paying federal taxes that subsidize road construction). Those volunteering for the WBWC “Go” team would be provided with material to counter most anti-non-motorized arguments. If interested in helping with this project, please contact Bob Krzewinski at wolverbob@cs.com or at 734/487-9058. "Washtenaw Steps Up” Program Presented in DecemberThe Washtenaw County Health Department held a program titled “Washtenaw Steps Up – Implementing Best Practices In Your Community” on December 19, 2005. The program featured the “what, why and how” of bike maps, bike racks, benches, walking audits and health impact statements. The special guest was Phil Meyer, city planner from Holland, Michigan, who shared what his community has done to promote walking and biking. If you have any questions about this event, contact Melissa Fochesato at 544-3083 or fochasam@ewashtenaw.org. VolksSport Group Forming In Ann ArborAn import from Europe, VolksSporting is communal exercise, usually a walking route marked out and monitored by volunteers. People of all ages and abilities can participate, get little record books marked for accomplishment of the route, and party together afterwards. A normal route is 10 kilometers (6.2 miles), but longer and shorter ones may be set up, and sports other than walking may be used (biking, skating, &c). Club members go all over the world to participate in annually held VolksMarches (Mt. Fuji, Crazy Horse monument, etc.). The coastal states are saturated with Volkssporting clubs, but Michigan has only two so far. The people trying to launch this club in Ann Arbor had a slide show at Gallup Park in early December and have picked May 7 for an event here in Ann Arbor. The group will be known as the Washtenaw Wanderers. For more information, visit the American Volkssport Association: www.ava.org or www.geocities.com/a2ava@sbcglobal.net/Washtenaw_Wanderers.html Back Alley Bikes Assistance NeededBack Alley Bikes (BAB), a Detroit organization that fixes and refurbishes bicycles in downtown Detroit, is very much in need of volunteers, especially those able to do, or willing to learn, basic mechanical work. If you are interested in learning about bike mechanics yourself, BAB is meeting twice a week at their shop. The large numbers of young people that BAB used to have stop by during the warmer riding months has dwindled considerably since school started. But, there are still a good number of adults and kids coming. The adults are split between volunteer mechanics and the neighborhood adults who use their bikes for transportation. BAB is open on both Mondays from 5 to 9pm and Tuesdays from 4 to 8pm. Those at BAB are dividing the time between helping people work on either their own bikes, or a few are working on the "Earn-A-Bike" program. BAB is also repairing donated kid's bikes for small children and planning on giving these repaired bikes away to the local kids in the Cass corridor neighborhood that the shop is located in. If you would like to come down at either of these times, BAB would welcome you. You can work on your own bicycle. Or, you too could help BAB repair more of the kid's bikes. They have near a hundred of them that have been outgrown by some youngster and are awaiting a new owner. They are, mostly, small very simple single speed coaster brake bikes, needing a little work before they are again, safe, rideable bikes. BAB will also pair someone just learning bike maintenance skills with one of the experienced mechanics on a one on one situation. The shop is located at 3535 Cass Avenue, which is near the intersection of Cass and Martin Luther King. The entrance is actually around the back, up on the second floor off of the first alley West of the intersection. By virtue of our location, we actually do live up to our shop's name! If you drive down, you can park in the small lot in the back. If the door is closed, knock loudly so that someone can hear you up on the second floor. Also, dress warmly in your oldest clothes. Our furnace doesn't work and you don't want to get grease and dirt on any good clothing. The BAB e-mail address is backalleybikes@riseup.net and have a website at www.bikes.msu.edu/back_alley_bikes/. League of Michigan Bicyclists Appoints New DirectorThe League of Michigan Bicyclists is pleased to announce the selection of Rich Moeller of Pulaski, PA, as LMB's Executive Director. Rich comes to LMB from a 36-year career as a YMCA administrator and as a tireless and effective promoter of bicycling. Over the past 27 years he has spearheaded the creation of dozens of bicycle organizations, programs and events. His current service as president of the Lawrence County (PA) Cycling Club, and past service as Vice Chair of the Minnesota State Bicycle Advisory Board, are just two items from his vast cycling resume. He brings to the LMB an extraordinary combination of management skill and experience, passion for bicycling, understanding of how to make a community and state bicycle-friendly, and boundless energy. Says Rich, "I can think of no better way to use the skills I have developed in my YMCA career than to channel them into what has been my life-long passion -- bicycling. I relish the opportunity to promote bicycling and the rights of bicyclists in Michigan." For the last three years, Rich has been employed as CEO of the Shenango Valley YMCA in Hermitage, PA, where he directs bicycle camps for children and regularly cycles to work. Over the previous 17 years, he served as chief executive of YMCA facilities in New York City, northern Indiana and northern Minnesota. Wherever his YMCA career has taken him, he has been heavily involved in local bicycling activities. Rich will assume his LMB duties no later than January 3, 2006. He succeeds the late Lucinda Means, who passed away unexpectedly in April of 2005. New Michigan Trails – Greenways GroupRecently, in a restructuring move, the Michigan Rails To Trails Conservancy changed their name, and expanded their scope, to become the Michigan Trails and Greenways Alliance. The Alliance will continue to work with the national Rails To Trails Conservancy, but will be an independent group. For more information, visit the Alliance website . University of Michigan Offers “Walkable, Urban Place” ProgramAccording to an October 20th Crain's Detroit Business article, "The new director of the University of Michigan's real estate certificate program plans to push progressive development, or projects that are both profitable and have positive long-term consequences. The certificate program is a new multidisciplinary graduate program between business, urban planning, law and other schools at UM. Christopher Leinberger, who has a background as a real estate consultant, developer and author, said projects such as downtown revitalization, redevelopment of suburban cores, the right development in greenfield sites and transit-oriented development all can become progressive developments... "Empty-nesters, Gen X and Y and others have indicated preference for walkable, urban places to live. 'We've forgotten how to do it,' he said. 'That's what this program is about.' While conventional development tends to become obsolete, progressive development creates special places 'that people will want to write songs about.' The good news is that the up-and-coming group of real estate practitioners wants progressive development and is eager to study it, Leinberger said. The program has 40 courses so far available in its curriculum..." More information>> Walk Softly, And Carry A Big UmbrellaFrom the New York Daily News comes this article by Lenore Skenazy. There she is, snarling in the crosswalk - you can actually see her gums - the crazy lady with her umbrella, jabbing at the car that was just trying to make a turn, glaring at the driver like he's some kind of child molester, lunging around like Zorro with a purse and spewing a stream of obscenities that would make George Carlin stick his fingers in his ears. She is a self-righteous, car-hating, put-'em-in-their-place pedestrian and I know her type because ... I'm her. I am proud to be a walking menace to cars, because I believe cars are a driving menace to me and my fellow man. And woman. And dog. Why do so many of us otherwise mild-mannered citizens turn into arm-waving maniacs when cars are simply trying to make their turns - cars that have the green light, even? Because so many of those cars' drivers seem completely unaware of two laws: 1: Pedestrians Have The Right Of Way, You *$&%$&%#@%s! Got that? If a pedestrian has begun to cross the street in a designated crosswalk, a car cannot cut that person off. Cars that do so are BREAKING THE LAW. So are the cars that see the pedestrian ABOUT to cross the street and speed up to beat 'em to the punch. "There is no ambiguity whatsoever," says Charles Komanoff, head of the pedestrian rights group Right of Way. If people and cars are nearing the same place at the same time, people rule. The chance that aggressive drivers will get a ticket, however, is about .00007% (my personal estimate, from a lifetime of never seeing it happen). So it is up to us pedestrians to educate them. "STOP, YOU *$#&W#!" is how we do it. 2: Physics. That's the other big-time law that drivers ignore. Humans pounding the hood of a car can only hurt their fists. (Especially the pinky.) But cars hitting humans? Calling CSI! In this city, cars making turns kill more pedestrians than cars doing anything else, even speeding, says Komanoff, who studied pedestrian accident reports from 1997. Now, lately and belatedly, many places have begun to take some pedestrian-saving measures, such as expanding the sidewalk into the street at busy crosswalks (think of it as giving the sidewalk a bunion). Cars are forced to slow down through the narrowed strait. And some cities, including Chicago, Portland, Ore., and New York, have put up concrete barriers to keep cars from climbing onto the sidewalk. In Europe there's a movement to make crosswalks into speed bumps. Love it! But what we really need is a massive ad campaign to educate all the drivers out there - drivers who think it is us self-righteous, car-hating, darting-out, plowing-ahead oblivious pedestrians who are the problem - that no matter how annoying we may be, WE have the right of way! Until then, drivers: Expect my umbrella. Hit Pedestrian Gets A $5 TicketIn Washington, DC recently, police there issued a $5 jaywalking ticket to a renowned urban designer after a car sent him hurtling through the air as he crossed a busy Washington street. Charles Atherton, 73, the former longtime secretary of the U.S. Commission of Fine Arts who oversaw the design of major monuments and federal buildings, was in critical condition yesterday after he was hit at night while crossing rain-slicked Connecticut Avenue NW. The collision's force, witnesses said, caused Atherton to fly out of his shoes and left him crumpled on the road, bleeding from his head and nose after his head smashed into the windshield. Before paramedics rushed him to the hospital, police issued Atherton the ticket, which his family found among his belongings when they visited him at George Washington University Hospital. "He was issued a ticket because he was at fault. That's all I can tell you," said Lt. John Kutniewski of the police department's major crash investigation unit. Police said that Atherton caused the accident by crossing the street mid-block, just south of the Uptown movie theater in Cleveland Park. Kutniewski, who was not at the scene immediately after the 7:30 p.m. accident, said that officers later told him that Atherton was conscious when he received the summons. "If he's outside the crosswalk, he would be at fault," he said. Michael Baker, a communications consultant who was a few yards away when the accident occurred, was among the first to reach Atherton. "At one point, we were trying to get him to respond, and it was unclear if he was trying to respond or maybe drowning in blood," he said. "I think he was having a difficult time breathing. He never said anything. He couldn't speak, and he wouldn't respond when we pinched his hand." Baker said he overheard a police officer "reassuring" the driver involved in the accident that she was not at fault. On the face of it, Baker said, it may seem "offensive" that Atherton was ticketed, but he believed that the officers were seeking to establish liability. "It seemed primarily to assuage her," he said of the driver. "She was just distraught. She was wailing for 45 minutes." Next Steps In “Complete Streets” AgendaAccording to an article in the November 23rd 'Complete the Streets News,' "The final federal transportation bill signed into law in August, SAFETEA-LU, launched a new Safe Routes to School program and strengthened existing programs that will make it safer and easier for millions of Americans to bicycle and walk. SAFETEA-LU did not contain a complete streets provision -- as you know, the complete streets amendment was narrowly defeated in a vote on the Senate floor. However, complete streets advocates see plenty of other opportunities to advance the cause. "The national Complete Streets Steering Committee is finalizing a three-year campaign plan and is marshalling resources to launch it. The campaign will spread the word about complete streets; help jurisdictions 'get it right' when they adopt and implement new complete streets policies; and continue to build the coalition working for complete streets. The more that complete streets become standard practice in cities and states around the country, the easier it will be to make complete streets a policy in federal law..." For more about Complete Streets, go to: http://www.completestreets.org. For more about SAFETEA-LU go to:http://www.americabikes.org Guiding Principles For Safe Route To SchoolsAccording to an article in the November 18th Safe Routes to School E-News, "The Safe Routes to School National Partnership recently finalized a set of Guiding Principles for Safe Routes to School. The Guiding Principles are a set of recommendations for program implementation that have been provided to the Federal Highway Administration and all State Departments of Transportation regarding the implementation of Safe Routes to School. "The Guiding Principles cover four broad topics: Goals, Program Administration, Planning and Evaluation, and Programs (Infrastructure and Non-Infrastructure). They were developed through a series of meetings with Partner members who have experience with program implementation, and were presented in a draft format to approximately 50 people at the Partnership's annual meeting in DC last month. Based on feedback from the group, which included representatives from advocacy groups as well FHWA, NHTSA, AASHTO, and a few State DOTs, the recommendations were revised into the final format that you are receiving now. "The Safe Routes to School National Partnership encourages statewide and local advocates to review these Guiding Principles and to recommend their use by your State DOT." For more info, go to: http://tinyurl.com/dewag Study: 56% Of Americans Rate Walking Routes ImportantAccording to a December 1st news release, "At a time when 61 percent of survey respondents cite improved physical activity as a priority resolution for the New Year, a new study conducted for the YMCA of the USA by Greenfield Online, Inc. reveals that 7 out of 10 Americans say their community environment influences their level of physical activity and overall health. YMCA of the USA is the national resource office for the nation's 2,594 YMCAs. The survey was released today at the YMCA Activate America(TM): Pioneering Healthier Communities National Conference, which gathers 230 leaders from urban and rural communities across the U.S. who are charged with re-engineering their hometowns into healthier environments where physical activity can be enjoyed and the rising obesity epidemic arrested through a combination of sustainable initiatives. More than half (56 percent) of survey respondents rank walkable routes in the community as the first or second most important factor positively influencing their physical activity, followed by access to local parks (28 percent) and community bike paths (26 percent). "'This survey validates the important role government, community leaders and organizations must play in transforming their communities into healthier environments and reversing rising rates of obesity and chronic disease,' said Kenneth L. Gladish, Ph.D., president and chief executive officer, YMCA of the USA. 'We do know that to be successful, change must start at the grassroots level. And, we are gratified by the fact after just one year, the YMCA Activate America: Pioneering Healthier Communities Project is making a measurable impact on local citizens by mobilizing effective public-private partnerships.' According to Dr. Gladish, of keen interest to Conference attendees, elected officials and public health figures, alike, will be the finding that 43 percent of Americans believe, after themselves, government and health insurers should share the lead responsibility for creating healthier communities. Community leaders and organizers are the parties ranked as the second and third most responsible, followed by employers and corporations..." For more on the program, go to: http://tinyurl.com/anhhz Stylish Pedestrians Are Safer?Clothes influence behavior in startling ways. Psychologists at the University of Leicester in England observed the reactions of 18,000 drivers as pedestrians attempted to cross the street in front of them. The researchers, Adrian C. North and Lorraine Sheridan, situated young men and women at nine crosswalks. Each participant was wearing either a suit and dress shoes, with neatly styled hair, or "an oversize, dirty sweater with holes, dirty jeans with holes, dirty sneakers, and spiked hair that had been sprayed bright green," the researchers report. The lives of the unkempt pedestrians turned out to be at much greater risk: Drivers failed to stop for nearly 35 percent of them, compared with 21percent of the well-appointed crossers. The study authors say the results build upon prior research showing that a mainstream appearance encourages positive treatment. Police “Enlighten” Oregon Cyclists In The DarkAs reported in the The Oregonian newspaper, a new Portand, Oregon bike safety program is giving added meaning to the term Officer Friendly. Beginning in December, Portland traffic cops plan to pull over difficult-to-see night bicyclists, warn them about their missing beacons and hand over a free set. Officers will even help install the lights -- one for the front and back of the bike -- at no charge. Police Traffic Division Lt. Mark Kruger, who is helping organize the program, emphasizes that officers still will have discretion to issue $94 citations to cyclists riding light-free, which is "definitely against city code." But that's unlikely, says Mark Lear, traffic investigations manager for the city's Office of Transportation. Officers are more likely to write tickets for bicyclists who run a red light or zip down the no-bike bus mall lanes, he said. The goal is to improve biker visibility at a time when the days are growing shorter, the number of bicyclists is increasing and concern for their safety is growing. At least four cyclists have died on Portland streets this year. About 170 collisions between cars and bicycles are reported annually. Until recently, most commuter cyclists could leave work and arrive home before dark. Not anymore. Kruger calls the bike light giveaways "critically important." "It's a major safety issue," he says. Another concern: helping ease the animosity between cops and cyclists. Run-ins in recent years between the two camps, especially during Critical Mass group rides, have fueled hard feelings, Lear says.” There was definitely some need to mend some fences," he says. So along came hundreds of thousands of dollars in extra traffic ticket revenue that the city chose to spend on traffic safety, Lear says. Why not use some of the money to replicate Shift's Get Lit program, Lear and his colleagues suggested. The bicycling group has given away more than 1,000 free lights. At monthly meetings with traffic cops, Lear heard that police were interested in finding more opportunities to make the roads safer for bicyclists. Bingo. The partnership was born. So far, the city has bought 500 sets of lights from Planet Bike for $10
each, a steep discount. Lear expects the initial allotment to last three
to six months. If the freebie program proves successful, the city may
buy another thousand, he says. Lear is not foolhardy enough to say the
free lights will cure the city's bicycle safety problems. Jeff Bernards, a landscaper and longtime bicyclist who created Shift's Get Lit program, had mixed feelings about police stealing his idea. "Do I want police putting lights on bikes? There's a crime wave out there," he says. "I'm looking at it from a taxpayer standpoint." On the other hand, he says, "anything that gives bikers a safe alternative to cars is fine with me." Bernards had one suggestion for the cops: hand out more tickets, in addition to the lights. There's no better way for bicyclists to get the message -- and spread it -- than a $94 ticket, he says. Oakland County, Michigan Roads Not WorkingAccording to a Nov. 16th Metro Times op-ed piece by Keith Schneider, "Brent O. Bair is a highway and car guy. Tall, silver-haired, earnest and big enough to have played tackle on a college defensive line, he's been with Oakland County's Road Commission for 28 years, 12 of them as the agency's managing director. That career, marked by engineering discipline and certainty, has spanned much of the 50-year road construction era that produced two unmistakable results in southeast Michigan. All that pavement -- 2,700 miles of county roads and 230 miles of state highways that Bair is responsible for maintaining, plus 2,700 more miles overseen by local governments -- helped Oakland County attract more than 700,000 jobs and become a place of well-to-do engineers and executives tied to the auto industry who enjoy good public schools, beautiful parks and subdivisions full of expensive homes. "But Oakland County's freeways and local roads also contributed to the second result: emptying Detroit, and spreading homes, businesses, churches, schools and everything else across a seven-county metropolitan region. Some 300,000 people who live outside Oakland County drive there to work. 'Our commuting pattern is suburb-to-suburb, and has been that way for a long time now,' Bair says. But the great road- and highway-building era ended with the 20th century, and, five years into the 21st, Bair confronts a uniquely messy new challenge. It's not just that the very same highway network that fostered Oakland County's development is cracked with age, jammed with vehicles and blamed for wounding the county's economic competitiveness..." Bicycle Passing Law Established In Washington StateAccording to a Nov. 16th Anacortes American article, "A new law
is now in effect in Washington state that makes it a traffic violation
to pass a bike on a two-lane road at the same time traffic is going by
in the opposite direction. The law stems from a tragic Mother's Day crash
that happened near Walla Walla during 2004. Eight highly experienced bicyclists
were traveling single file on the shoulder of Highway 124 "The law, House Bill 1108, also extends the zone of legal protection for bicyclists and pedestrians to highway shoulders and bicycle lanes. When passing a bicyclist there must be 3 to 5 feet of clearance between the car and the rider. A minimum $101 fine can be imposed for violating the law..." Source>> Strict Road Rules Equals Low Fatality RatesBritain has developed some of the strictest road rules in the world. In return, it enjoys the world's lowest driving fatality rates, says the World Health Organization. Fatalities related to traffic accidents have more than halved in Britain since their peak in the mid-1960's, even as the number of licensed vehicles increased nearly threefold. In response to a jump in traffic fatalities in the late 50's and early 60's, the transportation minister, Barbara Castle, introduced 70 miles-an-hour highway speed limits, breathalyzer tests for suspected drunken drivers and compulsory seat belts in new cars. According to the most recent World Health Organization numbers, the rate of fatal traffic accidents in Britain is 5.6 people every 100,000 people, a substantial difference from the United States, where the rate is 15. Measured another way, there are 7.6 fatalities per billion kilometers driven in Britain, compared with 9.4 in the United States, according to figures compiled by the International Road and Traffic Accident Database, a research venture of the European Union. The W.H.O. estimates that traffic injuries cost Britain 0.5 percent of the gross domestic product, versus 2.3 percent in the United States, which is on par with Uganda. Britain's success can be attributed to the combination of a blisteringly
tough driving test, strict enforcement, chilling ad campaigns and speed
bumps in roads. The government also continues to set ambitious targets:
Test failure rates are remarkably high for would-be drivers in Britain: just 42 percent of test-takers pass (compared with about 61 percent, for example, in New York State), down from 50 percent in 1950. That's with help - an estimated 98 percent of British drivers take lessons, with most taking 20 or more, besides driving with family and friends. The test elements are similar to many in the United States: three-point turns, pulling into intersections, parking. But examiners are looking for evidence that drivers are cautious and vividly aware of everything around them. Drivers could get a "serious fault," which means they have failed the test, for example, if they don't register that there is something in the road ahead with a tap on the brakes. "We see the driving test as a lifetime skill - get it wrong and you'll die," said Barry Morris, the chief driving examiner for the Driving Standards Agency. Mr. Morris suggests that most drivers take 50 lessons or more before they come in for an examination. Even drivers who have passed are on two-year probation. Another contributing factor to Britain's low accident rate is "traffic calming," making it more difficult to drive fast. For example, London and other major cities are rife with speed bumps that can be the size of a small sand dune, also known as "sleeping policemen," on side streets where traffic is light. "Drivers don't like them, because they don't want to slow down, but they are extremely effective," said Kevin Clinton, head of road safety at the Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents, a British charity that works closely with the government on traffic issues. "Local residents are clamoring to have them on their streets," he said. Drinking while driving is much less common in Britain than in the United States, even though people drink at a much younger age and generally drink more at one sitting. The difference is that public transportation in the most populated areas of Britain is good, and penalties for being caught are stiff, even if you don't cause an accident. The official limit for driving while intoxicated in Britain is 0.08 percent, as in much of the United States, but the lightest penalty for a first-time offender is removal of one's license for a year. After two offenses, a driver will need to take a test again before being able to drive. Rather than warning drivers to know their limits, the government suggests they don't drink at all. To keep speeds down on highways, Britain has embraced the hidden camera, which takes shots of cars going over the limit and transmits the image to the local police, who issue a ticket based on license-plate numbers. Getting four speeding tickets in three years, even at a mile over the speed limit, will result in a suspended license. The speed cameras are highly unpopular with many drivers, but the government plans to install more. Bike Safety Legislation WorksMissouri recently passed bicycle safety legislation, and it is already having a noticeable effect: Cyclist Jon Cunningham of Fort Leonard Wood, Mo. was riding at the fort when the mirror of a passing car hit him. Because the new law requires motorists to leave a safe distance when passing a bicyclist, the driver of the vehicle was fined $1,000. State Of The Art Bikestation Opens (Unfortunately, Not In Washtenaw County)Bikestation, a public Park & Ride for cyclists, opened in November in a new, state-of-the-art center in downtown Long Beach, California. Bikestation offers an advanced entry system accessible 24 hours a day to members; indoor bicycle parking; shared-use bicycles; and a repair-retail shop. Bike parking is free during daily business hours. Active Living Resource Center Implements Experts DirectoryThe Active Living Resource Center (ALRC) web site has implemented a new online directory of experts who can assist neighborhoods and communities in their efforts to make more bicycle friendly and walkable environments. Who are these experts? "They're very likely to be many of the people who subscribe to CenterLines," said Gary MacFadden, who directs the ALRC program for the National Center for Bicycling & Walking. "We're looking for people who can answer questions, provide workshops and other training, who can structure local bicycle and pedestrian plans...any activity that can help move a local project forward." "The ALRC site is aimed at individuals and small community groups that are trying to make their neighborhoods and communities better places to live," said MacFadden. "They have questions that need answering, and they often require direct assistance." A person can search the Directory on a state-by-state basis only, or use an advanced search page for queries by region or specialty. If you consider yourself an expert, or even pretty knowledgeable, in the bicycle and pedestrian field, you're encouraged to add yourself to the ALRC Directory. "The link below will bring up a page where you enter your name, contact information (e-mail required, phone NOT required but encouraged) and your specialty areas," MacFadden said. "You'll also need to enter your state and regional or national practice area." MacFadden added that the entry function can also be used to add another person to the Directory. "If you know of someone who would be a good addition to the Directory, and you don't see his or her name already in the lists, use the form to submit their name," MacFadden said. "We'll check each listing before it is released to the public site." You can add
your name or submit another person's name to the ALRC Experts Directory,
or use
the Experts Directory . Bicycle Transportation Alliance Publishes BlueprintAccording to a recent note from Scott Bricker, BTA's Policy Director, "The Bicycle Transportation Alliance recently published our 'Blueprint for Better Biking, 40 Ways to Get There.' The report provides a strategy and roadmap to increase bicycling in the Portland metro area, but has suggestions and ideas any urban area can adopt. The report provides 40 essential projects, programs, and policies that are critical to bringing the region to the next level and a 'Top 10' list that are the highest priorities among the list. The projects were selected through an extensive two-year process that included a survey of over 900 bicyclists, meetings with technical experts, and meetings with bicycle advisory committees. "The report also offers strategies for improving bicycling conditions in any community. Many of our projects call for bike routes with little or no car traffic -- bike boulevards and trails, mainly. Helping people avoid car traffic is a key to safety, comfort, and getting new people to try biking. We also recognize the need to greatly improve our suburban efforts. Again, we call for lower traffic solutions and innovative approaches to developing these networks." BTA Executive Director Evan Manvel added, "Media liked it, and we got coverage on two TV stations, the state's newspaper of record, and two radio stations (including a long segment on the much-listened-to public radio station). "A few notes from this experience: Web Resources”PHYSICAL ACTIVITY EVALUATION
HANDBOOK" "CONTAINING THE COMMERCIAL STRIP" "PLANNING FOR NARROW LOCAL STREETS" TREAT YOUR POOR ACHING FEET RIGHT! ”RUMBLE STRIP GAP STUDY" "INTEGRATION OF BICYCLES AND
TRANSIT" |