Newsletter

WBWC Newsletter Archives

March-April 2006

WBWC Membership Renewals

WBWC memberships are based on the calendar year, so at this time memberships for 2006 are due. Basic membership is $25 a year and a basic membership/renewal form is at the end of the newsletter.

New Discount For WBWC Members

Sustainable Energy in Motion Bike Tours (503/239-8426) is offering a $50 discount to WBWC members on their bicycling tours in Oregon this spring and summer. As their press release states,"Bike hundreds of miles.  Meet incredible people.  Participate in amazing service projects.  Stay on organic farms and work to support sustainable agriculture.  Study and work with indigenous communities.  Live with the land and camp under the stars.  Change your world one mile at a time."

Ann Arbor Among Best Bike Cities, According to Bicycling Magazine

According to a Jan. 26th Bicycling story, "Portland [Oregon], which was previously named America's top cycling city by Bicycling in its most recent rankings in 2001, remained the top overall choice again in 2006, as well as the magazine's choice for top cycling city among those with a population of fewer than 1 million people. Bicycling's complete list of America's top cycling cities is featured in the March 2005 issue of the magazine, on newsstands February 1.

"San Diego, CA was selected as the top cycling city in the country for cities with a population greater than 1 million, while Madison, WI (population 200,000 to 500,000), Boulder, CO (population 75,000 to 200,000) and Davis, CA (Best Small Town) were also named the nation's top cycling markets among their respective population sizes. The worst cities for cycling, according to Bicycling's findings, are Atlanta, GA; Houston, TX and Boston, MA--which, ironically, is the city in which Bicycling VP/Editor-In-Chief Steve Madden grew up and learned how to ride..."

Rankings:
- Best U.S. Cycling City (overall): Portland, OR
- Best Cycling City (population 1 million or more):
           1. San Diego, CA;
           2. Chicago, IL
           3. New York, NY
           Honorable mention: Philadelphia, PA; Phoenix, AZ
-  Best Cycling City (population 500,000 to 1 million):
           1. Portland, OR
           2. Denver, CO
           3. Seattle, WA
           Honorable mention: San Francisco, CA; Austin, TX
-  Best Cycling City (population 200,000 to 500,000):
          1. Madison, WI
          2. Tucson, AZ
          3. Albuquerque, NM
          Honorable mention: Minneapolis, MN; Anchorage, AK
-  Best Cycling City (population 75,000 to 200,000)
          1. Boulder, CO
          2. Eugene, OR
          3. Ann Arbor, MI
          Honorable mention: Chattanooga, TN; Cambridge, MA
-  Best Small Town for Cycling: Davis, CA (population 60,308)

WBWC Board Member Attends UN Conference

Brenda Bentley-Goenka recently attended a United Nations conference in New York and files this report:

I went to the UN to deliver a statement as a representative of the International Federation of Pedestrians. IFP had received an invitation to the 44^th Session of the UN Commission on Social Policy and Development, (a developing-countries anti-poverty conference spanning a couple weeks in early February, 2006). I was asked to represent IFP as the board member in closest proximity to the UN. I couldn't go for the whole conference, but I could go to deliver a statement, which I did. I was at the UN on Feb 10, 11, and 13^th, when the NGOs were finally called on to take the floor, 3 minutes each. (Delegates from countries, who spoke earlier, all had much longer statements.) Each speaker submitted 250 copies of his/her statement, myself included; these were distributed to everyone in the room to follow along, and take away for closer perusal. The conference room was like the General Assembly in that it contained many long rows of desks, capacity probably 250, each seat with a microphone and an earset (where you can dial your language of preference for listening to other speakers). Most of the time the room was about half filled.

United Nations Commission for
Social Policy and Development, 44^th Session

Statement by Brenda E. Bentley
Board Member
International Federation of Pedestrians

13 February 2006
UN Headquarters, New York

Mr. Chairman/Madam Chair, Distinguished Delegates, Ladies and Gentlemen,

It is my pleasure to deliver a statement on behalf of the International Federation of Pedestrians. IFP represents the interests of the pedestrian at the international level. Since 1987 IFP has moved increasingly to a concern with pedestrians in developing countries, where the levels of motorization have been rising sharply, accompanied by an alarming increase in the number of pedestrian deaths and injuries.

Mobility is freedom. If one's mobility is impaired—for instance, by lack of a safe sidewalk—one lacks the full freedom to get where one needs to go, to work, to play, to better oneself, to pursue one's dreams. Mobility is a central, vital ingredient of economic and social advancement. Individuals at all levels of society who possess safe mobility are able to pursue their own best interests. Their activities create micro-economies which interweave across the community to build the supporting structure of the macro-economy. In this way, justice for the least translates to a better life for all.

Safe and efficient transportation in all its forms is a vital, central ingredient of a society which can prosper, enjoy prestige, and attract outsiders.

Of all the modes of transportation, of all the vehicles we use for personal mobility, walking—using the human body to move—is the most basic. We walk if we don't have any other way to travel, or if we want the health benefits of walking, or if we want the pleasure of it. We walk to and between other modes of transportation: the car, the bicycle, the bus, the horse, the train, the plane. Each of these modes occupies a specialty niche in the transportation spectrum, but walking is the default mode. Walking is the essential base form. Even when we don't walk for transportation, we walk at our destinations.

Special licenses are required for higher-tech modes of transport. These modes tend to be more invasive of the public street than plain walking is: cars, for example, require more expensive infrastructure, they pollute the public air, and they can threaten other users of the public street. Driving, therefore, is a licensed privilege, not a right. Machines cannot replace walking as the primary mode. When the car breaks down, one may walk to the service station—if there's a space for pedestrians in the roadway.

Walking is basic. Most of the world's people don't have a choice about it. Yet walking is very dangerous. Even before the automobile, pedestrians sometimes got run over by horse-drawn carriages. Vehicles which have more speed and mass than pedestrians threaten walkers. They treat pedestrians like trespassers on the public street. But pedestrians are actually traffic—traffic which is not polluting the air or making thunderous noise, traffic which doesn't threaten other road-users, traffic which doesn't require expensive roadways. Pedestrians are traffic whose activities, if unimpaired by dangerous streets, supply the threads with which the supporting structure of the economy is woven. Pedestrians are important to the welfare of the larger whole.

Designing safe pedestrian infrastructure into the public street is not an option. Freedom of movement is an essential right which cultivates both the individual and the larger society.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman/Madam Chair.

WBWC Testifies Before Ann Arbor Energy Commission

The Ann Arbor Energy Commission delivered a lengthy presentation – an hour and 20 minutes in length – to the Mayor and City Council on February 13, 2006. This was in response to the Mayor's challenge to the Commission to plot a more sustainable energy plan for Ann Arbor's future.  WBWC Vice Chair Tim Athan was one of the presenters, promoting the non-motorized plan (which is now available in draft form from the city's web site), urging the development of regional mass transit, raising concerns about widening US23, and promoting the idea of occasional closures to motorized traffic on Huron River Drive.

Platt Road To Get Road "Diet"

According to a February 8th Ann Arbor News article, "A new plan for a section of Platt Road calls for fewer traffic lanes and the addition of bicycle lanes on both shoulders. The road is scheduled to be resurfaced this summer between the I-94 overpass and Packard Road. Once the resurfacing is finished, the lanes will be redesigned with one lane of traffic in each direction, a center turn lane and a bike lane on each shoulder.

According to the Washtenaw Area Transportation Study, the 24-hour, two-way traffic counts just south of the interstate are about 9,200 vehicles.

"The flow is low enough to handle being narrowed to two traffic lanes, said Homayoon Pirooz, chief engineer for the project management unit for the city. And the turn lane will assist traffic turning left into apartments and side streets. 'With any new improvements, we would like to add bike lanes to help with non-motorized transportation throughout the city,' he said..."

WBWC Board member Paul Alman attended a public hearing on the Platt Road conversion and reported the following:

I attended the Planning Commission's information session last evening on the resurfacing/reconfiguration of Platt Road.  About a dozen people were there, and there were the typical comments (what about neighborhood traffic, traffic light at Lorraine, slowing of traffic by going to 3 lanes, etc.) but in general most comments were either neutral or accepting of the fact that something will be done regardless of their comments.  Much different than the Washtenaw Road bike path meeting, with a genuine concern about traffic in the neighborhood near Scarlet School.  

Driver Gets 7-15 Years In Prison For Killing Local Cyclist

Last April, cyclist Todd Schoenheide was killed by a speeding drunk driver (whose alcohol level was three times the legal limit) that ran a stop sign on the corner on Plymouth and Gotfredson Roads. It was estimated that at the time of impact the motorist was traveling between 70 and 100 mph. The motorist, Mark Peterson, also struck another cyclist, breaking his hand. In sentencing Peterson, Judge Donald Shelton stated that in giving the harsh sentence, " This is not about retribution as much as it is about public safety" .

Full Ann Arbor News article

Appeal Denied for Irresponsible Driver

And in Ohio, Bradley Johnson, a driver who was convicted of vehicular homicide in the 2004 death of cyclist Bob Bachtel near Xenia, Ohio, has had his conviction upheld by Ohio's Second District Court of Appeals. Johnson, who was speeding at the time of the crash, crossed a double yellow line to pass a group of cyclists participating in the Calvin's Challenge 12-hour marathon bike race.

Ypsilanti Official Leaves Post

Megan Gibbs of the Ypsilanti Economic Development office recently resigned her position there to take a job in planning with the city of Portland, Oregon. While in Ypsilanti, Megan was the driving force to create the City's first-ever bike lanes and also a section of the cross-county non-motorized trail. Best wishes go to Megan in her new job.

Local Spring Rides Of Silence

Hello Washtenaw Biking & Walking Coalition members. My name is Mark Hagar, I hold the Membership Chair of the Rapid Wheelmen Bike Club in Grand Rapids and am the Michigan Representative for the Ride of Silence. I would personally like to thank WBWC members Kris Talley and Paul Alman for helping to coordinate the Ann Arbor Ride of Silence that will take place on May 17^th, 2006, along with the Ann Arbor Bicycling & Touring Society. I will again be the coordinator of the Grand Rapids Ride of Silence.

The 2006 Ride of Silence will roll across Michigan, the U.S. and the world on May 17^th, 2006 at 7:00 PM (a few sites will adjust their time). This is NOT a Critical Mass Ride. There are no shirts or items for sale, there's no fee or registration. Each ride is approximately 12 miles long, is ridden at a 12 MPH pace, and is Silent, though its message won't be. It's not just a club ride. It's a ride for Moms, Dads, brothers & sisters, family & friends, beginning cyclists to the racers, anyone who wishes to honor a cyclist that has been killed or injured by a motorist while out riding and to let motorist know they MUST Share the Road with us. Participants are asked to wear a black armband to honor a cyclist who's been killed, and/or a red armband to honor a cyclist that has been injured. One of Chris Phelan's goals is for the Ride to have far reaching affects, not just making roads safer for bicyclists, but for walkers, runners, joggers and roller-bladers as well.

As of Jan 1st, we have 12 confirmed sites in Michigan, the most of any state in the U.S. at this point. Locations and supporting clubs are (**new for 2006);

**Ann Arbor, Ann Arbor Bicycle Touring Society, Washtenaw Bicycling & Walking Coalition, Start location to be determined

**Battle Creek, Battle Creek Bicycle Club, from parking lot behind Team Active

**Boyne City, North Country Bicycle Club, start location to be determined

Grand Rapids, Rapid Wheelmen, Macatawa Cycling Club of Holland, West Mich. Coast Riders of Muskegon, Jade Cycles of Zeeland, from Riverside Park

**Hamburg-Pinckney, Against the Wind Cycling Club, start location to be determined

**Houghton, Copper County Cycling Club, start location to be determined

**Jackson, Cascades Cycling Club, start location to be determined

**Lansing, Tri-County Bicycle Assoc., from Haslett Middle School

Livonia-Westland-Dearborn, Multiple Detroit area clubs, from Nankin Mills Pavilion, Hines Drive

Midland-Bay City-Saginaw, Tri-City Cyclists, Bay City this year, start location to be determined

**Mount Pleasant, CMU Cycling Club, start location to be determined

Traverse City, Cherry Capitol Cycling Club, from Horizon Book Store

TENTATIVE:

Grattan, at Wed. night race series, all Racers riding one slow lap in Silence (as they did last year)

There are a few clubs considering hosting a Ride in their area, and I am still in the process of contacting other locations around the state. For those unfamiliar with the Ride of Silence, below is a brief history;

* In 2003 endurance cyclist Larry Schwartz is struck and killed by the mirror of a passing bus while cycling outside of Dallas. His friend Coach Chris Phelan organizes a memorial ride in Dallas on May 18^th, titled the Ride of Silence, a slow paced silent 12 mile ride to honor his friend. In only ten days of coordinating the Ride, over 1,000 cyclists attend. Chris thinks he has closure.

* Word spreads about the Ride. A grassroots movement takes place…

* In 2004, Rides of Silences take place on May 18^th in 50 cities in the U.S. and Canada. The Dallas Ride has 2,500 cyclists. It's written up in Bicycling magazine.

* Chris actively promotes the Ride. A board of directors is in place. A copyright is applied for the Ride of Silence name.

* In 2005, Rides of Silences take place in over 100 U.S cities, 120+ worldwide, in 9 countries, across 4 continents. The Dallas ride again has 2,500 cyclists. The Dallas City Council issues a proclamation that May 18^th 2005 is The Ride of Silence Day. The Dallas board appoints a representative in each of the states / areas. Grand Rapids holds its 1^st Ride of Silence.

* Rides of Silences will take place on May 17^th 2006, worldwide, at 7:00 PM.

The League of Michigan Bicyclists will actively promote the 2006 Ride to all affiliated clubs. I have been working with Dave Duffield, LMB Director at Large. Dave attended the Livonia-Dearborn Ride last year and submitted the write up about it to Chris and the Dallas Board. Dave & I will present the 2006 Michigan Rides to all LMB Directors at their Jan. 21^st Board meeting. We have submitted all sites that were confirmed by Oct. 31^st to the LMB 2006 Ride Calendar. 8 of the above sites were confirmed by that date. For the sites that came on board after the deadline, I asked that a general statement be included, to the affect of: If your location is not listed, please contact your local bike club or shop for any additional Rides that may have been scheduled. To quote Dave: " I personally think this ride may be the most important one listed on the calendar for obvious reasons." All 12 sites were submitted to the League of American Bicyclist calendar.

I would ask that all WBWC members consider riding in the Ann Arbor Ride of Silence, and to give Kris and Paul your full support in promoting and putting this on. Or attend a Ride in one of the other locations, and ask all your cycling friends to consider attending a Ride for 2006. I'll be sending regular emails to Kris & Paul and all the other Mich. coordinators in 2006, on updates from Chris and the Dallas Board, and to have an open forum on how to promote the Mich. Rides, and share our ideas on what went well in 2005, and what we can do to improve for 2006. I look forward to working with Kris and Paul in promoting the 2006 Ride.

In Grand Rapids for 2006, sadly we have another area cyclist (not a Rapid Wheelmen member) who we will be honoring, Anna Sobie, who was struck and killed this past Sept. in Walker while riding with her husband and friends. Her husband and family were very grateful that I asked them to attend, and will be there to ride with us in the 2006 Grand Rapids Ride of Silence, to honor Anna. The Rapid Wheelmen have donated a set of Share the Road signs to the City of Walker, that Anna's husband approved, that we stenciled " In Memory of Anna" , and will be placed on both sides of the road this spring, near where Anna was struck, a reminder to motorist that they MUST Share the Road with us. If anyone would like additional information about the Ride of Silence, or starting a Share the Road program in your area, please feel free to email me.

Lastly, I'd like to thank Kris again for allowing me to post this very important event in the WBWC newsletter.

Together, we can make a difference.

Mark Hagar

markpedal1@highstream.net
Michigan Representative for the Ride of Silence
www.rideofsilence.org

Winter Biking In Washtenaw County

Just a reminder that periodic winter bicycling activities are being conducted in the Ann Arbor area, courtesy of GetDowntown Director (and WBWC Board member) Erica Briggs. For more information, visit www.bikewinter.org/main.php or http://www.getdowntown.org/biking.html.

Whole Foods and the MaxShopper Biking & Walking Trailer

Whole Foods Market is setting up to test the 'MaxShopper transport system' in 4 Southern California locations as a tool for people to reach stores on foot and by bicycle. The 'MaxShopper' is a pop up personal cart designed both for use walking and as a bike trailer. Developed in Switzerland, where 6,000 have sold in 18 months, the product rolls through the aisles, and checkout, carrying 4+ bags of groceries. This project started when the managers at the Whole Foods in Pittsburgh saw me ride into the parking lot pulling mine  (obtained via Vancouver, Canada because there is no US distribution.) From there, Becky McLucas, with the company's Green Mission initiative, picked up the concept as "something our customers may really appreciate."

"My hope is to remove a few automobiles from our roads. Truthfully, even drivers can use it stowed in the trunk to save the hassles of an empty traditional cart. Product testing on LA sidewalks and streets begins in February. Other regions in the Whole Foods chain are interested. Progress depends on consumer reactions."

For more info, contact Nick at Nick@Ipropel.org and check out this animated WMP video: http://tinyurl.com/coesd.

Ohio State University Develops Non Motorized Plan

In the "wouldn't it be nice if it happened here" category, Ohio State University is developing a comprehensive non-motorized plan for its Columbus, Ohio campus. To view the report, visit http://www.fpd.ohio-state.edu/?segue=MP (click on "Master Plans in Develop." in left column).

Roadwitching – Taking Back the Street

Around the country a small number of advocates are practicing " roadwitching" , where parking spots, especially those in high-traffic areas, are temporarily " reclaimed" as a short-term park. In roadwitching, people find an unoccupied parking spot, place money in the associated parking meter, and then set up items in the parking area that prevent cars from using it (i.e. traffic cones, chairs, a bench, a snowman, etc.).

More information, and more information.

Who Hits And Runs?

Who is the typical person that will hit a bicyclist or pedestrian and then run from the scene?

Sara Solnick and David Hemenway from the Harvard School of Public Health came up with this abstract from studies they performed.

Hit-and-run pedestrian fatalities are classified as to victim characteristics, accident circumstances and driver characteristics. Over 18,000 pedestrian fatalities are reported in the Fatal Accident Recording System for 1989– 1991. Twenty percent of the drivers involved left the accident scene. Children and senior citizens are the least likely to be left. Drivers more commonly run in urban areas, outside the South, on weekends and at night. Comparing motorists who left the scene but were later identified with the drivers who remained, drivers aged 66 and older are half as likely as younger drivers to leave the accident scene and male drivers are 60% more likely than female drivers to run.

Drivers with previous driving while intoxicated arrests are twice as likely to run as those with no such arrests. Forty-nine percent of hit-and-run motorists involved in pedestrian fatalities are ultimately identified by the police. Other factors constant, drivers are more likely to be identified if the victim was female or a child. Drivers are identified 2.5 times as often when the incident occurred in daylight. Drivers appear to run more often when they are at fault and will be severely punished (e.g. when they are intoxicated) and when it is likely that they can escape detection (e.g. at night).

Safe Routes To School Updates

Guide Available

According to an article in a recent Safe Routes to School E-News, "The Safe Routes to School National Partnership recently developed a resource called "States Take Action" to help pedestrian, bicycle, health and school advocates to work productively with their State DOTs on shaping their state's Safe Routes to School program. FHWA's guidance for SRTS says, 'FHWA also encourages State DOTs to involve experts and professionals representing SRTS stakeholders from the fields of public health, education, child safety, bicycling and walking and others as appropriate to assist with development and implementation of the program.' The Partnership emphasizes that there is a narrow window of time for community advocates to work with their DOT on the development of the state's SRTS program." For more information, visit http://tinyurl.com/9ahqp. To subscribe to their E-News, send an email to: saferoutestoschool-subscribe@topica.com leaving the subject heading and body of the message blank.

FHWA Issues Safe Routes Guidance

The Federal Highway Administration has issued detailed guidance to the states on how to implement the $612 million Safe Routes to School program created by SAFETEA-LU in August 2005. The 23-page guidance memo carefully balances the overall goals of the program with the need to preserve flexibility among the states on how they implement the new program. Visit http://safety.fhwa.dot.gov/saferoutes/index.htmlick for more details. The guidance was issued just a couple of days after FHWA had requested each State DOT have their Safe Routes to School coordinator in place (Dec. 31, 2005).

Safe Routes To School Resource

According to the Jan. 4th Safe Routes to School E-News, "The Safe Routes to School National Partnership continues to be asked by community members, parents, and advocates for information and resources on how to work with cities and school administrations on developing Safe Routes to School programs.  To help, we developed a short 'Getting Started' primer and PowerPoint presentation which can be downloaded and customized for local use."

Lack Of Exercise Facilities Fosters Obesity In Poor Neighborhoods

According to a February Forbes article, "Lack of access to exercise facilities, particularly in low-income areas, is one force that's driving the obesity epidemic that's endangering America's children. But 'food insecurity,' a term used to describe overeating by poorer people who aren't guaranteed a steady supply of nutritious meals, doesn't seem to be a factor in the trend. Those are the conclusions of two studies that appear in the February issue of Pediatrics. 'Our country faces a serious obesity problem -- one that disproportionately impacts poor, minority individuals and communities,' said Penny Gordon-Larsen, an assistant professor of nutrition at the University of North Carolina's School of Public Health and Medicine, and the author of the physical activity study. 'Our research suggests that perhaps one way to address this would be to argue for greater opportunities for exercise in disadvantaged communities.'...

"The first study included geographic and socioeconomic information from across the country. The researchers also gathered statistics on the number of physical-activity facilities and the rate of overweight and average physical activity levels for each area. Physical-activity facilities included schools, public recreation facilities, parks and YMCAs, as well as dance studios and private gyms. 'We found that more disadvantaged communities have a great deficiency in terms of the number and types of exercise facilities available. Working class, minority communities get a double whammy -- they are at greatest disadvantage in terms of exercise facilities and opportunities,' Gordon-Larsen said. Not surprisingly, the lack of places to exercise had on effect on both activity levels and the prevalence of overweight..."

Oakland County Buses Increase Ridership Due To Bike Racks

The Oakland Press reports that the local bus system is reporting an increase in ridership that they believe is due to more passengers using the bike racks in front of the buses. SMART officials added the racks to the large buses in June 2004.

"More people are putting their bikes on the front of our buses than are putting bikes on the front of buses in Cleveland, which is a more mass transit dependent city than Detroit is," a SMART official stated. "What our studies have shown is that the people fastening bikes to our buses are commuting to work and then using their bikes to finish their commute."

More on this article

NHTSA 2004 Statistics Released

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has released statistics of cyclist deaths and crashes in 2004, and the numbers make for sober reading. In 2004, 725 cyclists were killed in traffic crashes, and more than 41,000 were injured. This is a sharp increase from 2003's 629 deaths, although it is still lower than the 802 deaths in 1994.

View the statistics

2003 Global Bike Figures Released

In 2003, global production of bicycles hit 105 million, or two-and-a-half times the record 42 million cars produced. During the 1950s and 1960s, bicycle and automobile production were nearly equal. In the decades following, however, bike output soared, reaching 91 million in 1990, when car production totaled 36 million. Since then, with the exception of 1997 and 1998 (when output dropped to 90 million and then 87 million), about 100 million bikes have been produced each year.

Find out more

"Perils For Pedestrians" Now Available On Google

The "'Perils For Pedestrians" non-motorized advocacy show is now available on the Internet 24/7/365. Episode 110 is on video.google at http://tinyurl.com/c7su6. Broadband Internet access is recommended. Additional episodes will be added over the coming weeks and months. 'Perils For Pedestrians' will continue to be shown on public access cable channels in 80 cities and towns across the US. For more information on Perils For Pedestrians in general, contact John Wetmore at John@Pedestrians.org or http://www.pedestrians.org.

BikingArt.Com Program For Cycling Groups

In a recent note, Gary Coles said, "Fund Raising is never Fun! Everyone works hard to generate the additional money needed to help build their own nonprofit or community group, and bad things happen. Now, the hard work is over! BikingArt.com has just launched a Referral Program where cycling groups can generate all the cash they need for upcoming projects and events.

"The best part it is all hassle free! The actual hard work will be done by BikingArt.com and its staff. All that is required is that the group must sign-up and receive a unique referral ID number. Once a group has an ID number they can start referring others to the site. The group will earn a 30 percent commission on every cycling print sold using their unique ID number. No more worries about collecting cash from the community or delivering products. It is that simple!

"Sign up today and get started. There is no fee to get started as a referral. Individuals with the will to earn extra cash for themselves can do so by signing up as an independent referral. Stop by the website and sign up to become a referral and get an ID number and start earning your commission simply by talking to cyclists and family members of cyclists in your home town. Every art print that leaves the shop is personally signed by the artist giving it value as a work of art."

More information

Draft Public Right Of Way Accessibility Guidelines

According to an article in the Jan. 4th edition of the Chicago Area Transportation Study (CATS) bicycle-pedestrian newsletter, "The U.S. Architectural and Transportation Barriers Compliance Board (Access Board) has placed in the docket and on its web site for public review draft guidelines which address accessibility in the public right-of-way. The draft guidelines are under consideration by the Board. The purpose of placing the draft guidelines in the docket is to facilitate gathering of additional information for the regulatory assessment and the preparation of technical assistance materials to accompany a future rule. The Board is not seeking comments on the draft guidelines. The Board will issue a notice of proposed rulemaking at a future date and will solicit comments at that time, prior to issuing a final rule. 

"To facilitate use of sidewalks and other pedestrian facilities by seniors and people with disabilities, agencies with jurisdiction for the public right-of-way should strongly consider designing and building to these standards at this time. It is at least possible that, should you fail to do so, you will have to plan for retrofitting to meet these guidelines at a later date. Note that the guidelines provide more detail appropriate to the public right-of-way than is in rules and laws now in place (e.g., the Illinois Accessibility Code)."

The guidelines are posted at: http://tinyurl.com/9ugsw. The Federal Register notice is posted at: http://tinyurl.com/7nzmd.

YMCA Active America Program

According to a recent Rochester, NY news story, "Our nation faces a major health crisis. A combination of too little physical activity and too many calories has resulted in a dramatic increase in the number of obese and overweight Americans -- alarmingly, including our children. These individuals face increased risks for hypertension, Type 2 diabetes, coronary heart disease, stroke, osteoarthritis and even some cancers. With the start of the new year, millions of Americans are resolving to get in shape and improve their overall health. Many of these 'health seekers' continually start and stop exercise routines, unable to sustain their commitment to health and fitness.

"A full 50 percent of those who start an exercise program drop out within six months to a year, according to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. The nation's YMCAs are engaged in a 10-year collaborative campaign called 'YMCA Activate America,' designed to identify and overturn community barriers to good health and to involve more health seekers in fitness as part of a healthy lifestyle...." For more on the YMCA Activate America program, go to:http://tinyurl.com/anhhz.

Prototype Car Keeps An Eye On Pedestrians

According to a Jan. 12th New Scientist article, "A prototype vehicle capable of spotting pedestrians who stray into the road has been built by Volkswagen and other companies. The Save-U system was developed by a consortium including Volkswagen, DaimlerChrysler, and several other technical companies. A prototype has already undergone successful testing in the UK. The pedestrian-recognition technology uses three different types of sensor to identify a person, or even a cyclist, in the road ahead. The system harnesses an array of radar sensors, as well as visual and infrared cameras.

"A connected computer can then identify an impending impact and either alert the driver or take its own evasive action. This might mean applying the brakes or activating external safety features, such as outer airbags. 'The main idea is that the sensors will recognize pedestrians and if a pedestrian has a high probability to collide with the vehicle then automatic braking will be initiated by the system,' says Marc-Michael Meinecke of Volkswagen. Meinecke admits the sensors must be shrunk and the image recognition software improved before such technology can find its way into road vehicles. But he says that tests have demonstrated that the Save-U could indeed save pedestrians' lives..." For more information, visit http://tinyurl.com/9bv8o.

Pedestrian Speed Limits

The Irish government have called time on reckless pedestrians. Following the recent spate of Dublin shoppers bumping into one another, Transport Minister, Martin Cullen, has announced that new speed limits -- some as low as 5kph (3mph) -- will be imposed on pedestrians walking down busy city centre streets such as Grafton St and Henry St.

"In a statement, Minister Cullen insisted, 'Something had to be done. We had reports of over 10,000 city centre shoppers colliding with each other during the Christmas rush, resulting in many cases to them having their shopping bags knocked out of their hands. Some even reported gift breakage. It's truly horrifying the reckless speeds at which many pedestrians believe they can walk and then have the nerve to think they can get away with it.'

"Explaining how the new measures will work, he said, 'It's really quite simple. We plan to deploy a number of plain clothes gardai [police] with 'special pedestrian speed guns' on every street in Dublin that has at least 6 shops on it including a Spar, Centra or convenience outlet of this nature. We will then be attaching special electronic tags to every single resident of Dublin. Should they exceed the given speed limit, a medium-strength electronic shock is promptly administered, incapacitating the felon momentarily, to allow gardai seize and question him.'...". For more on this story, visit http://tinyurl.com/9cy2r.

Governors Meet To Tackle U.S. Obesity Problem

According to a Dec. 14th Arizona Republic article, "Some of the nation's governors descend on Phoenix today for their winter meetings, and they have only one topic on their plate: a leaner, healthier America. Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee, this year's chairman of the National Governors Association, is spearheading the drive to a healthier America after giving up Southern fried foods and taking up running. Just two years ago, he lost 110 pounds after he was diagnosed with Type 2 diabetes. The 50-year-old Huckabee said people must undergo a cultural change and 'start killing the snakes instead of treating the snake bites.'...

"The governors, including Arizona's Janet Napolitano, will spend the next two days...talking about ways to turn the tide against childhood obesity and promoting a healthier lifestyle. Huckabee said states must first change attitudes and educate the public before government acts. He said lawmakers shouldn't be the 'grease police' or 'sugar sheriffs' because it shifts the debate from healthy lifestyles to individual rights. Arkansas has been in the forefront fighting the battle of the bulge. State employees in Arkansas can get up to a $40 a month discount on their monthly health premiums, including a $20 discount if they don't smoke. They are also allowed to exercise 30 minutes a day during work hours..."

Web Resources

TRANSPORTATION SOLUTIONS - Moving the Movement: Race, Poverty, and the Environment;" by Todd
Litman, Victoria Transport Policy Institute; Urban Habitat; Winter 2005.

INEQUALITY IN THE BUILT ENVIRONMENT - Underlies Key Health Disparities in Physical Activity and Obesity;" article by Gordon-Larsen, Nelson, Page, & Popkin; PEDIATRICS Vol. 117 No. 2 February 2006, pp. 417-424.

SELF MADE MAPS - A new internet walking and biking tool is that for self made maps. The instructions for usage are found on the lower left-hand side of the page at

ACTIVE TRAVEL & MENTAL WELL-BEING - "...the benefits of physical activity for mental health;" Information
Sheet #FH07; Sustrans, 2005.

BARRIERS TO CHILDREN WALKING TO OR FROM SCHOOL – " ...United States, 2004; by S Martin, S Carlson, Div of Nutrition and Physical Activity, National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and
Health Promotion, CDC; JAMA, 2005;294:2160-2162.

ECONOMIC BENEFITS OF TRAILS AND GREENWAYS - 4-page fact sheet by the Trails and Greenways Clearinghouse, Wash. DC.

OREGON ADOPTS "6-FOOT PEDESTRIAN BUFFER" LAW - "The bill, which takes effect Jan. 1, creates an exception to the one-lane buffer law that took effect in 2004, requiring motorists to stop and wait until a pedestrian crosses both the driver's lane and the adjacent lane before proceeding..."

SPEED CUSHIONS - A UK Dept. for Transport report on traffic calming devices. (220k pdf)

CYCLISTS AS MINORITY - The author of this lengthy piece argues that "mode-ism"--his term for bias against those who choose to get around by bicycle--is not all that different from racism or sexism.

WHICH ARE THE MOST WALKABLE COMMUNITIES IN THE US? -
Here's a list and discussions of lists of what are the most walkable towns.
America's Walking list
Cool Town Studios' list
E Podunk's list
America Walks (Word doc about lists)

Monthly Reminders & Requests

WBWC Membership Applications Available
WBWC membership applications are available through the WBWC website and in the literature racks of most Washtenaw County bike shops. Basic membership is $25 a year.

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, consider giving them a friendly word urging them to support bicycling by joining the WBWC.