September-October
2006
WBWC
Board & Officer Elections
At the November 2006 WBWC meeting, elections for approximately
half the sitting Board members will take place, followed by the election
of WBWC officers for the 2007 calendar year at the December meeting. Anyone
interested in serving on the WBWC Board (term of office ? 2 years) or
as a WBWC officer (term of office ? 1 year) should contact WBWC Chair
Kris Talley at 734/913-8604 or ktalley@umich.edu.
New Michigan Bicycling Bill Signed Into Law
On August 15, 2006, Michigan Governor Jennifer Granholm
signed into law Bill #1224, which took effect immediately. This law now
provides for the following:
YIELD THE RIGHT OF WAY
Section 257.612.1(a) - Vehicular traffic, including vehicles turning right
or left, shall yield the right-of-way to other vehicles and to pedestrians
and bicyclists lawfully within the intersection or an adjacent crosswalk
at the time the signal is exhibited.
Section 257.612.1(d) - The vehicular traffic shall yield the right-of-way
to pedestrians and bicyclists lawfully within an adjacent crosswalk and
to other traffic lawfully using the intersection.
MANDATORY SIDE PATH
Section 257.660.3 - Where a usable and designated path for bicycles is
provided adjacent to a highway or street, a person operating an electric
personal assistive mobility device may, by local ordinance, be required
to use that path.
EXCEPTIONS TO FAR RIGHT
Section 257.660a - A person operating a bicycle upon a highway
or street at less than the existing speed of traffic shall ride as close
as practicable to the right-hand curb or edge of the roadway except as
follows:
(a) When overtaking and passing another bicycle or
any other vehicle proceeding in the same direction.
(b) When preparing to turn left.
(c) When conditions make the right-hand edge of the
roadway unsafe or reasonably unusable by bicycles, including, but not
limited to, surface hazards, an uneven roadway surface, drain openings,
debris, parked or moving vehicles or bicycles, pedestrians, animals,
or other obstacles, or if the lane is too narrow to permit a vehicle
to safely overtake and pass a bicycle.
(d) When operating a bicycle in a lane in which the
traffic is turning right but the individual intends to go straight through
the intersection.
(e) When operating a bicycle upon a 1-way highway
or street that has 2 or more marked traffic lanes, in which case the
individual may ride as near the left-hand curb or edge of that roadway
as practicable.
2-ABREAST RIDING
Sec. 257.660b. - Two or more individuals operating bicycles upon a highway
or street shall not ride more than 2 abreast except upon a path or portion
of the highway or street set aside for the use of bicycles.
PARKING A BICYCLE ON A SIDEWALK
Sec. 257.660d.
(1) An individual may park a bicycle on a sidewalk
except as prohibited by an official traffic control device.
(2) An individual shall not park a bicycle on a sidewalk
in such a manner that the bicycle impedes the lawful movement of pedestrians
or other traffic.
A
full copy of the new bicycling law can be found online.
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Washtenaw County Non Motorized Plan Draft Online
The Washtenaw
Area Transportation Study (WATS) draft non-motorized plan for Washtenaw
County is now available online. The plan is scheduled for action
at the September 20th WATS Policy Committee meeting.
Valet Bicycle Parking A Hit At Ypsilanti Heritage Festival
At the just completed Ypsilanti Heritage Festival, the Ypsilanti Health
Coalition conducted valet bicycle parking which turned out to be a real
hit with Festival goers. The purpose of the valet parking was to not only
to encourage people to bike (and not drive) to the Festival, but also
to help keep bicycles out of the crowded Festival area. The Ypsilanti
Health Coalition also pushed for people to use their bicycles to travel
to locations on the annual Heritage Festival Saturday garden tour and
Sunday home tour, as all tour locations were at most a 15 minute bicycle
ride from the central Heritage Festival area.
WBWC Go Team
Volunteers are still very much needed on the WBWC “Go
Team”, a committee who’s members attend local hearings that deal with
non-motorized issues so that the voice of pedestrians and cyclists can
be heard and noted. Go Team volunteers are fully briefed prior to attending
a hearing, and often will just read a statement or give common sense comments.
If you can help with the Go Team, please contact Bob Krzewinski at wolverob@cs.com
or call 734/487-9058.
Washtenaw Border To Border Trail Developments
At the present time, due to the work of the Washtenaw
County Parks and Recreation Commission, City of Ann Arbor, and City of
Ypsilanti, Border To Border (B to B) trail signs have been posted running
from Argo Dam in Ann Arbor all the way into Ypsilanti, with some signs
also being posted in Ypsilanti Township. Some of the signs are rather
large and include maps, but most are smaller and have a distinctive “B
to B” logo. It should be noted that some of the signs are of a temporary
laminated variety on a wooden pole, but permanent signs are expected to
be set up soon.
One note on the Border to Border trail is that a short
portion of the trail has been torn up across from Washtenaw Community
College as a new fitness center is built by the College. B to B users,
however, can use wide bikelanes on Huron River Drive to bypass the construction
area. When completed, the new WCC fitness center will incorporate the
B to B trail in it’s landscaping and have a rest area for trail users.
Also, if you wish to explore completed sections of
the B to B trail, the Ypsilanti Health Coalition has monthly rides on
the first Saturday of the month (through October) that leave the Ypsilanti
Farmers Market at 9am and go explore local B to B segments. And on Saturday,
September 16th, the Ann Arbor Bicycle Touring Society will hold a Border
to Border trail ride starting at 11:30am at Bandemeer Park in Ann Arbor.
This ride is listed as
“Newcomers and casual riders welcome! Leisurely family-friendly ride
along Washtenaw County’s Border to Border trail. Stop in Depot Town for
lunch. Distance is 22+ miles. Meet at 11:30am Bandemeer Park entrance
closest to M-14 at Whitmore Lake Road & Barton Drive. For more information
on this ride, contact Elizabeth Tidd at 662-0205.”
Ann Arbor Transportation Plan Update
In 2004 the City of Ann Arbor, in conjunction with
the Ann Arbor Transportation Authority (AATA) sent out a proposal to update
the citywide transportation plan. Parsons Brinckerhoff is the bidder that
has initially been selected. City Council will reviewed the scope
of service on August 10th to contract with Parsons Brickerhoff.
It is estimated the Transportation Plan update will start this coming
fall. Estimated time for completion of the plan will be in approximately
a year and a half.
Staff will be working with SEMCOG to see if UrbanSIM
can model various land use scenarios and their impact on the transportation
network. The UrbanSIM program reportedly has the ability to model
policy changes and the resultant reconfiguration of projected population
changes. Concern was expressed regarding the public debate and the methodology
used to develop population projections. The discussion may slow
the process if debate is mired in the plausibility of population growth
occurring downtown.
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Cycling Deaths Increase in America
The recent release of the 2005 annual assessment of motor vehicle crashes
highlights an alarming trend. Bicyclists killed in motor vehicle crashes
increased by 7.8 percent in 2004, and fatalities have increased more than
20 percent since 2003. Too many of our street designs and vehicle improvements
have made it far too easy for drivers to speed and there are many more
distractions to driving than ever before. Highway users who are not in
cars are increasingly paying the price. The fact that injuries and fatalities
increased in every non-occupant related category clearly demonstrates
the need for Congress to pass “Complete Streets” Legislation to ensure
that state departments of transportation are fully considering all users
when constructing transportation facilities.
See
the full report .
Obese People Now Outnumber Hungry
There are now more overweight people across the world
than hungry ones, according to experts. Professor Barry Popkin said all
countries - both rich and poor - had failed to address the obesity boom.
At a recent meeting of the International Association of Agricultural Economists,
Popkin said that the number of overweight people had topped 1 billion,
compared with 800 million undernourished. Speaking at an Australian conference,
he said changing diets and people doing less physical exercise was the
cause. Professor Popkin, from the University of North Carolina, said that
the change had happened quickly as obesity was rapidly spreading, while
hunger was slowly declining among the world's 6.5 billion population.
League Of American Bicyclists Education Video Released
According to a recent release from the League of American Bicyclists,
"'Enjoy the Ride' is a 22-minute video, hosted by Selene Yeager, which
teaches people how to ride confidently in traffic. Topics covered include:
the pre-ride checklist, bicycle handling skills, riding in traffic, identifying
and avoiding hazards, and riding in all conditions. 'Enjoy the Ride' is
based on the principles of the BikeEd curriculum developed by the League
of American Bicyclists, and is the perfect teaching aid for delivering
BikeEd classes and livening up bike
safety presentations...”
"There is also plenty of bonus material on the DVD, including 'Bicycle
Safety Tips for Adults, an 8-minute 'just the basics' video developed
by the League for the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.
It is a great summary of the material on the longer instructional video.
Also included are 'Kid's Eye View' (English and Spanish versions), the
seminal instructional video for teaching children to ride safely, and
'Cyclist's Eye View' additional on-bike footage shot by League Cycling
Instructor Chris Quint that further illustrates how to handle different
traffic situations..." Retail price is $32. Quantity copies of the video
are available at bulk rate prices. To order copies, go to: http://www.bikeleague.org.
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International Walk To School Day is October 4th
A recent news release invites folks to "Celebrate International
Walk to School Day on October 4, 2006 and join communities in more
than 35 countries to promote health, safety, and family and school connections.
Walk to School events can be as simple as a few children and parents meeting
to walk to school or very elaborate events held in conjunction with established
Safe Routes to School programs. No matter what the size, Walk to School
events work to create safer routes for walking and bicycling and emphasize
the importance of issues such as increasing physical activity among children,
pedestrian safety, traffic congestion, concern for the environment and
building connections between families, schools and the broader community.
This year marks the first International Walk to School Month. Expanding
the event to the entire month of October allows more communities around
the world to participate in more ways. Walk to School activities can last
for a day, a week, a month or for the entire year. In the USA, the focus
is on Walk to School Day and communities are encouraged to participate
for the length of time that is right for them.
"Registration is now
open for the 2006 event. Registration is free and available to individuals
or organizations holding a Walk to School event. By registering, users
have access to a variety of downloadable materials, including certificates,
templates for printing stickers and a frequent walker punch card. For
six weeks leading up to Walk to School Day, registrants will also receive
an e-newsletter with tips and resources on holding a Walk to School event.
The National Center for Safe Routes to School of the University of North
Carolina Highway Safety Research Center serves as the national coordinating
agency for Walk to School activities in the US ."
Read about local Walk to School Day/Month activities on WBWC's Safe
Routes to School page.
Adventure Cycling Free Magazine Offer
Adventure Cycling, originally known as “BikeCentennial” is offering a
free copy of their magazine so as to introduce more people to this
very-pro cycling organization. Adventure Cycling’s mission is to inspire
people of all ages to travel by bicycle and we do that by creating bicycle
routes (34,927 miles and growing), getting people out there bicycling,
and supporting bicycling communities.
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Media Blasts Hit Cyclists Again
Incredible as it may seem, radio shock-jocks are still taking potshots
at bicyclists. In July, cyclists in Portland and St Louis were appalled
by insensitive and inappropriate remarks by show hosts on Jammin’ 95.5
and KPNT respectively. The Portland station is owned by a local chain,
Rose City Radio and excellent coverage of the debacle can be found at
www.bikeportland.org.
KPNT is a member of the [usually] highly respected Emmis media empire
-- in both cases broadcasts of the offending segments have yet to be released,
making it difficult for local cyclists to reach closure.
Complete Streets Resources
The Thunderhead
Alliance is the national coalition of state and local bicycle and
pedestrian advocacy organizations. The alliance recently announced in
a press release that the newly updated, second edition of their Guide
to Complete Streets Campaigns is now available through on-line booksellers.
The Complete Streets movement is one that considers streets not to be
“complete” unless they have full facilities for not only cars, but also
for pedestrians and bicyclists.
"Anyone interested in securing a complete streets policy
for their state or community will relish the Guide's deepanalysis of current
complete streets policies and step-by-step campaign development process,"
the release states. "Elected and appointed officials, community leaders,
and concerned citizens will be ready to take part in current campaigns
or launch their own campaign after reading the Guide."
Bicycle-Related Jobs Available In Michigan/Midwest
Tired of working in a job you don't believe in? Ready to join the ranks
of advocates working for a bicycle friendly America? There are currently
bicycle advocacy jobs open across the country, from Portland, Ore. to
Durham, N.C. working in bicycling is rewarding physically and mentally,
and these organizations represent some of the best in bicycling. For more
information on any job, click the link next to the listing.
Safe Routes to School Grant Manager
Michigan Fitness Foundation, Lansing,
Mich. This person works as part of the Safe Routes to School team
to design, develop, and implement record-keeping materials and procedures
for grant management, including report preparation and follow-up with
grant recipients. To apply, write to: Safe Routes to School Director,
Michigan Fitness Foundation, P.O Box 27187, Lansing, MI 48909 by 8/25/06.
Coordinator of Active Communities
Michigan Fitness Foundation, Lansing,
Mich. This person will work as part of the Active Communities team
to provide technical assistance to Michigan communities in creating safe
walking and biking environments. This includes promotion and coordination
of the Promoting Active Communities (PAC) Assessment Tool/Award and specific
community demonstration projects. E-mail résumé and cover letter Risa Wilkerson.
Coordinator of Marketing and Events
Michigan Fitness Foundation, Lansing,
Mich. This person will provide leadership in developing and implementing
a comprehensive marketing plan for the organization. Implement physical
activity events in support of the marketing plan. E-mail résumé and cover
letter to Risa Wilkerson. Safe
Routes to School Coordinator of Programming Michigan Fitness Foundation, Lansing,
Mich. Work as part of the Safe Routes to School team to plan, develop
and coordinate new and existing Safe Routes to School programs to encourage
and enable Michigan elementary and middle school students in urban, rural
and suburban settings to safely walk or bicycle to school. To apply, write
to: Safe Routes to School Director, Michigan Fitness Foundation, PO Box
27187, Lansing, MI 48909 by 8/25/06.
Bicycle & Pedestrian Project Planner
Chicagoland Bicycle Federation,
Chicago, Ill. The Chicagoland Bicycle Federation is seeking
a full-time Project Planner to work on bicycle & pedestrian projects.
They are looking for someone who wants to be part of the group that moves
Chicago towards revolutionary changes in transportation choice. E-mail
résumé and cover letter to Nick Jackson.
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How Dangerous Is Childhood?
According to an Aug. 10th Palm Beach Post article,
"...Walking to school -- barefoot, in the snow, and uphill both ways --
used to be the norm. But so few children walk to school today -- about
10 percent nationwide -- that Oct. 4 has been named International Walk
to School Day. A major reason the K-8 crowd is sealed into the backs of
SUVs and transported: Parental concerns about safety. And those concerns
'have as much to do with "stranger danger" -- the chance that a child
walking to school will be snatched off the sidewalk by a complete stranger
-- as a fear of traffic,' states a Salon.com article about 'Safe Routes
to School,' an effort started several years ago to get more kids walking
and biking to school. Wendi Kallins, project manager for the Marin County,
Calif., program, describes one father who attended a Safe Routes meeting:
Intellectually, he understood his child was highly unlikely to meet a
grisly end on the walk to school. But emotionally? 'With my pretty blue-eyed
daughter, I'm convinced she will be the one.'
"'When you're dealing with gut-level fears,' Kallins is quoted as saying,
'there's not much you can do. The whole level of fear in our culture is
increasing.' And so a vicious cycle ensues: Fewer children walk, so they
don't travel in the protective packs that once gave parents comfort. The
increase in traffic heading to schools makes it more likely that a kid
will be hit by a car, most likely driven by a parent. (Fifty percent of
the children hit by cars near schools are hit by parents of other students,
according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.) And
kids miss a chance for exercise, social interaction, and a dose of self-reliance..."
GPS Device Has Pedestrian Setting
According to an Aug. 10th Time magazine article, "Here's the situation:
You're in a strange city, you've ditched the rental car, and you want
to walk around town, check out museums, restaurants and maybe do some
shopping. The catch is, you hate looking like a tourist with a giant paper
map. Pioneer's AVIC-S1 is one of the first GPS navigators with a "pedestrian"
setting. In addition to telling you what interstate exit to take, it plots
a path for you along boulevards and side streets, keeping in mind that
your walking pace may only be two or three miles per hour.
More information
Arizona Teens Create Children’s Bike Map
According to a July 27th Arizona Daily Star article,
"Two South Side neighborhoods are counting on a few teenagers to help
improve the quality of life for younger children by encouraging them to
ride their bicycles. The three teenage interns are working with the Pima
County Department of Transportation to create a children's bike map for
local neighborhoods. The teens are also working on the project to receive
a Congressional Award. They will teach the children how to maintain their
bikes after they complete a bicycle-maintenance course at the BICAS Community
Center. BICAS stands for Bicycle Inter-Community Action and Salvage. 'We
want to teach them that riding their bike is fun,' said Marina Contreras,
15.
Contreras and her counterparts gather at the BICAS center every Thursday
afternoon for 8 weeks and learn about all the components of a bicycle
as well as giving input on the children’s bicycle map which stresses routes
that will feature kid-friendly destinations that are expected to bring
children out into the community.
More information
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Make Way For Sidewalk SUV “Mobility”
Scooters
According to a July 17th Pittsburgh Post-Gazette article,
"On a recent afternoon at Walt Disney World, Dennis Robles was cruising
around on an electric 'mobility scooter' that the park usually rents out
to people with disabilities. Mr. Robles doesn't have a problem walking
-- he says he was simply saving up energy for late-night dancing. 'I'm
pretty healthy,' says the 37-year-old truck driver from Brooklyn, N.Y.
'Just lazy, I guess.' The power scooter is an increasingly ubiquitous
sight, with an estimated 1.2 million in use nationwide. But while the
$1,000-plus vehicles have been hailed as a boon for the infirm and the
elderly, they are now finding a new constituency: able-bodied people who
simply don't feel like walking. In addition to theme parks like Dollywood
and Minnesota's giant Mall of America, the scooters are popping up everywhere
from Las Vegas casinos to grocery stores.
"When scooter demand outstrips supply at Wal-Mart, greeters 'evaluate
the situation' and make sure that people using the scooters can demonstrate
a legitimate need, according to a company spokesman. Some entrepreneurs
are starting to push the vehicles as bicycles without the pedaling. City
Scooter Tours, an outfit that operates in Washington and plans to extend
into Chicago, offers scooters as an easy way to see the sights. 'It's
kind of bad for the cause,' says Janna Starr, director of disability rights
and technology policy for United Cerebral Palsy, a nonprofit group. Stores
and tourist attractions need to set guidelines and 'not just let people
come up and take off in the scooters just because they want one,' she
says. Ms. Starr and some other advocates for the disabled say able-bodied
riders can rile pedestrians, creating a negative image of scooter use
that could hurt those who really need assistance..."
And Now For Something Completely
Different ?
Carl Sagan’s Baloney Detection Kit
"Warning signs that suggest deception. Based on the book by Carl Sagan
'The Demon Haunted World.' The following are suggested as tools for testing
arguments and detecting fallacious or fraudulent arguments:
- Wherever possible there must be independent confirmation of the facts.
- Encourage substantive debate on the evidence by knowledgeable proponents
of all points of view.
- Arguments from authority carry little weight (in science there are no
"authorities").
- Spin more than one hypothesis -- don't simply run with the first idea
that caught your fancy.
- Try not to get overly attached to a hypothesis just because it's yours.
- Quantify, wherever possible.
- If there is a chain of argument every link in the chain must work.
- Occam's razor -- if there are two hypotheses that explain the data equally
well choose the simpler.
- Ask whether the hypothesis can, at least in principle, be falsified
(shown to be false by some unambiguous test). In other
words, it is testable? Can others duplicate the experiment and get the
same result?..."
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Web Resources
SIGNS FOR BICYCLE
FACILITIES - Website of Richard C. Moeur, a national expert in the
field.
ONLINE
SALES PITCH FOR SAFE ROUTES TO SCHOOL
Looking for a succinct, attractive and non-technical promotional piece
to sell the new Safe Routes to School program to your local school board
or PTA? Check out this four-minute pitch. The piece was developed by the
League of American Bicyclists with the help of a grant from the Robert
Wood Johnson Foundation.
"WHY CANADIANS
CYCLE MORE THAN AMERICANS: A Comparative Analysis Of Bicycling Trends
And Policies;" by John Pucher and Ralph Buehler; "Transport Policy," Vol.
13, May 2006, pp. 265-279.
PEDESTRIAN AND BICYCLIST
STANDARDS AND INNOVATIONS...
"...in Large Central Cities;" report by de Cerreno and Nguyen-Novotny,
Rudin Center for Transportation Policy & Management, NYU; January
2006
BMI TESTS: NOT A
GOOD WAY TO MEASURE OBESITY
"Researchers found that the standard BMI test to determine whether a person
is overweight is often wrong because it does not take into consideration
muscle mass..."
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