Newsletter

WBWC Newsletter Archives

January-February 2007

WBWC Board Meeting

Local News

WBWC Board & Officer Elections
At its November, 2006 meeting, the membership of the WBWC elected new Board members for a two-year term of office. The new, or reelected, Board members were Lily Guzman, Pete Hines, and Frank Schwende. At the December 2006 WBWC Board meeting, Board member present elected officers for the 2007 calendar year. These positions are Chair: Kris Talley, Vice-Chair: Pete Hines, Treasurer: Ana Iacob, and Secretary: Erica Briggs.

Ann Arbor Approves Non-Motorized Plan
On Monday, January 8th, the Ann Arbor City Council unanimously approved a new non-motorized plan. As approved, the plan would add 38 miles of bike lanes, resulting in about 56 miles of bike lanes, and remove some on-street meter parking in parts of the downtown (to be offset by replacing the spaces with more parking in other areas). The plan would also add about 25 more miles of sidewalk and narrow some roads from four lanes to three in order to put in bike lanes.

Prior to the vote, the City Council held an hour-long public comment period in which WBWC Board members, Officers, and other members spoke in favor of the plan, and council's followup discussion indicated that they listened. Almost all other public comments were positive, with only one person purely opposed to the plan, stating that “bicyclists did not pay taxes."

> Ann Arbor's Non-motorized transportation plan

“Share The Road” Campaign Starting Up Locally
Under the leadership of GetDowntown Director (and WBWC Officer) Erica Briggs, the first meeting of a “share the road” campaign to increase bicyclist/motorist safety was held in late 2006. This first organizational meeting was very well attended, almost a “who’s who” of local bicycling advocates, including the American Automobile Associatino (AAA) Michigan, Washtenaw Bicycling & Walking Coalition (WBWC), Ann Arbor Bicycle Touring Society (AABTS), Michigan Mountain Biking Association (MMBA), Ann Arbor Velo Club, Washtenaw County Public Health, Michigan Sports & Fitness Magazine, The Greenway Collaborative and the Ann Arbor Mayor’s Bicycling Ambassadors.

The overall goal of the new “share the road” campaign will be to increase awareness and safety between cyclists, pedestrians and motorists using a multitude of methods. More details will be available in the coming months, with the official launch of the program planned for June 2007.

WBWC Ypsilanti Bike/Walk Winter Outreach Event Coming Up
On February 22, the WBWC will hold an Ypsilanti bicycling and walking outreach event at the Corner Brewery in Ypsilanti. The event will feature a short bicycling film, "Still We Ride," bicycling and walking tips, updates on non-motororized facilities in Ypsilanti, and speakers from the City of Ypsilanti as well as the Ypsilanti Downtown Development Authority. Details will be posted on the WBWC website and in the local media.

"Bike Winter" events prove popular
About 80 riders participated in the first-ever "Worst Day of the Year Ride" on 1/21 (see photos), and turnout for light-building and maintenance workshops has also been good. Several events have been covered in the Ann Arbor News. Sponsored by the GetDowntown program, "Bike Winter" is almost over for this year, but watch for it to be back next year.

Car Free Ann Arbor Blog
A really good, and witty, resource for being car-free is Ann Arbor’s own Car Free Ann Arbor. Recent posts included Ann Arbor Critical Mass rides, car-free bartering, and even biking in a skirt and heels.

Snow Removal Complaint Form
The WBWC recently added to its web page a diplomatic “please shovel your sidewalk” form that can be left at the residence of someone that never seems to shovel their sidewalks after a snowstorm. Also, the website includes a listing of all city, village and township snow removal ordinances in Washtenaw County.

Streetlights Out In Ann Arbor?
Lighted urban area areas, especially intersections, are quite often safer for cycling and walking at night than dark areas. In the City of Ann Arbor, if you notice a streetlight burned out, you can report it at the special number of 734/994-1619

Take Action

Huron River Drive Repaving Calls/E-Mails Needed
Calls, letters and phone calls are needed to the Mayor of Ann Arbor as well as Ann Arbor City Council members thanking them for their recent unanimous vote on approving a nonmotorized plan for the City and asking them to make the repaving of Huron River Drive a clear priority in 2007.

The portion of Huron River Drive that is in the Ann Arbor city limits is not only one of the most heavily used bicycling roads in the county, but also is one that is in the worst condition and a serious problem for cyclist safety. It should also be noted that in the just-approved Ann Arbor No motorized plan, the plan calls for dedicated bike lanes on this section of Huron River Drive.

To find contact information for the Ann Arbor Mayor and City Council, visit the city web site. At the bottom of the page, there is a link where you can e-mail all City Council members (and the Mayor) all at once. When e-mailing Mayor and/or Council members, please include your telephone number and address to facilitate an appropriate response.

State News

Michigan Transportation Plan Online Survey
In further partnership with the Library of Michigan and libraries throughout the state, the Michigan Department of Transportation (MDOT) recently launched its second internet questionnaire to gather public input for the state's long-range transportation plan.

MDOT is encouraging individuals to take a few minutes to visit the Michigan Transportation Plan Web site and complete a new questionnaire. You also will find several new on-line documents there since the first questionnaire last summer. Included are: The Preferred Vision for an Integrated Transportation System, Corridors of Highest Significance, Goals and Objectives, and Technical Reports. The questionnaire, which will remain live through the end of January 2007, does not take long to complete. We appreciate your written comments.

"MSU Bikes" opens Service Center on campus
September 2006 saw the grand opening of the MSU Bikes Service Center on the Michigan State University campus in East Lansing. The MSU canoe shelter on the river trail now hosts a full-service bicycle repair and rental shop conveniently located at the center of campus. In addition to complete bike repair services, the Service Center provides the Michigan State campus with short- and long-term bike rentals, used-bike sales, a do-it-yourself repair bench and cycling accessories.

We don't see a good reason that the University of Michigan shouldn't have a similar facility. Another point on which it would be good to a have a healthy inter-school rivalry.

Find out more about the center on page 8 of the Fall 06 Michigan Bicyclist Magazine (PDF), and about the MSU Bike Project .

National News

Safe Routes To Schools Survey Input Needed
An article in the November Safe Routes to School E-News asks readers to "Help us gather information geared toward learning about SRTS in urban, rural and disabled populations. The traditional Safe Routes to School model uses the 5 'E's' -- engineering, education, encouragement, enforcement and evaluation -- to accomplish two main goals: increase the number of students who walk and bicycle to school, and make walking and bicycling to school safer. This widely accepted standard program has its developmental roots in largely suburban settings. However, many schools and communities experience a different set of circumstances related to active transportation that remain unaddressed in many of the widely available resources and guidance.

"The SRTS National Partnership has created the Diverse Communities Committee to help identify existing resources and gaps in resources for three populations: large urban school communities, rural school communities, and students with disabilities. The committee, chaired by Melody Geraci of the Chicagoland Bicycle Federation, is seeking input from a variety of practitioners, experts, and stakeholders in the three communities to complete a brief survey to assist in defining each group. We will hold national conference calls in January to garner additional information. Please forward this survey link to others who may be able to help." To take the survey, go to http://tinyurl.com/y9khz7

National Safe Routes to School Task Force
The U.S. Department of Transportation has established the National Safe Routes to School Task Force required by SAFETEA-LU. The group includes leaders in health, transportation, and education as well as representatives from state government, local agencies and non-profit organizations. The Task Force will study and develop a strategy for advancing Safe Routes to School programs nationwide and will be responsible for submitting to the U.S. DOT Secretary a report for Congress detailing the results of their work. For more information on the Task Force, to submit comments or be added to the Task Force mailing list, send an e-mail to SRTS@tooledesign.com.

Illinois School Mileage Club Encourages Healthy Habits
According to a Nov. 28th Daily Republican article, "They're not in the Guinness Book of World Records, but students in Marion's Longfellow School in Marion have been setting their own impressive records. The school's Mileage Club, which comprises the entire student body including teachers, has been walking. Not a mere mile or two, but almost 3,500 per year. 'Not bad for walking around a playground,' said Principal Amy Sanders. 'Each time students make a lap, they get their card punched, and when a student gets 25 punches, five miles, their card is put in a drawing box and we draw for prizes once a week.' The prizes are typically small, building to bigger prizes toward the end of the program, which ran this year from Oct. 1 to Nov. 17.

"'This program is to develop a healthy lifestyle and it's sponsored through Heartland Regional Medical Center and the hospital's foundation,' Sanders said. 'Some of the prizes we give out are stress balls, jump ropes and some of the bigger prizes have been dance pads, balls and bicycle helmets' At the weekly drawing, children sit quietly hoping for their name to be drawn from the box. As each name is called, cheers and laughter fill the auditorium. After all the prizes are handed out, the remaining tickets stay in the box, giving kids more chances the next week. This year, with the help of Physical Education instructor Eli Baker, Sanders brought in athletes from Southern Illinois University's cross country team to encourage the students.

STPP Releases New Reports
The Surface Transportation Policy Project (STPP) and its many partners have completed a report on the From the Margins to the Mainstream workshop series as well as a guidebook on the federal surface transportation law. Both are valuable resources to help understand funding and policy opportunities to promote bicycling. To find out more about the new reports, visit www.transact.org.

Active Living Network Launches New Website
Sally Bock of the Active Living Network recently alerted health activists about ALN's new website. She wrote, "The new site is much more technically robust than our previous site, making it easier for advocates and others to find and access the tools they need and organizations to share their success stories, publicize events and rate the resources they use." The site is organized by topics that allow you to find any and all information related to your interest area -- from the latest news and resources to profiles, Storybank projects and partner organizations..." Go to: http://www.activeliving.org

ACA Publishes Guide To Bike Travel For Kids
According to a recent news release, "Adventure Cycling Association, America's largest cycling organization, is getting kids 'psyched on bikes' with its new publication, 'Pedal Pioneers: A Guide to Bicycle Travel with Kids.' Pedal Pioneers is a first-of-its-kind, in-depth guide on how to organize youth bicycle trips. Pedal Pioneers is designed to help teachers, youth group leaders, and passionate individuals organize their own adventures. The Guide is a great addition to the growing set of tools that address the youth obesity and health epidemic.

"In five sections, an Introduction, and an exhaustive Appendix, Pedal Pioneers walks leaders through each stage of organizing a bicycle trip for groups of kids who can ride bicycles independently. The Guide covers many of the details that leaders need to know when considering or planning a bike tour with youth, including equipment lists, how to pack, route planning, food, and camping/lodging options. The Guide comes packaged in a user-friendly binder with sample magazines, stickers, safety information, a discounted membership coupon, and more." For more info, go to: http://tinyurl.com/y4lxug.

Walkable City Centers Finding Mass Appeal
According to a Nov. 13th Washington Post article, "The old town, it seems, is the new thing. Clarendon is one of hundreds of so-called urban villages around the country that combine residential, retail and office space in a compact area, harking back to a time when city centers were thriving economic engines. As demand for the urban village rises, developers and retailers are flocking to cash in on its mass-market appeal. The number of mixed-use projects of 15 acres or more has been increasing by about 28 percent a year since 1996 according to New Urban News. In 2004, the most recent figure available, 650 projects at various stages of completion existed throughout the country.

"Businesses in urban villages generate more revenue than those in traditional shopping centers and strip malls, planners say. Shoppers spend $84 an hour in an urban village's street-side stores; in a typical enclosed mall, they spend $57.50 an hour, according to the Urban Land Institute. Some large retailers bring in almost 20 percent more revenue per square foot in a village setting. 'Retailers know the power of the place-making dividend. People stay longer, come back more often and spend more money in places that attract their affection,' said Ed McMahon, a senior fellow at the Urban Land Institute. 'No one wants to go to a strip mall to hang out.'

"Instead, people amble along pedestrian-friendly streets in places like Bethesda, Takoma Park and Silver Spring. Downtown Alexandria and Annapolis epitomize the model, experts say, weaving together the threads of an old-fashioned main street in a modern setting. Urban villages attract a desirable set of demographics -- young professionals in dual-income households as well as empty-nesters and retirees, often with disposable income. 'What's really driving it is profit,' said John Norquist, president of the Congress for the New Urbanism. 'Everybody's trying to recreate the urban form because that's what the consumer wants.'..."

Bicycle Friendly Community Action Kit’s For Mayors
The League of American Bicyclists has a campaign going to get a Bicycle Friendly Community Action Kit into the hands of every mayor in the United States. Read about it and/or to order one up for your mayor .

Hit and Run Pedestrian Deaths Up 20%
The number of pedestrians killed by hit-and-run drivers has jumped 20% since 2000 and is at its highest level in a decade, a USA TODAY newpapwr analysis shows. The increase compounds the problems of investigating hit-and-run cases, which investigators say are among the most difficult crimes to solve because they often happen at night with no witnesses.

"Even if you're lucky enough to get the car, you can't always get the driver," says Richard Ashton of the International Association of Chiefs of Police. Of the 4,881 pedestrians killed last year, 974 died in hit-and-runs, National Highway Traffic Safety Administration records show. The total number of pedestrians killed nationwide increased by about 2% since 2000, but hit-and-run deaths increased at almost 10 times that pace, the USA TODAY analysis found.

"It's an outrageous statistic," says Peter Kissinger, CEO of the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety. He says that although the increase is difficult to explain, likely factors include more cars sharing the road with more pedestrians, and increasingly distracted and aggressive drivers. "I think it's a sad commentary on our society," Kissinger says.

No national tally exists showing how many hit-and-run cases are solved. In many investigations in which drivers are later found, they tell police that they fled out of fear or because they had been drinking and wanted to avoid legal trouble, says Lt. Doug Dodson, a spokesman for the Florida Highway Patrol. "By the time we find them, a lot of them are really eaten up with guilt," Dodson says.

The last time the USA had so many hit-and-run deaths was in 1996, when there were 982, records show. More than 5,400 pedestrians were killed that year. Some of the crashes are deliberate attempts to hurt or kill. But in many others, drivers have done nothing wrong until they flee, says Michael Payne, a Fort Myers, Fla., investigator. "Quite often, it's simply an accident," he says. "But people get scared."

Recent victims include Mary Kelley, 77, killed as she crossed the street March 2 in Fort Myers Beach, Fla., on her way home from dinner. The driver, Jeanne Rose Dunn, didn't stop and didn't report the crash until the next day, prosecutors allege. Dunn would not comment because she is charged with a felony for leaving the scene of the crash. She told investigators that she thought a rock had hit her windshield, according to a police report, and that she did not realize what happened until she heard about Kelley's death on the radio. The crash haunts Kelley's children. "I wonder what's in somebody's mind that they could just hit someone and drive away," says her son Kevin Kelley.

An excellent resource for hit and run incidents is http://www.deadlyroads.com.

New Three-Foot Cyclist Passing Law in Effect in Florida
As of Oct. 1, a new law in Florida says that motorists must maintain a three-foot safety gap while passing a bicyclist. Drivers who do not obey this law will face high fines and possible driver's license points. Police officers and bicyclists across the state have embraced the new law. For more on this development in just one Florida town visit http://www.bocanews.com/clientuploads/pdf/BocaNews10-10-06.pdf

Road Rage Responses Help Resolve Tricks
Several communities nationwide have response systems set up for when bicyclists report a road rage incident. Madison, Wis. police can't give a citation unless they witness it, but do send an appropriately harsh letter. The Massachusetts Registry of Motor Vehicles has a complaint form that cyclists can fill out, with punishments ranging from a letter to a license suspension. The League can help you push for this kind of response in your community: email bikeleague@bikeleague.org to find out how. nationwide," said Clarke.

Study: Obese Choose To Live In Sprawl Areas
According to a November UPI article, "Many believe urban sprawl spawned human sprawl -- rising obesity levels -- but Canadian, British and Spanish researchers say the obese choose sprawl. Researchers at the University of Toronto, the London School of Economics and University Pompeu Fabra in Spain released a working paper entitled 'Fat City: Questioning The Relationship Between Urban Sprawl and Obesity' that found no evidence that urban sprawl affects weight.

"The researchers found that people living in sprawling neighborhoods tend to be heavier than those living where development is compact and there are many shops and amenities within walking distance. However, this is not because sprawling neighborhoods cause people to gain weight, but populations are heavier because individuals more at risk for obesity tend to live in such places. 'Someone who does not like to walk is more likely to be obese and is more likely to live where one can easily get around by car,' says University of Toronto economics professor Matthew Turner. 'Thus, the finding that people in sprawling neighborhoods are heavier does not imply that sprawl causes obesity.'"

Pennsylvania Town Moves Ahead With Speed Hump Program
According to an Oct. 31st Morning Call article, "...Bethlehem (PA) wants to place road humps on certain streets with speed limits of 25 mph or less or where motorists often drive too fast...Motorist must slow down when driving over the section of macadam that rises 3 to 4 inches above an existing road...Allentown plans to buy temporary mobile humps to test next year. Easton does not use them. Some people call it the Christmas City. Others call it Historic Bethlehem, or even the City of Festivals. Now, a new name may be in order. City of Humps. Bethlehem soon could be home to more traffic humps than any other city in the state.

"After a year of testing speed humps on a secluded section of the Main Street extension, city officials are so happy with the results that they are considering more streets for the traffic-calming bumps. Anyone living on an out-of-the-way stretch of Bethlehem road that motorists seem to think is a racetrack may be eligible to get their own speed hump, a 12- to 22-foot-long section of macadam that rises 3 to 4 inches above the road. The intent is to slow down traffic. 'People weren't just going a little fast, they were flying up and down here 50 miles an hour, sometimes more,' Stewart Lowell said of Biery's Bridge Road, one of three locations used for testing the humps. 'My daughter has almost been hit twice. The speed hump has really changed things around here.'

Web Resources

ARE YOU AN AGGRESSIVE DRIVER?
Take the Driver Stress Profile to Measure Your Hostility on the Road:

NORTH AMERICAN BIPEDS HEADED TOWARD EXTINCTION?
In a recent note, Bridget Brown said, "I've a very short movie, 'The Plight of the North American Bipeds,' posted on youtube.com, that might be of interest." Brown is the State Trails Coordinatorfor Wisconsin. Here's the link:

SAFE ROUTES TO SCHOOL ONLINE GUIDE
A "comprehensive online reference manual designed to support the development of Safe Routes to School programs;" created by the National Center for Safe Routes to School, UNC-Chapel Hill, NC. A downloadable pdf version will be available soon.

NOW THAT YOU'RE ON BOARD: HOW TO SURVIVE AND THRIVE...
"...as a Planning Commissioner -- 25 useful tips for citizen planners;" book by Elaine Cogan; due out on. For more info, go to:

AN URBAN AGENDA FOR AN URBAN AGE
Presentation given at the Urban Age Conference, November 10, 2006; by Bruce Katz, Andrew Altman, and Julie Wagner, Brookings Institute' Metropolitan Policy Program.

CRUISING FOR PARKING
Article by Donald Shoup; Transport Policy, Vol. 13, No. 6, November 2006, pp. 479-486.