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ProBike/ProWalk 2000...Outstanding!
NHTSA tests methods to reduce speed
Dan Burden takes honors at APBP PB/PW luncheon
Santa Barbara going to video controllers
Columbus OH spends $5 million on school routes
WA State funding for traffic safety near schools
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PROBIKE/PROWALK 2000....OUTSTANDING!
More than 500 bicycle and pedestrian professionals, advocates
and allied interests gathered in the City of Philadelphia last week
for ProBike/ProWalk 2000, the 11th International Conference on Bicycling
and Walking.
From the pre-conference meetings of State and Local Bicycle and Pedestrian
Program Managers to post-conference training, delegates had more than
enough to keep them busy during the week. Nearly 200 presentations were
delivered in 63 workshops on topics ranging from innovations in pedestrian
facility designs and pedestrian advocacy, to multimodal planning and bicycle
facility selection. Delegates were also treated to guided walking and
bicycling tours, exhibits and special events.
Philadelphia was much more than backdrop as the conference, the largest
ProBike/ProWalk to date, came to town. Mobile workshops and tours
moved delegates from the conference hall into the City, which served as
a living, moving classroom. Workshop participants explored one of the oldest
big cities in America, tackling real-world issues such as Getting to School
Safely and Real Intersection Design.
An emerging theme from ProBike/ProWalk 2000 is the opportunity for
transportation planning, engineering and program staff and advocacy
organizations to partner with public health practitioners: Safe Routes to
School Programs, pedestrian and bicycle education and skill training, and
factors in community environments that affect the levels of
bicycling and walking (you'll hear more about this in the next CenterLines).
ProBike/ProWalk 2000 was presented by National Center for Bicycling &
Walking (NCBW) in partnership with the Pedestrian and Bicycle
Information Center (PBIC) with the assistance of an able Local Host
Committee.
More info: Pro Bike/Pro Walk 2000
NHTSA TESTS METHODS TO REDUCE SPEED IN NEIGHBORHOODS
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA)
has awarded a contract to Dunlap and Assoc., Inc., to develop and field
test a program using engineering, enforcement and education approaches
to reduce speeds in neighborhoods. Marv Levy is directing the project for
NHTSA. The study will involve a literature review, assembly of a panel of
specialists to define problems and possible solutions, identification of
a site for the study field test, development of appropriate countermeasures,
and implementation and test of the countermeasures at the selected
field site. Since NHTSA recently published a review of the topic
(Literature Review on Vehicle Travel Speeds and Pedestrian Injuries)
the current effort will focus only on studies that have been initiated or
completed since that report was prepared (mid-1998).
Send information or materials to: Arlene Cleven or Richard D. Blomberg,
Dunlap and Associates, Inc., 1010 Summer St., Stamford, CT 06905.
Phone: (203) 323-8464; Fax: (203) 964-0799;
email: arlenecleven@aol.com" or rdblomberg@aol.com
DAN BURDEN TAKES THE HONORS AT APBP'S PB/PW LUNCHEON
Dan Burden, executive director of Walkable Communities, Inc.,
was honored with the Association of Pedestrian and Bicycle Professionals
first Lifetime Achievement Award, Wednesday, September 6. The award
recognizes the remarkable impact Burden has had in promoting bicycling
and walking during the past 30 years. In that time, Dan helped establish
Bikecentennial (now the Adventure Cycling Association) and the Bicycle
Federation of America (now the National Center for Bicycling & Walking);
he set the standard for state bicycle and pedestrian programs during his 16
years at Florida DOT; and is now energizing one community after another
to take control of their future and create more walkable and bicycle-friendly
places.
The lunchtime ceremony, organized by the APBP as part of the
program of the Pro Bike/Pro Walk 2000 conference in Philadelphia, came
as a complete surprise to the recipient: and for a brief moment, Dan was
lost for words! The element of surprise was made possible by virtue of
another honor Dan has received. He thought he was on the podium to
be recognized as the Transportation Research Board's Distinguished
Lecturer at the January 2001 annual meeting of the TRB. Ann Hershfang,
Chair of the TRB Committee on Pedestrians announced details of Dan's
second major award, noting that once again Dan will be breaking new
ground as TRB's featured speaker: this is the first time a
bicycle/pedestrian
speaker has filled this prestigious role. --Andy Clarke, APBP
SANTA BARBARA GOING TO VIDEO SIGNAL CONTROL
According to the Santa Barbara Bicycle Coalition's
"Quick Release" newsletter (Sept. 2000), Santa Barbara County
has determined from tests begun in 1995 that traffic signals
controlled by video cameras are superior to in-street loops.
According to Wilson Hubbell, the County's Alternative
Transportation Coordinator all new County signals will have
video sensors and old signals with sensors in the pavement will
be updated. When video cameras are installed, the old in-street
cables will be abandoned. The cameras are more expensive to buy,
but are more cost-effective in the long run.
source: http://www.sbbike.org/QR/2000/00.09/00.09.html
COLUMBUS (OH) SPENDS $5 MILLION ON SCHOOL ROUTE SAFETY
According to a recent article in the Columbus Dispatch,
the City has just begun implementing a $5 million plan to upgrade
pedestrian conditions near local schools. "The plan breaks down
as $1 million over four years to replace safety signals, as well
as signs and crosswalks, and $4 million over three years to
rebuild the sidewalks."
source: http://www.dispatch.com:80/news/newsfea00/aug00/404526.html
STATE FUNDING FOR TRAFFIC SAFETY NEAR SCHOOLS
The Washington Transportation Commission approved grant
funding packages for five new programs created by the Legislature,
including a Traffic SafetyNear Schools Program. The purpose of this
program is to fund capital projects for traffic and pedestrian safety
improvements near schools. Eligible projects include sidewalks and
walkways, school signing and signals, improved pedestrian crossings,
turning lanes, school bus pullouts, and roadway channelization and
signalization.
For more info: http://www.wsdot.wa.gov/ta/homepage/hlphp.html
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"TRADITIONAL NEIGHBORHOOD DEVELOPMENT STREET DESIGN
GUIDELINES: RECOMMENDED PRACTICE"
The final version, this 44-page manual from ITE includes community
design parameters, design principles, specific guidance on geometric
street design, and recent findings on urban design and travel demand.
Item RP-027A. Member price: $25, Nonmember price: $35
Order online from http://www.ite.org
"NCDOT TRADITIONAL NEIGHBORHOOD DEVELOPMENT GUIDELINES"
An Aug. 2000 24-page downloadable manual from the North Carolina
Department of Transportation. Covers topics like design speed,
street types and widths, sidewalks, planting strips, and
relationship of buildings to street.
http://www.doh.dot.state.nc.us/operations/tnd.pdf
"LIVABLE COMMUNITIES"
The Clinton/Gore administration's livable communities website,
tied to their initiative of the same name. Good links on
school walkability, among other topics.
http://www.livablecommunities.gov
"BICYCLE USER GROUP MANUAL"
71-page downloadable manual on how to start and run a bicycle user
group (BUG). Published in 1998 by Bikewest and the Bicycle
Transportation Alliance of Perth, Western Australia.
http://www.transport.wa.gov.au/metro/bikewest/documents/bug_manual.pdf
"LITERATURE REVIEW ON VEHICLE TRAVEL SPEEDS AND
PEDESTRIAN INJURIES"
Online NHTSA report concludes that higher vehicle speeds are
strongly associated with greater likelihood of pedestrian
crash occurrence and more serious resulting pedestrian injury.
Suggests countermeasures.
http://www.nhtsa.gov/people/injury/research/pub/hs809012.html
"SAFETY OF VULNERABLE ROAD USERS"
229-page report reviews safety of vulnerable road users in OECD
Member countries. Published in 1998 by the Organization for
Economic Cooperation and Development, Road Transport Research
Program.
http://www.oecd.org/dsti/sti/transpor/road/prod/Free-on-line/RS7.pdf
"SCHOOL SPRAWL"
Article in the Planning Commissioner's Journal (Summer 2000)
promoting walkable school sites. "In Maine, the number of
children attending public schools declined by 27,000 between
1970-1995 but state and local busing costs rose from $8.7
million to $54 million a year during that period. The principal
reason: sprawling land use patterns."
order online ($4) at http:/www.plannersweb.com
"WALK OUR CHILDREN TO SCHOOL" KIT
Has sample letters to parents, businesses and community groups,
news releases, handouts, Walkability checklists, curriculum ideas
and 100 free Grafeeties ("bumper stickers for sneakers") saying
"Let's Walk Together." Produced by the Health Promotion Project
at Univ. of Wisconsin-Madison. Kit is $5. Contact Rick Brooks at
(608) 265-4079 or via email at applepie@mail.dcs.wisc.edu
After September 18, info and downloadable artwork available on
above website.
http://www.dcs.wisc.edu/pda/applepie
"AN INVESTIGATION OF THE SAFETY IMPLICATIONS OF WIRELESS
COMMUNICATIONS IN VEHICLES"
An NHTSA report presenting a variety of options for enhancing
the safe use of cellular telephones by drivers and addressing
the many issues raised.
http://www.nhtsa.dot.gov/people/injury/research/wireless/
"SMART CHOICES OR SPRAWLING GROWTH: A 50-STATE SURVEY
OF DEVELOPMENT"
The Sierra Club Report on Sprawl, September 2000. Lots of examples of
"smart" walkable developments.
http://www.sierraclub.org/sprawl/50statesurvey/
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September 21-24, 2000: 15th National Trails Symposium, Redding, CA .
Info: American Trails (520) 632-1140; e-mail: AmTrails@lankaster.com">AmTrails@lankaster.com
website: http://www.americantrails.org/INFO2000TrSymposium.html
September 20-22, 2000: The 2000 Wisconsin State Bike Conference,
Neenah, WI. Info: Bicycle Federation of Wisconsin, 106 E Doty Street,
Suite 10, Madison, WI 53703 voice: 608/251-4456 fax: 608-251-4594
email: info@bfw.org website: http://www.bfw.org/bikeconference/
October 4, 2000: International Walk to School Day. Info: email:
chad_sattler@unc.edu also for info the international program,
as well as links to nine national events, visit their website.
website: http://www.iwalktoschool.org/
U.S. event website: http://www.walktoschool-usa.org/
October 19-21, 2000: 3rd International Congress Greenways in the
Millenium; Gijón, Spain. Info: Fundación de los Ferrocarriles Espanoles,
fax: +34(0)91-528 09 86, email: viasverdes@ffr.es
website: http://www.viasverdes.com
October 28, 2000: Northeast Bicycle Advocate's Conference, Hartford, CT.
Info: CT Bicycle Coalition at (860) 527-5200 or Thunderhead Alliance
website: http://www.thunderheadalliance.org
November 1, 2000: Velo-city 2001, Call for Papers Deadline; see
Sept. 2001 entry below for Conference and access information.
January 7-11, 2001:80th Annual Meeting of the Transportation Research
Board, Washington, DC. Info: TRB, 2101 Constitution Ave, N.W.
Washington, D.C. 20418, voice: (202) 334-2934 fax: (202) 334-2003
website: http://www4.nationalacademies.org/trb/annual.nsf
February 20-22, 2001: Australia: Walking the 21st Century:
An International Walking Conference, Perth, Western Australia. Info:
John Seaton, Metropolitan Div., Dept. of Transport, PO Box 7272
Cloisters Square, Perth, W. Australia - 6850,
voice: +61 8 9313 8680 fax: +61 8 9320 9497
e-mail: jseaton@transport.wa.gov.au
website: http://www.transport.wa.gov.au/conferences/walking/index.html
March 25-28, 2001,17th Annual ITE Spring Conference: Improving
Transportation Performance and Productivity, Monterey, CA. Info: ITE, 525
School Street, SW, Suite 410, Washington, DC 20024 USA ,
voice: (202) 554-8050 fax: (202) 863-5486, email: ite_staff@ite.org
website: https://www.ite.org/conference2001/sixdays.asp
July 3-6, 2001,Environmental Design Research Association (EDRA)
Annual Meeting, Edinburgh, Scotland. Info: EDRA, P.O. Box 7146,
Edmond, OK 73083-7146, voice: (405)330-4863
fax: (405)330-4150, email: edra@telepath.com
website: http://www.telepath.com/edra/home.html
September 17-21, 2001, Velo-city 2001, Edinburgh/Glasgow, Scotland.
Info: Meeting Makers Ltd, Jordanhill Campus, 76 Southbrae Drive,
Glasgow G13 1PP, Scotland, voice: 0141 434 1500 fax: 434 1519,
e-mail: Velo_city@meetingmakers.co.uk
website: http://velo-city2001.org/
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Contributors: Bill Wilkinson, Peter Moe, Andy Clarke
Editor: John Williams Send news items to: john@montana.com
Director: Bill Wilkinson
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National Center for Bicycling & Walking 1506 21st St NW, Suite
200, Washington D.C. 20036 Voice: (202) 463-6622 Fax: (202) 463-6625
Email: info@bikewalk.org
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