| ------------------------------------------------------------ C-E-N-T-E-R-L-I-N-E-S ------------------------------------------------------------ #168 Wednesday, February 07, 2007 ------------------------------------------------------------ CenterLines is the
bi-weekly e-newsletter of the National Center for Bicycling & Walking.
CenterLines is our way of quickly delivering news and information you
can use to create more walkable and bicycle-friendly communities. Check
online for additional stories:
I-N--T-H-E--N-E-W-S
-> The Active Living Resource Center (ALRC) has added two new documents to it's Active Facts series: "Getting Youth Involved In Planning," and "Complete Streets for Active Communities." The ALRC program is managed by the National Center for Bicycling & Walking with support from the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. The Active Facts series is aimed at individuals and members of small neighborhood associations that are working to make their communities more bicycle-friendly and walkable, and thus more active places to live. Feel free to download these and other documents in the Active Facts series and provide them to local advocates you're working with. You'll find all of the Active Facts documents listed in the ALRC library -- along with many other documents the ALRC staff has collected for use at the neighborhood level -- at: http://www.activelivingresources.org/library.php
-> In a recent
note, Lois Thibault of the U.S. Access Board wrote, "Here is some
information on shared streets that was reported at TRB. Note the focus
group reports from blind pedestrians in the UK and Holland: *"Naked streets" are streets without signs, markings, etc.
-> In a recent note, Andrew Stuck wrote, "We are promoting romance in cities during 2007! We would like to enlist your support by asking you to recommend romantic urban places, spaces and routes, and to spice it up we are running a Romantic Ribbon post card competition! Please do recommend somewhere romantic, and send us an on-line post card message -- come on don't be bashful! Go to: http://digbig.com/4rfyp
-> In a recent note, Bill Kelly wrote, "Hope you can list our 10th Annual Bike/Ped Symposium in Annapolis on Friday Feb. 9, 2007. This is the one chance each year for Bike/Ped Folks around Maryland and the DC/Balt. Metro Area to gather Meet/Greet each other and their Legislators and find out firsthand what is happening Bike/Ped Wise around their busy progressive State. There will presentations and displays from over 30 groups from around the State." More info: http://www.cpabc.org
-> According to a Jan. 18th news release, "The 2007 Alberta Survey on Physical Activity (released this week by the Alberta Centre for Active Living) shows that the proportion of active Albertans has increased to 62.40% (from 60.20% in 2005). Jenny Burgess, the centre's Research Coordinator, is happy to see that the proportion of active Albertans has increased again this year, but says it's unfortunate that almost 40% of the population is still not active enough to achieve health benefits. "The more research done on physical activity, the better we understand what gets people up and moving. We will continue to communicate the importance of physical activity and active living in improving and maintaining the health of Albertans. "Generally, the
percentage of sufficiently active Albertans: For more info, contact
Dr. Tanya Berry Research Associate, Alberta Centre for Active Living;
phone: 492-3280; e-mail: <tanya.berry@ualberta.ca>.
Or go to:
-> In the last issue (see Pete Lagerwey Dismissed as Seattle DOT Ped/Bike Program Coordinator, CenterLines issue #167), NCBW executive director Bill Wilkinson said the Pro Walk/Pro Bike conference in Seattle was in question due to uncertainties brought on by the sudden changes in the city's staffing of the bicycle/pedestrian program office. "The NCBW Board has asked me to investigate alternate venues for the conference," Wilkinson reported. "We haven't yet had a conversation with the City or SDOT to see if we have the support we need to go forward with the conference. We'll keep readers apprised of the situation with regards to the 2008 conference." -> According to Bill Wilkinson, executive director of the National Center for Bicycling & Walking (NCBW), the organization in January received a sixth year of funding from the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation in support of the Active Living Resource Center (ALRC). Wilkinson noted that this is the eighth year that the Foundation has selected the NCBW to offer technical assistance projects in communities across the country. "We're very pleased to have support from the Foundation to continue our work in developing resources for neighborhood advocates such as the City-Safe Routes to School programs and the PDA-based community assessment tools," said Sharon Roerty, the ALRC project director. "We've got a number of initiatives under the new grant that will speak to the continuing fight against childhood obesity, as well as helping residents make their communities more active places to live." The primary outreach
tool of the ALRC is the web site at: QUOTES R US -> "Over 40,000
buses at more than 300 transit agencies in the U.S. are equipped with
bike racks, and an estimated 670,000 bikes-on-transit trips are provided
each month..."
IN
THE NEWS
-> According to a Dec. 7th American-Statesman article, "Faced with a 2 percent cut in promised federal transportation funds, the state plans to take the money away from proposed trail, beautification and tourist projects rather than from highway expansion and repair. Texas Transportation Commission Chairman Ric Williamson, in a Nov. 20 letter to the various government entities that had submitted requests for 'transportation enhancement grants' totaling almost $688 million, said the agency 'did not make this decision lightly.' The federal government's decision to cut $305 million from Texas' $14.5 billion 2004-09 allocation, Williamson wrote, 'put us in the position of having to choose between congestion-relief projects and enhancement projects. . . . (We) believe the enhancement program has the weakest connection to our goals.' Under the Transportation Enhancement Program, established by Congress in 1991, states distribute federal grants to local governments for projects aimed at improving the driving experience. "That has been interpreted to include such things as museums, sidewalks, trails and highway beautification. The state Transportation Department is indefinitely suspending the distribution of those grants. Georgetown had sought more than $10 million for trails and bicycle/pedestrian projects and $9.7 million for an aviation and automotive museum. Austin wanted money for, among other things, some downtown street beautification and a Texas music history museum. None of those requests will be fulfilled, at least for the foreseeable future. Preston Tyree, the Austin Cycling Association's legislative liaison and a board member of the League of American Bicyclists, a national advocacy group, criticized the state's decision to limit the cuts to trails and other enhancement projects. He said the impact of the cut on the enhancements is absolute, while a 2 percent trimming of new road projects would not materially affect the state's road congestion. "'It is really small compared to what TxDOT needs,' Tyree said. 'And to take all of the rescission out of (enhancements) is crazy. It's certainly not fair.' U.S. Rep. Lloyd Doggett, an Austin Democrat, in an e-mailed statement, called the Transportation Department's action 'disappointing, but hardly surprising...TxDOT has never liked enhancements; it tried to remove this requirement from recent federal transportation legislation and has now chosen to disregard the intent behind federal transportation funding.'..." Source: http://digbig.com/4rfys
-> In a Jan. 27th Sightline Institute Daily Score article, Elisa Murray asks, "Who stands to benefit most from living in 'walkable' neighborhoods? Possibly kids, new research suggests. As Science News reports(1) this week, researchers including UBC's Lawrence Frank (whose work we covered in Cascadia Scorecard 2006) are finding that children are disproportionately affected by how their neighborhood is designed. In one study of what determines whether kids are active, scientists found that girls who live near parks and recreational facilities are more physically active than those whose neighborhoods contain no such spaces, the researchers found...Each park within a half-mile of home contributed an extra 17.2 minutes of vigorous activity per girl over the course of the study. "This isn't terribly surprising, of course, but it's heartening to know that better, safer neighborhood design(2) will especially benefit the youngest members of the population. The inverse is true as well, of course: A new study(3) on the effects of traffic pollution on kids -- the largest of its kind -- finds that children living near busy highways have significant impairments in the development of their lungs that can lead to respiratory problems for the rest of their lives...All the researchers conceded that there is little that can be done to mitigate the effects of the traffic pollution now...But when local governments are planning new schools and new housing developments, Gauderman said, 'this should be taken into account.'..." Source: http://digbig.com/4rfwk Footnotes:
-> According to a Jan. 30th Oregonian article, "The Federal Highway Administration wants to know where the transportation is in Metro's transportation plan. Metro is trying something different with the current plan update -- giving the highest priority to projects that support the region's goals for coping with growth, whether that means more roads, more transit or more bicycle lanes. But the highway agency says Metro has it backward. 'A transportation plan should first and foremost include transportation goals, and meet transportation needs, while also considering other factors and needs, such as land use, human health and the environment,' the federal agency said in commenting on a draft of the plan's opening chapter. 'It is difficult to find the transportation focus in this opening chapter of the Regional Transportation Plan,' the agency said. The highway agency scolded Metro for not focusing more on highways, cars and parking. "'The plan should acknowledge that automobiles are the preferred mode of transport by the citizens of Portland,' the agency said. 'They vote with their cars every day.' The plan is a blueprint that controls transportation spending in the region for 20 years. In order to receive funding, a project must be in the plan. Metro is developing an update of the plan, scheduled for completion in 2008. In the past, because of the complex politics of the three-county metro area, the plan has included many more projects than the region can afford. The current plan includes $10 billion worth of projects, about $6 billion over the available money. Certain technical aspects of the plan have to meet federal standards, but Metro Commissioner Rex Burkholder said the highway agency's comments on the region's approach can be "taken with a grain of salt.' However, Burkholder said they raise the kind of questions Metro will face as it moves ahead with the plan..." Source: http://digbig.com/4rfye FHWA's comments can
be found here: The issue has fostered
lively conversation on this blog:
-> According to a Feb. 5th Medical News Today article, "Build it, and they will walk. That's the message from a new study that suggests communities that make it easy for senior citizens to walk will end up with more active residents. The researchers weren't able to determine if 'walkable' communities also translate to fewer fat people. But the findings still will be useful for planners and others who want to create better neighborhoods, said lead author Ethan Berke, M.D., an assistant professor at Dartmouth Medical School. 'What this says is that where you live might have an effect on your ability to be active," Berke said. "I can't go as far as to say that walkability [relates to] obesity or causes you to be more or less active, but this is a study that at least discovers an association.' "Berke, a family physician, said he's long suspected that obesity is caused by more than just one's person's choices. Other factors play a role, including 'the influence of environment and where people live on their ability to be active and [take part in] activities.' To get a handle on the effects of neighborhood design, Berke and a team of University of Washington urban planning specialists created a measurement of neighborhood "walkability" and applied it to communities in the Seattle region. The measurement looked at about 200 factors, including slope of the land, mix of residents and businesses and proximity to grocery stores..." Source: http://digbig.com/4rgah
-> According to
a Feb. 5th E-Max Health article, "Governor Edward G. Rendell said
Pennsylvania's initiatives to curb childhood obesity have scored an 'A'
in the 2006 University of Baltimore Obesity Report Card, which praised
the state for its legislative and public policy work to control childhood
obesity. 'Childhood obesity is a health problem that can be prevented
and treated,' Governor Rendell said. 'Through our work with schools, families
and health care providers we are making progress to ensure that every
child in Pennsylvania is better able to lead a healthy lifestyle.' Each
year, the University of Baltimore Obesity Initiative grades states on
their efforts to pass obesity-reducing legislation. This year, Pennsylvania
was one of five states to receive an "A" for its efforts to
control childhood obesity. Source: http://digbig.com/4rgas
-> According to a Feb. 6th Maneater article, "An upcoming research project conducted by MU physical therapy professor Steve Sayers might once and for all confirm that Columbia citizens are healthier than the citizens of Lawrence, Kan., home to MU rival University of Kansas. 'Obviously, Columbians have their problems with KU, but that doesn't affect the research,' Sayers said. Sayers' project recently secured $200,000 of funding from the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, the largest philanthropic organization devoted to American health and health care. The study will begin this spring as researchers conduct phone surveys to collect physical activity data from Columbia residents living by a proposed network of pedestrian- and cyclist-friendly trails and paths. "In 2005, Columbia became one of four communities in the U.S. to be included in the federal Nonmotorized Transportation Pilot Program, receiving a $22 million grant to promote alternatives to driving. Additionally, an independent, registered non-profit organization, the PedNet Coalition, received a similar $200,000 Robert Wood Johnson grant for its Bike, Walk and Wheel initiative. 'There's a sort of history involved (with) the city of Columbia,' said Frank Booth, a professor of physiology in the MU School of Medicine. 'When the city of Columbia obtained (the federal grant money) for improved bike trails, that opened up the door. Having those trails available helped raise the scientific question.'..." Source: http://digbig.com/4rgar
SCIENTIST DEVELOPS CAFFEINATED DOUGHNUTS "That cup of coffee just not getting it done anymore? How about a Buzz Donut or a Buzzed Bagel? That's what Doctor Robert Bohannon, a Durham, North Carolina, molecular scientist, has come up with. Bohannon says he's developed a way to add caffeine to baked goods, without the bitter taste of caffeine. Each piece of pastry is the equivalent of about two cups of coffee. While the product is not on the market yet, Bohannon has approached some heavyweight companies, including Krispy Kreme, Dunkin' Donuts and Starbucks about carrying it." Source: http://tinyurl.com/2675ws QUICK HITS CHICAGO (IL)
USING "GREEN PAVING" FOR ALLEYS, STREETS SOON RESOURCES -> "INCLUSIVE
PEDESTRIAN ENVIRONMENTS..." -> "VERMONT
PEDESTRIAN AND BICYCLE POLICY PLAN" -> "BEYOND
TRANSPORT INFRASTRUCTURE..." CALENDAR Additional training
opportunities are available on the National Center for Bicycling &
Walking web site. Add your own items to the on-line calendar...it's quick
and easy. Please be sure your calendar items pertain to training and workshops
in the bicycle, pedestrian, or livable community fields. Go to: HEY, YOU! SEND US YOUR CALENDAR ITEMS -- PRONTO! -> February 8-10,
2007, New Partners for Smart Growth, Los Angeles, CA. Info: -> February 22-24,
2007, 4th Annual Active Living Research Conference, Coronado CA. Info:
Amanda Wilson, Research Coordinator; phone: 619-260-5538; email: <awilson@projects.sdsu.edu> -> March 16, 2007,
Walk/Bike California 2007 Conference, Davis, CA. Info: Jennifer Stanley,
California Bicycle Coalition, email: <secretary@calbike.org> March 25-27, 2007,
Lifesavers Conference, Chicago, IL. Info: National Conference on Highway
Safety Priorities, PO Box 30045, Alexandria VA 22310; phone: (703) 922-7944. -> March 25-29,
2007, National Trust Main Streets Conference, Seattle, WA. Info: Mary
de la Fe, National Trust for Historic Preservation, 1785 Mass Ave, NW,
Washington, DC 20036; phone: (202) 588-6329; email: March 29-30, 2007,
Rethinking the Urban Policy Agenda, Madrid, Spain. Info: March 29-31, 2007, Environmental Justice in the 21st Century, Washington DC. Info: Michelle Hudson, email: <hudsonmi@saic.com>. -> April 14-18,
2007, American Planning Association National Conference, Philadelphia,
PA. Info: -> Sunday, April
22, 2007, Rhode Island MS Walk, Narragansett, RI. Info: -> June 2, 2007,
Bring awareness to your trail - host a National Trails Day event - hike,
bike, ride horses, paddle. Info: -> June 12-15,
2007, Velo City International Bicycle Conference, Munich, Germany. Info: June 18-21, 2007,
International Conference on Mobility and Transport for Elderly and Disabled
Persons, Montreal, Quebec, Canada. Info: Urbanicity Conference Alerts,
Alistair Campbell, email: <a.campbell@urbanicity.org> -> July 13-15,
2007, Thunderhead Training, Louisville, KY. Info: -> August 24-26,
2007, Thunderhead Training, Los Angeles, CA. Info: September 11-14, 2007,
APBP Professional Development Seminar, Davis, CA. Info: Kit Keller, Association
of Pedestrian and Bicycle Professionals; PO Box 93, Cedarburg, WI 53012-0093;
phone: 262-375-6180; fax: 866-720-3611: email: <kit@apbp.org> September 28-29, 2007,
Healthy Trails, Healthy Communities conference, Rochester, NY. Info: Parks
& Trails New York, (518) 434-1583. -> October 1-4,
2007, Walk21 International Conference, Toronto, ON, -> October 5-7,
2007, Thunderhead Training, plus lobby training Oct. 8 and Hill visits
Oct. 9, 2007, Washington, DC. Info: JOBS GRANTS AND RFPS -> RFP -- SELF-SERVICE BIKE RENTAL PGM -- CHICAGO, IL LEGAL ADVERTISEMENT - MONDAY, JANUARY 29,2007, CITY OF CHICAGO DEPARTMENT OF PROCUREMENT SERVICES Sealed Bids/Proposals, will be received by the City of Chicago, on the date and time, (Chicago Time), stated for those specific Bids/Proposals listed below, in Room 301, City Hall, 121 North LaSalle Street, Chicago, Illinois at which time and place, Bids/Proposals will be opened and publicly read aloud for the following: DESCRIPTION: REQUEST FOR PROPOSAL (RFP) FOR SELF SERVICE BICYCLE RENTAL PROGRAM SPECIFICATION NO.: 52863 PRE-BID.PROPOSAL CONFERENCE: TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 13, 2007 AT 1:30 P.M., CENTRAL TIME AT 30 NORTH LASALLE STREET, 2ND FLOOR, CHICAGO, ILLINOIS 60602. ATTENDANCE IS NON-MANDATORY BUT ENCOURAGED. BID/PROPOSAL OPENING DATE: FRIDAY, MARCH 30,2007; TIME: 4:00 P.M. CONTACT: RANDI BROKVIST Phone: (312) 744-7669 E-mail: <rbrokvist@cityofchicago.org> Bids/Proposals requiring a Bids/Proposals deposit must be accompanied by a bid bond, provided by a surety company authorized to do business in the State of Illinois, or the equivalent in the form of a cashier's check, or money order, in the amount stated, drawn on a responsible bank, or financial institution doing business in the United States, and made payable to the City of Chicago. Cash, non-certified checks or comptroller certificates, are not acceptable forms of Bids/Proposals deposits. Any Bids/Proposals submitted, which are not properly signed, or accompanied by an acceptable form of deposit, will be considered non-responsive, and the bid will be disqualified from consideration. Any late Bids/Proposals received after announced date and time, for the opening of Bids/Proposals, will not be accepted. Bids/Proposals must be submitted on documents provided by the City of Chicago, which are available in the Department of Procurement Services, Bid and Bond Room, Room 301, City Hall, Chicago, Illinois 312-744-9773. Where applicable, copies of specifications, plans, and drawings may be obtained by placing a deposit in the amount specified above, for each set of documents. The City will only accept certified checks, cashier's checks, or money orders. The plan deposit will be refunded upon the return of said documents, in good condition within ten (10) calendar days after the bid opening date. Failure to return said documents within the period stated above, will result in the Bidders/Proposers forfeiting the plan deposit. The above Bids/Proposals estimated range, is intended to represent the size of the project, or anticipated usage. The Chief Procurement Officer reserves the right to reject any or all Bids/Proposals if deemed in the best interest of the City of Chicago. RICHARD M.
DALEY, MAYOR
The City of Baltimore Department of Transportation is currently hiring for the following position: SPECIAL BIKEIPEDESTRIAN CITY PLANNER II. Responsible for development and update of comprehensive bicycle and pedestrian plans, participation in the development of the long range transportation plans and providing strategic planning and direction, technical expertise and project management in the development and implementation of bicycle and pedestrian programs throughout the City of Baltimore. Responsible for the development and implementation of the City's ADA Transition Plan for the public right-of-way. Min. qualifications: Bachelor's degree in Urban Planning or related field, (Master's Degree preferred); 3 yrs. related exp.; or equivalent education and exp.; strong computer and GIS skills, writing and communication skills. Qualified candidates should send resumes to: jobs.trans@baltimorecity.gov or Department of Transportation Human Resources, 417 E. Fayette Street, Room 505, Baltimore, MD 21202. AA/EOE.
More info: http://tinyurl.com/26k983 Note: According to
David Takemoto-Weerts, previous bike/ped coordinator, Tim Bustos, is now
an "associate development engineer" at UC Berkeley's Tech Transfer
division. He can be emailed at <tbustos@berkeley.edu>. Here's where
he works:
Under general supervision, the 5289 Transit Planner III performs urban mass transit and/or transportation planning work. The Transit Planner positions in the Municipal Transportation Agency (MTA) perform a variety of tasks in a number of sections within MTA... Examples of Duties: Typical duties include transit service planning; bus rapid transit project planning; project planning for fleet, facility, station area, traffic calming or guideway projects; pedestrian planning; capital planning and fund programming; bicycle planning; environmental review; New Starts Reporting and project integration...Announcement may close for filing at any time. Applicants are encouraged to keep copies of all materials submitted for their own records. For more info, go
to: HOUSEKEEPING TO
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