| ------------------------------------------------------------ C-E-N-T-E-R-L-I-N-E-S ------------------------------------------------------------ #194 Wednesday, February 6, 2008 ------------------------------------------------------------ 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. CenterLines is also available as a podcast. Go to: http://podcast.bikewalk.org/
FEATURES PRO WALK/PRO BIKE REGISTRATION COSTS ANNOUNCED -> The Pro Walk/Pro Bike conference fee structure has been announced. According to Gary MacFadden, the conference director, the fees will see only a slight increase from those charged at the Madison, Wisc., conference in 2006. "We did everything we could to keep the fees low for this 4-day conference," said MacFadden. "Even though we're facing higher venue costs in Seattle, most of the fees we've had to bump by only a few dollars." The basic Delegate fee for PWPB2008 will be $550. Members of the Association of Pedestrian and Bicycle Professionals (APBP) are offered a discount to $450. The Presenter rate will be $440.00. A limited number of advocate scholarships will be offered at $395. These registration fees are for standard registration; late registration and walk-in registrations will be higher. "We'll open registration for Pro Walk/Pro Bike on Tuesday, April 15th," MacFadden said. "Standard registration will run until July 31st. Late registration will run August 1st to August 25th; after that registrations will be consider walk-ins." Once again, registration will be handled via an on-line form. "We'll also offer a printed .pdf form that can be downloaded for those who do not have Internet access," MacFadden said. "The on-line form will allow direct payment options as well as purchase orders for agencies, just as we did for the 2006 conference." MacFadden noted that there had been a very strong response to the call for presentation proposals, which closed February 1st. Proposals will be reviewed by early March, and everyone who submitted a proposal will be notified whether or not the presentation was accepted. Watch CenterLines and the conference pages at http://www.bikewalk.org for more information. MISSOURI GROUP LAUNCHES "HIT & RUN JUSTICE FUND" -> According to a Jan. 30th news release, "The St. Louis Regional Bicycle Federation has just launched a fund to offer a reward of $1,000 for information leading to the arrest and conviction of the person driving the vehicle that struck and injured a bicyclist at the corner of Cole and Broadway this past Monday evening and left the scene. Contributions are being collected at the organization's website: http://www.stlbikefed.org. Anyone with information about the incident should contact the police at 314-444-2520. "'This effort is completely grassroots,' said Russ Willis, chair of the Bike Fed's committee on policy and advocacy. 'We had hundreds of dollars in pledges even before we made the fund official. The "Hit and Run Justice Fund" will continue even after this case. Especially now, with motorists being pushed off highway 40/64 and onto surface roads, there is a heightened awareness among cyclists of the difficulties of sharing the roads with motorists,' Willis emphasized. "Willis said the Bike Fed intends to work with city Police Chief Joe Mokwa and City Prosecutor Jennifer Joyce to implement the reward. 'The police and prosecutor will determine whether the information they receive is enough to go on. Anyone with information should contact the police directly, not the Bike Fed.'..." For more info, go to: ALRC OFFERS NEW KIDS & ACTIVITY BROCHURE AS ARTWORK The Active Living Resource Center (ALRC) has announced the availability of it's newest brochure to be offered as artwork. Titled "10 Really Good Reasons Exercise Is Important For Your Child," the brochure is available FREE for local organizations to print and distribute locally. It is also being offered in both English and Spanish editions. "With the success of the Bicycle Safety brochure we offered as artwork in English and Spanish, we were eager to make additional brochures available," said author and illustrator John Williams. "We've gotten a fantastic response to the "Bicycle Safety: What Every Parent Should Know" brochure, with more than 200,000 copies being printed and distributed in communities across the country." Williams noted that the new 'kids and activity' brochure can also be customized with a logo and local contact information. "This has been a popular option for those requesting the artwork," said Williams. "It provides a local organization with the chance to get their name out in front of a target audience." The development of both of the brochures available as artwork sets was supported by a grant from the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. You can request the new 'kids and activity' brochure at: http://www.activelivingresources.org/links5.php The "Bicycle Safety: What Every Parent Should Know" brochure artwork is still available in both English and Spanish versions at: http://www.activelivingresources.org/links4.php LEAGUE OF AM. BICYCLISTS QUERIES PREZ CANDIDATES -> "According to the Feb. 4th American Bicyclist Update, "The League co-hosted a Presidential Candidates' Forum on Transportation & Infrastructure on January 31, 2008. The forum was hosted by The NYU Wagner Rudin Center for Transportation Policy & Management. Presidential candidates from both parties were invited to participate but the only candidates represented were Senators Obama, Clinton and Gravel as well as Representative Kucinich (still on the ballot in New York). "The forum was a great opportunity to hear from the campaigns on their views in regards to the role bicycling should play in our national transportation system. Overall, each believes that as a nation we must fundamentally change the way we look at transportation policy and how it impacts other national policies such as health, energy, environment, economy. They all agree that integrating land use and providing alternative transportation options such as walking and bicycling must be a key component to any integrated system and that bicycle projects should indeed be funded in part by federal transportation dollars..." To subscribe to the American Bicyclist Update, go to: ARRANGING SPECIAL MEETINGS AT PRO WALK/PRO BIKE 2008 -> If your organization would like to host a special meeting in conjunction with Pro Walk/Pro Bike 2008 in Seattle (September 2-5), the conference organizers would like to hear from you. "We have a limited number of rooms that we can make available at no charge for meetings," said Gary MacFadden, NCBW's conference organizer. "We ask that you complete a simple on-line form that will let us know how many people you expect, the type of room layout you would like, and whether or not you will have food catered. Rooms will be available all day Tuesday, September 2nd, and Friday afternoon, September 5th. "We may also have rooms available for meetings (especially evening meetings) on Wednesday and Thursday, but we'll need to know about them soon. You can help make the Puget Sound conference an even better conference by adding your meeting to the schedule," MacFadden said. To request meeting space, go to the Pro Walk/Pro Bike 2008 conference pages on the NCBW web site at: http://www.bikewalk.org/2008conference/specialmeetings.html COMPLETE STREETS GETS CAPITOL ATTENTION According to Barbara McCann of the National Complete Streets Coalition (and a Complete Streets consultant based in Washington, DC), "Complete streets is getting attention on Capitol Hill, including discussion at a Congressional briefing on February 6th. The same day is Smart Growth Advocacy Day, and dozens of smart growth proponents meeting with their representatives will be asking them to sign on to Complete Streets bills about to be introduced in the House and Senate." McCann noted that this is one of three major 'asks' in the lobby day associated with the New Partners for Smart Growth conference (http://www.newpartners.org/capitol_hill.html). "The leadership of the National Complete Streets Coalition is also holding a special Strategy Meeting on February 10th to plan the next steps, McCann said. "The Complete the Streets newsletter is taking our usual January hiatus, but we have just filled a new Complete Streets Fellow position, so expect to hear more from us soon." For more information, contact Barbara at:bmccann@verizon.net. SENIORS' SAFE ROUTES COMING TO NY (NY) -> According to a Jan. 24th StreetBeat article, "Longer crossing times are just one of the improvements scheduled to appear on city streets. Just five years after Transportation Alternatives started the Safe Routes for Seniors Program* with support from the New York State Department of Health, the Bloomberg Administration has adopted the plan and pledged to apply it at 25 locations citywide.** In his State of the City Address last week, Mayor Bloomberg announced, "traffic engineering improvements at 25 high-accident areas which are especially problematic for seniors."*** "The Mayor's plan, like T.A.'s Elder District**** approach, prioritizes areas and intersections where older New Yorkers are most at risk and takes the slower walking speed of seniors as a principle concern in the redesigns. so far, the DOT has made it clear that they will lengthen crossing times to accommodate slower walking speeds and employ pedestrian medians and new street markings. "Transportation Alternatives is excited by the City's commitment and will encourage the DOT and the Mayor to consider even stronger safety measures -- ones that not only increase pedestrian safety, but limit the likelihood of dangerous and aggressive driving as well." * http://tinyurl.com/ytkcio Source: http://tinyurl.com/3by22o CITY OF SONOMA (CA) PLANS $280K IN BIKE IMPROVEMENTS -> In the Feb. 4th edition of their "e-updates" newsletter, the Sonoma County (CA) Bicycle Coalition gave "Kudos to the City of Sonoma. Their council has $280,000 earmarked for capital improvements to increase safety and convenience for pedestrians and bicyclists. On January 24, 30 people attended a public forum to review the improvement options being considered, this was followed by discussion and the opportunity for participants to vote on their priorities. "The forum was a follow-up to an earlier community meeting on the topic in May 2007 and a fact finding bicycle ride in June. At the forefront of concerns is the need for Class II bike lanes (designated lane for the use of bicycles with signage, striping and stencils) and Class I separated paved paths. City planner David Goodison presented a number of ideas with related costs. After the presentation the audience voted on the possible projects. Next they will take the suggestions to City Council for approval." For more details on the City's plans, go to: For more on the SCBC, go to: IT'S A BIKE RACK! IT'S A TIRE PUMP! NO, IT'S BOTH! -> According to a Feb. 4th Cycling News article, "How about this for an idea? A bike stand with a built-in pump. Tyres a bit squashy? Inflate them for free. Needless to say its from the bike-friendly Netherlands..." For more on the rack, go to: For more about Life Cycle UK, publishers of Cycling News, go to: LEARN HOW TO IMPACT ELECTIONS AT NAT'L BIKE SUMMIT -> In the Feb. 4th American Bicyclist Update, the League of American Bicyclists suggested that readers "Attend the 2008 National Bike Summit to learn more on how you can impact the national elections. The Congressional elections of 2008 provide a great opportunity to educate national leaders on the importance of developing a national bicycling strategy. The Summit will provide valuable insight on what we in the bicycling community can do to get bike issues on the candidate's platforms. Discussions will include; reaching out to the media; candidate surveys; volunteering on campaigns, what non-profit organizations can and cannot do." For more info, go to: INDIANA TO ADD MORE THAN 150 MILES OF RAIL TRAILS -> According to the Feb. 1st OKI Bicycle E-Info-News, "In a state news release, Indiana Governor Mitch Daniels announced the purchase of more than 150 miles of abandoned rail line will nearly double Indiana's network of rail-trail corridors in the state. "Our goal is to have a trail within 15 minutes of every Hoosier within 10 years," Daniels said. "Today we have made a quantum leap forward that puts Indiana several steps closer to achieving this objective." The Department of Natural Resources reached an agreement in principle with owners of the former Penn Central Rail Line to buy the abandoned railroad corridors. The announcement did not give the cost or when the sale might conclude. The state has 173 miles of rail-trails. "The 150 miles of new land, to be purchased through Daniels' Hoosiers on the Move trails initiative, is in 39 counties although these do not include Dearborn, Franklin or Ohio in the Cincinnati area. 'The department's plan is to give the land to local governments and not-for-profit groups for future trail expansions. Henry County already has plans to begin developing a trail in their area," the Governor said. 'Governor Daniels also announced that the DNR has received $1.25 million from the Lilly Endowment for additional construction on five multi-use trails. 'Their gift leverages nearly $5 million in federal transportation enhancement funds for trail development,' the news release said." To purchase a map of the new rail corridor, go to: For more about the OKI Bicycle E-Info-News, contact editor Don Burrell at <dburrell@oki.org> STREETFILM: BUS RAPID TRANSIT (BRT) IN BOGOTA (CO) -> A Jan. 28th StreetsBlog entry asks, "Want to learn more about Bus Rapid Transit? Watch this StreetFilm and let Streetsblog editor Aaron Naparstek show you how BRT works in Bogota, Colombia. Take a gander and you'll see an efficient, modern and -- relatively speaking -- inexpensive way of moving 1.3 million people per day. In Bogota, where the BRT system goes by the much more sexy name, TransMilenio, you'll travel almost three times the speed of the typical New York City bus. The average TransMilenio vehicle travels at 17.4 mph. In New York City, buses poke along at 6.2 mph. Some TransMilenio routes average nearly 25 mph! "For quite a few years now, New York City's Department of Transportation and the MTA have been studying and studying and, sigh... studying the possibility of implementing BRT routes on selected corridors. And if Mayor Bloomberg's congestion pricing plan passes, a significant portion of the promised $354 million in federal funds will go towards launching new BRT lines. "Hopefully, New York City's BRT system will offer many of the excellent features that we saw in Bogota; features like physically-separated bus lanes, pre-boarding fare payment, wide doors that open at boarding level and a control room nerve center that monitors and manages the entire system. These features give Bogota a bus system that really works. Take a look." Note: There are quite a few scenes of the bicycle system, as well! Source: http://tinyurl.com/32tvmk NCSRTS LAUNCHES RESEARCH PROGRAM -> According to an article in the Jan. 30th Safe Routes Matters, "The National Center for Safe Routes to School (NCSRTS) has launched a comprehensive national research program to determine the impact of Safe Routes to School programs. The research program will result in the collection of nationwide SRTS-related data and the identification of effective SRTS strategies." Elements of the research program include: - Standardized Data Collection Forms For more info, go to: NJDOT AWARDS $3M IN BIKEWAYS GRANTS Source: Erin Phalon, (609) 530-4280 2008 IBF STUDENT BICYCLE ESSAY CONTEST -> According to a Jan. 25th IBF News Service Message, "A new International Bicycle Fund Student Bicycle Essay Contest has begun. All students, worldwide, 16 years old and under, are eligible to enter of 'Bicycle Essay Contest.' The deadline is May 1st. Please share this information with teachers, parents and students in your circles." For more info go to: MARIN CO (CA): CYCLISTS "KEY RESOURCES" IN DISASTERS -> According to a Jan. 31st MCBC Weekly Bulletin article, "Cyclists in Marin County will be a valuable asset to our communities in the event of a disaster, natural or otherwise. Cyclists can move through auto-congested roads and travel over hills and on paths that are not accessible to motor vehicles. Cyclists can deliver messages, supplies, move people and pets, and access communication towers on our hilltops. "Learn more about your potential as a cyclist and how you can help your neighbors in the wake of a disaster. The 2008 City of San Rafael Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) offers a 7-week course beginning Feb. 12 for $60. A free two-hour class, Get Ready, will be offered January 26. For more information on the course, go to: http://tinyurl.com/2ltqp4 For more on the Marin County Bicycle Coalition, go to: WIN A REGISTRATION TO THE 2008 THUNDERHEAD RETREAT -> According to the Thunderhead Alliance's Weather Report, members of Thunderhead organizations can win a FREE registration to the 2008 Thunderhead Retreat (held in conjunction with Pro Walk/Pro Bike 2008 in Seattle). Each Thunderhead organization leader who completes the on-line 2008 Membership Survey will be entered in a drawing for the retreat registration. In order to be entered for the drawing, you have to answer at least 6 of the 8 survey questions. The retreat dates are set for August 31st - September 2nd (overnight the 31st-1st) in Seattle, Washington. The retreat registration fee has not been set, but the 2006 Retreat cost $350 for early registration, so the drawing price could be of significant value. The survey ends February 21st. It is on-line at:
QUOTES R US -> "All truly great thoughts are conceived while walking." -> "I had some eyeglasses. I was walking down the street when suddenly the prescription ran out."
STATS R US 45% OF SPEEDING DEATHS HAPPEN ON ARTERIALS -> "The [Insurance Institute for Highway Safety] last year looked at arterial roads with posted limits of 40 or 45 mph in [Atlanta, Boston, Denver, Los Angeles, Omaha, Tampa, and Washington, DC]. Arterial roads aren't built to the same safety standards as interstates and have much higher crash rates. "Forty-five percent of deaths related to speeding in 2006 occurred on roads with limits of 45 mph or lower. Average speeds on the arterials exceeded posted limits, except in Atlanta, where they were slightly slower than the 45 mph limit. On a Boston arterial with a 45 mph limit, 62 percent of passenger vehicles traveled faster than 60 mph. "On a Washington, DC, arterial with a 45 mph limit, 25 percent of passenger vehicles exceeded 60 mph. A Denver arterial with a 40 mph limit had the slowest speeds. Still, 3 percent of vehicles surpassed 50 mph..." Source: http://tinyurl.com/2lghjx
IN
THE NEWS AMERICANS CONNECT WITH NATURE ELECTRONICALLY -> According to a Feb. 6th Planet Ark article, "When it comes to communing with nature, a growing number of people appear to prefer computer images to the real thing, US researchers said on Monday. They said outdoor activities -- tracked by national and state park admissions, game licenses, hiking permits and surveys of leisure activities -- have fallen by more than 20 percent since the 1980s. 'The average person in America used to go to the national parks every year. It was the iconic American family vacation. Now, there are less people doing that,' said Patricia Zaradic, a biologist with the Environmental Leadership Program, Delaware Valley, in Bryn Mawr, Pennsylvania. "In prior research, Zaradic linked a sharp drop in admissions to the US national parks to electronic diversions, such as playing video games, surfing the Internet and watching television. In the new study, which appears in the Proceedings of National Academy of Sciences, Zaradic and Oliver Pergams of the University of Illinois gathered data on 70 years of various nature activities. The group also looked at national park admissions in Japan and Spain. They found that since the late 1980s, nature recreation has fallen by 18 to 25 percent on a per capita basis, depending on the type of outdoor activity..." Source: http://tinyurl.com/2juku6 THE SAFETY BENEFITS OF SMART GROWTH COMMUNITIES -> According to a Nov. 20, 2007 Planetizen article by Todd Litman, Many families move to sprawled, automobile-dependent suburbs because they want a safe place to raise their children. They are mistaken. A smart growth community is actually a much safer and healthier place to live overall. "Most discussion of Smart Growth benefits focuses on infrastructure savings, environmental protection, increased accessibility and improved livability. One of the most important benefits, increased traffic safety, is often overlooked. In fact, traffic safety is one of the most important benefits of smart growth and smart growth is one of the most effective ways to reduce traffic risk..." Source: http://tinyurl.com/37r4x2 LAWRENCE (KS) NEEDS A SIDEWALK STRATEGY -> According to a Feb. 6th Journal-World editorial, "The city of Lawrence needs a sidewalk strategy. A proposal to use federal Community Development Block Grant funding to build some new sidewalks and repair some others barely scratches the surface of -- and could even add to -- the problem. The city's Public Works Department is seeking CDBG funds to build new sidewalks in areas where they are needed for pedestrian safety and convenience. The proposed sidewalks on 15th Street between Haskell Avenue and Harper Street, on Haskell Avenue between 19th and 23rd streets and on North Seventh Street in North Lawrence would fill gaps in sidewalks to bus stops, parks, a school, and several social service agencies. "If the city is to be pedestrian-friendly, officials reason, these sidewalks are necessary. However, although the CDBG funds would finance construction of the sidewalks, their maintenance would be the responsibility of the people on whose property they are built. The new sidewalks probably won't require any maintenance for some time, but many sidewalks in the older areas of Lawrence already are in serious disrepair. To try to deal with some of the worst spots, the Public Works proposal also seeks about $50,000 for small sidewalk repairs in the east Lawrence and Pinckney neighborhoods. These are repairs that should be the responsibility of the property owners, but city officials see little chance that the low-income property owners ever will be able to afford those repairs..." Source: http://tinyurl.com/35jpl2 "ULTRAFINE" PARTICULATES MAY BE HEART HAZARD -> According to a Jan. 24th New Scientist article, "Living close to a busy road can damage your heart -- and now we're closer to understanding why. Previous studies had suggested that people living in polluted areas are more at risk of heart disease. For example, a study published in The New England Journal of Medicine last year showed that women in 36 American cities were more likely to develop heart disease if the air they breathed was rich in particles measuring 2.5 micrometres or less in diameter -- known as PM2.5s -- which are present in car exhaust fumes. "It now seems that a greater hazard may be posed by so-called 'ultrafine' particles, about a dozen times smaller at 0.18 micrometres wide. The latest study in mice has shown that they clog up arteries with fatty atherosclerotic deposits, and chemically alter 'good' cholesterol, or high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol, reducing its beneficial effects..." Source: http://tinyurl.com/3xk893 LAKE ELMO (MN) OKS PLAN TO SLOW TRAFFIC -> According to a Feb. 5th Gazette article, "While parents and school officials know there is little they can do to reduce traffic in near Lake Elmo Elementary, they hope a few new flashing signs will remind the roughly 20,000 drivers who pass by each day to slow down and look for pedestrians when they do. 3M Co. agreed to donate a $6,100 sign that will show drivers approaching the school from the west how fast they are moving relative to the 40 mph speed limit, and on Monday night the Lake Elmo City Council approved spending up to $6,000 to install it. "The dynamic speed sign will be the city's third; similar ones exist on Inwood and Lake Elmo avenues. 'I know some people wonder if those signs really work,' Councilwoman Liz Johnson said. 'Well I live on Lake Elmo Avenue and I can tell you they really work: people are hitting their brakes when they see the sign there.'...In the coming months, the working group will use a $20,000 MnDOT grant to develop a Safe Routes to School plan and Lake Elmo school officials will try to get a recommended parking lot reconfiguration included in District 834's five-year capital improvement plan. The group will meet again in April to review its progress and decide how to proceed..." Source: http://tinyurl.com/yutezf FRESNO (CA) APPROVES SPORTS-THEMED KERN STREET -> According to a Feb. 5th Bee article, "A nearly $1 million street, landscape and lighting improvement project will soon begin along Kern Street in downtown Fresno, creating what city officials hope will evolve into a sports-themed entertainment district linking Chukchansi Park and the Fresno Convention Center. On Tuesday, the Fresno City Council approved the final $80,000 to pay for the project, which is expected to cost about $936,000. When it's done, Kern Street will have new streetlights with sports-themed banners. Trees along the street will be wrapped in LED lights, and the sidewalks will be lined with bronze plaques honoring inductees into the Fresno Athletic Hall of Fame. "The work is planned between M Street and Van Ness Avenue. 'We believe this project is another step toward downtown revitalization,' said Bruce Rudd, Fresno's assistant city manager. 'What we are creating is a festive and vibrant pedestrian corridor linking existing facilities.' Work on the project, known as Kern Street Sports Town, is expected to begin in the next few weeks. Much of the work will be done by city workers, which Rudd said would save money..." Source: http://tinyurl.com/yqjt2u NAV. SYSTEM WORKS FOR DRIVERS, BICYCLISTS, WALKERS... -> According to a Feb. 6th Earth Times article, "A new generation of navigation systems is promising much more than guiding the motorist from A to B, including features on avoiding traffic jams and the search for parking spaces in crowded inner cities. Current navigation systems have a map on the display with a voice guiding the driver to his/her destination. Now several manufacturers are working on prototypes with three-dimensional (3D) displays offering an almost realistic depiction of everything ahead -- buildings, trees and surrounding landscapes. "The new systems are designed for use not only in the car but while on horseback, on a bicycle or walking. Thanks to the internet, a bird's eye view can be chosen, giving the user information similar to that found on Google Earth with info on everything from restaurants, filling stations or nearby hotels. The maps are updated automatically and in case of an emergency rescue services can pinpoint your exact position down to the nearest metre. The 3D technology is expensive. "Specialists compile the images by driving along the roads and comparing the buildings to a catalogue of different computer images and colours. The images of the streets are thus not realistic but closely resemble them. At present, navigators help you find your way but won't tell you whether a traffic jam is coming up ahead. But a solution is underway..." Source: http://tinyurl.com/2d9rk4 CLIMATE CHANGE TIPS FOR COMMUNITIES -> According to a Feb. 2nd Sedona.biz article, "Here are a few suggestions adapted from the Post Carbon Cities Web site (http://postcarboncities.net) to take to your local government: "- Pledge to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by signing the Mayor's Climate Protection Agreement. More about this can be found at http://www.coolmayors.com "- Join the International Council for Local Environmental Initiatives and download the 'Preparing for Climate Change' workbook from http://www.iclei.org/us "- Develop a 'peak oil task force' and sign the Oil Depletion Protocol to send a message that your area is serious about reducing dependence on foreign oil and addressing peak oil concerns. More about that is at http://www.oildepletionprotocol.org "- Fundamentally rethink your municipality's land use and transportation practices. Preserve more open spaces and encourage walkable downtowns. "- Make decisions based on the next 100 years and how they will influence future generations. "- Encourage serious energy efficiency in the private and business sectors. Pass energy-efficiency guidelines and create incentives for builders and homeowners. "- Encourage the entire community to talk about how we can adapt, educate and involve all elected officials, and encourage local entrepreneurs to fill gaps. "- Address each problem individually and come up with multiple solutions. Set clear, reachable goals rather than dictate only one course of action. There might be many ways to reach the same goal..." Source: http://tinyurl.com/yppqq4 UTAH HOUSE PANEL BACKS MORE OBESITY EDUCATION -> According to a Feb. 6th Morning News article, "A resolution urging obesity education and prevention passed unanimously in committee and was placed on the House consent calendar Tuesday afternoon. Sen. Chris Buttars, R-South Jordan, said the resolution, which is also endorsed by the governor, is the first he's sponsored as a legislator and one that targets himself and about half of all Utahns who are obese by medical standards -- 40 pounds over ideal weight for age and body type. It's a big problem that deserves [to have] three months -- January, February and March -- not just the usual one, designated for obesity awareness campaigns by health care providers, communities, businesses and schools. "'Too many people think you have to be 400 pounds overweight to be considered obese,' Buttars said, noting that obesity is a risk factor in dozens of health-threatening, even fatal diseases and health problems. 'Inside the great public issue up for debate this year is the 800-pound gorilla that is obesity.' The Utah Health Insurance Association supports the resolution, said spokesman and former legislator Kelly Atkinson..." Source: http://tinyurl.com/32dmpa MUNCIE (IN) MAN JAILED FOR PAINTING CROSSWALK -> According to a Jan. 30th WRTV story, "Whitney Stump didn't like watching drivers ignore the stop signs at the intersection outside his home, so he asked the city to paint crosswalks there. When the city said no, he made one himself. And the city wasn't appreciative. "Stump, a 27-year-old Ball State University graduate student and father, says he was arrested in July on a charge of criminal mischief for creating the crosswalk at the intersection of Dicks and North streets. A police officer then warned him after he went back to touch up the paint in August, and the county prosecutor decided to charge him again. "'If they're not going to provide a safe environment for me and my community, then I believe I have a moral obligation,' Stump told 6News' Ray Cortopassi on Wednesday. Stump said he first asked the city to do the job, thinking crosswalks would get drivers' attentions and make them aware they needed to slow down. 'I called the street and sign department probably a half-dozen times in the course of six months (to) a year,' he said..." Source: http://tinyurl.com/2st6ax AND NOW, FOR SOMETHING COMPLETELY DIFFERENT... IF IT'S BROKE, FIX IT -- WITH STOCK TIPS -> In his Jan. 29th Asia Times financial column, Julian Delasantellis wrote, "Well, there I was, riding my bike through the streets of my small little Pacific Northwest town, trying to think of ways to explain the mortgage-insurance crisis to you, when, all of a sudden, like two commodity traders jostling for position in the pit to get the best bid, my bike and another attempted to occupy the same space on a street corner. "Down we both go, me a lot worse than him. In the ambulance, I look down, see that the alignment of my foot now bears absolutely no relationship to that of my leg. At the emergency room, the X-ray reveals that the bones of my left foot have, like an IPO, been spun off with a five for three split declared..." Source: http://tinyurl.com/329mfw QUICK HITS PED SAFETY BILL MOVES AHEAD IN VIRGINIA HOUSE SUZUKI SPLASH DESIGNED FOR EUROPEAN MARKET DIGITAL BILLBOARDS: TREND IN OUTDOOR ADVERTISING ELDERLY VOTER HITS CHILD WITH CAR AT POLLING PLACE GOODBYE ENERGY HOG TELEVISION SETS
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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 13-16, 2008, World Conference on the Development of Cities, Porto Alegre, Brazil. Info: -> March 4-6, 2008, National Bike Summit 2008, Washington, DC. Info: League of American Bicyclists: -> March 12-14, 2008, National Legislative Forum on Parks and Recreation, Washington, DC. Info: NRPA; phone: (800) 626-NRPA (6772). -> April 13, 2008, Walk MS 2008 (Rhode Island), Bristol, Pawtucket, and Narragansett, RI. Info: Rhode Island Chapter of the National MS Society; phone: (401) 738-8383. -> May 18-21,
2008, National Roundabout Conference, Kansas City, MO. Info: Richard Pain;
email: <RPain@nas.edu>. -> May 19-21, 2008, 13th Int'l Conf. on Urban Planning, Regional Development, and Information Society ("Real Corp 08"), Vienna, AT. Info: -> June 15-18, 2008, Transportation Research Board Summer Conference, Baltimore, MD. Info: -> August 25-27 2008, National Rural Transportation Conference, Duluth, MN. Info: -> September 2-5, 2008, Pro Walk/Pro Bike Conference, Seattle, WA; hosted at the Westin Seattle. Watch for info at: http://www.bikewalk.org/2008conference/index.html -> October 21-25, 2008 National Preservation Conference, Tulsa, OK. Info: -> November 15-18, 2008, National Trails Symposium, Little Rock AR. Info: Candace Mitchell; phone: 530-547-2060; email: <candace@americantrails.org> JOBS GRANTS AND RFPS -> JOB -- BUSINESS MANAGER -- BICYCLE COLORADO -> JOB -- SR. ACTIVE TRANS. PLANNER -- CHICAGOLAND BICYCLE FED. The Chicagoland Bicycle Federation is seeking a Senior Active Transportation Planner. CBF offers professional services to clients who seek a progressive and innovative approach to making bicycling, walking and transit a significant part of daily life in their community or region. The Chicagoland Bicycle Federation is looking for a full Senior Transportation Planner to lead the national's premier bicycle and pedestrian advocacy organization's planning and technical assistance consulting efforts. The ideal candidate should be excited to take an entrepreneurial approach to planning that melds professional top-notch technical assistance with a strong voice for promoting non-motorized transportation. This is not a starting level position and candidates should bring a wealth of resources to the table including marketing, planning and project management. Candidates must be able to embrace both the planning and advocacy sides of this position and relish the opportunity to make a strong difference in regional transportation policy and planning. The position reports to the Executive Director and has supervisory responsibilities for four employees including offsite field consultants. The Bicycle and Pedestrian Project Planner will be skilled and dogged, available and prepared to carry out the objectives of the Planning & Design section of the Chicagoland Bicycle Federation. This planner will expend professional energy achieving objectives that move Chicagoland toward revolutionary change in transportation. See full job posting at: http://tinyurl.com/3xfuxj
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