| ------------------------------------------------------------ C-E-N-T-E-R-L-I-N-E-S ------------------------------------------------------------ #208 Wednesday, August 20, 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. F-E-A-T-U-R-E-S I-N--T-H-E--N-E-W-S FEATURES PRO WALK/PRO BIKE REGISTRATION CLOSES SOON -> Pre-registration for the Pro Walk/Pro Bike 2008 conference in Seattle will close Monday, August 25th. Late-comers will still be able to register as a walk-in at the conference at an increased rate. "It looks like we'll have a packed house for the conference," reported conference director Gary MacFadden. "We've worked with the Westin Seattle to arrange for some additional room to accommodate more delegates." MacFadden added that, given the current economy and fuel prices, having to arrange for an increased number of delegates was a nice problem to have. "We've heard from a number of delegates and presenters who were forced to drop out of the conference because their agencies were not allowing out-of-state travel," he said. The full conference booklet will be available at the conference web site (http://www.bikewalk.org/2008conference/ ) on Friday, August 22nd; the on-line schedule is being updated on a regular basis. STRATEGIC RESEARCH SYMPOSIUM ON PEDS & WALKABILITY -> A pre-conference session, Strategic Research Symposium on Pedestrians & Walkability, has been added to the Pro Walk/Pro Bike lineup on Tuesday, Sept. 2nd. The symposium is co-sponsored by the Transportation Research Board (TRB) Committee on Pedestrians, the ITE Pedestrian & Bicycle Council, and the CDC Physical Activity Policy Research Network The symposium will run from 1:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m., in the Cascade IA room at the Westin Seattle. This is a free symposium. With the surge of interest in walkability, researchers have been learning about pedestrian-friendly communities and observing opportunities for walking to improve health, safety, and efficiency," said David Levinger, one of the symposium organizers. "Unfortunately, people trying to guide policy and design efforts find that even basic questions remain unasked, much less answered. This open session is an invitation for you to help address this disparity." You can learn more about the Strategic Research Symposium at: MOBILE WORKSHOPS, WALKS & RIDES ADDED FOR PWPB -> Those attending the Pro Walk/Pro Bike 2008 Conference should plan to visit the conference web site for updates to the program. Two mobile workshops will be added this week, along with a page featuring local walks and bike rides before, during, and after the conference. PITTSBURGH (PA) MAYOR INTRODUCES NEW BIKE/PED COORDINATOR -> According to an Aug. 11th Bike Pittsburgh Blog posting, "During a Press Conference today at the jam packed Enrico's Tazza D'Oro Coffee Shop in Highland Park, Mayor Luke Ravenstahl along with other officials announced their commitment to turn Pittsburgh into a 'bike-friendly' and 'world-class' city. Coffee shop owner Amy Enrico started the conference by talking about how bike-friendly communities can be a boon to small businesses as well as improving the quality of life of city residents. "She then passed the podium over to Mayor Luke Ravenstahl, who seemingly inspired by a recent trip to Amsterdam, gave a great speech about how bikeable and walkable communities are important components of a 'world class city.' Noting that 'we're no Amsterdam,' he went on to talk about how the city will pursue a Complete Streets Legislation. It was also encouraging to hear the Mayor speak about how it should be easy for people to walk or bike to their local coffee shop, grocery store, or business district, and leave their cars at home. He stressed that considering the rising gas prices, this should be a high priority of the City, and will help out many of the city's workers..." Source: http://tinyurl.com/6x3h3p -> According to an Aug. 8th posting on the Bicycle Coalition of Greater Philadelphia blog, "After a long battle with cancer, Gihon Jordan passed away on Thursday evening. Gihon was one of the original board members of the Bicycle Coalition of Greater Philadelphia and was a longtime champion for bicyclist and pedestrian rights. Many of you knew Gihon when he was a transportation engineer with the Philadelphia Streets Department. Gihon retired in 2005 but remained active with the Bicycle Coalition board and helped win bicycle and pedestrian design changes for the soon to be rebuilt South Street Bridge. "Susan Edens, Gihon's widow, has set up a memorial fund for Gihon at the Association for Pedestrian and Bicycle Professionals: "A memorial service for Gihon will be held in September at the Chestnut Hill Monthly Meeting Religious Society of Friends (Quakers)." The date will be announced on the calendar at Source (and thoughts from some of Gihon's many friends): http://tinyurl.com/5dgymd U.S. ACCESS BOARD TESTIMONY FOCUSES ON OUTDOOR AREA ACCESS -> According to an article in the July/Aug. edition of Access Currents, "In July the Board briefed a congressional subcommittee on its work to develop new guidelines for Federal outdoor sites as part of a hearing on expanding access to Federal lands. Board member Philip Pearce provided members of the House Subcommittee on National Parks, Forests and Public Lands a progress report on the guidelines, including action completed to date and efforts that are underway to finalize them. "He was joined by representatives from Federal land management agencies who provided testimony on efforts undertaken to improve access to outdoor recreation throughout national parks and on Federal lands. U.S. Forest Service officials discussed agency actions completed to date, including the implementation of guidelines for trails and outdoor sites based on those being developed by the Board. National Park Service representatives outlined initiatives to improve access to trails, campgrounds, exhibits, and visitor programs in national parks, and noted that a new website portal provides information on park access nationwide. "Pearce commended these agencies for their cooperation and input in the Board's rulemaking and their proactive approaches to accessibility. He also called attention to the initiative other entities have shown. 'The Board has been pleased to learn that many State and local governments and some in the private sector have already begun to use portions of the proposed rule to increase access for persons with disabilities,' Pearce noted." MANY U.S. SCHOOLS IN 'AIR POLLUTION DANGER ZONE' -> According to an Aug. 18th news release, One in three U.S. public schools are in the 'air pollution danger zone,' according to new research from the University of Cincinnati (UC). UC researchers have found that more than 30 percent of American public schools are within 400 meters, or a quarter mile, of major highways that consistently serve as main truck and traffic routes. Research has shown that proximity to major highways—and thus environmental pollutants, such as aerosolizing diesel exhaust particles—can leave school-age children more susceptible to respiratory diseases later in life. 'This is a major public health concern that should be given serious consideration in future urban development, transportation planning and environmental policies,' says Sergey Grinshpun, PhD, principal investigator of the study and professor of environmental health at UC. "To protect the health of young children with developing lungs, he says new schools should be built further from major highways. 'Health risk can be mitigated through proper urban planning, but that doesn't erase the immediate risk to school-age children attending schools that are too close to highways right now,' he adds. 'Existing schools should be retrofitted with air filtration systems that will reduce students' exposure to traffic pollutants.' The UC-led team reports its findings in the September 2008 issue of the Journal of Environmental Planning and Management, an international scientific journal. This is believed to be the first national study of school proximity and health risks associated with major roadways." Source: http://tinyurl.com/5dq8oa WALK21 CONFERENCE COMES TO NEW YORK CITY IN 2009 -> In an Aug. 18th note, Dr. Rodney Tolley, Conference Director, Walk21 wrote, "The purpose of contacting you is to bring you exciting news about developments in the International Walk21 Conference series. As you will know, the upcoming Walk21 Conference will be in Barcelona from October 8-10th 2008.** "The 2009 Conference will take the baton from Barcelona and build on the successes of previous Walk21 Conferences in London, Perth, Portland, San Sebastian, Copenhagen, Zurich, Melbourne and Toronto. These have all been inspiring venues, carefully selected to stimulate the debate and meet the Walk21 vision. "I am delighted to be able to tell you that it has now been agreed that the tenth Conference, in October 2009, will be held in New York City, USA...A section of the Walk21 website will soon be opened to display details of the Conference - exact dates, venues, etc - as they develop and in time a Conference Secretariat will be fully established to provide further information and answer your queries. Meantime please make a note in your diary and perhaps start exploring the possibilities for you to attend what promises to be an outstanding, world-class event.: **For more info, go to: http://tinyurl.com/6jykua GAS-TAX RECEIPTS FALL AS AMERICANS CUT BACK ON DRIVING "That drop in collections of $2.091 billion for this fiscal year to date -- caused primarily by Americans driving less and thus buying fewer gallons of gasoline and diesel fuel – has helped eat away at the trust fund's balance. The highway fund begin Fiscal Year 2008 with $12.205 billion in the bank. As of the end of July, that balance had dropped to $8.831 billion, according to the Treasury Department's monthly report. The Office of Management & Budget has forecast that the Highway Trust Fund will run out of money next fiscal year and reach a deficit of $3.1 billion by September 2009. The House of Representatives overwhelmingly approved a bill last month that would deposit slightly more than $8 billion of general revenue into the trust fund to keep it solvent. The Senate has yet to act on such a measure..." Source: http://tinyurl.com/wpdpy NEW REPORT: ADULT OBESITY RATES RISE IN 37 STATES -> According to an Aug. 19th news release, "Adult obesity rates increased in 37 states in the past year, according to the fifth annual F as in Fat: How Obesity Policies Are Failing in America, 2008 report from the Trust for America's Health (TFAH) and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation (RWJF). Rates rose for a second consecutive year in 24 states and for a third consecutive year in 19 states. No state saw a decrease. Though many promising policies have emerged to promote physical activity and good nutrition in communities, the report concludes that they are not being adopted or implemented at levels needed to turn around this health crisis. "More than 25 percent of adults are obese in 28 states, which is an increase from 19 states last year. More than 20 percent of adults are obese in every state except Colorado. In 1991, no state had an obesity rate above 20 percent. In 1980, the national average of obese adults was 15 percent. Now, an estimated two-thirds of American adults are overweight or obese, and an estimated 23 million children are either overweight or obese (the report does not include new state-level data for children this year)..." Source: http://tinyurl.com/68jr6k FREE SAFE ROUTES TO SCHOOL WEBINAR -> According to an Aug. 14th news release, "America Walks and the National Center for Safe Routes to School present the next Safe Routes Coaching Action Network Webinar. The next topic will be: - Engaging Local Media to Promote Safe Routes to School "During the hour-long Webinar, Jones will offer tips on securing local news media coverage for your Safe Routes to School program or International Walk to School Day event. Key topic areas will include general guidelines for working with the media, tips on how to develop media 'hooks' within Safe Routes to School, guidance on securing program spokespeople and tips for a successful interview." For more info on the webinars, go to: http://tinyurl.com/5nzbzb THEY JUST TAKE, THEY DON'T GIVE -> In a July 2008 Roads & Bridges magazine article on potential funding for the reauthorization of SAFETEA-LU, the author, Bill Wilson suggested a few sources: "Some sort of customs or container fee for freight and a tax tacked on to rail tickets also have been discussed, even a tire tax slapped on bicyclists that would help pay for new bike paths that are built with federal dollars." To which, Greg Cohen, president and CEO of the American Highway Users Alliance, replied, "Currently those users just take; they don't give into the federal program at all. I think it is reasonable to diversify the revenue source a bit." U.S. TRAFFIC FATALITIES DROP TO 13-YEAR LOW Source: http://tinyurl.com/wpdpy TRB CONFERENCE ON IMPACT OF CHANGING DEMOGRAPHICS -> According to the Aug. 19th TRB E-Newsletter, "[The Transportation Research Board] is sponsoring the Impact of Changing Demographics on the Transportation System Conference on October 27-28, 2008, in Washington, D.C. The conference will explore how the changing socio-demographics of our society affect transportation patterns and needs. Additional information is available via the preliminary program. The Early Bird registration deadline is Friday, September 5th." For more info: http://tinyurl.com/ytsakv
QUOTES R US -> "Grant County (OR) actively courts and celebrates annually the revenue influx from motorcyclists, snowmobilers and hunters. Considering that long standing tradition of hosting recreational tourism I want to ask, 'Is the area willing to undertake making itself into a premier destination for the two fastest growing outdoor recreational sports of bicycle tourism and backcountry skiing /snow shoeing?'..." -> "The car, the automobile, is not the first thought or focal point of life." -> "Residential is the holy grail of downtown development. Most people shop, dine and spend time within 1 or 2 miles of their home, and that gets intensified in an urban setting where they do it within a couple blocks." -> "To advocate for public health in its broadest sense, [local public health agencies (LPHA)] should...recommend the inclusion of public health policies in community master plans for land use, transportation and open space, trails and parks systems, and strategies to implement these policies in local codes and standards. In this way, LPHA input can educate planning professionals and policy makers about potential health impacts and benefits of land use choices and improve the quality of land use decision making." -> "A walkable, bikeable community, you need trees to make that a fun, interesting and pleasant place. There are a lot of opportunities. A lot of streets in town don't have trees on them." "It has been a decade since Colorado seriously considered its land-use, annexation and tax policies. Declining property values, the cost of gas, the burden on taxpayers, and the drain on our transportation funds requires that we put the topic back on the front burner. Coloradans want to leave their cars at home. Let's design our communities to make that possible."
IN
THE NEWS MORE KIDS WALK AS SCHOOL BUS FUEL COSTS RISE -> According to an Aug. 18th BayNews9-TV story, "...Many schools are eliminating or reducing bus service because fuel had jumped to $4.50 per gallon, 36 percent more than a year ago, and is busting budgets. In California, districts are eliminating busing for thousands of students. Districts in Washington state, Idaho and Maryland and elsewhere are consolidating bus stops, canceling field trips and forcing students to walk longer distances to school to control costs. Worried parents in Massachusetts have called WalkBoston, a nonprofit group that promotes walking, asking for help after their communities cut back on busing. "Health advocates long have encouraged students to walk, stressing the fitness benefits. But school and transportation officials say they fear that abruptly reducing bus service could lower attendance rates, increase traffic congestion or endanger students if they cannot walk on sidewalks and crosswalks. 'If you remove a school bus from the road, you're adding 40 to 50 cars in the morning and in the afternoon,' said Bob Riley, spokesman for the American School Bus Council, which represents school transportation officials. Major cuts loom in California, where schools are not required to provide transportation to campus. As a result, districts squeezed by fuel prices and fewer state dollars are trimming millions from transportation budgets..." Source: http://tinyurl.com/5kxb5d U.S. CITIES EMBRACING BOGOTA'S CICLOVIAS -> According to an Aug. 18th Christian Science Monitor article, "Temporary street closures, or ciclovias, are sweeping across the US, as cities take a new look at alternative uses for their streets. It all started in Bogota, Colombia, about 30 years ago. The ciclovia -- which means 'cycle way,' or bike path, in Spanish -- was designed as a relatively inexpensive way to promote walking and bicycling, and to encourage the mingling of people from all backgrounds in the city's streets. It worked. Every Sunday Bogota draws nearly one-fourth of its population of 7 million out to walk and cycle 81 miles of car-free streets. "In the early years of the event, residents from the poorer sections of town, many of them of Indian descent, and those from more affluent neighborhoods, of European descent, would halt at one another's boundaries. After a while, though, those invisible lines began to melt, and now people from all over the city mingle freely. "Gil Penalosa supervised Bogota's ciclovias when he was the city's parks and recreation commissioner from 1995-97. He expanded the program from eight to 70 miles of closed streets and now promotes ciclovias all over the world from his Toronto-based nonprofit, Walk & Bike For Life. Mr. Penalosa likes to quote Central Park designer Frederick Law Olmsted on the positive benefits of public spaces. Penalosa notes that Bogota's ciclovia 'is one of the few places where the owners of large corporations share activities out on the streets with their own employees.'..." Source: http://tinyurl.com/6j5qm8 JUNE ROAD TRAVEL DROPS 4.7% FROM 2007 -> According to an Aug. 13th Star-Tribune article, "Higher prices for gasoline and other necessities are forcing more Americans to downshift on their summer road trips, and everyone from gas station owners to restaurant servers is feeling the pinch. Americans drove 12.2 billion fewer miles in June than a year ago, the government said Wednesday, down 4.7 percent to 250.2 billion, the lowest for June since 2002 and the biggest monthly drop this year. "Driving on rural interstates fell nearly 7 percent, which is "a pretty good indication that multistate commercial traffic and regional vacation travel are down," said Doug Hecox, a spokesman for the Federal Highway Administration. "Highway officials expected metropolitan areas to show the biggest decline because people have mass transit as an option, but it came in rural areas instead. 'There may be broader economic reasons,' Hecox said, including high food prices and a tough job market. 'The effects of that may be digging deeper in rural areas,' he said. 'People in the middle of the country may just be staying home.'..." Source: http://tinyurl.com/5zolc6 -> On Aug. 18th, Jay Walljasper wrote in his Ecopolitan blog, "There's a battle raging in the streets of America. Anyone who regularly rides a bicycle knows all about this. Some motorists have declared war on bikes as pesky nuisances that slow traffic. They honk, shout or curse at two-wheeled travelers. A few will do even worse. The New York Times reports that incidents of aggression toward bicycle riders appear to be growing this summer, as bike riders take to the streets in order to save gas and money and fight global warming. In Denver, nearly 11,000 first-time bike commuters turned out for Bike to Work Day in June. The bicycle, public transport, and pedestrian advocacy group Transportation Alternatives estimates that the number of New Yorkers who cycle daily has risen 77 percent since 2000. "Clearly, it's a new era on the streets. Automobiles have claimed supremacy on the American road ever since they muscled bicycles, horse carriages, streetcars and pedestrians out of the way during the early 20th century. Even though virtually every state grants bicyclists the same rights (and responsibilities) as motorists to use the streets, many drivers still refuse to accept this. They view themselves as Kings of the Road -- an impression that has been strongly reinforced by the transportation planning profession, which has designed our cities and suburbs as if people did not exist outside of their cars. But a big new idea to settle this conflict and improve life in the streets for everyone is now taking root among community activists, urban planners and traffic engineers..." Source: http://tinyurl.com/55jfrf NASHUA (NH) INNER CITY GOING WALKABLE -> According to an Aug. 17th Telegraph article, "Two buildings cannot transform a city. But when the last hammer swings on this Lake Street project, there's potential for a new way to think about living in Nashua's inner city. The concept is called New Urbanism. It's the reverse of the suburban sprawl that sent folks packing decades ago, as inner-city streets became synonymous with crime and poverty. New Urbanists hope to recreate walkable cities where people of all incomes can live near the places they work, shop and eat. It's a tall order, but there are signs of the movement in nearby cities such as Boston and Lowell, Mass. "Those involved in the Lake Street Terrace Townhouses believe it is the first project of its type in Nashua. Rather than building luxury condos by the river or a new complex on a big piece of land, they stuck 10 upscale townhomes on a small lot in a densely packed neighborhood. 'You don't feel that this is new. It belongs to the city. It belongs to the character and the shapes,' architect Yervant Nahikian, of Hooksett, said. 'This type of project is very current in other cities. So we just wanted to bring this new spirit to Nashua.'..." Source: http://tinyurl.com/586h3f ILLINOIS ST. UNIV STARTS BIKE RENT PROGRAM -> According to an Aug. 18th HOI-19 TV story, "Illinois State University started classes today -- and getting around campus is one bike ride away thanks to a new program called 'Reggie Rides.'* ... [Officials] say students and staff can now rent bikes to pedal to class. "They say the bikes shave time off student's commute. 'Quite frankly we're an urban campus and to get around campus is difficult and I can walk just about anywhere on this campus in 20-25 minutes from one end to the other,' said Mike O'Grady. 'I can drive that in about 15 minutes because by the time I find a parking space, but if I get on a bicycle I can do it in 10 minutes.'..." Source: http://tinyurl.com/5joaee *"Reggie Rides" -- named after ISU's mascot PLANNER TO DAVENPORT (IA): GET COMPLETE STREETS -> According to an Aug. 15th Quad-City Times article, "Urban planner Jeff Speck stood before about 80 people at the Figge Art Museum in Davenport and threw out to residents and community leaders idea after idea about how to improve downtown. First, he said, change the traffic pattern downtown by re-striping the streets and making 3rd and 4th streets two-way thoroughfares. 'You've got to do it,' he said, emphasizing that one-way streets 'make all sorts of things go wrong' for cities trying to grow their downtowns. "He also said that instead of throwing money out to every part of the city, invest in those areas that are most successful, such as 2nd Street, and grow from there. Among Speck's proposals, and he stressed they were only proposals and not plans, is providing bikers with complete streets so that if downtown is striped properly bikes can mix with traffic. He also recommends bringing more housing downtown..." Source: http://tinyurl.com/638hxk REPLACING LIGHT BULBS CAN'T COMPETE WITH REPLACING CARS -> According to an Aug. 16th Vancouver Sun article, "[Jeff Speck, author of 'Suburban Nation'] is particularly critical of school boards that replace smaller neighbourhood schools with larger schools in outlying areas that can only be reached by car or bus. He is also critical of politicians who allow traffic engineers to dictate the design of roads that too often are poorly suited for pedestrians and cyclists. "Praising the work of Vancouver planners Patrick Condon and Larry Frank, Speck urged his audience to design communities with a focus on VKTs -- or vehicle kilometres travelled. While acknowledging it is helpful to replace incandescent light bulbs with compact fluorescents, the benefits are minimal compared to replacing private automobiles..." Source: http://tinyurl.com/5bh3zx IS REVIVED DRIVE 55 CAMPAIGN GAINING SPEED? -> According to an Aug. 17th USA Today article, "Sen. John Warner, R-Va., introduced a bill last month that orders a study to determine the effects of a national 60-mph speed limit. Warner says the 55 limit reduced fuel use by 167,000 barrels a day, or 2% of highway consumption, citing a Congressional Research Service report. With far more vehicles, fuel savings is likely to be far greater now, he says. Rep. Jackie Speier, D-Calif., has proposed a 60-mph limit in urban areas and 65-mph elsewhere. 'There is no need for OPEC or the oil companies to help us out,' Speier says. 'Every driver can affect change simply by easing up on their right foot.' "Both point to findings by the Environmental Protection Agency that fuel efficiency decreases above 60 mph. Speier says 11 other House Democrats, most of them from California, are co-sponsoring her bill. And she claims support from environmental groups and the American Trucking Associations. Few other politicians have been eager to climb aboard, Baxter says. He notes that Warner is leaving office at the end of this year and that Speier represents a San Francisco and San Mateo district where voters may be less tied to their autos than elsewhere in the country. 'The public isn't real excited about going back to a 55-mph national speed limit,' Baxter says..." Source: http://tinyurl.com/5jmbuv EDITORIAL: LEE CO. (FL) NEEDS "COMPLETE STREETS" -> An Aug. 17th Naples Daily News Editorial mused, "Bike lanes. These days they ought to be more popular than ever, even among those who don't ride but are still interested in public health and saving gas. Having more lanes often means building them from scratch alongside existing or future roadways or, if we're really lucky, through woods. Yet, in Lee County, as many as 250 miles of bike lanes appear tantalizingly close. They already exist in the form of broad shoulders on the right-hand side of some county roads. "The only reason they are not full-fledged bike lanes is that they have not been maintained — kept clear of grass, weeds and even plants and trees put there on purpose. In response to bicycling enthusiasts, the county says it would cost between $3 million and $5 million to upgrade all the lanes all at once. Problem is, money is tight for the fundamental work as well as the annual maintenance. County commissioners have handed the dilemma to an advisory committee. Our 2 cents: The county has a Complete Streets program. These days a street without bike lanes is short of complete..." Source: http://tinyurl.com/5oxj5y S.U.V. MARKET BEGINNING TO LOOK LIKE HOUSING MARKET -> According to an Aug. 12th New York Times article, "The market for sport utility vehicles is starting to look a lot like the housing market, spreading pain to consumers, automakers and dealers. Even the vocabulary is sadly familiar. Bloated inventories? Days spent on the market? "Well, in July, General Motors dealers had a 174-day supply of the Yukon XL/Suburban on hand, on average, up from a 92-day supply a year earlier. Inventory of the Chevrolet C/K Suburban nearly doubled over the same period, to 116 days from 63 days. "Just like hapless homeowners, countless car owners are now 'underwater,' driving vehicles that are worth less than the balance on their car loans. And just like desperate homeowners, the sellers of S.U.V.'s are having to painfully cut asking prices..." Source: http://tinyurl.com/5dy2o9 WHITEFISH (MT) TRAIL ATTRACTS RIDERS -> According to an Aug. 18th Beacon article, "No sooner did the City of Whitefish slap pavement down on the Wisconsin bike trail than bicyclists and walkers started using it. 'We've needed it for a long time,' said Mike Henson, who tested the new trail with his two children last Friday. The two-mile Wisconsin bicycle-pedestrian path -- one more link in the Fish Trails project -- is already proving to be a popular thoroughfare. 'A lot more people are using it than I thought,' mused Henson. "The trail connects downtown Whitefish with several residential communities along Wisconsin and East Lakeshore, including Iron Horse, Crestwood, and Houston Point. The lighted, paved path goes from the north side of the Baker Street viaduct along the west side of Wisconsin. Just south of Labrie Drive, it crosses the busy road to Wisconsin's east side and continues to its terminus at Alpine Court..." Source: http://tinyurl.com/56x4ng 1/3 OF AMERICANS AGE 50+ HANG UP KEYS TO WALK, BUT... -> According to an Aug. 13th Market Watch article, "A new poll by AARP finds that while many Americans ages 50+ are trying to move away from car transportation as a result of high gas prices, their attempt to go 'green' is challenged by inadequate sidewalks and bike lanes, as well as insufficient public transportation options. 'More Americans age 50+ are trying to leave their cars behind but face obstacles as soon as they walk out the door, climb on their bikes or head for the bus,' said Elinor Ginzler, AARP Senior Vice President for Livable Communities. "Almost one of every three people (29%) polled say they are now walking as a way to avoid high gas prices. But as those people set out to walk, almost 40% of the 50+ population say they do not have adequate sidewalks in their neighborhoods. Additionally, 44% say they do not have nearby public transportation that is accessible. Almost half (47%) of poll responders say they cannot cross the main roads safely -- 4 in 10 pedestrian fatalities are over the age of 50..." Source: http://tinyurl.com/5bsy9x EMERYVILLE (CA) FIRM PAYS EMPLOYEES TO BIKE -> According to a July 30th San Francisco Chronicle article, "Lots of folks bike to work. But bike for work? And get reimbursed for it? Siegel & Strain, an Emeryville architecture firm, reimburses employees who use their bikes to get to work-related meetings away from the office. The firm pays them the same amount it would pay for personal auto use -- the IRS rate of 58.5 cents per mile. 'It's a really effective way for staff to reduce emissions and encourage good health,' said Nancy Malone, a principal at the 18-employee firm. 'Our practice is focused on sustainable design, and we had been looking for ways to walk the walk.' More companies are taking steps to support bicycle commuting, such as installing bike racks and showers. "But fewer encourage employees to pedal to off-site meetings during the work day. State law requires employers to repay workers for costs incurred while doing their jobs. For wear and tear on a bike, that can be minimal. The state sets a reimbursement rate of 4 cents per mile for state workers who bike on government business. The San Francisco Bicycle Coalition suggests a reimbursement rate of 10 cents per mile. But Siegel & Strain - which came up with its policy when an employee asked about biking to meetings - figured the more generous auto rate was the way to go..." Source: http://tinyurl.com/6jmr88 EVERYBODY IS LOOKING FOR THEIR OWN GREAT STREETS -> According to an Aug. 18th StreetsBlog/Los Angeles posting, "From the AARP to the Sacramento Bee, it seems that everyone is talking about the problems with designing roadways with the singular goal of moving automobile traffic. Locally, a vote on complete streets legislation is expected in the California State Senate soon and in Woodland Hills, the Woodland Hills Warner Center Neighborhood Council is holding a series of forums to discuss what they consider a 'great street' for their neighborhood. "Saturday, the Neighborhood Council held it's second 'Panel of Visionaries' to discuss transportation in the Woodland Hills area. The first panel, 'Destiny in the Valley' drew hundreds of attendees and their second panel, 'What is a Great Street' also packed the house this weekend. "The main message from Saturday's panel is that often the people considered enemies of Smart Growth could be its greatest allies if engaged correctly. Mott Smith, a self-described greedy developer, lectured that developers who want to make money provide the amenities called for by local zoning. If the zoning and community plans call for transportation plans that move cars at the expense of non-drivers, then that's the transportation plan that developers will advance..." Source: http://tinyurl.com/5rmyq5 AMTRAK HITS ALL-TIME-HIGH 2.75 MILLION PASSENGERS IN JULY -> According to an Aug. 18th Progressive Railroading article, "Last month, Amtrak carried 2.75 million passengers -- the national intercity passenger railroad's highest monthly ridership in its 37-year history. July's passenger total rose 14 percent compared with July 2007's count. In addition, ticket revenue in July jumped 18.6 percent year over year to $168 million. "'Increasing fuel prices, highway congestion, airline issues and environmental awareness continue to make intercity passenger rail extremely relevant and popular,' said Amtrak President and Chief Executive Officer Alex Kummant in a prepared statement. In the East, Acela Express ridership increased 5.5 percent, Northeast Regional ridership rose 8.8 percent, Downeaster ridership soared 33.6 percent, Keystone Service ridership jumped 26 percent and Piedmont ridership skyrocketed 43 percent compared with July 2007 levels..." Source: http://tinyurl.com/5k5cjp AND NOW, FOR A FEW THINGS COMPLETELY DIFFERENT... DO YOU KNOW DALLAS? -> It's been 30 years since the premier of the television show that changed the way people all over the world think about Dallas. How much do you remember about J.R. and the rest of the Ewing clan? Take our quiz and find out... Source: http://tinyurl.com/6m3ash -> "Watch For Bikes" Source: http://tinyurl.com/5cmkgb
QUICK HITS PRO WALK/PRO BIKE 2008 TOURIST TIPS MANILA (PH) EMBRACING THE NEW URBANISM KENTUCKY GOV. PRESENTS TRAIL CHECK IN SEBREE WHITE PLAINS (NY) WORKERS INSTALL PED BRIDGE TODAY CALIFORNIA STATE LAUNCHES BEST PRACTICES WIKI SURVEY DETAILS AMERICANS' VIEWS ON GREEN LIFESTYLES "KNOW YOUR NUMBER" GIVES DOCTORS NEW TOOL CAN'T AFFORD GAS? TRY A 'COMMUTER BIKE'
RESOURCES -> "MAJOR TAYLOR - 'THE WORCESTER WHIRLWIND'..." -> "ACCESSIBLE SIDEWALKS" -> "ACCESS TO DESTINATIONS: REFINING METHODS FOR..." -> "PROMOTING INCLUSIVE PHYSICAL ACTIVITY COMMUNITIES..." -> CYCLIST SKILLS TRAINING
CALENDAR Additional training
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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! -> August 31-September 2, 2008, Thunderhead Retreat, Seattle, WA. Info: Retreat is for leaders of Thunderhead organizations. -> September 2, 2008 Real Intersection Design: Get RID of Rhetoric Workshop. Trains professionals to focus more pragmatically on the complex issues in redesigning a problematic intersection. Participants will use an active Seattle DOT project site to create and compare intersection redesign plans from the perspectives of six street user groups: pedestrians, wheelchair users, transit riders, bicyclists, drivers and pedestrians with limited vision. Sponsored by the Association of Pedestrian and Bicycle Professionals(APBP). Seven continuing education credits are available to engineers, architects, and landscape architects. Awaiting approval of 7 AICP/CM credits for planners. -> 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 -> September 6, 2008 Designing Pedestrian Facilities for Accessibility workshop. Teaches participants how to apply the provisions of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) to pedestrian facilities in the public right-of-way (PROW). The Association of Pedestrian and Bicycle Professionals (APBP), the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) and the US Access Board collaborated to produce this recently updated course. PDH and CM credits available including law credits. Hosted by the Association of Pedestrian and Bicycle Professionals and SvR Design Company -> September 14 -16 2008, Climate Change and Urban Design, Oslo, Norway. Info: Council for European Urbanism, St. Olavs gate 9, 0165 Oslo, Norway; phone: +47. 92 62 26 26; fax: +47. 22 36 49 93; email: <audun.engh@gmail.com> -> September 29-October 2, Physical Activity for Public Health, Banff, AB, Canada. Info: -> October 8-10, 2008, Barcelona Walk 21, Barcelona, Spain. Info: -> October 14, 2008, Moving Together, Boston MA. Info: Massachusetts Bicycle and Pedestrian Conference, email: <baystate_roads@hotmail.com> -> October 20 - 23, 2008, ProBike/ProWalk Florida, St. Petersburg, FL. Info: Laura Hallam, Exec. Director, Florida Bicycle Association, PO Box 718, Waldo FL 32694-0718; phone/Fax: 352-468-3430; cell 407-399-9961; email: <laura@floridabicycle.org> or Dan Moser, Conference Co-Coordinator; phone: (239) 334-6417; email: <moserdeleon@juno.com>. Call for presentations deadline: July 15, 2008. -> October 21-22, 2008, Fusionopolis, Singapore. Info: -> October 21-25, 2008 National Preservation Conference, Tulsa, OK. Info: -> October 27-28, 2008, Impact of Changing Demographics on the Transportation System Conference, Washington, D.C. Info: -> November 15-18, 2008, National Trails Symposium, Little Rock AR. Info: Candace Mitchell; phone: 530-547-2060; email: <candace@americantrails.org> -> December 2-3, 2008, Implementing a Sidewalk Management System, Madison (WI). Info: -> December 4-5, 2008, Solving Neighborhood Traffic Problems, Madison (WI). Info: -> December 15-17, 2008, International Conference on Integrated Transport for Sustainable Urban Development, Beijing, China. Info: Martine Micozzi, TRB, <mmicozzi@nas.edu>. -> June 5-7, 2009, 7th International Conference on Diet and Activity Methods, Washington, DC. Info: JOBS GRANTS AND RFPS -> JOB -- BICYCLE SAFETY EDUCATOR -- BCNM, NEW MEXICO Title: Bicycle Safety Educator For the full description and contact info, go to: http://tinyurl.com/5k25fr
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