| ------------------------------------------------------------ C-E-N-T-E-R-L-I-N-E-S ------------------------------------------------------------ #220 Wednesday, February 4, 2009 ------------------------------------------------------------ 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 BIKE VALET SERVICE AT INAUGURAL A HUGE SUCCESS WASHINGTON DC – A few weeks ago I was among the nearly two million people who filled the National Mall to watch the inauguration of President Obama. From my vantage point at the Washington Monument it was a sea of people stretching out towards Capitol Hill and behind me to the Lincoln Memorial. It was an inspiring sight, and my memories from that day will likely endure for years. As a cyclist in DC there was a lot to love about January 20, 2009. Upon arriving at the intersection of 16th & K Street NW, I saw hundreds upon hundreds of bicycles parked at the Washington Area Bicyclist Association’s bike corral. Through its bike valet system, WABA parked more than 2,000 bikes that day! In a follow-up release, they noted that they didn't lose a single bicycle, a feat in itself. Bikes were also locked to every parking meter, lamp post, trash can, and bicycle rack I passed. What I found especially heartening (and subversive) about all of this is that 16th & K Street NW is considered by many to be the heart of darkness for those wanting to clean up Washington DC and lessen corporate influence. It was exciting to see bicycles taking over that area as a potential symbol of change. Thanks to WABA, America Bikes, DDOT, Dero, and all the volunteers for such a beautiful sight! WABA’s website has press clipping about the bike valet service, at PEDSAFE-BIKESAFE WEBINAR, FEBRUARY 18th Use this webinar to jump start your use of the PEDSAFE-BIKESAFE system. Learn how to refine your selection of treatments on the basis of site characteristics, such as geometric features and operating conditions, and the type of safety problem or desired behavioral change. Gain knowledge about engineering countermeasures, supplemental enforcement activities, and educational approaches to make your community more walkable and bicycle-friendly. Although PEDSAFE-BIKESAFE is intended primarily for engineers, planners, safety professionals, and decision-makers, it has been used successfully by educators, public health professionals, and citizens for identifying problems and recommending solutions for their communities. The Professional Development webinar series is co-hosted by the National Center for Bicycling & Walking (NCBW), the Association of Pedestrian and Bicycle Professionals (APBP), and Cullbridge Communications. The charge for each location is $50 for APBP members, and $60 for non-APBP members. Note that you can have more than one person at a given webinar site, but you can have only one computer link and phone line for audio under the fee structure above. For more about the Professional Development webinar series, see http://www.bikewalk.org/webinars.php. SCHOOLYARD AIR MONITORING IN SUDBURY (ON) -> According to an article in the Feb. 2nd Walkolution E-News, "Clean Air Sudbury supported Car Free Day on Monday, September 22, 2008, by encouraging all residents to walk, bike or take transit -- including to school. "Particular matter is composed of tiny particles of dust and associated chemicals that can be inhaled into the lungs and lead to respiratory health effects. Vehicle exhaust is a primary source of particulate matter. The study showed that although concentrations of particulate matter were within acceptable levels they were noticeably higher before and after school, coinciding with drop-off and pick-up of students in buses and cars..." Source: http://tinyurl.com/6e6vgj BIKE PROJECTS AT BOTTOM OF PENNDOT WISH LIST -> According to an article in the Jan. 2009 issue of the Bicycle Coalition of Greater Philadelphia's Cyclegram, "Many thanks to Representative Babette Josephs who sent a letter to PennDOT Secretary Biehler asking him to release the list to the public. On January 16th, PennDOT issued its 'Candidate Highway and Bridge Project for Expanded Federal Funding through Stimulus Legislation' list. Unfortunately, PennDOT does not make bicycle or pedestrian projects a priority. Its vision is limited to resurfacing roads and repairing bridges. "Out of 200+ projects, PennDOT recommends only one (1) bicycle project -- the Chester Valley Trail for $18 million. Out of a set of projects that adds up to $1.5 Billion, PennDOT is proposing to spend 1.2% on enhancing one path for bicycling..." Source: http://tinyurl.com/cpxrzz WHICH DOT PROGRAMS OR PROJECTS COULD BE AXED? -> According to a Feb. 2nd National Journal Expert Blog on Transportation, "In his August 2008 speech accepting the Democratic presidential nomination, Barack Obama pledged to 'go through the federal budget, line by line, eliminating programs that no longer work.' Which transportation programs or projects would you recommend that he cut?..." Source: http://tinyurl.com/cvffsv Via: AASHTO Daily Transportation Update: http://tinyurl.com/b5shx7 BCM, ET AL PUSH FOR MAINE CLIMATE IMPACT BILL ->According to an article in the Feb. 2nd BCM Statehouse News, "The Bicycle Coalition of Maine (BCM) will play a leadership role this year in advocating for legislation that asks state agencies to consider the potential climate impacts of long-term state projects, such as highways and schools. Designing and developing communities and roads where we can safely bike and walk is an important first step in reducing Maine’s carbon footprint. "Last week, I joined with representatives from 26 other Maine environmental and public health organizations (collectively known as the Environmental Priorities Coalition) to endorse that bill and several others that will protect Maine’s natural heritage. I will keep you updated about the details of this legislation and its progress at the Statehouse. Please encourage your state legislators to support the measures." -- Allison Vogt, Executive Director, Bicycle Coalition of Maine For more on the bill, go to: http://tinyurl.com/atlx62 BIKES BELONG LOBBYING HARD IN 2009 -> According to the Feb. issue of the Bikes Belong Newsletter, "This is a crucial year for working with federal policy makers. Our nation has a new President, a new Congress, and a new commitment to improving our transportation and energy infrastructure. Bikes Belong is working closely with key members of Congress, our D.C.-based lobbying firm, and our partner organizations to promote bicycle-friendly legislation. "Currently we're focusing on the following bills: "-- Economic Stimulus Package: President Obama has called the transportation portion of this multi-billion dollar bill 'the largest new investment in our national infrastructure since the creation of the federal highway system.' America Bikes submitted a nationwide list of $3.7 billion in 'shovel-ready' bike projects to demonstrate that worthy bike projects are ready to go. Bikes Belong is working closely with members of Congress to ensure that bike funding is included in the bill. "--Climate Change Bill: One of the new Congress's top priorities is a Climate Change Bill that would require companies that produce excessive pollution to pay the federal government. In turn, the government would invest this money in pollution-reducing projects, such as bicycle facilities. As this legislation takes shape, Bikes Belong will work to direct a portion of any pollution payments to projects that benefit bicycling—an emission-free transportation solution..." For more info, go to: http://tinyurl.com/da5ukm MARIN CO. (CA) TO SPEND $163K FOR BIKE PARKING -> According to the Marin County Bicycle Coalition's MCBC eBulletin (Jan. 29th), "The Marin County Board of Supervisors voted to allocate $163,000 from the Non-Motorized Transportation Pilot Program (NTPP) towards two significant bicycle parking projects. These funds are part of the $25M in Federal Funding received by the County to increase the percentage of people walking and bicycling within the County. Marin County is just one of four communities in the country to receive this funding. The two projects approved are: "--$140,000 for bicycle parking improvements and racks at the Larkspur Ferry Terminal within the ticketing area. This will help to provide a significant amount of new, secured, covered bike parking. "Funding for these projects was requested by Golden Gate Transit. MCBC thanks Golden Gate Transit for taking the leadership to improve these two very heavily used facilities!" Source: http://tinyurl.com/bvc4hp SRAM AWARDS $400,000 TO THUNDERHEAD AND LAB -> According to the Jan. 29th Thunderhead Weather Report, "SRAM has announced a grant of $400,000 to the Thunderhead Alliance for Biking and Walking and the League of American Bicyclists to boost the advocacy capacity of local cyclists. Jeffrey Miller, President of the Thunderhead Alliance for Biking and Walking commented on the strength SRAM will provide to Alliance organizations working at the local level. 'Much of the progress over the past decade has been through the hard work of these dedicated advocates. This incredible support from SRAM boosts our ability to support them directly.' "'SRAM's generosity builds on what is best about the League and the Alliance: trusted and practical programs for increasing bicycle-friendliness and effective, passionate advocacy for change,' says Andy Clarke, President of the League. The broadening partnership of the Alliance and the League will allow the two organizations to not only provide technical and training assistance to grassroots organizations, it will also create a new grant making program. Details of this new program will be announced in the weeks to come..." Source: http://tinyurl.com/dl2clv SEATTLE INSTALLS ON-STREET BIKE PARKING -> According to a Jan. 28th news release, "Working to support the city's growing number of bicyclists, the Seattle Department of Transportation (SDOT) will create on-street bicycle parking in neighborhoods around Seattle. With a goal of having one to two per neighborhood, the department will install these unique bike facilities at three locations starting next week. "Taking the place of one to two motor vehicle parking spaces, on-street bike parking will be filled with bicycle racks and surrounded by a raised curb. Bicyclists can enter the parking area from the sidewalk and each car-sized space will accommodate up to eight bikes. "This new program addresses the expanding need for bicycle parking and is part of the ongoing implementation of the Bicycle Master Plan, which seeks to triple the number of people bicycling in Seattle over ten years. Source: http://tinyurl.com/d3znnk Related King 5-TV story: "One way to save money in this down economy is to ride your bike. Monday, the City of Seattle rolled out the first of its new big bike parking racks. But those racks are now competing with cars for parking. KING 5's Glenn Farley reports..." Source: http://tinyurl.com/aum9aj CT REPS, ADVOCATES: STIMULUS $$ TO BIKE/PED/TRANSIT -> According to a Feb. 3rd Mobilizing the Region article, "At a press conference held at the Legislative Office Building in Hartford [CT] last week, Tri-State joined the chairmen of the Joint Committee on Transportation, State Rep. Tony Guerrera and Sen. Donald DeFronzo, Reps. Thomas Kehoe, David McCluskey and Russ Morin, and other transportation and children's health advocates to call on Connecticut, municipal planning organizations, and localities to dedicate federal stimulus money to shovel-ready bike, pedestrian and transit access projects. When New Haven repaved Orange Street in 2003, it added bike lanes to the road. When New Haven repaved Orange Street in 2003, it added bike lanes to the road. Other municipalities should follow its example. "Less than 1% of Connecticut's state transportation dollars are dedicated to bike and pedestrian projects, even though 12% of all trips in Connecticut are taken by bicycle or by walking. However, ConnDOT leadership now says the state needs a more multi-modal approach to transportation policy. The stimulus would let ConnDOT and municipalities make good on this by investing in bike and pedestrian infrastructure. During the press conference, Tri-State's Ryan Lynch urged municipalities to include bike lanes and crosswalks when re-striping or paving roads, noting that 35 pedestrians and cyclists were killed in Connecticut in 2007. These simple efforts would go a long way towards preventing more unnecessary deaths..." Source: http://tinyurl.com/dhh5mq "DAYLIGHTING" EASY WAY TO MAKE INTERSECTIONS SAFER -> According to a Jan. 29th T.A. StreetBeat article, "Although [Transportation Alternatives] can't do much to brighten up the five boroughs in terms of actual daylight (contact us if you know about an advocacy group that can), we think more 'daylighting' at intersections throughout the five boroughs could go a long way towards making streets safer and more inviting for pedestrians. Daylighting is a simple pedestrian safety measure achieved by removing the parking spaces immediately surrounding an intersection. It increases visibility for pedestrians and drivers and minimizes turning conflicts." Source: http://tinyurl.com/djljm6 FHWA CENSUS TRANS. PLANNING PACKAGE RELEASED -> According to the Feb. 3rd TRB E-Newsletter, "The U.S. Federal Highway Administration's Office of Planning, Environment, and Realty has released a web-based tool designed to make querying the Journey-to-Work-related data in the CTPP 2000 database easy and intuitive. The CTPP is a set of special tabulations from decennial census demographic surveys designed for transportation planners. It is the only Census product that summarizes data by place of work and tabulates the flow of workers between home and work. It is also the only source of information with summary tabulations available for traffic analysis zones that have been defined by state and regional transportation agencies." Source: http://tinyurl.com/advapb BIKE AND PED ROUNDABOUTS GETTING MORE POPULAR -> According to a January/February issue of Public Roads, "National crash data demonstrate the importance of minimizing conflicts between motorists, bicyclists, and pedestrians. During the past decade, traffic crashes killed between 600 and 800 bicyclists nationwide annually. In 2007, crashes killed 698 bicyclists and injured another 43,000. Pedestrians fare much worse: 4,654 died in crashes in 2007, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration's (NHTSA) Fatality Analysis Reporting System. "The roundabout is becoming more popular at intersections on America's roadways, primarily because of its ability to improve safety and traffic flow, particularly in situations involving low and medium traffic.The Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) estimates that crews construct 150–250 new roundabouts each year in the United States. The typical modern roundabout is a shared-use facility, serving motor vehicles, bicyclists, and pedestrians. "But another type of roundabout is making an appearance in transportation infrastructure. Transportation agencies now are designing roundabouts dedicated to bicycles and pedestrians, and sometimes bicycles only, on shared-use paths. These paths serve bicyclists, walkers, joggers, skaters -- virtually all nonvehicle traffic. Source: http://tinyurl.com/dxwnyv WICHITA (KS) EDGES TOWARD BIKE AND PED FRIENDLY -> According to the Jan. 31st Kansas Cycling News, "In his recent State of the City Address, Wichita Mayor Carl Brewer said: 'There are more actions government can take to create a healthier environment. My downtown vision speaks to creating a pedestrian-friendly environment. A place where people can walk from Old Town to Intrust Bank Arena to Waterwalk, stopping at retail, restaurant or entertainment venues along the way. The PROS Plan speaks to creating more parks and open space, and more bike and walking paths. "'As a City, we can support more community gardens and farmers' markets. These steps are all part of making Wichita a community where people of all ages can find recreational opportunities that fit their interests. I am confident as we move forward with the PROS Plan, we will find more options for creating a healthy community. Additionally, we hope to gain ideas from an upcoming workshop on ways to create a bike- and pedestrian-friendly city.'" Source: http://tinyurl.com/bj94be WALK21 NEW YORK CITY CALL FOR PAPERS DEADLINE: FEB. 29TH! -> According to a Jan. 30th Update, "Proposals for papers, presenters, workshops, poster displays, walkshops, and pre- and post-conference workshops are now being sought for Walk21 New York City that can provide insight, guidance and support within each of the conference themes, from local to international levels. For details, read the guidelines here (154kb pdf): For more on the conference, go to: http://tinyurl.com/67kk4m BLOOMINGTON/MONROE CO. (IN) ADOPT COMPLETE STREETS -> According to a Jan. 28th news release, "In an ongoing effort to enhance accessibility and safety for all commuters, the Policy Committee of the Bloomington/Monroe County Metropolitan Planning Organization (BMCMPO) has adopted a Complete Streets Policy. The guidelines outlined in the policy will ensure that roadways safely accommodate all users of a corridor, including pedestrians, bicyclists, users of mass transit, people with disabilities, the elderly, motorists, freight providers, emergency providers and adjacent land users. "'The Complete Streets policy complements our existing Long Range Transportation Plan and illustrates the City's commitment to multi-modal accessibility and connectivity for all forms of transportation,' Mayor Mark Kruzan said. 'Moving forward, the City will utilize the newly adopted policy and its benchmarks and measures for future transportation plans in Bloomington.' All new, local road projects using federal funding programmed by the BMCMPO will be required to incorporate Complete Streets measures as part of their designs and implementation. Complete Streets also requires transparent project development with measurable outcomes and increased public participation, which will result in better accommodations for all users of a transportation corridor. The BMCMPO is one of only a handful of states and planning bodies that have adopted such measures..." Source: http://tinyurl.com/b5u7lq ONE STREET LAUNCHES "BED AND BIKE AMERICA" "'We want to make cycling tourism in America more attractive -- and therefore launching this website is a first step -- but definitely not our last,' says Leonhard Sobottka, Project Coordinator for One Street's Bed and Bike America program. A wide range of bike tourists will use the network -- visiting a single place, touring long distance or riding as athletes. Vendors attract them via the Bed and Bike America website by fulfilling basic criteria to be bike-friendly. This means for instance that they can provide lockable rooms for the bikes, laundry facilities and a nutritious breakfast. Most accommodations already do which is why One Street expects many to sign up..." For more on Bed and Bike America, go to: http://tinyurl.com/degjpd BIKE SHARE PROGRAM FOR DC NPS EMPLOYEES LAUNCHED -> According to Jan. 6th news release, "A new program designed to allow National Park Service employees to use bicycles instead of government vehicles was launched on Tuesday, affording NPS staff an opportunity to use an alternative transportation method and a chance to help reduce auto emissions. In a partnership between the NPS and Humana Inc., the health benefit company based in Louisville, Kentucky, Humana is donating 30 bikes so that NPS employees will be able to utilize them at three NPS locations -- National Capital Region headquarters (1100 Ohio Drive, SW), National Mall & Memorial Parks' headquarters (900 Ohio Drive, SW) and National Capital Parks-East headquarters (1900 Anacostia Drive, SE). "Approximately 300 employees will be able to take advantage of the new, one-year demonstration program. Participating staff will need to complete a training module focused on safe bicycling before using the bikes. The purpose of the demonstration is to familiarize the National Park Service with the potential role that bike-sharing could play in reducing environmental impacts while also encouraging a healthier workforce. This initiative reflects bold thinking by Director Bomar and aligns with priorities for greening federal agency operations that already have been stated by the incoming administration..." Source: http://tinyurl.com/cfsexv WEBINAR SET FOR OBESITY-RELATED POLICY EVALUATION -> According to an alert from the University of South Carolina, "The National Cancer Institute of the National Institutes of Health (NIH) has announced a web-based seminar series aimed to increase the skills of researchers and practitioners in policy evaluation effectiveness. Increasingly, policies are being implemented at state and local levels that are intended to reduce obesity prevalence by improving diet and/or increasing physical activity. Rigorous evaluation of these 'natural experiments' may be an effective means for the research community to inform policy on the issues of obesity, diet, and activity. "The first webinar will be held on Friday, February 27th from 1-2pm EST, and will address the basics of design to evaluate policy interventions; the second will be on Friday, April 3rd from 1-2pm EST, addressing pitfalls to research in real world settings; the third will be on Friday, May 1st from 1-2pm EST, and will address enhancing the usefulness of evidence to inform practice; and the fourth will be on Friday, June 12th from 1-2pm EST, and will address communicating results effectively. "The four webinars will be taught by Dr. Kathryn Newcomer, Co-Director of the Midge Center for Evaluation Effectiveness and Professor of Public Policy and Public Administration at The George Washington University in Washington, DC. Those interested in participating may join a mailing list to receive further information by sending an e-mail to: <conferences@novaresearch.com>. To receive the Univ. of South Carolina Phys-Act newsletter, go to: http://tinyurl.com/cq8mwx KEY TO SAFER ROADS IDENTIFIED IN CALIF. STUDY -> According to a Jan/Feb 2009 New Urban News article, "Transportation researchers Wesley Marshall and Norman Garrick fed the facts from more than 130,000 vehicular crashes into their computers in recent months, hoping for a systematic answer to a life-and-death question: How can America's streets and roads be made safer? Highway departments have typically focused on 'finding the most problematic locations and fixing those roads or intersections,' say Marshall and Garrick of the University of Connecticut's Center for Transportation and Urban Planning. But the conventional approach doesn't go far enough, the two researchers assert. They felt it was time for 'a more comprehensive approach to road safety that takes into account the complete street network.' "Consequently the two gathered data on nine years of road safety records for 159 California cities of 30,000 to 150,000 population, and ultimately zeroed in on 24 medium-sized cities with some of the best and worst crash frequencies. Their conclusion: The most unsafe cities in California, in terms of traffic fatalities, are the newest ones -- those developed primarily since 1950. The cities with the fewest fatalities, by contrast, are those with significant portions built before 1950..." Source: http://tinyurl.com/avng4g PPS TALKS TRENDS IN PLACEMAKING -> According to an article in the Jan. 2009 issue of the Project for Public Spaces' Making Places newsletter, "As we transition from a burgeoning economy to one that's rapidly deflating, people are realizing that placemaking offers the ideal approach to improving our cities and neighborhoods in these hard times. Placemaking puts people first. It is a holistic approach based on public involvement, on citizens working to make things better. Capitalizing on communities' often overlooked assets and can-do spirit, placemaking shows how we can advance everyone's health and happiness without spending huge amounts of money. "We now see the limitation of the privatized pursuits that flourished in recent years, and are rediscovering the importance of truly public spots -- parks, markets, waterfronts and downtowns, to name a few -- where we can come together to meet our needs and solve problems. Taking stock of our work over the past year, we noticed 10 significant trends that are redefining the world as we know it, even in a down economy. What stood out in looking over all that we accomplished in 2008 was how people can still make big changes in their community if they have the right tools..." Source: http://tinyurl.com/d2sdhr BICYCLES OUTSELL CARS IN AUSTRALIA; USE UP TOO "'The economic downturn and the affordability of cycling is one of the key reasons for the continued surge in bicycle sales' said Elliot Fishman, policy advisor with the Cycling Promotion Fund. 'The sluggish economy, coupled with concern over climate change, health, congestion and petrol prices have strengthened interest in cycling as an option' said Fishman. "'Australians are not just buying bikes, they are using them increasingly frequently. Census figures show a 28% increase in riding to work across Australian capital cities, with Melbourne's growth soaring to 48%. This growth is largely centered upon the inner-city, with superior levels of bicycle infrastructure' said Fishman. Bicycle counts across Australia are also showing a steady increase in cycling -- for both recreation and transport. Source: http://tinyurl.com/aqnteu
QUOTES R US
"It's winter! Don’t hibernate -- walk to school and celebrate!" -> "Waves of ever-bigger big-box stores and new shopping centers have succeeded, not by satisfying growing demand, but by cannibalizing sales, first from downtowns and older malls, and then from other recently built shopping centers and big-box stores." -> "Remember when kids were 'free range,' and they would roam the neighborhoods and play street hockey, hopscotch, or just run around? Well, today, more and more kids have fallen victim to 'nature deficit disorder.'" -> "Adequate information about the existing environment and about the types of place that it is desirable to make cannot be kept inside one brain."
IN
THE NEWS BICYCLE EVANGELIST WITH WIND NOW AT HIS BACK -> According to a Jan. 12th New York Times article, "For years, Earl Blumenauer has been on a mission, and now his work is paying off. He can tell by the way some things are deteriorating around here. 'People are flying through stop signs on bikes,' Mr. Blumenauer said. 'We are seeing in Portland bike congestion. You'll see people biking across the river on a pedestrian bridge. They are just chock-a-block.' "Mr. Blumenauer, a passionate advocate of cycling as a remedy for everything from climate change to obesity, represents most of Portland in Congress, where he is the founder and proprietor of the 180 (plus or minus)-member Congressional Bicycle Caucus. Long regarded in some quarters as quixotic, the caucus has come into its own as hard times, climate concerns, gyrating gas prices and worries about fitness turn people away from their cars and toward their bikes. 'We have been flogging this bicycle thing for 20 years,' said Mr. Blumenauer, a Democrat. 'All of a sudden it's hot.'..." Source: http://tinyurl.com/adbatr PROFESSOR: SOME TEACHERS KILL FUN OF EXERCISE -> According to a Feb. 4th Advocate article, "While increasing instruction in nutrition and physical activity may seem like a good way to attack obesity among school-aged children, some see the potential for that approach to backfire. A scholar of sport science recently warned an auditorium of future educators at the LSU Laboratory School auditorium, against the danger to kill, rather than instill, the desired behavior when exercise is served up in school as being 'good for you.' Pennsylvania State University professor Scott Kretchmar discussed his philosophy of sport as part of the centennial lecture series for the LSU College of Education. "Kretchmar, a founding member of the International Association for the Philosophy of Sport and a fellow of the American Academy of Kinesiology and Physical Education, offered no direct answers to the dilemma of movement in schools. Instead, he offered his philosophy on sport to suggest schools should focus on growing 'playgrounds' of interest in children across curriculums rather than focus on teaching health solely as a separate, required subject. The danger in health education is that teachers are taking something that should be fun and are making it a duty, Kretchmar said, calling such lessons 'playground killers'..." Source: http://tinyurl.com/cwd85u INAUGURAL BIKE VALET SERVICE PARKS 2,000 BIKES -> According to a Jan. 22nd D.C. Examiner article, "A free valet service parked about 2,000 bicycles for those who opted to pedal into the city rather than brave crowded buses and trains on Inauguration Day. 'It was an amazing success,' said Eric Gilliland, who heads the Washington Area Bicyclist Association, which coordinated the project. 'We didn't lose a single bike.' The nonprofit has offered such valet programs at festivals and neighborhood events, but this was its first inauguration and its largest effort so far. "The bike valet program was meant to help get people around on a crowded day in which road and bridge closures prevented cars from entering much of the city. Pedestrians spilled into the streets, and Metro smashed its rail ridership records with more than 1 million entries. But the program also was intended to raise the profile of biking. Many cyclists told the volunteers they hadn't considered biking until they heard about the valet service, Gilliland said..." Source: http://tinyurl.com/aeuthw For extensive news coverage, go to: http://tinyurl.com/dexsxd BICYCLE LANES COMING TO DALLAS (TX) -> According to a Jan. 21st 33-TV News story, "Travis James doesn't own a car. He doesn't need to. He lives in Uptown Dallas and he can ride his bicycle to and from work. Also, James figures this way he is getting more exercise, and reducing traffic congestion and pollution. James admits sometimes riding on the city's streets scares him. He wishes the city had bike lanes. 'It would give us a safe route down the streets as opposed to having to weave in and out of traffic,' James said. Those lanes are on the way. Dallas has received a $375,000 grant from the North Texas Council of Governments to develop something called 'complete streets.' That refers to streets that actually accommodate all sorts of transit, whether it's cars, bicycles or pedestrians. "The program will mainly focus on bike lanes that lead to bus and rail stations. Also, bike lanes that lead to the Katy Trail, which is very popular with bicycle riders in Uptown. The program is modeled after cities like Chicago, Portland, Oregon and Vancouver, British Columbia. Jane Smith won't ride her bicycle off the Katy Trail, but she says she might start that with the creation of new bike lanes. 'Yeah, I would. Of course it still wouldn't be as safe as the trail. You know those Texas Drivers,' Smith said..." Source: http://tinyurl.com/byclvc FARRAGUT (TN) COMMISSION DISCUSSES 'COMPLETE STREETS' -> According to a Jan. 29th Press article, "Farragut Municipal Planning Commission members attended a training session on 'complete streets' at its meeting, Thursday, Jan. 15. The complete streets program, adopted by the state of Tennessee and being implemented around Knox County, encourages developers and planners to build streets that accommodate all users. Complete streets include space for automobiles, pedestrians, bicyclists and transit, and create a network of these alternate modes of transportation. 'In essence, that's really what we're doing in this community,' Community Development Director Ruth Hawk said, specifically mentioning the 'pedestrian friendly' Downtown Farragut development. "'The idea here is to give different ranges of travel, so people have different options than just the automobile,' she added. Hawk cited statistics that, in metro areas, 50 percent of all trips are three miles or less; 28 percent are one mile or less. Of those one-mile trips, 65 percent are made by car. Complete streets, those that promote pedestrian travel, would change the statistics. Hawk asked Commissioners why they preferred to drive rather than walk or bike. 'You have to cross Kingston Pike,' Commissioner Carol Evans said. 'Yes. Right there, you see.' Hawk said..." Source: http://tinyurl.com/aaqzco GALESBURG (IL) RETURNS $270K SAFE ROUTES GRANT -> According to a Feb. 2nd Register-Mail article, "...Northland resident Fred McGunnigal said most parents living in the area would not let their children walk to school even if there were sidewalks in the neighborhood, because of a fear of predators. 'The reason they (parents) drive to school and won't let anybody use the sidewalk is that there is a fear,' he said. "McGunnigal also said that elderly residents in the neighborhood might feel less safe if the sidewalks were built, and rejected the idea that the plan would make area children healthier. 'The sidewalks aren't going to make any difference to the activity levels of our children,' he said..." Source: http://tinyurl.com/behn8r SAN ANGELO (TX) DEVELOPS RESIDENTIAL SIDEWALK PLAN -> According to a Feb. 1st Standard Times article, "The deaths of people run down by vehicles has sparked an outcry in recent months. Now, those who plan to act on those concerns are also citing injuries and close calls. San Angelo, it seems, is a dangerous place to walk. In the past five and a half years, seven people have been killed in San Angelo as a result of being hit by a vehicle while they were walking. Of these, the two most recent were Susan R. Thompson and Milton Wayne Feuge. Thompson was jogging in her neighborhood when a van struck her, and Feuge was struck by a car while crossing a city street. "According to San Angelo police records since January 2003, the department has investigated at least 112 crashes involving pedestrians on the road and at least 47 involving pedestrians in parking lots. Poorly lit roadways, uneven and damaged pavement and the absence of sidewalks in most parts of the city deter many from enjoying a walk outdoors and endanger those who do. At the city's Sidewalk Placement public meeting in early January, nearly 90 residents made it clear they are ready for safer streets..." Source: http://tinyurl.com/bsrbad WALK IN PARK IMPROVES ATTENTION IN KIDS WITH ADHD -> According to an Oct. 15th ScienceDaily article, "For children with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) tasks that require concentration such as doing homework or taking a test can be very difficult. A simple, inexpensive remedy may be a 'dose of nature.' A study conducted at the University of Illinois shows that children with ADHD demonstrate greater attention after a 20-minute walk in a park than after a similar walk in a downtown area or a residential neighborhood. The study, conducted by child environment and behavior researchers Andrea Faber Taylor and Frances E. Kuo was published in a recent issue of the Journal of Attention Disorders. "'From our previous research, we knew there might be a link between spending time in nature and reduced ADHD symptoms,' said Faber Taylor. 'So to confirm that link we conducted a study in which we took children on walks in three different settings -- one especially "green" and two less "green" -- and kept everything about the walks as similar as possible.'...'We compared each child's performance to their own performance on different walks," said Faber Taylor. 'And when we compared the scores for the walks in different environments, we found that after the walk in the park children generally concentrated better than they did after a walk in the downtown area or the neighborhood area. The greenest space was best at improving attention after exposure.'..." Source: http://tinyurl.com/4hmotl BAUPIN -- A DRIVING FORCE TO CHANGE PARIS -> According to a Jan. 23rd International Herald Tribune article, "For his efforts to reduce the privilege of car drivers in Paris, Denis Baupin has been saddled with nasty nicknames, including 'Monsieur Embouteillages' (Mr. Traffic Jam), Khmer Vert and worse. As the transportation chief of the French capital for seven years, Baupin, who has written a book called 'All Cars, No Future,' was the force behind the development of Paris's hugely successful bicycle-sharing program, Vélib'. He introduced a tramway, minibuses, rider subsidies, more bus lanes and faster bus speeds. "He reduced auto speed limits to 30 kilometers an hour, or just under 19 miles an hour, from 50 kilometers an hour on 1,000 streets and closed many to cars altogether. In short, Baupin has changed the face of mobility in Paris, making it, by most accounts, easier for users of public transportation, pedestrians and bikers, and less accessible to car drivers..." Source: http://tinyurl.com/d5c9kt via National Journal: http://tinyurl.com/cr3dlo AND NOW, FOR SOMETHING COMPLETELY DIFFERENT... THE BIGGER THE BETTER: ARTIST MAKES FAT CARS MORE: amazing, art, artist, awesome, busted valve, car, cool, driving, eye candy, good looking, hard drive, hard to steer, how did he do that?... Source: http://tinyurl.com/9chwxa
QUICK HITS REMOVING ROADS, SIGNALS SPEEDS URBAN TRAVEL USA RANKS 30TH IN THE WORLD IN LIFE EXPECTANCY
RESOURCES -> "SMART TRANSPORTATION ECONOMIC STIMULATION..." -> "ACCESS 33" -> ENCOURAGING BICYCLING AND WALKING..." -> "ACTIVE TRANSPORTATION FOR AMERICA..." -> "GUIDE TO PROMOTING BICYCLING..." -> "THE PATH TO ECONOMIC RECOVERY..." -> "MEMO TO THE PRESIDENT..." -> "DO CYCLISTS HAVE AN EXAGGERATED PERCEPTION OF..." 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 5-6, 2009, Building Healthy Lifestyles Conference, Mesa, AZ. Info: Barbara Mattingly at (480) 727-1959, or visit: -> February 18-20, 2009, Active Living Research Annual Conference, San Diego, CA. Info: -> February 28-March 1, 2009, Thunderhead Alliance Winning Campaigns Training, Indianapolis, IN. Info: -> March 1-4, 2009, National Main Street Conference, Chicago, IL. Info: -> March 7, 2009, Bike Summit LA, Los Angeles, CA. Info: http://tinyurl.com/6zu2yu -> March 15-20, 2009, PTBA Conference, Asheville NC. Info: Michael Passo -> March 25-28, 2009, Health and Fitness Summit and Exposition, Atlanta GA. Info: American College of Sports Medicine -> March 27-March 29, 2009 Thunderhead Alliance Winning Campaigns Training, Toronto, ON. Info: -> April 2nd & 3rd, 2009, Streets as Places Training Course, New York, NY. Info: Craig Raphael, Project for Public Spaces, <craphael@pps.org>. -> April 16th & 17th, 2009, How to Turn a Place Around training course, New York, NY. Info: Craig Raphael, Project for Public Spaces, <craphael@pps.org>. -> April 22-24, 2009, California Trails & Greenways Conference, Yosemite, CA. Info: Laura Svendsgaard, phone: (877) 776-3619; email: <trails@parks.ca.gov>. -> April 22-25, 2009, 14th International Conference on Urban Planning, Regional Development and Information Society, Sitges (Spain / Catalonia). Info: -> April 24-26, 2009, 7th International Public Market Conference, San Francisco, CA. Info: -> May 12-15, 2009, Velo-City 2009, Brussels, Belgium. Info: -> June 5-7, 2009, 7th International Conference on Diet and Activity Methods, Washington, DC. Info: -> September 2-4, 2009, 2nd International Urban Design Conference, Gold Coast, Australia. Info: -> September 15-16, 2009, Research to Practice Symposium Promoting Environmental and Policy Change to Support Healthy Aging, Chapel Hill, NC. Information and updates will be available at: -> October 7-9, 2009, 10th Annual Walk21, New York City NY. Info: JOBS, GRANTS, AND RFPS -> JOB -- GRASSROOTS & TRAINING COORDINATOR -- THUNDERHEAD ALLIANCE The Thunderhead Alliance for Biking and Walking, the North American coalition of state and local bicycle and pedestrian organizations, is looking for an experienced grassroots organizer to manage a new program working directly with advocacy organizations. The coordinator will lead trainings on campaign organizing and organizational development including developing training components, doing facilitation, and handling logistics. The coordinator will also manage a new grant program to grow and assist state and local organizations, help with database development, coaching, and general assistance. Based out of the Alliance's office in Washington DC, the job will involve travel and working closely with a team including staff from the League of American Bicyclists. Requirements include experience in grassroots organizing, training development and facilitation, and growing or developing organizations. A strong interest in bicycle and pedestrian advocacy, and a bachelors degree are also necessary. People of color and women are strongly encouraged to apply. Pay is commensurate with experience. Please submit your resume with a letter of interest to Jeffrey Miller, Alliance President / CEO via email to <applications@thunderheadalliance.org> by February 9, 2009. Full job description available at http://tinyurl.com/dg2frr The League of American Bicyclists is looking for two policy analysts to research, compile and present information on a variety of bicycling-related programs and policies. The policy analysts will write model laws, policies and practices; review federal, state and local funding programs; and advise bicycle advocates how to maximize them locally. The job(s) require experience researching hard-to-find facts, strong writing and presentation skills, some travel, and an interest in bicycling/walking. One position will be more media focused (PR experience is preferred) and the other will be more research focused. Both positions will support state and local bicycling and walking advocates around the U.S. The two policy analysts will work closely with a third staff person employed by the Thunderhead Alliance for Biking and Walking, who will be training advocates nationwide on how to implement new policies and programs. College degree required; background in bicycling and/or transportation helpful. Apply to <elizabeth@bikeleague.org> by Feb. 9, 2009. -> INTERNSHIP -- COMMUNICATIONS INTERN -- THUNDERHEAD ALLIANCE Thunderhead Alliance for Biking and Walking is the national coalition of state and local organizations working together to promote bicycling and walking in North American communities. We bring leaders together to help them grow their organizations and become more effective by sharing best practices and innovations. The Alliance's mission is to create, strengthen, and unite state and local bicycle and pedestrian advocacy organizations Position Overview For details, go to: -> JOB -- BICYCLE/PEDESTRIAN COORD -- UNIV. OF WISCONSIN HIRING ORGANIZATION: This position is located in Transportation Services at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, Facilities Planning and Management. Transportation Services creates transportation programs and services that support campus priorities. SALARY: Starting salary is between $34,598 to $57,088 annually based on qualifications, plus excellent benefits. A six-month probationary period is required. Pay Schedule/Range 07-04. CONTACT: For information regarding this position please contact Dawn Bierman, 608-265-4057, <dbierman@fpm.wisc.edu>. JOB DUTIES: Assist the Transportation Demand Management (TDM) project manager in the following areas: analysis of program needs, collecting data and information, developing options and plans, and issuing recommendations and implementing policies and procedures to achieve overall TDM goals. In addition, this position is the primary contact for the University’s Bicycle/Pedestrian program and is responsible for its maintenance and development. SPECIAL QUALIFICATIONS: Well-qualified applicants will have at least 2 years of experience: performing research and analyses of policy, planning and program issues; communicating orally and written; working with teams and problem-solving; and developing/implementing marketing strategies. Experience in a transportation program preferable. A bachelor’s degree in Urban and Regional Planning or related field may substitute for some of the experience... For the complete announcement, go to: http://tinyurl.com/7rvwkj
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statewide, and regional training events on NCBW's National Training Calendar: COPYING: We encourage you to copy our content as long as you identify the source in this way: "from CenterLines, the e-newsletter of the National Center for Bicycling & Walking." Contributors: John Williams, Sharon Roerty, Gary MacFadden, Mark Plotz, Bob Chauncey, Chris Jordan, Linda Tracy, Bill Wilkinson, Russell Houston, Alan Turnbull, Sarah Ryterband, Roger DiBrito, John Cinatl, David Takemoto-Weerts, Kristin Bennett, Jeff Miller, Sue Knaup, Elliot Fishman, Kristen Steele, Chris Morfas, Peter Lagerwey, and Ma Rainey. Editor:
John Williams CONTACT US ©2009 - NCBW | The National Center for Bicycling & Walking is a program of the Bicycle Federation of America; http://www.bikewalk.org/contact.php |