Share the Road License Plates being distributed

After years of hard work by the Jeff Roth Cycling Foundation, the first batch of 1000+ Share the Road License Plates are in the process of being distributed throughout the state. (Photograph courtesy of Jim Mead.) Some people have already received letters from their counties informing them about picking up their plate orders. A lucky few have already received their plates by now.

Reaching this point is quite a milestone in terms of cycling advocacy throughout the state. What are future milestones that we can aspire to? In the near future anyone will be able to get such a plate for his/her car (this initial batch of 1000 was by pre-registration only.)

Tennessee Trafic Safety Website

TDOT has a new website devoted to promoting traffic safety.  Motorcycles have their own section. Getting bicycles and pedestrians a spot looks like yet another opportunity for Bike Walk Tennessee.
http://tntrafficsafety.com/

Earth Day at Vanderbilt

This was by far the most receptive group with which I have dealt.  Sharing a ride with Tom assured we got there and set up 30 min before the official start. Even so, I didn't have a chance to survey the other exhibits before people began approaching  us.  The message was easy, statewide group advocating for better infrastructure, laws and culture to advance walking and cycling as legitimate forms of transportation and if you like that, join us. We have had enough recent issues to make specific pitches to each person's interests.  Bike Walk Tennessee is an easier sell than the 3-feet license plate. About the only people expressing any interest for the license plate had already ordered.

One message repeatedly came back to us.  Cyclists are behaving badly in downtown Nashville. Even among folks who considered themselves regular cyclists, there is a concern for how we are a bunch of scofflaws.  Some were knowledgeable enough to give us a pass on the homeless, etc. but will hold our feet to the fire when it's the guys in full kit blowing though red lights and swerving in and out of lines of stalled traffic.   I'll admit to doing all that before becoming a role model.  We must spread the word that we are all role models.  As Tom has mentioned in an email, this is  perfect example of education for the 501(c)3.

Even if none of the folks sign up, it was a good experience. I encourage all the directors to take advantage of similar opportunities.  Group bike rides seem a good place to sell Bike Walk Tennessee but it is much better to meet people in venues such as the Vanderbilt Clean Air Fair.
Bruce

Advocacy Advance

Advocacy Advance is a partnership between the League of American Bicyclists and the Alliance for Biking and Walking to research issues critical to the bicycling community. The Advocacy Advance Team has created a series of reports to help Alliance member organizations access Federal funding for bicycle and pedestrian projects.

Courtesy on the Roads - by Kelley Segars

Here is an email that I received a while back from Kelley Segars, our excellent transportation planner at the Knoxville Regional TPO on sharing the road with cars and trucks. The email is reproduced with permission, and what she spells out should be applicable throughout the state.

Volunteers Needed

This is a camp for folks with special needs - they learn how to ride a bicycle!  Click here for details!

Where:   McCallie School for boys.  Chattanooga, TN

When:    June 28^th-July 2^nd.  

               (Meet the parents June 27 PM to get the rundown for the next day beginning sessions)

How Long: Either an AM or PM session daily.  (9:00 to 11:45)  or 1:00 to 5:15)

Requirements: 15 years old;   Name, phone, email address, T-Shirt size. 

Lunch provided. 

Educate the Biker, the Motorist, Law Enforcement

As Bike Walk Tennessee reviews future campaigns to improve bicycling safety, public service announcements (PSA) on the Community Access Channel is one easy way to reach the public. Several good videos are available, why not air them all across the State. That was our idea! The Bicycle Coalition of Maine thought it was a good idea.

They have produced two bicycle safety PSAs that will air on Maine television stations during the spring and summer. The Maine Bureau of Highway Safety provided about $16,000 for production costs and purchase of airtime.
One ad educates motorists about the Maine law requiring them to give at least three feet of clearance when passing cyclists. The other ad stresses the importance of cyclists wearing bicycle helmets. The PSAs appear on WCSH6 throughout the month of May. In addition to the purchased airtime, the station donated airtime valued at $4,200 for additional spots on WCSH6 and WLBZ2 in Bangor later in the summer.
The concept is to create an environment where drivers know that bikes belong on the roads and at the same time ensure that cyclists follow basic safety rules.

Click here to learn more about Maine's "Share the Road Media Campaign"

Regarding educating Law Enforcement please visit our Web Site for some GREAT videos.

Driver's License Manual

Good news- I spoke with TDOS today and the revised driver's license manuals with the 'Share the Road' section are currently at the print shop.  They should be printed and released in approx. 2 to three months.  A test question is being prepared to be added after the new comprehensive manual is released.

Also- TDOS operates a motor vehicle network displayed on big-screens in the regional driver service stations.  The network features safety messages targeted towards drivers and, as of April, they now have a '3 foot rule' spot AND a Share the Road spot playing on the network!  Unfortunately these can only be viewed at the driver service stations so there's no link for me to forward to you, but I was able to view it at the station over on Hart Lane near my house.  Very cool! 

Jessica.L.Wilson@tn.gov
TDOT Bicycle & Pedestrian Coordinator

Making a Difference

In an article in the Chattanooga Free Press (click here to read) Troy Ivey, president of the Chattanooga Bicycle Club, noticed all of that happened this year that advanced Tennessee in the League of American Bicyclists' rankings.  He remembered TDOT's effort to add staff members and programs "devoted to bicycle issues" along with the formation of an independent statewide advocacy group called Bike Walk Tennessee (BWT).
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"Those two small things made a difference," Mr. Ivey said.
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This is just a small step.  A LOT more needs to be done and we need help.
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"Clearly one area where improvement is needed is educating the public about safe bicycling and driving practices," TDOT Commissioner Gerald Nicely said in this same Free Press article.
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Sarah Lovett, Founder and Membership Chair of BWT, has started a program with the Rutherford County Safety Commission that could become an education model for all of Tennessee.  Sarah is taking us that next step.

Education - Tennessee's greatest failing

We have all said the three most important priorities for Tennessee are Education, Education, and more Education.  Whereas, Tennessee did okay in LAB's Bike Friendly State assessment. We ranked so low in education that we were almost off the chart.  May be this is another "less talk" more "action."  Philip found a great series by League of Illinois Bicyclists. (Click here for info)

Planning for bike-friendly communities is becoming more common in major cities, suburbs, and small towns across the country.  Everyday decisions by planners, engineers, and others affect how safe and convenient it is to bike for recreation or transportation.  However, most of these officials have had little to no training on these issues.

So how does Bike Walk Tennessee want to get started at this?

Baby step toward LCI

For some time becoming LCI certified has been on my list of things to do some day. Two things have kept me from it:
1. The time required .
2.  I already know everything there is to know about cycling.

Now comes a chance to test reason number 2 in the comfort of my own home in the hours between midnight and sleep usually wasted watching the Weather Channel.  This from Arkansas Tom Ezell.
Bruce

Thinking about taking the Traffic Skills 101 class, but don't have time to sit through hours of Powerpoint slides? One thing the League is experimenting with is offering the classroom portion of this course on-line, and letting the student jump directly to the hands on, bike riding part.
Interested? Go to http://www.bikeed.org/default.aspx, register at the site, and you can take that part on-line in your spare time. Each module has a set of questions (the applicable part of the written exam for Traffic Skills 101). At the completion of the online class, the site will tally up your score (passing score is 70%; 85% if you intend to pursue becoming an LCI yourself), and allow you to print a certificate asserting that you've completed that part of the class.
Next, take your certificate and look up one of the League Cycling Instructors (at the "Instructors" link) who have agreed to participate in the on-line test of the Traffic Skills course. Contact the LCI, and schedule a time and place to take the riding part of the class and the road test... And then you're on your way to Smart(er) Cycling!
This web site is part of a large effort to improve safety training for the 2010 Houston-to-Austin BP MS-150 bike ride. It's been shown to work well, and now it's being made available on a national basis to those facing a time crunch on sitting in class...