Portland - "for the equivalent cost of a single mile of freeway, we have a bike infrastructure."

Politifact Oregon has rated the claim mostly true, with the note that the mile of freeway refers to urban freeway. Due to the tight budgets of government at all levels these days, it's important that bike/ped funds be spent wisely. Being able to build or convert streets to world-class complete streets without spending a lot is doable, as Portland shows. Its high modeshare (8% of the people there refer to their bike as their primary commute vehicle, versus ~1% elsewhere) shows that the demand is there, if the infrastructure gets built.

Knoxville downtown pedestrian struck by turning vehicle

It was just reported that a woman was struck at the intersection of Church Avenue and State Street. She was crossing with the light in the crosswalk, when a vehicle turned into her.

Looking at a map of the intersection, where Church Ave is two-way and State St one way, it appears that the most likely scenario is that the car driver did not notice her when she crossed. Now, the car was turning, and since the pedestrian had a green, it follows that the car must have had a red light.

Knoxville Regional TPO Bicycle Rack Grant Program

The Knoxville Regional Transportation Planning Organization (TPO) has a bicycle rack grant program, that make it so that any private business or non-profit, or other agency can get one standard upside-down U-shaped bike rack installed for just $21. (Additional racks are available at full price.) Non-profits and community service agencies may be eligible to have the $21 waived. The counties for which the program applies are Knox, Blount, Jefferson, Anderson, Loudon, and Sevier. The racks install into existing concrete. The steps for an installation are as follows (quoted courtesy of the Knoxville TPO):

Safe Pathways for Students Bill Progresses

Safe Pathways for Students bill and its amendment passed the TN Senate Transportation Committee yesterday.  It goes next to the Senate Finance Committee. 

 

Safe Pathways to School - HB1061/SB1083 would put $50 from each speeding ticket written in an active school zone into a program to fund education, encouragement and enforcement activities that make it safer for kids to walk and bicycle to school. 

Click here to follow the Bill. 

Click here for Background Info on this Bill.

Congestion Pricing

Moving Beyond the Automobile: Congestion Pricing from Streetfilms on Vimeo.

State Legislation Would Impare Bike/Ped Safety

A new legislative proposal would allow motorists to turn right at a red light without stopping. This news report from Johnson City shows the danger in allowing this kind of driver behavior for bicyclists and pedestrians.

Controversal Bike Lanes

“When I become mayor, you know what I’m going to spend my first year doing?” Anthony D. Weiner said to Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg, as tablemates listened. “I’m going to have a bunch of ribbon-cuttings tearing out your [expletive] bike lanes.”  Click here to read the whole story.

Traffic Safety Coalition

The Traffic Safety Coalition (TSC), is a grassroots organization comprised of public safety professionals, law enforcement officials, victims’ advocates, health care professionals, and academics who have all come together to support a media/communications campaign to educate the public about the detrimental effects of red-light running in communities across the United States.  Our campaign is looking to demonstrate how the use of traffic safety cameras has proven to be a critical tool for local law enforcement agencies efforts to reduce violations and crashes while keeping pedestrians and bicyclists safe.

Simplified Planning for Bike/Ped Facilities.

. . To improve bicycle and pedestrian facilities in your home town the first place to start is with a plan and design. In a recent survey of Tennessee cities Bike Walk Tennessee found only about 5% had any form of Bicycle and Pedestrian plan for their community.

. . Fairfax Advocates for Better Bicycling (FABB) in consultation with the Virginia (VDOT) and Fairfax County departments of transportation have prepared an award-winning new guide that outlines ways bicycling proponents can get involved in the process of designing, approving, building, and retrofitting roads to accommodate bicycling. Although geared for Virginia, many of the ideas contained in the report could be applied to Tennessee.

. . Their 28-page Guide to Reviewing Public Road Design and Bicycling Accommodations for Virginia Bicycling Advocates simplifies and streamlines the confusing road design process with easy-to-follow flow charts, handy check lists and explanations that make sense to folks who don't have a masters degree in urban planning.

United States Bicycle Route System

. . The United States Bicycle Route System (USBRS) is gaining support daily. Click a state to see the most up-to-date state status on the project. The National Corridor Plan identifies 50-mile wide corridors, both prioritized (numbered) and un-prioritized (faint brown corridors). The Plan can change, based upon state opportunities and interests, with new corridors or realignments. As corridors turn into routes, the lines will go from wide swaths of color to defined routes. Links to U.S. Bike Route (USBR) maps, state bike maps and informational websites will be provided as they become available.
. . TDOT enlisted a consultant to expand the state bicycle route network. Once TDOT approves the network, it will be sent to local Bike/Ped Coordinators and Bike Walk Tennessee for review. Bike Walk Tennessee is partnering with TDOT to implement routes that fall within the National Corridor Plan, visit Coast Down Hills to see the draft routes. USBR 25 will be the first route implemented and will coordinate with Kentucky.
. . For more information or to volunteer, contact Bruce Day from Bike Walk Tennessee.

UnitedHealthcare - Half the Country to have diabetes or prediabetes by 2020

This report states that if current trends continue, half the United States population will have type 2 diabetes or prediabetes by the year 2020. Not only is such a life limiter, but it would also be a tremendous waste of money. In 2009, the average health-care cost of a diabetic person was $11,700 versus $4,400 for everyone else, and was $20,700 for diabetes with complications. The report notes that the overall monetary cost of the diabetes/prediabetes comes out to $3.35 trillion over ten years.

So, what do these facts have to do with biking and walking? Actually a lot. Often people with prediabetes can make their metabolism revert to healthy levels through increased physical activity, and the loss of excess weight. Walking and biking can be great ways to work in such physical activity, whether as part of an exercise routine or as part of everyday transportation. The construction of complete streets would make such a realistic option for more people, and isn't really so expensive when these health costs are considered. As mentioned previously on this blog, a representative once asked how many people are currently driving to a gym in order to ride a stationary bike?

Sorry I Didn't See You?

HUNTSVILLE, Ala. _ Look closely at this picture. This is what the motorist failed to see when he hit Ernie Wu at 6:30 a.m. Wednesday, Dec. 29. Wu, CEO and president of ERC Inc., was riding to work in the pre-dawn darkness when the motorist struck him on a stretch of Drake Avenue with a quarter mile of visibility, no rain, no fog, street lights and no other traffic on the road. (reprinted by permission of Morgan)

Bike Racer Teaches Bicycle Safety to Preschoolers

We were fortunate February 16, 2011 to have Jeremiah Dyer teaching bike safety to 60 preschoolers at the First Presbyterian Church Pre-School. He discussed the importance of not only wearing a helmet but also why the proper fit can reduce or prevent serious injuries. He sent home to their parents an informational brochure on proper helmet fitting and basic safety tips! To be a part of the lives of tomorrow's great cyclists, share the enthusiasm of riding, and encourage young people to take up a safe and exciting form of exercise are some of the reasons for these kinds of classes. We hope to sponsor more in our area and include all ages.

Commuting on a YikeBike?

Some days the New York Times Magazine has just the right story that brings out a smile in me and a sudden desire to go out and buy something like a YikeBike. Doubt if the exercise component is great when wheeling along on this new invention but at least you don't have to buy a parking space or stop and fill up the tank at $3.45 per gallon.

It’s an electric bike. Top speed is about 15 miles an hour. The accelerator and brakes are smoothly controlled by buttons that are right under your thumbs on the handlebars. The handlebars themselves are at your waist level, which might seem odd but makes sense—you ride sitting fully upright instead of bending forward, as on a bicycle. That design also means that you can jump forward off the bike in a crisis; there’s no hardware in your way.

Here’s the twist: the whole thing folds down into its own front wheel. You undo four stainless-steel latches, then snap the back wheel, seat and handlebars into the front one. It takes about 10 seconds.

The YikeBike is therefore perfect for covering that distance between your home and the train station. You can fold it down and set it next to you on the train, then unfold it and ride to your office at the other end.

Idaho Stop Law

Bicycles, Rolling Stops, and the Idaho Stop from Spencer Boomhower on Vimeo.

. . Currently, Idaho is the only state containing such a law, known as the "Idaho Stop", with no negative impact whatsoever on bicycle safety or crash statistics.  

. . Despite opposition from car insurance companies, a Utah House committee endorsed a HB155 that would allow bicyclists to treat stop signs as if they were yield signs. Rep. Carol Spackman Moss, D-Holladay, said the bill would make roads safer and would reflect what cyclists already do. She said allowing cyclists to merely slow and proceed when no cars are present allows them to be less wobbly when going through intersections.

Some guidelines for implementng the US Bike Route System

http://www.facebook.com/#!/notes/us-bicycle-route-system/6-steps-to-implementing-us-bicycle-routes/10150110322955982
This is an excellent model for us when we present our Tennessee plans for the USBR system.
Bruce

Proper bicycle lighting

In view of the recently reported nighttime (motorized) bicycle crash, here is a review of how to be safely lit when riding at night. Statistically, nighttime riding has a much higher crash rate than daytime riding, although the studies do not distinguish between those riders who were properly lit and those who were not.

The basic principle of being properly lit at night is to have at least one white/yellow light pointing forward, and one red light pointing back. Reflectors are not enough. Riding on lit streets is not enough. Beyond that, everything is details. Sadly, large numbers of riders are not aware of these principles.

BWT Introduces Bill to Improve Traffic Safety.

As introduced, HB1007/SB1171 broadens requirement that drivers exercise due care to apply to bicyclists; enhances penalty for certain traffic violations that cause serious bodily injury or death. - Amends TCA Title 55, Chapter 8.

Both sponsors are on the Transportation Committee and are two of the smartest and most well spoken legislators who will do a good job with the legislation. That said we need to get some co-sponsors especially if they’re on the Transportation Committee or Republican or both.  The bill will probably be sent for comment to the Department of Safety and the Department of Correction. 

Although we don't need to start some massive grassroots campaign just yet but we should consider how to get people involved especially through bicycle clubs. Don’t take anything for granted! If you can help contact Mark Hicks or Carey Rogers at Bike WalkTN@gmail.com.

Tennessee Well Represented at Bike Summit

In the last Board of Directors meeting Secretary and Director Anthony Siracusa described plans for Tennessee's twelve delegates to the National Bike Summit in DC to meet with their nine Congressional Representatives.  Anthony who is coordinating Tennessee's participation on March 9'th through 11'th felt it would be one of the largest at the Summit. Members are from various Tennessee Planning agencies and their contractors and from Bike Walk Tennessee.  For further information or to give input to your delegation contact Anthony at BikeWalkTN@gmail.com.

Bike/Ped Funding Safe for now.

Thank you for all your great work and preparation to protect federal funding for biking and walking this week. I know many of you have done some incredible outreach to your members of Congress and their staff, educating them about the important ways that biking and walking contribute to our health, our economy, and our communities.

Well, great news: It worked!

Bike Safety Event in Johnson City

Jeremiah Dyer will be teaching bicycle safety to 60 preschoolers at the First Presbyterian Preschool in Johnson City, TN! I will send home to their parents an informational brochure on proper helmet fitting and basic safety tips! It is exciting to be a part of the lives of tomorrow's great cyclists! Jeremiah is a world qualified cyclist and looks to be a voice for bicycle safety and improvements in Northeast Tennessee. Read more about Jeremiah HERE.

Bike/Ped Not Singled for Cut in House Budget

Some good news – biking and walking were not singled out or cut in the budget bill the U.S. House put forward Friday night.  But we aren’t out of the woods yet. Now we shift to “Amendment Watch.”
The board of America Bikes met Saturday to assess and plan for a big week ahead; here is our plan:

Meeting With Your Member of Congress

Jeff Miller of the Alliance for Bike and Walking has provided “talking points” when meeting with legislators.  At risk is funding of Transportation Enhancements and Safe Routes to Schools.  Without support these programs are expected to be eliminated.

Jeff focuses on:

- Bicycling and walking are essential to our communities.

- Bicycling and walking programs are cost-effective and solve multiple problems: Reduce congestion, create jobs, increase real estate values, reduce healthcare costs, minimize transportation infrastructure costs

- More bicycles are sold than cars and trucks combined. Bike commuting increased more than 40 percent between 2001 and 2008.

How can you help? Please forward to BikeWalkTN@gmail.com SPECIFIC examples how bicycles and pedestrian activities have helped your community.

Winter Biking- A Possibly Crazy Way To Get Around

You can tell me I'm crazy for snow biking in the winter but it is GREAT fun and a much better way to get around town than sliding through traffic in a pricey automobile. Why not head for a biking trail on a snowy day and feel the bliss of winter's quiet white appeal. Head to the top of Roan Mtn. and slice through the drifts on a set of big nobbies or ride to the market for a hunk of brie.

We can learn from some intrepids in Alaska who fine biking in the winter a regular venue for transportation and exercise.

"The appeals of winter bike commuting – whether it’s the calories burned or the gasoline saved – have never captivated large numbers of the state’s residents, but every sizeable community in Alaska probably has at least a few diehards who refuse to put their bikes away when the snow starts falling. In Fairbanks, bicyclists’ blinking tail lights can be seen flashing through the ice fog even when it’s 20 or 30 degrees F. below zero." More on winter biking HERE....