Knoxville - North Gay St Redevelopment

Metro Pulse is reporting that a plan to modify north Gay St so that it would have wider sidewalks and traffic lanes, but reduce the number of lanes from 4 to 2, is in its final stages of planning. The plans were started around 2009. Crossing 2 lanes of traffic will be easier than crossing 4 at the same time. Being a heavily biked area, the modifications would make that section of road much more of a complete street. Where else do we have streets that could use some similar sort of "diet?"

Way to Go NASHVILLE

Each new round of Bicycle Friendly Community awards is exciting, but today’s announcement is big. With the addition of major urban centers — including Los Angeles, Miami and Nashville — two-thirds of America’s largest cities are now BFCs. Click here for more info.

Help the Alliance

This month for each bike trip you log on the 2 Mile Challenge, Clif Bar will donate $1 to the Alliance for Biking & Walking. The clock is already ticking, and to reach our ambitious goal of 10,000 trips in October, we need your help!

Go to 2MileChallenge.com, create a profile, and start logging your trips by bike. You can even download the BikeBrain app to keep track of your trips.

It's an easy way to support the Alliance and state (think Bike Walk Tennessee) and local advocacy organizations.

We're not asking you for a dime, just some good old fashioned pedal power. Thanks for your support!

Sincerely,

Jeffrey Miller - President / CEO

Italian Helmet Hair Not A Problemo

I'm spending a few days in Italy where, at least in the old cities like Florence, bicycles are for transportation and not play. No one was wearing a helmet while cycling in the city center where Michaelangelo once walked and worked. No word on his helmet use. David didn't wear one while slaying Goliath.

Bike Purchases in Italy

However, this is a surprise in any country outside of China. Motor scooters are very popular in Italy and may outnumber bikes in the cities I've seen. I doubt they will lose their love of the car but can you imagine this happening in the US? The auto makers would go mad. They would probably lobby to outlaw bicycles.

I did see some helmet use by recreational riders on Sunday in a small town outside Florence. They were in full kit and riding in the hilly region. I wonder how much our emphasis on helmets discourages ridership by sending a message that its a dangerous undertaking? Obviously the narrow streets of a European city are very different from the US but food for thought none the less.

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/

Alliance Seeks Feedback

. . The Alliance for Biking and Walking is planning its new resources, programming, and training opportunities for 2013 —  and wants your input. They would like your feedback on how they're doing and what they can do better.

Please take a moment to complete our membership survey.

. . The survey takes 15 minutes or less to complete. Feel free to have multiple people from your organization take the survey, as this gives us perspectives on different areas where we can provide assistance. 
. . Please take a moment to complete the survey by October 31, and help to ensure that the Alliance is able to help you grow your organization’s strength in 2013 and beyond.
. . Thanks in advance for your important and critical feedback.
 
Mike Samuelson, Member Services and Open Streets Coordinator

Jeremy Leaves the Alliance

. . I am writing to tell you that after five rewarding years, I am leaving my position as Member Services Director at the Alliance for Biking & Walking as of today, October 1.

. . I appreciate the opportunity I have had to work with you. Whether it was through Alliance member services such as coaching, Mutual Aid Calls, Winning Campaigns Training, or strategic planning; all Alliance leaders have touched my life in many, many ways. I am so proud of the Alliance and our work to grow the power of Alliance member organizations, and I thank you from the bottom of my heart for allowing me to be part of your success.

. . Together, you have and you will accomplish so much! I am truly honored to have worked alongside the most talented, dynamic and hardworking people.

. . I know that there will still be opportunities to connect with each of you. I plan on continuing work in strategic planning and meeting facilitation, and I’m sure our paths will cross (if nothing else, at the next Enclave Party).

. . To contact me in the future, please email me at jwg@SGEndeavors.com. I am no longer receiving messages at Jeremy@PeoplePoweredMovement.org.

My best, 
Jeremy Grandstaff, Member Services Director

NACTO Urban Bikeway Design Guide, Second Edition

The National Association of City Transportation Officials (NACTO) has released the second edition of its Urban Bikeway Design Guide. As with its first edition, the guide provides guidance on the design of numerous creative bicycle facilities in an urban environment. I had mentioned the first edition last year, on April 2. Since then, no new full member cities have been added, but Arlington, Cambridge, Hoboken, Indianapolis, Memphis, and Ventura (CA) have become affiliate members. The Urban Design Bikeway Guide offers interesting suggestions on facilities that planners might want to consider implementing.

FWHA Releases Interim MAP-21 Guidance.

. . Today, the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) released interim guidance documents and Q&A’s regarding implementation of MAP-21.  The materials are online at http://www.fhwa.dot.gov/map21/. 
. . FHWA will also hold two webinars – Wednesday and Thursday – to provide an overview of the MAP-21 guidance documents.  All interested members of the public are invited to participate. MAP-21 Implementation Webinars

• 1:30 - 3:30p.m. EST, Wednesday, September 26. Register online at: http://www.nhi.fhwa.dot.gov/resources/webconference/web_conf_learner_reg.aspx?webconfid=25047
• 1:30 – 3:30p.m. EST, Thursday, September 27. Register online at: http://www.nhi.fhwa.dot.gov/resources/webconference/web_conf_learner_reg.aspx?webconfid=25066

840 Grand Fondo

Join Governor Haslam and Commissioner Shroer as they open SR 840 on October 13'th with a BIKE FESTIVAL.  CLICK HERE for all the details.  This ONE TIME event has

• A fully timed course with a King of the Mountain section.
• A new major roadway legally closed for cyclist only!
• Rest stops stocked by Whole Foods Market.
• 840 Fondo gift bag & t-shirt
• Post-ride meal & social with music in Historic Leipers Fork.

Webinar on Bike/Ped Investments

Bike/Ped projects are broadly eligible in the majority of MAP-21 funding programs, such as safety (the Highway Safety Improvement Program, HSIP), reduce congestion and air pollution (the Congestion Mitigation and Air Quality Improvement Program, CMAQ), and broad and flexible programs, like the Surface Transportation Program (STP). Together, they provide huge opportunities for bike/ped investments.

Note From Bud Laumer

. . Since I am no longer the state bike-ped coordinator and do not need to speak to separate communities in my e-mails, I have collapsed the several Arkansas Google groups into one.  Please note (below) the new address for my Google Group and the address for my webpage

. . If you continue your membership or join, you may see an occasional e-mail related to active healthy community development—walking and bicycling with a little transit on the side.  

TDOT Progress on Bike/Ped Programs

Jessica Wilson has provided a great summary of TDOT objectives for Bike/Ped programs. (CLICK HERE to view it). It offers a great way to see what has been accomplished over the last two years and what might be expected in the future.  If you are an advocate, you need to read this Summary and offer your comments.  Your perspective is very important to the priorities that TDOT and BWT are able to set in an environment of significantly (more than 30%) reduced spending and loss of Federal mandates.

Complete Streets - Memphis

Thoughts After Pro Walk/Pro Bike 2012: Pro Place

"We have crushed the ability of children to move about their own world." -- Mark Gorton, Rethink the Auto

Pro Walk/Pro Bike 2012 left us with a lot to think about.

Knoxville Regional Bicycle Program - Ride Smart Class

The Knoxville Regional Bicycle Program has a free 1-hr class on safely riding one's bicycle on city streets. The class consists of a 5 min talk followed by a slow ride around town. An upcoming session is on Thursday September 27, at 6:30 PM starting at Market Square downtown. A bike and helmet are required. Signups are at the following link.

For beginning riders, taking a class such as this one can go quite a ways toward building riding confidence, as well as avoiding common beginner mistakes. The League of American Bicyclists has their own training courses. What other similar courses exist around the state?

Bike theft article

The Atlantic Cities has this article on the problem of bike theft. Bike theft has deterred numerous people from cycling and most especially commuting; after all, besides losing the bike, the commuter is threatened with being stranded at work. Bike theft tends to be a low-priority offense, and it's also incredibly hard to investigate due to the lack of connection between perpetrator and victim.

Day 1 Pro Walk/Pro Bike 2012: Pro Place

Today was the first full day of Pro Walk/Pro Bike 2012, and I am grateful to be joined in Long Beach, CA with two other Bike Walk Tennessee directors and 800+ biking & walking advocates and practitioners (several of whom also made the trek from TN).  This year's emphasis is on placemaking- designing places for people.

. . Most of the time when we ask you to take action, it has to do with a national bicycling issue. That’s the main reason we created PeopleForBikes.org—to allow individuals to speak with one powerful, united voice in support of better bicycling in America.
. . Today, however, we need your action for another reason. Our parent foundation Bikes Belong is up for a $250,000 Chase Community Giving Grant. If we win the grant, $125,000 will go to help PeopleForBikes.org reach its goal of one million people (we are at 600,000 supporters now) and the other half will go toward our Green Lane Project, a new campaign to fast-track the installation of protected bike lanes in U.S. cities.

Smart Growth for America

Smart Growth America and the Complete Streets Coalition have produced a valuable document "The Innovative DOT" which lays out in detail much of what our stakeholders meetings with TDOT eventually concluded. See this at: http://www.smartgrowthamerica.org/the-innovative-dot

This is an excellent document for your review.

Dan Reese

Knox Walks kickoff September 8

The Knoxville Track Club is sponsoring a fitness walking program starting September 8. They are looking for people to commit to one walk a week for seven weeks, culminating in an entry into the October 28 Crossknox 4 mile walk. Further information is available here.

This and other (hiking) events are listed at the Knoxville News Sentinel's Off the couch: Active options, Sept. 7 and beyond page.

Davidson County District Attorney Sends A Message to Cyclists

Michael Rivas was riding down Old Hickory Boulevard  in May and was killed by an “inattentive“ texting motorist when he was hit from behind, struck the windshield and was thrown over the car. 

Bike Walk Tennessee and Walk Bike Nashville notified the Chief of Police and the District Attorney General that we wanted justice in the case of Michael Rivas. We were ignored. The police department report said the cyclist was riding too far to the left and the motorist was “inattentive”. Apparently they were equally responsible even though one walked away and the other was buried.

National Women's Bicycling Summit - September 13, 2012

The National Women's Bicycling Summit will be held in Long Beach, CA on September 13 and registration is now open. I've heard it said that there are many more men who ride than women. What are the reasons for such? Speaking of which, there are the claims that drivers tend to give more passing distance if they believe the rider is female; having a ponytail sticking out the back of one's helmet does the trick.

There is an inspiring story at the link that also points to the value bikes bring to people. A Zambian girl was attending school seven miles away from home. Walking took about two hours each way; having a bike enabled her to drastically reduce her commute time, and she would no longer be too tired to attend some Fridays. This difference in speed is applicable to transportation planning everywhere.

Why Do You Ride?

Every year, PeopleForBikes.org surveys our supporters to understand how bicycling fits into their lives. We have found that some of you are crazy about bikes and ride every day, while others ride occasionally or even not at all. That's what we think is cool about our movement - we represent everyone who is for bicycling, no matter how many bikes they own or what type of riding they do.