Rebuilding Place in the Urban Space

"A community’s physical form, rather than its land uses, is its most intrinsic and enduring characteristic." [Katz, EPA] This blog focuses on place and placemaking and all that makes it work--historic preservation, urban design, transportation, asset-based community development, arts & cultural development, commercial district revitalization, tourism & destination development, and quality of life advocacy--along with doses of civic engagement and good governance watchdogging.

Wednesday, May 18, 2022

May is National Bike Month too: Part 1 -- a good time to assess planning and programming

-- "May is National Bike Month too: Part 1 -- a good time to assess planning and programming"
-- "May is National Bike Month too: Part 2 -- Advocating for Vulnerable Road Users"

I've argued in the past that events like Bike Month are a good time for reflection and evaluation, as well as a time to call attention to new infrastructure and facilities.  I haven't heard much about Bike Month this year, but I am not really connected to local information systems in Salt Lake the way I was in DC.  

Typically, the biggest promotional event of the month is "Bike to Work Day." That's still messed up because of covid and the fact that a lot of large workplaces have for the most part shifted to work from home, so this has reduced the prominence of biking as an element of transportation practice and planning.

Except for the claimed significant increase in the sales of bikes because of covid--although here in Salt Lake I haven't seen much of an increase in transportational bicyclists ("Consumers Turn To Biking for Safe Fun and Exercise During Pandemic: Surge in Demand Prompts Bicycle Shortages, Higher Prices," Census Bureau) although there are plenty of recreational cyclists.

1.  Building a mobility system that supports cycling in a manner that is systematic, complete, and structural.  My biggest gripe in sustainable mobility planning is that when it comes to "biking as transportation," we're focusing on building lanes and trails--very important to be sure--but not on working in substantive ways to get people biking.   What good are lanes and trails if few people are biking?

The German National Bicycle Plan, 2002-2012 makes this point of treating "Cycling as a system."

This includes equity considerations ("Urg: bad studies don't push the discourse or policy forward | biking in low income communities (in DC) edition," 2014).

2. Biking planning needs to have a higher profile as part of Metropolitan Planning Organizations, the organizations tasked by the US DOT for area transportation planning.  This should include the creation of regional bikeway networks, integrated maps and signage, support for area-wide bike parking initiatives, provision of facilities like repair stands and air pumps at transit stations and other public facilities, etc.   This should include systematic marketing and promotion activities that cross jurisdictional borders.

-- "Wanted: a metropolitan scale bikeways/trails program run by the Metropolitan Planning Organization," 2016

3.  Planning requirements need to require quality bicycle parking and other facilities to serve employees and residents.  This is still hit or miss.  Communities need to review their building regulations, zoning use requirements, and capital improvements planning processes to ensure that stated outcomes -- "sustainable mobility" -- are actually required.

Misters on Las Vegas Boulevard.  Photo: Richard Brian, Las Vegas Review-Journal.

4.  Plan for seasons and time of day.  That means snow clearance in winter , shade and misters in summer, and lighting at night, especially in winter ("Night-time safety: rethinking lighting in the context of a walking community," 2014).  

In Maryland, certain state parks provide special permits for bicycle commuter access to trails when the park would normally be closed ("at dusk") which is so much earlier in winter.

A consortium of cities, the Winter Cycling Federation, has an annual conference.  Boulder sponsors a Winter Bike to Work Day.

5.  Independent advocacy efforts are still necessary.  Government doesn't move very fast.  Advocates can push change along.

One of my best ideas ever was setting up the Baltimore County Pedestrian and Bicycle Advisory Committee--each Councilmember appointed one member--so that each Council District could have a subcommittee, with the plan's recommendations as an agenda, such committees would bring the legislative and executive branches together with advocates.  It was optional but the districts with the active subcommittees got more projects done than the districts that didn't.

Cities and counties need to do this.  And still have independent advocacy organizations functioning at the city and county scale.

-- ""Government" or "advocacy" approaches: either/or vs. and/and and DC area regional trails planning," 2020

6.  Communities need a set of systematic programs designed to assist people in direct ways in making the transition from driving to bicycling.  Over the decades we've developed systems to support automobility, including driver's education so people can get licensed.  We don't have comparable programs for biking.  "Revisiting assistance programs to get people biking: 18 programs," lists various ways to work with people and places to support switching to cycling as a primary form of transportation.   

Bike sharing systems can be great ways to introduce people to biking, especially when they include active promotion efforts with organizations, community tour events, etc.  Most bike sharing systems aren't great at that but Chicago and London are particularly exemplary.

7.  Besides paths and lanes, complementary facilities including a regional system of secure bicycle parking and facilities are required ("Bike to Work Day as an opportunity to assess the state of bicycle planning: Part 2, building a network of bike facilities at the regional scale").  

Most public schools fail to provide secure bike (and scooter) parking. Bonneville Elementary School, Salt Lake City.

If you're going to cycle for transportation, you need secure places to park your bike, free of fear from theft, complemented by other facilities that make bike riding convenient -- air pumps, repair stands, wayfinding signage, mapping systems, posted maps, trailheads, etc. -- comparable to the services provided for motor vehicles.

That includes K-12 schools, college campuses, workplaces, etc.

Photo: Denver RTD.

8.  The model for secure parking systems is the  Parkiteer program in Melbourne, Australia (Victoria State).

Apparently, Denver's RTD transit system is creating a network of "Bike-N-Ride" shelters that are a baby version of Parkiteer, but it's a start.  

The stations are on RTD property, but administered by other organizations, such as Boulder County (which was the first to do these in the Denver metro area) and Commuting Solutions, the Transportation Management Association for the US-36 Corridor between Boulder and Denver.

Some communities have similar programs, Santa Ana California has a few small bike parking shelters in its Downtown, and the transit systems in Los Angeles and the San Francisco Bay Area have bike hubs at many of their train stations.

The next step is to expand protected bike parking facilities to activity centers that aren't necessarily transit stations, including office buildings, schools, parks, etc.

9.  Trailhead system/bicycle hubs.  As part of a cycling system major nodes in the transportation network need trailheads and bicycle hubs.  Transit stations, central business districts, airports, college campuses, etc., need to be treated as bike mobility hubs the way Heathrow Airport is ("Why not a bicycle hub at National Airport?, focused on capturing worker trips but open to all) and the bike hubs at transit stations in the San Francisco Bay and Greater Los Angeles ("Los Angeles County Metro (MTA) understands biking"). 

Major train stations, airports, etc. should be anchor hubs.

10.  Formalize bike and walk to school programs ("Safe Routes to School") especially because infrastructure for schools also supports neighborhoods ("Why isn't walking/biking to school programming an option in Suburban Omaha? | Inadequacies in school transportation planning," 2022).  

Safe Routes to School Maps are posted in school buildings in Palo Alto.

Secure bike parking at schools is a way to begin to build wide area bicycle parking networks.

11.  Annual Urban Mobility/Biking Expo during Bike Month.  There are various forms.  Years ago, Arlington County, Virginia used to sponsor a sustainable mobility expo.  The UTA transit agency in Salt Lake City a Bike Expo.  Berlin has an annual Urban Mobility Day ("Berlin’s Urban Mobility Day showcases E-Mobility and new Apps," Urban Transport Magazine), and some colleges have Bike Weeks ("This week is Bike Week at the University of Utah").  NYC sponsors(ed?) a Bike Expo in association with the 5 Boro Ride, which had more than 100 exhibitors and 50,000 attendees in 2014.  Richmond hosted a Bike Expo in association with the UCI Race.

Such an activity should be a key event during National Bike Month, in every major metropolitan area.

Although major colleges should have a Bike Week/Bike Expo event during the first few weeks of the Fall Semester.  And for K-12 schools, International Bike and Walk to School Day is October 6th.

During Bike Month, besides "Bike to Work" Day, some places sponsor a "Bike to Shop" day to neighborhood commercial districts, supermarkets, etc.

12.  A program of "Open Streets" events, like CicLAvia in Los Angeles, "Sunday Streets" when streets are closed to cars should be organized throughout the year, but with at least one event during Bike Month.

Open Streets events and Mobility Expos should be anchor events as part of broader marketing and promotion of sustainable mobility.

-- "Open Streets DC as an event versus an agenda," 2021
-- Open Streets Project
-- Open Streets Toolkit 

13.  Regular community bike rides to stoke participation at various scales including neighborhood, council district, all city, etc.  I'm embarrassed that the list of 18 programs doesn't include community bike rides as a promotion activity, involving local parks, neighborhoods, schools, etc., held on a frequent basis.  Some library systems do bike tours between libraries.

They don't have to be "all-city" initiatives, which are more complicated to organize.  But are a good promotion tool.

Think Critical Mass but not in your face.  Kidical Mass, community rides, rides in state parks like the Antelope Moonlight Ride in Davis County, Utah, etc.

WalkArlington does community walks.  It's the same concept.

14.  Maps and trail signage/maps need to be posted and distributed widely.  A few places have map signage along trails but not many.  

Having area bikeway maps posted in transit stations, libraries, schools, and other public facilities is an easy way to encourage people to think more about biking as transportation instead of as a toy.  The pocket sized Salt Lake City bike map is distributed through local libraries (as are transit schedules).

Bethesda Trolley Trail, Montgomery County, Maryland

Bike route map sign, Austin, Texas

NYC Bike parking shelters are based on bus shelters.
The city bicycle map is displayed in the shelter.

I recently came across a set of trail maps for Pocatello Idaho posted on the wall of a local brew pub.  I've seen such maps very rarely posted in bicycle shops, never elsewhere.

The bicycle station at The Blairs apartments in Silver Spring, Maryland posted the area bikeways map.  


One issue with maps is regularly updating them.  For example, the Silver Spring Maryland bikeways map is 17 years out of date.  That means that the sign at The Blairs isn't particularly useful...

15.  Bike route signage should have a brand, and include contact information (e.g., a QR code, etc.)  I really like San Diego's "Go By Bike" brand.  Years ago, graphic designer Joseph Prichard created a signage concept called "Better Bikeways" which had some great ideas.

This sign has a brand, but not contact information.


Boise is big on street sign toppers denoting neighborhoods, historic districts, etc.
This is for a neighborhood bikeway (Berkeley, California has neighborhood bikeway signs too.)

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83 Comments:

At 2:40 PM, Blogger Richard Layman said...

Here's one I hadn't thought of, appointing a bicycle/pedestrian advocate to transit agency boards.

https://montrealgazette.com/news/local-news/the-former-head-of-velo-quebec-has-been-named-to-the-stm-board

STM, the transit agency in Montreal, is also appointing a paratransit advocate to their board.

 
At 12:50 PM, Blogger Richard Layman said...

7 L.A. cyclists share how to go car-free, ride safely and have fun

https://www.latimes.com/california/story/2022-05-18/7-la-cyclists-share-how-to-go-car-free-ride-safely-and-have-fun

The Guardian: Reform cycle to work scheme so it can be used by lower-paid, Sunak urged.

https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2022/may/23/reform-cycle-to-work-scheme-rishi-sunak-urged

 
At 7:57 PM, Blogger Richard Layman said...

The New Yorker: Bicycles Have Evolved. Have We?.
https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2022/05/30/bicycles-have-evolved-have-we-jody-rosen-two-wheels-good

 
At 6:59 PM, Blogger Richard Layman said...

Electrek.co: Electric bike charging stations installed on the West Coast Electric Highway.'

https://electrek.co/2022/05/26/electric-bike-charging-stations-installed-on-the-west-coast-electric-highway

The West Coast Electric Highway goes from Mexico to Washington along I-5. In Oregon, the State DOT is installing regular plugs at the charging stations, so they can also be used by electric bikes.

 
At 2:42 PM, Blogger Richard Layman said...

https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/2022/05/27/doctors-can-make-bicycling-safer-dc/

"Doctors can make bicycling safer in D.C."

Letter to the editor. My response:

n Ontario and maybe other provinces, over the years the chief medical officer/coroner has done multiple systematic reviews of cycling deaths, and made recommendations.

Eg
https://news.ontario.ca/en/release/21355/ontarios-chief-coroner-releases-cycling-death-review

We don't seem to have those kinds of systematic approaches (this might also be common to the UK, Australia and New Zealand) in the US. Although I seem to recall the auditor or such in Philadelphia doing something like this once.

Technically, the review process for pedestrian and bicycle crashes mandated as part of the NHSTA safety program that states are required to participate in does a form of this, and is supposed to make recommendations for structural changes if needed. The FHWA BIKESAFE and PEDSAFE programs are designed to assist professionals in making those decisions.

My experience in DC is that these reports aren't made public, and I don't know if there is much of a sense of urgency for making physical changes. It's been years since I've looked at the DDOT Dashboard. I never found the traffic safety presentation to be useful or actionable.

Traffic safety units in police "crime data analysis" do track locations of incidents, and multiple incidents. My understanding is that Austin Texas is particularly good at using this data to spark change.

Fwiw, years ago I suggested that there be ward committees on pedestrian and bicycle issues, and that safety data be tracked and addressed at that scale.

Wrt your experience, that's why there's signage along the streetcar route warning cyclists to be aware of the tracks and to not ride on them. (Probably there could be additional signs that say if you do, cross them transversely, but there aren't.)

http://urbanplacesandspaces.blogspot.com/2020/05/dc-cuts-speed-limit-to-20-mph-to-curb.html?m=1

https://www.nhtsa.gov/road-safety/bicycle-safety

 
At 3:00 PM, Blogger Richard Layman said...

https://www.thestar.com/opinion/contributors/2022/05/28/bike-lanes-in-car-loving-berlin-show-change-can-happen-where-theres-political-will-even-in-toronto.html

This “network connectivity” is a key recommendation of a new guide called “Safe Bicycle Lane Design Principles: Responding to Cycling Needs in Cities during COVID and Beyond.” Produced by the World Resources Institute (WRI), an international non-profit, it underscores how Toronto was not unique in its uncharacteristically quick implementation of COVID-infrastructure. The WRI found that “between March and July 2020, 394 cities, states and countries reported interventions that reallocated street space for people to cycle and walk more easily, directly and safely.”

There wasn’t much good about the pandemic, but the WRI points out that the “shift to cycling comes at a perfect time when cities have been making efforts to meet greenhouse gas emissions reduction targets.” Safe car speeds, good signage, and proper management and enforcement are other recommendations if these “pop-up” lanes are to become permanent additions to our cities.

The WRI guide was presented at the International Transportation Forum in Leipzig last week, a global summit on all things mobility I attended. It was supported by other civil society cycling organizations and a few more things stood out to me as I watched the discussion.

Safe Bicycle Lane Design Principles: Responding to Cycling Needs in Cities during COVID and Beyond

https://www.wri.org/research/safe-bicycle-lane-design-principles

WRT "network connectivity" see

the Bicycle Dutch blog entry on the first Delft bicycle plan in 1979, which was focused on eliminating gaps in the network of bike lanes etc.

https://bicycledutch.wordpress.com/2019/02/27/the-1979-delft-cycle-plan/

 
At 10:20 PM, Blogger Richard Layman said...

Denverite: Denver invested in electric bikes, but RTD still bans them on buses and trains.
https://denverite.com/2022/05/27/denver-rtd-e-bikes-rules/

 
At 1:09 PM, Blogger Richard Layman said...

E-bikes in parks and trails. Not exactly a city/transportational cycling issue, but still one to watch.

'An electric bike rode into the backcountry. Now there’s a nationwide turf war' here: https://smartnews.link/a/9cc9 or you can directly access the content using this link here:

https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2022/05/30/ebikes-electric-mountain-bikes-allowed-trails/9831332002/

It starts out with an example of two parks next to each other in Arizona, but in different jurisdictions. One allows e-bikes, the other doesn't.

The one thing that stands out more generally though was this, which is something to think about in terms of serving bicyclists more generally:

The county park’s [McDowell Mountain Regional Park] 40 miles of trails include specialized tracks for competition, plus rest stops with air pumps and spare inner tubes. More than half of the visitors are cyclists. A plaque at one canopy urges, "Of all the paths you take in life, make sure some of them are dirt."

 
At 1:24 PM, Blogger Richard Layman said...

While this article discusses difficulties in accommodating recreational bicycle tourism, it makes me think that because recreational biking (racing, road biking, etc.) is so prevalent here, that they believe it means they're succeeding at transportational cycling as well. OTOH, in Salt Lake City I don't see that many transportational cyclists.

https://www.sltrib.com/sports/2022/05/31/holy-grail-utah-bills/

"‘Holy Grail’: Utah bills itself as bike-friendly, but can the state handle an influx of two-wheeled tourists?
Utah is being built up as the next cycling mecca while also seeing the most deadly month for bikers in state history"

The reality is that motor vehicle operators don't pay attention. And two of the deaths were a freak "accident" although such "freak accidents" happen more often in more places. But "freak accidents" seem to be particularly related to driver impairment.

https://www.bicycling.com/news/a39797952/driver-posts-video-rolling-coal-in-texas/

https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/truck-driver-gets-16-years-crash-killed-five-bicyclists-n1270280

https://www.bicycling.com/news/a21272328/kalamazoo-bike-crash-driver-sentenced/

 
At 1:26 PM, Blogger Richard Layman said...

https://www.ft.com/content/86a3966a-982b-4160-8f6b-3a6d21088bd5

11/2/2021

LA’s potential as a cyclist’s paradise rests on a cultural gear shift

Cars are still king in a city that has otherwise perfect conditions for bike-riding

2. Merely another example of how if places want bicycling to be a significant element in the transportation mix, they'll have to work at it.

 
At 1:28 PM, Blogger Richard Layman said...

Salt Lake has a big critical mass biking event, held weekly. It pisses people off. I understand "oppositional defiance" and why bicyclists get angry vis a vis motor vehicle operators, but this doesn't help build a strong basis for transportational cycling.

https://www.sltrib.com/news/2022/05/10/salt-lake-citys-massive/

"Salt Lake City’s massive weekly 999 bike ride: public nuisance or kind of cool?"

 
At 2:39 PM, Blogger Richard Layman said...

https://www.cloudcitywheelers.com/pedal-for-the-park

Pedal for the Park, fundraiser to create a bike park in Leadville and Lake County, Colorado

2. Wildflower Trailfest, specifically for women.

https://wildfloweroutdoor.com/pages/trailfest-overview

3. Some mountain bike events are termed "festivals." Bike week type events can also be festivals. I seem to recall Montreal doing that for their bike the city event.

 
At 2:40 PM, Blogger Richard Layman said...

Bike Month

1st -- National Ride a Bike Day

4th -- National Bike to School Day

16th-20th -- National Bike to Work Week, 20th -- Bike to Work Day

 
At 2:44 PM, Blogger Richard Layman said...

Small towns lack e-bike infrastructure

https://www.itf-oecd.org/innovations-better-rural-mobility

Innovations for Better Rural Mobility

 
At 3:33 PM, Blogger Richard Layman said...

First bike path in Seattle dates to the 1890s.

https://www.seattletimes.com/life/outdoors/125-years-ago-bicyclists-paved-the-way-for-the-lake-washington-path-seattles-first-long-paved-bike-path

UPS has its antecedents in a bike messenger service founded in Seattle.

Burke-Gilman Trail, 1978, early "rail to trail," and foundation of trails development in Greater Seattle.

 
At 1:13 PM, Blogger Richard Layman said...

Really great article about the group "Mountain Bikers of Santa Cruz" and how they've developed into a major force, with a real focus on partnership and volunteerism, in expanding the trails network, using trails as a way to "add eyes on the street," their success in advocacy etc.

https://www.goodtimes.sc/santa-cruz-mountain-bikers-beat-heroin-hill/

 
At 12:59 PM, Blogger Richard Layman said...

CarScoops: UPS’s Delivery Truck e-Bikes Are Now On The Bike Lanes Of Manhattan.

https://www.carscoops.com/2022/06/upss-delivery-truck-e-bikes-are-now-on-the-bike-lanes-of-manhattan/

 
At 4:48 PM, Blogger Richard Layman said...

"How can Britain become a ‘great cycling nation’ when it’s so scary to ride a bike?"

https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2022/jan/01/britain-cycling-scary-ride-bike

The truth is that cycling infrastructure is still seen as something to be tacked on. It is a token gesture towards a greener and healthier country; often as weak as a painted white bicycle on the asphalt. These drawings offer surprisingly little protection against the SUV roaring past you at 60mph. I have lost track of the amount of times a driver has had a go at me for holding them up, or not pulling over – for simply existing. It is all too usual for someone to pass me so close that I wobble, and all I can do is shout expletives into the wind. Cyclists are forced to share the road space with everyone else, and are then abused, intimidated and even spat at – as I have been three times this year – just for having the temerity to be precariously occupying a tiny amount of that shared space.

How can we become a “great cycling nation”, as Grant Shapps put it in May 2020, when it is so scary to ride a bike? It is fine for me to pontificate about all the benefits of cycling, but without the provisions to ride safely, many will never try it. Cycling isn’t the preferred activity for millions in the Netherlands because it is a flat country: it is because there has been consistent investment in infrastructure there. According to the 2018 book Building the Cycling City, the Dutch government spends £22 per person, a year, on cycling – 15 times the amount spent in England. The Netherlands has 35,000km (21,750 miles) of fully separated cycle lanes – infrastructure that separates the motor vehicle from the bike, and both from pedestrians at the same time.

 
At 2:43 PM, Blogger Richard Layman said...

Now the story is bike shops ordered too much inventory, anticipating that the rise in sales would be permanent.

This story is about bike share and e-bikes both.

https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/covid-fueled-rise-e-bike-see-where-ridership-grew-u-n1272127

"Covid fueled the rise of the e-bike. See where ridership grew in the U.S."

"Farther, Faster and No Sweat: Bike-Sharing and the E-Bike Boom"

https://www.nytimes.com/2021/03/02/travel/ebikes-bike-sharing-us.html

As with all bicycles during the pandemic, electric bikes, or those with battery-powered motors to handle propulsion, boomed. The market research firm NPD Group said sales of e-bikes grew 145 percent in 2020 compared to 2019, outpacing sales of all bikes, which were up 65 percent.

“Bike categories that catered to families and recreational and newer riders grew better than more performance-oriented bikes,” said Dirk Sorenson, a sports industry analyst at NPD, adding that e-bikes “overcome challenges like big hills or going on a longer ride than a typical bike.”

But it’s not just consumer sales that have mainstreamed e-bikes. Municipal bike-sharing systems have increasingly adopted the technology, with some cities, including Charlotte, N.C., going with an all-electric fleet during the pandemic. ...

According to the North American Bikeshare Association, in 2019, the last year for which statistics are available, 28 percent of bike-sharing systems had e-bikes. It found e-bikes were used more intensively than traditional bikes, at a rate 1.7 times higher.

In 2019, when the Madison BCycle fleet in Madison, Wis., went electric, usage more than doubled. Novelty was a driver, along with affordability.


The Bikeshare Planning Guide, 2018

https://www.transformative-mobility.org/assets/publications/The-Bikeshare-Planning-Guide-ITDP-Datei.pdf

 
At 9:24 AM, Blogger Richard Layman said...

https://enewspaper.sandiegouniontribune.com/infinity/article_share.aspx?guid=07788005-2335-4aca-9a89-80af08724a0a

"Now Making Electric Bikes: Car and Motorcycle Companies"

car and motorcycle companies see branding opportunities as cities try to curb traffic.

 
At 8:54 PM, Blogger Richard Layman said...

Can Car-Crazy LA Make Room for 'Bikepooling'?

A UCLA project that uses an app to organize group rides aims to promote car-free transportation for Los Angeles residents.

https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2022-08-23/can-car-crazy-la-make-room-for-bikepooling

But only about 1% of LA commuters get to work by bicycle, according to the US Census Bureau, a figure that reflects the challenges that riders face in a freeway-laden city that’s been optimized for the automobile. Protected bike lanes are rare, and the streets of Southern California are among the most dangerous for two-wheeled travelers. Between 2011 and 2020, 276 cyclists were killed in traffic in Los Angeles County — the most of any US county. In 2018, Bicycling Magazine declared LA the “Worst Bike City in America.”

To encourage more Angelenos to take to the streets by bike — and keep them safe there — a demonstration project set to launch this fall will encourage residents from low-income neighborhoods to bike to work in groups.

“It’s not just an informal group of cyclists — it’s a public transportation system based on bicycles,” said Fabian Wagmister, an associate professor at the University of California Los Angeles School of Theater, Film and Television and the founder and principal investigator of the Civic Bicycle Commuting research project, also known as CiBiC.

 
At 10:23 AM, Blogger Richard Layman said...

Should e-bikes be included in the state’s electric vehicle rebate program?

https://www.bostonglobe.com/2022/08/17/metro/should-e-bikes-be-included-states-electric-vehicle-rebate-program/

 
At 10:21 PM, Blogger Richard Layman said...

Like the bike pooling example from Los Angeles.

Streetsblog Chicago: Chicago, Bike Grid Now's Halsted Bike Bus provides a safe, fun ride downtown.

https://chi.streetsblog.org/2022/08/25/chicago-bike-grid-nows-halsted-bike-bus-provides-a-safe-fun-ride-downtown/

It was a one time event, more about advocacy. But you can see how scheduling this regularly would increase visibility and the number of people shifting to more regular biking as transportation.

 
At 4:07 PM, Blogger Richard Layman said...

Camden County, NJ trail planning

Camden County LINK Trail (cross-county trail)

https://www.camdencounty.com/service/parks/cross-county-trail/

Great presentation:

https://www.camdencounty.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/06/Public-Meeting-2-Presentation-1.pdf

Why was this route selected:

- create high demand
- economic development
- open space
- available ROW
- Conrail Line
- Bridges
- Existing Trails
- Floodplains

Design Guidance

- 8-80, all age groups
- attractive to people concerned about biking in traffic (Portland research)
- connection to county bikeways network

 
At 4:26 PM, Blogger Richard Layman said...

"‘It’s a bit of freedom’: traffic-stopping tech helps Glasgow school’s bike bus on its way"

https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2022/sep/02/shawlands-glasgow-school-bike-bus-traffic-stopping-tech

It’s Friday morning, and the weekly Shawlands bike bus is using a new wireless remote control to pause the peak morning traffic at Shawlands Cross for long enough to allow the 50 or so cyclists to navigate the junction together in safety.

Developed by Glasgow city council’s traffic management service, the “ultra-smart cycle system”, mounted on the lead rider’s bike, uses a military grade encrypted signal that sets a specially timed traffic light cycle in motion, initiating a longer than usual 45-second pause to allow the slower-moving youngsters to turn right at the junction on their way to school.

The smart technology, believed to be the first of its kind in the UK, operates only on Friday mornings between 8.30am and 9am, when the bike bus escorts children from the local area along a prescribed route finishing at Shawlands primary school, in time for the start of the school day.

 
At 4:28 PM, Blogger Richard Layman said...

"‘I will never ride a bike again’: why people are giving up on cycling"

https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2022/sep/01/i-will-never-ride-a-bike-again-why-people-are-giving-up-on-cycling

- stolen bikes
- traffic at peak times
- uncomfortable riding with young child
- lack of infrastructure
- aggressive drivers


https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2022/aug/30/why-do-some-people-hate-cyclists-so-much

"Spat at, abused and run off the road: why do some people hate cyclists so much?"

Letters to the editor in response:

https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2022/sep/02/how-cycling-has-put-us-on-the-road-to-conflict

- Provided with camera evidence of bad or threatening driving towards cyclists, Avon and Somerset police will contact drivers to warn, fine or prosecute them.

 
At 8:51 PM, Blogger Richard Layman said...

WLS-TV: Road closures Chicago today: Thousands turn out for Bike the Drive 2022, DuSable Lake Shore Drive closed until noon.

https://abc7chicago.com/bike-the-drive-2022-road-closures-grant-park-chicago-events/12196274/

The bike route went from Bryn Mawr Avenue south to the Museum of Science and Industry on 57th Street. Bikers had the opportunity to stop and turn around at three different rest stops along the route.

Once people are done riding, they are treated to a party at Butler Field in Grant Park. Even with the rain, it's a win-win for everyone involved, with that ride along the lakefront always putting a smile on everyone's face.

People of all ages gathered together for the ride that shut down DuSable Lake Shore Drive from Edgewater to Hyde Park.

2018 photo
https://www.flickr.com/photos/symbiosis/41666097854

 
At 9:08 PM, Blogger Richard Layman said...

https://www.flickr.com/photos/rllayman/52348730508

Intermountain Health Care Primary Children's Hospital gives free bicycle helmets to children

 
At 1:29 PM, Blogger Richard Layman said...

The issue is providing more secure bike parking facilities, not just taking extraordinary precautions to limit bike theft.

Electrek.co: I just had (another) expensive electric bike stolen. Here’s what would have stopped it.
https://electrek.co/2022/09/20/i-just-had-another-expensive-electric-bike-stolen-heres-what-would-have-stopped-it/

 
At 11:13 AM, Blogger Richard Layman said...

Security planning for trails.

New security measures in place after thieves target hiking trails along Chattahoochee River.

https://www.wsbtv.com/news/local/fulton-county/new-security-measures-place-after-thieves-target-hiking-trails-along-chattahoochee-river/6KD4ABSHVNC2FP2GTUR5APRDAI/

... using new cameras and tag readers to crack down on thefts.

 
At 10:35 PM, Blogger Richard Layman said...

Study touts economic benefits of expanding Midtown Greenway
Citing study, advocates push to extend Midtown Greenway to U campus, St. Paul.

https://www.startribune.com/study-touts-economic-benefits-of-expanding-midtown-greenway-to-st-paul/600089928/

8/21/2021

As the study notes, the Green­way has "led to an explosion of residential and commercial development adjacent to the corridor," illustrating how bicycle trails can draw attention to areas with underused or forgotten real estate.

The study concedes "not all new development can be directly tied to the Green­way," but notes property values within 500 feet of the trail increased by $1.8 billion, adjusted for inflation, over the past two decades. In addition, $30 million in property taxes was collected in the Green­way area last year alone.

At least 2,500 new housing units have been added close to the Green­way, the study states, suggesting its proximity "is viewed as a desirable amenity by both developers and residents." ...

The study's Twin Cities-based authors, Damon Farber Landscape Architects and Visible City, estimate that property values near an expanded Green­way could increase by $2.8 billion, with improvements generating an additional $37 million in annual tax revenue.

Greg Lindsey, a professor at the University of Minnesota's Humphrey School of Public Affairs, said most urban trails are associated with modest increases in home prices in adjacent neighborhoods of 3 to 5%.

But he said some higher-profile trails across the country have led to larger increases in property values and gentrification, the displacement of residents who can no longer afford to live in their own neighborhood.

https://midtowngreenway.org/news-and-developments/extend-the-greenway-impact-report/

 
At 5:33 PM, Blogger Richard Layman said...

While getting a can thrown at you is bad, this kind of event should be held during National Bike Month.

Block Club Chicago: Man Throws Drink At Ald. Daniel La Spata During Campaign Bike Ride: 'It Was Jarring And Classless'.

https://blockclubchicago.org/2022/10/08/man-throws-drink-at-ald-daniel-la-spata-during-campaign-bike-ride-it-was-jarring-and-classless/

 
At 4:01 PM, Blogger Richard Layman said...

https://www.startribune.com/he-helped-shape-twin-cities-bike-culture-plus-became-biking-ambassador-to-black-community/561540882

"Meet the Minnesotan who's the biking 'ambassador' to the black community"

9/27/2019

On most summer Wednesday nights and Saturday mornings, you’ll find Louis Moore at the front of the pack as he rides along the Midtown Greenway and Minneapolis city streets with members of the Major Taylor Bicycling Club.

That’s fitting since Moore, a lifelong cyclist, has spent the past 20 years leading the bike club that encourages black residents to get out and ride and advocating for amenities that have helped make Minneapolis one of the top biking cities in the nation.

This summer, the Bicycle Alliance of Minnesota honored Moore with its Lifetime Service Award, an accolade that some say was long overdue...

The Minneapolis chapter of the bike club is one of about 60 across the United States. Moore started the Minneapolis chapter after Durham and two other black women approached him to help them train for one of the initial Minneapolis-to-Chicago AIDS rides. After the women got back, they wanted to keep riding and suggested they form a bike club for people in the black community.

Moore had just finished reading a book about Marshall Walter “Major” Taylor who, in 1899, became the first black world sprint cycling champion, and he named the group after him.

Naturally, the group started small and, in its early days, raised a few eyebrows. Once on a ride across Minnesota, Moore recalled a group of white riders pulling up beside him and saying, “I thought you guys only played basketball and rap music.”

In another case, a Minneapolis police officer saw club members clad in their distinctive bright yellow, red and green jerseys out for a leisurely ride on Park Avenue. The officer stopped to ask if they were a new type of gang.

“That was his reaction to seeing black people on a bicycle,” Moore said.

 
At 8:41 PM, Blogger Richard Layman said...

https://www.sltrib.com/news/2022/11/21/miller-family-provides/

"Miller family provides Thanksgiving meals, clothes and more to unsheltered Utahns"

More than 3,000 meals served to the homeless. They provided other services, vaccines, clothes, UTA provided transit cards, and the Bicycle Collective did bike repairs.

 
At 9:56 PM, Blogger Richard Layman said...

Story of bicycle advocacy in Vancouver.

https://www.vanbikes.ca/

Vanbikes: Vancouver’s Bicycle People and the Fight for Transportation Change, 1986-2011.

https://vancouversun.com/opinion/columnists/douglas-todd-bicyclists-forged-vancouvers-third-big-advocacy-movement

"Bicyclists forged Vancouver's third big advocacy movement"

8/25/2022

 
At 9:36 PM, Blogger Richard Layman said...

https://www.latimes.com/california/story/2023-01-16/mayhem-on-the-boardwalk-orange-county-cities-tackle-e-bikes-with-varying-results

"On Orange County beaches, proliferation of e-bikes brings battle to the boardwalk"

In October, the Irvine City Council asked staff to look into potential regulations the city can enact for e-bikes. The Police Department has put on bike safety classes, high-visibility enforcement operations and discussions at schools to emphasize wearing helmets and obeying traffic laws, but they’re still studying what more can be done to regulate the bikes, Sgt. Karie Davies said.

“Parents are frequently uninformed about the class of e-bike that they’ve purchased for their kids and the requirements for being on those bikes,” she said. “We’re trying to keep up, but the e-bikes outnumber the officers we have.”

In Newport Beach, the city has tried to address speeding bikes with boardwalk ambassadors who are not police but patrol the boardwalks and piers to educate bicyclists. It’s an effort residents say doesn’t fix the problem.

 
At 6:43 PM, Blogger Richard Layman said...

https://workingbikes.org/

Working Bikes gives donated bicycles new life by redistributing them as tools of empowerment in local and global communities. Since its inception in 1999, the amazing community of Working Bikes volunteers, staff, partners, and supporters have enabled new life for 100,000 bicycles across the globe and tens of thousands here in Chicago. Over one hundred thousand people have been empowered to access resources and opportunities that otherwise could have been out of reach - reducing waste, lessening pollution, and improving health in the process. Working Bikes is located in Chicago's Little Village neighborhood, and is a 501(c)(3) organization.

 
At 10:36 PM, Blogger Richard Layman said...

https://laist.com/news/climate-environment/clearing-the-air-in-wilmington-one-e-bike-at-a-time

"Clearing The Air In Wilmington, One E-Bike At A Time"
2/8/2023

E-bikes aren’t a very common sight in Wilmington, but cars, trucks and oil refineries are. Wilmington is the third largest oil field in the U.S. and is surrounded by three major freeways and the busiest ports in the nation. Wilmington is also home to more than 50,000 people — 89% of whom are Latino, according to 2021 census data.

That inundation of industry has contributed to high rates of cancer, Alzheimer's and asthma in Wilmington and nearby communities such as Harbor City, Carson and Long Beach, according to an investigation from Grist. ...

n 2020, as the pandemic wore on, Serafín started feeling antsy. One day, a friend invited her to join a group of community leaders who call themselves the Safe Street Promotores, or promotores for short. They were meeting on Zoom and Serafín said she’d try it — she had more time to fill than ever.

“Being a promotora more than anything is advocating for the community,” said Serafín.

Their mission is to make streets safer and improve air quality by advocating for things such as bike lanes and speed bumps. They also provide information in both English and Spanish so their community can inform and empower themselves.

When a group of bike enthusiasts and activists called the Los Angeles County Bicycle Coalition, or Bike LA, received a grant in December 2020 from the city of Los Angeles to buy 42 e-bikes for the community of Wilmington, they turned to the promotores for guidance, including Serafín.

While the group received the grant in 2020, the program did not kick off until March last year due to the pandemic.

The goal of the program is to help reduce greenhouse gas emissions by getting more people on e-bikes, instead of in cars. The California Air Resources Board, which regulates air pollution and climate policy in the state, reports that the transportation sector is the largest contributor to greenhouse gasses — and a big chunk of that pollution comes from the tailpipes of the cars and trucks tens of millions of us drive every day. That's the case nationwide as well, according to the Environmental Protection Agency.

=======
Although the cost of the program seems outlandish, $490,000 for 42 bikes and administration.

 
At 10:53 PM, Blogger Richard Layman said...

https://www.latimes.com/california/story/2023-02-15/report-dangers-to-cyclists-los-angeles

"This is when cycling in L.A. becomes deadly"

The majority — 85% — of L.A.'s bicycle fatalities happened on roads that didn’t have dedicated bike lanes. In addition, 77% of deadly collisions involving cyclists took place on multi-lane roads, often with three or more lanes in each direction.

These major multi-lane roads signify to drivers that the road is designed for them rather than for all users, the report stated.

Kaufman said the report illustrated a culture in which preferential treatment is given to vehicles over cyclists, adding that systemic change is needed to make the region safer for cyclists and pedestrians.

Other infrastructure deficiencies, such as a lack of street lighting, are also key to the deaths, with 54% of crashes taking place at night, the report found.

Particularly concerning is that these bicycle fatalities are heavily concentrated in low-income black and Latino neighborhoods, the report found.

“This shows the impact of historic disinvestment and racist policies that lead to a lack of resources resulting in the negative outcomes we experience now,” Kaufman said. “Our goal is to have this data reshape the policies that distribute resources so that these communities get to enjoy their streets safely.”

The BikeLA report also found that bicyclist deaths were concentrated along major corridors that have already been identified as places where a higher proportion of fatal and serious injuries take place.

 
At 2:03 PM, Blogger Richard Layman said...

Concerns about e-bikes on trails

"E-bikes are an environmental dream — except out in nature"
San Jose Mercury News, 3/3/2023

https://www.seattletimes.com/nation-world/e-bikes-are-an-environmental-dream-except-out-in-nature

But e-bikes are heavier and can travel faster than regular bikes, which increases the risk of collision. Cyclists can ride farther and deeper into nature. There are three classes of the machines: Class 1 bikes can go up to 20 mph, Class 2 bikes can go up to 20 mph and have throttle assistance, and Class 3 bikes can go up to 28 mph.

E-bikes are regulated at the state level, not by the federal government.

In general, only certain areas of the California State Park system allow e-bikes. The rules are site-specific. At Half Moon Bay State Park, they’re only permitted on the Coastal Trail. But at Mount Diablo, Wilder Ranch and Henry W. Coe state parks, they can go wherever traditional bikes are allowed.

The National Park Service, as part of a directive by the Trump administration in 2019, allows e-bikes on all trails in its 423 national parks where traditional bikes are allowed. This is being challenged in a lawsuit by the Public Employees for Environmental Responsibility and a coalition of conservation groups who seek to block e-bike access.

Individual park superintendents can decide whether or not to permit e-bikes on trails. At Point Reyes National Seashore, for instance, e-bike usage is limited to Class I bikes — Class 2 and Class 3 e-bikes are prohibited. At Yosemite National Park, no bicycles, including e-bikes, are permitted on off-road surfaces. But Sequoia National Park offers more e-bike riding opportunities.

In Southern California, the cities of San Diego and San Clemente banned them from the beaches, beach trails and boardwalks. In Los Angeles County, Manhattan Beach and Hermosa Beach also have restricted their use.

Bureau of Land Management properties, in general, are welcoming. The general rule is that any BLM trail open for motorized usage is also open to e-bikes. But some lands also allow e-bikes on trails designed for bicycles, if authorized by the local manager.

 
At 2:06 PM, Blogger Richard Layman said...

On beautiful country trails, fights over e-bikes can get ugly

https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/2023/03/02/backcountry-trails-heavy-traffic-e-bike/

Given the surge, the Bureau of Land Management and U.S. Forest Service have scrambled to provide guidance regarding access. The BLM released a directive in 2020; the USFS released its guidance last year. Both allow for some local control and decision-making. In other words, the disputes will continue, with shifting rules, subject to geography and e-bike type.

https://www.blm.gov/programs/recreation/e-bikes

https://www.fs.usda.gov/visit/e-bikes

 
At 4:22 PM, Blogger Richard Layman said...

Penuel Bicycles, a black owned bike shop in Los Angeles. I have mentioned financial support to bike shops in low income areas, also incorporating bike shops into community centers. It's an equity thing, but also TDM promotion.

https://www.sierraclub.org/sierra/2020-6-november-december/faces-clean-energy/la-bike-shop-owner-sees-boom-pandemic


In L.A., a Bike Shop Owner Sees a Boom in the Pandemic
George Turner Jr. of Penuel Bicycles talks about his surprise success

When I was growing up here in Inglewood, California, I was able to work out my frustrations by heading out on my bike and riding for as long as I could. As long as I got home before sundown, it was no problem, and it kept me out of trouble. When I opened Penuel Bicycles 14 years ago, my dream was to share with my community all that cycling has done for me.

The funny part is that my community didn't want it. I'd noticed that when I went out on a ride, I was always one of the only Black people, but I hadn't put two and two together and understood that my neighborhood was probably not the best place to have a bike shop.

I was getting old—I'm 47. I held on to the dream that if I could save one person through cycling, it would all be worth it. But at some point you also need money.


 
At 4:49 PM, Blogger Richard Layman said...

https://www.post-gazette.com/life/outdoors/2023/05/21/trails-bicycle-bike-pittsburgh-pennsylvania-allegheny-county-parks-foundation/stories/202305210094

What do you want from a biking-hiking trail? Survey seeks input on a trail link connecting Allegheny County parks

The survey focuses on amenities. Interestingly they make the point that the trail should vary according to land use context, eg urban versus rural.

"What would you want on the trail? Restrooms at trailheads? Information about community coffee shops and microbreweries up ahead?” asked Ms. Ulrich. “What we’re looking for is how people will access the trail. What would they want to see on it, and how would they use the trail.”

Planners would need to know which parts of the trail would be primarily used for physical activity, long distance biking, commuting to and from work or school, traveling between the parks or just as a place to gather and chat, she said. Those considerations would dictate the route but also influence vehicle parking availability, bike stations, restrooms and access to drinking water as well as the need for benches, chairs, tables and pavilions.

The proposed route, still very tentative and posted on the website, includes a mixture of woodlands, fields and urban streets. Most of the trail would follow existing parts of former Rails to Trails projects, so inclines would be few and surfaces would include crushed stone and natural earth.

The county parks bookending the trail have very different access and use patterns that would have to be considered. Cutting an off-road trail through the woods requires workers, shovels and saws. Taking an on-road route through suburban neighborhoods and city streets requires a different kind of planning.

Ms. Ulrich said when the trail follows an urban route the surface would be asphalt and cement, well maintained or not. Trail planners would be very conscious of speed limits, berm width, signage and roadway safety lines. Trail users would have to contend with pedestrian crosswalks, traffic light timing, roadside vehicle parking and the outdoor needs of retail shops and restaurants.

 
At 4:50 PM, Blogger Richard Layman said...

https://www.post-gazette.com/life/outdoors/2021/10/06/great-allegheny-passage-GAP-trail-pittsburgh-bicycle-riding-10-year-anniversary-2021/stories/202109280101

Bike ride and new trail guide celebrate Great Allegheny Passage's 10th anniversary

 
At 4:53 PM, Blogger Richard Layman said...

https://www.post-gazette.com/life/goodness/2021/06/11/Little-Bellas-Pittsburgh-White-Oak-girls-mountain-biking-bike-goodness/stories/202106130006

Pittsburgh-area girls climb mountains with Little Bellas

 
At 9:51 AM, Blogger Richard Layman said...

https://archive.is/3neFS

https://www.wsj.com/articles/how-to-make-your-bike-really-hard-to-steal-2ee23ebc

How to Make Your Bike Really Hard to Steal
Theft-prevention tech for bikes and e-bikes is cheap. Here are the best tools.

Bike theft is a profitable crime. The arrival of e-bikes has made it even more lucrative.
Ten years ago, bike theft was a $500 million problem. Today, it’s over $1 billion, according to bike registry Project 529. The group says nearly two million bikes are stolen in North America each year.
I’ve felt that heartbreak. I once watched a thief ride off on my bike. I now equip myself for action in three phases:
• Secure the bike with strong U-locks
• Scare would-be thieves with an alarm if they get close
• Search with a location tracker if the bike gets stolen

 
At 1:45 PM, Blogger Richard Layman said...

NORTH STAR CYCLING, Seattle

We get melanated people on bicycles in order to build a beloved community and be the radical, justice-focused conscience of cycling.

https://www.northstarcycling.org/

 
At 6:43 PM, Blogger Richard Layman said...

Bike thieves are changing tactics


https://www.kare11.com/article/news/local/breaking-the-news/bike-thieves-changing-tactics/89-d54b1627-aa6c-4b79-b881-e4e437631dde

They put super glue in the lock and come back later to cut it off.

7/24/2023

======
How to remove super glue from metal

Clean the surface. Use a damp cloth.

Apply acetone. Use a cotton ball soaked in pure acetone or nail varnish remover, and press it against the glue. Once it's dissolved, it should be easy to wipe away.

Alternatively, try scraping away the glue. Use a putty knife or razor blade.

https://www.loctite-consumer.co.uk/en/how-to-guide/gluing-guide/remove-glue.html

 
At 9:53 PM, Blogger Richard Layman said...

Newcastle cycle barriers create no-go area for disabled man

https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-tyne-66818217

9/17/23

 
At 11:15 PM, Blogger Richard Layman said...

https://www.ocregister.com/2024/01/03/e-bike-lady-educates-new-riders-before-hitting-streets-on-electric-bikes/

‘E-bike lady’ educates new riders before hitting streets on electric bikes

Jennifer Robbins holds up a diagram to a new owner of an electric bike, a 13-year-old who just got a Christmas gift that can reach speeds upward of 25 mph.

Robbins explained the basics most driving adults know, but many kids do not: What dotted lines on the roads mean, who has the right of way, what direction to navigate roads on – information that could mean life or death for a youngster gearing up to hit the roadways.

Robbins, in the past two years, has earned the moniker “the e-bike lady” for her persistence in getting kids educated before sharing the streets with vehicles – a valuable service in recent years as a surge in electric bikes has been followed by an increase in hospital visits.

And she does it all for free for anyone who has an hour or so to show up at the parking lot of Marco Forster Middle School in San Juan Capistrano.

 
At 2:56 PM, Anonymous Richard Layman said...

https://www.flickr.com/photos/rllayman/53447330718

Transport for London map of the London transit system including London Overground, with a promotional ad at the bottom promoting Santander bicycle sharing

 
At 9:27 AM, Blogger Richard Layman said...

Link-Up Bike Ministry donates repaired bikes to Cleveland residents in need of transportation

https://thelandcle.org/stories/link-up-bike-ministry-donates-repaired-bikes-to-cleveland-residents-in-need-of-transportation/

1/30/24

“The principle behind Link-Up is for me to fix up donated bikes and get them in the hands and feet of people,” Matt Whisenhunt told The Land. Whisenhunt is director and pastor at Harbor and Bridge Community Center and church at W. 44th St. and Bridge Ave. in Ohio City and heads up the bike-based nonprofit, which has fixed and donated over 450 pre-owned bicycles since it got rolling in 2021.

“But cycling is way bigger than that,” he continued. “It’s the middle transportation option. Bicycles really bridge the gap for people to help get around (our) car-dominated society a little quicker.”

Midway through his volunteer shift, Whisenhunt responded to a knock on the foot door to find a mother and two children, ages 8 and 10, both wide-eyed at the sight of 200 bike frames. They had taken an RTA bus from their nearby home after hearing about Link-Up and came seeking bikes.

Link-Up’s mission is helping Clevelanders, primarily on the west side, access transportation that’s cheaper than owning and maintaining a car. All the bikes are repaired and distributed for free. Neighbors in need of a bike are encouraged to reach out by filling out a form with their size and what kind of bike they’re looking for. Volunteers, mostly local retirees and church members, then comb through stacks of damaged, donated bikes to either find a frame worth fixing or cannibalize one from scattered parts.

... Hints said Link-Up is part of a network of bike repair nonprofits tied to churches in cities including Atlanta, Houston and Las Vegas. They all use similar setups, getting donated bikes, fixing them up for free, and distributing them to community members.

 
At 9:34 AM, Blogger Richard Layman said...

https://www.bikewalkmississippi.org/

Really great website. Includes links to sub-state groups. Has "resources and toolkits" tab including SRTS, City Leaders, Advocacy.

 
At 4:41 PM, Blogger Richard Layman said...

From Reddit. The amounts are pretty minimal.

Colorado bike commuters - it's time to get out the good stationary

https://leg.colorado.gov/bills/sb24-036

...and write to your representatives to support senate bill SB24-036.

Basically, it creates a fund specifically to improve infrastructure for vulnerable road users (pedestrians and cyclists) in the twelve most populous Colorado counties by putting a vulnerable road user protection fee at the time of registration on non-commercial vehicles based on weight and configuration - i.e. the larger and more dangerous the vehicle, the larger the fee (the fee schedule for vehicle type & weight starts on page 14 of the text of the bill for those who are interested).

It is estimated to generate about 20 million dollars a year specifically for pedestrian and cyclist infrastructure improvements.

 
At 7:02 AM, Blogger Richard Layman said...

WRT security planning and action.

https://slcpd.com/2024/01/31/slcpd-officers-continue-enforcement-efforts-to-reduce-drug-activity-along-jordan-river-trail

Officers have continued several drug interdiction efforts to help reduce drug and other criminal activity occurring along the trail. Additionally, officers are working with community members and city, regional, and state officials to help ensure the trail remains safe and accessible.

In addition to conducting foot patrols, officers have also utilized all-terrain vehicles to access the trail and to provide a regular presence.

 
At 12:15 PM, Blogger Richard Layman said...

https://www.thestar.com/business/opinion/should-the-canadian-government-help-you-pay-for-a-new-bike-the-u-k-government/article_e4bc54b8-bbaa-11ee-845d-c72d72393b94.html

2/3/24

 
At 5:17 PM, Blogger Richard Layman said...

https://arstechnica.com/cars/2024/01/study-finds-that-once-people-use-cargo-bikes-they-like-their-cars-much-less/

The study, from Transportation Research Part F: Traffic Psychology and Behaviour, surveyed people using a cargo bike share (CBS) system from 58 different programs and initiatives in Germany, controlling a collective 751 cargo bikes. Out of the 2,386 active CBS users surveyed, 45.8 percent had one car in their home, and 54.2 percent lived without a car. As you might notice, this mix of cargo bike shares and car ownership is not representative of the US, but using a cargo bike, even one they didn't technically own, still impacted ownership decisions in even one-car households.

A bit more than 18 percent of survey respondents said they either got rid of their car or decided against buying a car, and 80 percent of those people said they did so for environmental reasons. Nearly 49 percent said they ditched a car for financial reasons, 42 percent because they had "no interest in driving a car," and about 10 percent due to the safety risks of driving a car (with the survey allowing for multiple reasons).

 
At 1:40 PM, Blogger Richard Layman said...

https://www.reuters.com/sustainability/bike-friendly-paris-votes-raising-parking-fees-suvs-2024-02-03/

Bike-friendly Paris votes to triple parking fees for SUVs

Parisians voted in a referendum on Sunday in favour of subjecting large SUVs to a threefold increase in parking charges as the French capital presses on with long-term plans to become a fully bikeable city.

Some 54.5% of Parisians voted in favour of the measure, while 45.5% rejected it. Only 5.7% of voters turned out in the consultation decided by the municipality, according to official results.

The referendum, less than a year after city residents voted to ban e-scooters, aims to triple parking fees for cars of 1.6 tonnes and more to 18 euros ($19) an hour in order to discourage "bulky, polluting" cars, City Hall said.

The new tariff would also apply to electric cars of 2 tonnes and more.

 
At 11:34 PM, Blogger Richard Layman said...

Smithtown, nonprofit partner to restore unwanted bikes for those who can't afford a new one

https://www.newsday.com/long-island/suffolk/smithtown-nonprofit-bicycles-recycle-euy6u73w

Waste facility diverts tossed bikes to the Long Island Bicycle Co-op

 
At 11:46 PM, Blogger Richard Layman said...

I rode 23 miles to work on an e-bike and saw the transportation promised land

https://www.latimes.com/opinion/story/2023-12-02/electric-bikes-commuters-bike-lanes-los-angeles

The commute home lasted 80 minutes. That’s 46 rush-hour miles in less than three hours — typically what it takes in a car, and less than the same journey on Metro rail.

At long last, I have seen the transportation promised land: a future where electric bikes can be the answer for commuters in L.A. who want a safe, environmentally sound alternative to driving a car.

I say “can” because the bike infrastructure isn’t there yet. Having logged thousands of miles across the region on two wheels since the mid-2000s, I’ve developed a keen sense of self-protection and street awareness. But bike commuting in L.A. is still too dangerous for people new to cycling.

 
At 4:07 PM, Blogger Richard Layman said...

https://www.startribune.com/minnesota-e-bike-tax-rebate-bike-shops/600347084/

Waiting for more info, Minnesota bike shop owner creates e-bike rebate calculator
Bike shop owners have been the front lines for consumer questions about the state's new e-bike rebate voucher program.

2/29/24

Sheehan has produced an online e-bike tax rebate calculator. A user can enter their 2023 adjusted gross income and filing status to learn what they qualify for and the savings available on the purchase of some of his Velotric and Gazelle models.

He said many customers think they are getting $1,500 — the maximum rebate — no matter what, when a rebate is contingent on income and availability.

 
At 12:30 AM, Blogger Richard Layman said...

What E-Bike Rebates Can (and Can’t) Do

https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2024-02-28/how-cities-can-get-the-most-of-e-bike-rebate-programs

A new academic study provides some intriguing answers. The researchers’ conclusions: To maximize e-bike adoption, policymakers should make the rebates easy to redeem but not overly generous, and they should target them toward residents with low (but not the lowest) incomes. And one other thing: Don’t overstate e-bikes’ environmental upside. Reducing emissions is just one of myriad ways that e-bikes benefit communities — and it’s probably not the most important one.

One of their most striking findings concerns the power of immediate gratification: Point-of-purchase rebates were a whopping 30% more effective at driving e-bike sales than a tax credit. “Lower-income people have less money to put up front,” said MacArthur, one of the coauthors. “Waiting to get a rebate — and they may not even have a tax liability — is a barrier to entry relative to a point-of-purchase rebate.”

According to the study, the rebate level that maximizes new e-bike purchases depends on a jurisdiction’s population and its program budget, but it generally lies between $200 and $800 per purchase. That upper bound is well below the maximum currently available in many places, including Austin and Utah. MacArthur noted that states and cities have frequently run out of e-bike vouchers in a matter of days or even minutes: “When you have rebates going faster than Taylor Swift tickets, maybe your dollar amount is set a little high.”

https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S1361920924000713?via%3Dihub

Consumer purchase response to e-bike incentives: Results from a nationwide stated preference study

 
At 7:32 AM, Blogger Richard Layman said...

https://mymodernmet.com/young-deok-seo-bicycle-chain-sculptures

Artist Gives Old Bicycle Chains New Life By Using Them In Imaginative Human Sculptures

 
At 3:27 PM, Blogger Richard Layman said...

https://citibikenyc.com/community-programs/ride-leader-academy

How it Works
We will be accepting 6 Ride Leaders from Brooklyn, Queens, Manhattan & the Bronx into this year’s program.
Ride leaders will receive:

3-week training from Courtney Williams, aka “The Brown Bike Girl”
Seed money to start a bike club in your neighborhood
Support to become a League Certified Instructor
1 Year Membership to League of American Bicyclists
Stipend of $1,000 for full participation in the program

https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSdHSjikqONeB3t1AyGAelmYJcDl0KWHOxiz0nd-SyISBujEKg/viewform

Which statement best describes your level of comfort with cycling on city streets?
*
I ride a bike in car traffic with confidence.
I ride a bike with car traffic, but sometimes feel nervous / unsure.
I prefer to ride a bike in car-free spaces, and only ride with cars when necessary.
I have never ridden a bike in car traffic.
Which statement best describes your current level of comfort with cycling in a group?
*
I have never cycled with a group.
I enjoy riding with small groups and personal friends.
I enjoy large bike rides (including large formal tours or the large social clubs)
I do not enjoy cycling with other people.

 
At 4:02 PM, Blogger Richard Layman said...

Why Bicycle Deaths in New York City Are at a 23-Year High

https://www.nytimes.com/2024/03/05/nyregion/nyc-cyclist-deaths-ebike.html

Last year was the deadliest year for cyclists in New York City since 1999, according to new data from the city’s Department of Transportation. Most of the 30 cyclists who died in 2023 were riding electric bikes, which have proliferated on city streets in recent years. A total of 23 people died riding e-bikes, which is more than double the previous record for e-bike fatalities.

Serious injuries among cyclists went up last year as well, according to preliminary data compiled by the Department of Transportation. A total of 395 cyclists were severely injured, including 79 who were riding e-bikes. That’s about 50 more serious injuries than the previous year.

Despite this uptick, the rate of cyclist fatalities and serious injuries as a share of all bike trips has been trending downward for many years, suggesting that riding a bicycle in New York City has become safer over the long term. As of 2022, the rate of deaths and severe injuries was about 16 per 10 million bike rides, according to the preliminary data — down from about 34 per 10 million rides a decade earlier.

Historically, most people who have died riding bicycles in New York City were killed in collisions with cars and trucks on streets that did not have bike lanes, and that was the case last year as well. According to a New York Times analysis of preliminary police reports about the 30 deaths, most of the cyclists who died in 2023 collided with automobiles in areas without bike infrastructure, regardless of the type of bike they were riding.

There was one factor that contributed to last year’s spike in e-bike deaths that may suggest a shifting dynamic on the road: nearly a third of the e-bike riders who died crashed or fell without any apparent interference from a vehicle or pedestrian.

 
At 8:15 PM, Blogger Richard Layman said...

The actual 'one weird trick' for warmer winter cycling and e-biking

https://electrek.co/2024/03/03/non-bike-bike-gear-review-a-legit-one-weird-trick-to-warmer-winter-cycling/

Thanks to electric bikes, more people than ever before are discovering the joys of car-free living. Many others find that they can at least leave their car in the garage more often, using an e-bike instead for many of their around-the-town trips and errands. But when the weather is cold, e-bikes can sometimes feel less enticing. For anyone who has dreaded the rude awakening of cold air in your face, I think I might have found a trick that can help: swapping a typical bike helmet for an insulated ski helmet.

 
At 10:26 AM, Blogger Richard Layman said...

A mountain bike boom brought growing pains. But these mining towns now embrace their new identity

https://www.startribune.com/cuyuna-recreation-area-crosby-ironton-mountain-biking-iron-range-mining-town/600313361/

https://archive.is/Yirgy

the twin mining towns of Crosby and Ironton have worked through their initial growing pains. Now they have settled into a new reality: mining isn't coming back, as many had hoped. But tourism has transformed the community and provided an economic engine the area has lacked for a generation or more. And outsiders once eyed with suspicion have become part of the fabric of the area.

"It was tough to see the benefit of the trails at first," Edgar Morales said. "We got some resistance. We told people what we were doing, that we're investing in town."
While the Moraleses haven't moved here full-time, they keep a room for themselves at the hotel. But after years of sourcing locally for hotel renovations, frequenting restaurants and being seen around town, they feel as accepted here as mountain-bike culture has become.

What it took to turn these towns into what they are today — a Midwestern mountain-biking mecca with a thriving business climate — was Barb Grove's vision of the abandoned mines as the area's biggest asset. Instead of a moonscape, Grove, director of Cuyuna Range Economic Development in the 1980s and 1990s, saw 5,000 mine-rutted, undevelopable, potentially beautiful acres abutting town. New-growth aspens and pines re-wilded the old mines, turning red into green. Locals held clean-up parties and built a modest six-mile paved bike trail. Mountain bikers saw the flowing landscape as a blank canvas for their growing sport.

efore the first mountain-bike trails opened in 2011, Cuyuna Country State Recreation Area had a bit more than 100,000 visitors annually. That number spiked to more than 180,000 by 2012, and stayed in that range until COVID forced people to explore Minnesota's outdoors. In 2020, Cuyuna boomed to nearly half a million visitors, and much of that COVID-era popularity has stuck; nearly 350,000 people visited Cuyuna in 2022.
Today, 70 miles of interconnected one-way trails weave through the towns as seamlessly as any mountain-biking trail network in America. They capitalize on other amenities, too: lakes as deep as 500 feet stocked with trout, clear waters perfect for scuba training, fat-tire bikes and snowshoeing in winter, canoeing the chain of lakes some liken to a mini-Boundary Waters, with park managers aiming to complete a half-dozen portages by the end of next year. All a two-hour drive from the Twin Cities — and within cell-phone range.
People like Lundquist saw opportunities where there hadn't been opportunities before. He opened an Ironton bike shop, Cykel, just as COVID descended. Now his business employs a dozen people, selling name brands and building 100 custom-made mountain bikes a year. His family also opened a coffee shop, restaurant and cocktail bar down the street. His two 20-something daughters relocated here.

 
At 3:37 AM, Blogger Richard Layman said...

https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2023-05-25/women-bikers-need-more-bike-lanes-and-culture-change

US Cities Are Failing Their Female Cyclists

But in today’s US cities, men cyclists vastly outnumber women. To fix the biking gender gap, we not only need better bike lane infrastructure but also to cultivate a new, aspirational image of the 21st century woman cyclist. On an e-bike, she carries her kids to school and rides on to work — and it’s cool, not an anomaly, that she’s doing it.

When it comes to biking, women are known as an “indicator species,” meaning the share of women cyclists is an indicator of whether a city is bike-friendly. In Copenhagen, where I spent my early twenties, women cyclists outnumber male cyclists, helping to popularize the term “cycle chic” to describe the local fashion aesthetic. I biked to work each morning in my suit and heels, and would pass mothers ferrying their toddlers to preschool in front-loaded cargo bikes. “The right to wind in your hair” became a calling card for an initiative to promote senior cycling.

By contrast, in US cities, male cyclists typically outnumber women cyclists two-to-one. That figure is even worse in my hometown, New York City: While biking to work has doubled in popularity over the last 10 years, the share of male-to-female commuters is stuck at a 3:1 ratio. These numbers are particularly striking given the affection many American women have for indoor cycling (women outnumber men on indoor bike trainers like Peloton.)

Why are US cities failing their female cyclists? The answer is safety and social norms. After moving back to New York, I remember my first harrowing attempt to bike from Williamsburg to the Financial District, where I was working. I was berated by a driver who had parked in a bike lane, and had multiple near-death-by-car-door experiences. I was one of only a few women on the road as I dodged between cars and speeding men. When I finally arrived, I chained up my bike next to the Charging Bull, only to find it stolen by the evening.

Of course, safety concerns impact all genders, but research has found that women are more risk-averse in their decision of whether to bike. They have a right to be worried, according to Laura Fox, the former general manager of Citi Bike, the nation’s largest bike share program: One study showed that drivers are three times more likely to encroach on a female cyclist’s space than a male’s.

ces.

 
At 3:37 AM, Blogger Richard Layman said...

The installation of new infrastructure should have a catalytic safety effect: Women tend to be slower bikers, and the more women bike, the more other diverse groups feel comfortable taking to the road. An effective and inclusive bike program has more clunky frames than 21-gear models, more riders donning work clothing than spandex.

Still, infrastructure alone won’t solve biking’s gender gap. Research has found that women tend to make more trips for household support activities than men — and that many women feel it is impossible to transport children or groceries by bike. (Cities like Portland have tried to address the issue by offering things like a “Shopping by Bike class.”) Women also tend to harbor concerns about how biking to work might impact workplace appearance.

Basically, to change urban female cycling habits, we also need a campaign to convince American women that they can safely carry their kids, groceries and laptops by bike — and that they will still look put together at the end of their trip.

The e-bike revolution could help in that process. The US e-bike market blossomed by 240% between 2020 and 2021, and is expected to keep growing as states pass e-bike tax rebates, similar to the federal rebate offered for electric vehicles. E-bikes eliminate much of the physical stress associated with biking, making it possible to carry cargo like children, and travel long distances without getting drenched in sweat. Even the Amish have caught on, with some choosing solar-powered e-bikes instead of horse-drawn-buggies for shopping trips.

E-bike companies have started to make sexy ads rivaling those in the car industry, but they still largely focus on selling to men, who today comprise the majority of e-bike ridership. Instead of a chiseled man in a suit weaving through traffic, I want to see a woman in a shift dress, riding calmly and carefully, removing her helmet to reveal alluring, tousled hair, as she steps into the store or the office. More “road models” like Beyoncé, who made headlines in 2013 when she commuted by bike to the Barclays Center for one of her performan

 
At 6:38 AM, Blogger Richard Layman said...

https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2024/mar/14/sweaty-after-a-bike-ride-hair-wrecked-by-the-rain-you-need-one-of-my-adult-changing-stations

Sweaty after a bike ride? Hair wrecked by the rain? You need one of my adult changing stations

What all major cities need – other than better social housing, affordable childcare, joined-up public transport and a compulsory living wage – is public changing stations.

As a cyclist – and someone who often commutes for meetings and events from far away – I am almost always caught having to wriggle out of a sweaty T-shirt and into a suit while crouched under the hand dryer of a burger chain’s toilet.

How much more civilised would it be to have a space – ideally free – in which you could change your clothes, dry your hands, put on your makeup, brush your hair or just swap bras without having to sneak into a pub toilet or beg a shop assistant to use their curtained-off area? Parents who have just been vomited on, freelancers who want to put on a pair of tights, anyone who has ever turned up to an event with chain-grease-stained trousers, rainwater hair or bird mess on their jumper – all would benefit.

These pods could be staffed, of course, and the staffers’ wages could be paid by some of the billionaire landowners carving up our cities. We could put in a couple of baby-changing tables and a bin, too.

 
At 3:05 PM, Blogger Richard Layman said...

The Philadelphia International Cycling Classic made Philly history. One man is on a mission to bring it back.
Supporters say the race would be a boost for the local economy and bring pride to the city.

https://www.inquirer.com/life/philadelphia-international-cycling-classic-manayunk-wall-bike-race-20240315.html

But 2016 was the final year. Between rising costs and lack of sponsorship, the 2017 race was canceled. There was never another.

Rogers’ has been a grassroots effort, and a tireless one at that. He has reached out to businesspeople large and small, community leaders, elected officials, regular folks. He’s found support for his project, but so far hasn’t secured a financial backer like the big banks or Parx Casino that had sponsored the race before.

His hope is to find a title sponsor that would contribute $750,000 to $1 million to relaunch the race and attract other sponsors. Ultimately, he figures it would cost about $2 million to run the Classic today. Much of that, he said, would be paying for the city services, but it would also include prize money and accommodations for international cyclists.

Rogers’ goal is to bring the race back by sometime in 2025 — and keep it going.

Econsult Solutions, a Philadelphia economic consultant, did a pro bono financial impact study on reviving the race. Firm president Peter Angelides said their findings indicate positive returns for the city and the region.

“The bike race supports nearly $14 million of economic activity in the City of Philadelphia, with an additional $3 million elsewhere in the Commonwealth, for a total of $17 million in Pennsylvania,” Angelides said.

Those estimates include spending by organizers, visitors, spectators, and participants as they prepare for the race, travel into the city, and spend while they are here, he said.

“The race also generates goodwill and additional tourist interest in Philadelphia,” he said, positive impacts not included in the study’s numbers.

 
At 9:39 PM, Blogger Richard Layman said...

Bicyclist does pruning along his route.

https://www.flickr.com/photos/rllayman/53590199286

 
At 12:58 AM, Blogger Richard Layman said...

Park City and Basin Recreation are running a joint survey to get resident and visitor feedback about e-bike rules on local trails

https://www.kpcw.org/park-city/2024-03-14/park-city-area-residents-asked-for-input-on-e-bike-rules

When it comes to e-bikes, the rules differ. Park City allows e-bikes on singletrack trails for people over 65 or those with a mobility disability. Basin Rec only allows e-bikes on paved paths.

 
At 12:39 AM, Blogger Richard Layman said...

Survey reveals depth of abuse women experience while biking

https://bikeportland.org/2024/03/20/survey-reveals-depth-of-abuse-women-experience-while-biking-384965

A survey conducted in February by nonprofit BikeLoud PDX asked women to describe the worst or most common incident of abuse they’ve experienced while cycling. A shocking 311 out of the 329 women and non-binary people who answered that question reported some level of traumatic incident. The woman who led the survey project, Cathy Tuttle, analyzed the results and found that 229 respondents experienced a Level 3 Trauma (swearing, honking, catcalling, rolling coal, etc), 53 experienced a Level 2 Trauma (deliberate close pass, tailgating, menacing, etc), and 29 experienced a Level 1 Trauma (hit and run, throwing projectiles, aggressive stalking, etc) — the most severe category of abuse.

The vast majority of these aggressive behaviors came from people driving cars. Respondents said 88% of the aggressors were in cars, 7% were identified as homeless people and 5% were other bike riders.

https://bikeportland.org/2024/02/22/survey-aims-to-understand-barriers-to-cycling-faced-by-women-384126

 
At 10:24 PM, Blogger Richard Layman said...

https://www.dutchnews.nl/2023/09/rise-of-e-bikes-threatens-amsterdams-status-as-cycling-paradise/

faster speeds, bigger vehicles (cargo bikes) threatens people on traditional bikes.

 
At 12:21 AM, Blogger Richard Layman said...

Outside this Philly church Sunday, activists partied to stop cars from parking in bike lanes

https://www.inquirer.com/transportation/philly-bike-protest-church-parking-20240414.html

Safety advocacy group Philly Bike Action brought bikes and cones to block cars from parking in bike lanes outside Tenth Presbyterian Church in Rittenhouse Square.

 
At 1:24 PM, Blogger Richard Layman said...

A plug for the school bike bus. Makes me realize in my posts on this subject (SRTS) that I should advocate for regular walking and bike to school bus programming. Montclair NJ has multiple routes.

https://www.bostonglobe.com/2024/04/27/opinion/bike-bus-school-transportation-exercise/

A cool way to get kids to school — the bike bus


percent of American school-age children walked or biked to school in the late 1960s. In
2009, only 13 percent did.

In 2022, a group of Montclair parents realized if they wanted their kids to bike to school the way they did when they were children they were going to have to initiate change. They
launched a local bike bus, modeling it after similar bike buses around the world, including
one in Barcelona. They were also influenced by Sam Balto, a Portland, Ore., gym teacher
who leads one of the largest bike buses in the country and has become a de facto spokesperson for the movement.

It’s a straightforward concept — schoolchildren and their parents meet up at a central spot and the bike bus picks up riders along the route to school.

... Adults have key roles: The captain leads the ride and keeps track of time, the caboose
shepherds any latecomers or slower riders, and the corker helps move the group through
intersections. One frequent captain is a grandfather who is an avid cyclist and has two
grandchildren on the bike bus route.

Many of the Montclair routes have a core group of kids. There’s always some attrition during
winter but come May we’re expecting to see some new faces.

On a sunny Friday we might have as many as 300 riders. The bike bus has become so popular at my son’s elementary school that it needed an extra rack to accommodate the
bikes. Kids arrive at school smiling and feeling energized. The bike bus is a great way for kids and parents to exercise together and build confidence. In fact it’s so popular the group is sponsoring adult-only bike rides around town.

======
which reminds me, better no bus needed than an electric bus

Battleground state Pennsylvania gets first electric school buses funded by Biden admin

https://thehill.com/homenews/education/4620801-pennsylvania-electric-school-buses-infrastructure-law

 
At 1:13 PM, Blogger Richard Layman said...

How to teach bike safety to kids: What Seattle is doing as traffic deaths rise
12/7/24

https://www.seattletimes.com/seale-news/transportation/how-to-teach-bike-safety-to-kids-what-seattle-is-doing-as-traffic-deaths-rise/

Traffic gardens (bike safety courses), using automated traffic ticket revenue for sustainable mobility improvements.

 
At 3:59 PM, Blogger Richard Layman said...

https://www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news/transportation/wa-back-on-top-of-national-ranking-of-best-bike-states

WA back on top of national ranking of best bike states

In 2022, state lawmakers passed nearly $17 billion in new transportation spending over 16 years. While much of the package was dedicated to highways, it included more than $1.2 billion for “active transportation,” including both bike and pedestrian projects.

That spending — funded by the Climate Commitment Act — includes $290 million to improve routes to school for walkers and bikers, $216 million for school-based bike education programs, $278 million for bike and pedestrian grant programs, and about $300 million for specific projects.

Clarke pointed to the bike education aspect as particularly important for Washington’s win.

“They have a real policy emphasis on bike education. (The League is) trying to get all states to incorporate bike education at every level,” she said. “We’re doing that in spades.”

... Chamberlain pointed to the statewide Complete Streets policy, which was passed in the 2022 legislative session and requires the state’s engineers to consider all people who use the roads — including pedestrians, bicyclists and those who take public transportation — when fixing and building roads.

Still other notable state laws that helped Washington’s first place finish are the safe passing law, which requires drivers to give bicyclists 3 feet of space when passing, or to move to another lane; the safety stop, which lets bicyclists treat stop signs as yield signs when no one else is at the intersection; and safer speed laws, which allow cities to lower speed limits on their own.

In addition to the funding and laws in general, there’s been a shift in how WSDOT partners with communities, both Chamberlain and Clarke said.

“We, as a state, do a fabulous job with federal funds, getting them to locals so they can spend them,” Chamberlain said.

Clarke pointed to a program that helps local jurisdictions apply for those funds, noting that the agency seeks out communities that have been historically forgotten or ignored by state policymakers.

... While the ranking is for the state as a whole, Washington boasts two gold-level cities — Seattle and Bellingham — that help burnish its reputation. There are 34 cities nationwide with a gold ranking. Another 112 with silver status, and 349 with bronze.

... This year, new funding was found for, and new sections opened on, the Eastrail, a 42-mile trail that eventually will connect Renton to Redmond and Snohomish County, largely on a former BNSF rail line.

These include a new, 500-foot bridge spanning one of the busiest streets in Bellevue; kick off of the $37 million renovation of the Wilburton Trestle, a towering, 1,000-foot structure that is expected to be one of the corridor’s defining features; federal approval for converting nearly 12 miles of the old rail to trail at the trail’s north terminus; and the June award of a $25 million federal grant to finish building the trail over I-90.

Beyond Eastrail, Seattle opened its first protected, Dutch-inspired intersection in South Lake Union, and is edging closer to opening the paved Elliott Bay Trail tracing the waterfront.

 
At 11:58 PM, Blogger Richard Layman said...

https://www.startribune.com/minneapolis-is-ready-to-design-the-northside-greenway-do-residents-want-it/601183094

Minneapolis is ready to design the Northside Greenway. Do residents want it?
Minneapolis planners have relaunched a project to convert 4 miles of north Minneapolis streets into an enhanced bike and pedestrian route with greenery, art and places to gather.

11/19/2024

Echoing the popular Midtown Greenway bike highway that cuts through south Minneapolis, city planners hope to build a “Northside Greenway” through six north Minneapolis neighborhoods.

But unlike the Midtown Greenway, which gave new life to an old abandoned railroad trench, the Northside Greenway would be integrated into 4 miles of residential streets where people currently live, park their cars, attend school and run businesses. Although the idea for the Northside Greenway originated with grassroots groups, it has taken more than a decade of deliberation to reach the start of design.

Alexis Pennie, a four-season cyclist who heads the group Northside Greenway Now, said when he first started advocating for the project, there was not as much investment in alternate modes of transportation. Now that more streets throughout the city are being designed to improve safety for cyclists and pedestrians, he believes north Minneapolis deserves new infrastructure.

... Plantings, public art installations and small places to gather may dot the route, contributing to the concept of a greenway being a low-stress place for people to enjoy urban greenery and talk with neighbors.

The city has conducted surveys and workshops with diverse community groups over the years, and in 2016 set up a yearlong demonstration project along five blocks — later scaled back to three after some residents complained — to gather data on snow removal, traffic and other factors. At the end of the project, Wilder Research survey found that 73% of respondents wanted some kind of greenway on their street.

Audua Pugh, executive director of the Jordan Area Community Council, said she will always drive a car, but supports the Northside Greenway because she expects it to calm traffic and boost a sense of comfort and safety. Most of her neighbors were “OK” with the demonstration project along Irving Avenue, Pugh said.

 
At 12:03 AM, Blogger Richard Layman said...

Hiking group for Muslim women breaks barriers as hundreds flock to the outdoors
A Minneapolis woman created her own hiking group and leads them on state and national hikes, and camping trips.
November 16, 2024

https://www.startribune.com/hiking-group-for-muslim-women-breaks-barriers-as-hundreds-flock-to-the-outdoors/601181812

 
At 8:56 PM, Blogger Richard Layman said...

https://archive.ph/AKzM6

What this piece of Toronto history tells us about Doug Ford’s battle with bike lanes

https://archive.ph/iHaBF

French Revolution: Cyclists Now Outnumber Motorists In Paris

 
At 6:34 PM, Blogger Richard Layman said...

Think there’s a ‘war on the car’? Here’s the truth behind the rhetoric in Toronto

11/26/24

https://www.thestar.com/opinion/contributors/think-theres-a-war-on-the-car-heres-the-truth-behind-the-rhetoric-in-toronto/article_0e4ea0a4-a8e2-11ef-ba17-5ff4589f4e08.html

All this obfuscation and scapegoating hides the truth from drivers: the main enemy in any perceived war is other drivers. Only fewer cars on the road will solve the issue of congestion.

Mayor Olivia Chow urges Doug Ford to protect cyclists — not his own government from lawsuits
In this rhetorical war, cyclists are often characterized as soft, weak or even “woke,” but there is nothing tougher than a cyclist in Toronto. They ride through heat, cold, rain and, yes, even the handful of days Toronto gets snow. Adults and children ride on fraught streets bereft of safe infrastructure. Rarely can a route from A to B be completed entirely using safe infrastructure, though until Bill 212 we were heading in the right direction.



Good faith is important here. Bike lane implementation required studies, engineering reports and often extensive public consultation. Meanwhile, opponents of safer streets have been treated with kid gloves. Toronto police admitted to giving up on traffic enforcement, gaslighting residents by saying they were doing so. A city walk today is rife with red-light running, rolling stops and other aggressive behaviour.

Businesses leery or even against lanes were also treated the same, presented with studies showing businesses can thrive with lanes and cyclists are good customers. Business groups like Bloor Annex BIA have even spoken up and made that case themselves.

The response to that good faith has been “Balance on Bloor” and Bill 212.

 

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