Alliance for Biking & Walking: People Powered Blog

Apply to Become a Walk Friendly Community

2012-05-11T19:00:10+00:00

As of May 1, the Pedestrian and Bicycle Information Center (PBIC) is accepting applications for their Walk Friendly Communities program. Since 2010, the program has recognized communities for their efforts to promote pedestrian safety and activity. Cities and towns can apply to be recognized as walkable communities at bronze, silver, gold and platinum distinction levels. The current application period is open until June 15.

In April, the number of Walk Friendly Communities grew to 24 as PBIC announced the addition of three new cities. Similar to the League of American Bicyclists’ Bicycle Friendly America program, Walk Friendly Communities rates the levels of pedestrian engineering, education, encouragement, enforcement, evaluation and planning in communities that apply for recognition.

For more information, and to apply, visit the Walk Friendly Communities website.

Alliance Releases Part One of New Guide to Fundraising

2012-05-11T13:15:10+00:00

Today we released part one of the Alliance Guide to Fundraising, an evolving series focused on one of the great challenges of starting and sustaining an organization — finding and retaining sources of funding. The Alliance has been developing this resource in the past few months, and we are excited to offer it to our members through our Resources Library.

“Creating and Implementing an Effective Fundraising Plan” details the process of setting goals and timelines, choosing among various funding sources and developing a plan that fits each organization’s mission, budget and opportunities. With insights and examples from Alliance members and fundraising experts, the first installment of the series offers an in-depth approach for setting your organization on the path to fundraising success.

Later installments of the Guide to Fundraising will discuss such topics as:

Crafting successful funding proposals
Finding local funding sources
Diversifying income streams through contracts and consulting opportunities
Acquiring federal funding

To access the Alliance Guide to Fundraising, visit the Alliance Resources Library.

BikeTexas Continues Innovation Streak with Groupon Grassroots

2012-05-10T18:21:10+00:00

Only weeks after receiving their Alliance Advocacy Award for Innovation, BikeTexas is at it again. As part of their campaign to promote safe cycling, the organization is providing complimentary bike lights to Texas riders. To raise funds for this outreach, they have turned to a unique new source for good.

On Earth Day, the online daily deal site Groupon marshaled its resources to promote community benefits and re-launched their support of nonprofit initiatives in Groupon Grassroots. As with other Groupon deals, once enough participants partake in the deal, the offer is valid.

Through Groupon Grassroots, BikeTexas accepted donations to meet a target of $400 ($10 from 40 donors), which they quickly surpassed. As part of the launch of its grassroots initiative, Groupon is also providing a $1,000 grant to BikeTexas.

From the Groupon deal, BikeTexas was able to raise over $1,700 in donations to provide 200 sets of front and back bike lights to Texas riders. These funds will help BikeTexas extend their “Be Safe & Be Bright” campaign to light up more bikes across Texas.

“BikeTexas was honored to be chosen as one of the 50 nonprofits throughout the U.S. for Groupon’s new national grassroots campaign,” said Leslie Luciano, Director of Communications at BikeTexas. “‘Be safe and be bright’ is a theme BikeTexas is carrying throughout the state.”

Read more about BikeTexas’ work in their blog here and check out their Groupon Grassroots campaign here.

America Bikes Releases 2012 Survey Results

2012-05-09T15:40:10+00:00

Senator Durbin (D-IL) speaks in support of federal bike/ped funding.

This morning at a press conference on Capitol Hill, America Bikes announced the findings of a recent Princeton survey, which shows that more than 80 percent of Americans favor maintaining or increasing federal funding for sidewalks and bike lanes.

The survey results are astounding - and bipartisan:

83 percent of all respondents support maintaining or growing federal funding for sidewalks, bikeways, and bike paths.
80 percent of Republican respondents and 88 percent of Democrat respondents think Congress should maintain or increase federal funds for biking and walking.
85 percent of Northeastern respondents, 79 percent of Midwesterners, 84 percent of Southerners, and 84 percent of respondents from Western states reported support for maintaining or increasing funding for sidewalks and bikeways.
91 percent of respondents between the ages of 18 and 29 support continuing or increasing biking and walking funds.

These survey results add critical perspective to a pressing national debate about transportation, especially as members of Congress conference to develop a consensus transportation bill. Our movement has been saying that people want safe places to bike and walk, and this survey supports that claim.

At the event, Senators Cardin (D-MD) and Durbin (D-IL), Representatives Petri (R-WI) and Blumenauer (D-OR), and the staff of Senator Snowe (R-ME) expressed their support of federal funding for biking and walking infrastructure.

“This is how you connect people,” said Senator Cardin at the press conference. “People would rather be able to use their bikes and use their feet than to use their cars, which are more costly, more dangerous to our environment, and part of a different lifestyle than we really want to have.”

For more information on the survey and to download the results, visit the America Bikes website.

New Reports and More from Transportation Alternatives

2012-05-08T18:15:10+00:00

New York City advocates have already had quite a prolific spring. Transportation Alternatives released three new reports this March about three different neighborhood efforts to promote biking and walking.

”Bronx Helpers: Pedestrian Safety First Campaign” highlights a three-year community effort to make a Bronx neighborhood better for pedestrian traffic and designate it a Neighborhood Slow Zone. The group is winning this campaign.
”Transportation, Safety and Health” looks at how residents’ perceptions of safety in the Bedford-Stuyvesant community impact their use of active transportation.
In ”Slow Down: A Study of Speeding on McGuinness Blvd,” staff and volunteers tracked vehicle speeds on a four-lane arterial road in order to promote increased enforcement.

In addition to these reports, Transportation Alternatives attended the New Amsterdam Bicycle Show, a benefit in their honor. Last weekend, they hosted a series of free Jane Jacobs Walks through different neighborhoods as well as a Bike Friendly Business Tour to support establishments that support cycling. For Bike Month, they have something for everyone, every day.

For more information and inspiration, visit the Transportation Alternatives site.

Advocates Launch Eight New Campaigns at Boston Training

2012-05-02T20:12:10+00:00

Boston was the site of this year’s second Winning Campaigns Training. Advocates from seven organizations came together to launch eight campaigns to improve biking and walking in their communities.

The event brought together 16 advocates, all but one from the Boston area, and was hosted by LivableStreets Alliance. “The training was the best three days of learning I’ve had in a long time,” said LivableStreets Alliance member Stephen Nutter, who worked on a campaign that aims to reconnect neighborhoods divided by an urban highway.

While Winning Campaigns Trainings are a great way to engage new advocates in the campaign planning process, this training saw many experienced advocates attend and use the training to set aside dedicated time for planning, as well as to re-energize their work. Seasoned advocates included several members of the Boston Cyclists Union, who crafted a campaign to connect the city using a network of cycle tracks.

“We’re extremely busy and often overworked at our organization,” said Noël Twigg of the Boston Cyclists Union. “The training was a great opportunity to engage with fellow bike enthusiasts and left me feeling energized and ready to move forward!”

Other campaigns launched at the training include:

Creating a network of green trails in Boston
Creating an open streets initiative in Boston
Installing a cycle track on a busy street in Baltimore, MD
Creating signage to link a trail with a business center
Connecting transit with national park land in Historic Boston

The Alliance is hosting two more Winning Campaigns Trainings this year, in Houston and Kansas City. Learn more about Winning Campaigns Training and register here.

BikeWalkKC Engages Tech Experts at CityCampKC

2012-05-02T13:17:10+00:00

This past weekend, tech-savvy citizens and entrepreneurs congregated at CityCampKC to develop and integrate smart technology to improve biking, walking and transit in Kansas City. BikeWalkKC sponsored the event and highlighted the arrival of BikeShareKC, which will hit the streets in June.

The event culminated in a Hack-a-Thon, where creative community members donated their time and technical expertise to brainstorm systems for better government and increased economic opportunity. During the Hack-a-Thon, participants collaborated to generate a new mobile device app for users to find safe and convenient places to walk or bike, report hazards and provide up-to-date information and feedback to local officials and planners.

Particularly focused on information sharing and reporting, the CityCampKC event worked on leveraging technology to connect citizens with officials and make public service delivery more efficient. Both Kansas City, Missouri Mayor Sly James and Kansas City, Kansas Mayor Joe Reardon spoke at the event about future collaboration opportunities.

At the end of the event, participants came away with tons of information about how technology can continue to improve the way their city works. Also, planners, programmers and citizens worked with BikeWalkKC to develop a mobile device app based on Shareabouts, an online mapping tool that gathers information about different locations. For more information about CityCampKC happenings, click here.

Inviting Congress to Your Bike Month Event

2012-04-25T12:00:10+00:00

As we head into National Bike Month, members of Congress head back to their home districts – a perfect time to invite them to your local Bike Month Event. The House is out of session May 1-4 and May 20-29, and some Representatives may also be home for Bike to Work Day on Friday, May 18.

The basic concept of a ‘Show Congress’ event is to connect a member of Congress with bicycling by arranging their participation in a trail opening, ribbon-cutting ceremony, or community bike event in a way that is visual, public, and fun.

Your request should begin with a phone call to your Representative’s office to let them know that a formal invitation letter is on its way. Send in a letter by fax or email using the resource below. Approximately a week after you have submitted your scheduling request, call the scheduler to follow-up on your request.

America Bikes has a great toolkit for your organization to use when inviting and hosting your Representative for your event:

Tips for a Successful “Show Congress” Event: The bottom line is that you want to make your Senator or Representative look good back in their home district or state with an event that is positive, photogenic, and connected with bicycling in some way.
Sample Letter to Congress: You can use this fill-in sample letter to create a meeting request or invitation for your Member of Congress. It also includes sample script for following up with the scheduler. It may take a few calls to reach the scheduler, so be persistent.
Tips on Collecting Media Coverage: Careful planning to attract members of the press to your event can make a big difference in drawing attention to your efforts. There are several simple steps you can take to successfully document the day for yourself, too, even if there are no reporters present. After the event, tracking media coverage and reporting back about the event will help biking and walking advocacy on both a local and national level.
Effective Messaging For Your “Show Congress” Event: Effective messaging before, during, and after your “Show Congress” event can help you or your organization create a lasting and impactful relationship with your Senator or Representative and their staff. Use this guide to stay on-message with your Senator or Representative and their staff.
Event Logistics Checklist: This event checklist can help you quickly determine whether you have key tasks handled for your event. This is not meant to be a complete guide to planning an event, but rather a list of key logistics pertaining to hosting your Member of Congress and/or the media.
2012 Congressional Calendar: Use this calendar to schedule meetings and events with your members of Congress in-district while they’re out of session.

Participating in an event like this also means you meet staffers, both DC‐based and those who work in a district office. These connections always prove to be beneficial.

Community Bike Shop Leaders Discuss the Business of Running a Shop

2012-04-24T20:05:10+00:00

Community bike shops work as advocates in their communities by putting more people on bikes. In their unique role, they face issues similar to both nonprofit organizations and for-profit bike shops. On April 18, 2012, Mutual Aid panelists Jonathan Morrison of Salt Lake City Bicycle Collective, Jason Tanzman from Cycles for Change, and Pasqualina Azzarello of Recycle-A-Bicycle discussed the common challenges and opportunities associated with starting up, managing and finding funding for community bike shops. The call also offered other leaders to discuss challenges they have faced as well as possible solutions.

If you didn’t have a chance to join the call, you can download the call recording and view the call tip sheet.

BikeWalkKC Completes Advocacy Advance Grant

2012-04-24T13:00:10+00:00

In Fall 2010, Advocacy Advance awarded the Missouri Bicycle and Pedestrian Federation a $30,000 grant to create a local advocacy organization in the Greater Kansas City MO/KS region. A year and a half later, BikeWalkKC has over 200 members, a $90,000 budget, 2.5 FT equivalent staff (including this year’s Alliance Advocacy Awards Advocate of the Year winner, Eric Rogers), a strong education program, and many campaign successes.

Kansas City is dedicating $500,000 per year for five years for its share of the regional Katy Trail, a corridor that is part of the Jackson County Commuter Rail-with-Trail plan. In 2011, Kansas City achieved Bronze status from the League of American Bicyclists’ Bicycle Friendly Communities program and its City Council adopted a Complete Streets Resolution, along with nine other communities covering 48% of the metro population. BikeWalkKC launched a Regional Funding Cooperation campaign and is working with a coalition of regional Parks and Recs directors on enabling state legislation to fund regional trails and bike routes. Additionally, a Blue Cross and Blue Shield-sponsored bike share program will start in Kansas City this summer and the organization’s CMAQ-funded Education program has served over 2,000 people in eight monthly classes with LCI instruction, school programs in low income and minority neighborhoods, and corporate lunch-and-learns.

BikeWalkKC certainly hit the ground running. Ongoing support from a statewide organization, working off of a clear, collaborative vision, addressing the technical steps for starting a new advocacy organization, and building local partnerships are the recipe for success in Kansas City – one that many Alliance member organizations have and can continue to learn from.

Family Biking Guide Launched in San Francisco

2012-04-23T12:56:10+00:00

This week, the San Francisco Bicycle Coalition announced the release of their Family Biking Guide.

Are you curious how long through your pregnancy you can safely ride? How to choose from your carrier options? When to buy your child’s first bike? How to teach your child to bike, and tips for biking to school?

From biking while pregnant to choosing the best gear for your young cyclist, this comprehensive, how-to manual is a must-have resource for your family in San Francisco and beyond. Download the manual for free at sfbike.org/family_guide.

Idaho Moves Forward with Texting Ban

2012-04-20T12:00:10+00:00

Earlier this month, Idaho took a leap forward in making its streets safer. On April 5, Governor Otter approved distracted driving legislation that prohibits texting while driving. This measure makes Idaho the 37th state to enact such distracted driving legislation.

According to the Idaho Transportation Department, distracted driving contributed to 192 fatalities and 1,534 injuries in Idaho from 2008 to 2010. In the past several years, the Idaho state legislature has introduced distracted driving bills but had failed to pass them.

Cynthia Gibson of the Idaho Pedestrian & Bicycle Alliance cites that, in addition to keeping members informed at every step in the legislative process, forming partnerships with non-biking/walking organizations was a key to success. “We met with organizations who want safer streets,” said Gibson, “including AAA, the Mayor’s Youth Task Force, and insurance companies.”

With the passage of this law, Gibson says Idaho Pedestrian & Bicycle Alliance can begin to focus on its other campaigns. “Our next focus is finding local examples of economic benefits of biking and walking,” she said. “We would use this information at the city and state level.”

One Billion for Bikes: Momentum in the East Bay

2012-04-19T13:00:10+00:00

The East Bay Bicycle Coalition (EBBC) is meeting the funding opportunity of a generation with the assistance of an Advocacy Advance Rapid Response Grant.

EBBC’s “One Billion for Bikes: Yes on the Alameda County Transportation Sales Tax Reauthorization” campaign targets a 30-year, $7.8 billion regional transportation plan. As part of the Citizens Advisory Working Group, EBBC helped develop the Expenditure Plan for the Reauthorization, galvanize the Community Vision Platform stakeholder group, and influence elected officials to include $883 million dollars – 11.34% of all funds – for bike/ped projects in the plan.

East Bay advocates have until November to work with their broad coalition of supporters to gain two-thirds voter approval for this ballot measure. They will leverage the $3,000 Rapid Response grant and use funds for voter outreach, publicity, and strengthening collaboration opportunities.

This campaign win would transform transportation in Alameda County and be a major win for the movement. This measure represents 75% of ALL transportation funding in the County over the next 30 years and for the first time in history, a transportation sales tax in California would allocate more money for bike/ped than for highway projects. It would also require all projects in the measure to comply with the County’s new Complete Streets Policy.

Advocacy Advance is a partnership between the Alliance for Biking & Walking and the League of American Bicyclists with the goal to double federal funding for bicycle and pedestrian programs and projects by supporting advocacy efforts and agency collaboration at the state and local levels. Our Rapid Response grants can be used to fund campaigns that involve all types of public funding: federal, state, regional and city.

Thanks to the support of SRAM Cycling Fund, Advocacy Advance has $29,000 remaining to fund organizations met with urgent and unexpected opportunities to win, increase, or preserve funding for biking and walking. There is no application deadline for these rolling grants and accepted proposals will be funded within one month.

Rapid Response grants have funded the Bicycle Federation of Wisconsin’s successful campaign to restore $2 million of the state’s Bicycle and Pedestrian Facilities Program, the BTA’s bike sharing success in Portland, and Active Living LaCrescent’s bridge accommodations campaign.

Bicycle Coalition of Maine Completes Innovation Grant

2012-04-17T13:00:10+00:00

The Bicycle Coalition of Maine, a recipient of a Fall 2010 Advocacy Advance Innovation Grant, completed its “Community Spokes Grassroots Advocacy” proposal this past month. BCM used the $18,000 award to launch a series of one-day advocacy trainings. Modeled after the Alliance’s Winning Campaign Training approach, these workshops train Community Spokes to carry our successful campaigns in their local communities.

BCM has already seen its new Community Spokes in action. Craig Saddlemire, a participant of the November training, created a joint bike/ped committee for the twin cities of Lewiston-Auburn and met with the newly elected mayors of the cities to advocate for better biking. When BCM organized for the successful Cardin-Cochran Amendment campaign in March, Craig created a local delegation, including a local bike shop owner, transportation planner and public health advocate, to make in-district meetings.

The Advocacy Advance grant, and the additional $33,000 in matching funds leveraged by BCM, gave the resources and focus to develop a strategic program the Coalition has dreamed of for years. The first Community Spokes training was followed by multiple Mutual Aid Calls on topics such as “What does the MDOT do and how can it help you?” and a second training is planned for June 19.

Bicycle Coalition of Maine’s Community Spokes curriculum and Toolkit can be used by other Alliance members interested in facilitating advocacy campaign trainings in their communities.

Spanish-Language Bike Safety PSAs Hit Los Angeles

2012-04-13T12:30:10+00:00

Congratulations are in order for the Los Angeles County Bicycle Coalition, who unveiled their vibrant new public safety PSAs last week at a press conference to announce the next CicLAvia event. The poster — a collaborative work created by volunteers from the Latino community, LACBC’s City of Lights program, the Los Angeles Department of Transportation, REI, and artist Aaron Kuehn — features the message “PRECAUCIÓN: Tu familia también usa la bicicleta” (in English: “CAUTION: Your family also rides bicycles”).

The poster will be featured at bus shelters throughout the city to remind drivers to be careful and share the road. Additionally, the campaign produced a 60-second video PSA, directed by Jordan Melograna. The video PSA is currently available online and may be broadcast on television in the future.

To promote safety and connect with a key stakeholder group in the community, LACBC reached out to Spanish-speaking volunteers, particularly day laborers, many of whom use bicycles as their primary mode of transportation. The group of volunteers came up with a positive, encouraging, family-friendly message and incorporated it into a stunning poster and a powerful video PSA.

“What’s exciting about this project is the community process to develop this PSA,” said Alexis Lantz, Planning & Policy Director at LACBC. “Latino day laborer cyclists themselves developed the message, and the project was a collaboration between these day laborers, LACBC staff, LACBC volunteers, the Los Angeles Department of Transportation, and REI. Roughly 48% of the City of Los Angeles is Latino, and this PSA campaign speaks to a large demographic of the city’s population.”

According to a 2010 UCLA study, recent immigrants are at least twice as likely to bike to work as other Americans. The campaign builds an inclusive movement that incorporates the message of an important community of cyclists in their own words and with a relevant theme.

“We are lucky to live in Los Angeles,” said JJ Hoffman, Events & Development Director at LACBC. “Not only do we enjoy great cycling weather all year round, we are populated with talented, generous people who donated their time and talent to spread an important message.”

For more information, visit the LACBC blog. And check out the behind-the-scenes video, also directed by Jordan Melograna, that documents the creative, collaborative process.

AARP Launches its Network of Age-Friendly Communities

2012-04-12T13:00:10+00:00

Last week, AARP celebrated the public launch of its Network of Age-Friendly Communities. This program is the national affiliate of the WHO Global Network of Age-Friendly Cities and Communities and begins this year in Georgia, Kansas, Iowa, Michigan, New York, Oregon, Pennsylvania, and Washington DC.

An Age-Friendly Community is defined as an “inclusive and accessible environment that encourages active and healthy aging.” An important aspect of these livable communities is to create transportation networks and safe, affordable mobility options that allow its citizens to age in place.

Read about the WHO’s Guide to Global Network of Age-Friendly Cities and Communities and learn more about its new AARP affiliate program. In the coming months, the Alliance will share success stories and model campaigns of its member organizations working on equitable transportation for seniors.

Americans, Especially Young People, Driving Less

2012-04-10T19:29:10+00:00

“Transportation and the New Generation,” a report released last week by Frontier Group and U.S. Public Interest Research Group (U.S. PIRG), reveals that Americans—and particularly those age 16 to 34—are driving less and using other modes of transportation more. Data from the National Household Travel Survey indicate that, from 2001 to 2009, the number of trips on foot increased 16 percent for 16 to 34-year-olds. In the same period, trips by bike and per capita passenger-miles on transit for this age group increased 24 and 40 percent, respectively.

Several conditions and preferences are responsible for this trend, according to Frontier Group and U.S. PIRG. Young people choose to live in urban areas where many amenities are readily accessible to walking, biking, and transit. Additionally, technology can replace car trips (through telecommuting or using social media to interact) and can enhance transit options (such as applications that provide real-time transit or bike-share updates). According to the report, stricter licensing laws as well as higher fuel prices have made driving less appealing, particularly to young people.

Most importantly for walking, biking, and transit advocates, this report shows that younger generations are moving away from automotive transportation—and this trend is likely to persist. Young people have the most at stake in the current transportation debate; they will be the primary users of the transportation system for the next 50 years. By biking, walking, and using public transit more, young people have voted against business-as-usual.

“Policy-makers and the public need to be aware that America’s current transportation policy – dominated by road building – is fundamentally out-of-step with the transportation patterns and expressed preferences of growing numbers of Americans,” the report indicates.

For more information, and to read the full report, visit the Frontier Group website.

A Fresh Idea: Boston Bike to Market

2012-03-30T13:08:10+00:00

Bike to Market mechanic helps tune up a visitor’s bike. Photo by Josh Campbell.

Attend one of Boston’s vibrant farmers’ markets and you’ll find healthy foods, an active community, and a growing number of bikes. The Boston Cyclists Union’s Bike to Market program, which began in 2010, is expanding to hold 58 distinct market events this June through September.

During Bike to Market events, volunteers and mechanics run bike repair stations and encourage safety by selling low-cost helmets. In communities where bike theft is a problem, folks at the market booth distribute locks and demonstrate how to use them. The program is a natural fit among the vendor booths and highlights the connection between wholesome food and physical activity.

“We can see the direct impact that we’re making,” says Pete Stidman, executive director of the Boston Cyclists Union. “In two years, we’ve repaired over 1,600 bikes. About 10 percent of those came out of the basement, garage or weren’t in use. This year our goal is 1,200.”

It isn’t just about tune-ups, though. The Bike to Market program also provides a venue for community outreach. Cyclists discuss ways to make biking in Boston safer and easier, and they even mark neighborhood maps with the improvements they would like to see. Through this grassroots outreach and improved survey and evaluation tools, the organization can prioritize projects and gauge the economic and community benefits bicycling is producing.

To read more about the Bike to Market program, visit the Boston Cyclists Union website here.

Alliance Hosts Meeting with Leaders from Community Bike Shops

2012-03-29T16:58:10+00:00

Participants discuss the life-cycle of community bike shops at last week’s meeting. Photo from Bike Portland.

Community bike shops come in a variety of different forms and styles, but what they all have in common is that they work to get more people on bikes. Whether it’s an all volunteer co-op that is open for a few hours a week, or a large shop with paid staff and a variety of programming options, community bike shops can often be found working with groups and individuals who are under-represented in bike advocacy.

During the National Bike Summit, over 20 leaders from community bike shop gathered to discuss the emerging role of their organizations, and how the Alliance can work to further engage and link community bike shops with one another. Participants discussed the relationship between community bike shops and traditional advocacy groups, the life-cycle of community bike shops and how they evolve over time, and how to quantify the achievements and successes of community bike shops. Throughout the meeting, a theme that kept coming up was that community bike shops are incubators for advocacy.

“Community bike shops can act as an engine for growth for advocacy organizations,” said Ed France, Executive Director of the Santa Barbara Bicycle Coalition, which runs its own community bike shop. “The shop provides an informal conduit for cyclists to voice grievances and ideas, and provides the potential for a much broader base for advocacy campaigns. Supporting a resource offering to the community like a community bike shop has given our Coalition increased credibility and a higher public profile.”

The gathering was also an opportunity to discuss a proposed partnership between the Alliance and the Bike Collective Network, an online community that works to strengthen and encourage communication and resource sharing between community bike shops. Much like the Alliance, the BCN is a network of organizations working to increase biking in their communities. The goal of this partnership is to assist community bike shops by adding more voices and ideas into the discussion, as well as to provide access to some of the resources that the Alliance offers.

Read more about the meeting in this story from Bike Portland.

New Report on Statewide Organizations and Federal Funding

2012-03-28T13:00:10+00:00

While Congress creates the framework, the most important decisions about the use of federal funds are made at the state and regional level. As the capacity of statewide bicycle advocacy groups has grown, many leaders have started to look beyond their long list of individual project victories and ask an important question: How can we use our limited resources to have a long-standing, wide-ranging impact in communities across the state?

One answer: Get involved in the process that determines the use of billions of dollars in federal funding.

Money is like water. It flows easiest through the well-worn grooves and established channels that have been carved over the years. When it comes to federal funding streams, the policies and process at the state and regional level determine whether bicycle and pedestrian projects sink or swim.

In recent years, organizations like Bike Delaware, the League of Illinois Bicyclists, and the Missouri Bicycle and Pedestrian Federation have gotten involved in this critical process. In the latest report from Advocacy Advance — Improving the Process: How Statewide Organizations Are Winning Federal Funding for Bicycling and Walking Projects — Darren Flusche, League Policy Director, explores the success of those organizations and how statewide groups can have the biggest impact.

“There’s increasing interest among advocates to take on more complicated and potentially more impactful campaigns,” Darren explains. “Many are turning their attention to the ways federal funding is spent locally. Campaigns that focus on the policies and practices that influence federal spending can have lasting impact. Instead of enabling just one bicycling or walking project, it can set the stage for years of bicycle and/or pedestrian projects to be built.”

There’s clearly the need and interest for best practices for advocates at the state level. “Advocates at several statewide organizations approached us to ask about what statewide groups are doing well and how federal funding campaigns differ at the state level compared to cities and regions,” he adds.

Drawing on the models of Delaware, Illinois and Missouri, the four-page report highlights and explains steps organizations can take to get more involved and, ultimately, increase federal funding for bike/ped projects.

“The basics are the same at the regional and the state level,” Darren says. “You need to know who sets the policies and makes the project selection decisions. You need to know who influences those people, what to ask for, and when to ask for it. But operating at the state level gives advocates an opportunity to fix state DOT policies that impact every region. In addition, advocates can share best practices among all of the regions in the state. State organizations have the opportunity to make systematic change on a large scale.”

As Congress debates the transportation bill, there’s a lot of uncertainty about the future of transportation programs. But one thing is clear: Bicycling advocates will have to learn how to compete for scarce resources against all types of transportation projects. The examples and suggestions in this report, taken from real successes in the field, provide an essential guide. And, as always, the Advocacy Advance Team is available to offer more information and technical support.

Click here to download the full report.

Free Webinar: Empowering Women to Bicycle for Transportation

2012-03-26T10:19:10+00:00

Last week, at the 2012 National Bike Summit, the Alliance and the Association of Pedestrian and Bicycle Professionals hosted the first-ever National Women Cycling Forum — and it was a huge success. More than 200 people attended the gathering, and the diverse panel of women from advocacy, history, diplomacy, racing, engineering and retail inspired and informed us with their unique experiences and insight.

We hope to continue that conversation with a free webinar on “Empowering Women to Bicycle for Transportation” on Wednesday, March 28th at 3 p.m. Eastern.

Since APBP inaugurated the Women Cycling Project in 2010, thousands of women have participated. This year’s webinar highlights programs and approaches that encourage women to bicycle on a more regular basis. Learn about Cycles for Change, the Minneapolis program that educates and empowers women of various cultures to use bicycles as transportation; Birmingham’s Magic City Cycle Chix, whose mission is to encourage women to mountain bike; and more.

The webinar will also include a brief update on:

Outcomes of the National Women Cycling Forum
Plans for the interactive Women Cycling website
Update on transportation legislation in Congress

Check out Pics from the Advocacy Awards

2012-03-21T12:00:10+00:00

Last night the Alliance announced the winner of the 2012 Advocacy Awards at a packed reception at the National Bike Summit. Click the image below for more pictures from the event!

WalkBoston has led the way, not just locally, but on the national level, as well. In Boston, the advocates’ long list of accomplishments includes a wealth of infrastructure victories, policy progress and successful public events. In 2011, WalkBoston launched its “Good Walking is Good Business” campaign, which highlighted the economic benefits of walkable communities, and distributed 40,000 copies of a federally funded research project to develop and test innovative tools to engage underrepresented populations in the planning process. Despite WalkBoston’s tireless work and nation-leading successes, the small staff is generous with its time and expertise, ever willing to share best practices with other organizations and engage with national advocacy groups in a way that benefits people who walk, not just in Boston, but in communities across the continent.

Advocate of the Year: Eric Rogers, BikeWalkKC

The campaigns may change, but in Kansas City, Missouri, one thing remains the same. “If you show up for an advocacy effort,” one nomination summed up, “there’s one guy you will always see — and that’s Eric Rogers.” Rogers’ long-standing involvement at the state and local level has earned him a reputation as both as a passionate advocate leader for the Missouri Bicycle and Pedestrian Federation, and trusted, go-to expert on bike-ped issues for policymakers of all stripes. While he chairs the Kansas City Bicycle and Pedestrian Committee and serves as the executive director of BikeWalkKC, Rogers spends countless hours attending hearings and meetings across the region; working behind the scenes to keep advocates updated; and improving critical education and encouragement programs like the KC Car-Free Challenge and KC Safer Routes. As one city council member attested in her nomination: “Eric has been a constant, persistent, passionate voice in the oversight of private developments and city infrastructure services, speaking out for sidewalks, bike lanes and routes, driver education, defined trails and safe crosswalks.” And, in the true spirit of genuine, selfless advocacy, Rogers never expects recognition beyond the legacy of his own good works.

Business Advocate of the Year: CLIF Bar

With its innovative 2 Mile Challenge, CLIF Bar continued to raise awareness about the power and possibility of biking for transportation in 2011, spurring thousands of people to log their trips on the website that tracked metrics like miles pedaled, car trips avoided and carbon dioxide saved. In line with its commitment to active transportation, CLIF Bar donated $100,000 to the three nonprofits leading the charge in the 2 Mile Challenge, including the Alliance for Biking & Walking and the Safe Routes to School National Partnership.

Winning Campaign of the Year: Bike Delaware

Despite lean economic times, Bike Delaware did the nearly unthinkable in 2011—advocated for and won $5 million in new, dedicated state dollars for biking and walking projects and programs. With a tiny budget, the advocacy organization pioneered new ground in statewide bike-ped advocacy with its “Bikeable, Walkable Delaware” campaign, not only securing critical funding, but also cultivating key relationships at the state capitol and working with the Delaware Department of Transportation on the state’s first State Trails and Pathways Plan.

Best Practices Award: League of Illinois Bicyclists

The Best Practices Award goes to an organization that serves as a model for other bicycle and pedestrian advocacy organizations. In 2011, the League of Illinois Bicyclists played a critical role in the effort to preserve dedicated funding for biking and walking in the next federal transportation bill. Executing a model campaign that utilized relevant data and engaged of local elected officials, the Illinois advocates expertly capitalized on years spent cultivating relationships with members of Congress to to win pivotal support from Republican Representative Tim Johnson. And the LIB didn’t just build bridges on Capitol Hill — the statewide organization also worked with local groups, like the Active Transportation Alliance, showcasing the importance and power of effective partnerships.

Susie Stephens Joyful Enthusiasm Award: Julia Field, Undriving

This award commemorates Alliance co-founder, Susie Stephens, honoring her passion for biking and walking as fun and economical means of transportation. The parallels between Susie and Julia are many. As one nomination pointed out: “Like Susie, Julia knows that people want to do good things—sometimes they just need ideas and cheerleading.” As the founder of Undriving, Julia established an artistic, energetic and effective program that empowers citizens to reimagine their travel habits in ways that protect the planet and improve community health. The positive power of the Undriving concept has earned Field recognition, not just in Seattle, but across the U.S. and beyond. If Susie were still with us, we know she’d be wielding her Undriving license with pride!

Innovation Award: BikeTexas

The Innovation Award goes to an organization that’s pioneering or inventing new ways to promote biking and walking — and BikeTexas continues to cultivate new and effective models in working effectively with the full spectrum political perspectives and full range of community stakeholders. Thanks in part to its traveling bicycle fleet, BikeTexas has organized rides with policymakers, agency staff and nonprofit organizations that have cultivated important political relationships and built bridges with new constituencies, including a 2011 President’s Award from the state NAACP for “going above and beyond the call of duty to develop interest in biking and green benefits from biking in the African American Community.”

Women’s Cycling Forum Presents: Nelle Pierson

2012-03-19T17:00:10+00:00

Nelle Pierson, Events Coordinator for the Washington Area Bicyclist Association, will be a panelist at the National Women Cycling Forum on March 20. Learn more here.

Who or what inspired you to start cycling?

As a kid I was fortunate to have a bike and the spirit to ride all the time; I loved the freedom and the adventure. But as a young adult I wasn’t inspired to start cycling; in fact, I dreaded it.

When I was accepted to college, it became very clear that with looming student loans I could no longer afford to own a car. So for me, it wasn’t the environment, the workout, or time-efficiency that made biking attractive- it was my bank account. I traded my car, an amenity that to many represents maturity, independence, and status, for a 30 year-old Sears commuter bike. My friends felt so bad for me- I felt so bad for me. And when it came time to start school I packed the bike up in the back of our pickup truck with the rest of my belongings and was on my way to start a new life at Colorado State University.

Without a car I thought my social life was over, my ability to throw gear into a backpack and find an adventure was gone, and my freedom to run errands across town year-round had vanished. Little did I know…

Once in Fort Collins, it took me a couple months to realize that I was riding to class in the middle of a bike Mecca. It took some time but I eventually made some bike-loving friends who supported the transition from car-dependence to car-liberation. I’d say it was the encouragement from my new friends that became my biggest source of inspiration. They helped normalize biking in my life. They introduced me to foreign concepts, like pumping tires, and helmets, and eventually they had me commuting in snowstorms- (what we called bike surfing).

Pretty soon I was helping organize group rides, hanging out at the bike co-op, amassing my own collection of bikes, and working towards making our university more bike-friendly. It was then that I realized the importance of encouragement from the people you trust and I tried to become the friend that helped inspire others to make the transition to a bike-friendly life.

What’s your favorite memory or proudest moment on a bike (or in bicycle advocacy)?

That’s not fair, there are dozens of special bike memories. Having the opportunity to sit on this panel is certainly up there.

My proudest moment relating to bikes, by far, was seeing a photo of my mom after her first bike commute last spring. I guess you can call that bike advocacy.

It took me 5 years to warm my mom up to the idea of biking to work. One time on a visit home from college I took her bike shopping at a pawn shop, mapped out her route, and put an an entire electronic folder of brochures, tips, FAQs, stories, and packing guides on her computer desktop. By this time I was on my soap box encouraging all the people around me to bike. But my own flesh and blood didn’t budge.

My mom’s a fit, self-identified environmentalist, and an adventurous woman who’s owned a bike most of her adult life. It was so frustrating- she had no desire to try out the two-mile bike ride from her door to her desk, and in retrospect I understand why. Colorado’s weather is unpredictable, the topography isn’t ideal for the inexperienced, public transit is sparse, and everyone’s in big scary SUVs. Looking back, I wish I would’ve been more understanding of her concerns instead of being pushy. Deep down she was scared- and a little lazy. That’s where patience and encouragement are key.

I kept pushing. Then about a year ago she entered the perfect storm of encouragement. After a visit to DC, I had her out riding on downtown streets, crossing major intersections, and riding all dressed up in the town’s Seersucker Ride- all on the back of my tandem. It was a fun and convenient way to teach someone how to confidently ride in tricky situations and feel out the rules of the road. Plus it’s a more intimate riding experience- we laughed and sang and told stories.

The next week my mom’s coworker offered her a free Bridgestone mountain bike, and I got a text from her. She said she wanted to know about seats, and helmets, and rain gear. She was sold on the idea. And a couple days later she sent a picture of her wearing her helmet in front of her office!

What campaigns, events or other efforts are you working on right now or looking forward to that have the potential to increase women cycling?

Besides making sure that all of WABA’s events are inclusive and accommodating to bicyclists of all ages, and experience levels, and that they’re promoted to attract ladies and gentleman, I’m partnering up with one of WABA’s current Women’s cycling intern to coordinate a big ladies-focused group ride.

What advice would you give to women who are wary of cycling — or to women who want to have a bigger impact in advancing cycling in their community?

I stress to folks who are wary or intimidating of biking that their feelings are not unique and that they are not alone. It’s completely rational to be concerned about your safety, your gear, the mechanics of a bike, and your appearance on a bike. That’s a lot to take on when you’re trying out something new, something so personal as transportation, and that’s intimidating. But there’s no need to take on that heavy load by yourself. It takes time to address each of those concerns and find personal solutions, but don’t do it alone. There’s a good chance your buddy or a mechanic in your neighborhood would be excited to step in as your bike-mentor.

For those looking to get more involved, become the encouraging bike mentor to someone around you who’s interested but still has doubts. If you haven’t already, become a member and start volunteering for your local bike advocacy group. Organize group rides where you work, play, pray, or pay. And if you’re interested in spreading the knowledge of bike maintenance in your community, check out your local co-op.

If you could look 20 years into the future of the cycling movement, how would you hope things would be different?

I have to admit that I love that there are currently so many forms of bike subcultures and fringe groups- because I’m definitely a member. I see it as a a way for people to identify with each other and relate. But I hope that overtime there’s no such thing as a bike culture. I hope that with improved infrastructure, education, and laws, bicycling becomes so engrained in cities throughout the United States that bikes become like toasters- just a normal appliance that everyone uses when they need it. I’ve never been to Copenhagen or Amsterdam but from all that I’ve read it seems that’s a reality they’re enjoying. That being said, I’m not anti-car; I know that bikes aren’t always the right tool for the job, I just hope our culture becomes pro-bike.

National Women Cycling Forum Presents: Marla Streb

2012-03-19T12:54:10+00:00

Marla Streb, a former World Mountain Bike Champion and Team LUNA Chix Ambassador, will be a panelist at the National Women Cycling Forum on March 20. Learn more here.

Who or what inspired you to start cycling?

In 1990, I was convinced by a friend (now my husband, Mark) to tour Europe by bike, where we rode and camped throughout 13 countries trying to “find” ourselves. After two months together over mountain passes and in tough weather, we became soul mates (and only showering twice in that time also kept us platonic!). A few years later, the same guy encouraged me to become a professional mountain bike racer and supported me throughout my 16-year career.

What’s your favorite memory or proudest moment on a bike (or in bicycle advocacy)?

Winning the World Cup in Austria in 2005 — that win kept me from retiring, and I raced for four more years (for a total of 16 years!)

What campaigns, events or other efforts are you working on right now or looking forward to that have the potential to increase women cycling?

LUNA Chix: I work with the LUNA Chix Ambassadors, 280 women from around the country who are biking enthusiasts. These women go back to their hometowns and are the influencers there, and they do the same thing locally.
Bike MINDED Program: We at Bike Maryland hold adult commuter workshops and kids rodeos, with an emphasis on safety. Normally, parents accompany kids and we reach them just as well (including moms). Also, I lead women’s only rides from downtown Baltimore.

What advice would you give to women who are wary of cycling — or to women who want to have a bigger impact in advancing cycling in their community?

I encourage women to take a clinic or cycling camp to learn proper techniques (and avoid bad habits). Most women who take a skills clinic become more confident. They can relax and have fun on their bike, and they also make important connections with other female cyclists. To make a bigger impact in the community, women should support and encourage each other to try cycling for fitness, fun, and transportation.

If you could look 20 years into the future of the cycling movement, how would you hope things would be different?

I would like to see at least 50 percent female ridership, especially during commuting hours. Also, I hope to see many women more commuting/running errands, with their children safely in tow.

National Women Cycling Forum Presents: Veronica Davis

2012-03-19T12:45:10+00:00

Veronica Davis, a principal planner and engineer for Nspiregreen LLC and a co-founder of Black Women Bike DC, will be a panelist at the National Women Cycling Forum on March 20. Learn more here.

Who or what inspired you to start cycling?

I’m a utilitarian cyclist. I got into cycling when the gas prices skyrocketed and filling my gas tank was costing an arm and a leg.

What’s your favorite memory or proudest moment on a bike (or in bicycle advocacy)?

The creating of Black Women Bike is something to be proud of. Myself and co-founders Nse Ufot and Najeema Washington, started the organization from a Twitter conversation. It is bold and in your face. It let’s everyone know that we are here. Our membership has grown from the three founders to over 400 in less than a year.

What campaigns, events or other efforts are you working on right now or looking forward to that have the potential to increase women cycling?

Black Women Bike are working on campaigns to encourage black women to consider cycling for commuting and/or recreation. In addition, we are hoping to get more black women in leadership of existing bike advocacy organizations, such as WABA.

What advice would you give to women who are wary of cycling — or to women who want to have a bigger impact in advancing cycling in their community?

If you want to have an bigger impact in advancing cycling, the first step is to be seen. Black Women Bike started from a conversation about a young black girl who was excited to see me biking through her neighborhood. Your mere presence is a statement. The second step it to be at the table for transportation projects in your neighborhood. Remind people there needs to be a place for cyclists.

If you could look 20 years into the future of the cycling movement, how would you hope things would be different?

In 20 years, I’d like to see cycling be a culture similar to cities in Europe. Our road capacities are approaching their maximums. We need to look at alternative modes, such as cycling, to move people around the city.

Local Advocacy Pushes Minnesota DOT to Reassess Bridge Design

2012-03-16T13:00:10+00:00

The past six months has seen significant progress in the campaign to include bicycle and pedestrian accommodations on the Interstate 90 Dresbach Bridge. This bridge connects LaCrescent, MN and LaCrosse, WI over the Mississippi River. Until January, the 100-year design plans to replace this bridge did not include bike-ped accommodations, even though both states have Complete Streets policies.

Local advocacy group Active Living La Crescent worked in partnership with the Bicycle Alliance of Minnesota on this campaign with support from an Advocacy Advance Rapid Response Grant. With only six weeks to convince the MnDOT to include bicycle and pedestrian accommodations on the Interstate Bridge, Active Living La Crescent used its grant funds to travel through the region to meet face-to-face with key decision makers and obtain legal consultation that provided contacts to critical individuals, regulatory review and important letters at crucial junctures in the process.

MnDOT’s reassessment of the bridge design was required by the Federal Highway Administration after initial advocacy efforts led by national, state and local bicycle advocacy groups and support from elected officials and staff and leadership of state and federal agencies. “Seldom is a reassessment and a design change achieved so late in the design process,” says Sue Howe, Project Manager at Active Living La Crescent. “It is therefore up to the local elected officials and staff, representing our communities, to insist on sufficient process to ensure that our vision is incorporated into the plans of State and Federal Agencies.”

Local advocates still have work to do to ensure these plans are carried out, but the results of their hard work will serve six generations in creating “a bridge, not a barrier.”

Rapid Response grants have funded the successful campaigns of the Bicycle Federation of Wisconsin to restore $2 million in state Bicycle and Pedestrian Facilities Program and the Bicycle Transportation Alliance to bring bike sharing to Portland.

Women’s Cycling Forum Presents: Andrea Garland

2012-03-16T12:00:10+00:00

Andrea Garland, a planner with Alta Planning + Design, will be a panelist at the National Women Cycling Forum on March 20. Click here to register for the event!

Who or what inspired you to start cycling?

I’ve always had an interest in cycling. Growing up I was always excited to go on bike rides with my dad. I attempted to bike for transportation a few times while I lived in Colombia, but I was always afraid of riding in traffic. When I moved to the US eight years ago I bought a bike, because it was cheap. I found biking invigorating and fulfilling, and started riding it everywhere. I think the true revelation moment for me was after my husband convinced me to train and do our first bike tour (2006). Touring taught me how to ride safe and conveniently carry my stuff. After that, there was no turning back, I started biking more often and quickly got convinced that it was the most practical and easiest way to get around.

What’s your favorite memory or proudest moment on a bike (or in bicycle advocacy)?

Favorite Moment: I got proposed to at the end of a weekend bike tour from Charlottesville to Richmond along Monument Avenue.

Proudest Moment (advocacy): Seeing the smiles on people’s faces playing in the streets during the first Roanoke Ciclovia I organized (2009).

What campaigns, events or other efforts are you working on right now or looking forward to that have the potential to increase women cycling?

The Women Cycling Project with APBP, I’m excited to see what is next for this project and how I can be involved.

What advice would you give to women who are wary of cycling — or to women who want to have a bigger impact in advancing cycling in their community?

Give it a try, it’s very fulfilling. Choose a destination that is convenient for you to bike to, usually a short trip (two miles or less), maybe ask a friend to go with you. Make it a routine to bike to this place once a week. You’ll be surprise how soon you would want to increase the number of trips.

To make a bigger impact, I think it’s important to always keep a positive and friendly image about bicycling. Be an example in your community, by first riding (not just talking about it), being respectful to others on the road and outside of it, and getting involve in local issues where bicycling can change the dialogue.

If you could look 20 years into the future of the cycling movement, how would you hope things would be different?

Cycling will be normalized, and recognized as a formal mode of transportation by our government.
Every city will have a network of physical infrastructure for cycling that is connected to attractive destinations.
There will be a measurable evidence of the impacts of the active transportation mode shift in the overall health of our communities, especially kids and youth.

Women’s Cycling Forum Presents: Sue Macy

2012-03-15T12:00:10+00:00

Sue Macy, author of “Wheels of Change: How Women Rode the Bicycle to Freedom,” will be the keynote speaker at the National Women Cycling Forum on March 20. Click here to register for the event!

Who or what inspired you to start cycling?

Although I rode my bike as a kid and throughout college (in the 1970s), it wasn’t until I started training for a Danskin triathlon in 2005 that I started cycling again. I’m still an occasional cyclist, but I love it every time I ride.

What’s your favorite memory or proudest moment on a bike (or in bicycle advocacy)?

When I finished writing “Wheels of Change: How Women Rode the Bicycle to Freedom (With a Few Flats Along the Way)” in 2010, a friend and I took part in a cycling weekend in Maine sponsored by L.L. Bean. There were all different levels of cyclists, including some kids, but there was a family of incredibly fit folks from Sweden who basically set their own pace. On the second day, I actually passed the strapping dad and two of his 20-something kids, which left me with a great feeling of accomplishment! The fact that they passed me back about a mile later didn’t diminish my sense of satisfaction.

What campaigns, events or other efforts are you working on right now or looking forward to that have the potential to increase women cycling?

My main connection to cycling is through speaking about its history, especially the impact of cycling on women’s lives in the 1890s. Over the past year, I’ve spoken to all sorts of audiences: cyclists, kids, librarians, senior citizens. Hopefully, more women will be encouraged to ride today when they consider the impact of cycling on women’s freedom the first time around.

What advice would you give to women who are wary of cycling — or to women who want to have a bigger impact in advancing cycling in their community?

As a wary cyclist myself, I’d say start cycling on Sunday mornings. There’s usually less traffic on Sundays and many of those who are on the road are driving less aggressively because they’re not rushing to work. It also helps to have a destination, like a farmer’s market or a coffee place. Another suggestion is that if you’re getting back on your bike after a long time, be sure to first get it checked out by a mechanic. You’ll feel more confident if you know all the parts are in working order. And consider taking a bicycle mechanics class yourself. Many communities have them, and they’ll help your confidence as well.

If you could look 20 years into the future of the cycling movement, how would you hope things would be different?

I hope there will be more universal awareness of cyclists by motorists, which will make cycling a whole lot safer. Toward that end, I hope communities will come up with better designs for bike lanes and better laws allowing cyclists the right of way. I also hope more cities and towns will institute programs with public bikes, where you can pick one up, ride it, and deposit it when you’re done—hopefully for free.

Senate Bipartisan Transportation Bill Approved with Biking and Walking Amendments

2012-03-14T19:26:10+00:00

Big news from Congress: the Senate has approved their two-year transportation bill, and it offers key revisions for biking and walking.

Two weeks ago, we were pleased to learn that thanks to the tireless efforts of advocates from across the country, the Cardin-Cochran amendment for local transportation control was incorporated into MAP-21, the Senate transportation bill. The amendment ensures that local governments, school systems, and metropolitan planning organizations are able to access funds to make biking and walking safe and accessible in our communities.

Now, a second manager’s amendment to the Senate bill makes key revisions to allow bicycles on federally owned roads and to preserve the Recreational Trails program.

In a previous version of MAP-21, a Mandatory Sidepath law was poised to ban bicycles on federally owned roads if with a speed limit over 30 miles per hour and an adjacent paved path within 100 yards. Besides the fact that this provision ignores cyclists’ fundamental right to the road, it would have banned cyclists from roads in national parks regardless of the quality and safety of roads and nearby sidepaths.

The new manager’s amendment alters the sidepath provision to allow bicycles on federally owned roads so long as the road receives a bicycle level of service (BLOS) rating of B or higher. In other words, if the road’s characteristics (speed, number of lanes, quality of pavement, width) reach a certain score according to the BLOS algorithm, people on bicycles will not be relegated to a potentially inferior and less safe sidepath.

Older versions of MAP-21 also eliminated the Recreational Trails Program, the only federal funding source for multi-use singletrack trails. Without this funding, organized trail planning, development, and maintenance would have vanished in many parts of the country, despite continued growth of mountain biking across the country.

In the newly amended version of MAP-21, state Departments of Transportation have the option to preserve the Recreational Trails program in their state. If they do not opt out, a set-aside of the state’s Additional Activities funds would go towards Recreational Trails activities. (Funding would be equivalent to 2009 levels of Recreational Trails for that state.) This new language will ensure that states are able to continue to draw on federal funding for the Recreational Trails program as they see fit.

Without the thousands of calls and messages from advocates, we would not have gotten over this crucial hurdle. But our work is not done yet. Stay tuned for more information on the next steps as we work to preserve federal funding for biking and walking.

For more information about the status of the Federal Transportation Bill, head over to the America Bikes website.

Women Cycling Forum presents: Elysa Walk

2012-03-14T12:00:10+00:00

Elysa Walk, General Manager of Giant Bicycle Inc, will be a panelist at the National Women Cycling Forum on March 20. Click here to register for the event!

Who or what inspired you to start cycling?

A friend inspired me to start cycling. I think that women have such powerful relationships with their girlfriends and enjoy riding together in non-competitive, fun adventures.

What’s your favorite memory or proudest moment on a bike (or in bicycle advocacy)?

My proudest moment on a bike was completing a ride around the island of Taiwan (600 miles) with the other General Managers of Giant subsidiaries worldwide. I was the only female to complete the whole ride and we had tough conditions to get through with weather, traffic, jet lag and cultural challenges. Coming into the finish at Giant’s Global HQ with hundreds of people cheering, fireworks and photos was unforgetable.

What campaigns, events or other efforts are you working on right now or looking forward to that have the potential to increase women cycling?

I am most excited about an ambassador program that we have just launched at Liv/giant. We want to support those local ladies who are key influencers to cycling in their community. We are giving them tools and incentives to structure women’s group rides, maintenance clinics, ladies nights, etc. because we want to get more women on bikes. Women encourage other women at a personal level much better than a brand can or a guy can. Plus, as a bicycle brand, it is difficult for us to be out in the communities, so we are aligning and supporting some neat ladies as ambassadors who can be a groundswell for cycling in their areas.

What advice would you give to women who are wary of cycling — or to women who want to have a bigger impact in advancing cycling in their community?

To women who want to have a bigger impact in advancing cycling to others who are wary, I would say that they should use their inherent female power of being experts in relationships! Remember the times when you have been so touched that someone reached out to you? Turn that around and reach out to invite that active gal to an easy, fun weekend ride with other women, even if it’s just to a coffee shop or around a beautiful lake. She is going to be intimidated by a fast group clad in spandex, but not so in a safe “no-drop” group that can introduce her to cycling, help her if she gets a flat, and teach her a few things about feeling secure on the road with traffic.

If you could look 20 years into the future of the cycling movement, how would you hope things would be different?

I hope that every major city in the United States is the new Amsterdam, where cycling is part of life for everyone.

Boston Cyclists Union Celebrates New Design for Casey Overpass

2012-03-13T20:00:10+00:00

The Boston Cyclists Union had a major win last week, when the vote on the Casey Overpass came back with the decision to build at at-grade roadway.

The Casey Overpass is a crumbling bridge in the Jamaica Plains neighborhood of Boston. The bridge has to be torn down, and the debate raged over what to replace it with: a new bridge, or a new street-level road?

Replacing the old bridge with a new bridge seems like the easiest solution, however building that bridge would not include bike lanes, while the at-grade solutions would include greenery, bike lanes, and a generally more pedestrian-friendly atmosphere.

The Boston Cyclsits’ Union worked hard to see this happen. “We had a working advisory group and a neighborhood that was pretty divided as the process inched forward over the last year, but we were able to pull together a wide coalition of neighborhood and interest groups and dozens of passionate neighborhood activists to get the information out there on the project’s potential benefits for active transportation, economic development and even increased social activity,” Pete Stidman said of the efforts over the past year.

As the project moves forward, Pete is hopeful about what this means for the rest of Boston and active transportation. “The really exciting thing about the project is that it signals the beginning of a very different paradigm in street design in Boston and maybe Massachusetts altogether, which will now join several other urban areas around the nation that are moving away from elevate highways toward pedestrian and bike friendly boulevards. Hopefully this is the first in a long line of major reconstruction projects that will gradually make Boston’s streets among the safest and most beautiful in the country.”

Community Bike Shop Gathering at National Bike Summit

2012-03-08T10:32:10+00:00

The Alliance is hosting a meeting of leaders from community bike shops from across the country during the 2012 National Bike Summit. We invite leaders of community bike shops from across the continent to attend this gathering so your voice can be heard.

While community bike shops play a critical role in getting more people on bikes, and engaging people and communities whose needs are often not addressed by traditional advocacy groups, there has not been a clear avenue for community bike shops to engage with national advocacy groups. This forum will be an interactive conversation among leaders of community bike shops and Alliance staff to examine how the Alliance can better serve community bike shops across the country.

Space is limited due to the size of our venue, so please register now to ensure you are able to participate. The meeting will be held at Teaism, 400 8th Street NW Washington, DC 20004, just a few blocks from the National Bike Summit hotel.

If you have any questions, please contact Mike Samuelson at Mike@PeoplePoweredMovement.org.

Chicago Advocates Push New Transit Bill

2012-03-07T12:30:10+00:00

Last September, Active Transportation Alliance launched a new campaign to preserve and improve the Chicago’s public transit system. Last week, the Riders for Transit initiative kicked into high gear with a full-court press for progressive state legislation.

On February 29th, the Chicago advocates mobilized nearly 30 volunteers for their Riders for Better Transit Day of Action. The volunteers passed out more than 6,000 fliers urging Chicago’s transit riders to support the Transit Fast Forward bill, a measure Active Trans worked to introduce in the state legislature.

Put simply, the Transit Fast Forward bill invests in faster, more reliable, more frequent and expanded transit service through a new, dedicated source of funding. According to Active Trans: “[The bill] would provide a new, dedicated source of funding for transit that will grow over time—generating an estimated $11.6 million in 2013, and a projected $168 million over the first five years. It indexes the state gas tax with inflation, a move that will add an additional fraction of a penny per gallon dedicated to public transportation. The end result will be better commutes for drivers and transit riders alike.”

At a news conference last week, Active Trans’ Executive Director, Ron Burke, made clear that increased funding is critical. “A lot of us who ride transit are really more and more fed up with higher fares and worse service,’’ he said. “Unfortunately, transit has been derailed by chronic underfunding.’’

To build awareness and solicit support from transit riders, volunteers will continue to engage morning commuters and distribute fliers outside of major downtown Chicago train stops. “The next few weeks are critical for the Transit Fast Forward bill as we build support in the legislature,” Breen Conway, Active Transportation Alliance’s Transit Campaign Coordinator, said.

Read more about Riders for Better Transit’s plans here.

PHOTO by Grid Chicago: Active Trans’ Executive Director Ron Burke makes the case for new state legislation at last week’s press conference.

Secretary Ray LaHood Seeks YOUR Questions

2012-03-06T13:17:10+00:00

Do you have a question for Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood? Now’s your chance to ask!

In preparation for his next “On the Go” question-and-answer webisode, Secretary LaHood is inviting Alliance members to submit their transportation questions. The Secretary will select a few of them to answer in his episode, and he’ll answer a few more just for us in a People Powered Blog post.

Post your questions directly on Secretary LaHood’s Facebook page or Twitter feed (@RayLaHood, using the #q4ray hashtag)—making sure to mention you’re with the Alliance. Questions are due by Wed, March 7, at 3 p.m. Eastern.

Photo: Ray LaHood at a 2010 thank-you event hosted by America Bikes

Capacity Building Grant Inquiries Due Friday

2012-03-05T13:00:10+00:00

Inquiry proposals for Advocacy Advance’s Capacity Building Grants are due this Friday, March 9.

This year, $25,000 in grants will be awarded to support the development and professionalization of state and local advocacy organizations to increase rates of biking and walking. These matching grants, funded by Planet Bike, can be used for campaigns that will support organizational development, hire staff, increase membership, and other tools to foster a sustainable advocacy organization.

Refer to the Advocacy Advance Grants FAQs document for a summary of the common questions, as well as additional information on the grants and application process.

Advocacy Advance is pleased to offer an additional $35,000 in Rapid Response Grants in 2012 to help state and local organizations take advantage of unexpected opportunities to win, increase, or preserve funding for biking and walking.

Advocacy Advance — a partnership of the League of American Bicyclists and the Alliance for Biking & Walking, funded by SRAM — has awarded more than $600,000 in grants and scholarships to member organizations since 2009. In addition to grants, the Advocacy Advance team provides resources, technical assistance, coaching, and training to bike/ped advocacy organizations around the country.

If you have any questions, or call her at 202-621-5442.

Georgia Advocates Turn Single-File Threat into Complete Streets Opportunity

2012-03-05T10:55:10+00:00

It started with a bill that would have curtailed cyclists’ rights. But the advocates at Georgia Bikes turned a threat into an opportunity.

Last month, Senator Butch Miller introduced a bill in the Georgia legislature that would have required cyclists ride single file on all roadways. Currently, only three other states ban riding two abreast — and the advocates at Georgia Bikes didn’t want the Peach State joining the short list.

“Georgia Bikes responded immediately,” says Brent Buice, executive director of the state advocacy organization. The group’s lobbyist met with the senator’s staff and advocates began writing revised language that would make the law comparable to other states and palatable to cyclists. By the time the measure hit the Transportation Committee, Georgia Bikes had advocates lined up to testify. “We had parents and a bike shop owner, who focused on the economic impact of a bad bicycling law,” Buice says.

Behind the scenes, Georgia Bikes constructively engaged with Miller’s staff, specifically addressing the public safety outcomes the senator was seeking to address. In short order, the advocates won a significant revisions to the bill language — instead of requiring single file riding, the amended version permitted riding two abreast.

But their success didn’t end with salvaging a bad bill. Instead, Georgia Bikes completely shifted the conversation. Last week, Senator Miller confirmed that he was abandoning the original measure and, instead, would work closely with bicycle advocates to craft and implement a state Complete Streets policy.

“Senator Miller recognizes that legislating common sense and courtesy is difficult to accomplish and that thoughtful transportation policies will benefit all Georgians,” Buice wrote on the Georgia Bikes blog. “Georgia’s cyclists sincerely thank the Senator for his dedication to protecting the rights and safety of all of Georgia’s road users.”

According to Buice, the secret to advocates’ success was keeping the lines of communication open and being mindful of the legislator’s true objectives. “We turned our opposition into a chance for Senator Miller to look good by supporting a complete streets resolution, which, we explained, addresses the core issues that led to the conflicts he was hearing about,” Buice says.

Big Victory for Biking & Walking in the Senate!

2012-03-02T10:42:10+00:00

We’ve just won a big battle for biking and walking in the Senate. After several long weeks of intense work from advocates around the country, the Cardin-Cochran Amendment has been accepted as part of the base Senate transportation bill, MAP-21.

If MAP-21 becomes law, the language from this amendment will ensure that local governments, school systems, and metropolitan planning organizations are able to access much-needed funds to make bicycling and walking safe and accessible.

With the acceptance of the Cardin-Cochran amendment, here’s how MAP-21 would work if it becomes law:

Transportation Enhancements, Safe Routes to School, and Recreational Trails are consolidated into a new program called Additional Activities.
State Departments of Transportation (DOTs) will make their Additional Activities funding available to metropolitan planning organizations (MPOs) and local governments. Here’s how they’ll allocate the funds:
- The state DOT will allocate 50% of the Additional Activities, based on population, to MPOs and rural areas. MPOs will then distribute the funds through a competitive grant program for projects in their communities.
- For the remaining 50% of Additional Activities, the state DOT would host its own competitive grant process for projects. Local governments, school districts, and others would be eligible to compete for this funding.

If it becomes law, this legislation would ensure that local governments and communities have a voice in the transportation decisions that affect their streets. The safeguards included in MAP-21 would ensure that communities of every size benefit from making their own localized transportation decisions for safe streets.

Huge thanks to everyone who helped make this happen, including:

Senators Cardin (D-MD) and Cochran (R-MS) who sponsored the original amendment.
Environment and Public Works Committee leadership who accepted the language into the base bill:
- Senator Boxer (D-CA)
- Senator Inhofe (R-OK)
- Senator Baucus (D-MT)
- Senator Vitter (R-LA)
And of course, everyone who called and emailed in support of this amendment. Your voices made this possible!

In order to make this law, the Reid Amendment must pass the Senate. Please urge your Senators to vote for cloture on the Reid Amendment!

Stay tuned to the America Bikes website for updates and developments. And thank you again for your continued support and hard work to make biking and walking in America safe and accessible.

Winners Announced for 2011 Alliance Photo Contest

2012-03-01T14:09:10+00:00

The Alliance is pleased to announce the winners of the 2011 People Powered Movement Photo Contest.

With three new categories in 2011—Women, Diversity, and Open Streets—more than 1,700 photos were submitted from photographers across North America. After a public voting period, finalists and winners were selected by a diverse panel of judges and Alliance staff.

“To increase biking and walking, advocates need access to quality photos that convey the power and possibility of a self-propelled lifestyle,” said Carolyn Szczepanski, Alliance Communications Coordinator. “The images submitted to the People Powered Movement Photo Contest will serve as a practical and inspirational resource for state and local leaders across North America.”

Rachel Schell, a photographer from Spokane, WA, won the overall grand prize for “Flying” and will receive an all-expenses-paid, 10-day bike trip to Tuscany, Italy, from VBT Bicycling and Walking Vacations. Liv Ames from San Jose, CA, won second place overall for her photo “Vancouver Foot Traffic,” and Russell Roca of Corvallis, OR, took third place overall for his “Biking Family” image.

Partnering with the Alliance to share these images with a wider audience, Momentum magazine is featuring winning photographs from all seven contest categories in its March/April 2012 issue. “The best and most captivating way to encourage biking and walking is to see others doing it, so the second best way is to see this in photos,” said Mia Kohout, publisher of Momentum magazine. “We’re excited to have the opportunity to publish such outstanding works, and we’d like to extend a special congratulations to the winners!”

Visit www.PeoplePoweredMovement.org/photocontest to view winning photos in all categories. All photos will be incorporated into the Alliance Photo Library by April 1.

PHOTO: Grand Prize winner, “Flying” by Rachel Schell

Another Success in Atlanta: Q&A with Action 2020 Workshop Participants

2012-02-28T10:44:10+00:00

The Advocacy Advance team took a trip down to Atlanta for an Action 2020 Workshop this month and met with more than 50 advocates, agency staff, and elected officials from across the region.

The free, one-day training empowered attendees with a wealth of information about federal, state, and local funding sources and practices, and how to make bicycles and pedestrians a local priority. It also provided a unique and productive chance for professionals from different sectors to network and share ideas.

The workshop was hosted by the Atlanta Bicycle Coalition and the Atlanta Regional Commission. To provide some insight on the impact and take-aways from the workshop, Advocacy Advance staffer Matt Wempe spoke with Brent Buice, Executive Director of Georgia Bikes! and Fred Boykin, Decatur City Commission, District 1.

Advocacy Advance: What did you know about federal funding coming into the workshop?

Brent Buice: I knew a lot about Transportation Enhancements (TE) and Safe Routes to School (SRTS), and an emerging awareness of the Recreational Trails Program (RTP). I had heard a little bit about Congestion Mitigation and Air Quality (CMAQ), but didn’t know anything else about the other programs.

Fred Boykin: I had some knowledge about TE and the local Livable Cities and Centers initiatives from the Atlanta Regional Commission (ARC). Outside of that, I wasn’t too familiar with the other sources that were presented. It was really beneficial for me to see the statistics and comparisons between Georgia and other states.

Read the full story on the Advocacy Advance blog.

PA Advocates Win Safe Passing Law

2012-02-27T10:21:10+00:00

Thanks to advocates at Bike Pittsburgh, the Bicycle Coalition of Greater Philadelphia and PA Walks and Bikes, Pennsylvania will soon become the 22nd state that requires motorists pass cyclists at a safe distance.

The legislation protects cyclists against dreaded right hook collisions and prohibits drivers from buzzing past bikes too close and too fast. The bill mandates that:

Every car that passes a bike must give a minimum of 4-feet of clearance at a “prudent reduced speed”
No turn by a motorist may interfere with a bicycle proceeding straight
Bicycles may be operated at a safe and reasonable speed appropriate for bicycles
Bicycles must be operated in the right hand lane, or as close as practicable to the right-hand curb or edge of roadway.
This does not apply to a bicycle using any portion of the road due to unsafe surface conditions.

The law, which was signed by Republican Governor Tom Corbett on February 2 and will go into effect on April 2, has been on advocates’ legislative agenda since 2009, when the bill was first introduced in the Pennsylvania House with just six cosponsors. In 2011, the measure passed the House and, with a grassroots nudging from advocates, the bill won approval by a 45 to 5 margin in the state Senate last month.

“Although we think it’s common sense for drivers to pass with a minimum of four feet and never make a right turn in front of a cyclist, these laws are intended to to protect us in the unfortunate event that it should happen,” Erok Boerer wrote on the BikePGH blog this month. “All too often the cyclist is blamed for any crash (just ask someone who’s been in one), and often has little to no recourse or support from the law.”

The law also opens the door for better awareness among motorists. “With this language now in the PA Vehicle Code, it offers opportunities for driver education, as the law can now be included in driver’s tests, driver’s manuals, and driver’s ed classes,” Boerer added. “Clearly stating how people should drive when overtaking a bicycle will also help educate police officers as their job requires them to be versed in the vehicle code.”

Way to go, Pennsylvania!

Rapid Response Grant Supports SRTS Innovation in Minnesota

2012-02-23T13:00:10+00:00

Is the federal transportation reauthorization process getting you down? Take a page from the Bicycle Alliance of Minnesota’s book and innovate state funding for your bicycle and pedestrian programs. Let Advocacy Advance help with a Rapid Response Grant.

BikeMN started a campaign last month to include a $3 million appropriation in the 2012 Minnesota Bonding Bill to launch a statewide Safe Routes to School grant program. Advocacy Advance has awarded BikeMN a $3,000 Rapid Response grant to support their efforts.

Their idea has spurred the interest and involvement of the Minnesota Safe Kids Coalition, American Heart Association, American Cancer Society, Minnesota Childhood Obesity Legislative Working Group and Blue Cross Blue Shield of Minnesota, and this grant will help them carry out their lead role. The $3,000 will be used to hire a lobbyist and have a professional presence at the state capitol during the process.

This campaign meets the grant’s urgency requirement. The Minnesota Legislature convened on January 24 for a 10-week session. Without the financial support of their efforts, BikeMN would need to wait until 2014. This precedent-setting allocation of general state revenue to SRTS would have lasting implications on how the state uses spends its transportation funds and could serve as a model for Alliance organizations.

Thanks to the support of SRAM Cycling Fund, Advocacy Advance has $35,000 remaining to fund organizations met with urgent and unexpected opportunities to win, increase, or preserve funding for biking and walking. There is no application deadline for these rolling grants and accepted proposals will be funded within one month. Visit the Advocacy Advance website or for more information on our grant program.

New National Plan to Transform Bicycling

2012-02-22T20:39:10+00:00

The leadership of the Alliance for Biking & Walking, Bikes Belong, and the League of American Bicyclists has agreed that uniting the three organizations would dramatically improve their effectiveness in increasing bicycle use in U.S. communities. Leaders of the three groups issued a joint statement summarizing the outcome of their recent meeting in San Diego, February 13-14:

“Our enthusiasm to take this momentous step for the movement is matched by a commitment to do this right,” said Noah Budnick, Board Chair of the Alliance for Biking & Walking. The boards of all three organizations must ratify the agreement. Once (and if) that occurs, the transition team will work with a variety of board, staff, partners and advisors to determine the initial programs, membership structure, and staff needs of the new organization. “Changes will be implemented carefully and respectfully over time,” continued Budnick, “and it is important to say that all existing contractual agreements will be honored and the continuity of existing memberships is assured.”

“We can transform communities across the United States and accelerate the creation of a more bicycle-friendly America by combining the programs, resources, and members of these three leading organizations,” said Chris Fortune, Chairman of the Bikes Belong board and member of the transition team empowered to facilitate unification of the three groups. The transition team comprises representatives of each organization and will be working with the boards, staff, and members of each group to implement the process.

“There is a lot of work ahead,” acknowledged Hans van Naerssen, Chair of the League’s board and a member of the transition team. “We must determine how to combine the diverse strengths of a powerful alliance of state and local organizations, a storied national user group, and a vibrant industry association in a way that preserves their unique attributes and realizes the game-changing potential of a single entity.”

See the official statement here.

Read the announcement on the Bikes Belong or League of American Bicyclists’ blog.

For more information contact:

Tim Blumenthal, President, Bikes Belong
303-449-4893 / tim@bikesbelong.org

Andy Clarke, President, League of American Bicyclists
202-822-1333 / andy@bikeleague.org

Jeffrey Miller, President/CEO, Alliance for Biking & Walking
202-445-4415 / jeff@PeoplePoweredMovement.org

Alliance FAQs

Is the Alliance going to disappear?
If the boards of the Alliance, League, and Bikes Belong all move forward toward unification, we will be creating a new organization that will carry on many of the great programs and services our three separate organizations currently provide. The Alliance leadership is excited by the opportunity to work with our closest partners as one team and further leverage our strengths together. The new unified organization will have a significant focus on integrating state and local organizations and their needs into programs and decisions.

What will happen with the Alliance’s capacity building programs?
The Alliance’s trainings, retreats, coaching, and strategic planning are key components to building the capacity of organizations and leaders. Their worth is clear and valued by our partner organizations and, while details and changes have yet to be determined, these core programs will continue to be available in the new unified organization.

What is happening with the Alliance’s commitment to walking organizations?
The Alliance’s capacity building program, Benchmarking Project, Open Streets Project and core services are all available to walking and bicycling organizations alike. While the new organization will have a bicycling focus, the key programs of the Alliance will continue to be available to walking organizations. Furthermore, we will partner even more closely with America Walks.

Will Canadian and Mexican organizations be left out?
The new unified organization will be focused on the U.S. but as with walking organizations, our members in Canada and Mexico will have access to the capacity building programs that continue in the new organization.

Does our organization still need to renew?
Yes. For the year 2012, the Alliance will still be offering the wide range of services for state and local organizations. No final decision to change anything has been made; this is the kind of important detail we have to resolve in the coming months. Moving forward, we are seeking to create a vertically integrated membership structure that will benefit state and local organizations.

Which Alliance programs survive and which ones go?
The three groups are joining forces to maximize our impact at a time when our programs are working well. The goal is not to cut programs or staff, or to reduce costs. We remain committed to building the capacity of state and local organizations, benchmarking progress in biking and walking, promoting open streets, and offering our trainings and retreats. We are going to do these things with greater financial resources, stronger participation from our partners, and fully integrating the national, state and local advocacy programs of each group. We believe this represents a huge boost to all of our programs and for state and local organizations.

Should I continue to support the Alliance or wait to see what happens?
We encourage you to absolutely continue your support. The Alliance’s work is more important now than ever. The unification of these three organizations will magnify the impact we can have, while simplifying the structure and network of organizations that are working together.

What is the timeline and what is next?
Each of the boards of all three organizations will need to ratify this proposal, and there are still quite a number of important details to be worked out. We expect to work through most of this during the spring and summer with a decision to proceed (or not) by September 2012. If all goes well, we hope to launch the new organization by January 2013. We invite all our members to think of key elements you wish to see in this new organization. We will be doing our best to invite member input in the months ahead.

Alliance Partnership Launches Open Streets Project Website and Guide

2012-02-21T17:27:10+00:00

In communities across the country, open streets initiatives are redefining citizens’ relationships with public spaces and encouraging millions of Americans to get active. To foster the growth and development of these exciting initiatives, the Alliance for Biking & Walking and the Street Plans Collaborative have launched two new, innovative resources: The Open Streets Project website and the Open Streets Guide.

Open streets initiatives temporarily close streets to automobiles, allowing residents to walk, bike, skate, dance and utilize the roadways in countless creative and active ways. From Los Angeles to Ottawa, and Missoula to Miami, open streets have become a way for cities to build community, promote active transportation and reconnect neighborhoods divided by traffic.

The website, www.OpenStreetsProject.org, showcases dozens of current initiatives across the continent and allows municipalities and advocacy organizations to share information and resources on their open streets initiatives as they evolve and expand. The Open Streets Guide features best practices from 67 initiatives across the continent, and serves as a tool for cities looking to start or grow an open streets initiative. Click here to download the free electronic copy of the guide. A print version will be available on March 21, 2012 at www.OpenStreetsProject.org.

“Open Streets initiatives are transformational for people and their communities,” said Jeffrey Miller, Alliance President/CEO. “When communities open their streets to people, they inspire citizens to see their roads as public spaces, and provide a welcoming gateway for residents to engage in healthy lifestyles and active transportation.”

“The Open Streets Project aims to support these exciting initiatives by providing advocates and organizers a comprehensive overview of organizational and implementation strategies,” said Mike Lydon, Founding Principal of The Street Plans Collaborative. “We believe the Project will be a catalyst for the continued growth of the open streets in communities across the continent.”

If your city or organization has information to share about an open streets initiative in your community, please contact Mike Samuelson, Alliance Open Streets Coordinator, at (202) 449-9692 x7 or mike@PeoplePoweredMovement.org.

Everything You Need to Apply for a Capacity Building Grant

2012-02-21T12:00:10+00:00

Last week, the Alliance hosted two question-and-answer calls for advocates interested in applying for 2012 Advocacy Advance Capacity Building Grants.

Refer to the Advocacy Advance Grants FAQs document for a summary of the questions asked during both sessions, as well as additional information on the grants and application process.

Advocacy Advance is a partnership between the Alliance and the League of American Bicyclists. This year, a total of $60,000 in awards will go to organizations applying for Rapid Response and Capacity Building Grants. Learn more about our two types of grants and download Inquiry Proposal Forms on the Advocacy Advance website.

Do you have additional questions about what makes a campaign vs. a program? Visit the Alliance Resource Library to review our Campaign Checklist. What have other grantee organizations accomplished with their awards? Read more here. Do you still have questions? Contact Brighid O’Keane by or at 202-621-5442.

Inquiry proposals for Capacity Building Grants are due Friday, March 9. Rapid Response proposals are accepted on a rolling basis.

Action 2020 Workshop Applications Due Next Friday

2012-02-17T10:55:10+00:00

Applications to host Action 2020 Workshops are due next Friday, February 24 at 5:00 p.m. (Eastern). Advocates, agency staff, and/or elected officials are required to work on and submit a workshop application together.

These workshops bring together advocates, agency staff, and elected officials and are designed to ensure that participants have the knowledge, skills and resources to access un- or under-utilized federal funding sources at the state, regional and local level to build bicycling and walking infrastructure and programs.

During the workshops, participants will:

Learn about under-utilized funding sources that exist for biking and walking projects and programs, which the region has not yet tapped into;
Learn the key characteristics, requirements, and opportunities of those sources and best practices from around the country;
Discuss favorable factors for bicycling and walking investments;
Understand the important role of advocates, agency staff, and elected officials in securing this funding
Share knowledge and experiences in the local context, working together to develop a list of local priorities and strategies for funding bicycle and pedestrian projects and programs.

Download the application form on the Advocacy Advance website and contact as soon as possible if you have any questions. These one-day workshops are offered for free, thanks to the generous support of SRAM.

PHOTO: Tucson Action 2020 Workshop

League of Michigan Bicyclists Petitions Amtrak to Accommodate Bikes

2012-02-15T12:00:10+00:00

Last year, the League of Michigan Bicyclists (LMB) worked to ensure that the new Michigan State Rail Plan included bike-friendly provisions for traveling cyclists — and won. The new plan recommends that two- (or three-) wheeling travelers be allowed to bring their bikes aboard trains chugging through the Great Lakes State. But there’s one small hitch: It’s just a recommendation, not a mandate.

Now, the LMB is using the rail plan momentum to convince Amtrak to do the right thing for cyclists.

“LMB added bikes on trains as one of our advocacy priorities last year,” says John Lindenmayer, LMB’s Advocacy and Policy Director. “Cyclists, however, have been clamoring for sometime for the right to travel with their bikes on Michigan Amtrak lines. Since Amtrak has implemented roll-on bike service in other states, we decided to launch this petition drive to ensure that Amtrak hears directly from the Michigan cycling community.”

Adding fuel to the fire, Michigan was recently awarded federal funds to purchase news cars, and the LMB wants to see those new cars outfitted with bike racks, and the older cars retrofitted to accommodate bikes.

“The petition is to help ensure that on board bicycle accommodations are included in these new cars and to urge Amtrak to retrofit existing cars with on board bike racks,” Lindenmayer says. “Our state is home to a number of bicycle tours in or near Michigan communities serviced by Amtrak. These communities could benefit from increased tourism spending, particularly from vacationing Chicago residents. Allowing passengers to travel from community to community and then bicycle to their final destinations will also help enhance multi-modal transportation options across the state.”

The petition has already garnered more that 1000 signatures, and still going strong. According to Lindenmayer, that success has been driven largely by the LMB’s strong social media following. Most of those signature happened over the course of one weekend through the use of Facebook and Twitter to expand the message.

Click here to read more about the petition and to sign the petition.

Prominent Author to Keynote National Women Cycling Forum

2012-02-13T16:00:10+00:00

Sue Macy, author of Wheels of Change: How Women Rode the Bicycle to Freedom (With a Few Flat Tires Along the Way), will appear as the keynote speaker at the inaugural National Women Cycling Forum. The forum will be held on March 20 from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. in conjunction with the 2012 National Bike Summit.

Women still cycle at much lower rates than men in the United States—making up just 24 percent of bike trips in 2009. But that trend is shifting. This Forum will be the first national gathering specifically dedicated to raising awareness about and discussing how to engage more women in bicycling.

“This critical topic and rising energy is gathering momentum across the country as more women of all backgrounds are starting to ride or getting more involved in the movement,” said Carolyn Szczepanski, Communications Coordinator for the Alliance for Biking & Walking. “We’re eager to start a continuing conversation aimed at increasing the number of women who bicycle for transportation and recreation.”

Sue Macy will provide unique inspiration to kick off that discussion. Among other accolades, Wheels of Change was named to the 2011 Best Books lists from the Washington Post and the San Francisco Book Review. “Ms. Macy wrote a captivating book about the bicycle’s historic role in women’s empowerment, and we hope this forum will be the catalyst to begin closing the gender gap in today’s cycling environment,” said Kit Keller, Executive Director of the Association of Pedestrian and Bicycle Professionals.

In addition to the keynote presentation from Macy, other confirmed speakers include:

Elysa Walk, General Manager, Giant Bicycles Inc.
Marla Streb, former World Mountain Bike Champion
Andrea Garland, Planner, Alta Planning + Design
Veronica Davis, Founder, Black Women Bike D.C.
Kimberly White, Youth Advocate, Recycle-A-Bicycle
Nelle Pierson, Events Coordinator, Washington Area Bicyclist Association

Registration is free, and everyone is encouraged to attend. Sign up at www.nationalwomencyclingforum.eventbrite.com.

On March 21, the conversation will continue with a Women Cycling Social at Busboys & Poets from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. Both events are co-hosted by the Alliance for Biking & Walking and the Association of Pedestrian and Bicycle Professionals and generously sponsored by Giant Bicycle Inc., CLIF Bar, the League of American Bicyclists and the National Center for Bicycling and Walking.

For more information, questions, or sponsorship opportunities, contact Carolyn Szczepanski at (202) 449-9692 x2 or Carolyn@peoplepoweredmovement.org.

Grants Q&A Calls This Week

2012-02-13T12:00:10+00:00

Join us this Thursday and Friday, February 16 and 17 at 1 p.m. Eastern for question-and-answer sessions for prospective applicants for Advocacy Advance Capacity Building Grants. Click here to register for one of the calls.

Capacity Building Grants support the development and professionalization of state and local advocacy organizations to increase rates of biking and walking. These matching grants, funded by Planet Bike, can be used for organizational development, hiring staff, building membership and for other organizational tools to foster a sustainable advocacy organization.

Visit the Advocacy Advance website for a detailed outline, including guidelines, criteria and other requirements. Inquiry applications are available online and are due by March 9.

If you have any questions, contact Brighid . If you are interested but unable to attend one of the calls, a recording will be posted on the Advocacy Advance website early next week.

Advocates Launch Effort to “Double Number of Women and Girls Riding Bikes”

2012-02-10T10:18:10+00:00

The state of California has nearly 37 million residents — and scores of League Cycling Instructors. But how many of those certified bike educators are women? Melissa Balmer of Women on Bikes SoCal in Long Beach did some digging and discovered, in Southern California, there are just 20 female LCIs. This week, her organization launched an effort to change that.

Launched in November 2012 with the aim to encourage, engage and empower women to bicycle, Women on Bikes SoCal is a collaboration of Bikeable Communities, Bikestation, Vice Mayor Suja Lowenthal of Long Beach and the Los Angeles County Bicycle Coalition. Though still in its early stages, WoBSoCal charged out of the gate with a bold agenda and innovative inaugural campaign: Let’s double the number of women and girls riding bikes by 2017. On Monday, they launched Phase 1 of their efforts by announcing the first-ever women-only LCI certification training.

Backed by scholarships, 12 women will be chosen for the program and, in return, will donate 25 hours of bike safety training to their communities. With a target training date of June 2012, Chris Quint, whose traffic video Cyclists’ Eye View is included with all training materials provided to LCI’s by the League of American Bicyclists, will serve as the lead trainer for the program, with the support of three female LCI’s.

So how does training women to teach increase female bicycling mode share? As the Alliance’s 2012 Benchmarking Report highlights, women accounted for only 24 of bike trips in 2009. And, according to Andrea White-Kjoss, founder and COO of BIkestation, empowering female instructors is key to closing the bicycling gender gap. “Bicycling is intensely personal, and it follows that, though there is overlap, the needs and desires of bicyclists differ by gender,” White-Kjoss said. “Women trainers have a distinct connection to what it takes to cycle as a woman — and they will create a curriculum that addresses the needs of women cyclists and will teach in ways that resonate with other women. It’s called targeted marketing, and it works.”

Jen Klausner, Executive Director of the Los Angeles County Bicycle Coalition, agreed. “As an LCI, a coach, and a longtime observer of the gender gap among bicyclists, I’m proud to be part of this very beginning of a program with great promise,” she said. “This is an unprecedented opportunity for women interested in the growing bicycle culture to really be on the forefront of social change, by earning the certification and then contributing to a regional campaign aimed at getting more women on bikes.”

Stay tuned to Women on Bikes SoCal for updates. And check out the latest edition of their e-magazine, which features Klausner and Alexis Lantz of the LACBC (pictured).

And, if you haven’t already, sign up for the first-ever National Women Cycling Forum on March 20, 2012, here in Washington, DC.

Save Our Streets: Oppose the House Bill, Support the Senate Amendment

2012-02-09T13:16:10+00:00

It’s time to ask both chambers of Congress to save our streets.

The current Senate transportation bill dilutes walking and biking programs. To improve the bill, we’re asking senators to vote for the Cardin-Cochran amendment on the floor to guarantee local governments a voice in transportation decisions, allowing them to build sidewalks, crosswalks, and bikeways that keep people safe.

In the House, we are asking representatives to oppose the House transportation bill. Despite the fact that walking and bicycling infrastructure is a low-cost investment that creates more jobs per dollar than any other kind of highway spending, the House bill eliminates dedicated funding for walking and biking.

Please contact your Representative and Senators today and ask them to save our streets. Click here to send a message to your members of Congress NOW.

As written, the Senate’s transportation bill removes dedicated funding for walking and biking and allows state DOTs to opt-out of safe street programs. The Cardin-Cochran amendment would improve the bill by ensuring that local governments can apply directly for funds to build walking and biking infrastructure.

Tell your senators:

Local governments deserve a voice in transportation. The Cardin-Cochran amendment ensures that cities and counties have a voice in making transportation decisions for safer streets in their communities.
Safety matters. Bicycle and pedestrian deaths make up 14% of all traffic fatalities, but only 1.5% of federal funds go towards making walking and biking safer. These programs provide funding for sidewalks, crosswalks, and bikeways that make streets safe for all users.
Active transportation is a wise investment. Walking and biking infrastructure is low-cost, creates more jobs per dollar than any other kind of highway spending, and is critical to economic development for main street America.

Please take action TODAY.

On the other side of Congress, the House is considering a transportation bill (HR 7) that reverses 20 years of progress in making streets safer for people. Despite the fact that walking and biking make up 12% of trips but receive only 1.5% of federal funding, the House bill eliminates dedicated funding for walking and biking. It’s time to defeat this bill.

Tell your representative:

HR 7 takes us back to the 1950s. HR 7 takes us back to a 1950s system by eliminating dedicated funding for biking and walking AND kicking transit out of the highway trust fund. We need a transportation bill to meet 2012 needs, not 1950 needs.
HR 7 doesn’t invest wisely. Federal transportation laws should invest our finite resources in cost-effective, efficient infrastructure solutions that create jobs and keep the economy moving. The House bill eliminates walking and biking, despite the fact that walking and bicycling infrastructure is low-cost and creates more jobs per dollar than any other kind of highway funding.
HR 7 makes streets more dangerous for kids. By repealing the successful and effective Safe Routes to School program, the House bill makes the streets more dangerous for kids on their walks and bike rides to school.

Congress needs to know that that finding effective, efficient transportation solutions to keep people safe on the streets should be a national priority. Please contact your representative and senators today. For more information and updates, bookmark America BIkes’ website.

Thank you for all that you do to keep the streets safe!

With a Little Help from Advocates, Facebook “Likes” Bike Trails

2012-02-08T12:30:10+00:00

Last week, volunteers working with the Silicon Valley Bicycle Coalition announced that the social network giant Facebook agreed to provide the funding for bike trails around its new office park in Silicon Valley.

Many of Facebook’s employees are young and transplanted from areas with excellent cycling. Nearly 47 percent of the employees use alternative transportation to get to work. Yet, when Facebook moved into the new space in Palo Alto, the company didn’t realize the difficulties in biking to the campus. Newer cyclists, they realized, might be intimidated by the need to cross highways and ride in traffic.

Andrew Boone (in the video on the right), a member of the SVBC, and a team of fellow volunteers met with Facebook regularly to encourage them to make changes. Their strategy? To show Facebook that improving the infrastructure was good for both the community and the company. It would solve their future parking issues, as well as make it safer for people to bike or walk to work.

What made the partnership even sweeter was Facebook’s idea to help fundraise to complete a bike path near the campus and winding through Silicon Valley. “Facebook plans to help advocate for other companies spending money on bike paths,” Boone said. This support could prove beneficial when the small volunteer team goes to other companies to ask for their support.

But the work is not done. Boone hopes their strategy to understand Facebook’s wants and needs and find solutions that make both groups happy will work with the city council as the council moves forward in building the new bike lanes. Using basic principles of advocacy, the small team of volunteers were able to educate the social networking company and inspire people to join their team.

Boone and his team would not have been able to move this far forward if not for the support of the SVBC. Corrine Winter, President and Executive Director of the SVBC, says her favorite part of the process was “empowering local advocates to make a significant difference in the community.”

That support, and the ability to lend a stronger voice and far reaching network, will help to move this campaign forward in the next few months.

Seattle Advocates Use Winning Campaigns Training to Win Bike Boulevards

2012-02-07T12:00:10+00:00

A successful campaign to increase walking and biking sometimes take years, but the right amount of perseverance, skill and timing can lead to a quick win. That’s exactly what happened for Neighborhood Greenways in Seattle.

The group advocates for a citywide network of low-traffic streets that limit cut-through cars and are safe for biking and walking. Only a few months after forming, the group celebrated its first victory, in no small part thanks to the tips they learned at the Alliance’s Winning Campaigns Training in Seattle.

“At your Winning Campaigns Workshop I made some great contacts and did some good strategic thinking about developing a complete citywide network of neighborhood greenways,” said Cathy Tuttle, one of the groups leaders who attended the training last June. “Making a citywide network is something I’ve been thinking about for years. Winning Campaigns helped me think about our own people powered movement in a smarter, stronger, more strategic way.”

The campaign included a well-placed Op-Ed in The Seattle Times that called on members of the City Council to support greenways, while letting Seattleites know that greenways will create a safe place to walk and bike, without forcing people out of their cars.

At a January Neighborhood Greenways Meeting, City Councilmember Sally Bagshaw announced plans to fund several miles of greenways in 2012. Not only has the campaign resulted in a tangible win on the ground, it has also lead to new groups in neighborhoods advocating for more greenways. “Quite frankly what I’m dealing with now is how to manage success,” said Tuttle. “Local greenway groups are springing up all over the region!”

Looking to jump start your next campaign? The Alliance is hosting three more Winning Campaigns Trainings this year in Boston, Houston and Kansas City. Learn more about the trainings and register to attend here.

PHOTO: Exploratory tour of a potential bike boulevard in Seattle courtesy of Neighborhood Greenways.

Benchmarking Report Debunks Misinformation in Congress

2012-02-06T17:36:10+00:00

great post over on the League of American Bicyclists blog debunking some off-base weekend remarks from House Speaker John Boehner.

The executive director of the League points out that: “Speaker John Boehner’s weekend claim that 25% of the highway dollars are ‘siphoned off for non-economic projects – such as beautification and bikepaths’ came as a bit of a shock. The nation’s bicyclists must have gotten a big raise over the holidays, because last November Boehner and his buddy Eric Cantor were claiming only ten percent of highway funds were ‘diverted’ this way. Neither figure is anywhere close to the truth, of course.”

And just one graph (right) from the Alliance’s 2012 Benchmarking Report proves it.

In fact, people who bike and walk make up nearly 12 percent of trips and 14 percent of roadway fatalities but get less than 2 percent — 2 percent! — of federal transportation dollars. If you haven’t already, download the 2012 Benchmarking Report and make sure your local policymakers understand the tremendous impact that tiny sliver of federal funding has on your community.

Read the full blog for Andy here. And stay tuned for future posts fact-checking policymakers statements and providing you the talking points you need to preserve funding for biking and walking during this critical time.

Federal Action: A Thank You, Update and Next Steps

2012-02-06T13:22:10+00:00

The struggle has only just begun.

On Thursday, the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee narrowly voted against preserving the small amount of essential federal funds that make it safer for people who walk and bike across the country. During the contentious vote, 27 committee members supported the bipartisan Petri-Johnson-Lipinski amendment, coming just two votes shy of a victory.

The good news: Thanks to incredible efforts of many local advocacy leaders to engage grassroots members in action, we gained bipartisan support for the amendment and showed Congress that we mean business.

The amendment was introduced with support from both sides of the aisle: Representatives Tom Petri (R-WI), Tim Johnson (R-IL), and Frank LoBiondo (R-NJ) and all committee Democrats voted in favor of the bill. These three Republican Representatives deserve special commendation, because they chose to champion safety for all road users despite extreme pressure from their House leadership to essentially throw school children, pedestrians and cyclists off the bridge to the future.

And we definitely got the House leadership’s attention. The amendment sparked heated remarks from both sides, including an impassioned defense of Safe Routes to School by Representative DeFazio (D-OR).

But there is still a long climb ahead.

Elimination of funds for biking and walking isn’t the only reason the House bill is terrible policy. The House bill puts public transit in jeopardy by diverting transit funds, an issue that has raised the alarm at Transportation for America and the American Public Transportation Association. A coalition of environmental organizations strongly objects to the bill’s environmentally backwards provisions, as well.

The Alliance joins our partners at America Bikes in thanking the tens of thousands of bicycling and pedestrian advocates from across the country who contacted their representatives on the T&I Committee in support of the Transportation Enhancements and Safe Routes to School programs. The amendment also drew support from more than 60 national, state, and local organizations that recognize the importance of federal support for local infrastructure and safety projects. Several Alliance organizations engaged their membership on this effort, and we appreciate their leadership.

As the House bill moves through committee to the floor and the Senate makes progress on its transportation bill, the Alliance is working with America Bikes to engage our organizations in key states that will help ensure influential Representatives and Senators are on our side and can support needed action to protect funding for walking and biking. Please stay tuned for specific emails to engage your organization in this focused strategy and be sure to contact me at Jeff@PeoplePoweredMovement.org with any questions or concerns.

And be sure to register for two important events this Wednesday, February 8:

1 p.m. Eastern: Federal Policy Webinar, hosted by the Alliance and the Association of Pedestrian and Bicycle Professionals. We’ll be joined by Caron Whitaker, Campaign Director for America Bikes, who will have up-to-the-minute information from Capitol Hill and insight on collective strategies to preserve dedicated funding for biking and walking in the next federal transportation bill. Register here.
2 p.m. Eastern: Working with Your Members of Congress Mutual Aid Call. Now, more than ever, building and cultivating relationships with your members of Congress is vital to protecting biking and walking funding at the federal level. Hear examples, strategies, tips and insight from Tyler Frisbee, legislative assistant to Congressman Earl Blumenauer; Ed Barsotti, Executive Director of the League of Illinois Bicyclists; and Gerik Kransky, Advocacy Director for the Bicycle Transportation Alliance. Register here.

Attend the National Women Cycling Forum

2012-02-02T14:21:10+00:00

It was a day or two into the 2010 Alliance Leadership Retreat when Alexis Lantz stood up during lunch. The Planning and Policy Director from Los Angeles County Bicycle Coalition had a proposal that energized every female leader in the room: The convening of a Women’s Caucus (pictured above).

That gathering at the Leadership Retreat was short, informal — and incredibly inspiring. There was so much to talk about: issues we face as women within our own organizations and the broader movement; how we increase the number of women in bicycle advocacy and boost female mode share out on the streets; how we stay better connected in the time between retreats and summits, building community and sharing ideas to deal with collective challenges and opportunities.

The Women’s Caucus carved out just a tiny window within the tight schedule of dozens of other sessions, but, at least speaking for myself, it was the most powerful and memorable moment from the entire weekend. With little time to develop specific next steps, we had to keep the outcome simple. The main consensus: Let’s keep the conversation going.

We knew we weren’t the only ones talking about these issues. Shortly before the Leadership Retreat, in mid-2010, the Association of Pedestrian and Bicycle Professionals conducted a Women Cycling Survey — and participation was through the roof. More than 11,000 women in the U.S. shared all sorts of information about why they bike, what would make them bike more and a wealth of other opinions and experiences. The insight gained from the (non-scientific) survey was not only revelatory; it was also an incredible spark for a lively discussion at conferences and online.

Clearly, women want to talk about bicycling. And our voices are getting more numerous and more prominent.

According to the Alliance 2012 Benchmarking Report, women are still vastly outnumbered by men, accounting for just 24 percent of bike trips in 2009. But that trend is shifting. A growing number of women from all backgrounds and communities are beginning to ride and getting more involved in the bicycle movement. As female leaders and cyclists, we’re eager to learn from our peers, share our experiences and explore ideas to engage more women.

So, like we said at the Leadership Retreat, let’s continue the conversation. Attend the first-ever National Women Cycling Forum on March 20, 2012 from 2-4 p.m. at the Grand Hyatt in Washington, DC.

Hosted by the Alliance and APBP, this forum will provide insight from a diverse panel of women in bicycle advocacy, engineering, government and industry. It will foster collective discussion about best practices, creative ideas and potential next steps in addressing the pervasive gender cycling gap at a national and local level. And it will invite input on the Women Cycling Project—a joint effort of the Alliance and APBP to create a new, interactive, online presence for women cyclists and advocates.

This event will be held in conjunction with the 2012 National Bike Summit—and your presence at this annual event has never been more important. Congress is making important and long-term decisions about the next federal transportation bill and women’s voices and stories are essential to preserving billions in funding for bicycling projects and programs across the country. We’re on the brink of losing the hard-fought progress of the past 20 years and we need a HUGE turn-out at this year’s summit. (Register by February 20 to save $100.)

When you make your DC travel plans, make sure you arrive in time for the National Women Cycling Forum on Tuesday, March 20 from 2 to 4 p.m. This event is open to all interested attendees—both women and men. Sign up for the Forum here, so you’ll get all the details in coming weeks, including the line-up of panelists. And, please, start sharing the link as widely as possible!

Plus, mark your calendars for a Women Cycling Social on Wednesday, March 21 from 6 - 8 p.m. at Busboys and Poets, a very cool venue just a few blocks from the Summit hotel. Stay tuned for details.

Interested in sponsorship opportunities? Have additional questions? Contact Carolyn@PeoplePoweredMovement.org.

House Bill Erases Two Decades of Progress on Bike-Ped

2012-02-01T13:43:10+00:00

It’s so much worse than we thought.

Yesterday, the House released its transportation bill, the American Energy and Infrastructure Jobs Act. We expected the bill to be bad news for biking and walking, but we didn’t think it would go so far as to reverse all progress we’ve made over the past 20 years. (Check out the Top 10 Reasons the House Bill is Bad for Bicycling and Walking from Andy Clarke, president of the League of American Bicyclists, on the right.)

If your member of Congress is on the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, please take action TODAY. With a vote coming in the T&I committee TOMORROW, tell your Representative to preserve biking and walking. Click here to contact your Representative through the League’s Action Center.

House leadership is exerting pressure to completely cut bicycling and walking out of transportation. Lawmakers seem to have gone through the bill, line-by-line, to gut programs that make streets safer. The American Energy and Infrastructure Jobs Act:

Destroys Transportation Enhancements by making the program optional
Repeals the Safe Routes to School program, reversing years of progress in creating safe ways for kids to walk and ride bicycles to school
Removes requirements for states to build bridges with safe access for pedestrians and bicycles
Eliminates bicycle and pedestrian coordinators in state DOTs

There’s still a chance to save biking and walking. Tomorrow, in the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, Representatives Tom Petri (R-WI) and Timothy Johnson (R-IL) plan to stand up to leadership by offering an amendment that restores dedicated funding for Transportation Enhancements and Safe Routes to School. Petri and Johnson can only be successful if everyone with a stake in safe sidewalks, crosswalks, and bikeways contacts his or her Representative today.

This is as urgent as it gets. Even if we win this amendment, there will be a long road ahead. But if we lose here, we risk losing decades of progress.

If members of the Transportation Committee are going to stand up to House leadership by supporting biking and walking, they need to know their constituents are behind them. Please contact Congress TODAY and ask your Representative to preserve dedicated funding for biking and walking.

Take action NOW!

If you have a Representative on the T&I committee, please forward this action alert to your members and supporters. Pass it along to all your local partners — particularly high-level contacts like mayors, school board members, and business leaders — and ask them to weigh in, too. And thank you for all you do to advance biking and walking!

Transforming Transportation Panel: Make Cycling Easy

2012-02-01T12:30:10+00:00

In addition to the big Transportation Research Board meeting last week, there was another engaging gathering on bicycle and pedestrian issues — the Transforming Transportation conference hosted by EMBARQ. I attended the panel on ‘Bicycling: How to Achieve Greater Mode Share?’ which featured an international panel from the Netherlands, Cape Town, and China. While the three projects were vastly different in location, the underlying theme was the same: People want to use cycling as a mode of transport and want it to be made easy for them to do so.

Bram van Ooijen, a presenter from China, referenced a recent poll of residents in his province. When asked why they didn’t ride a bicycle anymore, an overwhelming number responded that it just wasn’t safe. China’s car infrastructure has grown exponentially over past decades, taking a nation that relied mostly on the bicycle for transportation to a nation that relies on single car use instead. Some roads in China are as wide as 80 meters and bike lanes are few and far between. But when they made bike lanes part of the new bus infrastructure, and found the money to build greenways around the city, people used them — and people loved them.

In South Africa, it’s a similar story. In Cape Town, panelist Brett Herron explained, the challenge is to integrate not just cycling and cars, but people as well. In a city and a country that has been deeply divided along racial and socioeconomic lines, it’s key to build a cycling infrastructure that can help to bridge that divide.

Luckily, in Cape Town, and South Africa in general, there’s is a law that cycling provisions must be included in new development plans. Because of this, Cape Town has included bike parking and storage facilities at many bus and train stations, and has added elaborate storage facilities (including showers) to all municipal buildings, as well. Herron’s work within the city government has really paid off—Cape Town now boasts almost 2 percent bicycle mode share.

The panelists agreed: If the infrastructure is there, if it’s easy for people to use, then they will cycle. Van Ooijen’s project in China made sure to incorporate the public bike share system with the existing public transportation system. Bike stations are located at BRT stations and can be paid for using the same card as BRT. It’s easy to use the public bikes within a multi-modal commute, and landscaped paths and greenways make it enjoyable to bike that last leg of the journey.

Community participation and ownership of the system is essential to making it work and keeping it working for years to come, as well. Working with the city government has helped to grow the projects in China immensely, especially now that the projects are being completed. City officials are bringing their peers to their town to show off their new greenways and bike paths.

For example, Tom Goderfrooij of Dutch Cycling Embassy, reported that, in the Netherlands, 27 percent of all trips taken are taken by bike. To get to that enviable mode share they slowly upscaled projects and made biking appealing and easy for all levels of society. They created a cycling culture that was not counter to using cars, but supported the mix of both. Goderfrooji’s key point: The best solution is to create an intuitive mix of cars, biking, and walking so that it’s easy and safe for everyone to get around.

Overall, the panel expressed that the key for moving cycling forward is to involve people, showcase the benefits of the system, and find champions in government. Learn from the examples of cities that are doing it well, and adapt their strategies to your own needs.

New Report Highlights Biking and Walking in Rural America

2012-01-31T11:05:10+00:00

A new report from the Rails-to-Trails Conservancy dispels the commonly held notion that only residents of big cities bike and walk. According to “Active Transportation Beyond the Urban Centers” folks in rural areas travel by bike and on foot as much — and in some cases, even more — than people in major population centers.

“It’s a widespread assumption in popular media and politics that people in small towns and rural areas do not walk or bike for transportation purposes,” says Tracy Hadden Loh, co-author of the report and research manager at RTC. “This report demonstrates that, in fact, rates for walking and bicycling in rural areas are close to, and sometimes higher than, the national average.”

Some key findings in the report include:

In terms of total trips, rural Americans bike at a rate of between 74 percent and 104 percent of the overall national rate, depending on the type of community in which they live.
The share of work trips made by bicycle in small towns is nearly double that of urban centers. Within small towns of 2,500 to 10,000 residents, people walk for work purposes at a rate similar to the urban core communities.
Federal investment in biking and walking benefits rural areas as much or more than urban centers. Rural areas receive almost twice as much funding per capita as urban areas from the federal Transportation Enhancements program
Among a list of travel priorities, rural Americans selected sidewalks more often than any other transportation need and nine out of 10 cited the importance of pedestrian friendly communities.

The report couldn’t come at a more pivotal moment. Congress is moving on the next federal transportation bill and the current House bill guts all funding for biking and walking projects and programs. This report proves that short-changing biking and walking by eliminating programs like Transportation Enhancements and Safe Routes to School affects all communities across the U.S.

“Small communities need safe and convenient walking and bicycling facilities just as much as big cities,” says Kevin Mills, report co-author and RTC’s VP of Policy and Trail Development. “To meet this need, Transportation Enhancements has provided twice the funding per capita in rural America than in big cities. This includes rehabilitating walkable main streets in small town that have been bypassed by interstates.”

According to RTC: “In coming years, active transportation can play an even bigger role in making small town America more attractive for young families and business investment — improving economic vitality, traffic safety and overall health in smaller communities in every region of the country.”

Read the full report and check out the interactive map here.

Apply for a Capacity Building Grant

2012-01-30T13:00:10+00:00

Advocacy Advance is offering $25,000 in Capacity Building Grants this year to member organizations of the Alliance for Biking & Walking and League of American Bicyclists.

Capacity Building Grants support the development and professionalization of state and local advocacy organizations to increase rates of biking and walking. These matching grants, funded by Planet Bike, can be used for organizational development, hiring staff, building membership, and for other organizational tools to foster a sustainable advocacy organization. Inquiry applications are available online and are due by March 9.

In addition, Advocacy Advance is pleased to offer $35,000 of Rapid Response Grants in 2012 to help state and local organizations take advantage of unexpected opportunities to win, increase, or preserve funding for biking and walking.

Read more on the Advocacy Advance website.

Biking Benefits Exceed $450 Million in Iowa

2012-01-30T10:57:10+00:00

As a former Des Moines resident and one-time RAGBRAI rider, I know bicycling is big in the state of Iowa. Now a new study from the Iowa Bicycle Coalition quantifies that enthusiasm and puts a big dollar figure on its impact in the Hawkeye State.

Last week, I mentioned recent research from Resource Systems Group and Local Motion on the economic impact of biking in Vermont, which revealed that, in 2009, bicycling and walking created at least 1,400 jobs, $41 million in personal income (wages) and $83 million in revenue. In Iowa, those numbers are even higher.

According to “Economic and Health Benefits of Bicycling,” the spending of recreational cyclists generates $364.8 million in direct and indirect impacts to the State of Iowa. And that’s just the economic aspect. When it comes to health, bicycling saves the state $73.9 million in healthcare costs for those who cycle recreationally, while bicycle commuters cash in on another $13.2 million in health care cost savings.

The findings were so impressive they surprised even Mark Wyatt, executive director of the Iowa Bicycle Coalition: “The return on investment was much larger than expected.”

Released just before the Iowa Bike Summit, Wyatt used the data to urge continued investment in biking infrastructure, trails and programs. “More opportunities for Iowans to bicycle will help Iowa become the healthiest state,” Wyatt said. “We know a lot of Iowans have bicycles, but may not have ridden them in some time. We need to find ways to encourage more bicycle riding.”

Download the full report from the Alliance Resource Library.

BikeWalkKC Helps Launch Bike Share in Kansas City

2012-01-27T12:30:10+00:00

As Carolyn wrote earlier this week, bike share systems are all the buzz among big city transportation officials as an effective, economical and even attractive means to increase mobility in their bustling urban cores. Not to be outdone by the likes of New York City and San Francisco, advocates in Kansas City — recipients of a 2010 Advocacy Advance Grant — have added Missouri to that growing list.

Yesterday, the City of Kansas City passed a resolution permitting the establishment of BikeShareKC and committing to increase the number of bike lanes along BikeShareKC routes.

The new B-cycle system is a joint effort of BikeWalkKC and Blue Cross Blue Shield of Kansas City. According to the press release: “BikeWalkKC is partnering with Blue KC to bring bike share to Kansas City as a healthy low-cost transportation option. Blue KC will take the lead in driving development of BikeShareKC by enlisting other leaders in the business community to commit to sponsorships, advertising deals and/or augmenting their employee wellness offering by subsidizing memberships.”

BikeWalkKC and Blue KC aim to have 20 stations with 200 bikes up and running by summer 2012. Bikes will be available nine months of the year, with annual memberships that entitle users to unlimited 30-45 minutes trips around the city. The stations will even be equipped with a smartphone app that will allow riders to determine the availability of bikes anywhere in the system. Plus, using B-Cycle technology, riders will be able to track their miles traveled, calories burned and pounds of carbon dioxide saved.

“BikeShareKC will bridge the awkward distances that are too far to walk but too short to drive,” Eric Rogers, executive director of BikeWalkKC said. “It will also expand the reach of the transit system by providing new options for the ‘last mile.’ And it will help clear the air while giving Kansas Citians a new option for being healthy and active.”

“BikeShareKC offers a much needed alternative form of transportation around Kansas City, while also promoting physical activity to its residents,” added David Gentile, President and Chief Executive Officer of Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Kansas City.

Read the full press release here.

Biking and Walking Contribute Millions to Vermont’s Economy

2012-01-26T14:00:10+00:00

What’s the economic impact?

Not surprisingly, that question has been a common theme and focus at this year’s massive Transportation Research Board meeting. And, up in Vermont, Alliance member organization Local Motion worked with a local consulting firm, Resource Systems Group Inc., to answer that question for the Green Mountain State.

On Tuesday afternoon, Beth Isler from RSG Inc. drew a crowd to her TRB presentation on the “Economic Impact of Walking and Biking in Vermont.” In conducting the study, Isler explained, she worked with the advocates at Local Motion to distribute more than 150 surveys to bicycle- and pedestrian-related businesses across the state. But that’s not all. She also tapped into data from the Vermont Agency of Transportation on road project expenditures, accessed statistics on visitor spending related to biking and walking events, utilized modeling from the Victoria Transport Policy Institute and correlated information from Walk Score with real estate sales.

The result? Even in a small state, where locals joke that summer lasts just two weeks, biking and walking provide a significant boost to the local economy. Among Isler’s findings:

According to VTrans data, the construction and maintenance of bicycle and pedestrian infrastructure projects and programs brought $17 million in funding to the state, resulting in more than 230 jobs and $10 million in wages associated with those jobs.
Based on survey data, bicycle- and pedestrian-related businesses brought in more than $56 million in revenue, generating more than 1,000 jobs and $26 million in associated wages.
Forty major events related to biking and walking attracted more than 16,000 participants who brought with them 45,000 additional family and friends. The result? $9.5 million in revenue and 160 jobs which resulted in $4.7 million in wages.
Using models from the Victoria Transport Policy Institute, RSG calculated that the vehicle miles avoided by the 68 million miles walked and 28 million miles biked resulted in as much as $85 million in consumer and public health savings.
RSG also cross-referenced the closing prices on real estate with the Walk Score of those locations. On average, the property values of homes in walkable neighborhoods were $6,500 higher than those in car-dependent areas. Add all those homes together and walkability added more than $350 million to the local economy.

Bottom line: In 2009, biking and walking created at least 1,400 jobs, $41 million in personal income (wages) and $83 million in revenue. In addition, the health and property value benefits could bump that up by more than $400 million. Now those are the kinds of numbers that get policymakers’ attention.

I’ll upload the presentation to the Alliance Resource Library soon.

House Bill Threatens Dedicated Bicycle and Pedestrian Funding

2012-01-26T12:20:10+00:00

By Mary Lauran Hall, Communications Coordinator, America Bikes

For the past 20 years, the federal transportation program has included dedicated funding for biking and walking. Over the course of twenty years and three federal transportation laws, federal support for bicycle- and pedestrian-friendly infrastructure projects has slowly ticked upwards. As a result, more and more communities feature safe roads for people who travel on foot or by bicycle.

In 1992, Congress passed ISTEA, the first federal transportation bill to include funding for transit, biking, and walking. As each consecutive transportation bill passed and continued dedicated funding for biking and walking, funding increased from $23 million for 50 new projects in 1992 to $297 million for 971 projects in 2000, to a record $1.2 billion for 3,010 projects in 2009.

But now a new transportation bill threatens to eliminate dedicated federal funding for biking and walking.

Next Thursday, February 2, the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee will vote on the American Energy and Infrastructure Jobs Act, a bill that eliminates crucial funds for biking and walking. Representatives on the T&I Committee are in a key position to save dedicated funding for biking and walking. If you live in the district of a T&I committee member (click here for a list), please take action today. Click here to send a message directly to your Representative through the League of American Bicyclists’ Action Center.

The American Energy and Infrastructure Jobs Act, the long awaited multi-year transportation bill, eliminates the two largest programs that fund biking and walking infrastructure — Transportation Enhancements and Safe Routes to School. Without these programs, communities across the country will lose resources to build the sidewalks, crosswalks, and bikeways that make biking and walking safer and more accessible.

We can’t let that happen.

Biking and walking are essential aspects of everyday transportation in the US, and turning off federal funding for projects that keep Americans safe would represent a significant step backwards.

Federal funding for biking and walking keeps people safe. Two out of three pedestrian deaths take place on roads built with federal funding, and new sidewalks, crosswalks, and bikeways help end preventable deaths and make roads safer for everyone. Moreover, biking and walking make up 12 percent of all trips and 14 percent of road fatalities, but only 1.5 percent of all federal transportation funding.

We at America Bikes are working with our partners to introduce an amendment that will preserve funding for biking and walking. During Thursday’s Transportation and Infrastructure Committee vote in the House, Representatives will have the opportunity to pass this amendment to save biking and walking. If you live in the district of a T&I Committee member, please take action today!

To learn more about this issue and keep up-to-date as the bill moves forward, visit http://americabikes.org/.

Marin County Bicycle Coalition Wins New Safe Routes Policy at the School Board Level

2012-01-25T13:00:10+00:00

This month, the Mill Valley School District passed a new Safe Routes to School policy, initiated by the Marin County Bicycle Coalition (MCBC) that would encourage students in the district to walk, bike, or carpool to school each day. The policy gives support for safety education at school, as well as support for the Mill Valley Safe Routes to School Program.

The goal of the policy is to ensure that students in the district have access to safety education and support for walking and biking to school regardless of any changes in staff or elected officials. The foresighted advocates at MCBC recognized that, without that assurance in writing, progresses in programming could be walked back with a new superintendent or principal.

MCBC began the process by working with a city council member, a school board member, and the superintendent to draft the policy. They based their draft on the California School Board Association’s sample board policy and then adapted it to their specific needs. From there, they took the policy to the school board, where it passed unanimously.

Wendi Kallins, the program director for Safe Routes to School at the MCBC, credits the smooth passage of the new policy to the collaboration with school board members and the school district system. Now MCBC has a local example of how this policy (and the process to get there) can work — and take similar policies to other school districts.

“Don’t overreach but don’t compromise on your basic goal of institutionalizing Safe Routes to Schools,” Kallins says of crafting a similar policy for your community. “You might have to change the policy to say ‘may’ instead of ‘shall,’ but include the elements that are essential: education, encouragement, task force participation for engineering and enforcement, and evaluation.”

Click here to download the model policy from the Alliance Resource Library.

Major Cities Highlight Biking and Walking as Key Mobility Strategies

2012-01-24T15:03:10+00:00

This week, more than 11,000 researchers, engineers, advocates and government officials are gathered here in Washington, DC, for the annual Transportation Research Board meeting. Glancing through the 328-page program this weekend, I had to admit that much of the content looked like a foreign language: I can’t say I’m familiar with the Mechanistic-Empirical Pavement Design Guide or well-versed on Inland Waterway Infrastructure. But being at the conference, I’ve discovered there’s a lot of buzz around biking and walking — even in the sessions that don’t have active transportation in the title.

Yesterday, for instance, I elbowed my way into a packed session on “Mobility Strategies for the 21st Century.” The panel included transportation commissioners from Chicago, San Francisco and New York City and, despite their diverse cities and populations, each of their presentations focused largely on their efforts to boost biking and walking.

“We’ve made lots of significant changes to the streetscape in the past four years,” Janette Sadik-Khan, New York City’s visionary transportation commissioner said. “Prior to 2007, we looked at everything with the planning ethos of 1950. We looked at streets through the eyes of a car. But simply adapting cities to pick up more and more vehicles, more and more traffic, is not a great strategy… So we’re rethinking how we use our streets and realized they weren’t really designed to meet the demands of the population.”

So, since Sadik-Khan took the reins, NYC has started thinking about streets as places, where limited space needs to be allocated to the safety and benefit of all users. Perhaps the first and most visible evidence of this paradigm shift, Sadik-Khan said, was turning Times Square into a pedestrian plaza. In very short order, the city realized massive economic benefits. “Since we closed Broadway [to cars], major flagship stores have moved in,” she said. “Retail rents have doubled in two years and Times Square has turned into one of the top 10 retail locations on the planet.”

Sadik-Khan also highlighted the city’s success in building out its bicycle network and the imminent debut of the Big Apple’s bike share, which will be the largest in the United States. And she wasn’t alone in showcasing bike-ped improvements as the top mobility strategies in her nation-leading city. Edward Reiskin, director of the San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency, also touted the Bay City’s upcoming bike share system. He shared that, at any given time, s staggering 30 percent of the congestion in downtown San Francisco is motorists simply looking for parking, and the city’s effort to boost other modes of travel, including biking and walking. He highlighted his agency’s successful and growing use of parklets — re-appropriating parking spots and turning them into pedestrian parks and cafe patios — and raved about the power of people “taking back the streets” during the city’s recurring Sunday Streets ciclovia initiative.

And Gabe Klein, the new commissioner of the Chicago Department of Transportation, added to the chorus of bike-ped enthusiasm. Known for his role in bringing bike share to Washington, DC, when he served as the transportation director in the nation’s capital, Klein shared a funny story that summed up the Windy City’s trajectory. Yes, Chicago is getting bike share, too, but that’s just the beginning of an ambitious plan to make the city more bicycle-friendly. On the day that Mayor Rahm Emanuel announced his new DOT director, Klein was reading through the Mayor’s remarks. When he saw that Emanuel’s speech promised 100 miles of protected bike lanes, Klein got a bit anxious. Was there really the political will and public support to add such significant lengths of cycletracks? Trying to hedge his bets, Klein crossed out the word “protected.” But when the Mayor read his speech he barely stumbled before reinstating that significant distinction. And guess what? The first protected bike lane on Kinzie Street has been phenomenally successful, boosting bicycle mode share on that stretch from 22 to more than 50 percent.

Listening to those inspired transportation officials, all fired up about biking and walking as critical and integral transportation solutions for the 21st Century, I couldn’t help but think of the incredible advocates in those cities who have made that shift possible. From the San Francisco Bicycle Coalition to the Active Transportation Alliance in Chicago to Transportation Alternatives in NYC, advocates have laid the foundation for this groundswell by doing the tough, long-term work of elevating the voices and need of people who walk and bike in their communities.

Stay tuned for more from TRB…

PHOTO: Transportation officials in major U.S. cities are excited about bike share as a mobility solution.

Alliance Benchmarking Report Ranks Cities and States on Bicycling and Walking

2012-01-23T16:00:10+00:00

In a new report, Bicycling and Walking in the United States: 2012 Benchmarking Report, the Alliance ranks all 50 states and the 51 largest U.S. cities on bicycling and walking levels, safety, funding, and other factors.

This report comes at a critical moment, as Congress takes up the imminent passage of the next federal transportation bill, which dictates how billions of tax dollars will be spent over coming years. The Benchmarking Report reveals that, in nearly every city and state, pedestrians and bicyclists are disproportionately at risk of being killed, and currently receive less than a fair share of transportation dollars. While 12 percent of trips in the U.S. are by bike or foot, 14 percent of traffic fatalities are bicyclists and pedestrians. Pedestrian and bicycle projects receive less than 2 percent of federal transportation dollars.

“The Benchmarking Report shows that biking and walking are smart solutions to many of our country’s most pressing challenges when it comes to transportation, job creation and health,” Jeffrey Miller, Alliance President/CEO, says.

Click here to download the report and media fact sheet.

The report compiles persuasive evidence that bicycle and pedestrian projects create more jobs than highway projects, and provide at least three dollars of benefit for every dollar invested. The report also highlights the health benefits of active transportation, showing that states with the highest rates of bicycling and walking are also among those with the lowest rates of obesity, diabetes, and high blood pressure. “The data points to one conclusion: Investing in biking and walking projects creates jobs, leads to more people biking and walking, and improves safety and public health,” Miller says.

John Pucher, a professor at Rutgers University, emphasizes: “The wide range of environmental, social, and economic benefits of walking and bicycling, so clearly documented in this report, justify greatly increased investment in facilities and programs to encourage more walking and cycling, and to improve the safety of these most sustainable of all transportation modes.”

The 2012 Benchmarking Report compiles important state and city rankings, including:

Other highlights from the report include:

In 2009, 40% of trips in the United States were shorter than 2 miles, yet 87% of these trips are by car. Twenty-seven percent of trips were shorter than 1 mile. Still, Americans use their cars for 62% of these trips.
While bicycling and walking fell 66% between 1960 and 2009, obesity levels increased 156%.
Seniors are the most vulnerable bicyclists and pedestrians. Adults over 65 make up 10% of walking trips, yet comprise 19% of pedestrian fatalities. This age group accounts for 6% of bicycling trips, yet 10% of bicyclist fatalities.
Bicycling and walking projects create 11-14 jobs per $1 million spent, compared to just 7 jobs created per $1 million spent on highway projects. Cost benefit analysis show that up to $11.80 in benefits can be gained for every $1 invested in bicycling and walking.
On average, the largest 51 U.S. cities show a 29% increase in bicycle facilities since the 2010 report. Cities report that 20,908 miles of bicycle facilities and 7,079 miles of pedestrian facilities are planned for the coming years (much of this contingent upon funding).

Bicycling and Walking in the United States: 2012 Benchmarking Report was funded by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and made possible through additional support from AARP and Planet Bike. To view rankings of the 50 states and 51 largest U.S. cities, and to download or purchase a hard copy of the report visit http://www.PeoplePoweredMovement.org/benchmarking.

Arizona Training Launches Winning Campaigns for Ciclovias — and More!

2012-01-19T16:10:10+00:00

This past weekend, 15 advocates gathered at the Alliance’s Winning Campaigns Training in Tucson, Ariz., to launch five new campaigns that will improve walking and biking in their communities.

The event was hosted by local advocacy organization Living Streets Alliance, who set a high mark by bringing 11 members to the training. The training also served as a follow-up to the Action 2020 Workshop put on by Advocacy Advance in Tucson last September.

Not surprisingly, the majority of the campaigns created at the training will be carried out in Arizona. Living Streets Alliance launched three campaigns for Tucson, including:

Expanding the city’s open streets initiative, Cyclovia
Launching a Pedestrian Safety Campaign aimed at securing new funding and
Creating a new regional master plan for biking and walking

A coalition of advocates from Phoenix launched a campaign to create a Ciclovia in their community, while the one out-of-state campaign came from the Atlanta Bicycle Coalition, who created a complete streets campaign in DeKalb County, Georgia. Energy was high throughout the weekend, as participants were able to step back from the grind of day-to-day advocacy to plan out their campaigns.

The Alliance is hosting three more Winning Campaigns Trainings this year, in Boston, Houston and Kansas City. Learn more about these exciting weekends here.

Click here to check out photos from the training.

Florida Advocates Celebrate Completion of M-Path in Miami-Dade

2012-01-19T13:00:10+00:00

Last Saturday, the Green Mobility Network held a ride to celebrate the completion of the M-Path Bridge in Miami-Dade County. The bridge, a part of the M-Path Extension, is the final 1.2 miles of a multi-use path that was begun in the 1980s, and stretches from downtown Miami to the county’s southern border.

Discussions about a plan to complete this path have been happening since before the Green Mobility Network was founded in 2007. Since the organization’s beginning, it has monitored and publicized these discussions. Using funds from the stimulus bill, the Metropolitan Planning Organization moved forward in the plans to complete the path.

The Green Mobility Network has worked to increase the use of this trail, and to designate it as a part of the East Coast Greenway. Thanks in part to a 2009 Advocacy Advance Grant, Green Mobility Network was able to advance their ‘Complete the M-Path’ campaign, and increase the ease of biking and walking in Miami-Dade County.

“Until now, anyone needing to walk or ride from one path to the other had to pass through the big Dadeland shopping center parking lot and a warehouse district,” John Hopkins, executive director of the Green Mobility Network, says. “It was discouraging to cyclists or walkers; the timid just stayed away.”

Now the path spans about 30 miles, passing through university campuses, neighborhoods, shopping centers, flea markets, and local shops. It’s an easy, safe, fun way to get around areas of the community. Now it is “a really practical facility for recreation and daily commuting,” Hopkins says.

The past weekend’s celebratory ride was another way to bring publicity and excitement to the newly completed trail. The 125 cyclists who participated in the ride showed their excitement as they cheered the completion. Even the construction foreman came out to see the celebratory ride down the trail, smiling as the riders went by. Click here to see a video of the event from the Miami Bike Scene.

Photo: M-Path celebration ride (credit: Green Mobility Network)

Apply to Host an Action 2020 Workshop in 2012

2012-01-17T18:05:10+00:00

Advocacy Advance – a partnership of the League of American Bicyclists and the Alliance for Biking and Walking – is now accepting applications for its Action 2020 Workshops.

The goal of Advocacy Advance is to double federal funding for biking and walking through increased spending at the state, MPO and local level where many funding decisions are ultimately made. The partnership plans to meet this goal by producing best practice reports, providing technical assistance, awarding grants and facilitating Action 2020 Workshops.

These workshops bring together advocates, agency staff, and elected officials and are designed to ensure that participants have the knowledge, skills and resources to access untapped or under-utilized federal funding sources at the state, regional and local level to build bicycling and walking infrastructure and programs. Applications to host a workshop are due Friday, February 24.

Read more about Action 2020 Workshops and how to apply on the Advocacy Advance blog.

Photo: Action 2020 Workshop in Tucson, Arizona

Young Women Inspire Participants at the Youth Bike Summit

2012-01-17T14:28:10+00:00

Liz Clarkson started the presentation with a big smile and a simple question: “How do we ride?”

“Like a girl!” shouted back a group of inspired young women from West Town Bikes.

That kind of energy and inspiration defined the Youth Bike Summit: an event organized and hosted by Recycle-A-Bicycle in New York City, which drew by more than 275 participants from 20 states and three countries. I had the double honor of, not just attending the event with Alliance President/CEO Jeff Miller, but also sharing a “Women in the Cycling Advocacy Movement” session with an entourage of incredible ladies from West Town Bikes, a community bike shop in Chicago.

Rocking their identical, hot-pink sweatshirts, the young women explained how and why they created a group just for girls. With facilitation from Zorayda Ortiz, a veteran community organizer, and Liz Clarkson, program manager from West Town Bikes, that dedicated handful of young female leaders started meeting on a weekly basis during the summer of 2011. They discussed why they loved riding and how they might get more young women interested and engaged in biking. They called themselves the Girls Bike Club — and they’re making waves in the Windy City already.

In just a matter of months, they’ve become a visible in the community. They’ve gone on rides together. They’ve planned a fashion show set to take place this spring. They talk up the club to their high school peers and proudly wear their Girls Bike Club shirts to get the word out. They even wrapped presents for donations at a local REI shop to earn the cash to get to NYC to present their important work at the Youth Bike Summit.

And the crowd that packed the room for the “Women in Cycling Advocacy” presentation was certainly glad that Joceliz Arnaud, Tania Castillo, Shacora Hawkins, Ladijah Hollingsworth and Kayla Story made the trip. During the discussion period, participants from other programs around the country applauded the Girls Bike Club. Some said they recognized that community bike shops can seem male-oriented and less welcoming to girls. Others noted that creating the space for young women to feel a sense of acceptance and ownership could address that challenge.

Of course, the teenagers from Girls Bike Club were in good company. Youth and staff from organizations across the country shared their energy and insight in panels and presentations throughout the weekend. I know Jeff would agree that the Alliance was truly honored to meet and learn from organizations like Seattle Bike Works, Bikes Not Bombs, Neighborhood Bike Works and SO many more. Pasqualina Azzarello, executive director of Recycle-A-Bicycle and the tireless, generous, absolutely inspirational organizer of the Youth Bike Summit, best summed up the power of the gathering. For a little more than 48 hours, we all shuffled between workshops, were lit up by the efforts and energy of young bicycle advocates, buzzed with new ideas, made countless introductions and started conversations we hope to continue. Those discussions will be the seeds, Azzarello said. And those connections will be the roots, she added, that build the collective knowledge and power of the evolving movement.

That was certainly the case for me and Jeff. We were blown away by the work of community bike shops and youth leadership programs — and we’re eager to start exploring how the Alliance can be a resource and a partner for this critical and growing aspect of the bicycle advocacy movement.

Photo: Members of the Girls Bike Club (Credit: Angela Jimenez)

Oregon Advocates Propel Bike Share in Portland

2012-01-11T13:29:10+00:00

This summer, the Bicycle Transportation Alliance, Oregon’s statewide advocacy organization, received a $3,000 Advocacy Advance Rapid Response grant to assist in its advocacy efforts to bring bike share to Portland.

Last month, the bike share program won its final stages of approval — a unanimous vote of the Metropolitan Planning Organization followed by a final allocation decision by the Metro Council — thanks, in large part, to the BTA.

The bike share program will have 740 bikes located at 74 bike stations throughout downtown Portland, encouraging thousands of new riders in the central business district and enhancing safety associated with increased ridership. The $2 million capital investment in bike share is on the list of regional transportation projects approved for federal “flexible funds” by the Joint Policy Advisory Committee on Transportation (JPACT).

This decision reflects earlier campaign success, when the Portland City council voted in support of the $2 million in Metropolitan Transportation Improvement Program (MTIP) money for a capital investment in bike sharing.

Concerns raised at the JPACT meeting will bolster BTA’s equity commitment in the region and emphasized the importance of ensuring that the program will meet the needs of all users equitably and affordably.

Advocacy Advance is a partnership of the Alliance and League of American Bicyclists aimed at boosting federal funding for biking and walking projects and programs on the state and local level. Thanks to the support of the SRAM Cycling Fund, Advocacy Advance has $13,000 remaining to fund organizations met with urgent and unexpected opportunities to win, increase, or preserve funding for biking and walking. Visit the Advocacy Advance Grants page or e-mail Brighid O’Keane for more information on our grant program.

South Carolina Advocates Take “Cities for Cycling” Concept to the State Level

2012-01-06T13:31:10+00:00

By Lisa Seyfried

Drawing inspiration from a national initiative, the Palmetto Cycling Coalition (PCC) is developing a new way for state stakeholders to discuss best practices for introducing and maintaining bicycle programs in South Carolina.

Cities for Cycling: South Carolina will bring bicycle advocates together with planning and engineering departments of cities and towns across the state to identify core issues relating to bicycle transportation challenges and opportunities. Through peer-to-peer collaboration among these various departments statewide, the PCC hopes to establish a forum for the exchange of bicycle transportation innovation, insights, and recommendations.

“The catalyst was a three-day visit with Mia Birk in South Carolina,” Rachael Bronson, PCC’s Executive Director, explains. “As we visited three cities in the state — trips that I often take on regular PCC business — I had a different perspective on the role that the PCC can play in local bicycle advancements across the state. Somewhere around that time, I received an email from Jeff (Miller) asking advocacy groups like the PCC to encourage cities to sign-on to Cities for Cycling.”

The National Association for City Transportation Officials (NACTO) created its Cities for Cycling program to provide a resource and venue for best practices in developing and implementing bicycle-friendly policies and projects in cities across the nation. Bronson saw the merit of the national initiative, but knew it could play an even more important role at the state level. “Cities and towns in South Carolina just cannot relate to cities like Pittsburgh and San Francisco and others,” she says. “And, problems that cities face in South Carolina are state-specific. Really, these thoughts were the genesis of our forum.”

In developing the concept for the state forum, Bronson was mindful that an advocate-led initiative could alienate some potential participants. Luckily, the city of Charleston was already blazing away at some innovative bike-ped projects and willingly took a leadership role in circulating the idea and bringing folks to the table. Thus far, even in the forum’s infant stages, the response has been resoundingly positive.

“Leaders from all over the state are chomping at the bit to get involved,” Bronson says. And the PCC is excited to serve as the forum’s facilitator, overseeing the group’s activities, and ensuring its long-term vitality and relevance to South Carolina public policy.

Last month, the forum held its first meeting and identified the need for an action plan and implementation of the statewide bicycle design specifications. Bronson hopes that the forum will be a resource for future planning and that this effort will serve as a model for other states to create similar forums.

To learn more, visit the PCC website or download the Cities for Cycling: South Carolina narrative here.

California Bicycle Coalition Completes Advocacy Advance Startup Grant

2012-01-04T13:34:10+00:00

The California Bicycle Coalition (CBC), a recipient of a Fall 2010 Advocacy Advance Grant, completed its $30,000 “Leveraging the Bike Power of the Golden State” Start-up Grant proposal in December. The grant funds, which were matched three-fold, helped relaunch the organization, hire a second full-time staff, support key advocacy initiatives and explore membership models for a statewide organization in a state that has 15 professional-staffed bicycle advocacy groups.

CBC successfully advocated for a reform of the Caltrans California Traffic Controls Devices Committee – which controls what signs, signals, and stripes are allowed on California’s roads – to require two representatives of non-motorized transportation sit on the committee. This restructuring will help ensure that complete streets standards are upheld throughout the state.

Despite statewide outreach and advocacy for a three-foot passing bill that was passed through the legislature, the governor vetoed the bill this past fall. The California Bicycle Coalition plans to continue their Give Me 3 campaign and run the bill again this year to ensure that California drivers give bicyclists at least 3 feet of space when passing from behind. Additional ongoing CBC campaigns and projects include high-speed rail access for bikes, institutionalizing cycling education in California schools, and planning a social equity and bicycling summit in 2012.

In November, CBC organized the California Bike Summit in L.A. The summit brought together bike advocates from the nonprofit, public and private sectors to help set the statewide bicycling agenda for 2012 and beyond. The summit program also strengthened the capacity of participants through workshops devoted to sharing best practices, successes, and lessons learned.

California Bicycle Coalition joins more than two dozen other organizations that have used Advocacy Advance grant funding to spur development and carry out successful bicycle and pedestrian campaigns. Check back in coming weeks for information about this year’s funding cycle.

Livable Memphis Completes Advocacy Advance Innovation Grant

2012-01-03T13:28:10+00:00

Last month, Livable Memphis, a recipient of a Fall 2010 Advocacy Advance Grant, completed its “Overton-Broad Connector” Innovation Grant proposal. The advocates used their $25,000 award to introduce two model innovations to the Memphis community.

The New Face for an Old Broad event in November 2010 took the Better Blocks concept to a new level by temporarily reprogramming a street to show how bicycle and pedestrian facilities can encourage economic development. Three blocks of the Broad Avenue commercial district were turned into a DIY weekend festival. Local schools painted crosswalks, vacant storefronts were cleaned out and turned into pop-up shops and cafes, local artists created murals. The temporary redesign of the streetscape, including painted protected bike lines, have remained untouched for more than a year because they follow code standards and the local community has been pleased with the increase of business.

The grant also supported Livable Memphis’s advocacy efforts to complete the Overton-Broad Connector. The park trail segment will serve as the only pedestrian entrance to Overton Park from the east and increase access to mixed-income communities. Livable Memphis completed the design concept and is working to raise additional funds needed to complete the cycle track.

Going above and beyond the matching grant requirement, Livable Memphis raised more than $100,000 in sponsorships, donations, grants, event proceeds, and membership dues for its efforts. The advocates’ work has received additional financial support from Bikes Belong, Tennessee Recreational Trails Program, and HUS Sustainable Communities grant program.

In addition, Livable Memphis introduced updates to Memphis pedestrian ordinances regarding ADA access and crosswalk right-of-ways, which passed City Council, and developed a new “fines and fees” ordinance that will bring violation charges regarding bicycles and pedestrians up to the standard of their peer cities.

We’ve added added materials to our Online Resource Library that Livable Memphis used in its advocacy and feel would be useful for other Alliance member organizations:

Sample Request for Proposal for Professional Design Services and instructions for submitting a Letter of Interest
Traffic Volume Count Study Methods

Livable Memphis joins the more than two dozen other organizations that have used Advocacy Advance grant funding to spur development and carry out successful bicycle and pedestrian campaigns. Check back in coming weeks for information about next year’s funding cycle.

Connecticut Advocates and Officials Ready to Target Federal Funding

2011-12-22T19:41:10+00:00

Undaunted by the massive storm that forced a last-minute rescheduling in November, more than 50 Connecticut advocates and officials from every single county in the state turned out for a successful Action 2020 Workshop in Hartford, Conn., last week.

Hosted by Bike Walk Connecticut and the Capitol Region Council of Governments, the workshop gave both advocates and agency staff the tools and strategies to harness underutilized federal funding sources for bicycle and pedestrian programs and projects.

“The workshop provided excellent resources, and most importantly, empowered the attendees to take action to improve the funding picture,” Sandy Fry, CRCOG Principal Transportation Planner, said. “There will be new efforts and initiatives as a result of this workshop and with the broad cross section of attendees, the efforts have a very good chance for success.”

Action 2020 Workshops are facilitated by Advocacy Advance – a partnership of the League of American Bicyclists and Alliance for Biking & Walking.

Read the full recap on the Advocacy Advance blog.

Specialized Brightens the Holidays for Community Bike Shops

2011-12-22T13:40:10+00:00

Specialized, this holiday season will be particularly merry for more than two dozen community bike shops and Alliance members.

Community bike shops and earn-a-bike programs are on the rise across the country, taking in recycled rides that would otherwise be landfill fodder and wrenching them back into shape for residents who need them most. In many cases, youth and low-income adults get their bike for free if they learn the skills to refurbish and maintain their bicycle. With increased interest in affordable, healthy transportation, these shops are growing quickly — and need supplies to keep pace with demand.

Enter Specialized. In mid-November, they let us know that, in remodeling some of their concept stores, they were looking for a new home for a variety of shop equipment. Understanding the importance of advocacy, they wanted to put the high-end racks, benches and more in the hands of Alliance members. They even offered to ship the items for free.

We immediately put out the word to our members with community bike shops — and got a quick and positive response. Now, organizations like the Fort Collins Bike Co-op, Bici Libre Community Bike Space in Los Angeles and the Revolve Community Bike Shop in Kansas City will ring in the New Year with new equipment to advance their efforts.

“This donation by Specialized will no doubt prepare us for the promise we believe 2012 holds for the Revolve Community Bike Shop,” Elizabeth Bejan, executive director of Revolve, told us. “If the four full months we were in operation in 2011 is any indication, we will need to have handy as much of our Earn-a-Bike inventory and supplies as this former auto repair turned bike repair shop can hold. As is their custom, Kansas Citians responded generously to news media about us with donations of bikes and accessories and with their time as volunteers. The Specialized shop equipment will allow us to showcase the donations and re-gift them to those who need them. Not only that, but our deserving volunteers get to work and learn in a fun and safe environment.”

Thank you, Specialized!

Major Bridge Victory in Boston

2011-12-21T13:30:10+00:00

This morning the daily commute for many Boston bicyclists became a whole lot safer and more comfortable — thanks in large part to advocates at the LivableStreets Alliance.

In December 2010, LivableStreets executive director, Jackie Douglas, was a panelist on an Alliance Mutual Aid Call, sharing insight and progress from the organization’s Better Bridges Campaign. Three years ago, the advocates launched the initiative to ensure that a $3 billion investment from the state to shore up dilapidated bridges didn’t bypass accommodations for bicyclists, pedestrians and transit users. Today, LivableStreets celebrated the completion of bike lanes and pedestrian crossing improvements to the BU Bridge over the Charles River.

“This is a major victory,” Douglas said in the announcement this morning — a victory built on wide participation from LivableStreets members and a strong and diverse campaign coalition. “Improvements to the BU Bridge have created a new vital link, providing more transportation options and new opportunities to integrate physical activity into our daily lives. We are witnessing a growing wave of interest in walking, bicycling, public transit and livable communities.”

One commuter who will make use of that new, vital link is LivableStreets member Emily Blood: ““The BU Bridge used to be the major obstacle in my commute to the Longwood Medical Area,” she said. “Now I’ll bike more often, and it will be so much safer to cross.”

The savvy advocates at LivableStreets aren’t letting the victory pass silently. To highlight the improvements, engage potential members and leverage the victory into a stronger relationship with decisionmakers, they’ll be out on the bridge today and tomorrow giving out goodie bags and getting excited users to sign thank-you postcards to transportation officials.

Learn more about the Better Bridges campaign and other bridge initiatives in last year’s Advocacy Advance report — Bridging the Gaps in Bicycling Networks: An Advocate’s Guide to Getting Bikes on Bridges.

And don’t forget: LivableStreets is the host of our Winning Campaigns Training in Boston this April. Register now to secure your spot and take advantage of these winning advocates’ insight.

Photo: BU Bridge with new bike lanes and pedestrian crossings. (LivableStreets)

Oakland Advocates Celebrate Banner Year for Bike Lanes

2011-12-20T14:12:10+00:00

As public works employees put paint to pavement on Friday, advocates and officials celebrated Oakland’s most successful year yet in biking and walking infrastructure.

Leaders from the East Bay Bicycle Coalition and Walk Oakland Bike Oakland joined Mayor Jean Quan to mark the installation of more than 18 miles of bike lanes and nearly 300 bike parking spots in 2011 alone.

Though it didn’t hit the organizations’ target of 30 miles by the end of 2011, the uptick in infrastructure has been a major victory for the Oakland Bikeways Campaign, a joint effort of the EEBC and WOBO. And city officials promised the next wave of sharrows and bike lanes should be on the ground by mid-2012.

“The bike lanes installed this year go a long way to fulfilling WOBO’s goal of connecting Oakland’s neighborhoods with safe, reliable and affordable transportation options,” Gloria Bruce, chair of the board at WOBO, said at the press conference. “Bicycling is fun, it’s healthy, and people want to do it. Despite the budget and other challenges, the City is moving forward quickly to build the network and we applaud them for that. Safe biking makes a big difference in people’s lives.”

“It’s not just putting down more miles, but miles that connect, and create a safe, continuous network that really gets you where you need to go and doesn’t drop you along the way,” Renee Rivera, executive director of EEBC, said. “We need to make Oakland a safe place to bike for everyone. We need to pay more attention to the eastern side of town, working with great partners like Cycles of Change and their earn-a-bike program, and bringing more infrastructure to the east side where it’s so badly needed.”

It’s worth noting that staff and volunteers from WOBO and EBBC worked on aspects of the Oakland Bikeways initiative at Alliance Winning Campaigns Training in 2008 and 2010 respectively. Jumpstart your 2012 campaigns by attending one of these workshops in your area. The first is coming up in a matter of weeks: Register now for the Winning Campaigns Training in Tucson, AZ, January 13-15th. The early bird rate — just $75 for Alliance members — ends on Friday.

Read more about last week’s celebration from the EBBC here.

Photo: Renee Rivera (left), executive director of the EBBC, with Oakland Mayor Jean Quan. (Credit: Gene Anderson)

Match Challenge: Help the Alliance Raise $4K by Monday!

2011-12-15T13:43:10+00:00

Make your gift by Monday and your dollars will leverage an additional $4,000 for biking and walking!

As a bicycle and pedestrian advocate for the past 20 years, I know fighting for people who walk and bike is both inspiring and challenging work.

Each and every day brings new opportunities — and threats. But I’ve learned that one thing remains constant: the Alliance for Biking & Walking.

The Alliance is the only national organization that provides the training, coaching, networking and resources that make advocacy organizations more powerful agents of change.

We can’t provide that critical support without you.

Please, make your gift to the Alliance now and your donation will be DOUBLED! Help us meet a generous challenge grant led by Frank Peters of cdmCyclist and Rickshaw Bagworks by making a contribution TODAY.

These key supporters will match your donation if we can raise $4,000 over the next four days. Please pledge your support for the Alliance today — and spread the word to your friends and family.

Right now, our movement is at a critical moment. At the federal, state and local level, funding and programs for biking and walking are under attack. Now, more than ever, we need strong advocates with access to the best information and most up-to-date resources.

Every dollar you donate to the Alliance will go directly to important events and critical resources that no other organization can provide, like Winning Campaigns Trainings, the Alliance Leadership Retreat, the 2012 Benchmarking Report and so much more.

Please, pledge your support by Monday and your dollars will go even further by helping us meet our match challenge and leverage an additional $4,000 for biking and walking!

Your gift ensures advocates can continue to rely on the Alliance for the network and knowledge they need to transform their communities into great places to walk and bike. I hope I can rely on you to help us continue our important work.

Please, join me in making a gift to the Alliance today!

p.s. Make your gift by December 31st and you’ll get a free year’s subscription to Momentum magazine! PLUS, you’ll be entered into drawings for a new Uptown Infinity from Breezer (valued at $1,220!) or a year’s supply of CLIF Bars!

WABA Packs the House with Women’s Bicycling Forum

2011-12-14T14:54:10+00:00

According to 2009 data, women account for just 24 percent of bicyclists in the U.S. But, on Monday night, female cyclists of all ages and abilities packed the house for a new event hosted by the Washington Area Bicyclist Association.

An innovative evening of collective brainstorming, the Women’s Bicycling Forum convened nine female panelists who shared their bicycle stories and discussed ideas to close the gender gap. Nearly 80 ladies showed up to observe the lively conversation among the diverse bicycling “experts” and toss in their two cents on the timely and important topic.

The forum was the brainchild of Jesse Cohn, WABA’s Women’s Outreach and Advocacy Intern, a new position the organization created this fall. I had the pleasure of meeting with Cohn as she interviewed a number of women in the DC region about what keeps ladies from getting on bikes and how we can convert the large pool of interested-but-concerned riders. I cited some of the work of other Alliance member organizations, like the new Family Biking Guide produced by the San Francisco Bicycle Coalition and the “Women on Wheels” bicycle education classes offered by Marin County Bicycle Coalition.

For Cohn, the one-on-one insight was a prelude to a more public conversation. As she noted on the WABA blog: “I conceived of the Women’s Bicycling Forum as a way to jumpstart a conversation about this huge topic, bringing together a group of women to discuss the barriers and brainstorm the solutions.”

At least in DC, women are clearly hungry for that discussion; the response was so fast and furious WABA had to claim a bigger room in the West End Library.

To kick off the evening, Cohn set the statistical stage, noting that DC is actually a leading city when it comes to gender parity; more than 30 percent of area cyclists are women. But that pales in comparison to countries like Denmark and the Netherlands where the split is 50-50 — or higher. “We can aim for that one-to-one ratio,” Cohn said. “It is possible.”

That sentiment was shared by the panel, which included:

Fionnuala Quinn, an engineer with Alta Planning + Design and Vice Chair of the Fairfax Advocates for Better Bicycling
Katie Knight, General Manager of Revolution Cycles
Kate Ryan, reporter for WTOP radio station
Veronica Davis, urban planner and founder of Black Women Bike DC
Ellen Jones, Director of Infrastructure & Sustainability at the DowntownDC Business Improvement District and former executive director of WABA
Heather Deutsch, trail planner for the DC Department of Transportation
Tracy Hadden Loh, Director of National Transportation Enhancements Clearinghouse at the Rails-to-Trails Conservancy
Liz Sherwood, manager at Bicycle Space
Katie Sihler, Program Director for goDCgo

The conversation and interaction among the panelists was both engaging and inspiring as they spoke truthfully and passionately about their experiences and ideas. The energy was palpable and WABA captured some of the choice quotes with their live Twitter feed from the event.

Just one of the comments that earned an audible amen from the crowded room came from Tracy Hadden Loh: “This is a movement that’s almost totally led by white men,” she said. That certainly sounded familiar to me.

In 2010, at the Alliance Leadership Retreat, a number of female advocates came together as a Women’s Caucus, and addressing the perception and reality of a male-dominated movement was one of the key issues that drove the discussion. We already knew we weren’t the only ones who considered this an important topic. The Association of Pedestrian and Bicycle Professionals had just completed its Women’s Cycling Survey — and garnered insight from 13,000 women across the U.S.

The consensus at the informal Caucus was clear: We need to create a stronger network of female leaders by providing a venue where we can discuss our experiences, share best practices and get more women involved in the movement. Since then, I’ve been working with a number of advocates and Kit Keller, the executive director of APBP, to create just such a space that centralizes knowledge and fosters community among women bicyclists.

Stay tuned in coming weeks for ways you can get involved in the Women’s Cycling Project. In the meantime, read more about the Women’s Bicycling Forum on the WABA blog.

Photo credit: WABA

Complete Streets Vote in the Senate TOMORROW

2011-12-13T10:50:10+00:00

Now is our chance!

While we continue to work to preserve federal funding for bicycling and walking, there is an opportunity this week to ensure that federally funded transportation projects accommodate the needs and safety of all users—including pedestrians and bicyclists. This would be a real chance to see Complete Streets policies enacted in every state.

On Wednesday morning, the U.S. Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation will consider an amendment offered by Alaska Senator Mark Begich to provide safe and adequate accommodations for all users in all federally-funded street projects. This means safer roads for everyone, including those who walk, bicycle, ride transit, or drive cars.

According to the National Complete Streets Coalition: “This important amendment would ensure that future transportation investments made by state Departments of Transportation improve safety for everyone… More than 300 communities — including states, MPOs, counties, and towns of all sizes — have already said they will plan their streets in this manner. With additional guidance and support for Complete Streets from the federal level, these localities will have an easier time building the roads they want - roads that make their communities healthier and wealthier.” (Click here for additional details on the amendment.)

We need you to voice your support TODAY for the Senator Begich amendment to S. 1950 on “safety for motorized and nonmotorized users.” Please visit the Safe Routes to School National Partnership’s online action center — and share the link with your members and supporters. If your Senator is on the Commerce Committee, you will see a letter asking them to vote for the Begich amendment. If your Senator is not a member of the Commerce Committee, you will instead see a letter asking them to cosponsor Complete Streets legislation.

This is the first time in more than six years that our federal representatives will take a vote on Complete Streets language — please, take action TODAY!

Bike Texas Honored by NAACP

2011-12-09T10:50:10+00:00

Whether it’s in our Mutual Aid Calls or at our Leadership Retreat, we talk a lot about building an inclusive bike-ped movement that engages and involves all members of our diverse communities.

Advocates in the Lone Star State are putting that goal into action.

At its 75th Annual State Convention, the Texas NAACP honored Bike Texas with a President Award — “For going above and beyond the call of duty to develop interest in biking and green benefits from biking in the African American Community.”

The recognition was well deserved. “BikeTexas has a history of nurturing diversity, and bringing leaders into the bike culture,” the advocates note on their blog. One way they’re connecting with the black community is through organized rides with the NAACP in cities like Kileen and Houston. So it was only fitting that the advocates got folks pedaling at the NAACP Convention, too.

“Leaders from several NAACP chapters participated, including an enthusiastic group of collegiate chapter leaders,” Bike Texas wrote on its blog. “NAACP President Gary Bledsoe and Fort Worth Mayor Betsy Price also participated in the ride. Brenda Chuleewah, Bike Texas’ Teacher Training and Program manager, was impressed with all of the women on the ride, saying the group was a broad mix of gender and age.”

According to Bike Texas: “This is the first time in the history of the NAACP that a bike advocacy group received an award for helping to create more diversity in the cycling culture. Bike Texas is honored to be a part of this historic moment.”

Keep track of Bike Texas’ efforts on its blog.

Photo: Robin Stallings, Executive Director of Bike Texas, receiving the award from NAACP president Gary Bledsoe.

‘Tis the Season to Sign Up for Climate Ride!

2011-12-08T15:38:10+00:00

It’s barely been two months since I returned from Climate Ride California. But, before I even boxed up my bike, I started looking forward to the next.

Just in time to inspire some holiday cheer, registration for the 2012 Climate Ride is now open.

The Climate Ride is a win-win:

You get the ride of a lifetime: A green conference on wheels, you’ll meet like-minded bicycle advocates, cruise through some of the most gorgeous countryside in the nation and kick back at night to listen to top experts in the field of sustainable transportation and renewable energy.
Nonprofits get crucial funding: Each rider directs his or her fundraising to one or more of the Climate Ride beneficiaries. The California event alone put more than $300,000 in the pockets of organizations working on active transportation and climate protection — like the Alliance.

The New York City to DC ride is May 19-23, but now is the perfect time to register. Sign up today, so you can tell your friends and family that the best gift they can give you this holiday season is a donation toward your Climate Ride fundraising goal.

Your participation can make the Alliance’s new year merry and bright, too. Just select us as a beneficiary of your ride. See you in DC this May!

Action 2020 Workshop Galvanizes Houston to Increase Bike-Ped Funding

2011-12-07T13:47:10+00:00

When I was 16 years old, my family moved from Bern, Switzerland to Houston, Texas. Talk about culture shock. While there’s a lot to celebrate about the Lone Star State, active transportation ain’t exactly on the short list.

But that’s changing fast — thanks to the efforts of a growing number of bike-ped advocates and supportive policymakers.

Last week, an Action 2020 Workshop in my previous hometown of Houston captured and built on that progressive energy. Presented by Advocacy Advance, a partnership of the Alliance and the League of American Bicyclists, the workshop attracted nearly 60 stakeholders from 41 different organizations to discuss how to increase funding for biking and walking across the Houston region.

Read a recap from Darren Flusche, policy analyst at the League of American Bicyclists, on the Advocacy Advance blog. Or check out the review from BikeHouston, one of the event hosts.

With more Action 2020 Workshops planned in the New Year, click here to see if Advocacy Advance is coming to your region.

New Walking App from Every Body Walk

2011-12-05T13:25:10+00:00

Every Body Walk is an online educational campaign aimed at getting Americans up and moving. Working with Alliance partners, like America Walks, and member organizations, like Walk Boston, the campaign is spreading the message that walking 30 minutes a day, five days a week can improve overall health and prevent disease.

Last week, Every Body Walk launched a new, free app that enables residents and advocates to…

Personalize walking plans
Track and save walking routes
Connect with walking organizations
Discover walking paths in the area
Learn about the latest fitness trends and tips
Watch exclusive videos… and more

Click here for a short informational sheet and learn more here.

Participate in the National Launch of the 2012 Benchmarking Report

2011-12-02T12:59:10+00:00

The Alliance is finalizing the last details of the 2012 Benchmarking Report: Bicycling and Walking in the United States and invites you to join us as we prepare for a national release of the report in January.

The report contains data on the state of biking and walking in the 50 states and 51 largest U.S. cities including data on biking and walking levels, safety, funding, policies, advocacy, and programs.

The release of the report is an excellent opportunity for you to engage the media and local decision makers and let them know how your state or city stacks up. This report will reveal where your city or state is leading and where you fall behind. The report contains numbers and illustrations that will provide data in support of your efforts and help you advocate for a greater investment in biking and walking.

The Alliance is inviting advocates interested in working with us on a coordinated national release of the report to sign up for one of two information calls:

December 13 from 12 p.m. to 1 p.m. EST
January 11 from 12 p.m. to 1 p.m. EST

Those who sign up will receive a sneak-preview of the report. On the call we will review the report highlights, discuss media talking points, and answer questions.

If you can’t make either of these calls but want to get involved, e-mail .

Charleston Advocates Prevent “Monster” Road Redesign

2011-12-01T13:15:10+00:00

By teaming up with a local conservation organization, advocates from Charleston Moves helped turned a monster road for automobiles into a safer street for people who walk and bike.

The project in question was Harborview Drive, a thoroughfare on James Island that backs up with cars and school buses during certain periods of the day. The City Council aimed to remedy the congestion by redesigning the road to funnel traffic even faster.

Because the new design would take down a number of live oaks, the first group to raise a red flag was Will You Remember Our Trees? Quickly, the conservation advocates turned to Charleston Moves to examine the design and get involved in the campaign to calm the new beast. The advocates took a particularly keen interest in the stretch of pavement as it represents a key portion of the group’s Battery2Beach corridor — a proposed 24-mile bicycle route that runs from the Isle of Palms to Folly Beach.

“We found [the redesign] to be a monster,” Charleston Moves’ advocates wrote on their blog, “almost 70 feet wide, with a two-way multi-use path on only one side of the road, speed limit increased from 40 to 45mph, a center (suicide) lane, and not a single crosswalk!”

Drawing on his professional background as an engineer, Charleston Moves’ Vice Chair Chris Tullmann took a closer look at the plans and found that the redesign would do more harm than good. “Instead of helping connect many lovely neighborhoods on that portion of James Island,” Charleston Moves noted on its blog, “the project would instead create a monstrous concrete and asphalt “gash” through it, very likely to diminish property values, cheapen commerce and tarnish the overall quality of life.”

So Charleston Moves kicked off a letter writing and publicity campaign that urged the city council to reconsider — and they did. Thanks to the advocates’ mobilization, officials revised their plans and put forward a vastly improved design for the road with bike lanes on both sides of the street, and a sidewalk running among the old live oaks on the south side of the roadway.

Of course, it’s not everything the advocates had asked for, but now that the discussion had been reopened there will be another round of public comments next year. Learn more on CHS Moves’ blog.

Strategic Planning Success Leads to New Advocacy Organization in Cleveland

2011-11-30T13:30:10+00:00

The very first issue of the Bike Cleveland News thanked the more than 125 participants who attended a two-day Strategic Planning Summit in September: “As a participant you did something mighty. You gave birth to an organization that will be a force for positive change for cycling in our region.”

The strategic planning process, facilitated by the Alliance, kicked off in December 2010, when 10 people gathered together as a Leadership Team for the project. The goal: create the organization and design a strategic planning summit that would engage and strengthen the Greater Cleveland cycling community.

The Leadership Team intentionally included participants from the Cleveland YMCA and the Earth Day Coalition, two planners (county and city), and a representative from the business community. They were joined by three leaders from the cycling community, and two staff from Slavic Village, a community development corporation in Cleveland committed to improving cycling. Slavic Village had conducted interviews with members of the Cleveland cycling community, and the team used that to design a solid plan to engage the whole community in further strategic planning, to increase the buy-in and support for the new organization.

The Alliance facilitated a series of meetings, guiding the team through securing a design team, which came together in March to provide feedback on a rough draft strategy, input on the summit, and more than 800 suggested participants who might have interest in participating in the two-day event. After the March meeting, various committees met to execute planning items for the summit, and the Leadership Team worked to secure a solid board to lead the organization, file important documents to start the organization, and even explore staffing models that the organization could consider. The organization also held other events along the way, such as a naming ceremony for the community to help select a name for the organization, as well as a design team meeting to give feedback on strategy and event development.

Finally, September 10 arrived and more than 120 people showed up to Windows on the River, a perfectly designed facility to build a common desire within the group, develop a compelling vision for how they saw the organization serving its stakeholders, and create a clear action plan.

I’ve been facilitating groups through this process for 10 years, and was still amazed at the way the Leadership Team was able to secure the funding to hold their summit and create a summit that empowered the community to come together and create a strong organization that can really move itself to the next level. The interaction among members of the cycling community was fantastic and it was great to see creative ideas, building relationships, and the transition of leadership to a strong and committed board to implement the strategy.

Since September, the organization has already:

Officially endorsed the Bike Cleveland Mission, Vision, Principles, Goals and the organization’s action plan as developed by the Bike Cleveland Summit participants;
Set advocacy priorities for the coming year, including work making the West Shoreway bike-friendly;
Created a website that is becoming the hub for cycling in Greater Cleveland: BikeCleveland.org;
And, set the foundation for making Bike Cleveland an integral part of improving Northeast Ohio.

The organization has also secured foundation support. They were awarded $10,000 from the YMCA of Greater Cleveland that is a part of a larger grant from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s “Racial and Ethnic Approaches to Community Health” program. These funds will be used in Bike Cleveland’s advocacy efforts on behalf of “necessity cyclists.” In addition, Bike Cleveland was also awarded a $60,000 start-up grant for advocacy and organizing efforts from The George Gund Foundation, to “make Cleveland a more bike-friendly city.”

Chris Alvarado, Bike Cleveland Board President, writes “The Bike Cleveland Summit was a remarkable opportunity to bring together over 120 Clevelanders who are not only passionate about cycling, but who have a deep and abiding love of Cleveland and wish to express that through the establishment of our new advocacy organization. We believe that Bike Cleveland is becoming a force that not only advocates for cyclists, but does so with a heartfelt devotion to the assets that make Northeast Ohio special: the incredible diversity of Clevelanders, our natural assets of rivers, Lake Erie, and greenspaces, our engaging built environment, and our culture of hard work, grass-roots efforts, and a commitment to making Cleveland great. Jeremy has been absolutely instrumental in bringing us together and focusing our efforts towards creating Bike Cleveland. Already, we have attracted over $70,000 in funds (including grants from The George Gund Foundation and YMCA of Greater Cleveland), tens of thousands of volunteer hours, and the attention of cyclists and change-agents throughout Northeast Ohio. We are looking forward to building our relationship with the Alliance for Biking & Walking and with our sister organizations near and far.

Bike Cleveland is just one of the organizations that have received Strategic Planning Assistance from the Alliance. Strategic Planning Summits range from big to small, depending on the approach the organization wants to take with the process. Reflects Marie Kittredge, Executive Director of Slavic Village (who hired the Alliance for this project), “I was equally impressed with the process you led us through—truly transformational and powerful, a huge win for Cleveland and cycling”.

The Alliance would like to recognize the commitment and direct support of the Bike Cleveland project from Slavic Village Development, Cleveland YMCA, The George Gund Foundation, and, of course, the leadership team and design team of the project. Thank you for the opportunity to work with such a talented group of advocates.

The Alliance would also like to thank New Belgium Brewing Company for its overall commitment to helping the Alliance make more strategic planning assistance and other coaching like the process used in Cleveland more affordable to Alliance member organizations. Next month, we highlight the success of the East Bay Bicycle Coalition, a project supported directly by New Belgium.

Contact Jeremy at jeremy@PeoplePoweredMovement.org for more details, and help your organization take its work to the next level.

Mexican Activists Paint 5 Kilometer Bike Lane to the Doors of Congress

2011-11-29T19:33:10+00:00

Frustrated by the slow pace of government action on pedestrian and bicycle safety issues, bicycle advocates in Mexico City took matters into their own hands this month. In early November, a group of activists painted a five-kilometer bike lane through the Federal District — straight to the doors of Congress.

According to event organizers: “We worked for eight hours. We painted five kilometers. We spent less than 1,000 dollars. How much would it cost to actually build the bicycle infrastructure the city needs?”

In 2007, the municipal government promised to build 300 km of bike lanes within five years. Due to lack of funding for non-motorized transportation, only 22.2 km have been built. The event in Mexico City this month was part of a nationwide campaign demanding that Mexico allocate at least 5 percent of its transportation budget to bicycle and pedestrian infrastructure.

Areli Carreón, president of the bicycle advocacy group (and Alliance member organization) Bicitekas, says event organizers got the word out using social media, including e-mail, Facebook and Twitter. They also posted a How-To guide on the web a few days in advance. Funding was raised through Fondeadora, a crowd-sourcing site that lets people donate money to causes or projects they care about.

Three of Mexico’s most influential newspapers — Reforma, El Universal and Milenio — ran stories on the event. “All the activity was covered live by Twitters on the spot, which also generated a lot of noise and support,” Areli says.

Weeks later, the so-called “wikilane” remains intact and advocates have drafted a letter to authorities asking that it be designated an official bike lane.

The creative action is just one example of how advocates’ efforts are starting to pay off at the national level. “The 2012 annual national budget included, for the first time, the concept of ‘non motorized mobility,’” Areli says. “It’s not the 5 percent we wanted, but it’s a very important step in the right direction. We’re happy with this first positive outcome!”

National Cycling Groups Commend Improved Rumble Strip Advisory

2011-11-29T17:59:10+00:00

Three of America’s largest cycling organizations — Adventure Cycling Association, Alliance for Biking & Walking, and the League of American Bicyclists — wish to thank the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) for the significant improvements the agency made last week in an important technical advisory (TA) regarding the application of rumble strips on U.S. roadways.

Rumble strips are raised or grooved patterns in a road’s shoulder designed to alert drivers with noise and vibrations that they are drifting off the roadway. Properly applied, rumbles can serve as a safety device for motorists. However, if applied on narrow, shoulder-less roadways or in a way that covers a paved shoulder, rumble strips can make it difficult or impossible for cyclists to use a roadway.

The FHWA issued a revised TA on rumble strips in May 2011, the first such revision in 10 years. The TA is important because it provides official national guidance on the use of rumbles and influences state and local agency action in their use of rumbles on roadways of all types. FHWA had indicated that this new advisory would substantially improve the TA’s guidance on the application of rumble strips and how they affected bicyclists.

Unfortunately, the May 2011 TA went backwards from the 2001 TA in its lack of inclusion of cyclists’ safety issues. There was little mention of the needs of cyclists or the need for a public process regarding the application of rumble strips during road reconstruction or paving. These three national cycling groups contacted FHWA and the US Department of Transportation with many specific concerns and technical advice about revising the TA, and agency leaders indicated they would revisit the document.

The newly revised TA (Shoulder and Edge Line Rumble Strips, Technical Advisory T 5040.39, Revised 1), released on November 16 is a substantial improvement. It includes a new section about the accommodation of all roadway users (Section 9), with a special emphasis on the needs of cyclists, and lays out “a number of measures that should be considered to accommodate bicyclists,” including wide shoulders, bicycle gaps (intervals without rumble strips that allow cyclists to safety cross back or forth), and customized rumble treatments to allow more space for cyclists. The new TA also includes a significantly improved section on public outreach and involvement.

There are still sections of the new TA that raise concerns for cyclists, including Section 7b, which identifies the optimal “length” (or width) of rumble strips as 16 inches, a dimension which can make it more likely that these strips will cut into useable road shoulder space for cyclists.

The three national organizations reiterate the importance of local citizens and organizations in paying close attention to the proposed addition of rumble strips on existing roadways or added when roads are being built, reconstructed or repaved. In addition to FHWA’s new advisory, further background and guidance can be found in a report by the League of American Bicyclists (Bicycling and Rumble Strips) and a report on state-by-state use of rumbles prepared by Adventure Cycling Association (State Rumble Strip Policies). Adventure Cycling has also developed a Flickr page where people can share photos of well-designed and poorly-designed rumble strips.

For more information, contact:

Ginny Sullivan, Special Projects Director, Adventure Cycling, 800-755-2453, x229, gsullivan@adventurecycling.org
Walter Finch, Advocacy Director, League of American Bicyclists, 202-822-1333, walter@bikeleague.org

Give Thanks for Bike-Ped Advocacy: Nominate a Leader for an Alliance Award!

2011-11-23T13:00:10+00:00

As 2011 draws to a close, many of us are reflecting on the progress we’ve made this year. That progress is driven by individual leaders, advocacy organizations and business supporters working to transform their communities into better places to walk and bike.

Now is the time to show your gratitude for those who work so tirelessly to make our streets safer and more accessible for all.

The Alliance is now accepting nominations for our annual, national Advocacy Awards. Established in 2009, our awards program honors those who show exceptional leadership in advancing the bicycle and pedestrian movement. Categories for 2012 include:

Advocate of the Year
Advocacy Organization of the Year
Business Advocate of the Year
Winning Campaign of the Year
Susie Stephens Joyful Enthusiasm Award

Anyone can make a nomination — you don’t have to be part of an Alliance member organization — and the quick, easy, online submission form takes just a few minutes.

Do you know someone who deserves national recognition for his or her efforts? Did your local advocacy organization start or win an innovative or high-impact campaign this year? What corporate or business champions have invested in better biking and walking in your community? If you’re like me, a dozen people and a handful of groups just popped into your head. Show your appreciation by taking just a few moments to nominate them for an Advocacy Award.

Nominations are evaluated by Alliance staff, board and advocacy organization representatives, and the winners get some high-profile recognition. Each year, we host our Advocacy Awards reception on the first night of the National Bike Summit — and a couple hundred advocacy and industry leaders turn out for the big announcement.

Fionnuala Quinn, the recipient of an advocacy award in 2011 on behalf of the Fairfax Advocates for Better Bicycling (pictured, left) said: “Much of the work that advocates do is behind the scenes, so it was very unexpected but really appreciated to get recognition for our project. When we had conceived of the project, we had hoped that the end result would be a tool that could be used by other advocates working with public agencies, but it ended up turning into much more for us. To then receive public recognition gave us a boost in continuing our on-going work as we try to improve facilities and conditions for cyclists in our area. Receiving the recognition also allowed us to connect with many more people working in other communities to achieve the same goals and allowed us to exchange ideas and learn from their work too. We are grateful for being part of that supportive network.”

Honor someone in your community: Nominations will be accepted until December 18. To submit your nomination, click here.

Tahoe Advocates Unlock Funding for Bike Paths with Successful Ballot Measure

2011-11-22T17:29:10+00:00

Thanks to the advocates at the Lake Tahoe Bicycle Coalition, a previously off-limits stream of cash will now flow to local bike paths.

The circuitous story starts in 2000, when the community passed a bond measure, taxing properties for recreation facility improvements. Part of Measure S was the allocation of $5,000 per mile, per year, for new bike path maintenance.

At the time, officials projected 25 miles of new bike paths would be built by 2008. But tough economic times put those plans on indefinite hold — and, by extension, put the money from Measure S in a jam.

Because of state budget problems, only 8 of the projected 25 miles of new bike paths had been built by 2010. And while the tax dollars for bike path maintenance were coming in — to the tune of $85,000 per year — Measure S language precluded that cash from being spent on paths built before 2000.

With those old bike paths in need of renovation and dollars for bicycle infrastructure tough to come by, the Lake Tahoe Bicycle Coalition (LTBC) had its eye on unleashing those locked-up funds. Luckily, an opportunity presented itself in 2010. “A year and a half ago, the Mayor came to me and said she wanted to revisit Measure S and find a way of amending it so that accumulating funds could be used,” Ty Polastri, the LTBC’s president, explains.

So the LTBC set out to uncover and understand the finer points and challenges of Measure S. Over the course of many months, Polsatri says, advocates met and listened to the intent of the Joint Powers Authority and even did their own research — preparing a bike path maintenance analysis. But the political nature of the potential ballot initiative, at first, made the Coalition cautious.

“We did not take a stand because we believed we couldn’t — so as not to put our 501c3 at jeopardy,” Polastri continues.

But that didn’t mean the LTBC sat on the sidelines, especially when it came time for public hearings on the new ballot measure this summer.

“We saw how [the language] was still confusing and not clear,” Polastri says. “We decided it was our position to do everything possible to make this process transparent and fight for specificity and clarity of language so the voters could understand the Measure and its implications. We began making suggestions on rewriting the language and still publicly remained neutral. We fought to protect the funds for new bike path maintenance and crafted a compromise that monies could go to old, pre-Measure-S bike paths for funding.”

Under the new Measure R, new and old bike paths would receive approximately $2.7 million over the term of the bond for renovation and maintenance — 43 percent more maintenance funding than under Measure S.

“At that point, we moved to be all in,” Polastri says. “We had to engage the rest of the community, particularly the bicycle community who still didn’t trust the Measure and the people behind it. The LTBC had to take a strong stance to inform, educate, and promote that this measure was the last opportunity and the best one to get dollars for bike paths.”

Staying within the bounds of their 501c3 status — by spending no more than 20 percent of their annual budget on advertising for or against the initiative — the LTBC took a leadership role on Measure R. On November 8, it passed with an impressive 71 percent of the vote.

For Polastri, though, the funding isn’t the only win. The effort also boosted the visibility and credibility of the LTBC for future campaigns. “Now, other public agencies have contacted me to help them with other bike related issues of bike trails and highway safety,” Polastri says. “We’ve demonstrated our commitment and leadership to build strategic alliances and help move community to become more livable and sustainable.”

Read more and access a number of materials related to the Measure R campaign on the Lake Tahoe Bicycle Coalition website.

Bicyclists First Vehicles to Ride New Bridge in New Hampshire

2011-11-21T15:13:10+00:00

In most cases, new transportation infrastructure is christened by cars. But, this month in Manchester, bicyclists were the first vehicles to travel a new bridge.

The primacy of two-wheeling transportation at the November ribbon-cutting ceremony was the result of behind-the-scenes work from advocates at the Bike-Walk Alliance of New Hampshire.

The effort dates back to 2009, when the BWA-NH got wind that a $175 million bridge connecting Bedford and Manchester over the Merrimack River was designed without accommodations for bicyclists on the main roadway. Because the project also serves as an access road to the Manchester airport, that omission was particularly troublesome to Granite State cyclists.

According to BWA-NH: “A side path, not to be illuminated at night, cleared of snow in the winter, or providing a direct connection to local roads, was part of the design but that would not accommodate vehicular cyclists requiring a 24 x 7 x 365 transportation corridor. Mopeds and electric bicycles were also to be prohibited from using the bridge to access local roads where they are commonly used.”

So the advocates got to work. They determined that the Sagamore Bridge, connecting Nashua and Hudson downstream on the Merrimack, had the same restrictions regarding bicyclists and mopeds — restrictions that are in contradiction to federal law. Partnering with the Granite State Wheelmen, BWA-NH held a series of high-level meetings with the New Hampshire DOT and the Federal Highway Administration.

The result? In March 2010, the DOT removed the restrictions from both bridges. On November 10, bicyclists and pedestrians got the chance to savor the victory at the celebration for the completion of the project.

According to BWA-NH: “The public was invited to attend and the first vehicles to cross the bridge were bicycles! Members of BWA-NH and the GSW attended, pedaled the roadways and the sidepath for a comparison, and attended the ceremony. The road was open for general traffic on Veterans Day, Friday, November 11. Again, without the advocacy efforts of BWA-NH and the GSW, the MAAR bridge would just be a link for motorists with vehicular bicyclists and moped users having no way to access the local roads by crossing the new bridge.”

Read more about the campaign and victory on the BWA-NH website.

Reflections from the Equity Summit

2011-11-17T13:19:10+00:00

Last week, I had the opportunity to attend the fourth national Equity Summit in Detroit. Hosted by PolicyLink, the four-day event brought together nearly 3,000 leaders of the movement to share their visions and advance a policy agenda to address equity in our communities. Among those present were advocates, elected officials, agency staff and foundations working on sustainable and equitable transportation.

Nearly every breakout session included a piece on public transportation with some reference to the role of biking and walking in addressing equity issues. What are the benefits of our transportation systems? Who benefits? Who is making these decisions? These are some of the questions that were asked and that inspired the vision coming out of the week.

Detroit is a city challenged with the task of overcoming an industrial fall-out. The car-pride of Michigan still carries strong, and partially as a result the transit system is in disrepair and there’s a serious lack of bike lanes.

A special Thursday-morning session featured Peter Rogoff, administrator for the Federal Transit Administration, who addressed the need to repair our nation’s crumbling transit systems but there is also a need to ensure safe connections to bus and rail lines that are cut short or close early. The failure to provide pedestrian walkways and bike lanes that are accessible to people of all communities and provide key corridors to school, job, and opportunities is an equity issue that must be addressed.

In a country where traffic injuries and fatalities are at $200 billion, 11 percent of motor vehicle access deaths are pedestrians and bicyclists, and the societal costs of obesity is $117 billion, we must take a complete approach to transforming our transportation systems and it begins with the work of local advocates.

Many Alliance organizations, like the Los Angeles County Bicycle Coalition and the Community Cycling Center, are leading the way in making sure all residents are at the table for these important discussions about the future of our streets and our communities. Thanks, in part, to an Advocacy Advance grant, the LACBC has hired a bilingual bicycle safety instructor. In Portland, the Community Cycling Center has helped establish bicycle committees at local public housing developments and committed to a “collaborative advocacy” model in its programming.

Moving forward, the Alliance will is certainly committed to raising up these best practices, compiling the best research on transportation equity, acting as an active partner in the Equity Caucus, and incorporating these issues into our 2012 programming, including Mutual Aid Calls and discussions at our Leadership Retreat.

In the meantime, we’re beginning to build an Equity section in our Resources Library. If you have items to share, please send them to Carolyn@PeoplePoweredMovement.org.

Alliance Partnership Launches Open Streets Project Website

2011-11-16T13:30:10+00:00

OpenStreetsProject.org today to document the growth of these initiatives and provide resources to foster continued development. An accompanying best practices guide will be completed in the next few weeks and will be available for purchase as a hard copy or as a free download on the website.

“I’ve personally seen numerous Open Streets events in cities around the U.S. and, without fail, each of them has been tremendously inspirational,” Jeff Miller, Alliance President/CEO says. “Open Streets are not just an excellent way for cities to promote biking and walking; they inspire citizens to see their streets as public spaces.”

Open streets have exploded in popularity across North America in the past six years. In 2005 there were fewer than 10 documented initiatives across North America. Now there are more than 65, drawing hundreds of thousands of participants each year. OpenStreetsProject.org allows organizers to share information on their initiative and explore other initiatives across the continent. The site also provides helpful resources for organizers looking to start a new initiative or grow an existing initiative in their community.

“The Open Streets Project aims to support this exciting movement by providing advocates and organizers with a comprehensive overview of organizational and implementation strategies,” says Mike Lydon, Founding Principal of The Street Plans Collaborative. “The Project includes a significant, open source website intended to not only keep information current for all existing and future initiatives, but to also provide a free web presence for those communities who should focus their limited resources on implementation rather than building websites. In this way, we believe the Project will be a catalyst for the continued growth of the open streets movement.”

If your city or organization has information to share about an Open Streets initiative in your community, please contact Mike Samuelson, Alliance Member Services and Open Streets Coordinator, at (202) 449-9692 x7 or mike@PeoplePoweredMovement.org.

Targeted Marketing Sparks New Bike/Walk Trips in St. Paul

2011-11-15T19:51:10+00:00

Residents of a Minnesota community are driving less and walking, biking and busing more — thanks to St. Paul Smart Trips’ efforts to promote sustainable transportation alternatives.

Since its inception in 2008, the Smart Trips program has used direct, individualized marketing techniques to help more than 3,000 households in three St. Paul communities make smarter trips. According to the follow-up survey of the most recent program in Highlands Park, residents…

Increased biking by three percent
Increased walking by five percent
Reduced drive-alone trips by three percent

... all during a six-month period. Even more impressive: More than 80 percent of survey respondents reported taking new walking, biking or transit trips as a result of the program!

Smart Trips achieves these impressive results through direct mailings, bike deliveries of Smart Trip Kits and free events that engage households and get them the information they need to explore sustainable transportation options. “We’ve found that the more engaged neighborhood stakeholders are in the development and implementation of the program, the more successful it is,” says Program Director Emma Pachuta. “Each of our past programs has included a coupon book for neighborhood businesses and has engaged local experts to lead rides, walks and classes. These local connections have helped to foster an excitement and commitment to our program.”

Smart Trips also tailors each new program to suit the unique transportation needs of the target community. Highland Park has a high percentage of senior citizens, so Smart Trips held focus groups on the best ways to engage older residents.“Our results concluded that having events that included all members of the community, regardless of age, income, ethnicity, was the best way to engage residents in any neighborhood,” say Emma. “For example, a group ride would be advertised as a “no drop ride” where no one is left behind, regardless of pace.”

St. Paul Smart Trips envisions a future where sustainable transportation is a safe and easy choice for all St. Paul residents. They hope to bring the Smart Trips Program to every neighborhood. “For our future programs, we have discussed how lack of good bike/walk infrastructure, higher rates of crime, and language barriers may impact participation,” say Emma. “Thus far, the selected neighborhoods have been fairly similar to each other without the need to address those barriers.” So, right now, the advocates are looking at ways to adapt the model to serve the diverse needs and characteristics found across St. Paul neighborhoods.

For more information, contact Emma Pachuta at Emma@Smart-Trips.org, or visit the Alliance Resource Library to access Smart Trips final reports and maps.

Six More Winning Campaigns Launched in South Carolina!

2011-11-11T11:45:10+00:00

This past weekend, pedestrian and bicycle advocacy leaders gathered in Columbia, South Carolina, for the Alliance’s final Winning Campaigns Training of 2011. The 13 participants — from universities, government agencies, and traditional and non-traditional advocacy organizations — created six campaigns that affirmed their commitment to dramatically improve walking, biking, and livability in their local communities.

“This training has been life-changing for me, giving me the courage to actively engage in change,” Valerie Marcil, from the Columbia Bike / Ped Advisory Committee, said.

Three campaigns created at the training will focus on projects in South Carolina, including:

A statewide design guidance change to improve accommodations for bicycles and pedestrians
A plan to improve standards and policies at the South Carolina Department of Transportation
The implementation of a city art/bike rack program in Columbia

Maryland participants will work to close the gaps in their trail network, while Georgia advocates will push for a state-wide complete streets policy and the establishment of a community bike shop in Savannah. According to Brent Buice, Executive Director of Georgia Bikes: “This training gave us not only an actionable plan for a specific advocacy goal, but also the knowledge for achieving future goals.”

The workshop helped participants learn the process and planning necessary to win campaigns, and it also offered opportunities for attendees to connect and build peer relationships. Some chose to go on a walking tour through the city, while others chose to take a bike ride through Columbia’s beautiful neighborhoods. Whether having dinner with some great discussion, or even kicking back to take in some local football on Saturday night, there were plenty of opportunities for leaders to get to know each other and share their experiences.

“We often talk about the power of partnerships, and this weekend was no exception,” Rachael Bronson, the Executive Director of the Palmetto Cycling Coalition, wrote on her organization’s blog. “The training truly would not have been possible without the many partners and sponsors involved — and the projects developed will not be a success without such future collaboration.”

Click here for a few photos from the event.

A big shout out to our host, Palmetto Cycling Coalition, our national training sponsors, and local sponsor champions: Hawley, Earth Fare, Abacus Planning Group, Outspokin Bicycles, and Cycle Center.

The Alliance already has our Winning Campaigns Trainings mapped out for 2012. Be sure to check them out and reserve your spot today.

Check Out the New Manual for Living Streets

2011-11-10T14:07:10+00:00

California Bicycle Coalition and the Los Angeles County Bicycle Coalition.

Among the more than 140 attendees, Jeff had a chance to catch up with Ryan Snyder, president of Ryan Snyder Associates, a progressive transportation planning consulting firm in Los Angeles. Earlier this year, Ryan’s firm helped to convene a writing charrette that brought together national experts in engineering, transportation, health and advocacy. The result? The new Model Design Manual for Living Streets.

The Manual takes the concept of Complete Streets to the next level, addressing accommodations for pedestrian and bicyclists but also incorporating “features that make streets lively, beautiful, economically vibrant as well as environmentally sustainable.”

The Manual also addresses myths and misconceptions about the requirements of current road design guidance, like the MUTCD and AASHTO’s Green Book, and encourages cities to use the Model Street Design Manual “in any way that helps them update their current practices, including adopting the entire manual, adopting certain chapters in full or part, modifying or customizing chapters to suit each city’s needs.”

Of course, this new electronic publication comes on the heels of the print release of another great resource: The Urban Bikeway Design Guide from NACTO.

You can download the Living Streets Manual and the Bikeway Design Guide in the Alliance Resource Library.

San Francisco Advocates Launch Family Biking Guide and Classes

2011-11-09T13:00:10+00:00

Like many advocacy organizations, the San Francisco Bicycle Coalition is working to create a city where all residents — from ages 8 to 80 — feel safe and comfortable walking and biking for transportation and recreation. But, to make that inspiring concept a reality, SFBC knows they need more than crosswalks and bikeways. They need to expand their resources and redefine who they serve, too.

If you survey the streets, it’s not just individual riders pedaling to work. It’s moms with newborns and dads with toddlers two-wheeling to daycare and swinging by the grocery store. So SFBC is making sure the needs of the modern family fit seamlessly with the bicycling lifestyle.

With a large and growing membership, the SFBC recognized that: “Family biking is often a very different experience than biking on your own. Whether you biked a lot before becoming a parent, are just getting back to biking after years away, or want to teach your kids to bike, you very likely have questions about how to approach each stage of family biking.”

So Kit Hodge, along with some SFBC board members and advocates, have endeavored to answer those very questions. The first resource is a new online Family Biking Guide that tackles important topics like:

Biking pregnant, including advice for each trimester and general tips like what type of bike to ride to accommodate your baby bump
Biking with your baby or young toddler, including tips for before and after your baby can sit up and suggestions for overcoming legitimate fears for your baby’s safety
Teaching your child to bike, including an outline of skills to teach to get your kid street ready

But the guide is just the first step. This week, SFBC is kicking off of a three-part family biking class. The free, 90-minute sessions include Biking Pregnant, Biking With Your Baby & Toddler, and Biking Your Child to School.

Kit says she hopes the guide and classes will be an inspiration to current cyclists who don’t want to give up riding because they have a family.

“I suspect that we’ve been losing some people to that transition, at least for a few years,” she says. “The initiative is also part of our overall messaging about 8-to-80 biking in San Francisco, and goes hand in hand with our communications focus on safe and respectful riding this Winter and Spring as we head to crucial votes on new, next generation bikeway projects and implementation.”

Interested in learning more about innovative bicycle safety and education courses like this? Click here for the Family Biking Guide — and stay tuned to our upcoming list of 2012 Mutual Aid Calls!

Biking and Walking Organizations Respond to Senate Transportation Bill (MAP‐21)

2011-11-08T21:27:10+00:00

The America Bikes coalition — representing the nation’s leading bicycling and walking groups — today expressed their appreciation for the continued inclusion of funding opportunities for biking and walking in MAP‐21.

America Bikes remains deeply concerned, however, that bicycling and walking programs suffer disproportionate cuts in funding in the new bill, and that significant additional activities are made eligible for these limited funds. We remain committed to working with the EPW Committee and full Senate to resolve these issues, especially in the light of the Senate’s continued, strong bi‐partisan support for bicycle and pedestrian funding as shown in several recent votes on the Senate floor.

The process of honoring the public’s strong support for these programs begins immediately with amendments that have been introduced already by Senate supporters of dedicated funding for non‐motorized transportation. Specific concerns include:

2. An expanded list of eligible activities are added to this smaller funding pot, including such big‐ticket items as NEPA compliance and land acquisition for wetland mitigation; and

3. The proposed bill effectively allows states to completely opt out of the program and would allow all this money to be redirected to highway construction.

The America Bikes coalition calls on the leaders of the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee to restore dedicated funding for bicycling and walking in MAP‐21 and remove the opt‐out provision that would encourage States to eliminate funding for these two modes altogether.

When America Bikes, America Benefits

From San Francisco to Bentonville, Arkansas, and from Oklahoma City to New York City, communities are increasingly investing in bicycling and walking infrastructure and programs to support popular, healthy and cost‐effective transportation. These investments — made possible by dedicated federal transportation dollars — are working:

Commuting trips by bike have increased nationwide by more than 40% since 2000; bicycling and walking now account for 12% of all trips in the United States.
Thousands of Safe Routes to School programs are reducing congestion and improving safety in communities across the country.
Recreational trails are heavily used and provide crucial economic benefits, especially in rural communities.

A transportation bill designed to efficiently move America in this new century should continue to include dedicated funding to create safe and accessible places for people to bike and walk. Since 2005, a total of just 1.5 percent of annual federal transportation funding has been devoted to supporting these activities. Biking and walking not only comprise more than 12 percent of all trips but also account for 14% of annual traffic fatalities.

Dedicated funding for bike/ped projects – one or two cents of every dollar – is a time‐tested, popular, and effective approach to building a truly multi‐modal national transportation system that offers choice, safety and access for all. Increasing the safety and use of non‐motorized transportation reduces congestion, saves lives and money, protects the environment…and creates more jobs per million dollars of investment than highway‐only projects: exactly what MAP‐21 should be trying to do.

Dedicated funding for bicycling and walking enjoys broad support at all levels of Government. Less than one week ago, 60 Senators voted in bi‐partisan support of preserving the Transportation Enhancement program – the third such vote in support of the program this year. At the state level, transportation enhancement, safe routes to school and recreational trails programs typically receive at least three times more requests for funding than is available. In May, a survey by the U.S. Conference of Mayors showed solid support among Mayors for funding of bicycling and walking infrastructure.

Click here to download the statement as a PDF.

America Bikes is a coalition of leaders from the bicycle community advocating positive outcomes for bicycling in the federal transportation bill.

Columbus Advocates Help Unveil Sleek New Bike Parking

2011-11-08T13:47:10+00:00

In October 2010, Consider Biking put out the call to its members: Tell us where you’d like to see great bike parking in Columbus. Nearly 100 community members responded with their input.

Last week, almost exactly one year later, advocates celebrated the unveiling of the first of 16 large bike-parking shelters in key locations around Ohio’s capital city.

“With a growing number of people using bicycles for strictly transportation purposes, there is a growing demand for end-of-ride facilities,” Jeff Stephens, Executive Director of Consider Biking, said in a press release last week. “These bike parking structures meet that demand with elegance, functionality, and cost effectiveness. But most importantly, they send a highly visible message that bicycling is a viable and mainstream form of transportation, worthy of equitable investment in infrastructure needs.”

Part of the city’s Bicentennial Bikeways Plan, the first shelter is one of 10 that will be installed by spring 2012. The city chipped in $300,000 through its Capital Improvements budget to fund the parking facilities which feature rounded roofs and racks that accommodate six to 14 bicycles.

That’s just one piece of the overall plan to improve bicycling in Ohio’s biggest city. Thanks in part to the consistent advocacy of Consider Biking, the city has invested a cool $5.3 million in bicycle facilities since 2008, including:

286 new bikes racks
Share the Road signs on 20 miles of roadway
Sharrows on 18 miles of roadway
Bike lanes on 6.4 miles of roadway

And it’s not just the city that’s making streets safer for all users. The unveiling of the new parking shelters included another accolade: Columbus Mayor Michael Coleman presented Ohio State University with its “Bicycle Friendly University” award from the League of American Bicyclists.

Read more about the progress in Columbus — including the Connect the Core campaign and discussion about bike sharing — on Consider Biking’s website.

What’s in the Senate Bill? A Side-By-Side Comparison with SAFETEA-LU

2011-11-07T15:30:10+00:00

The Senate Environment and Public Works Committee published its proposal for the next federal transportation program late on November 4. The 600-page bill will be marked-up in committee on Wednesday, November 9. The proposed legislation makes significant changes to the core, dedicated funding programs for bicycling and walking activities, as this side-by-side analysis shows.

America Bikes coalition members and staff are analyzing the bill, working with committee staff and members to address specific issues, and preparing to brief the media and stakeholders on all aspects of the proposed legislation. Please visit the America Bikes website and stay tuned to the Alliance blog for updates today and in the days ahead.

Boulder Advocates Help Food Rescue Deliver By Bike!

2011-11-07T13:00:10+00:00

A new partnership between Community Cycles and Boulder Food Rescue in Boulder, Colorado highlights a great way to deliver goods without the use of fossil fuels — and raise the profile of bicycle advocacy.

Boulder Food Rescue (BFR) is an all-volunteer nonprofit that receives donated food from grocery stores and transports it to charities serving hungry, homeless and at-risk individuals. When BFR volunteers found out that Community Cycles offers free bike trailer rentals to members, they contacted the organization to see if they too could access this valuable resource. BFR now does 75 percent of its deliveries by bicycle — transporting about 150 pounds each day in Community Cycles’ trailers.

Using Community Cycles trailers saves BFR money on gasoline, car maintenance and other costs, and brings volunteers who deliver food one step closer to the communities they serve. But BFR isn’t the only one that benefits from this partnership.

“It helps our mission by getting people to do more on bikes” says Sue Prant, Community Cycles’ Advocacy Director. The program sets an example that carrying things in bike trailers can be a fun, efficient and cost-effective option for a variety of individuals and organizations.

The first Community Cycles trailer was donated six years ago, and the nonprofit purchased one each year for the following three years. Their bike trailer inventory now includes three large Bikes at Work Trailers, and two Croozer Trailers. The 64-inch long Bikes at Work trailers are well-suited to large, heavy loads, while the roughly 3-foot Croozer trailers work well for more modest cargo. The organization also has an Xtracycle trailer that they use for Rolling Bike Clinics — bicycle powered shops that fix broken bikes in low income neighborhoods.

Sue says that the trailers have proved a great investment for Community Cycles, and she recommends them to other organizations that have the space.

“We do get people joining just because of the trailers,” says Sue. “Also, our big trailers have spawned more trailers. The city has bought two of them—one to move mobile bike parking for the farmer’s market and one to do greenways maintenance.”

Learn more about Community Cycles here.

Submit your Nominations for the 2012 Advocacy Awards

2011-11-03T12:40:10+00:00

What individuals, organizations and businesses made your community a better place to bike and walk in 2011?

Make sure they’re recognized for their important and inspiring work by nominating them for an Alliance Advocacy Award.

Since 2009, the Alliance has honored excellence in biking and walking, giving the leaders and supporters of our People Powered Movement the spotlight they deserve for their tireless efforts.

Submit your 2012 nominations in the following categories:

Advocate of the Year
Advocacy Organization of the Year
Business Advocate of the Year
Winning Campaign of the Year
Susie Stephens Joyful Enthusiasm Award

Nominations will be accepted through December 18, 2011 on the Alliance website.

Anyone can make up to five nominations — one nomination per person, per award category. Nominations are not limited to Alliance members. A selection committee composed of Alliance staff, board, and advocacy organization representatives will evaluate all nominees and the winners will be announced at a high-profile reception the first night of the 2012 National Bike Summit.

For more information and to nominate an individual, organization or business in your community visit: www.PeoplePoweredMovement.org/Awards

Photo: In 2011, Scott Bricker (R) accepted the Advocacy Organization of the Year Award on behalf of Bike Pittsburgh.

America Walks Releases Federal Policy Platform

2011-11-02T12:30:10+00:00

Last week, America Walks released a document that represents its first steps toward making the United States a great place to be a pedestrian. For the national coalition, that journey will start with a strong presence in Washington, DC.

Based on the input of the organization’s steering committee and a group of 25 walking leaders, the new Federal Walking Policy Platform lays out three policy shifts that will make streets safer, healthier and more cost-effective for, not just walkers, but all roadway users.

Core Policy 1: Improve pedestrian safety. To enhance walking safety, America Walks proposes changes to the Highway Safety Improvement Program and calls on the US DOT to “conduct a national campaign emphasizing the need to protect vulnerable road users… by reducing automobile speeds in high-crash corridors and special zones.”
Core Policy 2: Develop performance measures and improve data collection related to walking. America Walks will push for performance measures and benchmarks for walking at the federal, state and local level; robust investments to collect and analyze walking trends, routes and issues; and traffic models that forecast and include the benefits of pedestrian travel in project planning.
Core Policy 3: Incorporate health-related outcomes in transportation policy, planning and funding programs. America Walks will advocate for a clear, inter-agency alignment of health and transportation objectives, pushing for “public health criteria to be integrated into state and regional transportation planning and decision-making” and for federal agencies to set financial incentives for state DOTs to incorporate health planning in the development of new projects.

What do those broad goals mean for the near term? Most notably, America Walks will help lead the charge to protect dedicated federal funding for biking and walking programs, including Transportation Enhancements and Safe Routes to School. The national coalition will also strongly support federal complete streets legislation and a “Fix-It First” approach to transportation spending.

Inspired? Read the full document.

Have the resume to help? America Walks is seeking a Campaign Director to lead its efforts to get this platform implemented. Click here for the full job description.

Senate Rejects Amendment to Cut Funding for Biking and Walking

2011-11-01T16:28:10+00:00

Thanks to our partners at the Rails-to-Trails Conservancy for spreading the word about the positive outcome of the vote on the Rand Paul amendment we alerted you to last week.

According to RTC: Today, by a vote of 60 to 38, the U.S. Senate rejected an amendment by U.S. Senator Rand Paul (Ky.) that would have shifted dedicated funding for walking and biking infrastructure to bridge repair, thus eliminating a hugely popular program that has been shown to create jobs and efficient transportation choices for millions of Americans for the past 20 years.

Thank you to everyone who contacted their Senators!

We Won! Thank You to All 2 Mile Challenge Participants!

2011-11-01T13:30:10+00:00

You did it! Thanks to your support, the Alliance took first place in the 2 Mile Challenge, earning a $35,000 grant from the good folks at CLIF BAR.

The 2 Mile Challenge is CLIF BAR’s online effort to fight climate change by encouraging bicycle travel for short trips. In the U.S., 40 percent of all urban trips are two miles or less, but 90 percent of those short distances are made by automobile. In just a few months this summer, the Challenge replaced more than 65,000 car trips—while donating $100,000 to bicycle advocacy and climate protection.

The Alliance was selected to lead the Gold Team and, from coast to coast, bicycle enthusiasts put their pedal power behind the effort. Collectively, our team:

Logged more than 225,000 miles
Replaced more than 35,000 car trips
Saved nearly 208,000 pounds of carbon dioxide and
Came in first place!

“Congratulations to the Gold Team for the bell-to-bell run of the 2011 2 Mile Challenge!” said Ryan Mayo, brand experience manager for CLIF BAR. “It was a hard-fought victory that came with a ton of passion for getting out of the car and onto your bikes to help support the Alliance for Biking & Walking. We’d like to thank all of the participants this year for a great 2 Mile Challenge effort that will live on through the grassroots bicycle advocacy work of the Alliance and our other two nonprofit beneficiaries: Safe Routes to School Partnership and 350.org.”

Thank you again, Gold Team members, for taking the Challenge. And, thank you, CLIF BAR, for such an innovative and fun initiative!

Cast Your Votes in the 2011 Photo Contest

2011-11-01T12:45:10+00:00

2011 People Powered Movement Photo Contest.

Presented by the Alliance for Biking & Walking, the contest has received more than 1,500 photo submissions from participants across the continent. Now you’re invited to help decide who will win an all-expenses-paid biking or walking trip to Italy and a host of other prizes.

The second People Powered Movement Photo Contest aims to both celebrate the beauty and energy of active transportation and continue to build an online library of high-quality images that can be used by bicycle and pedestrian advocacy organizations across North America.

Starting today and running through November 30th, members of the public are invited to vote for their favorite photos on the contest website. Each participant can vote for up to 10 photos in each of the seven contest categories.

Once the public vote has nominated the contest finalists, a panel of expert and advocate judges from across the continent will then determine the winners.

The overall grand prize is an all-expenses-paid, 10-day biking or walking trip to Italy, from VBT Bicycling and Walking Vacations. Additional prizes include, a new bicycle from PUBLIC Bikes; bags from Ortlieb; lights from Planet Bike: gear from Fyxation; helmets from Bern. All first-place photos will also be featured in a 2012 issue of Momentum magazine.

To view the photos and cast your vote, visit www.PeoplePoweredMovement.org/PhotoContest

New Resources on Safe Routes for Seniors

2011-10-31T20:03:10+00:00

Last week, we hosted a trio of top-notch advocates and agency staff on our Safe Routes for Seniors Mutual Aid Call.

For years, many Alliance organizations have worked on Safe Routes to School programs that encourage more kids to walk and bike to school. In 2003, advocates with Transportation Alternatives in New York City applied that concept to the aging population, launching their Safe Routes for Seniors initiative. The effort was the first program of its kind to address the unique needs of elderly pedestrians and consider the role of street design in maintaining good cardiovascular health in old age.

How did TA fund and win their campaign? How has the New York City Department of Transportation implemented and advanced the program as its own? How have advocates and partners outside the city limits built on the successes of NYC?

Learn more by:

Listening to the call recording
Downloading the call Tip Sheet
Reviewing the host of new resources in our online library, including a host of reports from TA’s campaign

Thanks again to our incredible panelists for sharing their time and insight: Noah Budnick, deputy director for Transportation Alternatives, Ann Marie Doherty from the New York City Department of Transportation and Will Stoner with the New York state AARP.

If you’re working on Safe Routes for Seniors in your community and have resources to share, send them my way: Carolyn@PeoplePoweredMovement.org.

ONE DAY LEFT to Enter the People Powered Movement Photo Contest

2011-10-31T12:24:10+00:00

There’s just ONE DAY left to enter your best images of biking and walking in the 2011 People Powered Movement Photo Contest.

The submission period ends TODAY, October 31st, at midnight EDT. Don’t miss your chance to win an all-expenses-paid trip from VBT Bicycling and Walking Vacations!

The 2011 Photo Contest aims to both celebrate the beauty and energy of active transportation and continue to build an online library of high-quality images that can be used by bicycle and pedestrian advocacy organizations across North America. Categories include:

Advocates in Action
Biking
Biking and Walking
Diversity / Equity / Building an Inclusive Movement
Open Streets / Ciclovias
Walking
Women

Additional entrants in the Women, Diversity and Open Streets categories are particularly encouraged!

Individuals can submit up to 20 photo entries via the contest website until midnight, TONIGHT, October 31. From November 1st to 31st, public voting will determine the finalists in each category. A panel of expert and advocate judges from across the continent will then determine the winners.

The overall grand prize is an all-expenses-paid biking or walking trip to Italy, from VBT Bicycling and Walking Vacations. Additional prizes include: A new bicycle from PUBLIC Bikes; bags from Ortlieb ; lights from Planet Bike; gear from Fyxation; helmets from Bern and more! Plus, all winning photos also will be featured in the March 2012 issue of Momentum magazine.

Enter TODAY at www.PeoplePoweredMovement.org/PhotoContest

If you have any questions, don’t hesitate to contact me at Carolyn@PeoplePoweredMovement.org.

Photo: You could win a biking (or walking) trip to Italy from VBT Bicycling and Walking Vacations!

Safe Routes Philly Helps Out A School In Crisis

2011-10-27T21:30:10+00:00

In the first week of October, two students at Carnell Elementary in Philadelphia were struck by cars in separate accidents. While neither student was severely injured, the events left community members and school officials shaken.

In response to the accidents, the school’s principal approached Safe Routes Philly — a program of the Bicycle Coalition of Greater Philadelphia — for support creating a school-wide focus on pedestrian safety. Within a few days, all 1,600 Carnell Elementary students had attended one of seven interactive assemblies conducted by Safe Routes Philly on various aspects of pedestrian safety. The assemblies included call-and-response songs and videos demonstrating safe walking and biking behavior.

According to Safe Routes Philly, “Carnell’s response to two accidents in its community will help prevent future accidents, and reflects the importance of a school administration which cares how students get to and from school.”

Biking and walking to school provides daily exercise to students and fosters a sense of school community. However, it’s important that students understand the safety measures necessary to protect against accidents and injuries.

Interested in Safe Routes Philly? Learn more from Diana Owens, the program’s Assistant Director of Education, on the recent Alliance Mutual Aid Call on “Winning Local Policies for Safe Routes to School.” Stay up-to-date by subscribing to the BCGP blog.

We Won’t Know, If You Don’t Tell Us!

2011-10-27T19:55:10+00:00

The Alliance is committed to helping local and state bicycle and pedestrian advocates become stronger and more effective agents of change. We want to make sure our programs and offerings are what YOU want and need. But, to do that, we need your feedback.

So, as we plan new resources, programming, and training opportunities for 2012 we need your input.

Whether you’re an Alliance leader, individual supporter, business sponsor or member of an organization that isn’t yet a member of the Alliance, please take a moment to fill out our membership survey.

The survey takes 15 minutes or less to complete. Feel free to have multiple people from your organization take the survey, as this helps us determine the variety of different needs and perspectives from your organization.

Please complete the survey by November 9, and help to ensure that the Alliance is able to help you grow your organization’s capacity and strength in 2012 and beyond.

Act Now: Transportation Enhancements Under Attack Again

2011-10-27T12:35:10+00:00

Please Contact your Senators Again Today to Save Bicycle and Pedestrian Funding

It’s happening again. Just one month ago, Sen. Coburn (R-OK) failed in his efforts to strip funding for Transportation Enhancements from the six-month transportation extension. Now, Sen. Rand Paul (R-KY) is taking the lead in trying to destroy Transportation Enhancements. On November 1, the Senate will finalize the transportation appropriations bill, which sets funding levels for FY2012. Sen. Paul has offered an amendment to redirect all funding for Transportation Enhancements to bridge repair.

We agree on the need to keep our bridges safe, but the lives of pedestrians and cyclists are important, too. Thirteen people died when the Minneapolis bridge collapsed in 2007. Since then, close to 20,000 pedestrians and 2,800 cyclists have died on our nation’s highways, largely as a result of poor highway design and a lack of safe non-motorized infrastructure – exactly what the enhancement program was created to fix.

If Sen. Paul’s amendment is successful, it would eliminate approximately $700 million in federal funding for FY2012 that is used to construct sidewalks, bike lanes, bike paths, trails and other infrastructure that makes it safe for bicyclists and pedestrians to get around. Even if every penny of these funds is diverted to bridge repairs, Senator Paul’s plan will still take 80 years to fix the backlog of bridge repairs we have today — by which time all those repaired bridges would be falling down again.

Remember that the TE program represents less than two percent of the federal transportation program and these projects help alleviate traffic congestion, improve safety, get people active, and create more jobs per dollar than highway-only projects.

Remember also that last year, states sent back to Washington $530 million of unspent bridge funds in rescissions. The states are leaving bridge repair funds on the table, unspent, year after year. They should at least spend these funds first.

If the Paul amendment succeeds, it will make it much more challenging to sustain funding for Transportation Enhancements, Safe Routes to School, and Recreational Trails in the long-term transportation bill that the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee starts debating on November 9.

We must turn back any amendment to strip Transportation Enhancements.

Last month, more than 75,000 messages were sent to Senators to ask them to stand strong for Transportation Enhancements. Thank you, that was an amazing turnout – but we must do better this time. Every time someone in Congress attacks bicycling and walking, we must push back even stronger than we did the time before. And, we will keep doing it until bicycle and pedestrian funding is protected.

This is the third time in a month that a small group of Senators has targeted Transportation Enhancements, using a different angle each time. It is a waste of the Senate’s time and taxpayers’ dollars to focus on this small and valuable program when we are in dire need of real and viable solutions to fix our failing transportation system.

Please contact your Senators today to ask them to vote against the Paul amendment (SA-821) to eliminate Transportation Enhancements. And then please forward this message to all your members and supporters, with the link to the League of American Bicyclists’ Action Center.

Thank you for your help today, and for passing along the call to action.

Active Trans’ Video Highlights Success of Open Streets

2011-10-26T15:22:10+00:00

If a picture says a thousand words, then a video must say a million. That why the folks at Active Transportation Alliance have produced a three-minute highlight reel of Open Streets on State Street, which opened up the heart of downtown to thousands of walkers and cyclists.

We can talk and talk about how open streets initiatives are a lot of fun and a great way to introduce people to biking and walking, but this video does a better job showing the excitement that took place during the initiative. Check it out!

How the BTA Got 12,000 People to Bike to Work

2011-10-25T20:02:10+00:00

Last month, the Bicycle Transportation Alliance (BTA) held a Bike Commute Challenge that attracted 12,000 individuals from 1,450 workplaces in Oregon and Southwest Washington. Collectively, that pool of participants commuted more than 1.3 million miles by bicycle and potentially saved taxpayers nearly $75,000 in road maintenance costs alone.

So how did they do it? I got in touch with BTA’s Programs Director, Stephanie Noll, to get some insight on that strategies and actions that made the event such a phenomenal success.

First, the organization has a presence in area workplaces throughout the year. To draw in new participants less familiar with bike commuting, BTA regularly holds Bike Commuting 101 workshops at local businesses and companies. They also rely on current commuters to act as ambassadors for the Challenge and spread the word to co-workers. This year, a month before the Commute Challenge, BTA sent out posters to be displayed in workplaces, contacted former team captains and put out a press release for partners to include in their newsletters.
To rev up the excitement once the Challenge started, BTA sent out weekly emails to all participants with tips, encouragement, and the announcement of weekly prize drawing winners. They also partnered with 50 bike shops that offered 10 percent discounts to participants, as well as an ad agency that ran 15-second TV ads about the Challenge.
And they gave participants a way to engage and provide feedback — in a fun, simple way. “When you’re running a web-based Challenge,” Stephanie said, “it’s great to have some mechanisms in which people can reflect back to you the unique, fun, or impressive strategies they’re employing at their workplaces. So we ask riders to submit photos for our ‘Inspiration of the Day’ feature and to send us nominations for our ‘Team Captain of the Year’ award. Without those mechanisms for receiving feedback, we would have far less of an idea of how our program was actual playing out in individual workplaces.”

All of those efforts paid off. The Challenge attracted more than 2,000 first-time bike commuters and featured some workplaces with 100 percent participation rates. An awards ceremony on October 6th celebrated the winners of the competition with beer, tunes, pizza and prizes. And the festivities included a unique opportunity for member engagement with the organization’s executive director: Rob Sadowsky pledged to shave his beard if 50 new members signed up that night. By the end of the evening, Sadowsky’s chin was bare.

In addition to effective outreach and participant engagement, one of most important aspects of BTA’s success is the group’s development of an effective online platform for the Challenge website. Alliance member organizations interested in hosting their own Commuter Challenge are invited to create a login at www.bikecommutechallenge.com and try out the platform to see if it’s a good fit for their programming goals. Questions? Get in touch with Stephanie at stephanie@btaoregon.org.

A Long-Awaited Safety Victory on the Midtown Greenway

2011-10-25T12:17:10+00:00

When I was in Minneapolis for the Safe Routes to School National Conference this summer, I took the opportunity to pedal the area’s extensive trail system. Minneapolis boasts a Gold Level Bicycle Friendly City ranking from the League of American Bicyclists and one of the crown jewels of its bike facilities is the Midtown Greenway, a 5.7-mile rail trail used by commuters and recreationalists alike.

Thanks to the Midtown Greenway Coalition and the Minneapolis Bicycle Coalition all users will feel a whole lot safer at a previously dangerous intersection at 28th Street.

That particular stretch of the multi-use path got a big boost in ridership in 2007 with the opening of the Martin Olav Sabo Bridge, a 2,200-foot, cable suspension, bike-ped bridge that carries the Greenway over busy Hiawatha Avenue. But more folks traversing the bridge meant far more cyclists and pedestrians crossing 28th Street, just west of the bridge. And conditions at-grade put those users at risk.

“The City of Minneapolis put in a crosswalk and a light that flashes if a button is pushed — which many bicyclists, unfortunately, do not push,” Soren Jensen, executive director of the Midtown Greenway Coalition, explains. “There were two lanes in both directions, but the outside lanes were striped and cars were not supposed to be in them. The problem was that many cars illegally went down the striped lane, anyway, causing a double threat to bicyclists. Often, one car would stop for the cyclists in the crosswalk, blocking the sight line of the car illegally using the striped lane. That’s how several bikers got hit by cars over the past few years.”

So the Coalition started meeting with officials in the city’s public works department to improve the safety at that crossing. Progress was slow but two major developments helped to tip the scales. The first was getting a larger constituency involved in the campaign. “In particular, the Minneapolis Bicycle Coalition took an active interest in making the crossing safer,” Jensen says. ”Together, we represent a large constituency of cyclists and Midtown Greenway users.” Together, they also garnered some political punch, winning the support of Minneapolis City Council Member Gary Schiff.

Then, there was another tragedy.

“Unfortunately, another thing that probably tipped the process was yet another bicyclist getting hit a few months ago,” Jensen says. “I met with public works and let them know that the Coalition had fixing that crossing at the very top of our list — and that we would not sit by quietly and let another cyclist get hurt. I think they finally got the message, and moved to install the medians/islands.”

The medians funnel cars into a single lane, which serves to both slow traffic and eliminate the “double threat” to bicyclists. “They asked us whether they islands should be all concrete or have dirt for plantings,” Jensen adds. “We said plantings, and they said we would then have to be responsible for the landscaping and plantings. We think the plantings will increase safety, as cars will slow down even more when they see a garden in the medians.” So the advocates partnered with Mother Earth Gardens for temporary greenery, in anticipation of rooting some native plants next spring.

The 28th Street crossing isn’t the group’s only recent victory. Click here to read about the success of its Greenway Challenge and the installation of new amenities at the Cepro site.

BikeWalk Virginia Launches Community Resources Toolkit

2011-10-24T13:00:10+00:00

By Lisa Seyfried, Contributing Writer

Last month, BikeWalk Virginia released its new Community Resources Toolkit — an online resource containing everything from case studies to expert interviews to a dictionary of terms. I had the opportunity to talk with Executive Director, Kim Perry (pictured), about the ins and outs of the toolkit.

Kim’s goal in creating the toolkit was to inspire communities through real-world examples. The toolkit can help people to learn from others’ mistakes, and build on their successes. Kim hopes that the toolkit will “give people hope that they can have a place to ride or walk and that the efforts they put forward will be successful and amount to something.”

The toolkit is easily adaptable to any area of the country. Of course, there are differences between towns and cities, but many bicycle advocates working to make their communities more bike- or pedestrian-friendly face similar obstacles. Issues such as funding and community perceptions can hinder the work of any advocate, regardless of location. This toolkit offers a framework to get beyond those issues — from advocates who have addressed those precise challenges themselves.

Kim’s favorite part of the website (and mine too!) is the ‘What that Word Means section — a dictionary of terms used in bicycle advocacy. One of the biggest, and easiest obstacles to remove, is the language barrier for new advocates. Getting everyone on the same page and speaking the same lingo is important, and gives newcomers the confidence to know how to talk about issues.

The project was created and funded through both internal and external means. BikeWalk Virginia held bicycle events, such as the Bike Virginia Tour, to raise some of the money. The organization also received a DMV Transportation Safety Grant, which went toward the man-hours needed to conduct the research and construct the website itself.

BikeWalk Virginia plans to expand the case studies section, as well as the rest of the site, as new information becomes available. The goal is to make the resource a ‘living site’ that is constantly updated to reflect changes in the biking movement as a whole. They want to make sure the site includes case studies from both urban and rural areas, as each have different challenges to face.

If you have something to share, contact BikeWalk Virginia.

Los Angeles Set to Win Campaigns County-Wide

2011-10-21T13:00:10+00:00

The Alliance held its most recent Winning Campaigns Training in Los Angeles last week, hosted by the Los Angeles County Bicycle Coalition (LACBC). Thirty biking and walking advocates from 18 organizations, two states, and two countries came together to participate and propel their campaigns toward success.

Most of the participants were local members of the LACBC Regional Partnership and have been working together for months and years to build a cooperative network of L.A. bike-ped advocacy. Additional participants from Sacramento, Idaho, and Mexico added diverse perspectives that led to rich discussion and enthusiasm. Ron Milam, an organizational consultant and the founding Executive Director of LACBC, joined me in facilitating the workshop.

The Alliance’s signature training uses proven curriculum, targeted specifically to the unique needs and experience of bicycle and pedestrian advocates. They are intended for any potential campaign leader who would benefit from gaining the tools to craft and manage powerful advocacy campaigns. Manuel Zavala, of the Montebello Bicycle Coalition, summed it up well: “This training gave me the confidence to conduct a proper campaign!”

“I have been absolutely changed, empowered and inspired by this training to become a more effective campaign manager,” added Andy Rodriguez, LACBC’s Bilingual Bicycle Safety Coordinator.

“Every Alliance-facilitated training or retreat I’ve attended has been inspiring, but this training has been my favorite,” said Carol Feucht, Membership and Online Media Manager for the LACBC. “Seeing so many groups, particularly LA county’s fledging regional groups, at this training signifies how far the regional bike-ped movement has come.”

The weekend included a walking tour of the area and through the site of Occupy L.A., and a bicycling tour that highlighted a recent campaign win for the LACBC: the 7th Street Bike Lane. Supported by an Advocacy Advance Capacity Building Grant, LACBC will continue its bilingual education and outreach to build a larger and more equitable network of bike lanes and bicycle-friendly streets in South, Northeast, and Central Los Angeles.

The workshop was a great preparation for the California Bike Summit, held in L.A. November 4-6 and hosted by the California Bicycle Coalition. Los Angeles County is also the location of the 2012 Pro Walk / Pro Bike Conference and Alliance Leadership Retreat, both held in September in Long Beach.

This affordable training wouldn’t be possible without the generous support of our sponsors: Planet Bike, VBT Bicycling and Walking Vacations, SRAM, Bikes Belong, AARP, Alta Planning + Design, Clif Bar, Team Estrogen, Sun Bicycles and Specialized. Additional support from Kaiser Permanente allowed the Alliance to offer 15 scholarships to the LA training.

Register now for the Alliance’s next Winning Campaigns Training, hosted by Palmetto Cycling Coalition, in Columbia, SC from November 4-6.

Less than 2 Weeks Left to Enter the 2011 Photo Contest!

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contest website until October 31. From November 1st to 31st, public voting will determine the finalists in each category. A panel of expert and advocate judges from across the continent will then determine the winners.

Enter today at www.PeoplePoweredMovement.org/PhotoContest

If you have any questions, don’t hesitate to contact me at Carolyn@PeoplePoweredMovement.org.

Youth Bike Summit Returns to NYC: Workshop Proposals Due Saturday

2011-10-18T13:00:10+00:00

The Safe Routes to School National Conference this past August included some high-profile speakers. We heard from top government officials, influential nonprofit leaders and transportation icons (yep, you guessed it, former Congressman Jim Oberstar). But the most moving speech, in my book, came from college sophomore, Kimberly White.

A student at Baruch College in New York, White explained how the earn-a-bike program at Recycle-A-Bicycle empowered and inspired her to become an advocate for sustainable transportation and social justice. She linked the building of that bicycle to her participation in the National Bike Summit and her hand in creating the first Youth Bicycle Summit in the Big Apple last year.

Well, White and other young leaders are getting ready for the second summit this January — and you could be involved.

According to Recycle-A-Bicycle: “The three-day conference will take place from Friday, January, 13th to Sunday, January, 15th, 2012 at The New School in New York, NY. The national conference will focus on youth, bicycles, education, and advocacy. The Youth Bike Summit aims to bring people from different disciplines to explore, network, and learn how bicycling can be a legitimate and safe form of transportation for today’s youth. With this mission in mind, the Youth Bike Summit will offer a dynamic inter-generational exchange through panel discussions and interactive educational workshops. This year’s conference will feature a “staff track” of workshops led by officers, administrators, managers, and instructors from organizations dedicated to working with youth and bikes. These sessions will highlight practical issues such as fundraising, challenges, and best practices.”

Do you have knowledge to share? Click here for guidelines on workshop presentations. Proposals are due October 22.

For more information, visit Recycle-A-Bicycle’s website.

Notes from Last Week’s Federal Policy Call

2011-10-17T19:12:10+00:00

***UPDATE- Senator McCain is threatening to introduce an amendment to strip TE this week. Look for more information on the listserve.***

Last week, the Alliance hosted our partners at America Bikes for our latest Federal Policy Call. Here are some of the highlights from the call:

September Transportation Bill Battle

Thanks to everyone’s support in September, we were able to maintain dedicated funding for major biking and walking programs. There were points when House leadership was planning to write the extension without Transportation Enhancements, but Senate leaders held firm and a deal was made that included TE. We then saw an effort by Senator Coburn to strip Enhancements, but he eventually backed down. Many Senators were ready to make speeches on the floor in support of TE, and this strong support is due to the strong outcry from the grassroots.We had almost 80,000 contacts during our action alert in September — both from biking and walking advocacy organizations and other allies. If you’re interested in more information about the numbers email Nathan@americabikes.org.

The fight to save dedicated funding for TE is far from over (more on that below). In order to continue defending Transportation Enhancements from attack, America Bikes needs to build up a quick reference collection of significant examples of highly beneficial TE projects — with three or more from each state. Specifically, we need TE projects highlighting community needs and quantified benefits — for health, transportation or economic benefits. Even just a paragraph or two for each project would be great. Please send an e-mail to Caron@americabikes.org with any examples. While we would prefer TE-funded projects, we will also accept TE-eligible projects that have quantifiable benefits that were funded.

Threats to Biking and Walking this Fall

Despite our recent win, there are still many critical battles ahead to ensure that we maintain the current levels of funding for programs like TE, Safe Routes to School and Recreation Trails. The President’s jobs bill included funding for TE, but it appears the infrastructure component of the bill is dead and will not come to the floor in either chamber.

In the Senate, the Subcommittee on Transportation, Housing and Urban Development appropriations bill will hit the floor in the next couples of days. At this point, we have not seen any amendments stripping any of our programs. On the House side, Mike Kelly (PA) introduced H.R. 3050, which would eliminate the set aside for TE. The bill was also co-sponsored by Reps. Blackburn (TN), Flake (AZ), Harper (MS) and Westmoreland (GA). Rand Paul (KY) has also introduced S. 1648 in the Senate to eliminate TE.

If your Senator or Representative is supporting stripping TE from the transportation bill, contact them and let them know that their constituents support these programs, which create jobs and save lives. While politicians sometimes make the case that TE prevents funding to refurbish out-of-date bridges, tens of thousands of pedestrians and cyclists have died since the Minnesota bridge collapse in 2007, and for only the fraction of the cost of repairing a bridge, we can provide safe facilities that will eliminate many of these preventable deaths.

We have also seen threats from state DOTs, with both Utah and New Hampshire pulling back on their commitment to future TE projects because they believe that TE won’t be in the next transportation bill. Advocates need to remind their DOTs that it’s not their job to speculate on the future transportation bill, but to follow the guidelines that are in place now.

Transportation Bill in March

House leadership now wants a bill that is $330 billion over six years (higher levels of funding than the current bill, SAFETEA-LU). This increase in spending (almost $100 billion more than Chairman Mica’s original proposal) must come from a user fee, but it won’t be a gas tax increase. House leadership is also pushing for state flexibility, which would cut mandatory set aside for TE, SRTS and Recreational Trails. We have been talking to friendly Republicans who would reinstate these programs or pave the way for other funding for bike/ped. With the increased focus on the transportation bill, there is a greater likelihood that Mica will be able to push the bill through.

We are now in a similar situation as September, with both chambers racing to put their version of the bill out first. The Senate needs to find $12 billion from other places in order for the Environment and Public Works bill to come out and be marked up by November. Senator Inhofe, the minority leader on the committee, could also agree to mark up the bill before the money is found.

A final possibility is that the super committee could come back and find funding for transportation that includes money for bike/ped. This might be the best solution for us, as Congress can only vote yes or no, and won’t be able to make amendments. Since the super committee is working privately, we don’t know the likelihood of this happening.

All this means that there are a few avenues that could lead to a bill in March. We are better off with the Senate bill as things stand now, but we are working with leaders in the House. The National Bike Summit is March 20-22, which is well timed for us to advocate heavily before the current extension expires. Don’t forget to budget to attend the summit during what is sure to be a critical time for biking and walking.

Thank You, Climate Ride!

2011-10-17T15:30:10+00:00

Imagine pedaling through dense stands of towering redwoods; cruising along a dramatic, rocky coastline; stopping next to lush vineyards and taking a sun-drenched ride over the Golden Gate Bridge.

It’s not a dream. It’s not a luxury vacation. It’s the Climate Ride — a 320-mile bicycle adventure that raised $300,000 for nonprofits like the Alliance for Biking & Walking.

Now in its fourth year, the Climate Ride was created by Geraldine Carter and Caeli Quinn as a means to leverage their decades of professional experience leading high-end bike trips to raise awareness and funds for climate protection. Since 2008, the ride has engaged hundreds of riders from across the nation who, instead of simply opening their wallets, raise money from friends and colleagues, which is directed to a number of nonprofit groups that work on renewable energy and active transportation issues.

As a participant in the 2011 California Climate Ride this month, I was impressed from the second I showed up in the parking lot to catch the shuttle from San Francisco up to the start of the ride in Fortuna. The riders were a diverse group — from restaurant owners to NRDC attorneys, people who work in greening the music business to a singer who had only ridden a bike 25 times before she got off the plane. But they sure had one thing in common: They were all fired up to pedal a stretch of the most scenic landscape in the U.S. and, along the way, talk shop about how, in our diverse capacities, we can build a more sustainable energy future.

First of all, even for someone who lived and traveled in California as a kid, I was constantly speechless at the incredible beauty of the route:

The first day we rode through the redwoods, stopping for lunch among the thousand-year-old trees and writing postcards to President Obama under the canopy of the giants.
On day two, we braved a driving rain, conquered the legendary Leggett Hill — a five-mile ascent — and were rewarded with views of the foggy, frothy waves of the Pacific.
On the third day, the route snaked through eucalyptus trees as it hugged the coastline and more than two dozen Climate Riders completed the optional century ride — some tackling the mileage for the first time.
By day four, a mere 50 miles seemed like child’s play, so many lingered amongst the vineyards, sipping the sweet stuff (at 10 a.m.!) at a sustainable winery and sampling oysters beach-side near the entrance to Point Reyes National Seashore.
And on day five, the rain cleared just in time for us to glide over the Golden Gate Bridge with stunning views of the Bay and roll into San Francisco in our matching jersey’s, chanting Climate Ride all the way to city hall.

But the route was really just the sugar on top. The substance of the ride was also about networking and knowledge sharing. All along the way, as we stopped for snacks or relaxed over dinner, I got to know about the personal and professional efforts of countless climate and bicycle advocates. I rode down the Avenue of Giants with a gentleman who rode across the country on an electric-assist recumbent. I listened to an IT consultant talk about Richmond Spokes, a new community bike shop and education space, as we dodged cow patties on a steep ascent through a stretch of farmland. I took every opportunity I could to glean insight from the communications director for 350.org and the media team from Mighty Bytes in Chicago over breakfast and dinner.

Geraldine and crew made that resource sharing and relationship building even easier with evening sessions that allowed riders and supporters to share their work in a more formal setting. We got an insider look at the growth of 1% for the Planet; we got an author’s reading from Farmer Jane: Women Changing the Way We Eat, a book penned by one of the wonderful riders from Team Clif Bar; we even got an intimate concert from singer and ukulele player Victoria Vox, who played on even as a blustery storm blew her tent away out in the campground.

Yes, it rained. A lot. But that just made the enthusiasm, professionalism and — there’s just no other word for it — awesome-ness of the support crew all the more apparent. From Blake and Geraldine — the ride directors — to the van drivers, bike mechanics and other volunteers, we were showered (sorry, bad pun) with humor, joy and energy even when we awoke to soaked tents and gloomy forecasts. And they didn’t just keep us well-fed and wrenched up: When I tweaked my knee on day two, just about everyone on the crew kept checking in the rest of the week to make sure I was feeling strong and taking my Vitamin I (ibuprofen).

Best of all, this incredible experience will have a lasting impact, even beyond our collective memories and photo collections. The ride raised more than $300,000 for a variety of nonprofits, including the Alliance and member organizations like the East Bay Bicycle Coalition and Sonoma County Bicycle Coalition. A special THANK YOU to everyone who chose the Alliance as one of their beneficiaries — your dollars will help build the capacity of advocate leaders across North America. And, thank you, of course, to Geraldine, Caeli and Blake for putting together such an ingenious fundraising initiative and putting on such a phenomenal event.

Want to participate in the next Climate Ride? Registration is already open for the 2012 New York City to Washington, DC ride. Learn more here.

Advocates Bring Open Streets to the Heart of Downtown Chicago

2011-10-13T13:00:10+00:00

On October 1, Chicago advocates celebrated the first open streets initiative since 2009 — and they went big.

The initiative was held on the city’s iconic State Street in the heart of downtown, and was titled Open Streets on State Street. Unlike the initiative in New York City, which was organized by the NYC DOT, Chicago’s initiative was put on by local Alliance member organization Active Transportation Alliance, in cooperation with the Chicago Loop Alliance.

While Active Trans has organized open streets in the past, this was the advocates first time preparing an initiative downtown. In anticipation of the time commitment, the organization hired several part-time staff members to help coordinate volunteers, programming and logistics for the big event. Active Trans also partnered with local media to spread the word.

The initiative itself was a huge success, with thousands of pedestrians and cyclists enjoying a brisk fall day. Children were everywhere along the route, enjoying relay races, the imagination playground and plenty of active games. Even Chicago Transportation Commissioner Gabe Klein got in on the fun by taking a turn in the dunk tank.

Active Trans Open Streets Manager Julia Kim summed up Open Streets on State Street by saying, “We’re encouraging people to ride bikes, take a stroll, and embrace the dramatic beauty of Chicago. Open Streets brings communities together to have fun and lead active lifestyles.”

With the success of this year’s initiatives, Active Trans is already looking forward to holding more frequent and larger open streets next year. The goal is to create routes that link downtown and neighborhood initiatives, allowing Chicago’s open streets to benefit both its diverse communities and major business district.

Learn more about the evolution of Chicago’s initiative and get tips from Active Trans’ Adolfo Hernandez by listening to or downloading the tip sheet from our recent Mutual Aid Call on Open Streets. If you have successes to share about initiatives in your community, e-mail me at Mike@PeoplePoweredMovement.org.

SVBC Hosts Area’s First Bike Education Course in Spanish

2011-10-12T13:00:10+00:00

The Silicon Valley Bicycle Coalition (SVBC) has partnered up with the City of Mountain View to offer a new resource to Spanish-speaking members of the community — a class about bicycle safety.

“We feel it is of critical importance to engage daily cyclists and encourage safe riding skills,” says SVBC Deputy Director Colin Heyne. “Many members of the Latin American immigrant community here ride a bike to work because they have no other choice.”

The City of Mountain View identified the need for the classes several months ago and approached SVBC for support. The classes will be taught by a certified instructor who will discuss riding in traffic safely and with confidence.

So far, the main challenge has been getting the word out to the Spanish speaking community. SVBC has engaged volunteers to pass out flyers, as Spanish speakers do not frequent the Coalition’s website.

“We hope that this first attempt at a class makes an impact, and that we can learn from the challenges we encounter to make it better next time,” Colin says.

A Spanish version of SVBC’s Share the Road Guidelines can be accessed in the Alliance’s Resource Library. Do you have Spanish-language resources you’d like to share? Email Tasia@PeoplePoweredMovement.org.

Great New Book from Momentum Mag Co-Founder

2011-10-11T15:51:10+00:00

Momentum magazine. The Vancouver-based publication has always been a strong supporter of bicycle advocacy and celebrates everyday bike culture in a way that’s engaging and accessible for both new and long-time cyclists.

So we were particularly excited to dig into a new book from one of Momentum’s founders: Amy Walker.

Released just last month, On Bicycles: 50 Ways the New Bike Culture Can Change Your Life spans the spectrum of bike inspiration and insight. Like the title promises, this little book includes 50 short essays from great writers like Grist contributor and zine author Elly Blue, journalist Jeff Mapes, bike shop owner Aaron Goss, the Alliance’s own Kristen Steele and even a self-described “enchanted unicorn from magical Portland, where the weather’s always sunny and flats fix themselves” (!)

In On Bicycles, Walker has compiled a wide variety of articles, including:

Pieces packed with interesting stats on the environmental and health benefits of bicycling,
How-to articles that give novice and veteran cyclists ideas on everything from rain protection and pannier selection to the finer points of folding bikes and internally geared hubs,
And inspirational stories on the art, magic and transformation made possible by bicycles.

Whether you know nothing or everything about bicycles and bike culture, Walker’s book will teach you a little something and, more importantly, make you smile. The breezy prose makes On Bicycles nearly impossible to put down. (Luckily, I had two marathon flights from Washington, DC to San Francisco — and back again — to savor all 354 pages last week.)

It’s fitting that Walker kicks off the book by saying: “Warning! Cycling can be addictive. Before you grab onto those handlebars, before you throw a leg over the saddle and start pumping away at those pedals, be aware: once you start, you may never want to stop. And, like anything that looks good, feels good and does good, you’ll want to share it.”

Same goes for her book: Once you start reading you’ll want to buy copies for everyone you know. Check out www.OnBicycles.com to learn more or visit New World Library to order a copy. In the meantime, click here to read a great interview with Walker.

(Want to see your byline in Momentum magazine? Submit your best pictures of biking and walking in the 2011 People Powered Movement Photo Contest — the winning entries will be published in a 2012 issue of Momentum!)

DC Advocates Win Introduction of Anti-Harassment Legislation

2011-10-11T12:26:10+00:00

By Lisa Seyfried, Contributing Writer

Thanks in part to the incredible popularity of Capital Bikeshare, the District of Columbia is awash in new cyclists. And new legislation proposed by the Washington Area Bicyclist Association (WABA) aims to boost their safety by giving bicyclists strong legal recourse when they are wronged on the road.

The proposal comes on the heels of a stunning act of intentional violence toward an innocent commuter on his way to work this summer. A helmet-cam video (above) shared by WABA showed a male cyclist being verbally assailed and then struck by a pickup truck. The man was thrown from his bicycle, crashing to the pavement, as the motorist fled the scene. Circulated by bloggers and advocates, the incident quickly served as a catalyst for many community members to push for a new measure to protect cyclists’ rights on the road.

The new anti-harassment legislation, titled ‘Assault of Bicyclists Prevention Act of 2011,’ would seek to provide a civil right of action for cyclists in the case of assaults, and the ability to recover legal fees and damages. The goal is to provide legal recourse for cyclists who have been intentionally harassed or assaulted by drivers in the District of Columbia.

“Given the obvious physical differences between automobiles and bicycles, there is ample opportunity for bullying in the form of harassment, assault, and battery,” WABA Executive Director Shane Farthing said of the proposal’s purpose in July. “That opportunity should be curtailed by consequences for roadway bullies — but to date the imposition of consequences has been rare.”

The WABA-proposed legislation is based on the Los Angeles anti-assault law that passed in July 2011. The LA legislation came after several years of LA bike activists working to pass a Bicyclist Bill of Rights. Supporters of the DC bill hope it will send a message to motorists that cyclists have the ability to take legal action when their rights are violated on the road.

The legislation will move forward to a public hearing on November 2. WABA is encouraging its members (or any bicyclists) to fill out the crash tracker on its website to provide more anecdotal evidence of why this bill is needed. Read more about WABA’s efforts to push this legislation forward here.

Tucson Action 2020 Workshop an Energizing Success

2011-10-07T13:00:10+00:00

When you call up a Tucson bicycling advocate, you will likely find her setting up a dinner with a traveling bike advocacy speaker. Or maybe she’ll be heading off to a meeting of the committee to make Tucson a Platinum Bicycle Friendly Community. Perhaps she will tell you about the upcoming Winning Campaigns Training that Tucson is hosting. Despite all that Tucson has going for it, the city’s bicycling advocates and transportation officials are hungry for more.

That kind of energy made them perfect for the very first Advocacy Advance Action 2020 Workshop.

This successful workshop, hosted by the Pima Association of Governments and local Alliance member Living Streets Alliance, brought together over 60 advocates, agency staff, and elected officials to learn about underutilized federal funding sources for bicycle and pedestrian programs and projects. Participants included Arizona DOT program managers, University of Arizona officials, local and state advocates, and Tucson City Council members.

The workshop presented an overview of federal funding source, gave state and local information, shared best practices from the field from Peter Lagerwey, the Regional Office Director for Toole Design Group in the Northwest, and offered time in the afternoon for participants to map out next steps. Tucson mayor Bob Walkup and Arizona State Representative Steve Farley spoke on a panel of elected officials.

The session provided a great opportunity to bring advocates and officials together in the same room. “What has been the most exciting for me to see is just in the course of this morning, people making connections and trying to answer questions for each other in the audience.” Living Streets Alliance president, Emily Yetman said. “One person will bring up an issue they are having in another part of the state and someone from ADOT will stand up and say, ‘Hey I’m the guy you need to talk to.’”

Action 2020 Workshops are designed to ensure advocates, agency staff, and elected officials have the knowledge, skills and resources to access untapped or under-utilized federal funding sources at the state, regional and local level to build bicycling and walking infrastructure and programs.

We invite advocates and agency staff to register for the nearest workshop, which are offered for free, thanks to the generous support of SRAM. Upcoming Action 2020 Workshop locations and dates are:

11/4/11 – Hartford, CT hosted by Bike Walk Connecticut and Capitol Region Council of Governments
12/2/11 – Houston, TX hosted by BikeHouston and Houston Galveston Area Council
1/20/12 – Pittsburgh, PA hosted by Bike Pittsburgh and Southwestern Pennsylvania Commission
2/10/12 – Atlanta, GA hosted by Atlanta Bicycling Coalition and Atlanta Regional Commission

For more information about Advocacy Advance and the Action 2020 Workshops, or to apply to host future workshops, contact .

Action 2020 Workshops are facilitated by Advocacy Advance – a partnership between the League of American Bicyclists and Alliance for Biking & Walking.

Arkansas Celebrates A Winning Bridge with the Clintons

2011-10-06T18:42:10+00:00

We recently announced the 2012 Winning Campaigns Locations, where we talked about the fun and excitement of attending one of these trainings. Of course, a training is only as useful as the campaigns that it produces, and we got some more recent confirmation that attending a Winning Campaigns Training lead to success.

Last Friday, leaders from Bicycle Advocacy of Central Arkansas were on hand as former president Bill Clinton and current Secretary of State Hilary Clinton opened the Clinton Presidential Park Bridge between Little Rock and North Little Rock. Two years before, the same leaders from BACA had attended the Alliance Winning Campaigns Training in North Little Rock, with the goal of refurbishing the bridge as part of a trail in the area.

At the training, the organization was able to plan the campaign’s strategy, think about costs and fundraising ideas for the campaign, determine messaging strategy and identify the key decision makers to target. As BACA President Tom Ezell said, “BACA was able to bring enough pressure to help leverage the final fundraising steps to start construction, and we were privileged to be the first to cross over the bridge, other than President Clinton himself.”

While it’s been almost two years since the training took place, the hard work and perseverance was worth it, and it all started at the Winning Campaigns Training. According to Ezell, “It sometimes takes a little time to bear fruit, but here is another victory that we can chalk up under the Winning Campaigns program.”

Alliance Resources for Fiscal Sponsorships

2011-09-29T12:30:10+00:00

Are you starting an organization and need a way to accept grants and tax-deductible donations while your non-profit status with the IRS is pending?

Are you an established organization that has been approached by a new group looking for this support?

A fiscal sponsorship is a relationship between a sponsored project (usually a new organization) and a 501c3 nonprofit organization, in which the nonprofit organization offers legal and tax-exempt status to groups engaged in activities related to the organization’s mission. The sponsoring organization often performs administrative duties related to large financial transactions.

Many Alliance member organizations got their start through a fiscal sponsorship, including Bike Delaware, Idaho Pedestrian and Bicycle Alliance, New Jersey Bike & Walk Coalition, and Bike Easy in New Orleans.

Resources to help you take steps towards fiscal sponsorship have recently been added to the Alliance Online Resource Library, including two sample agreements, tips on how to process grants through a fiscal sponsor, and general guidelines for entering this agreement. Visit Grant Space or contact for additional information.

Alliance Announces Locations for 2012 Winning Campaigns Trainings

2011-09-28T12:30:10+00:00

Winning Campaigns Trainings give you more than tips and tactics to plan a successful campaign. The Alliance’s three-day boot camp for advocates leaves participants energized, excited and prepared to take on new campaigns that reshape their communities.

Since 2009, the Alliance has worked with nearly 300 advocates from across the continent at our signature workshops. By working through the Winning Campaigns Training curriculum, those participants tweaked or launched hundreds of different campaigns to boost biking and walking in their communities.

Over the past few months, as we’ve held the first half of our 2011 series, we tried to give you a taste of this energy by sharing the rave reviews of participants. But, while we can give you a hundred testimonials, you have to experience the training yourself to understand its impact on how you plan and execute your campaigns.

In 2012, we’re giving you four opportunities to jumpstart your next winning campaign with the guidance of our expert facilitators and the assistance of your bike-ped peers. As you begin to plan out your 2012 budget, don’t forget to include space to attend this transformative training.

January 13-15 in Tucson, AZ; Hosted by Living Streets Alliance
April 27-29 in Boston, MA; Hosted by Livable Streets Alliance
June 8-10 in Houston, TX; Hosted by Citizens’ Transportation Coalition
October 19-21 in Kansas City, MO; Hosted by BikeWalkKC

Registration for each training is already open. Reserve your spot today.

And don’t forget about our final two training in 2011. The Alliance will be in Los Angeles, October 14-16, and in Columbia, SC, November 4-6.

Bike Pittsburgh Celebrates Major Bike Rack Win

2011-09-27T12:18:10+00:00

After a mandate from members and a decade of dedicated work, Bike Pittsburgh celebrated last week as the local Port Authority announced 100 percent of buses now have bike racks.

The story starts way back in 2002, when BikePGH was just getting its feet wet as an upstart advocacy organization. Already, the Port Authority and City of Pittsburgh had received a $75,000 grant for “Ride, Rack and Roll,” an initiative intended to outfit 75 buses with bike racks. But, a year after the program was established, only eight routes had racks — and often, even on those lines, buses would arrive sans rack. So BikePGH got to work.

“[From 2003 to 2006] stakeholders represented by Sustainable Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh’s Department of City Planning, the Port Authority and BikePGH met on and off to try to figure out the issues regarding the Rack ‘n Roll service,” Erok Boerer, BikePGH Advocacy Director, explained on the group’s blog last week. “It was clear the only answer was to get more racks into the entire system.”

In 2004, the program got an influx of money — $290,150 from the federal Transportation Enhancements program — to grow the program to 12 routes. But still, service was spotty and riders had little confidence that their bus would arrive with a rack. So it wasn’t surprising that BikePGH members considered the bus situation a major frustration. “At a BikePGH strategic planning session, members expressed that outfitting 100 percent of Port Authority buses with bike racks should be a high priority campaign that we should pursue,” Boerer explained.

So, in 2007, when the Port Authority announced it was buying new buses without racks the advocates pressed for a new policy that could solve the problem: No new buses should be purchased without a bike rack. The Port Authority agreed. By 2008, the landscape started to change as old buses were retired and, from the get-go, the new ones hit the streets with racks attached. To make sure the Port Authority had the cash to complete the task, BikePGH worked with local officials to get funding from another federal source — the Congestion Mitigation and Air Quality program — and from a private foundation. By the end of 2009, they had secured the dollars to outfit the remaining 190 buses and the city promised to get it done by the end of 2011.

Finally, on Friday, the Port Authority and BikePGH had reason to party: All the city buses are now equipped with bike racks.

“This momentous development didn’t happen overnight,” Boerer wrote before the event. “It took a decade, with many different folks working to better the program. When it all came down to it, though, it was all about advocacy and leadership that made it happen.”

RevolveKC Evolves into a Community Bike Shop

2011-09-26T14:30:10+00:00

For 15 years, Elizabeth Bejan has owned a house in the urban core of Kansas City. But now she’s got a second home just around the corner to serve her neighbors with affordable options for active transportation.

The new Community Bike Shop is an outgrowth of RevolveKC, a non-profit Bejan founded with bike-shop owner, Theresa Van Ackeren, in 2009. The organization was created to provide bicycle education for youth, adults and businesses and advance green transportation options throughout the region, but the women knew from the beginning that RevolveKC needed a dedicated space — and, more importantly, Kansas City needed a venue to recondition and recirculate used bikes back into the community.

“From the get go, the plan was to work toward a community bike shop to provide a setting for bicycle safety education and low-cost used bicycles as alternative transportation,” Bejan says. “We were already aware of the Community Cycling Center in Portland, Blackstone Bicycle Works in Chicago, and St Louis Bike Works. Kansas City did not have a fully operating shop of that nature, and we knew we could grow into that after executing some solid community events and a little fundraising.”

In two short years, RevolveKC built that solid foundation and, this week, the Community Bike Shop is celebrating its Grand Opening.

The goal of the shop is three-fold:

Bicycle collection: Working with businesses and municipalities to collect bicycles that are destined for the landfill.
Bicycle recycling: Engaging volunteers to refurbish bicycles for recirculation or resale.
Bicycle classes: Providing education to make Kansas City residents more comfortable commuting by bike.

True to the mission of providing green transportation for all income levels, the Community Bike Shop is offering an earn-a-bike program that allows youth and adults to trade volunteer time or bicycle knowledge for a refurbished ride. “We’re using the Traffic Skills 101 online course and on-bike road test as one of two options that program participants can ‘earn’ their bikes,” Bejan explains. “To date, we’ve provided transportation to 13 commuters in this way.”

To stock the shop with old bicycles, Revolve has already cultivated strong relationships with area municipalities. In fact, next month, the nonprofit is partnering with local cities for two events that include bike collection. And those bikes won’t just go to area residents, either. “We hope to recirculate reconditioned bicycles to any businesses in these municipalities who want to initiate a bikeshare program for their business and pursue Bicycle Friendly Business designation,” Bejan says.

Click the video above for a great interview with Bejan and preview of the space. Or click here to keep track of the Community Bike Shop’s progress on Facebook.

Michigan Advocates Push to Protect Left and Right Arm Turn Signals

2011-09-23T12:45:10+00:00

One of the cardinal rules of safe cycling is signaling. Whether changing lanes or making a turn, every bicyclist is taught the critical importance of indicating his or her movements on the streets with a simple hand gesture.

Historically, two-wheeling travelers have indicated a right turn by extending and bending their left arm, as if giving the queen’s wave. But times are a-changing and many cyclists have come to prefer a more intuitive signal: pointing with their right arm. According to the League of American Bicyclists, 32 states have altered their traffic laws to legalize the new signal.

Now, Michigan advocates are working to bump that number to 33 — but also ensure that the left hand signal stays legal, too.

In May, advocates from the League of Michigan Bicyclists presented state legislators with a white paper, urging them to enact a “common-sense update to the Michigan Vehicle Code (MVC)” that would allow for the extended right arm signal. Policymakers took notice and a bill was introduced that would do just that. But there’s a hitch: The bill would also eliminate the current method for signaling right turns and the upturned left arm would no longer be recognized as legal. So the LMB, along with the Michigan Trails and Greenways Alliance (MTGA) and the Michigan Mountain Biking Association (MMBA), jumped into action to make sure both options stay on the table.

This week, LMB Associate Director John Lindenmayer provided testimony on the bill, drawing on a position paper submitted by all three organizations.

“We believe that legalizing the new method of signaling and encouraging cyclists to use it is a positive move,” the paper noted. “Not only do automobile drivers better recognize a cyclist’s intentions when they point in the direction they plan to turn, it is also easier to teach children to point in the direction they plan to go… [But] LMB, MTGA and MMBA would like to see the MVC updated to legalize the actions of the many cyclists who already instinctively point to the right without penalizing current law-abiding cyclists who use an upturned left arm. Thousands of out-of-state cyclists visit Michigan each year, who may only know or use the universal upturned left arm signal that is currently legal in all 50 states, and required in 18 states. By striking the original language, cyclists could be penalized by law enforcement for unintentionally violating a traffic law that would be unique only to Michigan.”

If you’d like to take action, LMB is urging the cycling community to contact Representative Paul Opsommer, House Transportation Committee Chair, at paulopsommer@house.mi.gov.

Subscribe to the LMB’s blog to get updates on the bill.

Missouri Advocates Help Put a Dollar Value on Safe Routes Savings and Benefits

2011-09-21T12:41:10+00:00

In 2007-2008, districts across the United States spent a staggering $21.5 billion busing students from their neighborhoods to the classroom. At an average of $854 per student, that accounted for more than 4 percent of the entire cost of the K-12 education system.

By helping to create the conditions that get more kids to bike and walk to school instead, the Safe Routes to School movement is reducing that massive price tag. And the advocates at the Missouri Bicycle and Pedestrian Federation have created a new tool that aims to puts a dollar value on those notable savings.

Of course, busing trumps private automobiles by a long shot, saving 347 million vehicle miles traveled each day. And busing certainly makes sense for students traveling longer distances. “We know that school bus transportation is cheaper, better for the environment, and often better for kids, than being driven in private automobiles,” the Missouri advocates point out. But they also know that: “Walking and bicycling, when feasible and safe, is cheaper, healthier, and generally better for most kids than either of the other options.”

So the federation did some number crunching. They found that a typical student who bicycles or walks to school receives the following amount of savings and benefits:

Bicycling: $2,749 per year ($1,129 in cost savings and health benefits; $1,620 in enjoyment benefit)
Walking: $1,856 per year ($596 in cost savings and health benefits; $1,260 in enjoyment benefit)

Want to calculate the benefits in your community? Download the federation’s calculator in the Alliance Resource Library. Click here to read more about the data sources.

Marin County Bicycle Coalition Takes It Off-Road

2011-09-20T12:44:10+00:00

The Marin County Bicycle Coalition has plenty of street cred. Since its inception in 1998, the California advocates have compiled an impressive track record, including helping to increase weekday cycling trips in the region by more than 135 percent and reduce collisions by more than 34 percent.

Now MCBC is taking its advocacy off-road.

Yesterday, MCBC launched a new Mountain Bike Initiative that aims to “increase trail access for mountain bike riders in Marin County, encourage safe and civil behavior among all trail users, and promote trail stewardship.”

“As mountain biking popularity continues to rise,” the advocates explained in the program announcement, “MCBC is compelled by its growing membership base to devote its unique experience and resources in advocacy and education to achieving similar success off-road.”

Thanks to a new source of funding (and a fundraising campaign- donate here), MCBC will soon hire a part-time director who will work toward a host of program goals, like opening more trail opportunities for mountain bikers and creating more trails that serve as transportation.

“The organization will participate in trail planning processes alongside government agencies, land managers, environmental organizations and the public,” the MCBC noted in the announcement. “It will be deeply involved in activities encouraging all users to create a cooperative, respectful, friendly and safe environment on trails. With this program, MCBC looks forward to creating more positive change in Marin County.”

TIGER 3 Grant Applications Due Next Month

2011-09-15T13:00:10+00:00

Pre-applications for the third round of Transportation Investment Generating Economic Recovery (TIGER) funds are due October 3. These merit-based grants support projects that are is multi-modal, non-traditional, and hard to fund through traditional channels.

The funds, totalling $527 million, will be balanced both geographically and modally, with at least $140 million to be used in rural areas. Among the other requirements:

Grants for urban areas must be between $10 million and $200 million and require a 20% match
Match requirement can be waived for rural projects
Funds cannot be used for planning or NEPA
No more than 25% of the funds ($131 million) may be awarded to projects in a single state

Read the recent League blogs for more information on how to win a TIGER 3 grant for bicycle and pedestrian projects and tips on submitting a TIGER 3 benefit-cost analysis.

ACTION ALERT: Let your Senator Know that you support Biking and Walking

2011-09-13T15:42:10+00:00

This year, around $700 million of Federal transportation funds, which is less than 2 percent of total transportation dollars, will be spent on bicycling and walking. In 2012 that figure might be a big fat zero. Please contact your Senators TODAY and let them know you support continued funding for biking and walking.

In the next few days, Senator Coburn will ask Congress to eliminate the federal Transportation Enhancements program – the primary funding source for the past 20 years for bike lanes, trails, bike racks on buses, bike education etc. This isn’t safe or smart; it’s not good for the economy or the environment; this is bad health policy and bad transportation policy. But they are going to try because they don’t think bicycling matters. Even though bicycling projects create more jobs per dollar than highway-only projects and cutting enhancements won’t impact the deficit – the money just won’t be spent on bicycling – some Members of Congress want to force us backwards to a 1950s highway-only mindset: as if oil embargoes, congestion, smog, the obesity epidemic and climate change never happened. Now is the time to save biking and walking. So, we are asking you to contact your Senator and urge them to support continued funding for biking and walking. Don’t let them take away this vital investment program for smart, sustainable, safe transportation choices. Please take action today.

Bike/Ped Overlooked in Atlanta Regional Sales Tax

2011-09-12T12:00:10+00:00

Take action now so bicycle and pedestrian projects don’t get overlooked in the Atlanta region.

Two weeks ago – and after months of deliberation – the Atlanta Regional Roundtable approved a draft project list of transportation projects funded by a penny sales tax. Only 0.4% of the total revenue was designated for bicycle and pedestrian project funding, on the grounds the bike/ped infrastructure doesn’t serve regional travel needs. The Atlanta Bicycle Coalition makes four key arguments to show that this is false, and that Atlanta’s commuters care about biking and walking.

Take action now by attending a public meeting or calling your elected officials with the following requests:

3% of funds go towards bicycle and pedestrian projects
Road projects be Complete Streets (provide access for all modes of transportation)
Local funding pots (15% of sales tax revenues in metro Atlanta counties) be used primarily for bike/ped projects, especially if the leadership says bicycle and pedestrian projects are purely local in nature.

Bike Denver Completes Advocacy Advance Startup Grant

2011-09-09T13:00:10+00:00

Bike Denver, a recipient of a Spring 2010 Advocacy Advance Grant, completed its “Public Education” Startup Grant proposal in August. The advocates used their $20,000 award to hire a full-time Advocacy Director and launch a comprehensive public education and outreach campaign to increase the number of people who bike in and around Denver.

Since the award of the grant, the organization has fully transitioned from an all-volunteer organization to a professionally run nonprofit. With assistance from a local marketing firm, Bike Denver’s education campaign emphasized the positive effects and emotions that result from biking, and empowered more people in Denver to ride for fun or transportation. Thanks to its outreach efforts, Bike Denver increased its membership by 33 percent, saw a 4 percent increase from 2009 in the number of people who bike commute in Denver, and achieved Silver-level Bicycle Friendly Community recognition from the League of American Bicyclists.

As part of the matching grant requirement, Bike Denver raised more than $60,000 in sponsorships, donations, grants, event proceeds, and membership dues to support its advocacy efforts. Some examples of the advocates’ accomplishments in just the past 18 months include:

Partnering with Denver Bike Sharing to support the launch of Denver B-cycle in April 2010 with 50+ kiosks, more than 500 bicycles, and five “Energizer Stations”
Working with the Union Station Neighborhood Company to secure the commitments for a 200-space, permanent bike parking facility to be included as part of the Union Station redevelopment project
Establishing the Denver Bike Congress for business, government, and non-profit community leaders who share an investment in making Denver a better place to ride
Working with LiveWell Colorado to host Denver’s first Civlovia in August 2011

Bike Denver joins the 24 other organizations that have used Advocacy Advance Grant funding to spur development and carry out successful bicycle and pedestrian campaigns. Read about the successes of other past grant recipients and learn about the Advocacy Advance Grant program here.

Governor Signs New York Complete Streets Bill

2011-09-08T13:00:10+00:00

New York became the seventeenth state to pass Complete Streets legislation when Governor Andrew M. Cuomo signed the bill – which passed unanimously in both the State Senate and Assembly – on August 16.

“New York’s roadways should safely accommodate all pedestrians, motorists and cyclists, and this legislation will help communities across the state achieve this objective. Complete Streets designs recognize measures that will make streets safer for New Yorkers of all ages and abilities,” says Cuomo, about the bill, which will affect all federal and state funded projects.

The successful passing of this bill is attributed to the advocacy efforts of Complete Streets supporters including public health organizations, professional organizations, environmental advocates, Alliance sponsor AARP, and of course transportation advocacy groups such as the New York State Transportation Equity Alliance, and Alliance member New York Bicycling Coalition.

“I am calling this one a win, or at least a step in the right direction,” writes Chris Belsole on the Albany Bicycle Coalition blog. “Although this legislation does not force anyone to do much of anything it does make it so that project managers have to at least consider the option when thinking about new projects.”

NYC Summer Streets Informs — and Impresses — New Alliance Program

2011-09-08T12:59:10+00:00

By Mike Samuelson, Alliance Opens Streets Coordinator

For a few hours, one of New York City’s most famous streets was transformed from a frenzy of car horns, squealing brakes and congestion to an oasis of people powered transportation. The reason for change: Summer Streets.

Held during the first three Saturday’s in August, Summer Streets creates a car-free route from the Brooklyn Bridge to Central Park, including 60 blocks on Park Avenue and connecting streets. Hundreds of thousands of New Yorkers, from all types of backgrounds, took the opportunity to explore their city in a way they seldom have available.

As part of the Alliance’s recent grant to launch the Open Streets Project, I traveled to New York to learn more about one of North America’s largest open streets initiatives. This was my first time attending an event, and I was blown away by what I saw! Along with cyclists and walkers, the street was packed with scooters, trikes, rollerbladers and just about every other type of human propelled movement. While some spandex-wearing riders weaved in and out of the crowd, most folks took advantage of the ability to go slow and see their city from a whole new angle.

At several points on the route, there were rest stops that allowed participants to take a break and engage in fun and educational activities such as yoga classes, musical performances and bike safety demonstrations. Of course, local Alliance member organization Transportation Alternatives was on hand offering free bike valet, and using the opportunity to engage New Yorkers in T.A.’s campaigns to create safer streets for all users.

Along with taking in the excitement that is Summer Streets, I was also able to meet with some of the great folks at NYC DOT who put on the initiative, and learn what it takes to put on such a successful event. Despite the difficult financial times, NYC DOT hasn’t cut back a bit on Summer Streets because of its popularity and support from private funders.

I’m looking forward to the launch of the Open Streets website this fall, which will allow cities across the continent to share their successes and plans. Open Streets are more than an opportunity to have fun on a street normally used for cars; they’re a chance to re-imagine the way our cities could be.

T.A. probably said it best in one of their recent newsletters, “For three days every summer, we don’t need schematics and modeling to understand what New York City would look like if pedestrians were prioritized. For three days this summer, our dream is reality.”

Active Trans Launches “Riders for Better Transit” Campaign

2011-09-07T13:00:10+00:00

Active Transportation Alliance may be best known for supporting and promoting biking and walking in the greater Chicagoland region. But, last month, the advocates teamed up with the Natural Resource Defense Council to launch a new campaign that will unite and fight for transit riders.

With city officials facing tough budget decisions, Chicago transit agencies could see their funding slashed, and residents could be hit with service cuts and fare increases. Riders for Better Transit — the new initiative from Active Trans and the NRDC — is building a vocal constituency for increased investment and improved initiatives that serve riders’ needs.

“Transit reduces pollution, provides essential links to jobs and commerce, and offers an affordable transportation choice for Chicagoland residents,” Jennifer Henry of the Natural Resources Defense Council, said in a press release last month. “We need to use transportation dollars wisely and reinvest in existing communities and infrastructure.”

The Riders for Better Transit campaign has a vision for how to spend those dollars wisely and invest in a world-class transit system, including bus rapid transit, modernized rail service and a more-passenger-friendly Union Station. The campaign is also pushing for a universal fare system, real-time transit information and “complete stations” that are inviting and safely accessible by walking, biking, and persons of all abilities.

And, perhaps most importantly, the campaign will fight to prevent further service cuts and fare increases as transit agencies prepare to finalize their 2012 budgets.

“Riders across the region know our system is plagued by slow zones, overcrowding and deteriorating stations, and every community has a laundry list of needs, from restoring bus service that’s been cut to increasing train frequencies,” added Ron Burke, Executive Director of Active Trans. “Our region can barely maintain our current transit service, much less make improvements riders need. The bottom line is transit in our region is significantly underfunded.”

Thanks to Saris, Wisconsin Advocates Go Big with Bike Valet Program

2011-09-06T13:00:10+00:00

Bike valet is a valuable, visible and fun way to promote cycling at community events. But there’s one small hitch: How do advocates get all those bicycle racks to the site of the festivities?

Well, Saris Cycling Group teamed up with the Bicycle Federation of Wisconsin and came up with a way to fit 200 bikes into the back of a single car.

Dave Schlabowske, the Bike Fed’s new communications director, suggests that bike valet is an important — and growing — asset for bicycle advocates. According to Dave, the top five benefits include:

“LUXURY – Yes, luxury and bicycling can fit together! People LOVE the valet! For downtown Madison events where bike parking is limited, bicyclists are delighted to use the valet and have told us that it is so convenient and feels like a luxury.”
“BICYCLE PAMPERING- For those bicyclists who have a shiny new Trek or a Schwinn that they adore… their bike is escorted to a secure parking spot with no worry about being scratched or dinged.”
“THE HUB- We’ve been surprised to see the spontaneous bicycle community that grows around the bike valet… The valet becomes a gathering place for bicycle conversation and camaraderie. This type of community-building is critical to increasing bicycling and forwarding the mission of the Bike Fed.”
“OUTREACH- A bike valet provides a targeted marketing opportunity. Not only are we encouraging more bicycling, but it also gives us the opportunity to bring bicyclists to us and begin to engage them in the work we are doing. While we are parking their bike, it gives us a chance to share our latest news and program updates.”
“WE’RE EVERYWHERE! We try to place the valet in a high-traffic area near the event entrance, not just because it’s most visible and convenient for bicyclists, but also because of the reaction we receive from other event attendees. They are surprised when they see 200 bikes parked in the valet racks. This simple visual can be a powerful marketing tool: “Yes, many people do actually bike and you can, too!”

With so many benefits, the Bike Fed was looking to increase and expand its valet presence. But there was one pressing problem — transporting the bike racks. That is, until Saris stepped in with a solution.

“It was very important that Saris help us develop a bike valet parking system that we could easily provide without outside help and that would not be a strain on our budget,” Schlabowske wrote last month. “With this in mind, Saris designed a special rack that could be easily transported in a standard size car or on a fortified bike trailer. Each rack breaks down into three pieces and is very light weight. We’ve been able to haul 25 event racks that park 200 bikes easily and conveniently in the back of a Prius!”

Already this summer, he Bike Fed has parked more than 1,000 bikes at valet events and plans to serve at least 1,000 more cyclists before the season ends. Last week, the Bike Fed got big exposure when it provided valet at the opening home football game for the University of Wisconsin in Madison.

For more information on the Bike Fed program, contact amanda.white@bfw.org.

Ride for the Climate — and the Alliance!

2011-09-02T13:00:10+00:00

There’s just three weeks left to register and raise funds to participate in the ride of a lifetime!

Climate Ride is a 5-day, fully-supported bicycle ride from Fortuna to San Francisco under towering redwoods, through the Russian River Wine Country, and along the Pacific Coast Bicycle Route; one of the most scenic coastlines in the world. But there’s meaning to this magnificent tour. The ride, Oct 2-6, is the nation’s largest environmental cycling event and “green conference on wheels,” promoting awareness about and action to address climate change. Riders raise funds that are directed to organizations that work to protect the climate and promote sustainable transportation — like the Alliance!

Sign up for $75 and then raise at least $2,400 by September 23 and choose which organization you’ll raise money for. Registrants can direct their fundraising toward multiple beneficiaries, too. That means, you can ride for, say, the San Francisco Bicycle Coalition, Transportation Alternatives or other great Alliance member organizations, and still direct a portion of your dollars to support the Alliance.

Join or donate to the Alliance team today!

Only One Month Left to Enter the 2011 Alliance Photo Contest!

2011-09-01T13:00:10+00:00

Don’t fall asleep at the wheel and miss your chance to win an all-expenses-paid biking or walking trip to Italy! Enter your best pictures in the 2011 People Powered Movement Photo Contest today.

With more than $8,000 in prizes for the winning entries, the Alliance invites professional, amateur and advocate photographers to celebrate the beauty and energy of active transportation and continue to build an online library of high-quality images that can be used by bicycle and pedestrian advocacy organizations across North America.

Don’t wait: There’s just one month left to submit your photos in the following categories:

Women: Historically, men have far outnumbered women in active transportation in the U.S. - but that’s changing quickly. We want to see college women pedaling to class, female professionals using bike share to commute to work, mothers walking their kids to school, female advocates and engineers leading the charge to make their communities more bicycle and pedestrian friendly and more…
Diversity / Equity / Building an Inclusive Movement: This category includes photos of the faces and efforts of the incredible diversity of people, from all racial and economic backgrounds, who walk and bike for transportation and recreation in their unique neighborhoods. Submit your images of Major Taylor Bicycle Club events, social justice rides, transportation equity rallies, outreach efforts to non-English-speaking communities, classes and bicycle giveaways at community cycling centers, recycle-a-bicycle programs and more…
Open Streets / Ciclovias: Open Streets temporarily close streets to automobiles, allowing residents to walk, bike, skate, dance and utilize the roadways in countless creative and active ways. From Los Angeles to New York to Miami, Open Streets have become an effective and high-energy means to build community, promote active transportation and reconnect neighborhoods divided by traffic. We want to see how your community is engaging in this growing movement.
Walking: Photos of walkers and pedestrians moving their feet for fitness or mobility.
Advocates in Action: Images of biking and/or walking advocates making the case for active transportation.
Biking: Photos that showcase the joy and utility of bicycling for transportation and recreation.

Individuals can submit up to 20 photo entries via the contest website until September 31. From October 1st to 31st, public voting will determine the finalists in each category. A panel of expert and advocate judges from across the continent will then determine the winners.

Enter your photos by September 31 at http://www.PeoplePoweredMovement.org/PhotoContest.

Michigan Advocates Host Successful Winning Campaigns Training

2011-08-31T13:00:10+00:00

The state of Michigan was the site of the Alliance’s third Winning Campaigns Training of 2011 and 16 advocates attended the energizing event.

Hosted by the League of Michigan Bicyclists, many of the attendees were from communities around Michigan who were involved in campaigning for the statewide Complete Streets legislation passed last year. Thanks to that impressive effort, the LMB earned the Alliance’s 2011 Winning Campaign of the Year award—and the Winning Campaigns Training positioned the advocates for even bigger victories.

“This workshop challenges you to hone in on your resources in a targeted approach for success,” said Nancy Krupiarz, a volunteer with the Michigan Trails and Greenways Alliance.

“This training was very practical and I leave knowing exactly what my next steps are,” added Laura Padalino, from the Program to Educate all Cyclists (PEAC), an advocacy group that educates people with disabilities to become better cyclists.

The Alliance’s signature training uses proven curriculum targeted specifically to the unique needs and experience of bicycle and pedestrian advocates. The training is intended for any potential campaign leader who would benefit from gaining the tools to craft and manage powerful advocacy campaigns.“The title is not misleading,” said Sarah Panken from the Michigan Fitness Foundation. “This training will position you for a win.”

Click here for photos of the Lansing training, courtesy of Joshua Duggan of the Greater Grand Rapids Bicycle Coalition.

And don’t forget to register for the Alliance’s next Winning Campaigns Training in Los Angeles, California, October 14-16.

Your Input Needed on Alliance Strategic Plan

2011-08-31T11:53:10+00:00

As we celebrate our 15th anniversary, the Alliance is also looking to the future and all the important things we want to achieve. We’ve come a long way, but we still have a great deal of work to do to help create, strengthen, and unite bicycle and pedestrian advocacy organizations, so our movement can continue to transform communities across North America.

The Alliance’s strategic plan is our guiding document and we’re looking for your input as we update it.

If you are interested in reviewing the document and sharing your input, please contact Jeff Miller (jeff@PeoplePoweredMovement.org) by Tuesday, September 6th for more details.

Order Safe Routes Activity Books by Sept 2 — and Save!

2011-08-29T17:17:10+00:00

we unveiled our Safe Routes to School Coloring and Activity Books and we’re delighted that several states and communities already are using this great new resource. Let’s Walk to School and Let’s Bike There, are a valuable addition to any local or state Safe Routes to School program.

Each activity book provides 16 pages of:

Fun and engaging drawings that outline the joy and benefits of biking and walking
Safety tips, like the “ABC Check” for bicycling and safe street crossing for pedestrians
Activities to apply that knowledge, like word finds and connect-the-dots pictures

Alliance member organizations are eligible for a great discount on these books and could even to make a profit, working with a city or state agency to place an order or resell these directly. For large orders, we can also customize activity books with an organization’s logo, name and website. It can also be a chance to recognize agency and business sponsors.

Place an order by Friday, September 2 and we may be able to offer you an additional discount — and make sure you get your books next month! We invite you to place your order soon to get these great publications in time for International Walk and Bike to School Month.

Click here for a price chart and sample pages. For questions or to order, contact Jeremy Grandstaff, Alliance Member Services Director, at .

Rapid Response Grant Supports Urgent Bridge Campaign

2011-08-28T14:34:10+00:00

Advocacy Advance is a dynamic partnership of the Alliance and the League of American Bicyclists aimed at dramatically increasing funding for biking and walking projects and programs.

In 2009, Wisconsin enacted a statewide Complete Streets policy, ensuring all roadways are designed and constructed with all users in mind. In 2010, its neighbor, Minnesota, passed a Complete Streets bill, too. But in 2011, when transportation officials started work on a bridge connecting the two states, they failed to include accommodations for bicyclists and pedestrians.

The Bicycle Alliance of Minnesota (BikeMN), Active Living LaCrescent (ALL) and the Bicycle Federation of Wisconsin worked hard for the passage of Complete Streets in their respective states. Now they’re fighting to make sure transportation officials implement those policies on the Drebach Bridge.

To aid their urgent and immediate efforts, Advocacy Advance has awarded a $3,000 Rapid Response Grant to BikeMN and ALL for their Dresbach Bridge proposal.

Maryland Advocates Win Bike-Friendly Revision to State Driver’s Manual

2011-08-25T12:15:10+00:00

This fall, Maryland cyclists can feel more confident when sharing the road with vehicles, thanks to a revision to the Maryland State Driver’s Manual that specifically addresses sharing the road with bicycles.

In recent months, a diverse coalition of regional groups, including Alliance members Bike Maryland and the Washington Area Bicyclist Association worked closely with the Maryland Motor Vehicle Administration and State Highway Administration to improve driver’s education and new driver’s licensing examination questions.

Questions about the effectiveness of the previous manual arose at an early Bike Maryland legislative task force meeting, after misstatements by the MVA printed in the paper insisted that the new 3-foot passing law did not negate the duty of cyclists to move out of the way of cars. This set advocates into action, prompting them to provide MVA with comments and suggestions on how to revise the current manual to mention how bicyclists and cars can safely share the roads.

As noted in the new Sharing the Road section, the manual now outlines that cyclists can lawfully ride in a travel lane. The new language gives cars suggestions on how to approach cyclists, rather than simply pass safely. Fines are now mentioned for motorists that violate the newly imposed rules, too.

While advocates are still waiting for promised improvements to the Maryland Driver’s test — which will help to further progress bicycle safety — this work has clearly strengthened the relationships between bicycle advocates and the Highway Safety Office and the MVA.

Read the full text of the Sharing the Road section here and follow Bike Maryland’s 2011 Legislative Agenda for more updates.

Help NACTO Make Better Bicycling the Status Quo

2011-08-24T16:21:10+00:00

National Association of City Transportation Officials (NACTO) released its new Urban Bikeway Design Guide to much excitement at the National Bike Summit. The design guide sets a new standard for bicycle infrastructure design in the United States, one that accommodates cyclists of all skill and comfort levels and adapts international best practices to American city streets.

As advocates, the guide makes it easier for us to work with local transportation officials to put in place the new infrastructure that will boost bicycling across the nation. Since the release, NACTO has launched a campaign to get cities from across the country to endorse the guide.

Please ask your mayor, city council, or transportation director to endorse the NACTO guide.

The endorsement can come from the mayor, director of public works, transportation director, or in some cases the city engineer. Ideally, NACTO wants the person who really drives sustainable transportation in the city to sign on. Beyond supporting progressive design principles, this is also a great opportunity to build and strengthen relationships with your local elected and transportation officials, as well as partner with other organizations to make the ask.

As more cities endorse the guide, creating safe streets for cyclists will become the status quo. So far more than 30 cities have signed on to endorse the guide. The more endorsements NACTO collects, the more likely the guide and its principles will gain acceptance at the state and federal level, increasing the possibility that we will begin to see more of the cutting-edge infrastructure recommended in the guide appear across the country.

NACTO is making it easy for you to act, too. Click here for an explanation of the campaigns from Janette Sadik-Khan, New York City Department of Transportation Commissioner, and here for a template endorsement letter.

Advocacy Advance Rapid Response Grant Boosts BTA’s Bike Share Campaign

2011-08-23T12:00:10+00:00

Advocacy Advance is a dynamic partnership of the Alliance and League of American Bicyclists to dramatically increase funding for biking and walking projects and programs.

Last week, the Bicycle Transportation Alliance won the first phase of its campaign to bring a bike share system to Portland, when the Portland City Council voted in support of $2 million in Metropolitan Transportation Improvement Program (MTIP) money for a capital investment in bike sharing.

The BTA also received a $3,000 Advocacy Advance Rapid Response Grant to build on this success and prepare for the next phase of the campaign: Secure full funding at the regional Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO) for the City of Portland to build and operate a new $11.5 million bike sharing program.

Thanks to the support of SRAM Cycling Fund, Advocacy Advance has $16,000 remaining to fund organizations met with urgent and unexpected opportunities to win, increase, or preserve funding for biking and walking.

Read more about the BTA grant on the Advocacy Advance blog. Visit the Advocacy Advance Grants page or for more information on our grant program.

Big Win for Pedestrian Safety: San Francisco Lowers School Zone Speed Limits

2011-08-22T12:00:10+00:00

By Brighid O’Keane

Pedestrian advocacy efforts led by Walk San Francisco resulted in a win this last week, when San Francisco Mayor Ed Lee announced a reduction in the city’s school zone speed limit to 15 miles per hour.

The previous school limit of 25 miles per hour was reduced by 10 mph this past week, leading to safer streets for children and pedestrians. Starting with Peabody Elementary in San Francisco’s western Richmond District, the change will be in affect at all – more than 200 – city schools this fall.

“These safe speed zones have been a major goal for Walk SF and its members,” Elizabeth Stampe, Walk San Francisco’s Executive Director, said in the group’s press release. “They will help create a more safe and sustainable city, helping kids get to school safely and calming traffic in neighborhoods throughout the City. This is a big step forward for everyone who walks in San Francisco.”

As the first city to adopt the 15 mph zones, San Francisco residents can thank the members of Walk SF for their effective campaigning toward calming traffic throughout the city for all pedestrians.

Read the full press release here.

Photo: Elizabeth Stampe speaks at the press event announcing the speed limit reduction. (Streetsblog San Francisco)

Thousands Celebrate Denver’s First Open Streets Event

2011-08-19T19:05:10+00:00

Thanks to the advocates at BikeDenver, the Mile High City is now on the map.

Less than 10 months in the making, Viva Streets debuted in Denver this past Saturday and 7,500 residents took advantage of the city’s first Open Streets event.

Organized and hosted by BikeDenver and LiveWell Colorado (and funded, in part, by Bikes Belong), the four-hour festival closed down a two-mile stretch of 23rd Avenue to automobiles and invited citizens to experience their public space in creative and active ways.

“The turnout was amazing,” Piep VanHeuven, BikeDenver’s executive director, says.

“Four city councilmembers — almost a third of the council — attended the opening ceremonies and the bike parade that followed. People packed the route and many greeted and visited with friends and neighbors. More than 150 volunteers helped with activity zone offerings and monitoring the route as roving marshals. Local businesses got into the groove, too, offering everything from solar-power baked chocolate chip cookies to street side shish-ka-bob. My favorite was the ping-pong table that spontaneously appeared in the middle of the street.”

Not surprisingly, the successful event won wide coverage from local media. The Westword newspaper raved: “Bikes of all varieties ruled the road, but scooters, skateboards and rollerblades wheeled alongside. Pedestrians and runners weaved their way around. Twister, street hockey, basketball, hopscotch, jump rope, hula hoops and other games filled the shopping districts and parks. Music played from stages, impromptu drum circles, boomboxes on bikes and standing symphonic ensembles. Amenities were aplenty and sidewalk chalk scrawled into the streets.”

For VanHeuven, the take-away from the event was clear. “Denver was really ready for a ciclovia,” she says. “We had trouble getting people off the route and could easily have kept it going until 4 p.m. We’ve already had inquiries about bringing Viva Streets to other areas of Denver next year, as well as questions from City Park / Park Hill and Stapleton residents who want a street closure every month.”

Want to learn more about Viva Streets? Sign up for the Alliance’s upcoming Mutual Aid Call, “Open New Doors with Open Streets Events” and discuss the growing movement with VanHeuven and other Alliance leaders.

New Policy Makes it Easier to Bike and Walk to Transit

2011-08-19T18:18:10+00:00

Thanks to a new policy released today by the Federal Transit Administration, more money could flow to biking and walking facilities near transit stations.

The exciting change is mostly a matter of distance. Previously, the FTA allowed funding for biking and walking projects that benefited public transportation facilities if they were located within 1,500 feet of that transit location. Today’s announcement, dramatically widens the door for that funding.

According to the FTA: “All pedestrian improvements located within one-half mile and all bicycle improvements located within three miles of a public transportation stop or station shall have a de facto physical and functional relationship to public transportation.”

Read a full analysis from Darren Flusche over on the League of American Bicyclists blog.

St. Paul Advocates Guide Plan to Reduce Drive-Alone Traffic to Local University

2011-08-17T17:11:10+00:00

Since late 2010, advocates at St. Paul Smart Trips in Minnesota have been actively involved in the development of a Travel Demand Management (TDM) plan for the University of St. Thomas’s new Anderson Student Center. The completed plan, which includes pedestrian/vehicle safety initiatives, transit promotion, improved biking facilities and a user-friendly rideshare program, was approved by the city of St. Paul this summer.

“The ultimate goal of a TDM plan is to manage the demand for traveling to a specific site with a focus on decreasing drive-alone travel,” says Damien Goebel, Employer Outreach Specialist with St. Paul Smart Trips and one of the lead developers of the plan. While you might not have heard of a TDM plan before, they are becoming more common and, depending on the amount of traffic and parking spaces generated by the new construction, are often a required component of development or renovation.

According to Goebel, because this construction of the student center caused a loss of more than 100 parking spaces, Smart Trips was brought on to help identify ways the group could improve the effectiveness of the University’s overall traffic strategies. Work on the plan first consisted of determining the users of the new building, their mode of transportation, the infrastructure already in place, and the amenities provided by the university. The plan quickly became very comprehensive, growing from a fixed focus on the student center to a more robust plan encompassing the campus.

“As we started to dig into the nuts and bolts of the project, we realized that one building could not be uncoupled from the entirety of the campus, so the plan evolved from being specifically about the student center to reducing drive-alone traffic to the campus as a whole,” says Goebel.

The plan resulted in calling for 20 measurable objectives. While the university hosts a robust program for biking, walking, and transit, some of these objectives addressed how to maximize participation in these programs, including a pedestrian safety education campaign, evaluating campus wayfinding, increasing transit pass sales, and advancing seasonal bicycle commuting.

Including a bike-ped advocacy group in the work of this TDM plan is a big step towards the inclusion of bicycle and pedestrian elements in new construction. “Our work helped to heavily influence several of the decisions made regarding implementing programs for biking and walking,” says Goebel. “They may not have had access to that information without our assistance.”

Curious to know more about what it takes to craft an effective TDM plan? Contact Damian at damian@smart-trips.org and be sure to subscribe to the organization’s newsletter for all the latest developments.

Alliance Welcomes First Mexican Member Organization

2011-08-15T12:30:10+00:00

By Mike Samuelson, Alliance Members Services and Open Streets Coordinator

The Alliance is proud to welcome our first member organization from Mexico: Bicitekas.

Founded in 1998, the Mexico City-based group promotes biking as a healthy and environmentally friendly mode of transportation, while working to earn the respect of motorists and fighting for a network of infrastructure to allow Chilangos (residents of Mexico City) to use bikes as a mode of transportation. Bicitekas also helped found BiciRed, a national organization linking biking advocacy organizations across Mexico.

Recently, both groups welcomed musician David Byrne on his tour of Latin America, and used the opportunity to promote their campaign asking local governments to dedicate 5 percent of their transportation funding toward cycling. The groups would like to see that money used to create safe infrastructure, fund educational campaigns promoting the benefits of cycling and enact new regulations governing urban planning that facilitate easier cycling.

Next up, Bicitekas will help represent BiciRed at the Car Free Conference in Guadalajara, where they will host a panel on the health risks created by car emissions, as well as presenting on the groups new book, Por Mi Ciudad En Bicicleta.

Photo by Aaron Borrás

T.A. Launches New Membership to Attract Bike-Ped Newbies

2011-08-12T12:30:10+00:00

This month, Transportation Alternatives embarks on the fourth year of Summer Streets, a program that gives bike enthusiasts and new cyclists alike the opportunity to test-ride select streets of New York City free from motor vehicle traffic. According to the latest StreetBeat, this trial period has proved successful in bringing new people onboard with T.A.’s mission.

In conjunction with this year’s Summer Streets, advocates at T.A. are extending the trial concept to its membership by launching its newest membership level: the T.A. campaign friend.

For just $10, those who fear the commitment of full membership can test out what it’s like to be part of T.A. and receive discounts at T.A.-hosted events, access to the PDF version of Reclaim (T.A.’s quarterly magazine), and e-mail updates on the group’s ongoing campaign work.

These new members join the tight-knit T.A. family by signing on as friends of one of T.A.’s two most prominent campaigns: Biking Rules, a campaign for safe and civic cycling in NYC, and Rider Rebellion, which unites transit riders in support of affordable fares, better service and the end of service cuts.

“We’re trying to reach New Yorkers outside of our already-involved, already-committed pool of prospects,” Elena Santogade, Director of Membership for T.A., explains. “The pitch is a little harder to make for folks who aren’t yet aware of T.A.’s work, so a $10 price point and association to one of our more visible campaigns seemed like a good way to bring those people into the membership.”

Street teams will pitch this newest membership level as they receive signatures for various petitions and pledges for campaigns. “Our goal is to make 10 percent of those signers become Friends,” Santogade says.

And while T.A. just unveiled this new membership level last week, it’s likely something that will stick around. “As long as we have on-street advocacy teams interacting with the public, I think this will be a permanent fixture,” Santogade says. “It’s not something that we’re going to heavily promote to other prospects. It will be focused toward the people who sign petitions [and] write letters in association with our on-street campaigns.”

Just $10 sure sounds like a foolproof way to introduce bike-ped newbies to advocacy. Want to learn more about this new membership level? Check out Transportation Alternatives on the web and be sure to subscribe to StreetBeat for all the latest news.

Apply for a Bikes Belong Grant by August 26

2011-08-11T12:10:10+00:00

This year, Advocacy Advance received $1.3 million in grant proposal requests for $100,000 available funds. It was difficult to have to turn down so many innovative and energizing campaign proposals from strong advocacy organizations around the country, and we strive to keep you updated on other grant opportunities. The Bikes Belong Community Partnership Grants is one of these opportunities.

The Bikes Belong Grant Program is aimed at providing funding to facility projects such as bike trails, lanes, paths and parks, and advocacy projects that promote bicycling or that increase funding and support for bike infrastructure.

The Community Partnership Grants are designed to foster and support partnerships between city or county governments, non-profit organizations, and local businesses to improve the environment for bicycling in the community. Grants will primarily fund the construction or expansion of bicycle facilities such as bike lanes, trails, and paths. The grants committee will also consider advocacy projects that promote bicycling as a safe and accessible mode of transportation.

The application deadline is August 26, 2011. For more information, visit the Bikes Belong website, and good luck!

Advocacy Advance Awards $100,000 in Grants

2011-08-10T12:00:10+00:00

In line with a goal to double federal funding for biking and walking, Advocacy Advance is awarding more than $100,000 in direct grants to four organizations.

Using the grants to tap into federal funding streams and build their political influence, recipients will work to triple bicycle mode share in Atlanta, Ga., dramatically improve infrastructure in Pittsburgh, Pa., empower Latino cyclists in Los Angeles, Calif., and create a new model to win state dollars in Delaware.

Since 2009, Advocacy Advance—a partnership of the Alliance for Biking & Walking and the League of American Bicyclists—has awarded more than $500,000 in direct grants to 25 state and local advocacy organizations. This year, more than 60 applications with proposals totaling more than $1.3 million were received in the two grant categories: Model Grants and Capacity Building Grants.

Model Grants provide multi-year support for efforts that significantly increase federal investment for biking and walking. Capacity Building Grants catalyze the growth of advocacy organizations. Based on the organizations’ successful track records and innovative strategies, 2011 grants will be awarded to Bike Delaware, Bike Pittsburgh, the Atlanta Bicycle Coalition and the Los Angeles County Bicycle Coalition.

“We are excited to support these grantees, as they help lead the way towards a more equitable and rational use of limited federal transportation funds, especially as the lessons we learn will be applicable to accessing state and local funds,” said Andy Clarke, president of the League of American Bicyclists.

“Receiving this Model Grant is a testament to the decade of work we’ve poured into building strong relationships with key city, county, regional, and state transportation officials - and winning the cultural battle that bikes belong in the transportation mix,” Scott Bricker, Executive Director of Bike Pittsburgh, said. “Now it’s time to identify and fund specific projects that will keep bike riders safer and result in more people bicycling.”

Advocacy Advance Grants are made possible thanks to generous funding from SRAM and Planet Bike.

2011 Model Grants

Bike Pittsburgh
Receiving the largest grant ever awarded through the Advocacy Advance program, Bike Pittsburgh will use $40,000 per year, for three years, to leverage partnerships, identify key bicycle and pedestrian projects and get them funded. Advocates will work closely with the City of Pittsburgh on MOVEPGH - Pittsburgh’s first comprehensive transportation plan - to ensure the plan includes recommendations for bicycle and pedestrian infrastructure projects that are eligible for federal funding. Advocates will also work with county officials to get projects in surrounding municipalities in the queue for federal funding.

Atlanta Bicycle Coalition
The Atlanta Bicycle Coalition (ABC) will receive $35,000 per year, for three years, to double federal spending on bicycle and pedestrian projects and programs in the Atlanta region, and triple the bicycle mode share from 1 to 3 percent. To meet these ambitious goals, ABC will hire additional staff and work with the local metropolitan planning organizations, and the Georgia Department of Transportation, to tap into two federal funding streams currently underutilized for bicycle and pedestrian projects - the Congestion Mitigation and Air Quality program and the Highway Safety Improvement Program.

2011 Capacity Building Grants

Los Angeles County Bicycle Coalition
The Los Angeles County Bicycle Coalition (LACBC) will receive a $15,000 matching grant to hire a dedicated bilingual education/outreach staff member to empower Spanish-speaking residents who lack access to bike safety and advocacy tools, and build political power for improved bicycling in L.A. by better including populations of color.

Bike Delaware
Bike Delaware advocates recently won $5 million in new dedicated funding for bicycling in Delaware in 2012 - more money than the state has ever allocated in the past. A $10,000 matching grant will help Bike Delaware create a national model to increase state bicycle and pedestrian funding by creating an action plan for state bicyclists, advocating legislation, monitoring and communicating with DelDOT, and tracking progress.

In addition, Advocacy Advance will grant $25,000 in Rapid Response Grants throughout the year to help state and local organizations take advantage of unexpected opportunities to win, increase, or preserve funding for biking and walking.

Learn more about Advocacy Advance at AdvocacyAdvance.org.

If You Like Streetsblog, You’ll Love the Open Streets Project

2011-08-09T12:40:10+00:00

Do you love Streetfilms? Do you read Streetsblog? Yeah, we do, too.

So we’re excited to share that Open Plans — the company that developed those two leading bike-ped sites — is working with the Alliance and Street Plans Collaborative on the Open Streets Project.

Open Streets initiatives temporarily close streets to automobiles, inviting residents to walk, bike, skate, dance and utilize the roadways in countless creative and active ways. From Los Angeles to New York to Miami, Open Streets have become an effective and high-energy means to build community, promote active transportation and reconnect neighborhoods divided by traffic.

Earlier this summer, we announced the new Open Streets Project, which will support this exciting trend with the November release of a print guide and website that will serve as the one-stop source of information, models and best practices.

The “open source” website will allow municipalities and advocacy organizations to share information and resources on their Open Streets initiatives as they evolve and expand. Because interactivity is one of our top priorities for this website, Open Plans was a perfect fit.

“We make software to support aspirational citizen engagement with urban planning,” the New York City-based company notes. “We believe that better information is essential in shaping cities in an equitable and inclusive way. Community groups need information to guide their advocacy; agencies need information to support effective public outreach.”

Stay tuned for more updates on the Open Streets Project, including the website launch date this fall. In the meantime, check out Open Plans other engaging websites, like CityFix.org and CommunityAlmanac.org.

Action 2020 Workshop Locations Announced for 2011

2011-08-08T12:30:10+00:00

Advocacy Advance – a partnership of the League of American Bicyclists and Alliance for Biking & Walking – is facilitating five Action 2020 Workshops through January 2012.

Upcoming Action 2020 Workshop locations and dates are:

September 16 – Tucson, AZ
Hosted by Living Streets Alliance and Pima Association of Governments
October 21 – Atlanta, GA
Hosted by Atlanta Bicycling Coalition and Atlanta Regional Commission
November 4 – Hartford, CT
Hosted by Bike Walk Connecticut and Capitol Region Council of Governments
December 2 – Houston, TX
Hosted by BikeHouston and Houston Galveston Area Council
January 20 – Pittsburgh, PA
Hosted by Bike Pittsburgh and Southwestern Pennsylvania Commission

We invite advocates and agency staff to register for the nearest workshop, which are offered for free, thanks to the generous support of SRAM.

Action2020 Workshop attendees will:

Understand the funding process and the important role of advocates, agency staff, and elected officials in securing this funding;
Learn about under-utilized funding sources that exist for biking and walking projects and programs;
Learn the key characteristics, requirements, and opportunities of those sources;
Learn best practices from experts in the field; and
Share knowledge and experiences in the local context

Visit AdvocacyAdvance.org/Trainings to learn more and to register for a workshop near you.

For more information about Advocacy Advance and the Action 2020 Workshops, or to apply to host future workshops, contact Brighid O’Keane at Brighid@AdvocacyAdvance.org.

Campaign to Save Bike Lanes Boosts Membership for Toronto Cyclists Union

2011-08-05T13:08:10+00:00

On June 29, advocates from the Toronto Cyclists Union staked out a corner of Jarvis Street with a simple question: What’s wrong with this bike lane? The answer from the overwhelming majority of cyclists and motorists? “Absolutely nothing!”

The video that resulted was just one aspect of the Toronto advocates’ Save Jarvis campaign, which has not just galvanized the cycling community, but boosted the membership for the bike union.

The effort is the result of a recent push by Toronto’s mayor, Rob Ford, to remove a number of already installed bike lanes in the city’s core. Ford and his allies have argued that the lanes have caused traffic congestion. But, as the Bike Union has pointed out, that claim isn’t backed by the facts. “Updated traffic counts from the City of Toronto show that following the installation of bike lanes on Jarvis Street, motor vehicle volumes remained the same while cycling volumes tripled,” the bike union notes.

So, in the run-up to a city council vote to remove three major arterial bike lanes, the bike union kicked into high gear to protect the cycling facilities. They sent press releases to build their media presence, ran a targeted campaign of social media to get the word out, handed out fliers and buttons in the bike lanes themselves, and put together a three-minute video that included not just cyclists, but motorists advocating for the lane.

Unfortunately, the council voted to remove all three bike lanes last month, suggesting that the previous infrastructure will be replaced with a network of protected bike lanes on other streets. To fill the gap before the new construction, the council gave Jarvis a one-year reprieve. The bike union immediately jumped on the opportunity to capitalize on the growing, grassroots, pro-biking energy — and what better way than to get folks out pedaling.

“Our inspiration for ‘Ride for Jarvis, Ride for Bike Lanes’ was the Prospect Park Family Ride,” Heather McDonald, the bike union’s president, says. “When we were talking about what we would do if the council voted to cancel the bike lanes, the images of happy families riding on Prospect Park Ride came to mind. Leading up the ride we capitalized on social media, had a huge response via Facebook, had volunteers distributing buttons and fliers in the bike lanes and coordinated a press release.”

It worked. The turnout was huge. Approximately 1,200 cyclists streamed down Jarvis, ending with a rally at City Hall. But the event wasn’t just a boost to the bike lanes campaign; it was a membership boon for the bike union, too.

“We were able to use our core group of volunteers to act not only as marshals, but also as membership recruiters,” McDonald says. “We offered a discounted membership at the event. With a flat rate of $20 (reduced from $30), we recruited 75 members at the ride.”

“The threat of bike lane removal has really fueled our membership drive,” she adds. “Within 24 hours of the vote, 100 new members joined the bike union. Thanks to the Save Jarvis Campaign and our new full-time director of Membership, Jared Kolb, we’ve seen membership grow leaps and bounds. Andrea [Garcia, the bike union’s executive director] has been working hard at a more proactive and targeted media presence and has been able to identify good areas for advocacy to fuel membership and vice versa. A general discontent with the state of affairs with the current administration in Toronto has also helped galvanize and unite city-building groups of various interests.”

“We’re thrilled to see that more and more people are turning to the bike union as a credible voice for cyclists in Toronto. We plan to take this momentum forward as we find creative ways to advocate for cyclists in the face of the recent challenges.”

Check out photos of the ride here and stay tuned to developments on the bike lanes on the bike union’s website.

Photos of Save Jarvis Ride courtesy of Martin Reis.

Support the Alliance - Sign Up for the Climate Ride

2011-08-03T12:32:10+00:00

Climate Ride — the nation’s largest environmental cycling event and “green conference on wheels” this October 2-6 from Eureka to San Francisco.

Anyone who signs up for the ride gets to choose which organization they will raise money for — and you can choose the Alliance! Registrants can direct their fundraising toward multiple beneficiaries, too. That means, you can ride for, say, the San Francisco Bicycle Coalition, Transportation Alternatives or other great Alliance member organizations and still direct a portion of your dollars to support the Alliance.

Climate Ride is a 5-day, fully-supported bicycle ride from Fortuna to San Francisco under towering redwoods, through the Russian River Wine Country, and along the Pacific Coast Bicycle Route - one of the most scenic coastlines in the world. The ride also features nightly speakers who focus on bicycle advocacy, sustainability, and renewable energy.

The organizers have opened up the beneficiary choices so now you can choose to support the Alliance specifically with your fundraising dollars. If you select us as your beneficiary when you register, we will be the sole recipient of the funds you raise. Sign up for $75 (which includes a great jersey) and then raise at least $2,400 to participate in this all-inclusive 5-day bicycle tour.

Please visit our team link to sign up or make a donation: http://climateride.donordrive.com/participant/peoplepoweredmovement.

Successful Training Gives Leaders Tools to Grow their Memberships

2011-08-02T12:30:10+00:00

Recently, one of our member organizations told us they didn’t just want to match the more than 12,000 members of San Francisco Bicycle Coalition — they wanted to exceed it. What better way to do that than send their membership coordinator to learn tactics and methods from Kate McCarthy, the well-known and respected Membership Director of SF Bicycle Coalition, and Ellis Robinson, a leading guru in the membership development field.

Thirty-eight bicycle and pedestrian advocates — representing three countries, 24 states and provinces, 33 cities, and 30 Alliance member organizations — attended the second Alliance Membership Development Training, July 20-22. Hosted with special support from the Active Transportation Alliance in Chicago, the training offered two-and-a-half days of instruction, sharing of best practices, small group break-outs, and, of course, outside-the-training networking time for Alliance leaders to connect with each other and build those long-lasting and supportive peer relationships.

It also set out an ambitious goal for the bike-ped movement: The Alliance challenged the attendees to double their organization’s membership within three years. With the skills they learned, they’re ready and willing to take on that mission.

“I appreciated this training so much,” Elizabeth Stampe of Walk San Francisco said. “I can’t wait to implement the terrific ideas I got from my colleagues and the trainers to double our membership!”

Sue Prant from Community Cycles in Boulder, CO, echoed that sentiment: “This training gave us tools to help us refine our membership program, as well as giving us tips and ideas for new activities to engage and recruit new members.”

Tom Rousculp, from the Bicycle Transportation Alliance in Portland, OR, added: “The Alliance training has given me the skills and tools to take our membership program to the next level in a thoughtful and professional way.”

In addition to the training itself:

SRAM hosted a “Welcome to Chicago” social on Wednesday evening
Participants observe a pit stop — Active Transportation Alliance’s adaptation of the SF Bicycle Coalition’s Service Station
Attendees gained first-hand knowledge of the city’s infrastructure with a bike ride and walking tour
The entire group ended Thursday with a gathering in Millennium Park

Whether participants connected with peer groups working in similar geographic or modal scope, or gained insight on the improvements they need to make within their organization to grow their membership, the evaluations indicated that every participant walked away with new and powerful knowledge.

“Connecting with my peers over the better part of three days has not only given me new ideas but also a network to contact with questions and concerns as I grow our membership,” Cait Costello from Palmetto Cycling Coalition in Columbia, SC, said.

Elena Santogade from Transportation Alternatives in NYC described the training as “Inspiring, exhausting, exhilarating — a must-attend.”

Carol Feucht from the Los Angeles County Bicycle Coalition summed it up: “After this training, I have confidence that my job matters. Members and volunteers matter, and I’m glad a training like this exists for bike and ped orgs.”

Find all the resources and training materials in the Alliance Resources Library here.

Enter the 2011 People Powered Movement Photo Contest

2011-08-01T15:00:10+00:00

2011 People Powered Movement Photo Contest.

The contest aims to both celebrate the beauty and energy of active transportation and continue to build an online library of high-quality images that can be used by bicycle and pedestrian advocacy organizations across North America.

In 2009, more than 2,000 photographs were submitted in the first Alliance photo contest. Today marks the launch of the 2011 contest. Once again, categories include biking, walking, and advocates in action. New in 2011, the People Powered Movement Photo Contest invites photos in additional categories, including:

Women
Equity / Building an Inclusive Movement
Open Streets (Ciclovias)

From August 1st to September 30th, individuals can submit up to 20 photo entries via the contest website. From October 1st to 31st, public voting will determine the finalists in each category. A panel of expert and advocate judges from across the continent will then determine the winners, to be announced in March 2012.

The overall grand prize is an all-expenses-paid, 10-day bike trip to Tuscany, Italy, from VBT Bicycling and Walking Vacations. Additional prizes include:

A new bicycle from PUBLIC Bikes
Bags from Ortlieb
Lights from Planet Bike
Gear from Fyxation
Helmets from Bern
Socks and subscriptions from Bicycle Times

All winning photos also will be featured in the March 2012 issue of Momentum magazine.

To learn more or enter, visit PeoplePoweredMovement.org/PhotoContest

Alliance Seeks Advocacy Advance Intern for Fall 2011

2011-07-29T15:18:10+00:00

The Alliance for Biking & Walking is accepting applications for a fall intern to work with Advocacy Advance – the partnership of the Alliance and the League of American Bicyclists – to help boost local and state bicycle and pedestrian advocacy efforts.

The Advocacy Advance Intern will gain knowledge and skills related to federal funding for bicycle and pedestrian projects and the advocacy efforts to secure and utilize this funding at the state and local level nationwide. Work will include assisting with outreach to member organizations, development of a compendium of state profiles, sharing best practices of bike/ped organizations, and research of federal transportation funding.

This internship – based in Washington, D.C. – offers a flexible schedule with a fifteen-hour-per-week minimum commitment for three months. Applications are due by August 19th, 2011, with an anticipated start date in early September.

For a full position description and application information, click here.

Notes from Yesterday’s Federal Policy Call

2011-07-29T12:24:10+00:00

Yesterday, the Alliance hosted our partners at America Bikes for our latest Federal Policy Call. Mike Samuelson, our Members Services and Open Streets Coordinator, compiled these detailed notes…

Debt Ceiling: What it means for the new transportation bill
Any discussion or debate on the new transportation bill has been put off until after Labor Day, as Congress is focused on resolving the issue of the debt celling. The debt ceiling debate has increased partisanship, which will negatively affect everything else still on the table, including transportation. The increased partisanship will make it more difficult to keep transportation funding at SAFETEA-LU levels. Due to the time constraints between when Congress returns from the summer break and when the current bill expires on September 30, there is an increased likelihood that we won’t see anything new until the end of September. Then we may see some short-term extensions at the end of September. This is all assuming that the debt ceiling is raised in August.

Senate Bill
We did see some movement toward a new bill in the Senate this month. Senators Boxer (D-CA) and Inhofe (R-OK) announced that they have an agreement for a two-year bill at current funding levels (compared to the House bill, which would cut total funding by 35 percent). The main theme of the hearing was to let interest groups know that, if they want to avoid a cut in funding, they need to get behind the Senate’s bill.

In order to keep this level of funding, the Senate needs to find an additional $12 billion. Senator Baucus (MT), the Chair of the Finance Committee, is optimistic that he can secure this funding, but he can’t do it until the debt ceiling is resolved. Senator Inhofe has been very clear that he will not support a bill that is not paid for, so it is crucial that the Senate find the needing funding to preserve SAFETEA-LU levels.

At the hearing Senator Boxer said that, Safe Routes to School, Recreational Trails and “bike paths” will continue to have dedicated funding (meaning these programs won’t have to compete with road projects). We believe “bike paths” are referenced instead of Transportation Enhancements because that program will be under a new name. However, we still believe it will include dedicated funding. We have asked for equivalent levels of funding to what the programs receive now, which we believe to be the case in the Senate’s proposal. We thank Senator Boxer for her continued support of biking and walking and anxiously await the actual bill language. Until we see the language, we cannot be sure the bill adequately protects biking and walking.

In both the Senate and the House bills, there is language on streamlining projects, which could be a benefit for biking and walking projects — but again we still need to see language to be sure. There has been talk of penalizing agencies that don’t issue permits in a certain time frame, which would be good for our projects.

We expect to see language sometime in September, but it depends on several factors.

House Bill
Earlier this month, Rep. Mica (R-FL) released an outline of the House bill and had a press conference, which was followed by a Democratic response denouncing the bill. We are hearing the House version has no Transportation Enhancements, Safe Routes to School or Recreational Trails. Mica says he is trying to give as much flexibility to state DOTs as possible, and that these programs are still eligible for funding. Eliminating dedicated funding for these programs will make it difficult for them to secure any funding. (Please see the League memo on the difference between dedicated funding and eligibility.)

There may be something on performance measures related to congestion, state of good repair and safety. We are not sure how this will affect our projects, since these measures will be used to judge if DOTs are acting in the “national interests,” and Mica has come out and said that non-motorized projects are not considered part of this “national interest.”

We are looking for champions to get dedicated funding back into the bill. We hope to add an amendment at the committee level. The amendment would include all three programs (as opposed to separate amendments for each program). The bill is so unpopular that it will need to be moved through committee quickly and then to the floor, rather than a long sub-committee and committee process.

House THUD
Next up on House schedule for the 2012 budget is Transportation, Housing and Urban Development, which is currently funded at such low levels that leaders don’t want to address its funding yet. Given that the House needs to do a budget, they are more likely to move on to the transportation appropriations bill, which would authorize Federal Highway Administration. The transportation appropriations bill doesn’t set funding for each program, which is good for us because it means to defund our programs Congress would have to specifically call out no funding for biking and walking, which would be much easier for us to fight against than Mica’s bill.

We expect our programs to fair well in the appropriations sub-committee, but we are preparing for a possible fight at the full committee or floor debate. We are hoping to avoid that, but we may come back to Alliance groups in September saying there is an amendment in the appropriation process to cut bike/ped.

What is most likely to happen is we get a short-term extension on SAFETEA-LU and a continuing resolution on the budget for two to four weeks. We are looking at a fight on the extension, with the House saying they won’t do an extension without some cuts to funding, and bike/ped may be vulnerable to these cuts.

Outreach to Members of Congress
Please contact your member of Congress and ask them to support continued dedicated funding for biking and walking in both appropriations and transportation. At this point, it is too early to ask about extensions. We are asking local advocates to reach out to congressional members in August, when they will be in-district for most of the month.

It’s important to constantly be working on your relationship with your member of Congress. Here are some things you can do:

Go to town hall meetings (Find out when they are by contacting your district office.)
Invite them to events to show off a bike/ped facility or do a “study tour,” piggy back on another event, invite them to address a crowd of constituents at your event
Media events/ op-eds/ articles/ etc
If you have not met with your member of Congress, schedule an in-district meeting

It is also important to remember that you won’t always be able to get the member to attend your meeting or event, but it is still worthwhile to have a staffer attend in the member’s place. Staffers help formulate the member’s policy, so influencing staffers is key to influencing members.

Action Alert from America Bikes
America Bikes issued the first national action alert of the year on July 7th, after Mica’s press conference on the House’s new transportation bill. America Bikes asked that advocates contact their members of Congress to ask for dedicated biking and walking. We are showing a total of 56,000 messages to members. In the House, more than half the offices received 25 messages or more, while in Senate more than half of the members received 277 or more. Both California Senators received more than 3,000 messages each.

Thank you to everyone who responded to the alert and contacted their members of Congress. For more information on the response to the alert, contact Nathan at Nathan@americabikes.og. If you have additional data to share that didn’t go through any of the national partners, please contact Nathan, as well.

These action alerts play a huge role in shaping the national policy. An earlier push in California led to dedicated funding in the Senate bill by putting pressure on Senator Boxer. You are making a difference. Keep up the great work!

TIGER 3
Darren Flusche of the League of American Bicyclists attended a question-and-answer event with senior policy staff at USDOT on applying for TIGER grants. The staff said that adding a bike/ped piece to a proposal can make a project more attractive, but it is important to focus on how bike/ped is part of a larger transportation strategy and not just for recreation.

Remember to estimate the number of users for the new project. USDOT needs these numbers to calculate the economic benefits of project. And as simple as it sounds, it is so important to read the application guidelines and make sure your application meets those guides. Show how your project is a high priority. There is also $10 million minimum for application, so don’t bother applying for any projects smaller than $10 million.

TIGER 3 will total $527 million dollars, funding multi-modal, non-traditional projects that are difficult to fund through normal funding process. Multi-modal programs are very popular, and more than half in the past grant awards have included biking/walking. These include complete streets projects, bike and ped networks, as well as projects where biking and walking are included but not the central piece.

Rumble Strips
Since early 2010, the Alliance, League of American Bicyclists and Adventure Cycling Association have been working with FHWA Safety Office on concerns over rumble strip applications. In May 2011, the FHWA quietly distributed a new Technical Advisory (guidance) to district offices and state departments of transportation (DOTs) on the installation of rumble strips. Unfortunately, this guidance doesn’t meet the standards necessary to ensure the safety of cyclists, and we did not get a chance to review it before its release.

The new FHWA guidance on the installation of both shoulder and centerline rumble strips is significantly worse for bicyclists than the 2001 guidance. Not surprisingly, they did not notify us of the new guidance before sending it out to their district offices, even though we’d continually asked them to do so. Upon learning of the new guidance in mid-June, we immediately contacted FHWA and set up a meeting. On July 18, the Alliance, League and Adventure Cycling met with FHWA and USDOT staff to express our concerns with the process and the lack of accommodation for bicycling in the new guidance. As a result, we are submitting written detail of the specific points the bicycling community wants to see addressed in the new guidance.

We made it clear that we are holding back on raising the alarm with bicyclists across the country, but we are asking for a complete revision of the Technical Advisory and will track this process very closely in the coming weeks. If we don’t succeed we will let you all know and mobilize as needed. For now, please wait to take any action.

America Bikes Starting a Bi-Weekly Newsletter for Hill Staff America Bikes is about to launch an e-mail newsletter to cultivate stronger working relationships and to share up-to-date information with our allies on the Hill. A major objective of the newsletter will be to generate more enthusiasm for bicycle issues in the Hill by spotlighting successful efforts to advance biking and walking at the state and local levels – especially those that demonstrate broad public support for biking and walking as a top priority.

Please make a habit of sending us stories on successful state legislative wins. For example: Delaware bike advocates recently secured $5 million for bike-ped through a General Assembly bond bill which was endorsed by the Governor and enjoyed unanimous support on committee. We want to hear what’s happening in your state and community. Send your stories to Carolyn@PeoplePoweredMovement.org.

Bicycle Federation of Wisconsin Restores $2 Million for Bike/Ped to State Budget

2011-07-28T14:18:10+00:00

How many people can say that they turned $3,000 into $2 million? Kevin Hardman and the Bicycle Federation of Wisconsin can.

How’d they do it? With a little help from Advocacy Advance, the partnership of the Alliance and League of American Bicyclists that’s aimed at giving advocates, agency staff and public officials the tools and knowledge they need to tap into federal funding for biking and walking projects and programs.

The Bicycle Federation used a $3,000 Advocacy Advance Rapid Respond grant to support its campaign to restore dedicated bicycle and pedestrian funds cut from the state budget. They were successful. Instead of zeroing out the bicycle and pedestrian line in the budget, the state will spend $2 million over the next two years on bicycle and pedestrian projects.

Read all about it on the Advocacy Advance blog!

2 Mile Profile: Chesla Seely-Anschutz

2011-07-28T12:46:10+00:00

We’re more than two months into the 2 Mile Challenge for 2011 and the Alliance Gold Team has logged nearly 112,000 miles and replaced 14,700 car trips. To get to know the folks pedaling to promote local and state bike-ped advocacy, we’ve been profiling some of our Gold Team leaders, like Pete Beers in Virginia and Julie Viens in California.

This week, meet Chesla Seely-Anschutz. She’s been biking for so long she can’t even remember her first ride. For this Wisconsin resident, bicycling serves her wallet and her health. Here’s some of what she told us about why she joined the 2 Mile Challenge and the Alliance Gold Team:

“I live in a small town of just under 10,000 in the heart of Door County, Wisconsin. From my house, if you draw a 2-mile radius circle, it pretty much covers most of my town, Sturgeon Bay. So, it’s easy for me to bike instead of drive.

I have two part-time jobs, which I commute to each day. I take my bike most places I need to go. I live simply, but like biking and derive a good feeling from knowing that my little efforts are doing the environment some good. I also enjoy biking longer distances… putting on miles. Most people consider it exercise, but I don’t. I just enjoy biking. It’s my therapy!

Last year, I discovered the 2 Mile challenge on the Clif Bar website and signed up with the Gold Team. Even though the Red Team won, we sure gave them a run for the money! The 2MC has been fun for me to take part in and, this year, my husband and my youngest son are participating also.

Here in Door County there are lots of beautiful places and nice roads to bike, yet I’d like to see more bike lanes and paths, which would ultimately encourage more people to bike and be safe. I’m a member of a local advocacy group, Door County Silent Sports Alliance, and we’re, at present, working with the local officials on a county-wide bicycle plan.”

Join Pete, Julie and Chesla — Take the 2 Mile Challenge today!

Cascade Bicycle Club Helps Preserve Bike-Ped Funding in Latest Round of Rescissions

2011-07-27T12:35:10+00:00

We hate to be alarmists here at the Alliance and we know that, in recent months, we’ve been sending a lot of action alerts with urgent asks to help preserve federal funding for biking and walking. But we do it because we know local and state bicycle and pedestrian advocates have incredible power. Cascade Bicycle Club proved that in the latest round of rescissions.

You may remember earlier this month when the Alliance and League of American Bicyclists raised the alarm about states having to send a collective $2.5 billion in unspent federal transportation fund back to Washington, DC. In the past, many state Departments of Transportation have balanced these tough cuts on the backs of bike-ped programs, disproportionately raiding the pots of money that fund bicycle and pedestrian projects. Well, the advocates at Cascade Bicycle Club rallied their members to call for fair and proportional cuts. Clearly, the more than 1,000 e-mails sent to Washington Governor Chris Gregoire and to WSDOT Secretary Paula Hammond made quite an impression.

“Almost immediately after we started the campaign, we heard from WSDOT,” John Mauro wrote on the Cascade blog this week. “It’s hard to say exactly what we accomplished, because we don’t have a precise picture of what kind of send-backs they were planning before they heard from us. But in comparison to their August 2010 rescissions, nonmotorized transportation fared far better.”

For instance, in 2010 WSDOT sent back $16 million from the CMAQ (Congestion Mitigation and Air Quality) program. This round CMAQ only lost $3.2 million. Even better: In 2010, “Enhancements Set-aside” program — one of the largest sources of bicycle funding — lost $13 million. In this round, that funding stream was untouched.

“Aside from protecting this unobligated funding from being returned, we are also glad to have started a positive conversation with WSDOT about their process,” Mauro added. “It can’t be any fun to scramble around and send back $43 million, and we understand that they want to send back less flexible funds so they can be more nimble. I think they’ve heard from you that we don’t want to disproportionately ding nonmotorized transportation. And we’ll hold that line, because there are billions of dollars of needed bike and ped projects — $1.6 billion statewide of which sit unfunded on Local Transportation Improvement Plans (TIPs).”

Way to go, Cascade! Read more about their efforts on their blog.

St. Louis Advocates Raise Awareness with Environmental Justice Ride

2011-07-26T13:33:10+00:00

Phil Valko puts it simply: “It’s a textbook environmental justice issue.” In St. Louis, some of the poorest residents are saddled with the worst environmental conditions. The sources of toxic waste, dirty air and hazardous conditions are located just outside the doors of predominantly low-income, African American neighborhoods.

The advocates at Trailnet aren’t willing to let that trend go unnoticed — or unchallenged.

Despite the staggering heat, the St. Louis bicycle and pedestrian advocates drew a big crowd for an event to shed light on the issue this weekend. On Saturday, Trailnet hosts its third Environmental Justice Ride and nearly three dozen people came out to witness firsthand the clear and tragic inequality.

Phil Valko, Trailnet’s Active Living Program Manager, says the ride was the organic result of a partnership with the residents in the affected communities.

“We started this ride through a partnership with a social services non-profit called Grace Hill Settlement House,” he explains. “Grace Hill and Trailnet successfully collaborated on an EPA grant application, which included hosting two of these rides. The first ride was attended by approximately 30 people, which included roughly half local residents and roughly half folks from other areas. Many of the riders on that first ride were lower-income residents. The EPA grant allowed us to provide free bike helmets, free bike locks, and $5 coupons to a local cafe or the local food co-op, too. In addition, Trailnet partnered with another local organization, St. Louis BicycleWorks, to provide free loaner bikes.”

Because the first two rides made such an impression, Trailnet decided to host a third without EPA support.

“The ride highlights the high concentration of dirty businesses and the adjacent low-income, predominantly black neighborhoods,” Valko says. “The air quality within the district is among the worst in the entire state. As the rides moves through the area, it becomes clear why: There are waste incinerators; scrap metal yards that shred toxic metals and spew dust; exposed piles of salt that leave trails of saline dust on windy days; radioactive hotspots that the Army Corps and EPA are finally remediating after 60 years of contamination; and more. And all of this is adjacent to one of the poorest areas in the region.

So how can a bike ride change entrenched social injustice? “The goal is to raise awareness in hopes that we can catalyze action,” Valko suggests. “This third ride we are hosting may be the beginning of that. The first two rides grabbed the attention of the Great Rivers Environmental Law Center, so we decided to hold a third so that they could do the ride and see the issues first hand. We hope that they’ll pick up the ball and run with it afterwards, but of course, keeping community members engaged in the process.”

Stay up-to-date and read more about Trailnet on their blog.

PHOTO: Riders from the first Environmental Justice Ride in April. (Sam Blue)

MassBike Boosts Safety of New Bikeshare Program with Free Safety Classes

2011-07-25T13:00:10+00:00

This month, Boston joins the ranks of cities like Denver, Minneapolis, Chicago and Washington DC as it rolls out a new citywide bike sharing program called Hubway Bikeshare. As more U.S. cities consider these popular programs and the number of bike users on the streets increases, one of the biggest concerns in city officials’ minds is safety. As voiced in a recent Boston Globe article, concern is particularly high in Boston, due to the city’s skinny lanes, cobblestone roads, and unpredictable drivers.

Lucky for Boston, MassBike is on top of this concern.

As part of the Hubway Bikeshare program, advocates at MassBike are ramping up bicycle safety efforts, teaming with the City of Boston to offer free bike safety classes for all Hubway users. The idea behind this new initiative is to quickly get Hubway riders up to speed on all aspects of bike commuting.

The one-hour workshops will go over the rules of the road, strategies for staying safe and tips for staying comfortable. According to Price Armstrong, MassBike’s education program manager, the class will be an adapted version of the group’s proven Commuter Workshop Series and will reflect the themes embodied in the Same Roads Same Rules campaign.

“We at MassBike are really excited to be working with the City of Boston to offer these free classes,” Armstrong says. “There will be 600 shared bikes and thousands of bicyclists out on the streets of Boston that might not have been there before. We’re trying to make sure these bicyclists get where they are heading safely, with confidence, and cooperatively with the other users of the road.”

Information about the free classes is currently available on the Hubway safety page. Stay tuned to MassBike’s newsfeed for up-to-date information about this initiative.

2 Mile Profile: Julie Viens

2011-07-21T10:02:10+00:00

The Alliance Gold Team is still rocking it in the 2 Mile Challenge, with members logging more than 10,000 miles of bicycle travel in the past week alone. We wouldn’t be in first place if it weren’t for dedicated folks across the country who have replaced car trips with bicycle travel and are putting their efforts toward winning the Alliance a $35,000 grant from CLIF Bar. To get to know these bike commuters and enthusiasts a little better, we’re doing 2-minute interviews with some 2 Mile Challenge participants.

Last week, we kicked it off by catching up with Pete “Dirt” Beers, a bike commuter in Virgina. This week, we spoke to Julie Viens, a senior designer living in Van Nuys, CA. Julie has racked up nearly 1,500 points, pedaling more than 2,600 miles, avoiding 675 car trips and keeping 2,430 pounds of CO2 out of the atmosphere.

What was the first car trip you replaced with a bicycle?
A trip to the grocery store. Once I realized how simple it was to replace a car with a bicycle, basket and backpack I began rethinking how I could navigate the city.

Why do you ride instead of drive?
Traffic in Los Angeles is nuts, then trying to find a parking spot can get crazy and expensive. It’s so much easier to ride a bike.

What’s your favorite two-mile trip
(Though this is always much longer than a 2-mile trip) Riding my bike to catch my favorite food truck, Lake Street Creamery.

Why did you take the 2 Mile Challenge?
The 2 Mile Challenge starts right as some of the organized rides I like to do finish. It keeps me on the bike, and out of excuses, when I am not training for a particular course.

If you could make two changes to make your community more bike friendly, what would they be?
First, I would add more bicycle friendly rail cars to the Metro system. Secondly, initiate a voucher/coupon system to help buy/provide bicycle helmets for kids and adults.

Join Julie and Pete- Take the 2 Mile Challenge today!

Update on WABA Efforts “East of the Anacostia”

2011-07-20T12:30:10+00:00

In March, I wrote a post that looked at the Washington Area Bicyclist Association’s efforts in the District’s underserved Wards 7 and 8. Back then, the “East of the Anacostia” initiative was in its infancy, a proposal with a list of objectives that aimed to encourage residents to realize the positive benefits of biking.

Much has changed since my last post. In just four months, the “East of the Anacostia” program has made amazing headway. In its first phase, the initiative focused on increasing the number of bikes on the road in this area by running free classes for beginner cyclists, providing free bike repair and maintenance, and hosting a “Get on a Bike Contest” in which residents wrote in to the organization to describe how a bicycle would affect their lives.

Just last week, WABA announced the winners of the contest and provided five Ward 7 and 8 residents with brand new Jamis commuter bikes, helmets and locks. Another 50 residents received free Capital Bikeshare memberships. Applicant responses varied from saying a bicycle would lead to increased physical activity and improved personal well-being, to stating that a new bike would give the gentle nudge needed to begin bike commuting.

One contest winner, Keith, had previously considered using his bike to get to work, but just needed a final push to get his wheels rolling. “I would like a bike so that I can begin to commute to work,” Keith wrote. “I currently drive and would like to change that habit. It really isn’t that far and it’s about time that I joined this bicycle movement.” Another winner, Sondra, felt that a new bike would help improve not only her lifestyle, but also the habits of her friends and family. “In the long run it will make me stronger and healthier, and I envision that others will be encouraged by me and will want to follow suit,” Sondra said.

Now that they’ve help lay the foundation, WABA will be working with these cyclists to ride together and more regularly. Want to know the latest? Keep up with the progress of the East of the Anacostia initiative on WABA’s blog.

Photo: Smiling faces at the Anacostia Library mobile bike shop in May (WABA)

League Analysis: How to Win a TIGER 3 Grant

2011-07-19T12:47:10+00:00

Yesterday, the US Department of Transportation held an afternoon seminar on TIGER 3 funding — and Darren Flusche, policy analyst for the League of American Bicyclists was there, taking notes and asking questions about drawing down federal dollars for bike-ped projects.

So what’s TIGER 3? Transportation Investment Generating Economic Recovery (TIGER) funds are merit-based grants awarded to communities with “innovative transportation projects that will create jobs and have a significant impact on the nation, a region or a metropolitan area.” In this latest round, $527 million will be doled by the US DOT. And, as Flusche writes: If your local transportation agency has a strong project that is multi-modal, non-traditional, and hard to fund through traditional channels, TIGER 3 might be a viable source of federal dollars.

“Bicycle and pedestrian projects have done well in the first two rounds of TIGER grants,” Flusche notes on the League blog. “Sixty-eight of the 125 successful TIGER grants included bicycle and/or pedestrian components in their project descriptions. Several funded projects were stand-alone bicycle and pedestrian projects, like the Philadelphia Area Bicycle Network and the Indianapolis Bicycle and Pedestrian Network funded in the first round. Several Complete Streets projects were also funded.”

With that in mind, Flusche attended the “Lessons on How to Compete for a USDOT TIGER Grant” session. He even got a chance to get specific feedback from the panel experts on questions like:

What makes a good bicycling and walking project?
How can you make a project more attractive by including a bicycle/pedestrian component?
How can you best measure the benefits of bicycle and pedestrian projects?

Read the answers and a wealth of other tips from yesterday’s seminar on the League’s blog.

BIkes Belong Grants Boost Four Alliance Organizations

2011-07-18T13:30:10+00:00

Bikes Belong Coalition announced its latest grant recipients and four Alliance member organizations are on the list.

Since Bikes Belong’s Grants Program began in 1999, the coalition has awarded 231 grants in 46 states and the District of Columbia, providing more than $1.8 million in cash and leveraging close to $655 million in federal, state, and private funding. This summer, more than $25,000 will help Alliance member organizations advance bikeways campaigns, assess the economic impact of bicycling, study the impact of road diets and launch an Open Streets initiative.

In Colorado, a $2,500 grant will boost a new open streets initiative. Piep Van Heuven, BikeDenver’s executive director, says her organization approached LiveWell Colorado in November about partnering on what is hoped to be the first of many car-free streets events in the Mile High City.

“We’re very excited to partner with LiveWell Colorado to bring Denver its first Ciclovia,” Van Heuven says. “LiveWell Colorado is one of the state’s premier health-focused non-profits and we’re excited about the strong marketing and promotions effort they are bringing to the project. Together, we secured sponsorship support from Kaiser Permanente, Denver Public Works, Bikes Belong, Walmart and CBS4. Viva Streets will take place August 14th on the two-mile stretch of 23rd Avenue between City Park and Stapleton that’s easily accessible to all of Denver’s Northeast neighborhoods. The event will be a great way to introduce residents to the biking and walking opportunities that are all around them, to welcome our new Mayor and members of city council, and to continue to build momentum for bicycling and pedestrian improvements in the city.”

Also receiving Bikes Belong grants:

Walk Oakland Bike Oakland will receive $10,000 to advance their Oakland Bikeways Campaign, which aims for 30 miles of new, safe bikeways by the end of 2012, continuous bikeways on five key travel corridors by 2015 and a complete 218-mile bicycle network by 2020.
The Los Angeles County Bicycle Coalition will use an $8,000 grant to compare economic activity between two halves of a transportation corridor: one with car lanes reduced by half and bike lanes added, one unchanged. The study will look at commercial and residential property sales, number of new businesses, and perceptions about how the road diet may have affected property values and commerce.
A $6,000 grant will help the Iowa Bicycle Coalition, in partnership with the University of Northern Iowa Sustainable Tourism and Environment Program, study the statewide economic impact of bicycling by looking at retail sales, tourism, and bicycling-related events. With the goal of completing the study by the end of 2011, the Coalition will use the results to guide policy development and spur investments in bicycle transportation and infrastructure.

Read more about the Bikes Belong grant program here.

Apply to Host a 2012 Winning Campaigns Training

2011-07-18T12:51:10+00:00

The Alliance is happy to announce a request for proposals for our 2012 Winning Campaigns Trainings. Through a competitive process, we will select up to six communities to hold this must-attend training. All proposals must be submitted by August 15.

The Winning Campaigns Training is the signature training offered by the Alliance. Our proven curriculum helps biking and walking advocates choose, direct, and win various types of campaigns such as complete streets, share the road campaigns, infrastructure improvements, key legislation, and more. The training gives current and aspiring advocates the tools to craft and manage powerful campaigns. After two and a half days of fun and inspiring work with other leaders and advocacy experts, all participants leave with their own customized campaign blueprint and action plan to implement and win their campaign.

This is your opportunity to bring national bicycle and pedestrian advocates to your region to train your staff, board, volunteers, and other allies on how to win biking and walking campaigns in your community. In addition, you’ll have the chance to highlight your local/state successes and address your challenges, while sharing and learning from other advocates. Host organizations gain great exposure locally, regionally, and nationally. The Alliance awards a $1,000 stipend to host organizations in recognition of the assistance they provide in creating a successful training.

The Iowa Bicycle Coalition hosted a training this spring. “I was really excited about the opportunity to hone my advocacy skills and this program delivered,” says Mark Wyatt, the coalition’s executive director. “We’re thinking about campaigns in a much more strategic way than ever before.”

To send a proposal, complete the online application here. All proposals must be submitted by August 15. Any questions or request for feedback can be e-mailed to training@PeoplePoweredMovement.org by August 8.

We look forward to your proposals and working together to create successful trainings to advance pedestrian and bicycle advocacy in your community.

Photo: Smiling faces at the 2011 Winning Campaigns Training in Davenport, Iowa

New This Week in the Alliance Resource Library

2011-07-15T12:42:10+00:00

The 2011 “F as in Fat” report from the Trust for America’s Health calls attention the staggering pace of America’s obesity crisis and suggests six overarching strategies to shrink our waistlines, including the recommendation for Complete Streets laws at the state and federal level.
The Los Angeles County Bicycle Coalition just released a series of innovative maps that combine traffic and demographic data to highlight the disproportionate rate of bicycle and pedestrian crashes in low-income neighborhoods.
Just released last month, the Center for Applied Linguistics has developed Walk and Bike Safely — a series of curriculum modules on pedestrian and bicycle safety for use in programs for adult English language learners.
As I’ve mentioned, we’re working to update and enhance the Alliance Resource Library and this week we spruced up the Board Development section a bit, adding resources like:
- Advice from the Foundation Center on recruiting and developing great board members
- A link to BoardSource, a 501(c)(3) organization that is dedicated to building nonprofit boards and inspiring board service.
- The Complete Toolkit for Boards from the Management Assistance Program for Nonprofits, which gives a comprehensive overview of the tasks and duties typically assigned to nonprofit boards, including roles, responsibilities, and job descriptions.
We also added a number of new studies that showcase the economic benefits of biking and walking in the Economics section, including:
- The Economic Value of Active Transportation from Ryan Snyder Associates
- Walking the Walk: How Walkability Raises Home Value in U.S. Cities from CEOs for Cities
- Costs and Benefits of Bicycling Investments in Portland, Oregon from researcher Thomas Gotschi
I’m continuing to work with Kit Keller at APBP and other lady advocates on a new Women’s Cycling Project and, in doing a little research, Fionnuala Quinn turned up this great website and guide from England aimed at women who are new to cycling.
Last week, I attended a training to become a League Cycling Instructor and the League’s longtime (and now retiring) education director, Preston Tyree, mentioned a great site he created called Conspicuous Cyclist, which, not only highlights great tips on staying visible, but also includes a comprehensive list of state light laws.

As always, we’re eager to share any resources from your organization that would be helpful to other Alliance members as templates, examples or simply inspiration. Email me at Carolyn@PeoplePoweredMovement.org with your contributions. And have a great weekend!

2 Mile Profile: Pete “Dirt” Beers… 11,678 Miles and Lovin’ It

2011-07-14T12:20:10+00:00

Thanks to the participation of thousands of bicycle enthusiasts from across the nation, the Alliance has replaced nearly 12,000 car trips with bicycle travel in the Clif Bar 2 Mile Challenge. So who are the two-wheeling women and men who have logged 92,500 miles for the Alliance Gold Team?

Well, one of our most dedicated riders, is Pete Beers. For the purposes of the 2MC, Beers goes by the nickname Dirt, but in the real world he lives in Falls Church, VA, and works as a software product manager for a large company in Washington, DC. Since the start of the Challenge, Pete has logged nearly 11,700 miles, replaced 666 car trips and saved 10,775 pounds of globe-warming carbon dioxide.

To get to know our Gold Team members a bit better, we’ll be posting 2-minute interviews with some of our 2 Mile Challenge leaders this summer. To kick us off, here’s a glimpse into Pete’s passion for bicycling…

What was the first car trip you replaced with a bicycle?

The question is backwards. I started replacing bicycle trips with car trips for a little while in high school and for a little while after graduation. Since then, I primarily ride everywhere and occasionally replace a bike ride with a car trip. I ride 300+ days and over 10,000 miles per year. I drove my car a few times last year.

Why do you ride instead of drive?

The DC area has been said to have the second or third worst traffic congestion in the US. I’m one of the few people that I know who not only enjoys, but LOVES the hour+ commute to work every day.

What’s your favorite two-mile trip?

Three words for you: Westover Beer Garden. Great place to enjoy a cold one with friends and loved ones.

Why did you take the 2 Mile Challenge?

It isn’t a challenge for me to leave the car at home. The 2MC gives me an easy way to show people how easy it is to leave the car at home. It is really fun too!

If you could make two changes to make your community more bike friendly, what would they be?

The “If I had a magic wand” answer is easy: 1) Triple the price of gasoline for personal consumption; and 2) Double the price of personal automobiles. My practical answer is to work to show people that they can live better by turning pedals. I’ve had a little success at that. I’d love to have more.

Join Pete; sign up for the Alliance Gold Team today!

Alliance Partners with 350.org on Global Mobilzation for Active Transportation

2011-07-13T12:39:10+00:00

Moving Planet and it’s the latest international rally hosted by 350.org, a climate campaign started by journalist Bill McKibben back in 2007. The name is a reference to 350 parts per million — the safe upper limit of carbon dioxide in our atmosphere according to the latest science. (Current carbon dioxide levels are at 390ppm). Over the past two years, 350.org has organized some of the largest mobilizations in the planet’s history: 5,200 climate rallies in 182 countries in 2009 and 7,200 “work parties” in 188 countries in 2010.

With more than one-third of U.S. greenhouse gas emissions coming from the transportation sector, the international day of action on September 24 will focus on biking and walking.

“This year is going to be about movement in every sense of the word,” Bill McKibben wrote earlier this year. “Not just the big shoulder-to-shoulder campaign we’ve built together across the world these last two years, but also powerful, fun, dramatic movement in the streets.”

The momentum is building already. According to the latest update:

In Denver, Colorado, local organizers are planning a bike ride that will tour a few area coal power plants, encouraging the utilities to shut them down, as well as taking to the statehouse to demand better bike infrastructure throughout the state.
In Seattle, Washington, a massive coalition of faith groups, climate, environmental and transportation groups are coming together for a mass organizer training and a day of bike rides, kayaking, skateboarding and rallies, calling for no coal exports, and sustainable transportation in the Seattle area.
In Ohio, organizers are putting together events in Akron, Columbus and Cincinnati, where we’re working with the Mayor’s office to hold a ciclovia bike rally through downtown.

Here at the Alliance, we’re gearing up for the Moving Planet mobilization in DC. But more importantly, we’re also partnering with 350.org to get the word out and help your group create or partner on events in your area. Luckily, these folks at 350.org know how to organize. They’ve already set up helpful links so you can find:

We’ll keep you posted with updates, but, in the meantime, with any questions and I’ll be sure to direct you to the right person at 350.org.

Washington Advocates Expand Safe Routes to School Concept to Parents and College Students

2011-07-12T13:00:10+00:00

Last week, Camie talked to the folks at the Silicon Valley Bicycle Coalition about a new grant that will boost their Safe Routes to School activities. Just a few states to the north, the Bicycle Alliance of Washington is also enhancing its SRTS programming by expanding the concept to a new audience.

Thanks to a two-year grant from the Federal Highway Administration, the Bicycle Alliance is launching Go By Bike — an initiative that targets adult bicycle education at community colleges and elementary schools. According to the latest issue of the Bicycle Alliance newsletter, The Advocate, the program will:

Add 10 to 20 hours of bike safety and maintenance curriculum to existing physical education and health courses taught at community colleges in Central Puget Sound
Offer parent-education course at elementary schools
And provide a Web-based forum to augment both curricula

“In one of the programs, I’ll work directly with parents of students at two elementary schools to teach them safe bicycling, encourage bicycling and encourage them to bicycle with their children,” Josh Miller, an urban planning specialist who was hired to lead the program, explained. “In the other program, I’ll be working with four colleges to help them develop safe cycling courses. This will include collaborative curriculum development, assisting with institutionalizing bicycle education programs at each college and mentoring the teachers who will teach the courses.”

The Bicycle Alliance hopes the initiative will add a new dimension to proven programming and impact multiple generations of potential active commuters.

“By incorporating an adult element, Go By Bike will take Safe Routes to School to the next level,” Miller added. “It will go a long way toward getting parents to buy into the concept and trust their kids to bike responsibly.”

Stay tuned to the Bicycle Alliance blog or to learn more.

JOB: Website for new Open Streets initiative

2011-07-08T19:50:10+00:00

Last month, we announced the new Open Streets Project, a partnership of the Alliance and the Street Plans Collaborative, aimed at supporting and building the Open Streets movement across North America.

As part of the project, we will be creating a new, interactive web site to showcase resources, pictures, videos, and other related materials for local, regional, and statewide Open Streets initiatives — and we need a great web developer to help us do it.

If you’re a web developer click here for the RFP. If you’re not, please distribute to those who might have interest in submitting a proposal for this new valuable tool for Open Streets initiatives.

All proposals are due by July 22.

If you have any questions or follow up, please feel free to contact Jeremy Grandstaff at jeremy@PeoplePoweredMovement.org.

URGENT: Federal Funding for Biking and Walking Under Attack

2011-07-07T21:36:10+00:00

Dedicated funding for biking and walking has been cut in the transportation proposal from the U.S. House of Representatives.

John Mica, chair of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, would eliminate critical Transportation Enhancements, Safe Routes to School and Recreational Trails programs — programs that Mica referred to as “not in the national interest.” Chairman Mica’s statement that these uses remain “eligible” for funding is worthless. Without dedicated funding for these three programs they are effectively eliminated.

Things on the Senate side are not much better. Senator James Inhofe, a lead negotiator in the Senate debate, declared that one of his TOP THREE priorities for the transportation bill is to eliminate ‘frivolous spending for bike trails.’ This is in direct conflict with Senator Barbara Boxer’s commitment to maintain dedicated funding for biking and walking. However, the Senate is working towards a bi-partisan solution – and Senator Inhofe’s comments mean funding for bicycling and pedestrian programs is at risk of total elimination.

We need every single person who simply wants safe options to walk or bicycle to contact their Senators and Representative TODAY! We ask all Alliance member organizations to engage your members to make these calls as well.

Thanks to our partners at the League of American Bicyclists, you can direct your members to use the LAB Action Center to send message to their members of Congress.

Not in the National Interest?
Biking and walking make up 12 percent of all trips in the US – even as funding for biking and walking projects only account for 1.5% of the federal transportation budget. That’s more than 4 billion bicycle trips and 40 billion walking trips per year, including trips to work, school, shopping and for recreation and tourism.

Frivolous?
Bicyclists and pedestrians are the victims of reckless highway design, accounting for 14% of all traffic-related deaths. Two-thirds of all pedestrian deaths are on federally funded highways. Bicycling and walking programs build sidewalks, crosswalks and bikeways, improving accessibility and saving lives.

The Facts
Biking and walking are important forms of transportation, and dedicated funding for bicycle and pedestrian improvements is a very efficient use of federal transportation dollars. Portland, Oregon built a 300-mile network of bike lanes, multi-use trails, and bike boulevards for the cost of one mile of highway.

These projects also create jobs, and build local economies. Building bicycle and pedestrian infrastructure creates 46% more jobs than building road-only projects per million dollars spent. Cities that invest in bicycle and pedestrian projects turn downtowns into destinations, and capitalize on increased business activity.

Finally, shifting 1.5% of transportation spending has no impact on the federal budget, but instead, decreases transportation options for American families in a time of rising gas prices and an uncertain economy.

Help Protect Transportation Enhancements, Safe Routes to School and Recreational Trails. Contact your Representative and Senators, and tell them to reach out to Senators Inhofe, Boxer, and Congressman Mica to urge them to continue dedicated funding for these important biking and walking programs. We need every Senator and every Representative to speak out for walking and biking.

Why Now?
Both the House and Senate long-term transportation bills are being written as we speak. We still have a chance of influencing the outcomes. Let’s make sure that dedicated funding for biking and walking programs don’t disappear for many years.

Your Next Steps
Use the LAB Action Center — and direct your members to use the LAB Action Center — to send a message to your members of Congress.

We appreciate your efforts to help all of us maintain these important programs. Please contact Jeremy Grandstaff, Alliance Member Services Director, at jeremy@PeoplePoweredMovement.org, if you have any questions.

LA Advocates Show Disproportionate Rates of Bicycle Crashes in Underserved Communities

2011-07-07T10:00:10+00:00

Los Angeles County Bicycle Coalition with one of our national Advocacy Awards. The LACBC took home the Best Practices plaque, in part, because of the advocates’ work to elevate the voices and call attention to the needs of low-income cyclists in underserved communities. This week, the organization took another innovative step by creating new maps that highlight bicycle crash hotspots.

Using data extrapolated from the TIMS database, LACBC intern Jimmy Nghe created a series of downloadable maps that show how crash fatalities are unevenly distributed in areas of higher density and lower income neighborhoods in the City of Los Angeles. The visuals drive home a critical point: Transportation planners and policy-makers have generally failed to address many of the problems of dangerous streets where the highest need lies.

“We see large discrepancies in where higher rates of crashes and bicyclist injuries/fatalities lie: in marginalized, low-income areas of Central and South LA,” Allison Mannos, LACBC’s Urban Strategy Director, explains. “We created these maps to start a nationwide conversation with other advocates, planners, and members of the public. These maps are the first time that, as a movement, we have put our heads together to pinpoint environmental injustices as they relate to bicycling on a neighborhood level.”

The advocates emphasize that these maps show only a rough relationship between population density, income, and rates of collisions involving people who bicycle or walk. More data needs to be collected to show causation. But the maps are a clear indication that the City of LA needs to heed the example of LACBC and invest more resources in underserved neighborhoods.

“This presents a major environmental and social injustice,” LACBC suggests. “Through the installation of more facilities in these neighborhoods, the City of Los Angeles will not only reduce deaths and injuries to low-income people who bicycle, but reduce the overall number of bicycle-related fatalities and injuries citywide.”

Click here to read more and see all three maps.

SVBC Wins Grant to Promote Youth Bicycle Education

2011-07-06T16:14:10+00:00

Thanks to a recent grant from the Michael Lee Environmental Foundation, the Silicon Valley Bicycle Coalition is about to rev up its educational efforts with a new program set to roll out this October. In alignment with International Walk to School Day on October 5th, SVBC is planning a brand new effort aimed to get children active.

While the new program is still in the initial planning stages, the Alliance was lucky to get a sneak peak of what’s in store for children at one lucky elementary school. Kicking off with an initial bicycle education day, the month-long program will continue with once-a-week group commutes, via walking bus or bikepool. I’m new to the concept of group commutes, so I asked Colin Heyne, Deputy Director of the SVBC, what they’re all about.

“The group passes by houses and other designated pickup spots along the [route], and a student joins the group,” Heyne explained. “It’s like a musical where one person starts marching down the street, singing, and is eventually joined by the whole scrappy Brooklyn neighborhood, except less spontaneous.”

SVBC also plans to prepare environmental lessons to go along with each week’s commute, to be taught either by a SVBC employee or a regular classroom teacher.

SVBC is not new to youth bicycle education efforts. The organization has previously organized bike rodeos and, most recently, teamed with Specialized Bicycles to host a bicycle education day and rodeo at a local elementary school. For the new program, the candidate elementary school has yet to be selected. Past experience has shown that this process could prove difficult without the support of the principal and parents. SVBC is currently reaching out to the elementary school where the organization has previously worked.

“We feel if we can establish a replicable model there, it will be easier to spread the project to other schools,” Heyne said.

In addition to promoting activity amongst children, SVBC believes the program will achieve several objectives, including supporting Safe Routes to School, increasing parent participation in children’s health, encouraging good behaviors that can continue into adulthood, and connected the dots between active transportation and environmental stewardship.

Heyne promises updates about the program in SVBC’s weekly e-bulletin, so be sure to check out SVBC’s website and subscribe to the organization e-bulletin here.

Bike/Ped Leaders Return to the Thunderhead Ranch

2011-07-05T12:23:10+00:00

Last week, nearly 40 leaders from the bicycle and pedestrian advocacy movement returned to where it all began: the Thunderhead Ranch in Wyoming. Marking the Alliance’s 15th anniversary, they reflected on how far the movement has come and how we can best move forward. Disconnected from the bustle of their everyday advocacy, they had the kinds of big-picture discussions that matched the wide-open skies and breathtaking expanses of remote Wyoming. Click here to check out photos from the event.

FHWA notice includes the total amount of funds each state is to send back to Washington.

States are given maximum flexibility about the source of the funds that are rescinded – from the following programs: Interstate Maintenance, National Highway System, Highway Bridge, Transportation Enhancements, Surface Transportation Program (only the funds available for any area), Congestion Mitigation and Air Quality Improvement, Recreational Trails, Metropolitan Planning, State Planning and Research, and Equity Bonus. You will note that Safe Routes to School and Highway Safety Improvement Program funds are NOT included.

States have to respond by July 8. Yes, that’s right: one week from today. The memo recommends that “Division Administrators should encourage their State department of transportation officials to reach out to stakeholders in considering how to implement the rescission.”

By now you all know the drill. Transportation Enhancement and Congestion Mitigation Air Quality funds have consistently been inequitably targeted for rescissions in most states – and this will likely continue unless State DOT’s hear from you. In August of 2010, almost $1 billion of CMAQ, TE and Recreational Trails funds were returned to Washington, out of a $2.2 billion rescission. See our Rescissions FAQs for more information.

We can’t afford to let this happen again. Please contact your governor and ask that the rescission be proportional — that the cuts are fair and balanced.

Click here for the League of American Bicyclists’ Action Center to send a message to your governor now.

Have You Taken the 2 Mile Challenge Yet?

2011-06-29T13:50:10+00:00

You know you’ve got a pretty good idea when the U.S. Secretary of Transportation immediately jumps on board. Well, just a few days after we announced the return of the 2 Mile Challenge, Secretary Ray LaHood threw his support behind the innovative competition.

The 2 Mile Challenge is CLIF BAR’s online effort to fight climate change by encouraging bicycle travel for short trips. In the U.S., 40 percent of all urban trips are two miles or less, but 90 percent of those short distances are made by automobile. For this year’s Challenge, CLIF BAR aims to replace 100,000 car trips - while donating $100,000 to bicycle advocacy and climate protection.

After a strong showing in 2010, the Alliance has been selected to lead the Gold Team, and we need your help to win $35,000 for local and state bicycle and pedestrian advocacy organizations! Here’s how you can take Ray LaHood’s advice and get involved:

Go to http://www.2MileChallenge.com and join the Gold Team.
Visit your profile each day and log all the miles you travel by bike. Every trip you take earns points for the Alliance!
Challenge your friends and share your progress through social media and you’ll earn even more points for the Gold Team.
Continue to log your trips until October 31, 2011.
At the end of the competition the team with the most points will earn a $35,000 grant for its nonprofit.

Want to spread the word about the 2 Mile Challenge? Click here for a handy postcard, with basic information and tips, to forward to your friends or print for your coworkers.

The Gold Team is already going strong. We’ve traveled more than 65,000 miles and replaced 8,300 car trips — good enough for first place! And we’ve got a few notable names from the bike/ped world pedaling for the Alliance, including:

Mia Birk, author of Joyride and principal at Alta Planning + Design
Jim Sayer, executive director of the Adventure Cycling Association
Musician Ben Sollee
The staff at PUBLIC bikes

Join them by signing up for the 2 Mile Challenge today.

Final Days! Help us Raise $15,000 for our 15th Anniversary!

2011-06-28T15:19:10+00:00

A note from Jeff Miller, Alliance President/CEO

As you read this, I’m meeting with advocacy leaders back at the spot where I first met Susie Stephens.

In 1996, Susie and I were among the small handful of bicycle and pedestrian advocates who gathered at the Thunderhead Ranch. (That’s me, in the back row, third from the right. Susie is seated, third from the left.) We traveled to that remote site in Wyoming to share our individual experiences as local, grassroots leaders but discovered a collective movement that stretched across the continent. We made professional connections that advanced our work, but, because of visionaries like Susie Stephens, that gathering became much more than a simple networking session.

As a co-founder of the Alliance for Biking & Walking (originally the Thunderhead Alliance), Susie knew that we needed to create an organization that would serve local and state leaders with training, networking and resources to grow and strengthen their organizations. Click here for a video of Susie explaining the role and vision of the Alliance.

Energized by her leadership and inspired by her vision, the Alliance has made tremendous progress. This month, we’re celebrating our 15th anniversary and we need your help to keep our momentum going strong. Please celebrate with us by pledging your personal support today!

In honor of this milestone, a group of Alliance leaders have returned to the Thunderhead Ranch this week. At this important gathering, we’re celebrating our progress and reflecting on the current state of the movement. More importantly, we’re having the big-picture discussions that will chart the course of the Alliance and the bike/ped movement for the next 15 years. We need your help to make sure we have the resources to put that vision into action. Please donate today, so we can meet our goal of $15,000 by June 30!

For me, the gathering this week is bittersweet. I wish Susie were here with us, sharing her incredible insight and leading songs around the campfire. Unfortunately, Susie was struck and killed by a bus in 2003, and the movement lost one of its most inspiring leaders. But all of us are committed to continuing her work — in fact, we’re planting a Susie Tree here at the Thunderhead Ranch in her honor and memory. We know she’d be so proud of how far we’ve come and just as eager to keep building the Alliance. Honor Susie by helping the Alliance grow; please pledge your support today.

In 1999, Susie wrote a letter that summed up her commitment to the movement. “This bicycle stuff is my passion,” she told Randy Neufeld. “That simple and efficient little machine represents everything I believe in: sustainable living, a cleaner earth, egalitarianism and community. Also, I can think of no finer group of people to call my peers and mentors.”

Susie was right: There is no finer group of people than our People Powered Movement. I know we can count on you to make sure we continue this important work to make every community across North America a great place to bike and walk. Please make a pledge today.

New York State Passes Complete Streets Legislation

2011-06-28T12:00:10+00:00

New York advocates celebrated last week as Complete Streets legislation passed the New York State Assembly.

Introduced by Senator Charles J. Fuschillo, Chairman of the NY Senate Transportation Committee, New York State bill S5411 amends current state highways law and requires transportation planners to consider bicycle and pedestrian friendly features when building and redesigning roadways that receive federal or state funding. This means that, in addition to including space for vehicles, planners will also need to consider additional elements like bike lanes, sidewalks, pedestrian islands, count-down crosswalk signals, and expanded curbs for pedestrians waiting to board a bus.

“Drivers, pedestrians, and bicyclists all share the roads; we need to do everything we can to protect their safety,” Senator Fuschillo said. “Taking complete streets design principles into consideration on future road projects will help prevent deaths and injuries on our roads and make them safer for everyone.”

The Complete Streets legislation had a history of stalling in the New York Assembly and saw its share of pushback this year. Most recently, highway superintendents complained about the cost of adding bike lanes and similar bike/ped features, saying that these elements often caused the projects to be over budget.

According to Brian Kehoe, executive director of the New York Bicycling Coalition, the bill appeared to be dead as recently as a week prior to its passage because of this pushback. However, thanks to the tireless efforts of New York advocates and coalition partners like the Tri-State Transportation Campaign and AARP, lawmakers resolved this issue by changing the bill in late negotiations to require these features in the design phase only and to make implementation optional if it caused the project to go over budget.

The bill is now headed to Governor Cuomo’s desk for signature.

Read the full legislation and learn more about the NYBC.

New This Week in the Alliance Resource Library

2011-06-24T13:20:10+00:00

This week, America Bikes released a new study that proves building bicycle and pedestrian facilities creates significantly more jobs (46 percent) than road-only projects. With the debate on a federal transportation bill imminent, this report provides valuable insight about the important economic benefits of biking and walking. It’s a (quick) must-read; download it here.
Another new resource out this week came from the Safe Routes to School National Partnership. Their Safe Routes to School Local Policy Guide highlights numerous and diverse local policies that support SRTS programs by encouraging safe walking and bicycling and physical activity by children. (Want to learn more about local SRTS policies? Join us for a Mutual Aid Call on July 27.)
The advocates at the San Francisco Bicycle Coalition debuted another video associated with their Connecting the City campaign, which envisions 100 miles of separated bike facilities in the heart of the city. Check out “Stephanie’s Story” and “Crosstown Bikeways for Everyone!” here.
Bike share systems are spreading quickly across North America. The AP profiled the trend in a great piece this week. Watch it here.
For statewide organizations, a specialty license plate can be a significant and sustainable source of funding. If you missed our Mutual Aid Call with Robin Stallings of BikeTexas, Nancy Tibbett of Bicycle Indiana and Tim Bustos of the Florida Bicycle Association, click here to listen to the recording and download the Tip Sheet.
Speaking of funding: Want a glimpse into the process of grantmakers and foundations? Check out this interesting article from the Stanford Social Innovation Review on “The Elusive Craft of Evaluating Advocacy.”
As I’ve mentioned in past weeks, we’re working hard to update, improve and add to the Alliance Resource Library. This week we got help from…
- The Safe Routes to School National Partnership, which helped us fill out our SRTS Program Resources section with a number of helpful reports, presentations and curricula
- The League of Michigan Bicyclists, which shared a handful of materials related to fundraising rides, like a route marking guideline sample and contract forms.

As always, we’re eager to share your best practices and model resources for the benefit of all Alliance members. Contact Carolyn@PeoplePoweredMovement.org if you can help!

Bicycle Colorado Launches Interactive Byways Website

2011-06-23T10:04:10+00:00

For hikers, Colorado offers more than breathtaking vistas. The dramatic landscape extends a challenge, too. For years, tourists have flocked to the Rocky Mountain State to test their metal against Colorado’s rugged peaks and summit its tallest mountains. Now, bicyclists will feel a similar draw, too.

“People around the world set a lifetime goal to climb all 58 of Colorado’s 14,000-foot mountains,” Dan Grunig, Executive Director of Bicycle Colorado, says. “We thought bicyclists needed a similar checklist.”

This month, that checklist went live with the launch of the Bike the Byways website. A joint initiative of Bicycle Colorado and the Colorado Department of Transportation, the site highlights 25 bicycle touring routes that hit keys points of interest and showcase the state’s unique and diverse landscapes. According to the press release: “Routes range from a short 19-mile ride near Sterling, to a breath-taking trip to the top of Mt. Evans, to a multi-day tour deep in the San Juans.”

But the website isn’t a static source of information; it proposes a challenge, too. Visitors are invited to register for Bike the Byways and check off each route as they complete it. Participants are encouraged to comment and provide tips on the rides, as well.

“We hope this program will encourage folks to get out and visit areas of the state they may not have bicycled in before,” Grunig says. “We have such a vast array of geography and terrain here in Colorado that the byways really do provide something for everyone.”

And, it’s not just an opportunity for bicyclists. The benefits will extend to the communities along the routes, as well.

“My expectation is that this program will form a collaboration among bicyclists and local byway communities, as well as integrate the byway experience with bicyclists,” Lenore Bates, CDOT Scenic Byways Coordinator, says.

Check it out and, perhaps, plan your own trip at http://www.BikeByways.org.

New Alliance Partnership to Advance Open Streets Movement

2011-06-22T12:22:10+00:00

Street Plans Collaborative are launching the Open Streets Project this summer.

Open Streets initiatives temporarily close streets to automobiles, allowing residents to walk, bike, skate, dance and utilize the roadways in countless creative and active ways. From Los Angeles to New York to Miami, Open Streets have become an effective and high-energy means to build community, promote active transportation and reconnect neighborhoods divided by traffic. The Open Streets Project will support this exciting trend with the November release of a print guide and website to increase the success with Open Streets initiatives, serving as the one-stop source of information, models and best practices.

“I’ve personally seen numerous Open Streets events in cities around the U.S. and, without fail, each of them has been tremendously inspirational,” said Jeffrey Miller, Alliance President/CEO. “Open Streets are not just an excellent way for cities to promote biking and walking; they inspire citizens to see their streets as public spaces. This project will allow the Alliance to work with our members - more than 170 bicycle and pedestrian advocacy organizations across North America - to establish and grow these exciting initiatives in their communities.”

Capitalizing on research from The Street Plans Collaborative, the Open Streets Project will release a comprehensive guide in November 2011, featuring an in-depth overview of all known Open Streets initiatives in the United States and Canada. (Preview the list of cities here.) This guide will include more than 55 case studies and showcase the growth of the movement in compelling graphics. (Click here for a PDF of the maps below.) The published guide will be supported by an “open source” website, allowing municipalities and advocacy organizations to share information and resources on their Open Streets initiatives as they evolve and expand.

“We’re thrilled that our firm’s ongoing research will result in a new and critical tool to advance the livable streets movement,” said Mike Lydon, Founding Principal of The Street Plans Collaborative. “By providing these definitive resources, the Open Streets Project will give new initiatives the targeted knowledge and contacts they need to move forward and boost existing initiatives with best practices and innovations from other cities.”

The published guide and online resource are the first steps in a long-range vision, which will include technical assistance from Alliance staff to accelerate the number of new initiatives and help established efforts to overcome challenges and grow even larger.

Important New Study: Bicycle and Pedestrian Infrastructure Creates More Jobs

2011-06-20T10:39:10+00:00

Last year, a case study from Baltimore showed that bicycle and pedestrian infrastructure created twice as many jobs as road-only construction projects. Now, a larger study confirms those job creation numbers on a wider scale. With the debate on a federal transportation bill imminent, this report provides valuable insight about the important economic benefits of biking and walking. Read the press release from our partners at America Bikes and download the report below.

Washington, D.C. (June 20, 2011) — Bicycle and pedestrian infrastructure projects create more jobs per dollar spent than other road construction projects, according to a new study, Pedestrian and Bicycle Infrastructure: A National Study of Employment Impacts, conducted and released this month by the Political Economy Research Institute (PERI) at the University of Massachusetts, Amherst.

The report builds on an earlier PERI case study of Baltimore, Maryland, and is the first national study to compare job creation of bicycling and walking infrastructure with other roadway construction projects. Using actual bid price and cost data, the study compares 58 projects in 11 cities and finds that bike projects create 46 percent more jobs than road projects without bike or pedestrian components.

On average, the “road-only” projects evaluated created 7.8 jobs per million, while the “bicycling-only” projects provided 11.4 jobs per million. For example, a roadway-focused project with no bicycle or pedestrian components in Santa Cruz, Calif., generated 4.94 jobs per $1 million spent. In contrast, a bicycle-focused project in Baltimore produced 14.35 jobs per million. The PERI reviewers attribute the difference to the simple fact that bicycle and pedestrian projects are often more labor intensive.

“It’s no secret that investing in transportation infrastructure creates jobs and helps the economy,” said Caron Whitaker, Campaign Director at America Bikes. “This study proves bicycle and pedestrian projects are no exception — in fact, they are especially efficient in creating jobs.”

The study arrives as Congress is writing a six-year Surface Transportation bill, and struggling to continue robust reinvestment in infrastructure while moderating federal spending. Funding for bicycling and walking is part of that debate.

“This report adds to a wealth of studies demonstrating the many economic benefits of investing in bicycle and pedestrian projects and programs,” said Andy Clarke, executive director of the League of American Bicyclists.

Download the full report from the Alliance Resource Library.

New This Week in the Alliance Resource Library

2011-06-17T15:23:10+00:00

The new report from Transportation Alternatives — Vision Zero: How Safer Streets in New York City Can Save Over 100 Lives a Year — cite compelling data on traffic calming measure and, more importantly, challenges the notion that traffic casualties are “accidents” that cannot be controlled, rather than environments that can be altered with specific design elements and policy changes. Absolutely essential ready for all advocates and officials working for safer streets.
Check out a new Transportation and Health Online Toolkit from the American Public Health Association that builds a bridge between the public health and transportation communities, providing talking points, outreach materials and resources.
See how your community rates in Transportation for America’s new report — Aging in Place, Stuck without Options — which ranks metro areas by the percentage of seniors with poor access to public transportation, now and in the coming years, and presents other data on aging and transportation.
Did you know that vehicular travel drops by more than 3 percent and carbon emissions fall nearly 5 percent when cities’ ensure that 70 percent of their streets offer safe pedestrian space? An analysis from the Washington State Department of Transportation shows the myriad climate benefits of active transportation.
Not to reiterate last week’s resources, but more insight on separated bicycle facilities: A study from Portland State University evaluates some of that city’s recent bicycle innovations, including a cycle track and several buffered bike lanes.
I know I’ve been trying to get the word out about Alliance events via Facebook and Twitter (Hint, hint: Sign up for our Membership Development Training by tomorrow to save $50!), so I found this booklet — Event Marketing 2.0: How to Boost Attendance Through Social Media — particularly interesting.
And, speaking of events, if you missed our “Cultivating an Active, Involved Membership” Mutual Aid Call, here’s a link to the tip sheet and call recording.

As always, if you have resources to share, please send them my way: Carolyn@PeoplePoweredMovement.org. Have a great weekend!

New York Advocates Launch Vision Zero Campaign with Powerful Report

2011-06-14T12:20:10+00:00

Last week, advocates at Transportation Alternatives turned the spotlight on a stunning fact: Over the past 10 years, more New Yorkers have been killed by traffic than murdered by guns.

This crime against city residents is outlined in Vision Zero: How Safer Streets in New York City Can Save More Than 100 Lives a Year, a report from T.A. and the Drum Major Institute for Public Policy. According to the analysis, traffic violence takes the life of a New Yorker every 35 hours, with an average of 317 fatalities and 3,774 serious injuries per year.

“New York’s streets are downright deadly,” Paul Steely White, Executive Director of Transportation Alternatives, said in a press release about the report. “Though the city has made impressive strides in recent years to reduce traffic fatalities, traffic violence still claims the lives of hundreds of New Yorkers every year and seriously injures thousands more: over 70,000 people every year. Any number higher than zero is simply unacceptable. It’s time to challenge the culture of acceptance that acts like traffic is as uncontrollable as weather, and get serious about saving lives.”

The report commends recent improvements to the city’s streets — like bike lanes, curb extensions, speed bumps and narrower intersections — which have helped reduce fatalities. But that progress is just the first step in a much longer journey to catch up with leading cities, like Berlin, Paris and Stockholm. Those models, the advocates explain, provide a road map for saving lives. “If New York’s traffic fatality rate were the same as Stockholm’s, for instance, there would have been 1,195 fewer traffic fatalities between 2001 and 2007,” the authors’ point out. “If the rate were the same as Berlin’s, 1,426 live would have been saved. Thousands of life-altering injuries would also have been avoided.”

But the report isn’t just an outline of infrastructure recommendations. To truly transform the transportation system, the city must directly confront the deadly culture of acceptance — the notion that “accidents” are unavoidable. “New Yorkers must understand the human costs and the ethical implications of traffic crashes,” the report emphasizes. “Otherwise it will be difficult to gain the political support necessary to implement changes to the streetscape.”

That’s where T.A.‘s exciting, new campaign — Vision Zero — comes in.

“The release of the report kicks off a robust street safety campaign called Vision Zero,” the advocates announced last week. “Vision Zero means zero deaths, zero injuries and zero fear of traffic. The Vision Zero campaign will directly target one of the largest obstacles to street safety: the culture of acceptance. By educating New Yorkers and policymakers on the scope of the danger, as well as challenging the unspoken assumption that traffic violence is unavoidable, Transportation Alternatives will build momentum and support for real solutions. To that end, T.A. will continue to release reports and hold events highlighting the dangers of traffic violence. T.A. will also work with community partners and public officials to deploy the policies recommended by the Vision Zero report to reduce these dangers, with the goal of eliminating them completely.”

Click here to download the report.

Winning Campaigns Training Energizes Advocates in the Pacific Northwest

2011-06-13T01:11:10+00:00

Last week, 18 advocates met in beautiful - and sunny! - Seattle to align their biking and walking campaigns toward success. Twelve organizations, three states and two countries were represented, with participants traveling as far as 2,500 miles to attend the Alliance’s most recent Winning Campaigns Training.

The training was hosted by the Bicycle Alliance of Washington and facilitated by Dave Snyder, Executive Director of the California Bicycle Coalition... and me! I’ve been with the Alliance for just more than three months and this was my first time facilitating the workshop. It couldn’t have been better. Every step of the way, I was impressed by the creativity, enthusiasm, and dedication shared by everyone in the room.

University program managers, non-profit organizers, bike shop employees, planners, and engaged citizens brought their diverse perspectives together to develop campaigns for bike lanes, greenways, Safe Routes to School, 20-mph bills and Complete Streets policies.

The Alliance’s 2.5-day signature training uses proven curriculum targeted specifically to the unique needs and experience of bicycle and pedestrian advocates. They are intended for any potential campaign leader who would benefit from gaining the tools to craft and manage powerful advocacy campaigns. “This training breaks down complex efforts into small, doable pieces to promote implementation and action,” said Kathleen Ferrier from Walk San Diego.

“The greatest gift is time – for staff to dedicate to logically think thorough problems and solutions,” said Laura Koch, Program Director of the Community Cycling Center in Portland, OR. Laura attended the training with coworkers from CCC to develop a campaign for bike storage facilities at affordable housing units. “We walked out of the training with a much clearer road map,” she said.

The Alliance’s next Winning Campaigns Training will be held in Lansing, MI from July 26-28. This training will mirror the curriculum of a traditional WCT, but will be specifically focused on campaigns that relate to Advocacy Advance, a partnership between the Alliance and the League of American Bicyclists aimed at doubling federal funding for bicycle and pedestrian projects by 2013. For more information about Advocacy Advance, click here.

This affordable training wouldn’t be possible without the generous support of our sponsors: Planet Bike, VBT Bicycling and Walking Vacations, SRAM, Bikes Belong, AARP, Alta Planning + Design, Clif Bar, Team Estrogen, Sun Bicycles and Specialized.

Click here for pictures from Seattle!

Notes from Yesterday’s Federal Policy Call

2011-06-10T14:20:10+00:00

Yesterday, the Alliance held a federal policy call with input and insight from our partners at America Bikes. Listen to the call recording here and download timelines for the transportation bill here. Notes below from Alliance member services fellow, Mike Samuelson.

Transportation Bill
We have less information now than when Representative Jim Oberstar was the chair of the House Transportation & Infrastructure Committee, so we have to be ready whenever the bill is released. We know we keep sending updates, saying the bill is coming, but that is what we are being told. We know this is frustrating and we appreciate your willingness to stick with us.

We are hearing that there will not be funding for Transportation Enhancements and Safe Routes to School in the House version of the bill, so it is important that we are ready to contact committee members once the bill comes out. We are currently working with Republicans to stick up for our programs as the bill is being written.

Once the bill is made public, we expect to have 72 hours before sub-committee or committee action (most likely to be in committee). There will be a federal policy call within 24 hours of the bill’s release, briefing you on what our actions will be.

Rep. John Mica, chair of the House T&I committee, has asked Republicans to not introduce or vote for amendments in committee, in return he will include their priorities in a manager’s amendment before introducing the bill on the House floor. We are now hearing the House bill will be released the week of July 4. Even if that happens, and we have committee action in July, there may not be floor action until September, because Congress will be busy addressing the issue of the debt ceiling. Once the bill is on the floor, there will almost certainly be an amendment trying to strip any funding for biking and walking that we have been able to add to the bill, so we will have to be ready to combat that. That means we will have all of August to reach out to members of Congress when they are home, in the district, during recess.

On the Senate side, we are in a better position because we have more friends on the committee writing the bill. We are hearing that the Senate bill will come out in June, although this seems increasingly unlikely. Again, it is hard to judge when the bill will be released because the staff keep telling us it could be any time now. We are more confident — but not convinced — that our programs will be in the Senate version of the bill, and again we will likely see a floor amendment trying to strip our programs from the final bill.

The current bill is scheduled to expire September 30, and if the new bill is not on track, there may be an extension of the current bill. Although an extension is looking more and more likely, it is still important that we make our voices heard. It’s likely that an extension will be funded at lower levels, or with program cuts, and we want to make sure that bike/ped programs fair well.

Appropriations/Budget Process
A recent change in House rules and the lack of money in the Highway Trust Fund means that funding levels, even in an extension, may not be extended at current levels. This year the Appropriations committee will have a larger role in determining which programs get funded. This may actually be good news, because the members of the Appropriation Committee (and especially the transportation sub-committee) are friendly toward us. The Transportation and HUD sub-committee plans to have a bill out by July 11 and marked up by July 14. If your member of Congress is an appropriator, please reach out to them and ask them to support dedicated funding for bicycling and walking programs, like Transportation Enhancements, Safe Routes to School and the Recreational Trails Program.

On the Senate side, the process will be more delayed. They won’t start their process until the debt ceiling issue is decided. We probably wont see anything out of the Senate until September, meaning we will want to weigh in with the members in August.

What can be done at the local level
Continue reaching out to your Representatives and Senators to schedule in-district and in-state meetings and invite them to event and ribbon cuttings. Even if you have already had a district meeting, you can schedule another, once the bill is released. Let them know that people in their district/state use these programs and there is strong support for their continued funding.

Job Creation Study
America Bikes has been working with the University of Massachusetts Political Economy Research Institute (PERI) on a study examining the number of jobs created from infrastructure investments. Specifically, the study compares the number of jobs created for bike projects compared to road projects. The current study is based on 11 cities and 58 projects, and is a continuation of a smaller project in Baltimore, which showed bike projects created roughly twice as many jobs as road projects. Results appear to be similar to those in the initial Baltimore study, which showed that bicycle and pedestrian projects create more jobs per million dollars thank road-only projects. The final report will likely come out in the next couple of weeks.