Building the People Powered Movement
Member NewsBicycle and pedestrian advocacy news from Alliance organizations across North America.
03/15/2012 -- Women’s Cycling Forum Presents: Sue Macy
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.
03/14/2012 -- Senate Bipartisan Transportation Bill Approved with Biking and Walking Amendments
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. 03/14/2012 -- Women Cycling Forum presents: Elysa Walk
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.
03/13/2012 -- Boston Cyclists Union Celebrates New Design for Casey Overpass
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.” Read more about the project here. 03/08/2012 -- Community Bike Shop Gathering at National Bike Summit
Register for the meeting here. 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. 03/07/2012 -- Chicago Advocates Push New Transit Bill
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. 03/06/2012 -- Secretary Ray LaHood Seeks YOUR Questions
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 03/05/2012 -- Capacity Building Grant Inquiries Due Friday
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, .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) or call her at 202-621-5442. 03/05/2012 -- Georgia Advocates Turn Single-File Threat into Complete Streets 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. Read more on the Georgia Bikes blog. PHOTO: Georgia Bikes advocates with Senator Butch Miller (second from left). 03/02/2012 -- Big Victory for Biking & Walking in the Senate!
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:
Huge thanks to everyone who helped make this happen, including:
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.
03/01/2012 -- Winners Announced for 2011 Alliance 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 02/28/2012 -- Another Success in Atlanta: Q&A with Action 2020 Workshop Participants
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. 02/27/2012 -- PA Advocates Win Safe Passing Law
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:
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! 02/23/2012 -- Rapid Response Grant Supports SRTS Innovation in Minnesota
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. 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 $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 .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) for more information on our grant program. 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. 02/22/2012 -- New National Plan to Transform Bicycling
“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
Andy Clarke, President, League of American Bicyclists
Jeffrey Miller, President/CEO, Alliance for Biking & Walking
Is the Alliance going to disappear?
What will happen with the Alliance’s capacity building programs?
What is happening with the Alliance’s commitment to walking organizations?
Will Canadian and Mexican organizations be left out?
Does our organization still need to renew?
Which Alliance programs survive and which ones go?
Should I continue to support the Alliance or wait to see what happens?
What is the timeline and what is next?
|
Invest in biking and walking advocacy where it matters most... on the ground!
Creating Walkable Communities on a Budget --Call on May 16
Making the Equity Case: Working with Transit --Call on June 06
Winning Campaigns Training: Houston, Texas
June 08 through June 10, 2012
05/22/2012 - 2012 Bicycle Friendly State Rankings Just Announced
05/22/2012 - Bikes, Tourists, and all that Jazz
05/21/2012 - San Francisco Implements 15-mph School Zones
05/11/2012 - Apply to Become a Walk Friendly Community
Sue Macy, author of “Wheels of Change: How Women Rode the Bicycle to Freedom,” will be the keynote speaker at the 
The 
The Alliance is hosting a meeting of leaders from community bike shops from across the country during the 
Last September, 
Do you have a question for 
Inquiry proposals for Advocacy Advance’s 
It started with a bill that would have curtailed cyclists’ rights. But the advocates at _thumb.jpg)
The Alliance is pleased to announce the winners of the 
The 
Thanks to advocates at 
Is the federal transportation reauthorization process getting you down? Take a page from the 
The leadership of the Alliance for Biking & Walking, 
