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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!

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.

The 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.”

Read more on the campaign website.

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.

Chicago residents asked for it. Active Transportation Alliance advocated for it. And, now, Mayor Rahm Emanuel is putting paint to pavement for safer cycling.

On Tuesday, Adolfo Hernandez, Active Trans’ Director of Advocacy, was on hand as the mayor unveiled Chicago’s first protected bike lane on Kinzie Avenue. “The first half-mile of protected bike lane is a great step in the right direction,” he wrote on the Active Trans blog. “It will help connect two of the busiest cycling corridors in the city and will certainly provide a safer passage into the loop.”

With Gabe Klein at the helm of the city’s Department of Transportation, Chicago certainly has reason to believe the Mayor when he says he aims to make the Windy City the most bike-friendly in the nation. But Hernandez also credited the partnership of residents and advocates in making the cycletrack a reality.

“Active Trans has been advocating for safer and more innovative bikeways for years, and I don’t believe we’d be where we are today without the strong community of supporters and advocates we’re fortunate to have in Chicago,” he wrote. “As CDOT started work on the project yesterday, I was reflecting back to our member meeting last November, when we outlined some of our priorities for this year. During a feedback session, members had emphasized the importance of protected bike lanes. We committed to making protected bike lanes and educating mayoral candidates priorities for this year. We then went on to create a Sustainable Transportation Platform, which highlighted protected bike lanes.”

The Mayor took heed of that united voice for better bicycling, and advocates are confident the Kinzie lane is just the first step to a larger, more comprehensive system. “Ultimately, we will need a robust network of protected bikeways to have a significant impact,” Hernandez noted. “Our Neighborhood Bikeways Campaign will focus on building a 100-mile network of protected bike lanes around the city—a goal we share with the mayor and CDOT.”

Subscribe to the Active Trans blog to stay up-to-date on the bikeways campaign.

Photo: Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel (left) speaks to cycling ambassadors at the unveiling on Tuesday (Active Transportation Alliance)

You already know your members are more precious than gold. They are the reason your organization exists. They are the engine that propels you forward. They provide the financial stability, creative energy and political clout that make your organization an effective force for biking and walking in your community. That’s why you simply can’t afford to miss the Alliance’s Membership Development Training, July 20-22 in Chicago.

This specialized and affordable training will draw on the expertise of membership guru Ellis Robinson, who has more than 30 years’ experience serving more than 500 local, state, and national advocacy groups working to improve and increase access for bicyclists and pedestrians. She’ll be joined by Kate McCarthy from the San Francisco Bicycle Coalition, Lee Crandell of the Active Transportation Alliance and other bike-ped leaders from around the country who will add their expertise.

What specifically will you get out of the Membership Development Training? Straight from Ellis Robinson, here are the top five reasons you can’t miss this workshop:

• You’ll have a chance to ask about your membership program—what’s working, what’s not—and get responses designed and tailored to your situation.
• You’ll learn how to keep more of the members you have, by improving your renewal programs.
• You’ll have a chance to review the many means of recruiting new members and develop a new member program that best fits your organization—allowing you to take that next big leap forward.
• You’ll get help honing your message and materials to be most compelling for attracting new members and keeping the ones you have.
• You’ll meet and learn from dozens of peers working with the same challenges you are—and make friends and connections for the future!

So what are you waiting for? Advocates from the Bicycle Transportation Alliance, San Francisco Bicycle Coalition, Transportation Alternatives, Active Transportation Alliance, Los Angeles County Bicycle Coalition and others have already signed up. Don’t miss out! Register today!

If you joined us at the first training, this isn’t simply a repeat of 2009. The curriculum is different, drawing on plenty of new ideas and innovations to brush up and build on your current knowledge. (Click here for a draft agenda.) This training is for organizations of all sizes, at all stages: Whether you’re looking to lay the foundation for your first membership plan, enhance your current plan or learn tactics to better engage the members you already have, this workshop will address your specific needs.

Join us July 20-22 in Chicago, IL, for a one-of-a-kind opportunity to learn best practices and network with your peers on this vital topic. Sign up by June 18 to take advantage of early registration rates and discounted hotel reservations.

Click here to register today!

Two weeks ago, 13 advocates from seven Midwest bike/ped organizations gathered in Davenport, Iowa for an Alliance Winning Campaigns Training.

Hosted by the Iowa Bicycle Coalition and facilitated by veteran bike/ped advocate Dave Snyder and Alliance CEO Jeff Miller, participants had two and a half days to develop their campaign strategy, learn from fellow organizers, and – of course – bike along the Mississippi River.

“This training helped me become a better leader and advocate for bicycling,” said Jessica Giard from the South Dakota Bicycle Coalition. Giard not only worked through the development of a complete streets campaign, but also said she plans to apply what she learned to other aspects of her burgeoning organization.

Campaigns that were addressed by other training participants included 3-foot passing laws, Safe Routes to School, mandatory training for all crossing guards in Iowa, and working with a state DOT to update drivers’ license manuals and exams to include questions about biking and walking.

Not knowing what a campaign was before the Friday evening session of the course, Ruth Myers from Active Transportation Alliance in Chicago said she now has a clear blueprint, identified targets, manageable goals, and is well on her way to work on improving Chicago metro stations to be more accessible to cyclists and pedestrians. “Whether you are a novice advocate or an old hand, you’ll learn something from this course,” she said.

Heed the advice of Wes Ridgeway from the Missouri Bicycle and Pedestrian Federation: “If you want to participate in projects in a positive way, please take this training.” Join the many organizations and advocates who have participated in and grown from the Alliance’s Winning Campaigns Trainings and sign up for the upcoming training in Baltimore, MD, May 13-15. Early registration ends today, so register online for a discounted weekend price.

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, Team Estrogen, Sun Bicycles and Specialized. Sponsorship opportunities are still available; click here for more information.

We hope to see you in Maryland next month!

Between 2005 and 2009, the Illinois Department of Transportation tracked an average of 3,500 bicycle-vehicle crashes per year. As a result of those collisions, more than 3,300 cyclists were injured and as many as 27 were killed each year. While those numbers are astonishing, what’s even more shocking is that they do not include the type of collision that’s arguably the most common to on-street cyclists: doorings.

According to a recent article in the Chicago Tribune, the IDOT has stated that it does not track these dangerous collisions because the vehicles involved aren’t moving and because it simply has not received many requests to do so. Bicycle advocacy groups are working hard to change this.

After IDOT denied its request that law enforcement officials report dooring incidences, last month the Active Transportation Alliance began mobilizing its members to urge the IDOT to begin tracking doorings.

What’s fueling the need for numbers? As Ethan Spotts, Director of Marketing for Active Trans, explained during a recent My Fox Chicago segment, the problem is that, without statistics, bicycle advocacy groups are unable to prove that dooring is an issue and, as a result, cannot apply for grants to fund safety campaigns. With statistics in hand, Active Trans will be able to create awareness among drivers and bicyclists alike to ensure that a safer street environment exists for all.

Read more about Active Transportation Alliance’s efforts here and learn how to contact the IDOT here.

One of the most powerful tools to boost biking and walking in your community is a large, active membership. The 2011 Alliance Membership Development Training will give you the proven tools and innovative best practices to engage more people in your important work. Is your organization looking to lay a strong foundation for its membership plan? Does your group already have a membership program, but want to take it to the next level? Attend this affordable, three-day training geared specifically for bike-ped advocates and learn from top experts in the field.

Registration is now open!

The training will focus specifically on best practices in membership development and retention, provide opportunities for group discussions and sharing of success stories with peers, and offer a limited number of one-on-one consultations with trainer and membership guru Ellis Robison, Kate McCarthy, Membership and Volunteer Director for the San Francisco Bicycle Coalition, and other Alliance leaders with expertise in this field. This event also includes social activities Wednesday and Thursday evening, providing plenty of chances for peer-to-peer networking.

Click here for a draft agenda. Click here for all the details and to register.

Last week, at the National Bike Summit, I was one of the hundreds of advocates who converged on Capitol Hill to tell our members of Congress to protect federal funding for biking and walking projects and programs. This week, when I returned to the office, the latest newsletter from the League of Illinois Bicyclists had arrived on my desk. And what was the leading headline? The LIB’s major role in directing more than $50 million federal dollars toward bikeways in the Prairie State.

Since 1991, the federally funded Illinois Transportation Enhancement Program has been the main source of money for active transportation projects and, in the 1990s, about half of ITEP dollars went to bike/ped facilities. But, as the LIB reports in the Illinois Bicyclist, that number plummeted to less than 30 percent under former governor Rod Blagojevich. Making matters worse, the state started raiding the ITEP program to deal with federal rescissions, too.

The LIB helped turn back that shortsighted trend.

During the last round of rescissions in August, Illinois advocates mobilized to protect bike/ped dollars. “LIB, the Active Transportation Alliance and the Rails-to-Trails Conservancy urged IDOT and Gov. Pat Quinn to more fairly spread the cuts across transportation categories,” LIB reports in its newsletter. “Thankfully, no ITEP dollars were rescinded.”

But that was just the prelude to an even bigger win: The latest ITEP grant list that includes more than $50 million for bikeways.

“Each major issue advocated by LIB – especially selecting more bikeway applications – came true in a record way,” the League notes. “Gov. Quinn had often expressed his desire to fund more bike trails in Illinois. Three times in 2010, LIB personally spoke with him, suggesting an ITEP bicycling emphasis as a way to do so without impact on the state’s financial situation. Our thanks have gone out to the Governor and IDOT Secretary Gary Hannig.”

Read more about the League of Illinois Bicyclists here. And learn how you can mobilize for more federal, state and local dollars in your community by getting connected to Advocacy Advance — a partnership of the Alliance and League of American Bicyclists — here.

Linda Mainquist was converted to a pedestrian advocate when she watched a woman in a wheelchair struggle to travel down the roadway because the sidewalk was blanketed in snow (video). The dangerous situation galvanized the St. Paul, Minn, resident to action: “Something magical happens when you say, ‘I’m the one who should do it.’”

Mainquist contacted her local city councilmember, who put her in touch with St. Paul Smart Trips, the local bicycle and pedestrian advocacy group. Smart Trips had already created a helpful resource for snowy conditions: A slick little door hanger that gave folks a friendly reminder to bust out their shovel and comply with city regulations. “I’m a neighbor who relies on the sidewalks being clear of snow and ice so that it’s easy to get around safely,” the flier explains.

Linda started hanging the fliers on doors in her neighborhood. “It’s really good because a lot of people are too shy to talk to their neighbors about shoveling their sidewalks,” Mainquist said. “I’m proud of this one block. There are a lot of businesses and, when I walk by and see the business is open, I go in and tell them I’m Linda Mainquist and I think you should shovel your sidewalks. It’s been successful.”

St. Paul Smart Trips isn’t the only Alliance organization taking steps to make walking safe in the winter wonderland.

According to the Active Transportation Alliance in Chicago: “Snow or ice-covered sidewalks force people to travel in the street—a thoroughly dangerous enterprise. Uncleared sidewalks may even discourage people from walking at all. When people can’t walk easily to a destination, they might opt for making an unnecessary car trip.”

So they’ve come up with some snow-themed handouts, too. “Please shovel your sidewalk,” one flier asks. “It’s the law and the neighborly thing to do. Clear sidewalks make it safer and more convenient for your neighbors to walk.” To better serve and inform everyone in their community, Active Trans created fliers for both city dwellers and suburbanites; in both English and in Spanish.

Click here to download these resources from St. Paul Smart Trips and Active Trans. If your organization has model materials for keeping cyclists and pedestrians safe in snowy conditions, drop me an email if you’d like to share.

In an effort to boost bicycling in U.S. cities, two bike industry leaders are giving a handful of Latino elected officials a free trip to Seville, Spain. And your organization could play a key role in determining who gets the ticket.

Next March, Seville will play host to Velo-City 2011, the premiere international conference on bicycling. Given the unique opportunities for Spanish speakers, SRAM and Bikes Belong are offering as many as 12 scholarships to Latino officials from the U.S. to take advantage of the conference and the common language to fully immerse themselves in Seville’s impressive cycling transformation.

To be eligible, officials must have a demonstrated interest in or connection to bicycling and sustainable transportation. Now, here’s where you come in: Applicants who are nominated or recommended by a local bicycling business or advocacy organization will get a significant leg up. Is there a Latino official on your city council or in your state legislature who supports bicycling and would benefit from a one-of-a-kind, educational and inspirational trip to Spain’s biking capital? If so, make sure you download the nomination form.

Adolfo Hernandez, advocacy director for the Active Transportation Alliance in Chicago, is working with SRAM and Bikes Belong to promote the opportunity and review the applications. He says the example set by Seville could make a huge difference back home in your community.

“Seville’s transformation into a bicycling city is nothing short of amazing,” Adolfo says. “In less than four years, 120 kilometers of separated bike lanes and a robust bike share program have multiplied the number of trips by bicycle from 0.6 percent to 6.6 percent of all trips. In large part these changes came about because of great advocates and elected officials who support bicycling. Removing lanes of traffic and parking for automobiles is not easy to do anywhere, but elected officials and city leaders in Seville have pushed forward with great success and have transformed Seville into a cycling city.”

“We will introduce our Latin American elected officials to Seville’s elected officials in meetings, tours and workshops designed to highlight the benefits that the city has experienced,” he adds. “Our elected officials will have an opportunity to hear firsthand from their Seville peers about the challenges, successes and political impact of the city’s commitment to increase the levels of bicycling. Our hope is that elected officials return with a sense of how quickly change can come about and ideas about how to transform our American cities in cycling cities.”

The deadline for applications is January 14th, 5 p.m., EST. But don’t wait. There’s a benefit to being first in line — some of the scholarships will be awarded early.

Click here for the full scholarship packet. Questions? Get in touch with .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address).

Kids today could be the first generation with a lower life expectancy than their parents. Many studies chalk up that disturbing possibility to the fact that nearly 80 percent of children don’t get enough exercise.

It used to be that students got a daily dose of physical activity simply traveling to and from school. In 1969, at least 50 percent of students walked or biked to school. Today that number has dropped to less than 15 percent.

Across the U.S., school leaders and local advocates are making strides in reversing that trend with International Walk to School Day activities. Drawing on inspiration from the United Kingdom, the Partnership for a Walkable America sponsored the first National Walk Our Children to School Day in Chicago in 1997. Five years later, more than 3 million parents, students and advocates in all 50 states marked the second international event.

Today, an impressive 3,213 schools are participating in Walk to School Day — and many Alliance member organizations are celebrating, too.

In California, for instance, the San Francisco Bicycle Coalition highlighted yesterday that Walk to School Day marks a tripling in the number of schools participating in San Francisco’s Safe Routes to School Program. ““Safe Routes to Schools is a smart way to improve our streets and neighborhoods, which will encourage more families to walk and bike to school,” Renée Rivera, Acting Executive Director of the SFBC said in the press release. “Walk to School day is a great one day event that allows more kids and parents to experience firsthand how fun and easy walking to school can be.”

Up in Illinois, the Active Transportation Alliance helped a handful their local schools plan particularly festive celebrations with mini grants of $500. In addition to funding, Active Trans kicked in school safety patrol equipment, a banner to promote the event, snack bars, T-shirts, safety vests, signs, and stickers, as well as a Safe Routes to School consultation for the entire school district and safety resources for a Walk and Roll to School Day assembly.

How are you celebrating Walk to School Day?

Between 2004 and 2007, traffic crashes affected more than 15,000 pedestrians and nearly 5,800 bicyclists in Chicago alone. For many of the victims, the impact of the collision didn’t end at the 911 call, the police report or the hospital emergency room. The physical, emotional and legal consequences of a crash often extend far beyond the immediate aftermath.

So this month, the Active Transportation Alliance opened a new Crash Support Hotline to provide additional aid and assistance to cyclists and pedestrians involved in traffic crashes.

“Crashes are an unfortunate reality on our streets,” Melody Geraci, interim executive director at the Chicago-based advocacy organization said in a press release. “And when they do happen, there are a lot of questions: What are my rights? Do I need a police report? When will I feel comfortable riding again? We are ready to lend that support.”

According to Active Trans, every caller will receive a response within 24 hours of dialing the Hotline. Trained volunteers will be ready to answer all post-crash questions, from attorney referrals to logistical support. The Hotline isn’t the first resource offered by Active Trans. Already, the advocacy group hosts a monthly Crash Support Group meeting — a free, confidential gathering led by a trained facilitator.

For more information, visit their Crash Support website.

After admittedly throwing back a few drinks on the night of May 31, 2009 Erik Fabian and Armando Reza hopped in their car with the express intent to terrorize cyclists. They drove around, hunting the streets, until they spotted a 52-year-old man on a bike in Brookfield, Illinois — and purposefully hit him with their vehicle, before fleeing the scene of the crime.

Last month, cyclists across the state were outraged when Fabian got off with probation and Reza was sentenced to just 10 days in jail. The Active Transportation Alliance immediately kicked off a letter-writing campaign, asking the district attorney to justify why the two men were allowed to get off nearly scot-free after an incident that essentially amounted to assault with a deadly (automotive) weapon.

A new state law signed this week could make drivers like Fabian and Reza think twice.

On Monday, Illinois Governor Pat Quinn signed a bill that enhances the penalties for drivers who get kicks out of spooking or sideswiping people on bikes. Standing next to the Governor at the press event, Ed Barsotti, executive director of the League of Illinois Bicyclists, said the aggressive behavior of Fabian and Reza — and their light punishment — show a perceived lack of consequences for motorists who ignore the safety of cyclists.

“Most cyclists here have been threatened in various ways,” Barsotti said. “The new bicyclist protection laws spells it out more clearly: Don’t do it. It sets penalties for motorists driving recklessly close to, toward or near a cyclist and depending on whether serious injury results, it’s either a Class A misdemeanor or a Class 4 felony act.  The new law will serve as a deterrent through education and as a prosecution tool.”

“It’s important that we honor the fact that we have to share the road,” the Governor said. “The road belongs to everyone. Our bicyclists need to be protected and signing this legislation makes that a real policy of our state.”

The complete streets movement kicked off summer in sizzling fashion, with a handful of policies passing in places you might not imagine.

In recent weeks, measures to make roadways safe and accessible for all users, from cyclists to pedestrians to transit riders, won approval all over the map. A number of those victories are outlined in the latest newsletter from the National Complete Streets Coalition this week.

-  In Pascagoula, Mississippi, the city council passed a resolution on May 18 that “calls for the inclusion of bicycle and pedestrian ways in new construction and reconstruction projects undertaken by the city.” The resolution made Pascagoula the third city in the state to adopt complete streets language.

- The hard work of Alliance member Active Transportation Alliance paid off when the Northwestern Indiana Regional Planning Commission became the third, and largest, metropolitan planning organization in the state to adopt a complete streets policy on May 20.

- Also spurred by local advocates, Edmonton captured the distinction of being the first city in the state of Oklahoma to officially embrace complete streets. On May 24, the city council unanimously approved a resolution to provide accommodation for all users on the city’s roadways in a “balanced, responsible, and equitable way.”

- On May 25, the planning commission in Midland, Michigan, unanimously approved a complete streets policy that specifically calls for attention to safe, accessible intersection design and will apply to any new or reconstructed streets.

- In the Show-Me State, residents of St. Louis will be seeing better access for cyclists and pedestrians after the city council passed a complete streets policy on June 11. Chalk that up to the determined efforts of Trailnet, a group of advocates who pressed for the measure for several years.

- Just last week, Colorado Governor Bill Ritter signed a bill that added complete streets language to state statute. The Colorado Department of Transportation already had an internal policy of “accommodating bicycle and pedestrian use of the highways in a safe and reliable manner for all highway users.” But the new measure puts that policy into law.

- And finally, a group of advocates in Alaska kicked off a new complete streets campaign in the city of Spenard by drumming up more than 100 supporters on Facebook in advance of their first meeting with city officials last week.

For more information about the movement, visit the National Complete Streets Coalition.

According to Chicago’s Active Transportation Alliance, “The Illinois General Assembly passed a monumental bill, HB43, clarifying the current law by requiring drivers to stop for pedestrians in all crosswalks – even those that don’t have a stop sign or traffic signal; and even those that aren’t marked with paint. Current law is vague and nearly impossible to enforce.

HB 43 is clear: come to a complete stop when pedestrians are present.

Active Trans worked with Sen. Heather Steans (Chicago) and Rep. Luis Arroyo (Chicago) to make Illinois a state that prioritizes and protects people, not cars. These two legislators were champions that deserve a lot of praise. If you are in their districts, please call them or write a handwritten thank you note letting them know their efforts were appreciated and congratulating them on their victory. The Illinois Association of Chiefs of Police, Metropolitan Planning Council and a particularly active group of students at Curie Metropolitan High School have played critical roles in this victory.

This will go into law as soon as Gov. Quinn signs the bill.

HB 43 will save lives and prevent serious injuries. More than 6,000 people are hit by cars every year in Illinois. That translates into 1,000 serious injuries and 150 fatalities.

This victory has been nearly two years in the making and we couldn’t have done it without the phone calls, support and momentum you provide. Thank you!”

For more information, visit http://www.activetrans.org/blog.

The Active Transportation Alliance has a busy legislative agenda this spring. Active Trans is currently focusing on lobbying Senators to co-sponsor HB 43. According to Active Trans, “This bill will change Illinois law to require drivers of cars to stop for pedestrians in crosswalks, rather than yield. HB 43 will clarify Illinois law and help drivers and pedestrians reduce Illinois’ high pedestrian crash rates.”

For more information, click here…

Over 20 leaders from the Bike Michiana Coalition, the Alliance’s newest member organization, met recently for a planning summit. Jeffery Miller, the president and CEO of Alliance for Biking & Walking and Steve Buchtel, the southland coordinator for the Active Transportation Alliance facilitated the summit. The group gathered January 17th with half a dozen other organizations from the Northern Indiana region to discuss partnerships, prioritize programs and campaigns, and decide next steps in organizing. From a successful Bike to Work Week to grand visions of a Bike Station in downtown South Bend, the organizations’ priorities of the Coalition were set forth. We look forward to seeing the results of this planning session in action!

For more information on Bike Michiana visit their website at http://bikemichiana.org/