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Entries tagged: License Plates

• 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 .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) if you can help!

The Bike Month celebrations continued last week, as two more states adopted Complete Streets measures.

In Vermont, Alliance members Local Motion and the Vermont Bicycle and Pedestrian Coalition worked to advance and win a measure that “ensure[s] the needs of all users of VT’s transportation system — including motorists, bicyclists, public transportation users, and pedestrians of all ages and abilities — are considered in all…transportation projects.” The bill was signed in to law by Governor Peter Shumlin on May 18 (pictured above) and advocates hope its passage will elevate the reputation of the Green Mountain State.

“Among other things, this should help reverse Vermont’s declining bike-friendliness ranking from the League of American Bicyclists,” Local Motion noted on its blog. “Among the 50 states, Vermont ranked 17th when the ranking started three years ago. In 2010, we fell to 34th. This bill, along with the Safe Passing Bill last session, should boost Vermont’s ranking.”

Out in the Midwest, Missouri added to its burgeoning reputation as a Complete Streets leader, too. Last month, the Show Me State had several policies highlighted as model measures in a new analysis from the National Complete Streets Coalition — and last week advocates celebrated a complete streets resolution at the state level, as well.

“The Complete Streets Resolution, HCR 23, passed and encourages agencies to build streets in Missouri that work for everyone — motorists, cyclists, walkers, runners and those who use public transit,” Brent Hugh, director of the Missouri Bicycle and Pedestrian Federation, said in a press release. “We are extremely pleased with the passage of this resolution, which expresses the General Assembly’s support for Complete Streets and urges cities and agencies across Missouri to pass their own Complete Streets policies.”

That wasn’t the only progress in Missouri this session. Advocates also declared victory in long-running campaigns for:

• The Bicycle and Pedestrian Holiday Observances bill, SB 180, which officially adds Bike Week/Month and Walk to School Day/Week/Month to the state holidays calendar; and
• The educational “Same Roads-Same Rights” specialty bicycle license plate for automobile, which was given final approval by a legislative committee and should be on sale as early as this summer. (Speaking of which: Have you signed up for the Alliance Mutual Aid Call on “Fundraising with License Plates” on June 22? Register here!)

Congratulations to advocates in both states! Read more from Local Motion, VT Bicycle and Pedestrian Coalition or the Missouri Bicycle and Pedestrian Federation.

It took four attempts, but the advocates at Bicycle Indiana were determined to get their message on car bumpers and tap into a helpful pot of money. This month, they succeeded.

On June 1, the Indiana Bureau of Motor Vehicles announced that it had approved a new “I Share the Road” license plate that will be available in 2011.

“We are more than a little excited for this win and thankful that our supporters hung with us for the journey,” says Nancy Tibbet, executive director of Bicycle Indiana. “We received over 800 signatures and it was largely accomplished with the assistance of the numerous bicycle retailers and advocacy organizations throughout Indiana.”

With the sale of each license plate, a nice chunk of the $40 fee — $25 — will go directly to Bicycle Indiana. That money, Tibbet says, will be key in helping the organization meet the matching fund requirement for its existing Transportation Enhancement grant. But the prospective cash is making Bicycle Indiana think bigger: they’re hoping to use the funds to revitalize a statewide bikeways initiative, too.

It’s not unrealistic. Other Alliance organizations have made significant strides with license plate funds. BikeTexas lassos more than $300,000 per year with its state license plates, including the “Share the Road, Y’all!” That money, flowing in since 2003, is crucial in leveraging other funds.

Like Texas, Indiana is thinking big. “Our goal is 10,000 plates by the end of 2012,” Tibbet says.

Go Hoosiers!

According to the Utah Bicycle Coalition the UT Share the Road specialty license plate legislation has passed both Utah houses and is awaiting signature by the Governor. The plates will be available this September. The cost in addition to conventional registration fees will be an annual $25 donation to the UBC. According to UBC, “In addition to generating funding for bicycle advocacy, this will be another method for cyclists who also drive to express their support and encourage safety for cyclists on Utah roadways.”

For more information, click here…