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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.

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.

Last week, Maryland bicycle advocates marked a moment they have been tirelessly pursuing for seven years: Governor Martin O’Malley signed into law HB363, the Manslaughter by Vehicle-Criminal Negligence bill.

Why the dedicated effort? The current law in Maryland is lenient, allowing negligent drivers to often escape serious punishment and receive little more than a slap on the wrist.

For example, an email posted to the Washington Area Bicyclist Association’s blog, published to gain support during the final push of the bill, details the events that pushed Edward Kohls to become a lead advocate for the bill. In 2008, a motorist fatality struck his son. The driver, a 21-year-old with three suspensions in the 16 months leading up to the accident, was traveling at 65 mph in the 30-mph zone, accelerating to the speed in less than 700 feet. His punishment for killing Mr. Kohls’s son? A fine of $1,200 and 14 points on his drivers license.

Mr. Kohls shares a story similar to countless other Maryland residents who have lost a loved one in a case of vehicular negligence only to receive little to no justice in the courtroom.

Maryland law previously held two options for motorists who fatally strike cyclists and pedestrians. Prosecutors could either send the case to traffic court, which is currently the most common action, or they could charge the driver with the felony manslaughter. The latter carries a penalty of up to 10 years in jail with a $5,000 fine, but it is rarely attained because prosecutors must prove gross negligence or that the motorist knew that his or her driving created the risk of killing someone.

Effective October 1, 2011, HB363 will provide a middle ground between gross negligence and traffic court. The new law will escalate justice and safety for all vulnerable groups, including cyclists and pedestrians, by adding the option of misdemeanor manslaughter. This option applies to motorists who cause fatalities by driving in a criminally negligent manner while sober. If convicted of misdemeanor manslaughter, motorists will face a maximum sentence of three years in prison and a fine of up to $3,000.

Those involved in the seven-year struggle attribute their recent success to the perseverance of advocates across Maryland and partnerships formed with supporters. Carol Silldorff, Executive Director of Bike Maryland, said, “The most important thing I found while working on HB363 was to continually form partnerships, keep an open mind, keep discussions factual rather than personal and never give up.”

Silldorff, who attended the May 10 bill signing, described the event as joyous. “Bike Maryland and many partners attended the signing ceremony and, believe me, we were all smiling!” she said. “Most of all, I’m so grateful that many of those that testified, who had lost a loved one, experienced this victory. It will never bring back their beloved or soothe their pain, but they do know that a movement toward an increasingly just system for bicyclists, pedestrians and many vulnerable users will exist as of October 1st, the day the bill becomes law.”

Read more about the bill and see pictures of the signing event here.

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!

A powerful campaign to increase biking and walking takes time, research and plenty of knowledge about grassroots organizing. Unfortunately, there aren’t any shortcuts in transforming your community. But there is one way to get your campaign on the fast track to victory.

The Alliance created the Winning Campaigns Training to give both novice and veteran bicycle and pedestrian advocates the skills, strategies and advice they need to launch and turbocharge campaigns to improve biking and walking. What better way to celebrate National Bike Month than attending the Alliance training in Baltimore, MD, May 13-15, 2011?

Led by longtime advocates and national experts, our Winning Campaigns Training will teach you to:

• Identify and map the key decisionmakers
• Craft a persuasive message to rally members and policy makers
• Use media outlets to communicate to a broad audience
• Become an effective fundraiser
• And much more!

The workshop is hosted by your neighbors at Bike Maryland and facilitated by Alliance staff and consultants, who will help you create a detailed Campaign Blueprint to chart your path to victory, step by step. But the Winning Campaigns Training is more than a class. It’s a fun, interactive, inspiring experience that fosters collaboration and connection among your region’s advocates.

Register for this affordable training by next Wednesday, April 13, to get the early-bird rate of just $75 for Alliance members or $125 for the general public. That’s 25 percent off the regular rate, so sign up today. If you live on the East Coast, don’t miss this unique offering in your area; join us for the Winning Campaigns Training in Baltimore!