I'm sending this week's Centerlines in two iterations, cuz someone
said that a previous one had most of the text stripped out of it.
Note the good press BFW generated here & in MKE!
-Mike
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C-E-N-T-E-R-L-I-N-E-S
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Issue #18 Friday, May 11, 2001
CenterLines is the bi-weekly e-newsletter of the National
Center for Bicycling & Walking. CenterLines is our way of
quickly delivering news and information you can use to
create more walkable and bicycle-friendly communities.
F-E-A-T-U-R-E-S
------------------------------------------------------------
-------------> National Strategies for Advancing Bicycle
Safety Released
-------------> Tell Us Your Road Hog Crash Stories
-------------> Plan to Ease Grand Teton Park Traffic
-------------> LAB's "Best Of Bike Month" Awards Contest
-------------> Austin Bike/Ped Bridge Nears Completion
I-N--T-H-E--N-E-W-S
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-------------> Toronto Launches Bike Share Program
-------------> Denver Post Slams Bush Admin. Energy Policy
-------------> Honolulu Celebrates Bike to Work Week
-------------> Milwaukee Cyclists Stick It To Oil Companies
-------------> Bike to Work Day in SF Bay Area
-------------> New Atlanta Bike Map Online
------------------------------------------------------------
NATIONAL STRATEGIES FOR ADVANCING BICYCLE SAFETY
RELEASED
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, the
National Center for Injury Prevention and Control (part of
the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) and the
Federal Highway Administration released an advance
version of the National Strategies for Advancing Bicycle
Safety last Friday, as a part of the Bike to Work Day
celebration in Washington, DC.
The National Strategies document outlines specific actions
to improve bicycle safety in five major areas: 1) sharing the
road with motorists; 2) enhancing bicycle safety education;
3) increasing bicycle helmet use; 4) enhancing the role of
the legal system in promoting bicycle safety, and 5)
using bicycle facilities and community planning for bicycle
safety.
The strategies were the focus of a national conference of
safety experts and advocates, bicycling enthusiasts, and
government agency representatives held in Washington,
DC in July of 2000. The conference, sponsored by the
NHTSA, CDC, FHWA, and the Pedestrian and Bicycle
Information Center, focused on developing consensus an
actionable agenda for bicycling safety.
"The conference was the most diverse gathering of
expertise and interests that I have ever seen brought to
bear on bicycle safety issues," says Peter Moe, Senior
Planner with the National Center for Bicycling & Walking.
"The National Strategies reflect the desire of participants,
despite their different viewpoints, to reach consensus and
to work together toward common goals for bicycle safety."
A final print version is expected from NHTSA soon (keep your
eye on CenterLines for news). CL will report on each of the five strategies
in sequence-beginning with "Share the Road" in the
next edition (also see below). To view the advance version of the document,
and to learn more about how it was developed, visit www.cdc.gov/ncipc/bike/
TELL US YOUR ROAD HOG CRASH STORIES
-> According to the May 9th issue of BikeLeague News, "The
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is
currently compiling cases of motorists and bicyclists who
have been injured by a driver not sharing the road. We are
trying to gather data to assess the severity of the problem
and to explore possible trends in these incidents. Examples
of not sharing the road include "unintentional" acts by
motorists, such as turning into your path, as well as
"intentional" acts such as purposefully hitting running
into you or trying to push you off the road. All
information will be treated confidentially."
If you have experienced such a case yourself, please share
the details. The NCBW has created a handy on-line form to
submit your information. Fill out the form at:
http://www.bikewalk.org/cdc_form.htm
[Ed. Note: This action is being taken in the context of the
National Strategies for Advancing Bicycle Safety mentioned
above. Thanks to Rich Schieber at the National Center for
Injury Prevention and Control for taking the lead.]
PLAN TO EASE GRAND TETON PARK TRAFFIC
-> According to an article in the May-June issue of the
National Parks Conservation Association magazine, "Visitors
to Grand Teton National Park may soon have more diverse
transit options if elements of a new study are followed and
funded.
"In January, the Park Service issued a final draft of a
transportation study that recommends ways to move away from
automobile-based travel and increase opportunities for mass
transit, bicycling, and walking. The study was drafted with
help from 35 appointed members of local and national
interest groups, including Tony Jewett, NPCA's Northern
Rockies regional director. 'The study is visionary and
far-reaching,' said Jewett. 'It is strong and ambitious in
its recommendations to move away from automobiles and into
mass transit and muscle-powered alternatives,' such as
biking and walking.
"Some suggestions for promoting bicycling in the park
include paving shoulders of existing roads to create bike
lanes, designing pathways separate from roads, and
improving signs and parking for bicycles. For pedestrians,
the plan proposes sharing bicycle pathways, using more
signs to clearly define walking trails, and improving
facilities in major activity centers. 'The lack of
provision for walking in [major activity centers] results
in a significant amount of driving for short trips that
most people would be willing to make by foot,' the study
states..."
Source:
http://www.npca.org:80/magazine/may_june/news6.asp
LAB'S "BEST OF BIKE MONTH" AWARDS CONTEST
-> Also, according to the BikeLeague News, "The League
of American Bicyclists announces the first 'Best of Bike
Month' awards competition. The goal is to recognize
outstanding efforts to promote bicycling at the local
level, to compile a list of best practices in bike month
celebrations, and to get a picture of the extent of
National Bike Month celebrations.
"All reporting forms on Bike Month festivities returned by
June 15, 2001 will be entered into a national database
providing a comprehensive picture of Bike Month activities
across the nation. Winning communities will receive an
all-expenses paid trip to Washington, DC in late July for
the 'Best of Bike Month' awards ceremony and dinner.
Winners will also have their event showcased in the
League's magazine and BikeLeague News. Winning
communities will be selected based on the success and
creativity of their events, with particular attention given
to events that attract significant numbers of new riders."
For a printable version of the reporting form or for any
questions on Bike Month, please go to
http://www.bikeleague.org/educenter/bikemonth.htm, or write
<[EMAIL PROTECTED]> or call (202) 822-1333.
AUSTIN TX LAMAR BIKE/PED BRIDGE NEARS COMPLETION
-> Everyone loves construction photos and no doubt the
folks in Austin, Texas, are aware of this popular
obsession. After all, while they have a very nice web page
with text describing their new Lamar Bicycle/Pedestrian
Bridge (Grand Opening scheduled for June 16th), the real
heart of the project's website is the PHOTOS!
For those who can't do without text: "The City of Austin is
building a new Pedestrian/Bicycle Bridge over Town Lake. At
the south end, the bridge will connect to the intersection
of Lamar Boulevard and Riverside Drive as well as the hike
and bike trail. The entire bridge will be accessible to
people in wheelchairs. The bridge is designed to provide
four lanes for pedestrians and bicyclists to cross Town
Lake. It has observation decks on both the east and west
sides, and there are planters and benches available. On the
north end, the bridge will have an accessible ramp
structure to reach the shore and allow users to connect to
the hike and bike trail and Cesar Chavez Street. There will
be new sidewalks connecting the users back to Lamar
Boulevard from Cesar Chavez Street. These sidewalks will
also be ADA (Americans with Disabilities Act) accessible..."
And more info can be found at:
http://www.ci.austin.tx.us/downtown/0799/lamarb0799.htm
and:
http://www.ci.austin.tx.us/news/lpbb_default.htm
Now, on to the exciting stuff. Visit these two sites to see
the PICTURES!
Photos:
http://www.ci.austin.tx.us/news/lpbb_new_photos.htm
Still more photos:
http://www.ci.austin.tx.us/news/photos_page.htm
I-N--T-H-E--N-E-W-S
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TORONTO LAUNCHES BIKE SHARE PROGRAM
-> According to a May 8th Reuters story, "Canada's largest
and most congested city, beset by air pollution and
increased traffic, launched a bike sharing program Monday
it hopes will prompt commuters to leave their cars at home
and rediscover the benefits of cycling. The BikeShare pilot
program, inspired by initiatives in Amsterdam, Copenhagen
and Portland, Oregon, aims at reducing vehicle emissions by
encouraging Torontonians to pick up a bicycle at one of
six locations available next to subway stations or commuter
parking lots and return it the next day.
"'They are very straightforward bicycles, with one gear,
but Toronto is very flat,' said Toronto councilor Jack
Layton, himself an avid, year-round cyclist. 'We want to
make them unattractive to the thieves because Toronto is
the bicycle theft capital of the world - we have 11,000
bicycle stolen each year here - but we are not going to
panic about that,' he said.
"For an annual C$25 ($16) fee, riders can pick out one of
150 used yellow bicycles equipped with a lock, a basket, a
bell and reflectors, and cycle throughout Toronto or along
Lake Ontario on the city's 200 km (125 miles) of bike
lanes. Layton hopes to have 1,000 bikes and 1,000 km (625
miles) of bike paths before 2004 in response to the growing
popularity two-wheeled transportation. Plans also call for
the expansion of the number of pick-up and drop-off
depots..."
Source:
http://www.enn.com:80/news/wire-stories/2001/05/05082001/reu_bike_43446.asp
Search: http://www.enn.com:80/search/search-r.asp
Title: "Toronto launches bike share program "
Author: Julie Remy
DENVER POST SLAMS BUSH ADMIN. ENERGY POLICY
-> In a May 6th editorial, the Denver Post took the Bush
Administration to task for their "supply side-only"
approach to energy policy, saying "Conservation is far more
than a 'personal virtue,' as [Vice President] Cheney
condescendingly described it. It is a national necessity.
"Most disturbing, the Bush team is crafting its new policy
behind closed doors. Democratic U.S. Reps. John Dingell of
Michigan and Henry Waxman of California want federal
Comptroller General David Walker to investigate whether
private interests (including campaign contributors) are
influencing Cheney's Energy Task Force, which has been
meeting in secret. That secrecy leaves the Bush team wide
open to criticism.
"Two oil guys, Bush and Cheney, are calling for more oil
drilling, while a former lobbyist for the big car makers,
Andy Card, is now chief-of-staff in a White House that
disdains conservation..."
Source:
http://www.denverpost.com/Stories/0,1002,73%257E29632,00.html
Search: http://www.denverpost.com/Stories/0,1002,25,00.html
Title: "Energy policy incomplete"
Cost: $1.95
HONOLULU CELEBRATES BIKE TO WORK WEEK
-> According to a May 7th article in the Honolulu
Star-Bulletin, "Organizers of next week's Bike To Work Week
concede the event is unlikely to attract a turnout of Tour
de France proportions in Honolulu. But even if the city's
roadways are not covered in a sea of spandex, the idea is
to encourage commuters of all ages to give bicycling to
work a try and to reward those who already do.
"Companies are also encouraged to recognize those employees
who choose to bike to work, said Georgette Yaindl of the
Hawaii Bicycling League. 'What we've focused on this year
is getting some recognition for employees who already bike
to work,' she said. Organizers of the event will be
contacting Hawaii employers to ask them to recognize in
some way those employees who are already biking to work,
she said.
"One of those companies who has already agreed to pay
tribute to employees who bike is Big City Diner in Kaimuki.
The restaurant's bike-riding employees will receive lei and
a free lunch, said the diner's owner, Lane Muraoka. Muraoka
says he will also change the marquee above the restaurant
to remind people about the event. 'It will help to create
more awareness (about bicycling) and it just makes sense,'
Muraoka said..."
Source:
http://starbulletin.com:80/2001/05/07/business/story2.html
Search:
http://starbulletin.com/search.html
Title: Event promotes bike commuting
Author: Lyn Danninger
MILWAUKEE CYCLISTS STICK IT TO OIL COMPANIES
-> According to a May 9th story in the Milwaukee
Journal-Sentinel, "With gas prices spiking again, 'people
are beginning to realize that biking is not only good
exercise but that it saves money,' Jeanne Hoffman,
executive director of the Bike Federation of Wisconsin,
said Wednesday. Even the concrete-minded state Department
of Transportation, which is two years into a 20-year
program of bike-path building, likes bikes, said Ken
Leonard, DOT's director of planning in the bureau of
infrastructure management. Biking is clearly a 'relatively
small' part of the overall transportation picture, Leonard
said. 'But every little bit helps,' he said.
"The Rev. Mark McDonough is doing his part by commuting by
bike from his Shorewood home to his downtown Milwaukee
church. He started the practice last summer when gas prices
also spiked - although McDonough's motivation was not
primarily economic. 'It was more my Presbyterian
background, which is strongly supportive of the
environment,' said McDonough, 45, who previously served at
a Detroit church. 'It's a lot easier to get around
Milwaukee on a bike than Detroit,' he said. McDonough also
favors walking to his favorite Shorewood stores whenever
possible.
"The Milwaukee office of the Bike Federation of Wisconsin
will sponsor a bike-to-work week in this area June 4-8,
said Andrea Broaddus, the office director. 'Gas prices
create an incentive to bike, but unless people feel safe
while biking and a have a place to put their bikes at work
and to shower when they get there, it's a deterrent,'
Broaddus said. Employers can do more to provide those
amenities, she said..."
Source:
http://www.jsonline.com:80/news/metro/may01/bike10050901a.asp
Search: http://www.jsonline.com/general/search.asp
Title: "Cyclists to oil giants: You can't fuel me!"
Author: Kenneth R. Lamke
