As the original program manager for Sheboygan County's pilot, I am very flattered to hear that the folks in Columbia who wrote the editorial equate my adopted blue collar, working class Sheboygan with other "snooty" places "up north". It is abundantly clear that whoever wrote this does not understand biking as transportation.
I also want to say how proud I am of what Sheboygan County has been able to accomplish through this grant. These folks really grabbed on to the intent of the pilot and worked tirelessly to make things happen. With less than 1/3 of the infrastructure projects built, they have achieved significant mode shift and a BRONZE level bicycle friendly community designation. Mary On Mon, May 7, 2012 at 5:14 PM, Robbie Webber <[email protected]>wrote: > Seriously? they are making all sort of excuses in the editorial linked > below for why Columbia, MO brought up the rear among the four cities that > received funding for the non-motorized pilot project. The reports are all > in to congress now, so we can see how all the cities did. Obviously, some > changes can still be expected, because education and encouragement programs > are still on-going; infrastructure is not even finished in some cases, and > there is momentum. > > Here's some pretty weak tea on why Columbia is last in results: > > "The money is appropriated and largely spent. Columbia is not in a fair > fight with the likes of Northern California, Minnesota and Wisconsin when > it comes to pedaling. We have our share of students, but most live close to > downtown; for after-hours high-heel trips to more remote places of > entertainment, the bike is not the vehicle of choice. As for our general > population, which likely includes more rednecks than those snooty places up > north, getting us out of our pickups and onto skinny-tired street bikes > seems like a substantial chore." > http://www.columbiatribune.com/news/2012/may/05/bike-funding/ > > > Uh, you know we have, like, SNOW in Wisconsin and Minnesota, right? And > you aren't competing against Madison, but Sheboygan County? > > > More info about the projects, perspectives from the local press, and more > links to the national/official reports can be found at the links below. > > Report on NMTP projects show marked increased in biking and walking with > little $$$ - below are local press stories: > > Columbia, MO: > http://www.columbiatribune.com/news/2012/may/02/getabout-increased-non-motorized-travel/ > > Twin Cities: http://www.startribune.com/local/minneapolis/150105625.html > > Sheyboygan: > http://www.sheboyganpress.com/article/20120503/SHE0101/120503026/Report-Nonmotorized-pilot-program-working-?odyssey=tab%7Ctopnews%7Ctext%7CFRONTPAGE > > Marin: > http://www.marinij.com/marinnews/ci_20490602/report-federal-bike-and-pedestrian-plan-success-marin > > RTC post: > http://community.railstotrails.org/blogs/trailblog/archive/2012/05/01/transportation-secretary-hails-pilot-project-as-quot-eye-opening-report-on-the-value-of-investing-in-nonmotorized-transportation-quot.aspx > > US DOT (Sec LaHood) post: http://fastlane.dot.gov/2012/05/bike-month.html* > * > > > Robbie Webber > Transportation Policy Analyst > State Smart Transportation Initiative > www.ssti.us > 608-263-9984 (o) > 608-225-0002 (c) > [email protected] > > > _______________________________________________ > Bikies mailing list > [email protected] > http://lists.danenet.org/listinfo.cgi/bikies-danenet.org > >
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