Sheboygan has a soft spot in my heart regarding bicycling as it was the place where I learned to ride a bicycle when I was a wee lad. I rode my bike from Swift Ave on the south side to Longfellow Grade School via 9th Street because 8th Street was too busy. I also took Lakeshore Drive to downtown and beyond like the zoo on the north side for fun and adventure or to South High School for Saturday activities. All this is before ten-speeds and helmets became derigueur. Maybe I ought to go back there for old times sake.
________________________________ From: Mary Ebeling <[email protected]> To: Robbie Webber <[email protected]> Cc: Bikies <[email protected]> Sent: Mon, May 7, 2012 8:25:55 PM Subject: Re: [Bikies] Columbia, MO thinks they can't compete with WI and MN on biking 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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