Biking and Walking News 9-21-12
Ira Weiss
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Biking & Walking News
Ira S. Weiss, Editor September 21, 2012
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ANNOUNCEMENTS – Nothing this issue
RIDES
Glacier Ridge
DAY TIME EVENT DESCRIPTION OPENINGS
Sep 27 Thu 7:00 pm Night Bike Ride Enjoy an 8.5-mile ride through fields an...
SAFETY
OSU Starts Bicycling Awareness Campaign
By: Steve Wainfor | NBC4
Published: September 14, 2012
COLUMBUS, Ohio --
In the past few weeks there have been several accidents involving students on The Ohio State University campus. One occurred Friday morning when a student was struck by a bus on Woodruff Avenue -- the same street where a student riding a bike was hit by a dump truck last week. Friday, the university started an awareness campaign targeting students. Volunteers fanned out at 21 different campus locations -- reinforcing one message: be safe. It was the university's first strike in a new awareness campaign. President E. Gordon Gee said the change to semesters created a shift in schedules. "Now with the time changes, it seems like the campus is full from about 7:30 in the morning to about 5:30 at night. There is a totally different rhythm. Because of that I think that some of these things have happened,” said Gee. And the university is not the only group noticing. The Columbus Police Campus Walking Crew patrols the university. They told their commander that something has to be done… http://www2.nbc4i.com/news/2012/sep/14/osu-starts-awareness-campaign-ar-1172044/?sc_cid=CMH-NEWS-8pmDlyNews
Critics: Texting ban too weak
Highway-safety group says exceptions make rules difficult to enforce
By Robert Vitale
The Columbus Dispatch Monday September 17, 2012 8:03 AM
Ohio’s new ban on texting while driving is just 2 weeks old, but a national group of highway-safety officials already says the law doesn’t go far enough. While praising the state for banning texting by drivers — it took legislators three years to approve a bill — the Governors Highway Safety Association says Ohio and all other states also should enact stricter laws that prohibit the use of any hand-held electronic device while behind the wheel. Although 39 states ban texting while driving, just nine prohibit all drivers from using hand-held devices for any purpose. West Virginia will become the 10th state to ban all hand-held devices on July 1, 2013… http://www.dispatch.com/content/stories/local/2012/09/17/critics-texting-ban-too-weak.html
Texting while driving
Law director recommends tougher city stance
Upper Arlington's law director said this week she supports establishing a local law to allow police to pull over drivers who are observed texting while behind the wheel… http://www.thisweeknews.com/content/stories/upperarlington/news/2012/09/19/texting-while-driving-law-director-recommends-tougher-city-stance.html
HEALTH
BMI record-keeping no longer weighs on schools
By Charlie Boss
The Columbus Dispatch Friday September 14, 2012 6:46 AM
Ohio schools no longer have to gather students’ body-mass-index measurements — just two years after a state law required them to do so. State lawmakers took action in June to make BMI screenings optional. Bexley and Hamilton — among the few districts in Franklin County that complied with the law — decided to quit the practice. “It was taking a lot of time,” said Bexley Superintendent Michael Johnson. The board decided on Monday to stop taking student measurements. “We have an opt-out provision, and a number of people were opting out of the screenings.” State Sen. Tim Schaffer, a Lancaster Republican who proposed the change, said the screenings had started to draw educational resources from the schools. “While it’s important to emphasize good health and educate our kids about good health, I don’t believe we should be mandating burdensome mandates on schools,” he said… http://www.dispatch.com/content/stories/local/2012/09/14/bmi-record-keeping-no-longer-weighs-on-schools.html
Schools are wrong to cut BMI screenings
Wednesday, September 19, 2012 05:43 AM
I was disappointed to read in the Friday Dispatch article “BMI record-keeping no longer weighs on schools” that the Bexley City and Hamilton Local school districts no longer will provide body-mass-index screenings for their students… http://www.dispatch.com/content/stories/editorials/2012/09/19/schools-are-wrong-to-cut-bmi-screenings.html
Sixty percent of Ohioans could be obese by 2030, study says
By Misti Crane
The Columbus Dispatch Tuesday September 18, 2012 1:47 PM
Six in 10 Ohioans will be obese by 2030, according to predictions in an annual report on the nation’s struggle with excess weight. The nonprofit Trust for America’s Health, in collaboration with the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, says that in the next two decades obesity could contribute to: http://www.dispatch.com/content/stories/local/2012/09/18/obesity_study.html
Obese Ohioans may be majority in 2030
Wednesday September 19, 2012 6:34 AM
The notion that 6 in 10 Ohio adults will be obese by 2030 shouldn’t seem far-fetched. If you add together people who are considered obese or overweight based on the body-mass index, the state already is over 60 percent, said Dr. Julie Cantrell, who works at OhioHealth’s McConnell... http://www.dispatch.com/content/stories/local/2012/09/19/obese-ohioans-may-be-majority-in-2030.html
Are obesity rates higher for urban or rural residents?
By Tyler Falk | September 17, 2012, 12:07 PM PDT
Where you live might play a significant factor in the likelihood that you are, or will become obese. A new study published in the Journal of Rural Health found that 40 percent of adults living in rural areas are obese compared with 33 percent of adults living in urban areas. Researchers at the University of Kansas and the University of Florida used measured height and weight data from the National Center for Health Statistics, instead of relying on self-reported data. Researchers looked at a number of factors that can impact obesity (diet, physical activity, age, race, gender and education) and found that even when these factors are held constant, rural populations are more likely to be obese… http://www.smartplanet.com/blog/bulletin/are-obesity-rates-higher-for-urban-or-rural-residents/438?tag=nl.e660&s_cid=e660
Walking comes with many benefits
Walking is one of the simplest forms of cardiovascular exercise that most people can do. Walking is cost effective and can be done indoors or outdoors. It is safe, does not require practice and the benefits are numerous… http://www.lancastereaglegazette.com/article/20120919/OPINION02/209190312/Walking-comes-many-benefits
LOCAL NEWS
Columbus Man Rides Bike For Self And Others With Kidney Problems
By: Robyn Haines | NBC4
Published: September 18, 2012
As we speak, a Columbus man is taking on a 230-mile bike ride in Iowa. And he's doing it while being treated for kidney failure. Tour DaVita is all about kidney health awareness and working to save lives in underserved communities around the world. NBC4's Robyn Haines introduces us to Mark Richardson, a man on a mission. Mark is one of only six patients riding this week, although he'll be in the company of 500 supporters and caregivers… http://www2.nbc4i.com/news/2012/sep/18/columbus-man-rides-bike-self-and-others-kidney-pro-ar-1175150/?sc_cid=CMH-NEWS-TopStories
Money to fix local roads likely unavailable for 2 years
CHILLICOTHE -- Aside from a few projects on the Ohio Department of Transportation's schedule, there are no set plans -- and scarcely any city funds -- to repave Chillicothe's aging streets during the next two years… http://www.chillicothegazette.com/article/20120914/NEWS01/209140303/Money-fix-local-roads-likely-unavailable-2-years
Dublin Road South multi-use path project to begin
By JENNIFER NOBLIT
ThisWeek Community News Wednesday September 19, 2012 10:20 AM
Work on the first phase of the Dublin Road South multi-use path is expected to begin this month. Dublin City Council members last week awarded a $229,180 contract to Decker Construction Co. for the construction of 1,500 feet of an eight-foot-wide multi-use path on the west side of Dublin Road from Tuttle Road to Hertford Lane. City Engineer Paul Hammersmith said the Dublin Road South path has been in the works since 2009 and has had several hurdles including trees, stone walls, ravines and driveways. The first portion of the trail will be built within the road right-of-way, but the city is seeking right-of-entry agreements from 10 property owners on Dublin Road. In return, the city will work on the property owners' driveways and replace up to two trees if they must be removed for the trail, Hammersmith said. As of last week, Hammersmith said the city had five agreements from residents… http://www.thisweeknews.com/content/stories/dublin/news/2012/09/19/dublin-road-south-multi-use-path-project-to-begin.html
Trustees, neighbors decry planned connector road
By BRETT NUCKLES
ThisWeek Community News Wednesday September 19, 2012 12:52 PM
The Liberty Township trustees this week backed a resolution to prevent the construction of a connector road linking Manning Parkway to Churchill Drive. At their meeting Monday, Sept. 17, trustees voted 3-0 to approve a resolution to relieve a developer planning to build condominiums along Manning Parkway from the responsibility of constructing the connector road. More than 50 residents of the Calumet Farms subdivision, located along Churchill Drive, attended the meeting to urge the trustees to block construction of the connector. More than 200 people signed a petition opposing the connector road. Liberty Township Assistant Fiscal Officer Jim Cirigliano told the board the connector would dramatically increase traffic through the subdivision and create a dangerous environment for more than 100 school-age children who live there. Multiple traffic studies completed in 2004 indicated traffic through the subdivision would more than triple if the connection was completed, he said. Calumet Farms has no sidewalks and children frequently walk and bike in the roadway… http://www.thisweeknews.com/content/stories/olentangy/news/2012/09/19/trustees-neighbors-decry-planned-connector-road.html
Concert to benefit Tallgrass Trail
Marion singer/songwriter Opossum gives it back to his community
5:56 AM, Sep 17, 2012
MARION - When you head out trying to enjoy the spectacular works of Mother Nature, you might not have a goal of tracking down an opossum. Steve Moore is working to change that. The singer/songwriter puts nature in the front row when Opossum & Friends perform. That is definitely the case this Saturday with a concert fundraiser for the Marion Tallgrass Trail… http://www.marionstar.com/article/20120917/NEWS01/209170301/Concert-benefit-Tallgrass-Trail
SAFE ROUTES TO SCHOOL
Safe Routes Coaching Action Network Webinar - September 25th (1pm ET)
The Community Connection: School Travel Plans and Building Community Support
Presenters:
Julie Walcoff, Ohio Department of Transportation
Carmen Burkes, Cincinnati Public Schools SRTS Program Director
Jacqueline Fischer, Executive Director, Ottauquechee Community Partnership, Healthy Youth Healthy Communities
School travel plans can provide a road map for schools to build successful walking and biking programs and also strengthen community support for Safe Routes to School. Travel plans include observations and ideas for addressing the five E's of Safe Routes to School-Education, Encouragement, Enforcement, Evaluation, and Engineering. In this webinar we will learn about two different approaches to travel planning, starting at the school district level in Ohio contrasted with a small town approach in Vermont. Both cases demonstrate the value of engaging the larger community during the planning process.
Julie Walcoff, from the Ohio Department of Transportation, will open the webinar with a description of how the Ohio Department of Transportation (ODOT) successfully developed and piloted a district-wide travel plan approach with the Cincinnati Public Schools. This model translated the traditional SRTS School Travel Plan concept to large school districts (20+ schools). Carmen Burkes, from the Cincinnati Public School System, will explain how critical the community participation was to the process and the tools the team used to engage the community.
We will then hear from Jacqueline Fischer, Executive Director, Ottauquechee Community Partnership, Healthy Youth Healthy Communities. Ms. Fischer will share her organization's experience participating in the School Travel Plan process with Woodstock Elementary School, as part of the school's first year of Safe Routes to School participation. We will learn how the school planning team gained the interest and involvement of students, parents and community partners. And, building on increasing community-wide awareness of walking and biking issues, how the School Travel Plan is helping to make walking and biking to school not only a regular part of school life, but a bigger part of the Village's culture as well.
Join us to learn more how to successfully make school districts of every shape and size more Safe-Routes-to-School-friendly. http://www.saferoutesinfo.org/events-and-training/srts-webinars/community-connection-school-travel-plans-and-building-community-su
For more information contact Michelle Gulley at: mgu...@americawalks.org https://www1.gotomeeting.com/register/666821241
The next five years
Council begins prioritizing capital needs
By MARLA K. KUHLMAN
ThisWeek Community News Wednesday September 19, 2012 12:40 PM
Gahanna City Council will begin discussing a five-year capital-needs assessment during its next committee meeting Monday, Sept. 24. Mayor Becky Stinchcomb told council the assessment is the culmination of months of work, particularly from the city's directors…Initial must-do projects over the next five years, including costs, are: … Safe Routes to School 2009 funding, $302,610; and Safe Routes 2012 funding, $36,000… http://www.thisweeknews.com/content/stories/gahanna/news/2012/09/19/the-next-five-years-council-begins-prioritizing-capital-needs.html
National Complete Streets Coalition becomes a Program of Smart Growth America
As you may remember, back in May the National Complete Streets Coalition announced that it was becoming an official program of Smart Growth America. We're very excited about this new partnership and the opportunities to collaborate for better streets in communities across the country. This month, the Coalition finds its new home online at www.smartgrowthamerica.org/complete-streets. You can still find all the same great resources and information that was on our old site - and even more. I encourage you to explore our new online home and if you haven't already, connect with us on Twitter or Facebook. We look forward to continuing our work together
Building walkable cities cuts emissions more than fuel taxes, study says
By Claire Lambrecht | September 16, 2012, 3:18 PM PDT
New Urbanists have advocated walkable cities and shorter commutes for years. But does investing in this approach — what behavioral economists call “smart growth” — simply look good on paper, or does it produce tangible results? It does, according to a new study published in the B.E. Journal of Economic Analysis and Policy. The study, conducted by Sudip Chattopadhyay and Emily Taylor of San Francisco State University, looked at the ways travel demand were impacted by the degree of “smart growth” in a given city. Their findings indicate that people are not as dependent on their cars as common wisdom might suggest. Instead, urban car use patterns are rather elastic. Just a 10 percent increase in “smart growth” amenities can reduce the number of annual vehicle miles traveled by 20 percent. “We found that changing the way cities are designed would significantly reduce travel demand,” Sudip Chattopadhyay, professor and chair of economics at San Francisco State, said Sept. 13. “People’s travel habits would change, and they would drive less.”… http://www.smartplanet.com/blog/cities/building-walkable-cities-cuts-emissions-more-than-fuel-taxes-study-says/5311?tag=nl.e660&s_cid=e660
Mountain bikers thrill to 100-mile system of trails in scenic Vermont
By Warren Cornwall
NEW YORK TIMES NEWS SERVICE Saturday September 15, 2012 11:18 AM
It was an idyllic Vermont view from halfway up Burke Mountain. A patchwork of forest and pasture rolled west to a distant mountain ridge. Puffy white clouds hung in a blue sky. But I was focused on a brown ribbon that plunged down the slope like a dirt bobsled track, nervously clenching the handlebars of a hulking bicycle that resembled a motocross motorcycle… http://www.dispatch.com/content/stories/travel/2012/09/16/1-handlebars-and-hang-times.html
Past issues are available here: http://www.considerbiking.org/category/newsletters/
Contact Information
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Web site - www.considerbiking.org
Facebook - Facebook Page change to http://www.facebook.com/considerbiking
Twitter - @Consider_Biking http://twitter.com/#!/consider_biking
Biking and Walking Newsletter Editor, Ira S. Weiss - iwe...@insight.rr.com
Consider Biking Staff, http://www.considerbiking.org/contact/ 614-447-8894
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Ira S. Weiss
11735 Eddington
Pickerington, OH 43147