Biking and Walking News 10-19-12
Ira Weiss
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Biking & Walking News
Ira S. Weiss, Editor October 19, 2012
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ANNOUNCEMENTS
Starting on the 19th I’ll be moving to WOW as e-mail provider. That means’s I’ll have a new e-mail address. Details to follow.
Access Ohio 2040
Welcome to Access Ohio 2040, Ohio’s Long-Range Statewide Transportation Plan. This is an opportunity for you to provide input into the Plan. Please view our information and tell us what you think. Sign up today and start contributing to your community. This site will help us move the best ideas forward and together we will make our transportation infrastructure better. This website was developed as part of the public involvement component of the ODOT Access Ohio Long Range Transportation Plan Update. Please take some time to check it out and provide your ideas! http://www.accessohio2040.com/
Federal Recovery Dollars Make Downtown Bicycle Parking Project Possible
The installation of approximately 325 bicycle parking spaces Downtown is nearly complete. The project includes six bicycle shelters, bicycle lockers, two bike rooms and 70 bicycle racks that are separate from the shelters and lockers. The project was funded by a portion of a $7.4 million federal Energy Efficiency and Conservation Block Grant awarded to the city of Columbus under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009. The city is working in partnership with the Capital Crossroads Special Improvement District to complete the project.
“Federal recovery funding has helped our city emerge from the recession and is now assisting our efforts to become one of the best bike cities in the nation,” said Mayor Michael B. Coleman. “These bike shelters and other bike parking encourage more people to ride bikes and make us a greener and healthier city.”
The new bike shelters are at six downtown locations:
· East Long Street and North Front Street
· North High Street and Hickory Street
· East Broad Street and North 3rd Street
· East Broad Street and 4th Street
· South High Street and East State Street
· West Mound Street and South Front Street
Each shelter features 18 parking spaces protected from weather by a roof. Drought tolerant plants are being installed on the roof of each shelter to absorb rainwater that would otherwise surge to area waterways.
“The Columbus biking community is helping change the way civic and business leaders look at transportation issues in our urban core,” said Councilmember Eileen Y. Paley, chair of the Public Service and Transportation Committee. “The City is proud to invest in the infrastructure that will help improve the health of our residents and environment of the Downtown.”
Each year on average, bicyclists using the new shelters will drive an estimated 397,385 fewer miles in motor vehicles, resulting in a decrease of 419,126 pounds of pollutants being emitted into the atmosphere.
Other Capital Crossroads installations include:
· Employee bicycle rooms at the City of Columbus and Franklin County
· Clusters of bicycle racks placed strategically at the Columbus Convention Center and other large employment centers Downtown
“The bicycle facilities give downtown employees another amenity. We anticipate a large increase in bicycle commuting over the next several years,” said Cleve Ricksecker, Executive Director of Capital Crossroads. “Downtown’s central location and street grid allow it accommodate employers who want to give their employees travel options.”
A Bicycle Advisory Committee guided the planners and designers in developing bike parking which met the hardware and geographic needs of bike commuters. The committee was made up of representatives of existing biking organizations and downtown employers.
In addition to the bike shelters, bike lockers, locker rooms and bike racks, the city’s Department of Public Service installed 132 bicycle parking facilities citywide so far in 2012. In 2013, the city plans to add maintenance stations to the bike facilities. The maintenance stations will include directional signage, bicycle tire pumps and other bicycle maintenance tools that may be borrowed free-of-charge.
The city of Columbus provided $490,000 to the Capital Crossroads Special Improvement District to manage installation of bike parking shelters, lockers and other equipment. The projects are consistent with Mayor Coleman’s Get Green Columbus initiative and demonstrate the mayor’s personal commitment to making Columbus a bicycle friendly city.
RIDES
Blacklick Woods
DAY TIME EVENT DESCRIPTION OPENINGS
Oct 20 Sat 1:30 pm 10K Nature Bike Ride Join the naturalist for a relaxed bike r... N/R
Bike race will benefit district's technology
LANCASTER -- The third annual Dirty 30 bike race for Lancaster City Schools will take place at 1 p.m. Oct. 21 at the Fairfield County Fairgrounds. Registration begins at noon… http://www.lancastereaglegazette.com/article/20121013/NEWS01/210130320/Bike-race-will-benefit-district-s-technology
SAFETY
OSU releases campus safety recommendations
By Encarnacion Pyle
The Columbus Dispatch Tuesday October 16, 2012 12:34 PM
Ohio State hopes a combination of educating students about the rules of the road and citing them for repeat violations will help reduce the number of pedestrian and bicycle crashes on and around campus. Those are some of the recommendations of a 33-member taskforce of students and faculty and staff members that have been meeting since mid-September to come up with ways to promote safe travel on campus. The group reviewed safety measures on other campuses, in addition to examining specific issues at Ohio State… http://www.dispatch.com/content/stories/local/2012/10/16/OSU-safety-recommendations.html
Bicyclist Struck By Car On North High Street
By: Denise Yost | NBC4
Published: October 16, 2012
Updated: October 16, 2012 - 6:18 PM
COLUMBUS, Ohio --
A bicyclist is hospitalized after being hit by a car near the Ohio State University campus. The crash occurred in the 1800 block of North High Street near 16th Avenue at about 4:45 p.m. The bicyclist was struck by a car and transported to Riverside Methodist Hospital in stable condition. The driver of the vehicle and a witness told police that the bicyclist was riding on a sidewalk when he hopped off and tried to rid through the crosswalk. Officers said that riding a bicycle through a crosswalk is a violation, and the cyclist could be cited. One northbound lane of North High Street is closed during the cleanup and investigation. Columbus police is investigating the crash. http://www2.nbc4i.com/news/2012/oct/16/3/bicyclist-struck-car-north-high-street-ar-1207333/?sc_cid=CMH-NEWS-8pmDlyNews
2 pedestrians struck by SUV; 1 killed, 1 hurt
Friday October 12, 2012 5:42 AM
A woman was killed and a man injured when they were struck by an SUV on the Northeast Side last night, Columbus police said. Police were called at 7:52 p.m. to a section of street in front of the Home Depot at 5200 Hamilton Rd., south of Thompson Road… http://www.dispatch.com/content/stories/local/2012/10/12/2-pedestrians-struck-by-suv-1-killed-1-hurt.html
If you crash, a bike helmet calls for help
By Tyler Falk | October 12, 2012, 5:11 AM PDT
Smart technology is already being deployed in cars, but one company wants to use similar wireless sensors to make your bike trip a little more safe. ICEdot has created a helmet that gets in touch with your emergency contacts if you are involved in an accident that severely impacts your helmet. Here’s how the ICEdot Crash Sensor works: First, download an app to your smartphone. Then, using any helmet, place a sensor on its exterior. Each time you go for a bike ride activate the sensor by pushing a button on your app that lets the smartphone know you’re going for a ride. If you do get in an accident and you have a strong impact against your helmet, your preprogrammed emergency contacts are notified via text of your GPS coordinates. If a text is sent your emergency information also pops up on your phone along with allergy and medication information… http://www.smartplanet.com/blog/bulletin/if-you-crash-a-bike-helmet-calls-for-help/2293?tag=nl.e660&s_cid=e660
Grand Opening set for Ohio State Driving Simulation Lab
The Ohio State University will officially open its state-of-the-art Driving Simulation Laboratory at an event from 9:30 to 11:30 a.m. on Thursday, Oct. 18.
The event will be held at the new laboratory at 1305 Kinnear Rd., Suite 194, and will include interactive demonstrations of both a full-cab, motion-base research vehicle simulator with 240-degree screen and a vehicle drive-on motion pad system.
The $1.3 million, 5,800-square-foot facility was developed in a partnership between The Ohio State University Office of Research, Honda R&D Americas, Inc., and the Ohio Supercomputer Center.
Among many other projects, researchers will use the lab to learn more about driver distraction and how to prevent it. It will allow scientists to monitor heart rate, eye movement and stress levels while in a realistic driving environment.
WHAT: Grand opening of The Ohio State University Driving Simulation Laboratory.
WHO: Speakers at the event will include: President E. Gordon Gee; Frank Paluch, senior vice president of Honda R&D Americas; Jim Petro, chancellor of the Ohio Board of Regents; and Jan Weisenberger, senior associate vice president of research at The Ohio State University.
WHEN: The facility will be open to the media from 9:30 to 11:30 a.m. on Thursday, Oct. 18. A short program will begin at 10:30 a.m. The interactive demonstrations will begin after the program.
WHERE: The Ohio State University Driving Simulation Laboratory, 1305 Kinnear Rd., Suite 194 (behind TechColumbus).
HEALTH
Pediatric research | Sugary drinks one contributor to obesity
Sunday October 14, 2012 7:26 AM
Oscar Wilde once said: “The pure and simple truth is rarely pure and never simple.”This assertion seems especially appropriate when discussing recent research on sugary drinks and obesity… http://www.dispatch.com/content/stories/science/2012/10/14/1-sugary-drinks-one-contributor-to-obesity.html
LOCAL NEWS
Pedal-pushers
Commission endorses Downtown bike-share program
By GARY SEMAN JR.
ThisWeek Community News Wednesday October 17, 2012 7:58 AM
Columbus could be the latest major U.S. city to get a bike-share program. The city Recreation and Parks Commission Wednesday, Oct. 10, recommended approval of a five-year, $2.2- million contract with ALTA Bicycle Share, based in Portland, Ore. The money will pay for setting up the 30 bike stations, card-swipe systems, purchase of bicycles and other start-up costs, said Terri Leist, recreation and parks planning administrator. The plan, which could go into effect as early as May, will put 300 bicycles on the streets of downtown and surrounding neighborhoods, including the Short North, German Village and the Brewery District. ALTA will be responsible for maintenance of the program after the first year. After that, any revenues that exceed the annual operating expenses will be split 50-50 between the city and ALTA, Leist said. The contract must still be approved by Columbus City Council. Alan McKnight, Columbus director of recreation and parks, said bike sharing will appeal to two types of people: those who live or work downtown and out-of-town visitors… http://www.thisweeknews.com/content/stories/northland/news/2012/10/16/pedal-pushers-commission-endorses-downtown-bike-share-program.html
New Pioneer Center bike club means new accomplishments for kids
CHILLICOTHE -- Sometimes being on two wheels enjoying the crisp, fall air is about more than just being on two wheels enjoying the crisp, fall air… http://www.chillicothegazette.com/article/20121014/NEWS01/210140302/New-Pioneer-Center-bike-club-means-new-accomplishments-kids
Dodridge bridge to be up by Oct. 31
Olentangy Trail below it will open this afternoon
By Robert Vitale
The Columbus Dispatch Friday October 12, 2012 6:51 AM
A major route into the University District will reopen by the end of the month, and a popular trail along the Olentangy River will reopen this afternoon, Franklin County officials said yesterday. The Dodridge Street bridge, used by drivers heading east from the Rt. 315 exit at Ackerman Road, has been closed since July 2011. A $7.7 million reconstruction project is scheduled for completion on Oct. 31, said Greg Payne, assistant administrator for the Franklin County engineer’s office. First, however, the engineer’s office will allow runners, walkers and bicyclists back on a portion of the 13.75-mile Olentangy Trail that had been closed while contractors worked on the bridge above. The trail also has been improved with new retaining walls and rails. Payne said the trail will reopen by 4 p.m. today… http://www.dispatch.com/content/stories/local/2012/10/12/dodridge-bridge-to-be-up-by-oct-31.html
Tamarack Circle
Safety concerns fuel frustration with traffic change
By KEVIN PARKS
ThisWeek Community News Wednesday October 17, 2012 8:01 AM
Controversy continues around Tamarack Circle.
Forest Park Civic Association members last week formed a new committee to advocate returning the traffic pattern on one of the main arteries in the neighborhood to the way it was before city officials decided to tinker with it in the wake of a resurfacing project. The new pattern limits vehicles to the inner lane of the circle. What had been previously used as a travel lane on the outer edge of the circle was marked for parking spaces. A bike lane is between the two. "The issues remain with safety, first and foremost," Forest Park Civic Association President Mike Stone said. "Also, there's some frustration with backup on the circle. "People feel very much insecure." Several representatives of the Public Service Department attended the association's September session in the wake of major complaints about the changes on Tamarack Circle, which were completed without much, if any, prior announcement… http://www.thisweeknews.com/content/stories/northland/news/2012/10/16/tamarack-circle-safety-concerns-fuel-frustration-with-traffic-change.html
Delaware County part of coast-to-coast bike trail
By BILL EICHENBERGER
ThisWeek Community News Monday October 15, 2012 11:58 AM
Delaware County commissioners unanimously passed a resolution Monday, Oct. 8, to approve the proposed U.S. Bike Route 50 through a portion of Delaware County and to authorize County Engineer Chris Bauserman to cooperate with the Ohio Department of Transportation to post signs along the route. "We were contacted by ODOT about efforts nationally to create a U.S. Bike Route 50, which would connect San Francisco to Washington, D.C., using existing bicycle facilities and existing public roads," Bauserman told the board. U.S. Bike Route 50, proposed by the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials, runs through Franklin County but features alternate routes, including a path through Delaware. "The alternate route would run north out of Westerville on the trail that follows the old railroad bed along state Route 3 up to Galena, down Sunbury Road on the other side of Hoover Reservoir and east on Center Village Road into Licking County," Bauserman said. Once in Licking County, the route connects with an existing bike path that runs from Johnstown to Newark… http://www.thisweeknews.com/content/stories/delaware/news/2012/10/12/delaware-county-part-of-coast-to-coast-bike-trail.html
County trails critical part of Ohio to Erie Trail
By Alan Reed , Mount Vernon News
October 13, 2012 1:18 am EDT
MOUNT VERNON — What would it be like to one day be able to walk or ride a bicycle on a path all the way between Cleveland and Cincinnati? This may soon be a reality, thanks in part to completing bike path connections here in Mount Vernon as part of the Ohio To Erie Trail project. Mount Vernon City Council recently approved a project that will rehabilitate two bridges south of downtown which will help connect people riding or walking on the Kokosing Gap Trail and the Heart of Ohio Trail. The City of Mount Vernon had received a grant from the Ohio Department of Transportation to rehab two train trestles which will both be used as connection points in moving bikers along the trail through town. Specific plans within the project had changed at times, and use of the grant money had to be somewhat reconfigured. Certain lots of property still need to be acquired by the city in order to complete construction plans for the trail.
For the rest of the story The rest of this article is available to Mount Vernon News subscribers.
http://mountvernonnews.com/local/12/10/13/article?id=1&headline=county-trails-critical-part-of-ohio-to-erie-trail
New 'southern gateway' dedicated
By JENNIFER NESBITT
ThisWeek Community News Wednesday October 17, 2012 12:40 PM
Westerville officially dedicated completion of Phase I of its South State Street Improvement Project Monday, celebrating 10 years worth of planning reaching a milestone. The city spent more than $7 million to bury overhead utility lines, widen the road, replace traffic lights with mast-arm signals, widen sidewalks, add streetlights and enhance landscaping between Huber Village Boulevard and just south of Schrock Road. The city also rebuilt portions of Heatherdown Drive and Huber Village Boulevard… http://www.thisweeknews.com/content/stories/westerville/news/2012/10/17/new-southern-gateway-dedicated.html
SAFE ROUTES TO SCHOOL
PICKERINGTON MIDDLE SCHOOL STUDENTS RECEIVE BIKE HELMETS
As part of the Safe Routes to School (STRS) grant, each middle school student will be bringing home a new bicycle helmet during the month of October. This initiative will continue the mission of encouraging safe travel to and from school. The helmets are being distributed to grades 5 and 6, and students are taught how to adjust the helmets in order to ride their bicycles safely. Safe Routes to School has been instrumental in identifying and mapping safe walking and bike riding routes to school. The grant provided funds to purchase the helmets at no cost to the district. (scroll down) http://www.pickerington.k12.oh.us/school_home.aspx?schoolID=14
The Safe Routes to School National Partnership is hosting a free webinar: Health is a Calling Card: Tools to Build Health into Safe Routes to School
Thursday, November 1
2-3pm eastern/1-2pm central/12-1pm mountain/11am-12pm pacific
Register today! https://attendee.gotowebinar.com/register/3974616131758645248
Safe Routes to School started with traffic safety, but health is now a stronger calling card for Safe Routes to School. Health champions are becoming strong partners for Safe Routes to School at federal, state and local levels. Learn about how to involve health champions in your programs and how to include health in all policies related to Safe Routes to School.
We'll hear from the following speakers on how health champions and Safe Routes to School advocates are working together to get kids more physically active and improve our communities:
Robert Ping, Technical Assistance Director, Safe Routes to School National Partnership -- Robert will explain why we should all have health policies in our communities and the importance of including health in your Safe Routes to School planning.
Candace Rutt, Ph.D., Health Psychologist, Division of Nutrition, Physical Activity, and Obesity at the Centers for Disease Control -- Learn what a Health Impact Assessment (HIA) is and why it's a good tool. Candace will also explain the different levels of HIAs and how to conduct one.
Fred Boykin, President of Bicycle South, and Decatur City Commissioner -- Fred will share the story about a Rapid Response HIA, and explain the process he undertook. Learn about HIA planning steps and the follow-through that resulted in changes for the city of Decatur.
Brian Fellows, Safe Routes to School Coordinator at the Arizona Department of Transportation -- Hear an overview of the Active School Neighborhood Checklist (ASNC) and how it differs from a standard walkabout. Brian will share the process he used in his efforts to create an ASNC.
This webinar is the 7th in a series of monthly webinars on topics related to Safe Routes to School and other policy and program initiatives that can increase walking and bicycling to school and in daily life.
We encourage you to forward this announcement to your networks and listserves.
Safe Routes Coaching Action Network Webinar - October 23rd (1pm ET)
Get Inspired: Ideas to Refresh, Re-energize, and Reframe Safe Routes to School
Join Mark Fenton, a widely recognized and vocal advocate for the importance of walking and bicycling in communities, for a big picture look at the current state of Safe Routes to School. What have we achieved? Where are we headed? How can we get there? And how does SRTS fit into the larger healthy communities movement? Mark will share his perspective on what he has observed in the world of SRTS, specifically discussing how key partner groups see SRTS and what we should be prioritizing moving forward. This webinar will leave you inspired, energized and ready to take your SRTS work to the next level. Mark Fenton is a national public health, planning, and transportation consultant, and an adjunct associate professor at Tufts University in Boston. This webinar is part of the SRTS Webinar Series, developed by America Walks and the National Center for Safe Routes to School. For more information contact Michelle Gulley at mgu...@americawalks.org https://www1.gotomeeting.com/register/388697913
National Center Releases Resource on Estimating Environmental Health Impacts of SRTS Programs
The National Center for Safe Routes to School has released a new resource that highlights methods for estimating the environmental health impacts of local Safe Routes to School (SRTS) programs.
Many SRTS programs want to understand the potential environmental health impacts of their work – reducing carbon dioxide emissions, for example, or improving local air quality. “Methods for Estimating the Environmental Health Impacts of SRTS Programs” provides an overview of the connection between SRTS programs and environmental health, a formula for estimating the environmental health impact of a program’s activities, and examples of how real-life SRTS programs have estimated their environmental health impact.
Representatives from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the Environmental Protection Agency served as an expert panel for the development of the resource.
“The five case studies in the resource represent different approaches to exploring the environmental health impacts of SRTS programs,” said Lauren Marchetti, director of the National Center for Safe Routes to School.
“Using a variety of tools and methodologies, they quantified information like miles walked and biked, calories burned, pounds of carbon dioxide not emitted, and gallons of gasoline saved. Other SRTS programs can use these examples to help plan their own program measurement studies.”
To view the resource, visit www.saferoutesinfo.org/program-tools/environmental-health
State of Illinois Bicycling Web Portal
The State of Illinois is committed to sustainable, integrated multi-modal transportation and believes that non-motorized transportation initiatives are a critical element of this mission. Recognizing that sustainable transportation requires a broad-based collaboration between stakeholders in government, education, non-profits, and private industry, the State seeks to develop bicycle policies that promote safe, sustainable, and fiscally responsible bicycling in Illinois. This page serves as your bike map as you cycle through the State of Illinois Bicycling Web Portal subpages… http://www2.illinois.gov/gov/green/Pages/BikeContents.aspx
Cyclist's Bucket List
What, where, and how to ride before you die. The notion that there's a finite list of activities that can make your life as a cyclist complete is, of course, foolish. What one rider sees as a mammoth achievement (say, riding a century) will be but child's play to another. Indeed, a bucket list is a wholly personal accounting of what one wants to get out of their lifetime on a bike. No right answers. No wrong answers. Just your list. At the same time, inspiring ideas are never a bad thing. That's especially true when talking about a world as wide open as cycling is, with its multiple disciplines and near limitless destinations. So, to stoke the coals of your imagination, we present the Nissan Innovation for Endurance Cycling Bucket List. It includes a top five that we think will speak to nearly anyone who's ever ridden (or plans to ride) a bike, plus a lengthy list of personal bucket list items gleaned from a roundtable of cycling aficionados, racers, coaches, journalists, and industry veterans. Read on, and then start dreaming — and planning — your next cycling adventure… http://innovationforendurance.msn.com/articles/detail/cycling/254162624
Cardboard bicycle can change the world, says Israeli inventor
By Ori Lewis and Lianne Gross | Reuters – Mon, Oct 15, 2012
MOSHAV AHITUV, Israel (Reuters) - A bicycle made almost entirely of cardboard has the potential to change transportation habits from the world's most congested cities to the poorest reaches of Africa, its Israeli inventor says. Izhar Gafni, 50, is an expert in designing automated mass-production lines. He is an amateur cycling enthusiast who for years toyed with an idea of making a bicycle from cardboard. He told Reuters during a recent demonstration that after much trial and error, his latest prototype has now proven itself and mass production will begin in a few months. "I was always fascinated by applying unconventional technologies to materials and I did this on several occasions. But this was the culmination of a few things that came together. I worked for four years to cancel out the corrugated cardboard's weak structural points," Gafni said… http://news.yahoo.com/cardboard-bicycle-change-world-says-israeli-inventor-090732689.html?fb_action_ids=4171773087231&fb_action_types=og.recommends&fb_source=other_multiline&action_object_map=
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 (THIS IS CHANGING!!! STAY TUNED!)
Consider Biking Staff, http://www.considerbiking.org/contact/ 614-447-8894
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Ira S. Weiss
11735 Eddington
Pickerington, OH 43147
iwe...@insight.rr.com (THIS IS CHANGING!!! STAY TUNED!)