Biking and Walking News 5-11-12
Ira Weiss
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Biking & Walking News
Ira S. Weiss, Editor May 11, 2012
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ANNOUNCEMENTS
Data Released on Congress' Experiment in Nonmotorized Transportation
Hello All this is the latest from our communications team I thought many of you would find this report and the numbers interesting and very useful!
Some of you may be tuned into this already, but the data from the Nonmotorized Transportation Pilot Program (NTPP) – a Congress-mandated experiment into the impact of dedicated investment in bike/ped infrastructure in 4 communities – has just been released.
Congress now has the report, and LaHood commented on it, describing it as an "eye-opening report on the value of investing in nonmotorized transportation."
The results are quite stunning. http://www.fhwa.dot.gov/environment/bicycle_pedestrian/ntpp/2012_report/
We have prepared a blog post, and a press release (attached), and are hoping you can help spread it through your local networks, friends, newspapers and bloggers. 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
· A conservatively estimated 32 million driving miles averted in the four communities.
· An average increase of 49 percent more bicyclists between 2007 and 2010. This compares to a national increase of 15 percent between 2001 and 2009. That is, in just three years these pilot communities were able to achieve triple the expansion in biking activity the rest of America took eight years to achieve.
· 22 percent more pedestrians between 2007 and 2010. This compares to a national increase of 20 percent between 2001 and 2009. That is, in just three years these communities were able to surpass the growth of walking activity the rest of America took eight years to achieve.
· The mode shift in these communities - how many people switched from cars to biking and walking for trips - far outstripped the national average for the same period.
Over the next few weeks we are keen to see as many communities as possible talking about the NTPP, and its remarkable successes. It is an important story to tell right now, in light of the Transportation Bill debate.
Your help in spreading this significant news is much appreciated!
Stay in touch,
Eric Oberg
Manager of Trail Development
Rails-to-Trails Conservancy
Midwest Regional Office
33-C North High Street
Canal Winchester, OH 43110
Office- 614-837-6782
Fax- 614-837-6783
RIDES
Bicycle tour starts Saturday
May. 6, 2012
CHILLICOTHE --The Ohio Highway Patrol is reminding drivers in the area to be extra careful Mother's Day weekend. The advisement is a result of the annual Tour of the Scioto River Valley bicycle tour starting Saturday and continuing May 13. About 3,000 bicyclists will leave Columbus at dawn Saturday and make the 12-hour ride to Portsmouth. The cyclists then will make the return trip May 13. The riders will come into Chillicothe along Ohio 104 and head to a rest point at Yoctangee Park. In Pike County, riders will be along Ohio 104 and Ohio 73. Troopers will be on patrol for the event in an effort to increase safety. Anyone needing to report and emergency or other problems during TOSRV should call (740) 354-2888 or (877) PATROL… http://www.chillicothegazette.com/article/20120506/NEWS01/205060327/Bicycle-tour-starts-Saturday
2012 Change Gears: Ride a Bike - Ride for Your Health
Come and participate in the third annual community bike event to promote physical activity and use of the T.J. Evans, Panhandle and other trails in Licking County. The event will take place on Saturday, June 2, 2012. Check-in will be available at both the Newark campus of Central Ohio Technical College and the Ohio State University at Newark - adjacent to the bike trail and at the west end of the T.J. Evans Trail in Johnstown. Check-in will begin at 8:00am and staff will remain on-site until noon. There will be distance rides, a bike skills rodeo and healthy snacks. Everyone is invited to participate, including families and long-distance bikers. There is no cost to join in the fun. Donations to sustain this event will be accepted at the event. We are pleased to inform everyone the bridge near Cherry Valley Road is open!! Also, the City of Newark has completed the downtown connector so riders could ride from Johnstown all the way to Nashport . . . if they are up to the challenge. Registration is free and allows us to better anticipate the number of riders. 8:00am - Check-in Begins at OSU-Newark/COTC Campus and Johnstown. 9:00am - Youth Bike Skills Rodeo at OSU-Newark/COTC Campus. Free bicycle helmets and healthy snacks
at OSU-Newark/COTC Campus and Johnstown (while supplies last). Shirts available for $10 donation. Call 740-349-6535 for more information. If you plan to join us on June 2nd, click here to register online. http://www.phplc.org/Default.aspx?pageId=372967
Co-founder: Pelotonia about the quest for a cure
By LORI WINCE
ThisWeek Community News Wednesday May 9, 2012 4:59 PM
When Tom Lennox was diagnosed with colon cancer in June 2007, he wasn't thinking about founding Pelotonia, a fundraiser that has raised more than $25 million for cancer research in three years. "I was just a regular boring guy," he said. The New Albany resident will tell the story of his battle with cancer and the founding of Pelotonia at 7 p.m. Thursday, May 10, at the Jeanne B. McCoy Community Center for the Arts, 100 W. Dublin-Granville Road in New Albany. Lennox, 45, said he was working in investor relations for Abercrombie & Fitch when he was diagnosed. He went through chemotherapy, radiation treatments, surgery and more chemotherapy before he was given a clean bill of health in September 2007. "I was very lucky," he said. "It was (in the early stages) and I was told after surgery that they got everything. The chemo after was a precaution." Throughout his treatments, Lennox stayed in shape by riding his bicycle. He said he was inspired by professional cyclist and cancer survivor Lance Armstrong, and he wanted to be as fit as possible. "I wanted to be fit for surgery, to present the best specimen for the surgeon," he said. "Plus, training was good for my head." In 2008, Lennox met Michael Caligiuri, chief executive officer of the James Cancer Hospital and Solove Research Institute at Ohio State University. Lennox said Caligiuri told him his idea for a fundraiser that already had corporate sponsorship and was related to cycling… http://www.thisweeknews.com/content/stories/newalbany/news/2012/05/07/co-founder-pelotonia-about-the-quest-for-a-cure.html
SAFETY
Half-baked
Confused anti-texting law creates problems for police and for motorists
Monday May 7, 2012 5:38 AM
Fiddling with electronic devices while driving is dangerous whether the motorist is 16, 18 or 46. Creating age distinctions in state law sends the terrible message that there is a difference. But that’s what the General Assembly is poised to do with Ohio House Bill 99. The Senate passed it on Thursday, and now the House must decide whether to accept the Senate’s changes. Sen. Bill Seitz, R-Cincinnati, might have been right, unfortunately, when he said on Wednesday that the bill “does a fine job of doing nothing.” This most-recent version says that, though texting will be banned for all drivers, for adults, it will be treated as a secondary offense. That means that the only way a police officer could pull over a driver and cite him for texting is if the office also sees the motorist committing some other offense that merits a stop. As Jay McDonald, president of the Fraternal Order of Police, said: “It’s an after-the-fact kind of enforcement. It would force law enforcement to seek search warrants in cases of bad crashes to see if they were texting. For a minor misdemeanor, that’s a lot of extra hoops.” But also under the bill, a 16- or 17-year-old driver can be cited for using any kind of handheld electronic device — a phone, a GPS unit, a tablet, an MP3 player — while the car is in motion. A police officer needs only to see it happening to have cause to stop that vehicle. So law-enforcement officers will have to be age-guessers. Drivers in their 20s who look young could be harassed again and again. Teens who look older might get away with texting. And while teen drivers are far more likely to crash as a result of distraction, that doesn’t mean that distracted adult drivers are not a danger. This proposed ban is the worst of both worlds: hardly enforceable on some drivers and an unfair hassle for others. The behavior certainly is dangerous enough and pervasive enough for the state to intervene, but it should treat all drivers equally. http://www.dispatch.com/content/stories/editorials/2012/05/07/half-baked.html
Ohio Senate passes texting ban
May. 4, 2012
Written by
Ann Sanner
Associated Press
COLUMBUS -- Ohio drivers would be banned from texting, and teens couldn't use their cellphones, iPads or other electronics behind the wheel under a bill the Ohio Senate passed Thursday. Some state senators argued the legislation chips away at personal freedom, while others said it doesn't go far enough to target distracted driving. State Sen. Bill Seitz, who opposed the measure, freely admitted: "I make it a practice never to vote for a law that I might be guilty of." The Senate passed the measure on a 25-8 vote. The House overwhelmingly approved an earlier version of the bill, and representatives will have to agree to the Senate's changes. Texting while driving already is prohibited in 37 states, according to the Governors Highway Safety Association. An additional six states prohibit text messaging by new drivers. Other states also ban novice drivers from using cellphones. Ohio's bill would make texting behind the wheel a minor misdemeanor, with possible fines of $150. The measure wouldn't trump city ordinances on texting or cellphone use that might be more strict… http://www.lancastereaglegazette.com/article/20120504/NEWS01/205040311/-1/NLETTER01/Ohio-Senate-passes-texting-ban?source=nletter-news
Senate OKs texting ban for drivers
If House agrees, minors won’t be able to use any handheld device
By Jim Siegel
The Columbus Dispatch Friday May 4, 2012 7:50 AM
Hoping to keep drivers focused on the road, a bipartisan Senate voted yesterday to outlaw texting while driving and ban drivers younger than 18 from using any handheld electronic devices for typing or talking. Sen. Tom Patton, R-Strongsville, who pushed to get the texting bill moving in the Senate after it stalled for nearly a year, noted that Ohio’s seat-belt usage rate grew to more than 85 percent after making that a secondary offense. “It’s not just your own civil liberties,” he said. “When you cause an accident, now your ill-advised activity has killed or seriously hurt somebody else.” Under the bill, texting while driving would be a secondary offense for adults, meaning an officer would first have to cite the driver for another offense. However, the ban on handheld devices for those younger than 18, including cellphones and tablet computers, would be a primary offense, if the House agrees with Senate changes and the bill is signed by the governor. The bill would allow teen drivers to use voice-activated navigation devices, as long as they’re not handheld… http://www.dispatch.com/content/stories/local/2012/05/04/senate-oks-texting-ban-for-drivers.html
Letter: Don’t limit driving restrictions to minors
Tuesday May 8, 2012 3:12 AM
It is unrealistic for Ohioans to assume that incompetence, stupidity and risk-taking that endanger others are qualities that suddenly end or disappear at age 18 (“Senate OKs texting ban for drivers,” Dispatch article, Friday). No one should be allowed to text or use a hand-held phone while driving. http://www.dispatch.com/content/stories/editorials/2012/05/08/dont-limit-driving-restrictions-to-minors.html
Letter: Driving with 1 hand puts all in danger
Thursday May 10, 2012 3:11 AM
Regarding the proposed bill to ban driver texting, why discriminate against those younger than 18 (“Senate OKs texting ban for drivers,” Dispatch article, Friday)? Would someone pass a driving test with one hand on the steering wheel? When I took my driving test, I was about to turn a corner with one hand. The officer in the passenger's seat warned: “Both hands on the wheel.” Driving with one hand is wrong at any age. http://www.dispatch.com/content/stories/editorials/2012/05/10/driving-with-1-hand-puts-all-in-danger.html
ODD MARKINGS
Strict rules govern strange roadway symbols
Engineers say research and science go into the symbols they paint on our streets. But sometimes what they're trying to tell us isn't so clear.
By Robert Vitale
The Columbus Dispatch Thursday May 10, 2012 7:09 AM
The ancient Egyptians had nothing on modern American engineers. We drive every day over signs and symbols designed to keep order on our streets (or at least keep us from sideswiping each other at regular intervals). These roadway hieroglyphics — broken yellow lines, thick white bars, huge arrows pointing left or right — are firmly embedded in our conscience. But some of the stuff painted on central Ohio’s streets requires true deciphering skills… http://www.dispatch.com/content/stories/local/2012/05/10/strict-rules-govern-strange-roadway-symbols.html
Texting ban step in right direction
May. 9, 2012
... In Columbus, the Ohio Senate passed a bill that would ban texting while driving and focused on the most frequent users of electronic messaging -- teenagers. ... The texting bill also would prohibit those younger than 18 not only from using cellphones, but iPads or other electronic devices, while they are behind the wheel, unless there's an emergency. For teens, a violation would be a primary offense, meaning officers could pull them over if police observed them using a device. ... Adult drivers would be barred from texting, too, but an officer could only cite them if they are first pulled over for another offense. There would be difficulties in enforcing a texting ban. It could be hard, for example, for an officer to determine if a driver is texting or simply dialing a phone. And it's not so easy to determine if someone is 17, 18 or 19. Still, our lawmakers are doing the right thing by pushing forward. There are many things that can distract a driver, but using a cellphone while driving has contributed to hundreds of crashes, which have taken lives and caused serious injuries… http://www.lancastereaglegazette.com/article/20120509/OPINION04/205090318/Texting-ban-step-right-direction
Thefts a problem at county parking lots
By Chuck Martin, Mount Vernon News
May 4, 2012 12:10 pm EDT
GAMBIER — Six thefts from cars have been reported since February at the parking lots for the Kokosing Gap Trail, the Kokosing Water Trail and the Brown Family Environmental Center. The lots are close to each other on Laymon Road. One theft was reported in February, three in March and two in April, Capt. Dave Shaffer of the Knox County Sheriff’s Office reported. One was listed as occurring at the “Kenyon Nature Center,” while the others seem to have been at the bike path and canoe launch parking lots. The thefts were of personal items left in the cars, Shaffer said, usually purses or other items that were visible in the vehicles. Kenyon Security said the sheriff’s office has made them aware of the thefts. The college security office works with the sheriff’s office to keep an eye on the Kokosing Gap Trail lot. Knox County Park District and Kokosing Gap Trail personnel also keep and eye on the lots whenever they are in the area, said Park District Director Kim Marshall. Shaffer said he has not seen any similar activity at any other park locations. The only advice he could offer people is the normal advice for parking a vehicle anywhere: Don’t leave any valuables in plain sight, and remove valuable items before parking in isolated areas if possible. http://www.mountvernonnews.com/local/12/05/04/thefts-a-problem-at-county-parking-lots
Eating and driving: an unacknowledged danger?
By Channtal Fleischfresser | May 7, 2012, 4:00 AM PDT
We’re all aware of the perils of drinking and driving, as well as the dangers of texting behind the wheel. But what about eating? Far from being frowned upon, the entire drive-thru industry caters to the behavior. But a recent study examining driver reaction times found that response times of drivers eating behind the wheel increased by 44 percent, while drivers drinking from a bottle or can behind the wheel saw response times increase by 22 percent. By comparison, drivers texting while driving saw a 37 percent increase in response times, and people driving with a blood alcohol level of 0.08 experienced 12.5 percent increases. The study, which controlled conditions using a driving simulator, also found that drivers drinking while driving were 18 percent more likely to need to make corrections in their steering in order to stay within their lane. According to the researchers, the multitasking required from having to unwrap food or drink from a bottle diverted the driver’s attention from steering the car… http://www.smartplanet.com/blog/transportation/eating-and-driving-an-unacknowledged-danger/1644?tag=nl.e660
Study quantifies teen drivers’ risk
Passengers add to odds of fatalities
By Ashley Halsey III
THE WASHINGTON POST Wednesday May 9, 2012 6:58 AM
WASHINGTON — For generations, teenagers have been the most-dangerous drivers on the road, crashing almost four times more often than older drivers. A study released yesterday quantifies for the first time in a decade how their risk of a fatal crash multiplies when they have other teenagers in the car. It increases by almost half when a 16- or 17-year-old driver has one teenage passenger; it doubles with two teen passengers; and it quadruples with three or more young passengers. Using federal fatality statistics, the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety provided data that will support parents who have forbidden their teenage children from driving with other teens. “We know that carrying young passengers is a huge risk, but it’s also a preventable one,” said the foundation’s president, Peter Kissinger… http://www.dispatch.com/content/stories/national_world/2012/05/09/study-quantifies-teen-drivers-risk.html
CEA Responds To NTSB Recommendation
Arlington, Va. - The Consumer Electronics Association (CEA) addressed the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) and its Recommendation H-11-47, which encourages the development of technology features that disable the functions of portable electronics devices within reach of the driver when a vehicle is in motion… http://www.cfmediaview.com/lp1.aspx?v=6_610504876_30679_28
HEALTH
Editorial
No Longer Just ‘Adult-Onset’
Published: May 6, 2012
These findings provide more evidence of why the country must get the obesity epidemic under control — to improve health and to curb soaring health care costs. Only two decades ago Type 2 diabetes was called “adult-onset diabetes” because it was seldom found in young people, who suffered primarily from Type 1, in which the patient’s immune system destroys cells that make insulin, a hormone needed to control blood sugar levels. Type 2 — thought to be brought on by obesity and inactivity in many people — has increased alarmingly and accounts for almost a fifth of newly diagnosed cases in young people… http://www.nytimes.com/2012/05/07/opinion/no-longer-just-adult-onset.html?_r=1&nl=todaysheadlines&emc=edit_th_20120507
No end to US obesity epidemic, forecast shows
By LAURAN NEERGAARD
AP
updated 5/7/2012 12:13:32 PM ET
WASHINGTON — More bad news about Americans' waistlines: They're only going to get bigger. Already, about a third of people are obese. By 2030, it is estimated 42 percent of the population will be. The latest government data show that obesity
is leveling off after big rises in earlier decades. But the new study finds even small continuing rises will add up. Duke University researchers predict that by 2030, 11 percent of people will be severely obese, roughly 100 pounds or more overweight. That's double today's rate. The obesity epidemic is fueling diabetes, heart disease and other ailments — and adds significantly to the nation's rising health care bill. http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/47324248/ns/health-diet_and_nutrition/#.T6gjU8WkA4c
42% of Americans could be obese by 2030
By Elizabeth Lopatto
BLOOMBERG NEWS Tuesday May 8, 2012 6:54 AM
WASHINGTON, D.C. — The obesity rate in the United States might rise to 42 percent by 2030 if nothing changes, a new report says. Currently, about a third of the U.S. population is obese. Preventing such an increase might save about $550 billion in medical costs during the next 20 years, said Eric Finkelstein, the study’s author and an associate research professor at Duke University. The findings were presented yesterday at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s Weight of the Nation obesity conference. There was some good news: The surge in obesity might be slowing. Still, in addition to those who are obese, two-thirds of U.S. adults are overweight , the CDC said, and the study’s findings predict that the number of people who are severely obese — about 100 pounds overweight — will double to 11 percent by 2030… http://www.dispatch.com/content/stories/national_world/2012/05/08/42-of-americans-could-be-obese-by-2030.html
Why the Campaign to Stop America's Obesity Crisis Keeps Failing
May 7, 2012 1:00 AM EDT
The nation’s most powerful anti-obesity groups are teaming up for a new HBO documentary—but it pushes the same tired advice. Gary Taubes on the research they're ignoring. Most of my favorite factoids about obesity are historical ones, and they don’t make it into the new, four-part HBO documentary on the subject, The Weight of the Nation. Absent, for instance, is the fact that the very first childhood-obesity clinic in the United States was founded in the late 1930s at Columbia University by a young German physician, Hilde Bruch. As Bruch later told it, her inspiration was simple: she arrived in New York in 1934 and was “startled” by the number of fat kids she saw—“really fat ones, not only in clinics, but on the streets and subways, and in schools.” What makes Bruch’s story relevant to the obesity problem today is that this was New York in the worst year of the Great Depression, an era of bread lines and soup kitchens, when 6 in 10 Americans were living in poverty. The conventional wisdom these days—promoted by government, obesity researchers, physicians, and probably your personal trainer as well—is that we get fat because we have too much to eat and not enough reasons to be physically active. But then why were the PC- and Big Mac–-deprived Depression-era kids fat? How can we blame the obesity epidemic on gluttony and sloth if we easily find epidemics of obesity throughout the past century in populations that barely had food to survive and had to work hard to earn it..? http://www.thedailybeast.com/newsweek/2012/05/06/why-the-campaign-to-stop-america-s-obesity-crisis-keeps-failing.html
Schools key to fighting U.S. obesity, report says
Fast-food zoning limits, tax on soda among proposals
By Lauran Neergaard
ASSOCIATED PRESS Wednesday May 9, 2012 8:12 AM
WASHINGTON — Fighting obesity will require changes everywhere Americans live, work, play and learn, says a major new report that outlines dozens of options — including building more-walkable neighborhoods, placing zoning limits on fast-food restaurants and selling more-healthful snacks in sports arenas. But schools should be a national focus because that’s where children spend most of their day, eat a lot of their daily calories — and should be better taught how to eat better and stay fit, the influential Institute of Medicine said yesterday. Among the most controversial of the recommendations: Communities could consider a tax on sugary sodas and offer price breaks for healthful beverage choices. That prompted outrage from the American Beverage Association… To make physical activity routine, communities should be designed with safe places to walk and exercise… http://www.dispatch.com/content/stories/national_world/2012/05/09/schools-key-to-fighting-u-s--obesity-report-says.html
Schools key in war on obesity, report says
By Susan Heavey
REUTERS Thursday May 10, 2012 6:05 AM
WASHINGTON — A coalition of health advocacy groups yesterday urged the U.S. government to put more resources into school-based efforts to improve health and fight obesity. The recommendations by the Healthy Schools Campaign and Trust for America’s Health were backed by more than 70 groups, including the American Cancer Society and the National Education Association. In a report, they urged the Department of Education to offer grants to promote healthy-living initiatives, fund staff training to include wellness programs, support school efforts aimed at nutrition and exercise, and track results of such programs. “The link between health and learning is clear. Healthy, active and well-nourished children are more likely to attend school, be engaged and be ready to learn. Often, however, the school setting does not support health,” the groups said… http://www.dispatch.com/content/stories/national_world/2012/05/10/schools-key-in-war-on-obesity-report-says.html
LOCAL NEWS
City plans $4 million street maintenance program
By JENNIFER NOBLIT
ThisWeek Community News Wednesday May 9, 2012 2:13 PM
Nearly $4 million in work will be going on around Dublin this summer. Dublin City Council members last month approved a $3.98 million contract with Strawser Paving Co. for the annual street maintenance program. City Engineer Paul Hammersmith said the city laid aside $4.36 million for the annual work that includes repaving and resurfacing, path maintenance, parking lot maintenance, guard rail replacement and pedestrian tunnel maintenance. The bid from Strawser Paving Co. came in 5 percent under the city's estimate. Work planned for the annual maintenance program includes the resurfacing of Coffman Road between Emerald Parkway/Coffman Park Drive and Brand Road. "That'll include sharrows on the pavement," Hammersmith said. Sharrows, which is a marking on the pavement reminding drivers to share the road with cyclists, were tested on Emerald Parkway last year and will be added to Coffman Road, per a recommendation from the Bicycle Advisory Task Force… http://www.thisweeknews.com/content/stories/dublin/news/2012/05/09/city-plans-4-million-street-maintenance-program.html
Dublin eyes intersection project
By JENNIFER NOBLIT
ThisWeek Community News Friday May 4, 2012 8:14 PM
Dublin is working toward a solution to traffic congestion at the intersection of Dublin and Glick roads, although how soon relief will come remains to be seen. Dublin recently submitted a midterm solution for the intersection to the Ohio Department of Transportation, who has most of the jurisdiction for the intersection. Dublin Engineer Paul Hammersmith said the city did preliminary engineering at the intersection and the proposal to ODOT came from that work. "The mid-term solution proposed by Dublin includes left turn lanes in each direction, pedestrian facilities and profile adjustments for southbound Dublin Road to improve visibility," a recent staff report to council said. "Reducing this 'crest' north of the intersection will improve safety by allowing drivers to see traffic backups sooner, improving their chances to avoid rear-end collisions. The pedestrian environment will include curb ramps, crosswalks and pedestrian walk signals." Roundabouts were considered for the intersection, Hammersmith said, but aren't viable. "This probably is the best solution for right now," he said. "We looked at a roundabout, but it's difficult in a confined area with all the adjoining properties… http://www.thisweeknews.com/content/stories/marysville/news/2012/05/04/city-eyes-dublin-glick-intersection-project.html
Bike path to become part of coast-to-coast route
(by Kristy Zurbrick, Madison Editor - May 08, 2012)
The paved bike path that runs through Madison County could soon pull triple duty. On May 3, London Council members voiced their support for the path’s inclusion in a proposed bike route known as United States Bike Route 50 (USBR50) set to run from Washington D.C. to San Francisco. The Roberts Pass/Prairie Grass Trail already stands as its own cross-county path and as part of the larger Ohio To Erie Trail between Cleveland and Cincinnati. The path picks up in South Charleston in Clark County, passes through London, and flows into the new Camp Chase Trail at the Franklin County line. “I’ve noticed a lot more bicycle activity through town just with the routes we have now,” said London Councilman John Stahl. “(USBR50) could bring some tourists to London from out of state. I think it’s a great idea,” said Councilman Pat Closser… http://www.columbusmessenger.com/NC/0/11418.html
Norwich Township
Resident appeals to trustees for bike, walking paths
By KEVIN CORVO
ThisWeek Community News Wednesday May 9, 2012 4:18 PM
A Norwich Township resident wants a bike path and a walking path to connect residents of Fishinger Boulevard east of Dublin Road to Mill Run, as well as similar paths on Dublin Road south of Fishinger Boulevard. Laurie Dougherty lives on a small section of Fishinger Boulevard between Dublin Road and the Scioto River. She and her husband, Chad, attended the May 1 meeting of the Norwich Township trustees and asked them to consider building bike and walking paths. "I work a mile away and I can't (safely) walk to work or ride a bike," said Dougherty, adding that motorists typically exceed the speed limit on the stretch of Fishinger Boulevard in front of her residence. "I'm also (less than a half-mile) from the river and I can't safely (walk or bike) there," she said. Dougherty pointed to such paths on Trueman Boulevard as an example of what she hopes to see on sections of Fishinger Boulevard and Dublin Road. But Norwich Township Trustee Larry Earman said such a project was "not on our radar." Earman said when the Franklin County Engineer's Office widened Fishinger Boulevard, bike and walking paths were considered, but that plan was nixed when concerns were raised about the number of private rights of way that would have been required. Area residents already had surrendered private-property frontage for road widening. Dougherty told trustees she did not have a problem ceding right of way, but trustees challenged her whether a significant number of other people might not want to trade frontage for a bike and walking path. Trustee Chuck Buck said while he supported the idea, he did not know how it would be funded or whether a majority of affected residents would support it. Buck recommended that Dougherty acquire signatures on a petition and then approach the Franklin County Engineer's Office and the Franklin County commissioners with her proposal. Trustee Tim Roberts said he also supported exploring the idea of such paths on the two roads… http://www.thisweeknews.com/content/stories/hilliard/news/2012/05/09/norwich-township-resident-appeals-to-trustees-for-bike-walking-paths.html
City survey under way; sidewalk repairs to begin
By BRETT NUCKLES
ThisWeek Community News Wednesday May 9, 2012 5:24 PM
Powell residents are encouraged to stay on the line if they receive a call asking them about the city this month. A planned telephone survey of city residents, conducted by public opinion research firm Sapperstein and Associates, began Tuesday, May 8. More than 400 of Powell's registered voters will be called and given the opportunity to weigh in on issues concerning the community and city government. Residents will be asked to give their opinions on which aspects of Powell are most important to them, what improvements should be made to the community, what ballot issues should be supported, the overall performance of City Council and more. Two similar surveys were conducted in 2008 and 2010. "They provide results to (council), which can assist in the decision-making process regarding capital improvements funding," said City Manager Steve Lutz at a May 1 council meeting. Also at last week's meeting, council approved plans to repair residential sidewalks this spring. Council members voted 7-0 on a resolution to repair sidewalks in front of up to 42 residences. Residents are responsible for maintaining the sidewalks in front of privately owned parcels. They were notified of the need for repairs earlier this month. Council tabled the plan at an April 17 meeting to give residents more time to appeal the decision. No residents came forward to appeal, Lutz said. Sidewalks included in the plan were deemed to be below city standards after a survey by the engineering department. The parcels in question are located in the southwest portion of the city, mainly in the Lakes of Powell subdivision… http://www.thisweeknews.com/content/stories/olentangy/news/2012/05/08/city-survey-under-way-sidewalk-repairs-to-begin.html
From 50 mph to 45 mph
Pickerington council OKs speed-limit reduction on 256
By NATE ELLIS
ThisWeek Community News Wednesday May 9, 2012 5:44 PM
Pickerington's busiest and most accident-prone roadway will soon see its speed limit reduced to 45 mph. Pickerington City Council May 1 approved the final reading of legislation to reduce the speed limit on state Route 256 from 50 mph to 45 mph. The move, according to city officials, is being made to improve safety on the roadway, portions of which see more than 40,000 vehicles daily. It also is designed to reduce crashes on Route 256, which according to Pickerington City Engineer Greg Bachman, each year averages 166 accidents between Interstate 70 and Diley Road. "The 50 mph speed limit was a remnant of when the amount of traffic on state Route 256 was much less," Bachman said. "With today's volume of traffic, much of the time vehicles cannot flow at 50 mph," he said. "Lowering the speed limit to 45 mph will result in less variation in speed between vehicles. "This will help to decrease the amount of accidents and result in a safer road for all of our residents," Bachman said. Council passed the final reading of the speed limit ordinance without comment. It will go into effect once the city posts new signs along the roadway, which won't be until May 31 or later… http://www.thisweeknews.com/content/stories/pickerington/news/2012/05/09/council-oks-speed-limit-reduction-on-256.html
Simon Kenton Trail News
The first phase of the Urbana-Bellefontaine Connector of the Simon Kenton Trail will officially open June 03, 2012 AT 2p.m. Further details to follow.
Waterloo Road to close for 10 weeks
May. 4, 2012
VIOLET TOWNSHIP -- The Fairfield County Engineer's Office announced that Waterloo Road (Township Road 197) will be closed for approximately 10 weeks beginning Tuesday for the replacement of the VIO-29 Bridge. This closure will be on Waterloo Road between Winchester Road and Hill Road. Construction will take place between house numbers 6900 and 6976 http://www.lancastereaglegazette.com/article/20120504/NEWS01/205040327/Waterloo-Road-close-10-weeks
SAFE ROUTES TO SCHOOL
Bicycling Magazine Special Report: Banned from Biking to School
Adam Marino wasn't trying to create controversy when he started riding his bike to middle school. But when officials told him to leave his wheels at home, one family's civil disobedience evolved into a national debate on safety, individual rights, and the best way to raise healthy kids. Plus: Learn how to bring a Safe Routes to School program (http://bicycling.r.delivery.net/r/c/r?2.1.3MK.2og.1ApAnG.W8yQd6..H.Ftz2.3TQE.bW89MQ%5f%5fDHAKFRD0) to your town—and read about a school (http://bicycling.r.delivery.net/r/c/r?2.1.3MK.2og.1ApAnG.W8yQd6..H.Ftz4.3TQE.bW89MQ%5f%5fDHGeFRF0) that's making it a priority to get students on bikes. http://bicycling.r.delivery.net/r/c/r?2.1.3MK.2og.1ApAnG.W8yQd6..H.Ftz0.3TQE.bW89MQ%5f%5fDGZWFRB0
SRTS E-News
This month's articles include:
- CDC Gives the National Partnership the “Game Changer” Award at Weight of the Nation
- Weight of the Nation Spotlight Grows
- Local Host Sought for Safe Routes to School National Conference
- The Latest from Capitol Hill
- Safe Routes to School State of the States Quarterly Update
- State Network Project News
- Regional Network Project News
- National Partnership’s Call for Steering Committee Nominations
- Highlighted Blogs
http://www.saferoutespartnership.org/enews/may2012
Prairie Twp. plans two road improvement projects
(by Erin Wick, staff writer - May 08, 2012)
Major road construction is expected to begin in Prairie Township next spring. Stantec Consulting is contracted to plan a road and drainage improvement project on Beacon Hill Road, according to Prairie Township Administrator Tracy Hatmaker. Picked from a pool of eight bids, Stantec is expected to have its plans ready by May 16. An estimated $2.3 million worth of construction on Beacon Hill Road will run from Hilliard Rome Road to about 200-feet east of Buena Vista Road, and will also hit the first 100-feet of streets that intersect with Beacon Hill. The second project on Woodlawn Avenue was first considered in 2009. It was put on hold after the township was twice denied funding assistance through the Ohio Public Works Commission (OPWC). After re-submitting the proposals, funding was granted by the OPWC for both projects in March. The $2.7 million in improvements on Woodlawn Avenue will stretch from West Broad Street south to Sullivant Avenue. Township officials expect Beacon Hill Road and Woodlawn Avenue to undergo simultaneous reconstruction. Existing pavement will be entirely stripped, resurfaced and re-graded, water lines will be replaced and work will be done to curbs, gutters and sidewalks… The sidewalk portion of the Woodlawn Avenue will be funded with a $380,000 grant from the National Center for Safe Routes to School, a federal program that seeks to improve child safety on walkways and roads… http://www.columbusmessenger.com/NC/0/11413.html
Bust out the 2-wheeler, it's Cleveland Bicycle Month (poll)
Published: Sunday, May 06, 2012, 9:02 PM
By Tom Breckenridge, The Plain Dealer
CLEVELAND, Ohio --
If you've wanted to do more rolling on two wheels instead of four, this is a good month to indulge. Bicycling advocates will sponsor dozens of events this month, led by Bike to Work Day on May 18. "We want to encourage people to lose the car for a day or an afternoon and give biking a shot," said Jacob VanSickle, the first, full-time head of Bike Cleveland, the region's leading advocacy group for cycling. Among the activities, Cleveland Metroparks Zoo will open its gates to cyclists on May 12. And there's a Ride of Silence on May 16, a global event to remember those killed or injured on public roads. Though the number of bicyclists is still small locally, there's evidence that numbers are growing. A survey in the summer of 2010 at 17 sites in Cuyahoga County showed bicycling numbers were up 50 percent from 2006… http://www.cleveland.com/metro/index.ssf/2012/05/break_out_the_two-wheeler_its.html
Illinois Bicycle Level of Service Calculator
Bicycle Level of Service (BLOS) and Bicycle Compatibility Index (BCI) are two nationally-used measures of on-road bicyclist comfort level as a function of a roadway's geometry and traffic conditions. The League of Illinois Bicyclists (LIB) developed this calculator for the two published formulas. To calculate BLOS and BCI of a particular roadway section, fill out the following for the typical cross-section. Results will pop up in a new window. Default values will be used for any fields left empty. http://www.bikelib.org/roads/blos/blosform.htm
Forget public transit: In London, an app that rewards you for walking and cycling
By Mark Halper | May 7, 2012, 4:01 PM PDT
An app called re:route can tell you how to get from Tower Bridge to the London Eye to Parliament and Big Ben without touching a subway strap. New billboards at London subway and bus stops might make you think twice before climbing aboard and clogging up the transit system. They’ll read “re:route,” and they’re aimed at getting you to do just that: To get to your destination through some healthier or more environmentally friendly means, like walking or cycling. It’s part of a scheme from American company Recyclebank, which has developed a mobile phone app that shows you alternative means of propelling yourself from, say, Picadilly Circus to the Olympic stadium. Not only does it instruct you, but it also rewards you: Use the system, and you collect points redeemable at various retailers and health clubs. It also shows you how many calories you supposedly burned, and how much CO2 emissions you saved by not using a bus, train, or car… http://www.smartplanet.com/blog/intelligent-energy/forget-public-transit-in-london-an-app-that-rewards-you-for-walking-and-cycling/15674?tag=nl.e660
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