Washtenaw Bicycling & Walking Coalition November-December Newsletter
Bob Krzewinski
Washtenaw Bicycling and Walking Coalition
November-December 2010 Newsletter
WBWC Meetings
WBWC Board Meetings - WBWC Board meetings are held at the Ecology Center (117 N. Division in Ann Arbor - just north of Huron) on the first Thursday of every month.
For previous WBWC Board meeting minutes, visit http://www.wbwc.org/minutes.htm. Bicycle parking is available right behind the Ecology Center.
Local News
WBWC Board And Officer Elections
WBWC Annual Meeting Report
Besides holding Board elections and voting on an amendment to the WBWC Articles of Incorporation, the November 4th WBWC annual membership meeting (at the Corner Brewery in Ypsilanti) had a number of speakers of interest to walkers and cyclists.
WBWC Membership Drive
At the present time the WBWC is conducting a year-end membership renewal, and new member, drive. Please remember that the WBWC is an all volunteer run and all your donations go directly to program activities. And, now that the WBWC is a 501(c)3 IRS recognized non-profit group, all donations are tax-deductible. Any additional donations, beyond the basic membership level, are always greatly appreciated.
Membership Rates
Student: $10
Individual: $25
Family: $35
Contributing: $50
Patron: $100
Member Benefits
In addition to supporting a great organization, members also benefit by receiving discounts at some of our favorite local shops. Just show your card and you can receive the following discounts:
Great Lakes Cycling and Fitness: 10% discount on non-sale accessories
Bivouac: 15% discount on walking and biking related items
Wheels in Motion: 15% discount on non-sale accessories and labor, 10%discount on non-sale bikes
Two Wheel Tango: 10% discount non-sale accessories.
Tortoise and Hare: 10% discount
Running Fit: 10% discount
4th Ave. Birkenstock: 10% off (not including mattresses)
Footprints: 10% discount
Tree Fort Bikes: 10% discount, 5% discount off bikes
Aberdeen Bikes: 10% discount
Early Bird Special
If you renew your membership by DECEMBER 15th, you will be entered into a drawing for one of the following prizes donated by our amazing local business partners…a great holiday gift for you or a gift for someone you love.
$20 gift certificate Great Lakes Cycling and Fitness
$20 off shoes at Tortoise and Hare
4 entries to Running Fitʼs Shamrocks & Shenanigans 5 K run/walk event on March 13th
$20 Gift Certificate to 4th Ave. Birkenstock
$15 gift certificate to Footprints
How To Join
Once we receive your payment, we will mail you your snazzy 2011 WBWC Membership Card.
1) Pay by credit card: Go to www.wbwc.org & click on the “Subscribe” button to pay via
Paypal. The Subscribe button is found on the left hand side of the home page under
the Michigan Complete Streets box.
2) Pay by check: Mail a check, made payable to WBWC, to: WBWC, 117 N. Division Street, Ann Arbor, MI 48104
Grant Award from Michigan Department of Community Health
The WBWC has recently received a grant from the Michigan Department of Community Health for a WBWC pedestrian law education project. The final award to WBWC will be $6,500 ($4,000 from Michigan Department of Community Health) and $2,500 from the Ann Arbor Downtown Development Association (DDA). This does not include the match provided by WBWC ($250), Thompson Reuters ($500 printing in kind for employees), and City of Ann Arbor ($1,000 in kind).
Busy Ann Arbor Intersection Has Latest Pedestran Crossing Signal System
The City of Ann Arbor, working with the Michigan Department of Transportation, has installed a High-intensity Activated crossWalK (HAWK) signal at the corner of Huron Street and Third/Chapin Street in downtown Ann Arbor. This is very near the Ann Arbor YMCA.
AnnArbor.com reported that “This will be the first HAWK-style traffic control device on a state trunkline in Michigan. There are several such signals already in existence throughout the state on local streets, including in Detroit and Oakland County. A HAWK signal provides a protected pedestrian crossing as a way to increase safety. It is used only for pedestrian crossings. It does not control traffic on side streets.
When you wish to cross the street, you push a button activating the HAWK signal. A flashing yellow light warns drivers approaching the crosswalk of a pedestrian wishing to cross. The flashing yellow light is followed by a solid yellow light telling drivers to prepare to stop.The signal then changes to a solid red for drivers to stop at the intersection. At this point, you can cross safely. The solid red signal will then convert to a flashing red signal after a predetermined amount of time, telling drivers to proceed through the intersection when it is clear and safe to do so. The HAWK signal will then go dark. Drivers can continue through the intersection without stopping until the button is again activated.”
To learn more about HAWK signals, visit http://michigan.gov/mdot/0,1607,7-151-9621_11008-240763--,00.html and for a vehicle/driver view of a HAWK system operating visit http://www.a2gov.org/government/publicservices/systems_planning/Transportation/Documents/hawk_signal_vehicleview_mdot_2010.pdf.
The WBWC Ride Around Town (RAT) bicycle rides are held every month both in Ann Arbor, even in the winter, with the goal of not only allowing people to ride in a social setting, but also to demonstrate how cyclists can ride in an urban setting and obey all traffic laws.
Ann Arbor RAT rides start at Plaza Park, Liberty and Division in Ann Arbor at 6pm on the second Friday of each month and are generally five miles in length. Since the RAT rides are a demonstration that biking in an urban environment can be done safely, all participants are asked to follow all traffic regulations, wear helmets, and be fully equipped for legal riding (i.e. lights and reflectors). After each RAT ride, there is usually a social gathering of participants at a local (and warm) restaurant.
Ypsilanti Water Street Trail
On October 30th, the “temporary” walking and biking path along the Huron River in Ypsilanti’s Water Street development area had a grand opening ceremony with this path now being officially open for public use. The trail runs from the Michigan Avenue bridge across the Huron River south to another bridge leading to Waterworks Park and will eventually be the route of the Washtenaw County Border To Border Trail. Trailhead parking is available on the southeast side of Michigan Avenue bridge, as well as in Waterworks Park. For more information on the trail, including a trail map, visit the “Water Street Trail” link on the Friends of the Border To Border Trail webpage (www.bordertoborder.org) or visit the Trail’s Facebook page at http://www.facebook.com/home.php?#!/TheWaterStreetTrail.
County Approves Road “Diets” For Eastern County
In early November the Washtenaw County Road Commission approved road “diets” (changing a 4-lane road to 3-lanes – two traffic lanes, a center turn lane, and two bike lanes) for section of both Golfside Road (Pittsfield Township) and Ford Boulevard (Ypsilanti Township). Representatives from the WBWC spoke in favor of the conversions at the Road Commission meeting. The Golfside Road conversion road diet section will be from Packard Road north to Clark Road. The Ford Boulevard road diet area will be from the bridge over Michigan Avenue south to Ecorse Road.
Dexter Village Council Approves Complete Streets
The Dexter Village Council unanimously adopted a Complete Streets Ordinance in late November designed to promote safer travel for pedestrians, motorists and bicyclists. This makes the 4th Complete Streets ordinance in Michigan along with over a dozen resolutions.
As reported by Ann Arbor.com, the ordinance was developed by the American Association of Retired People and members of the Walking and Bicycling Task Force, which include the Michigan Department of Community Health, the Governor’s Council on Physical Fitness, the Michigan Department of Transportation and Consumers Energy.
“The goal of developing a complete streets ordinance and policy will be to continue planning, designing and engineering the village’s transportation network to serve all ages and abilities through the inclusion of all elements of transportation,”said Allison Bishop, community development manager.
Ann Arbor Pedi-Cab Service Expands
AnnArbor.com reports that a local pedal powered taxi service around Ann Arbor will be expanding it’s services come springtime. Calvin Schemanski and Josh Lycka, owners of Ann Arbor Pedicab LLC plan to transport football fans, visitors and late-night revelers around town in a small carriage powered by a bicycle. The two students introduced Ann Arbor Pedicab to Ann Arbor in 2009 on a limited basis and expanded coverage this past fall to three days a week, Thursday through Saturday, until inclement weather shut the taxi service down for the season.
Ann Arbor Pedicab has a fleet of three vehicles and have six part-time employees. What started as a joke grew into a business plan during the winter break of their freshmen year of college, Schemanski said. “We were working in the kitchen of a (Petoskey) restaurant and we were talking about how we wanted to do something different that summer. We thought a pedicab would be a lot of fun.”
The pedicab business has become a laboratory for the owner’s classroom learning too. They have taken lessons in accounting, marketing and advertising to drive strategies for the business. The business has become increasingly sophisticated as they work their way through school, Schemanski said. Customer awareness also increased during President Obama's visit during spring commencement. For more information about Ann Arbor Pedicab, visit http://www.facebook.com/pages/Ann-Arbor-MI/Ann-Arbor-Pedicab/128387175348.
Huron River Water Trail
In mid-November a meeting was organized by the Huron River Watershed Council to formally develop a Huron River Water Trail. Such a Trail would not only expand recreational use of the Huron River, but also be educational tool on the ecology and benefits of the Huron River.
A Huron River Water Trail Steering Committee has been formed and will meet monthly to develop a vision and goals for the Water Trail and to review a summary Action Plan. You can check on our progress at the HRWT webpage at: http://www.hrwc.org/our-work/huron-river-water-trail/. Also, here’s a link to initial efforts to develop a Lake St. Clair water trail which could be similar to the Huron River Trail: http://detnews.com/article/20101116/METRO03/11160363/1014/rss03.
Michigan News
2010 Elections: From A Non-Motorized Perspective
From the M-Bike blog (www.m-bike.org) came this following opinion on how non-motorized advocates fared in the November election…
Michigan House – Bicycling supporter (and Tour de Troit rider) Representative Gabe Leland left office due to term limits but his replacement is cycling and trails advocate Harvey Santana. Former Detroit City Councilmember Alberta Tinsley-Talabi, a solid supporter of Detroit’s non-motorized plan, was elected to the Michigan Senate. Representative Coleman Young II, who sat on the House Transportation Committee and supported the Complete Streets legislation, is now heading to the Michigan Senate.
Michigan Governor - We didn’t know if there was much of a difference between the two gubernatorial candidates. Though Rick Synder was called out on the Washtenaw County pedestrian bridge comment, he noted that he supported bike-friendly, walkable communities. He also pledged to help strengthen the city of Detroit. And, insider talk http://www.crainsdetroit.com/article/20101102/STAFFBLOG03/101109961/election-blog-some-juicy-tidbits-on-candidates-for-a-snyder says Bill Rustem may play a key role in they Synder administration. Rustem is a former board member of the Michigan chapter of the Rails to Trails Conservancy and a board emeritus for the Michigan Trails and Greenways Alliance.
The bigger question is what will happen with Michigan Department Of Transportation (MDOT). Will MDOT Director Kirk Steudle remain? Under his leadership, MDOT supported the Complete Streets legislation. He also authored that great letter about Complete Streets http://www.m-bike.org/blog/2010/08/08/what-complete-streets-means-for-mdot-and-transportation-in-michigan.
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U.S. Congress - The huge loss of Congressman James Oberstar of Minnesota is quite
devastating for bicycle advocacy in the U.S. Andy Clarke, Executive director of the League of American Bicyclists says,” I’m not going to lie – I’m depressed.” http://www.bikeleague.org/blog/2010/11/leaving-politics-aside-for-a-moment%E2%80%A6/. The bicycling movement also lost 30 members of the Congressional Bike Caucus in the House. Representatives Earl Blumenauer (D-OR) and Peter DeFazio (D-OR), leading Congressional bicycling supporters, both retained their seats.
Michigan Congresswoman Carolyn Kilpatrick lost in the primary and was a member of
the bicycle caucus. Michigan Congressman Mark Schauer had become a supporter of bicycling, especially through the efforts of PEAC (http://www.bikeprogram.org/) but lost his seat to Tim Walberg.
And overall the lost of Democratic control of the House will have a major impact on bicycling. It makes John Boehner the Speaker and he has some history of not being too bike friendly http://www.bikeleague.org/action/trashtalk/#Boehner). And it might take a whole lot more work (http://dc.streetsblog.org/2010/10/29/gop-victory-could-imperil-bike-ped-funding-and-transportation-reforms/) to make the next transportation bill bike friendly. As Clarke said, “We’re now on the defensive”.
MDOT Looking For Bike Tour Route Suggestions
In a refreshing press release, the Michigan Department of Transportation (MDOT) stated it is interested in collecting bike route maps or turn-by-turn directions for bicycle tour routes (i.e. rides like the AABTS One Helluva Ride). MDOT stated that it hopes to use this information to develop an awareness tool for their MDOT Regions and Transportation Service Centers (TSCs). The tool will aim to raise awareness for routes with recurring rides that may require additional consideration for the needs of cyclists in project development or construction activities.
The Mean Streets Of Detroit Turn Bike Friendly
It is hard to imagine that the city infamously known for the automobile and more recently for its urban decay would have much of a bike scene, let alone a vibrant one. However, that's exactly what is happening in Detroit. Some of the city’s avid riders even believe that the spinning bicycle wheel will turn their town around. They’ll also tell you that a bike ride is among the best ways to see Detroit in transition. The Wheelhouse bicycle shop, located in the International Waterfront on the Detroit River, offers riding tours that highlight the city's cultural gems and call out future possibilities.
"The biggest thing the city has to overcome is its infrastructure," says Karen Cage, co-owner of the Wheelhouse. "The city was built for over two million people, but we have under a million people right now." The result is that huge sections of the city are essentially vacant and abandoned. But plans for new "urban farms" and with ongoing attempts to create greens spaces the city is finally beginning to make a turn around. To read the whole story, visit http://bit.ly/cxADK6.
Take Action!
Take The People For Bikes Pledge!
People For Bikes (www.peopleforbikes.org), an initiative of Bikes Belong, is asking bicyclists to sign it’s pledge as a way of helping make bicycling safe, convenient and appealing. The pledge simply states…
I am for bikes. I'm for long rides and short rides. I'm for commuting to work, weekend rides, racing, riding to school, or just a quick spin around the block. I believe that no matter how I ride, biking makes me happy and is great for my health, my community and the environment we all share. That is why I am pledging my name in support of a better future for bicycling—one that is safe and fun for everyone. By uniting my voice with a million others, I believe that we can make our world a better place to ride.
The PFB campaign launched in April and they have gathered signatures online, at bike stores, and at bike events of all sizes and flavors. Many individuals have rallied above and beyond by taking PFB pledge forms to concerts, meetings, and even malls and they've successfully filled sheet after sheet with signatures, zip codes and email addresses.
A key goal of the Peopleforbikes.org campaign is making the most of our increasingly unified, powerful voice to speak clearly and directly to elected officials. In particular, bicyclists need to be sure that members of Congress recognize that the federal investment in bike infrastructure and programs is essential, cost-effective and beneficial in all 50 states. Bicyclists need federal officials to appreciate that millions of Americans care about safe and appealing bicycling conditions and see bicycling as a key component of our transportation system.
Congress is a focal point for PFB because their decisions will continue to shape the future of bicycling in the United States. Federal money is far and away the number one source of funding for bikeways, bike lanes, trails, underpasses, bridges and programs like Safe Routes to School that make bicycling and walking safer and better.
To sign the People For Bikes pledge, simply visit www.peopleforbikes.org. Also please consider other cyclists, family and friends to sign the Peopleforbikes.org pledge.
National News
Walk Friendly Communities Program recognizes excellence in enabling safe walking
The Pedestrian and Bicycle Information Center (PBIC) has officially launched Walk Friendly Communities (WFC), a national recognition program to encourage towns and cities across the United States to establish or recommit to a high priority for safe walking. Assessing communities' commitment to improve conditions related to walking, including safety, mobility, access and comfort, PBIC will recognize communities that set the bar in fostering and accommodating walking. In August, the WFC program accepted nine communities to test the pilot application and the online assessment tool. The program will begin accepting applications nationwide on November 1, 2010. For more information on Walk Friendly Communities visit www.walkfriendly.org.
Center For Disease Control Supports Complete Streets
According to the November issue of the National Complete Streets Coalition's newsletter, "We're launching an exciting project that will combine the transportation expertise of the National Complete Streets Coalition with a powerful public health framework for creating healthier environments: Policy, Systems, and Environmental Change -- or PSE* for short."
"The Communities Putting Prevention to Work (CPPW) program of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is using this model to fight tobacco use and obesity -- and many of the 52 funded communities have chosen Complete Streets as a primary policy initiative. We are excited to be partnering with CDC to provide technical assistance to these communities within the PSE framework."
"The 'Policy' piece of the three step process is pretty obvious: adoption of Complete Streets policies help create the political will to change the built environment to create a safe environment for active travel. We will be working with communities to help them draft Complete Streets policies through our interactive one-day Policy Development workshops. We'll also be reviewing proposed complete streets policy language and helping find the right avenue for its adoption..." For more on this story, visit http://tinyurl.com/27o9da2
Who Would Want To Just Walk Around The Neighborhood?
According to a November 13th Minneapolis/St. Paul Star-Tribune article, "For Mark Fenton, a former world-class race walker and an engineer who travels the country energetically pushing health-conscious urban design, the development choices that cities make are literally life and death. Americans are killing themselves with inactivity and poor diets, he told officials from Bloomington, Edina and Richfield last week. Cities must make it easier for people to walk and bike as part of their daily routine."
"The mayors, council members, engineers and public health officials in the group were receptive. But Fenton never met Richfield homeowner Cheri Wright, who isn't crazy about the bike and walking path built across her side yard on W. 75th Street this summer. Wright said she likes to walk, but she doesn't see the need for a trail through her rambler-filled neighborhood. 'I can understand going around lakes or around a pretty area, but why would you want to just go around a neighborhood?' Wright asked..." For the whole article visit http://tinyurl.com/2g8c6fz
AAA Wants Non-Motorized Project Funding Cut
The American Automobile Association (AAA) wants Congress to cut long-standing programs that support trails, biking and walking in order to divert those funds to the highway system. These non-motorized programs have played a major role in the development of more than 19,000 miles of rail-trail across the country. Non-motorized trails and other walking and bicycling facilities allow individuals across the country to enjoy the outdoors and safely and easily travel without a car for many short trips—while saving money and gas, and getting exercise in the process.
AAA encourages its members to get outdoors and explore the country—including by bicycle—so why do they support cutting programs that help their members do precisely that? On September 1st, Rails-to-Trails Conservancy (RTC) President Keith Laughlin sent a letter asking this question to AAA. Robert Darbelnet, president and CEO of AAA, was quick to respond yet he did not address the RTC central concern.
AAA Mid-Atlantic suggests that an $89 billion annual highway fund shortfall can be blamed on investments in walking and bicycling. But those investments total less than $1 billion annually and produce tremendous benefits for everyone, including drivers. The reality is that many bicyclists drive, support AAA, pay gas taxes and want balanced transportation systems that provide the choice to get around in a variety of ways—for commuting or daily errands, or for fun and exercise.
If AAA’s false ideas take root, America’s transportation future—one where communities are more livable and people have safe and convenient choices for getting around—is in jeopardy. To sign a petition urging AAA to support non-motorized facilities, visit http://support.railstotrails.org/site/PageServer?pagename=AAA.
New Report: USA Is Fattest Of 33 Nations
According to a September 24th USA Today article, "The United States is the fattest nation among 33 countries with advanced economies, according to a report out today from an international think tank. Two-thirds of people in this country are overweight or obese; about a third of adults -- more than 72 million -- are obese, which is roughly 30 pounds over a healthy weight."
"Obesity rates have skyrocketed since the 1980s in almost all the countries where long-term data is available, says the report from the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD), which works on policies to promote better economies and quality of life. Countries with the fastest obesity growth rates: the United States, Australia and England. 'Obesity is a growing threat to public health in all the advanced countries throughout the world,' OECD spokesman Matthias Rumpf says. Obesity causes illnesses, reduces life expectancy and increases health care costs, he says..." For more on this story visit http://tinyurl.com/274akyz or the Childhood Obesity News Digest at http://tinyurl.com/23cbezd
U.S Traffic Fatalities Plummet – But Why?
According to a recent Mobilizing the Region blog entry, "...The consensus seems to be that multiple factors are contributing to the decline [in U.S. traffic fatalities]. Americans are driving less as a result of the spike in gas prices and the great recession, but this does not appear to explain the entire decline. In 2008, total vehicle miles traveled fell by 1.9 percent nationwide, but in 2009 VMT actually increased by 0.2%."
"There is some evidence to suggest that the recession and gas price fluctuations has changed the type of driving that Americans are doing -- fewer recreational trips (which are more likely to involve alcohol), fewer trips by young drivers (who are more likely to be squeezed by higher gas prices and more likely to be out of work), slower travel speeds as drivers try to conserve gas, etc. Greater use of graduated licensing laws may also be making a dent, given that young male drivers are responsible for a disproportionate share of traffic deaths..." For more on this story visit http://tinyurl.com/2d5k43z.
Web Resources
Folding Bikes Making Tracks On Road To Greener Travel
From CNN.com - http://edition.cnn.com/2010/TECH/innovation/06/11/folding.bicycles/index.html?iref=obinsite
Evaluating The Impact Of Neighborhood Trails
Report by the Transportation Research Record on how to evaluate trails and the effect on active travel behavior and overall physical activity of suburban residents - http://tinyurl.com/2bgq6y7 and/or http://tinyurl.com/2dod8pg
Complete Streets In Rural Communities
Report from the National Complete Streets Coalition - http://tinyurl.com/274odsn and/or http://tinyurl.com/35m5c8z
Public Lighting For Safe & Attractive Pedestrian Areas
Report from Opus Central Laboratories - http://tinyurl.com/3ybbgah
Designing Better Streets For People With Low Vision
Report by the Royal College of Art Helen Hamlyn Centre - http://tinyurl.com/35v9j5t
Sprawl Repair Manual
Book by Galina Tachieva. General information and ordering links at http://tinyurl.com/2d2skgk. Report on the book at http://tinyurl.com/2uem8l4
Potential Health Impact Of Switching From Car To Public Transit For Commuting To Work
Article in the American Journal of Public Health - http://tinyurl.com/387rhkj
Distracted Driving & Traffic Safety Facts
Report from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration - http://tinyurl.com/283wk3t
U.S. Lags In Reducing Traffic Deaths
Report by the Transportation Research Board (TRB) delivers a critique of U.S. traffic safety efforts and says that we have fallen way behind in saving lives relative to other nations. The report, Achieving Traffic Safety Goals in the United States: Lessons from Other Nations, was published by the National Academies Press and is available as a free PDF download. Read more at BikePortland.org.
Review Of Public Policies For Pedestrian & Bicyclist Safety and Mobility
Report that explores examples of potentially effective policies and implementing programs that are designed to enhance pedestrian and bicyclist safety and mobility - http://tinyurl.com/34xexts
Next WBWC Newsletter deadline – December 15th, 2010 for the January/February 2011 edition. Submissions can be sent to Bob Krzewinski at wolv...@gmail.com.