WBWC - March/April Newsletter
Bob Krzewinski
Washtenaw Bicycling and Walking Coalition
March/April 2009 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 (i.e. March 5th, April 2nd, 2009) starting at 7pm. Bicycle (and auto) parking is available right behind the Ecology Center.
For previous WBWC Board meeting minutes (and to see what the WBWC is involved with), visit http://www.wbwc.org/minutes.htm.
Local News
City of Ann Arbor and U of M Bicycle Web Pages
Recently, the City of Ann Arbor created a new bicycle specific web page which can be viewed at http://www.a2gov.org/bike. The site contains links to bicycle maps, has information on bicycle registration and parking, as well as a “frequently asked question” section. If you have any comments or suggestions for the web page, contact the webmaster whom is listed on the bottom of the main page.
Also, keep in mind the University of Michigan alternative transportation web page at http://www.pts.umich.edu/alternative_transportation/bicycles.php. This site contains information about bicycling in general around the campus, as well as locations of bike lockers and racks.
Art Fair & Heritage Festival Valet Bike Parking
For 2009, the WBWC is planning to not only assist with bicycle valet parking at the August Ypsilanti Heritage Festival (which it has done with other groups for the past few years), but for the first time ever offer guarded bicycle parking at the Ann Arbor Art Fair.
At last years Art Fair, in conjunction with Art Fair organizers, a potential site was identified that is in a central location, and at the present time talks are being completed with the City of Ann Arbor to finalize the site location. Both Art Fair organizers and City officials are enthusiastic about Art Fair bike parking as could cut down on the number of cars entering the City during the event.
The idea behind bicycle valet parking is that a basic enclosure is created where a person brings their bike and either locks it themselves, or is given a claim ticket to retrieve the bike later in the day, with the bikes being guarded by valet parking staff. The service will be free, but donations will be accepted to benefit the Program To Educate All Cyclists (PEAC – www.bikeprogram.org), which assists individuals with disabilities to be able to ride bicycles.
Plenty of volunteers are needed to help staff the Ann Arbor and Ypsilanti valet parking areas, and if you can help out for a few hours on any day, please contact the following individuals…
Ann Arbor Art Fair Valet Parking – July – Frank: schw...@sbcglobal.net
Ypsilanti Heritage Festival Valet Parking – August – Bob: wolv...@gmail.com or 487-9058.
Friends of the Border To Border
The Friends of the Border To Border Trail is an offshoot group of the WBWC, formed to work towards the completion, expansion, and enhancement of the Washtenaw Border To Border Trail. The group has a Google discussion group (please consider signing up at http://groups.google.com/group/border-to-border) as well as a web page at www.bordertoborder.org. Friends of the Border To Border Trail meetings are held every other month with the next meeting being Saturday, March 14th, 10am at the Ecology Center, 117 N. Division, in Ann Arbor.
Ford Boulevard – Part Two Coming Up
In the summer of 2009, the Washtenaw County Road Commission is expected to start a public input process to consider putting another portion of Ypsilanti Township’s Ford Boulevard on a road “diet”. This would involve cutting down the segment from the Michigan Avenue bridge south to Ecorse Road from four lanes (the present configuration) down to two lanes of traffic, with a center turn lane and bicycle lanes on both sides of the road.
After the Road Commission changed another section of Ford Boulevard (from the Michigan Avenue bridge north to Holmes Road) from four lanes down to three (with bike lanes), Ed Davis, of Ed’s Garage (located on Ford Boulevard) started a petition drive to change the just-completed work back to four lanes. The Ypsilanti Township trustees supported the change back, and the Washtenaw County Road Commissioners took steps to do actual lane restriping until they found out that if the change was made prior to a multi-year study, they would have to pay back federal funds used in the road reconstruction (for a complete timeline visit http://www.wbwc.org/fordblvd/index.shtml).
Letters and emails to the Washtenaw County Road Commission, and the Ypsilanti Township Trustees, supporting a road “diet” (and bike lanes) on Ford Boulevard from Michigan Avenue bridge south to Ecorse Road would be very helpful at the present time. Opponents will be making their voices know in the future, most probably with arguments they used in the earlier Ford Boulevard battle, such as “bikes belong on sidewalks”, that bike lanes will not be used, and that the road conversion will cause traffic problems (even though studies have show road diets significantly cut down accident rates, often by 40% or more).
The Washtenaw County Road Commission can be contacted at http://www.wcroads.org/aboutus/directory.htm (go to the “Department” box and click on Commissioners). The Ypsilanti Township Trustees can be contacted at http://www.twp.ypsilanti.mi.us/contacts/ask.php?d=trustee.
Roundabouts And The Non-motorized User
With roundabouts becoming more common in Washtenaw County, recently a local non-motorized advocate participated in a webinar on roundabouts presented by the US Department of Transportation as well as the Washington State DOT. Excellent show. The good news for cyclists and pedestrians (and motorists) is that the DOT has significant data showing the safety of these devices. They are heavily promoting their use for most intersections. Some communities are even requiring all intersections to be converted to modern roundabouts unless there exists a design reason not to (there are some cases where modern roundabouts are not appropriate, but they are less common).
Of particular interest to bikers and pedestrians:
1. At four-way stops or signal intersections bikes and cars have 32 conflict points - most are deadly.
2. At roundabouts bikes and cars have only 8 conflict points - injuries are reduced by 76% - fatalities are reduced by 89%!! The presenters mentioned that there is no other engineering tool that has even close to this level of fatality reduction.
3. At four way stops pedestrians have 16 conflict points
4. At roundabouts pedestrians have only 8 conflict points
5. Pedestrians should be given right-of-way at all crosswalks at roundabouts - even major roads.
6. Traffic yielding to pedestrians is not significantly slowed. In fact, traffic flows are improved.
7. Judging gaps in traffic both for cyclists, pedestrians and motorists are much easier at roundabouts and mistakes are not fatal.
Washtenaw Area Transportation Study (WATS) Newsletter
The Washtenaw Area Transportation Study now has the option of receiving its monthly newsletter, The Vehicle by email. For anyone interested in keeping informed about transportation planning (including non-motorized projects), it is worth signing up for. To receive the newsletter, send an email to sapki...@miwats.org and ask to be placed on the "The Vehicle" email list. WATS is the local government planning agency for transportation projects that use federal funds, including non-motorized facilities.
Don’t Forget To Ask For The New Bicycle Commuter Benefit
Beginning January 1st, employees who regularly use their bicycles to get to and from work will be eligible for a $20-a-month, tax-free reimbursement from their employers for bicycle-related expenses. Employers will in turn be able to deduct the expense from their federal taxes.
The Bicycle Commuter Act was part of the larger set of Renewable Energy Tax Credit Initiatives included in the Emergency Economic Stabilization Act of 2008, a.k.a. the "Wall Street Bailout Bill, signed into law by President Bush in early October 2008. Section 211 of the "Emergency Economic Stabilization Act of 2008" allows for a "qualified bicycle commuting reimbursement" for "reasonable expenses incurred by the employee...for the purchase of a bicycle and bicycle improvements, repair, and storage, if such bicycle is regularly used for travel between the employee’s residence and place of employment."
"We're hearing that a lot of employers don't know anything about the bicycle commuter provision, nor that it goes into effect at the first of the year," said Peter Harkness, Board of Directors Chair of the National Center for Bicycling & Walking (NCBW). "This provision is a matter of equity; it gives bike commuters similar benefits to those already enjoyed by those who drive or take public transit to work."
The $20-a-month bicycle commuter benefit comes in well behind the $115 mass-transit benefit already available, or the $300-plus parking subsidies aimed at helping those who drive to work. "The original ask was for an $80-a-month benefit ," said Harkness. "But during the compilation of the House and Senate bills, the compromise amount was set at a maximum $20 a month. It's not a perfect program, but it's a good start."
Sharon Roerty, NCBW's executive director, agrees. "There are a lot of inexpensive ways to encourage more bicycling and make a cyclist's life easier, and maybe this benefit will encourage efforts in that direction. More people might give bicycle commuting a try if they know their business supports it, even at this basic level." Roerty noted that employers may reimburse employees, tax free, for expenses including equipment and bike purchases, bicycle parking, repairs, shower facilities, and storage. "The Christmas gift is there for bicycle commuters, but you've got to tear the wrapping off and get your employer involved," she said. The League of American Bicyclists is maintaining a Frequently Asked Questions page pertaining to the Bicycle Commuter Act is at http://tinyurl.com/4eu7ux.
WBWC RAT Rides
The WBWC Ride Around Town (RAT) bicycle rides are held every month both in Ann Arbor and Ypsilanti, 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. Ypsilanti RAT rides, held in conjunction with Bike Ypsi, are held on the first Friday of the month starting from the Corner Brewery on the corner of Norris and Forest. 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).
Michigan News
2009 Michigan Bicycle Summit
The 2009 Michigan Bicycle Summit will be on Saturday, March 28, 2009 in the Lansing area. This event is presented by the League of Michigan Bicyclists and designed for cyclists who want to learn more about how they can make a difference in the sport they love so much. Not only will people learn from the excellent presenters, but you will network with other bicyclists from around the state and learn what does and does not work for them. For further details visit www.lmb.org.
National News
Bike Industry Doing Well Despite Worldwide Recession
According to a November Atlanta Journal-Constitution article, "One comes across surprising nuggets in the financial media, regardless of the economic season. Take for instance a recent story about the bicycle industry. Interestingly, one of the world industries seemingly not suffering in the current worldwide recession, if we can agree that the embargo over calling it that has now expired, is the bicycling business.
"Top bicycle and bicycle parts makers in Taiwan and Japan are reporting steadily increasing revenues, despite the falling popularity around the world of the bicycle's four-wheeled cousin. And while I'm not quite sure that the data support any rush to judgment that commuters are peddling to work in greater numbers, we can at least feel confident that consumer spending on this basic commodity is steady. Revenue projections put out by Taiwan's largest such concern, Giant Manufacturing, continue uphill (in the best of senses) well on into 2009..."
BHSI Reviews 2009 Bicycle Helmets
Recently, an article from the Bicycle Helmet Safety Institute reported that wrote, "In brief, there is no radical safety improvement this year that would compel you to replace your current helmet. Almost all of the helmets we describe meet standards and offer good if not excellent protection.
There are new helmets in 2009 that are worth a look if you need a new one.”
“There are more new models appearing with the rounder, smoother profile that we think is best when you crash. The legally required CPSC standard ensures good protection in the US market. Without comparative test data we usually do not know if a model exceeds the requirements of the standard and offers superior protection. We hope for a new article from Consumer Reports during 2009 with some test data on the current crop of helmets.”
"The rounder, smoother 'compact,' 'city,' 'urban" or 'commuter' models that we recommend are still growing in number, and most manufacturers have at least one in their lineup now. The higher priced helmets have big vents, but no verifiable advantage in impact performance..." For more on this story, visit http://tinyurl.com/a37hzp.
League Of Illinois Bicyclists Vouch For New US DOT Secretary
Ed Barsotti, of the League of Illinois Bicyclists recently wrote "I want to provide information on our incoming USDOT Secretary, Ray LaHood, a moderate Republican Congressman from central Illinois who was retiring from his seat this year. In summary, he’s been great for us! He is an active supporter of bicycling and trails, and he has very visibly gone against the wishes of his party leaders on our issues:
"In a letter dated April 28, 1997, LaHood joined 5 other Republican Transportation & Infrastructure Committee members in expressing support for both Enhancements and CMAQ to the committee chair, Bud Schuster. He also spoke to the Illinois Valley Wheelmen bicycle club about his support of both of these funding sources, which he said 'have provided many benefits to the environment and local communities (e.g., bicycle and recreational trails). I believe in the importance and value of these programs.' Congressman LaHood's leadership was pivotal in ensuring that Enhancements would continue in TEA-21 (1998).
Shed Pounds While Drinking Beer?
What has ten sets of pedals, holds a top speed of five miles per hour, and is powered by beer? The PedalPub! A recent change to Minnesota's open-bottle law has placed PedalPub in the same category as limos and busses, so now its passengers (but not its driver) can drink beer, wine, or spirits as they pedal their way around the Twin Cities. The mobile bar runs April 1 through November 30, and by special arrangement the rest of the year (say, New Year's Eve?) For more on this story visit http://www.startribune.com/entertainment/dining/25562014.html. The PedalPubs own website is at http://www.pedalpub.com.
Web Resources
Active Living Resource Center Introduces Help Desk
The Active Living Resource Center has introduced a new Help Desk feature for individuals requesting information about non-motorized issues. You can review past questions, comment on answers, or submit a new question to staff of the Active Living Resource Center/NCBW at:http://tinyurl.com/9q772d
Riding In The Rain Video
Video from the San Francisco Bicycle Coalition (http://tinyurl.com/5yq23q) on how to safely ride your bicycle in rainy conditions and how to stay comfortable (and dry) at the same time. Check out the video here: http://tinyurl.com/yuhspu
What Are The Benefits For Complete Streets?
Fact sheet for advocates; from the National Complete Streets Coalition.
http://tinyurl.com/2ax89f
Safe Routes To Schools – Steps To A Greener Future
How walking and bicycling to school reduces carbon emissions and air pollutants - http://tinyurl.com/5eekga
More (And Bigger) Motorist Distractions
TV style billboards will soon be coming to the roadways, whose glowing, TV-like screens beam a new picture every eight seconds. http://tinyurl.com/7k5qnf
Cell Phone Effect On Pedestrian Fatalities
Pedestrian 2008 Report
A report in the Transportation Research Record: Journal of the Transportation Research Board, that includes 14 papers on topics like evaluating a pedestrian safety demonstration project, video monitoring of pedestrians at signalized intersections, characteristics and circumstances of collision-involved pedestrians, pedestrian collision risk assessment, and models to measure pedestrian activity at signalized intersections. http://tinyurl.com/8e6uwm. For a detailed list of papers: http://tinyurl.com/7uh6kw
Super Stores And Climate Change
Short paper from the Victoria Transport Policy Institute describes the results of a study indicating that shopping at large, suburban 'superstores' consumes more than four times as much transportation energy and produces more than four times the carbon emissions as local grocery store shopping. http://tinyurl.com/893tvw
Bicycle Boulevards & Traffic Calming
Great video from California on bicycle boulevards with traffic calming devices (including mini-roundabouts) In Berkeley, Calif. a citywide network of bicycle priority streets called Bicycle Boulevards allow cyclists to navigate safely. They are marked by smart traffic management, bountiful traffic calming, and the aura of livability and putting people first, cars second. Among their most unique trademarks are the purple signage and street stencils larger than a car!
http://www.streetfilms.org/archives/berkeley-bike-boulevards/
Safety In Numbers
Study done that indicates when there are more walkers and bicyclists in an area, both activities become safer. http://tinyurl.com/6jcc64
Next WBWC Newsletter deadline – April 10th, 2009 (for the May/June 2009 edition). Submissions can be sent to Bob Krzewinski at wolv...@yahoo.com or faxed to 734/487-9058.