Moments ago, the Senate passed a clean extension on the Transportation Bill with a large margin of 92-6. This means that all current transportation funding and programs will continue to March 31, 2012 — the date the extension expires. During this time we will have much work to do to ensure that bicycling is included in either a long term transportation bill or another extension. The National Bike Summit conveniently takes place on March 20-22 — our final opportunity to tell our representatives that we need bicycling in the transportation bill.
Votes are not made public until 20 minutes after passage of bills but here is the Senate link to keep checking.
Thanks to all of you for taking part in this very important action alert; telling your senators that “I bike. I vote.”; and spreading the word in your clubs and stores, with your colleagues, and on your social media sites. All of your calls and e-mails made the difference.
Meghan Cahill League Director of Communications
Cahill joined the League in December 2008 and has a BA in Media Communications with a concentration in Italian Studies from the College of Charleston.
The majority of the Federal Transit Administration’s grant programs allow money to be spent on the design, construction, and maintenance of walking and biking projects that “enhance or are related to public transportation facilities.” But how do they determine if such a relationship exists? Until now the FTA had used 1,500 feet from the transit stop or station as the rule of thumb.
Today, the FTA announced that “all pedestrian improvements located within one-half mile and all bicycle improvements located within three miles of a public transportation stop or station shall have a de facto physical and functional relationship to public transportation.” Apparently in response to public comments, the agency also stipulated that projects located beyond those distances can be eligible if walkers and cyclists could reasonable be expected to make longer trips.
Photo: Subway and bike, iStock, By Ethan Fink
This policy, which the League enthusiastically welcomes, recognizes that successful transit depends on safe and attractive first-and-last-mile access to stations and stops. Making bicycling and walking safe and attractive makes transit more accessible, practical and appealing. In addition, providing secure bike parking is cheaper than car parking.
When the FTA first proposed the policy in 2009, the League lent its voice in support:
The League of American Bicyclists welcomes the renewed emphasis on livability in the Department of Transportation, especially initiatives to diminish the barriers between the modal administrations within DOT and between USDOT and other Federal agencies. The ability of people to use a combination of walking, bicycling and transit is an essential component in the sustainable growth of cities in the United States.
We also recommended including funding eligibility for bike share programs. Here’s what the FTA had to say in response:
FTA agrees that bicycle sharing systems provide meaningful access to public transportation and help address the problem of the ‘‘first and last mile.’’ Moreover, bicycle sharing programs, like all forms of active transportation, provide numerous benefits, such as reduced carbon emissions and improved public health.
Federal Transit Law limits the use of FTA funds for ‘‘public transportation.’’ Historically, FTA has not included ‘‘bicycle’’ within the definition of ‘‘public transportation.’’ Therefore, while a grantee may use FTA funds to purchase aspects of a bicycle sharing system if those aspects are located near public transportation stops and stations, an FTA grantee may not use FTA funds to purchase bicycles.
We hope that this historical view changes as more and more public bikeshare systems connect travelers to bus, subway, and train systems. London, for example, includes it’s bikeshare program on its transit website.
The policy is good news and we hope that local transit agencies take full advantage of this opportunity to make their transit system more accessible. The following FTA funding programs can be used for capital projects to provide biking and walking access to public transportation facilities:
Flusche joined the League in April 2009 and has a B.A. in history from Syracuse University and a Masters of Public Administration with a concentration in public policy analysis from New York University.
Pointing to a large parking lot on Capitol Hill, Congressman Blumenauer (D-OR) said, with passion, "I invite you to think about how much the government is paying for this parking. Think of the uses of this expensive real estate." (Photo: Darren Flusche)
“As gas prices go up, people get cranky,” Representative Earl Blumenauer said first thing to the audience gathered to see his announcement of the Commuter Relief Act. He said he wanted to help Americans break free from “the tyranny of the pump” and called for “commuter equity” under the tax code.
Every day the League gets calls from organizations and individuals asking us about the Bicycle Commuter Benefit, which has been helping Americans cover the costs of biking to work since it was enacted in January 2009. Today, Congressman Earl Blumenauer announced legislation that, among other things, would strengthen the bike commuter benefit and allow greater flexibility in the use of commuter fringe benefits.
Under the current rules of the Bicycle Commuter Benefit, bike commuters can only receive up to $20 a month for biking-related expenses — less than Congressman Blumenauer and the League had wanted — and the benefit cannot be combined with in a single month with other transportation fringe benefits.
For bike commuters, the Commuter Relief Act would:
Increase the amount of the bike commuter benefit from $20 to $40 a month.
Allow bike commuters to combine the bike commuter benefit with other fringe benefits — up to $200. For example, You could use the $40 bike benefit and collect up to $160 of your public transit benefit.
In addition, the Commuter Relief Act would:
Cap all transportation fringe benefits at $200 a month (the parking benefit is currently $230, the transit cap will drop to $130 at the end of 2011).
Allow self-employed people to receive transit fringe benefits for work-related commuting.
Require employers offering a parking transportation fringe benefit to also offer employees the option to take cash instead. This would create an incentive for more people to leave the car at home and take cheaper options, like transit, biking, and walking.
Create a 10 percent tax credit for vanpool expenditures
Congressmen Earl Blumenauer announces the Commuter Relief Act (Photo: Darren Flusche)
By capping the parking benefit at $200, the legislation would expand commuter benefits to non-drivers while not costing the government any additional money. This makes it what’s known as “revenue neutral,” meaning that it will not contribute to the deficit, an important quality in today’s budget atmosphere.
Representatives Jim Moran and Mazie Hirono, co-sponsors of the bill, joined the League of American Bicyclists, the American Public Transit Association, the Association for Commuter Transportation, and others in supporting the bill.
From left Representatives Blumenauer, Moran (D-VA), and Hirono (D-HI) (Photo: Darren Flusche)
By providing a large parking benefit than transit and bike commuter benefits, the government is essentially subsidizing congestion. And parking doesn’t come cheap. ”I invite you to think about how much the government is paying for this parking,” Congressman Blumenauer said, pointing to a large parking lot on Capitol Hill, “Think of the uses of this expensive real estate.”
This legislation is an inexpensive attempt to right the balance and provide an additional incentive for people to choose active transportation to work.
Flusche joined the League in April 2009 and has a B.A. in history from Syracuse University and a Masters of Public Administration with a concentration in public policy analysis from New York University.
The capture and subsequent killing of Osama bin Laden late Sunday was news that shook many in America. Hundreds of D.C. citizens and visitors converged on the White House. However, with the hour being so late, it was hard to get there — buses are few to come by late at night and the metro closes around midnight on Sundays. However, the people in D.C. had a new transportation choice — Capital Bike Share. Capital Bikeshare tweeted, “There were 558 bike rentals between 10pm – 2am last night. During the same time frame last weekend: 105.”
According to the Washington Post, people who were at the gathering were also surprised by how many red Capital Bike Share bikes they saw in front of the White House. They wrote, “Stephen Miller joined the spontaneous celebration at the White House. Although he rode his own bike, he was struck by the number of red Capital Bikeshare bikes he saw as he headed downtown from his home in Mount Pleasant. Miller shot a Twitpic of more than a dozen parked near the celebration.”
Nothing about the evening was predictable, but it certainly was interesting to see this unexpected role for public bikes unfold – and if you look carefully at news footage of the crowds gathering outside the White House, you can see the tell-tale blinky lights in the background!
Andy Clarke League President
Clarke was appointed to the position of Executive Director in April of 2004 after successfully leading efforts to create, interpret and implement the various transportation programs that are available to improve conditions for bicycling and walking as the League’s State and Local Advocacy Director.
Reston, Va. residents battle traffic just like the rest of the D.C. metro area but they decided to actually find out which method of transportation is quicker during rush hour — bike, bus or car.
It turns out that the fastest way to get to the Reston Town Center from the neighborhood near South Lakes High School, about 3 miles away, is to ride a bicycle. Bruce Wright of Fairfax Advocates for Better Bicycling (FABB) made the trip in just over 13 minutes.
The winner Bruce Wright (left) took 13 minutes on a bike. He is congratulated by Kathleen Driscoll McKee who took 52 minutes taking a bus. Photos by Mike McKee.
Another bicyclist who took the same route but rode at an easier pace, Kerie Hitt, also of FABB, arrived next 3 and a half minutes later. Delegate Ken Plum’s trip in his hybrid car took him 19 minutes. Taking the long route with a ride through Hunter’s Woods Village Center on the RIBS 2 bus on her way to the Town Center was Reston Association President and School Board candidate Kathleen Driscoll McKee. She had a leisurely trip of 50 minutes.
“This was a good simulation that demonstrates real alternatives to the automobile for short trips in Reston and the rest of our community” noted Delegate Plum. He also said that short car trips are the least efficient, even for his hybrid car, which only averaged 30 mpg on the 3 mile trip.
The group was met at the Pavilion by Supervisor Cathy Hudgins who is a long-time supporter of transportation alternatives for Hunter Mill District residents. She has supported Bike to Work Day in Reston from the beginning in 2002. The last several years she has appeared at the event on her folding bike. Bike to Work Day is Friday, May 20. The Reston event will be held at the Town Center Pavilion. Susan Stillman, who is a member of the Vienna Bicycle Advisory Committee and a FABB member, rode from Vienna to greet the group at the Pavilion and to congratulate Bruce.
According to Bruce, “Riding a bike for transportation is a viable option for many people. What we showed today is that bicycling and driving travel times are very comparable for short trips, and bicycling costs much less and is better for the environment. I didn’t use any foreign oil on the trip.”
While RA President Driscoll McKee had the longest trip, she noted that the RIBS 2 bus was nearly full during the trip. The fare was $1.50. As a bus rider she could read, check her email, or otherwise make productive use of her time. To schedule her trip we used WMATA’s Trip Planner, entering an origin, destination, and either arrival or departure time and selecting from the options. When Metrorail arrives in Reston local bus routes will be modified to provide more frequent service for accessing the Wiehle and Reston Parkway stations, making them a much more attractive alternative to driving and paying to park.
See coverage of the event on the Reston Patch, including a video segment.
Reston will be one of many cities and areas participating in the D.C. metro area’s Bike to Work Day celebration on Friday, May 20 that is hosted by WABA.
Meghan Cahill League Director of Communications
Cahill joined the League in December 2008 and has a BA in Media Communications with a concentration in Italian Studies from the College of Charleston.
A few updates to campaigns and legislation that the League has been assisting with:
New Mexico legislators recently passed the nation’s first 5 foot passing bill, however Governor Martinez must sign this by Friday for the bill to become law. Cyclists in New Mexico are urged totake action and let the Governor know how important it is for her to sign this into law. For those who have already sent an email, please follow-up with a phone call by calling her office at (505)476-2200.
Maryland HB 363 “Manslaughter by Vehicle or Vessel“ seeks to provide a misdemeanor option for those who cause fatalities by driving in a criminally negligent manner. After Bike Maryland’s 7 years of work on this legislation, the bill passed the Maryland state House only to be caught up in committee. The League helped generate hundreds of emails in support of the bill. Despite support from all area bicycling organizations, area media editorial boards, environmental groups and AAA Mid-Atlantic, the fate of the bill lies with Judicial Proceedings Chair (and Bike/Ped Caucus member) Senator Brian Frosh who has not been supportive. The Committee is meeting on the bill at this very second.
Georgia’s HB101 “The Better Bicycling Bill” has progressed through the Georgia House, Senate Public Safety Committee and is expected to pass the Senate Rules Committee early next week. The bill will clean up and clarify outdated Georgia laws related to bicycling safety. This legislation specifies that cyclists have the right-of-way in bike lanes and establishes minimum guidelines for safe bicycle facilities. It will also modernize Georgia’s code to better accommodate current bicycling equipment. Georgia cyclists can help with the last minute push by taking action here.
Recently we alerted you to a campaign to protect critical funding in the Houston-Galveston region. While falling short of the full amount that active transportation advocates had sought, $12.8 million was preserved to fund biking, walking and transit improvements for the next three years. Our friends at Streetsblog Capitol Hill have a full write-up. Congratulations to Bike Houston, Houston Tomorrow and all other groups and individuals who waged a smart and energized campaign.
Offroad cycling advocates in Boulder, CO took a bit of a hit last week in mountain bike access in the West TSA. The long sought after connection would provide better access to trails currently open to offroad cyclists. Despite insufficient mountain bike access called out in Boulder’s Open Space and Mountain Parks Plan and after a long campaign of the Boulder Mountain Bike Alliance (supported by IMBA, Bikes Belong and the League of American Bicyclists), Boulder City Council still failed to provide the access advocates were after. Read a write-up of the City Council vote, as well as the long history of the fight for access in the West TSA here.
Do you have a state or local campaign you need assistance with or want to share your story? Let us know!
Jeff Peel State and Local Advocacy Coordinator
Peel joined the League in March 2008 as a Program Specialist for the Bicycle Friendly Communities program. Peel has a BA in American Studies from the University of Southern Mississippi.
Washington, D.C.’s Capital Bikeshare has become increasingly popular among D.C. residents, commuters and tourists — and now even celebrity visitors are joining in on the convenience and fun. Yesterday, April 4, Kevin Spacey took a whirl around D.C. on a Capital Bikeshare bike. He even stopped for the perfunctory photo-op in front of the White House.
Capital Bikeshare, launched September 2010, was a welcomed addition to the city’s transportation system by bike commuters and D.C. residents alike. Capital Bikeshare maintained its usage rates during the winter — ridership increased 67 percent from December 2010 to February 2011 despite some chilly D.C. temps. There were 48,215 total Bikeshare trips in February, almost exactly as many trips were taken in November (48,217). Now that it’s April and warmer, take a ride on D.C.’s Capital Bikeshare. If we can’t encourage you, maybe Kevin Spacey can.
Meghan Cahill League Director of Communications
Cahill joined the League in December 2008 and has a BA in Media Communications with a concentration in Italian Studies from the College of Charleston.
A February proposal before the Houston-Galveston Area Council’s Transportation Policy Council (TPC) called for cuts to bike, pedestrian and transit funding in the region’s Transportation Improvement Program (TIP) for 2011-2014. Under the proposal, CMAQ and STP MM funds that were previously programmed for active transportation projects and livable centers would be reallocated for road expansion in the region.
Upset that the TPC would stray from language in the 2035 Transportation Plan, stating that roadway spending should make up no more than 55% of regional transportation infrastructure spending, advocates in the Houston area organized. Houston Tomorrow started an online petition and joined Bike Houston and other area cyclists at the TPC’s February 25th meeting to present the petition and insist that this funding be preserved.
Thanks to these hardworking advocates there has been a temporary reprieve. City of Houston Council member Sue Lovell motioned for a delay of 30 days so that TPC members could further investigate options and hear from their constituents. See Houston Tomorrow’s ongoing blog coverage here.
While significant progress has been made, pressure on the TPC and Houston-Galvelston Area elected leaders is still needed.League President Andy Clarke has written this letter to TPC members asking for the preservation of these funds for bicycling and other active transportation projects. Houston area cyclists can still help save this critical funding by signing on to this petition. Cyclists are also encouraged to attend the TPC’s next meeting March 25th at 9:30 am in the H-GAC building at 3555 Timmonson the 2nd floor in Conference Room A.
Jeff Peel State and Local Advocacy Coordinator
Peel joined the League in March 2008 as a Program Specialist for the Bicycle Friendly Communities program. Peel has a BA in American Studies from the University of Southern Mississippi.
The second day of the National Bike Summit has officially kicked off with the opening plenary and inspiring words from Representative Earl Blumenauer (D-OR), Commissioner of the New York City Department of Transportation Janette Sadik-Khan, and Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar. The rally energized and prepared attendees for a “Capitol Hill unlike any before,” said Blumenauer in the plenary’s welcome. However, he reminded all that bicycling has many supporters in D.C. ”US Secretary of Transportation Ray LaHood…is an ally like we’ve never had before.”
Blumenauer makes the point that in order to make livable communities and bicycling infrastructure a reality, that we need to help people connect to the facts. “Our message is different, and people like it,” said Blumenauer. ”If we can do it on Pennsylvania Avenue, maybe we can do it with some of our national treasures.”
Blumenauer closed with reminding Summit attendees to remind their representatives to “not cut what you haven’t visited.”
Keynote speaker Sadik-khan has been busy lately in NYC creating a city that all road users can be safe using. She referenced all the great cities in America that are implementing lanes and infrastructure on their streets, including Pennsylvannia Avenue in D.C., Broadway in NYC, Market St. in San Francisco, and Spruce St. in Philidelphia. She pointed out that “none of this was there five years ago…well maybe in Portland,” but that it takes courage and the tools to make it happen. ”It’s painstaking work…there are setbacks but that is to be expected when you are in the business of change.” Luckily, NYC has a mayor that understands the importance of being a bicycle-friendly city. “We have Bloomberg and the political courage.” New York now has 250 miles of new bike lanes.
However, it was Sadik-khan’s big news that wowed the whole crowd — the release of the new NACTO Urban Bikeway Design Guide. ”We would like the FHWA to recognize these as national standards and for AASHTO to do the same,” said Sadik-khan. “We will make cycling safe and excessible for everyone.” And that is exactly what this guide will do. For cities that do not have the courage of Bloomberg or Sakik-khan, they will now be able to readily provide for their streets and users — backed with standard guidelines.
Secretary Salazar closed the plenary with a fundamental message for Summit attendees to remember when they visit Capitol Hill on Thursday. “I encourage all of you to put a focal point on all the economics that are involved in bicycling…bicycling is essential.”
Meghan Cahill League Director of Communications
Cahill joined the League in December 2008 and has a BA in Media Communications with a concentration in Italian Studies from the College of Charleston.
Bicyclists lost an incredible champion in the U.S. Congress last night. James Oberstar, chairman of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee lost his seat representing Minnesota’s 8th Congressional district after serving 18 terms in a distinguished career.
I’m not going to lie – I’m depressed.
I’m depressed because the United States Congress lost a decent, honorable public servant who tried so hard to keep alive the bipartisan tradition of the Committee he served for decades. I’m sad because it throws another wrench into the works of passing a badly-needed and long-overdue transportation bill – Oberstar knows the ropes like no one else, and his passion for all things transportation will be sorely missed. I’m sad because he is a proud member of the League and because I’ve had the pleasure of working with him on our issues since the late 1980s when I first arrived on these shores.
And I’m sad because he is a true champion of bicyclists issues in Congress. Over the past 20 years, you can trace many of the gains we’ve made straight back to the desk of Jim Oberstar. Broad eligibility for transportation funds, the Safe Routes to School Program, state bicycle coordinator positions, the requirement to plan for bicyclists at the state and regional level, the non-motorized pilot projects all started with him. So, whichever way you spin it, bicyclists and the bicycling movement have lost a friend in Congress.
Going in to last night, I guess we foresaw a future where he was no longer Chairman of the Committee. Political winds change in Washington all the time and as a bi-partisan, not-for-profit organization we learn to work with all sides of the political spectrum. But a future without Oberstar in Congress, on the Committee, challenging us to keep moving, leading the charge… That’s going to take some adjustment.
Oberstar Partaking in a League Ride With the Crown Prince of Denmark and Caron Butler
We’ll be digesting all the other results and reporting them out on the blog and in our e-news and such. We’re looking over the list of Congressional Bike Caucus members to see who’s back in and who’s out. But I can tell you right now that we are going to miss Congressman James L. Oberstar (D-MN) in Congress. Maybe we’ll get to enjoy his company some more on the road and trail; he’ll be able to break out his League cycling socks more often and put in even more miles on his favorite bikes. I hope so, because if anyone deserves to enjoy the simple pleasure of a bike ride, it’s Jim Oberstar.
Clarke was appointed to the position of Executive Director in April of 2004 after successfully leading efforts to create, interpret and implement the various transportation programs that are available to improve conditions for bicycling and walking as the League’s State and Local Advocacy Director.
Happy Friday. Here is a fantastic feature on a local news station in Roanoke, VA, which spends about three minutes plugging an upcoming Traffic Skills 101 course taught by LCI Barbara Duerk.
We would love to see this kind of coverage every time a Smart Cycling course is offered. In the meantime, to see where courses are being offered near you, check out our find-it feature. Go here for more on our education programs.
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In other safety and education news, the StreetsBlog Network directs our attention to an interview on Seattle’s PubliCola blog with a bike-commuting bus driver who offers tips on riding safely around buses. Here’s a snippet of the refreshingly calm and balanced perspective of a professional bus driver:
I could write a book on this subject, but I’ll focus on a few things:
First, Be visible: Wear visible clothing and use lights—day and night. It makes a hugedifference from a driver’s perspective. I have lots of stories of cyclists seemingly coming out of nowhere at the last second. I can usually see a red tail light three or more blocks away while some lighting conditions can hide cyclists until I’m almost on top of you. Seriously, please, get front and back lights and use them all the time—I do.
Second: The “three-foot passing rule.” Cycling advocacy groups have been pushing for legislation defining 3 feet as a safe passing distance. Cyclists need to remember that this applies to them as well. When you’re passing a bus (hopefully on the left side and not on the right), please try to give at least three feet. This is especially important for buses, since we are constantly moving to and from the curb to pick up passengers.
Third: Don’t plant yourself in blind spots when waiting for a light. Many cyclists like to ride up on the right side of my bus and then wait for the light right next to the door. There are many blind spots on a bus caused by window frames and the fare box, especially for shorter bus drivers. We are trained to “rock and roll” in the seat to expose the blind spots, but relying on a human being to be perfect in all situations is risky. Either wait behind the bus, or get well in front of the bus where you are very visible. Wherever you are waiting, it’s a good idea to make sure you can see the bus driver’s eyes directly.
Photo from PubliCola.net
Darren Flusche League Policy Analyst
Flusche joined the League in April 2009 and has a B.A. in history from Syracuse University and a Masters of Public Administration with a concentration in public policy analysis from New York University.
Two memorable events last week had me wondering whether the generally rather unassuming Arlington County, Va. that I ride through every day is catching up fast with Amsterdam. First, riding through the heart of Arlington in rush hour, I found myself behind an elegant young woman, dressed for success, on a real Dutch bike. Not one of the increasingly good versions of Dutch bikes that folks are making over here…but a bona fide, upright, Dutch city bike with fully enclosed chain, serious built-in lights, and a rear-wheel lock. The works. Must be great going downhill to the river…probably a bit harder work getting back home in the evening – but so styling.
A couple of days later, I’m a little deeper into the residential part of Arlington when a vision rides towards me: an adult with child on the rear rack and an even smaller child perched on the front of the bike inside the arms of their Dad. Am I imagining this? Have I been transported to Amsterdam or Amersfoort; did I pass through a time warp or some kind of cycling portal? What’s even more confounding is that I don’t know who these people are…most of the slightly eccentric bikes that I see around town are ridden by people I know well (yes, I’m talking about Arlingtonians Paul DeMaio on his Strida or Charlie Denney on his three-seater with twins out in front).
Capital City Bike Share in Arlington - Photo Courtesy of commuterpageblog.com
Arlington has been desperately seeking some bike culture for years. Now with Revolution’s City Hub generating all kinds of fun activity, bike sharing on the ground in Crystal City, and people riding Dutch bikes around town…Washington D.C. had better get its game on when it comes to street cred in the nation’s capital district.
Andy Clarke League President
Clarke was appointed to the position of Executive Director in April of 2004 after successfully leading efforts to create, interpret and implement the various transportation programs that are available to improve conditions for bicycling and walking as the League’s State and Local Advocacy Director.
The League has a proud and rich history of working for better bicycling. Founded in 1880 as the League of American Wheelmen, the organization launched the Good Roads Movement that helped get quality paved roads around the country. We continue this work 130 years later still fighting for better roads and conditions for cycling.
We were delighted to see our colleagues at San Francisco Bicycle Coalition use the same simple message that launched the bicycling movement in our country for one of their latest campaigns. Their Good Roads Campaign seeks to enlist members and other SF cyclists to help them report potholes and other street defects through the city’s 311 campaign. The SFBC has conducted an audit of some of the worst pavement conditions in the city and monitors the pavement resurfacing schedule to ensure key bicycling corridors are prioritized.
We support these efforts. In fact, one of the many questions in our Bicycle Friendly Community application asks about the existence of a reporting mechanism for roads in need of repair. Lack of one is a regular part of feedback to applying communities. The Website SeeClickFix.com uses social media and new technology for this type of reporting. Citizens in cities like Omaha, NE and Milwaukee, WI are using this to capture maintenance issues. The site even allows communities to compete against others. On a national level the Complete Streets Coalition’s, Transportation for America’s and even the Sierra Club’s philosophy of ‘fix-it-first’ are extensions of the spirit of the original movement.
As winter approaches with its cycle of freezing and thawing moisture that leads to deterioration of pavement, now is the time for advocates, bike clubs and every day cyclists to learn how to report problems in their community in preparation for springtime’s pothole repair and road resurfacing. We all have to work to help make sure the good roads that have been created remain that way.
Jeff Peel State and Local Advocacy Coordinator
Peel joined the League in March 2008 as a Program Specialist for the Bicycle Friendly Communities program. Peel has a BA in American Studies from the University of Southern Mississippi.
A ten-day traffic jam stretching more than 60 miles outside of Beijing, China is a nightmare – a nightmare for those in their cars, for the Chinese government, and for its citizens. The jam, noted as the longest in history, formed on August 14 and has caused some drivers to be stuck on the road for six days.
The number of vehicles in Beijing has increased by 1,900 a day on average in the first six months of this year, officials said at a recent transportation seminar. Beijing, like many of China’s big cities, has invested heavily on widening roads, building towering flyovers and expanding its subway system. It is, however, still struggling to keep pace with the surge of new vehicles. China, with its fast-expanding middle-class, this year, overtook the United States to become the world’s biggest car market. In Beijing alone, a city of 20 million, the total number of vehicles is expected to hit 7 million by 2015. The city’s roads can accommodate 6.7 million vehicles…To ease the burden on the roads, the government is planning to invest 331.2 billion Yuan ($ 49.4 billion) in the next five years to expand its subway system by 850 km and increase the usage of public transport to 40 per cent.
Hopefully, China’s efforts include bike infrastructure and increasing the bike-mode share, in addition to expanding its public transportation system. Similar problems are popping up in countries near and far. Click here for a slide show of 12 of the world’s most high traffic areas.
Similar recurring nightmares (albeit not as long as Beijing’s) are clogging our own backyards. Next time, instead of sitting idle in your car for two hours on you way to work and for two hours on the way back, ride your bike. Worst case scenario, it will take you the same amount of time as when you sat in traffic. However, when you bike commute you don’t subject yourself to the frustration of going nowhere and annoying radio morning shows. You feel refreshed and not the least bit irritated from the time you wasted sitting in traffic – because you didn’t!
In addition to biking your work commute and errands, take action and protect vital bicycle funding in your community. The more citizens on bikes, the less traffic and the happier we will all be.
Los Angeles, the second largest and debatably most auto-centric city in the United States, is reaching out towards cyclists and making an effort to transform the city to make room for bikes. To reaffirm this point, L.A. hosted a bicycle safety summit this morning, August 16. This step towards bicycle-friendliness comes after Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa was hit by a car while on his bike. The accidentcrash resulted in a shattered elbow and a new push to increase safety for bicyclists.
The Mayor made a formal announcement on You Tube that included his personal crash, the need for improvement in L.A.’s bicycle infrastructure, and his intention to focus on this subject — starting with this morning’s bike safety summit. He also wrote that, “Eventually we plan to build a network of 1,663 miles of bikeways. I encourage everyone to take a look at the plan and give input.” Villaraigosa envisions Los Angeles’ climate and landscape as an ideal place for cyclists. The Mayor hopes that today’s discussion and upcoming bicycle plan updates will maximize what the city has going for it.
Carly Sieff League Bicycle Friendly America Program Assistant
Sieff joined the League in April 2010 with a Bachelors in Urban Studies and Science & Society from Brown University.
Technology is amazing and typically makes everything easier – information sharing, photo sharing, video sharing, and now bike sharing! Bike sharing by iphone joins the extensive list of bike-sharing systems already in place. Just in the past couple of years we have seen a boom in cities adopting bike share systems as an additional public transportation option – some of the more popular are Paris; Montreal; Washington, D.C.; Denver; Minneapolis; Chicago; and the list keeps growing. Cities are not the only ones on top of this boom, businesses are implementing systems, and even colleges and universities are getting in the game. Some systems allow people passing by to swipe their credit card and ride off, while others require a little planning ahead but can be just as convenient. Coming this fall to the Big Apple is bike sharing by iphone called Sobi. Soon a user will be able to locate an available bike with the simple touch of a phone. I once thought bike riding was as simple as it could get, but with these innovations in bike share systems I am starting to believe it can be even simpler.
~Alison Dewey
League Bicycle Friendly America Program Specialist
Another sunny beautiful day here in Copenhagen, we couldn’t be asking for better weather. All three days at the Velo-City Global conference have been perfect conditions – sunny, blue sky, light breeze, and in the upper 60’s. We are so far north here that the sun lasts until about 10:30 p.m. and comes up around 4:30am. So there is plenty of time to see the hustle and bustle of the city before and after the conference.
A highlight of the day was going through one of Copenhagen’s two bike counters. More important to me than another stamp in my passport was becoming a number in the Denmark bicycling community. I wanted to pass by one of the bike counters and leave my permanent mark here in Copenhagen. Although just a number, I feel like I am now an official part of the city. Forever remembered in the nearly 2 million bicyclists counted by Copenhagen to this date.
Photo taken by Andy Clarke at the United Nations Climate Change Conference '09
Executive Director of the Canadian organization 8-80, Gil Penalosa, offered an inspiring presentation today in the morning session. He called on advocates, planners and decision makers to be doers. “We need solutions to the problem, not problems to the solution.” A passionate man and excellent public speaker, he encouraged the audience to follow the “Ready, aim, fire” mantra rather than “Ready, aim, aim, aim, aim…” since often times we are caught over-thinking our issues rather than just getting it done.
There was a Meet the Danes, speed-dating-esque session where conference participants heard a short elevator speech from various people of Denmark in an open floor session. I learned from Lotte Ruby that the Danish Cyclist Federation has a program similar to the League’s Bicycle Friendly Business program. The Danes also recognize the value in encouraging businesses to promote a more bicycle friendly atmosphere for their employees and have seen an explosion of interest in the program. We traded success stories and shared some of the challenges we both faced.
To end the day, all 850 conference attendees participated in a Bike Parade throughout the city. There was a solar powered bike stereo to accompany the crowd blasting Danish pop music as we rode through the city. Along with the mobile DJ, there were orchestras on (cargo) bikes, bicycle messengers, kids on bikes, pensioners on bikes (retirees), Long Johns (a type of cargo bike), other cargos, unicycles, trailer bikes, and more. Many of us wore “I BIKE CPH” t-shirts. We would have blended right in with the rush hour traffic had there not been so many of us. Instead we brought Copenhagen to a halt – autos, bicyclists, and pedestrians all stopped to wonder what was happening. The parade was sponsored by the city so a police escort was along for the ride and we were actually legal. It was a sight to see!
~Alison Dewey
League Bicycle Friendly America Program Specialist
One of the overall themes from yesterday at Velo-City Global was that bicycling is about people. “I don’t give a sh*t about bikes. I care about people on bikes,” was how Mikael Coleville-Anderson, filmmaker, photographer and urban mobility specialist, put it. The idea that we should be planning our cities around its people rather than its cars has somehow escaped us Americans for the past decades. Where did we lose track of this idea? When presented, it sounds so obvious but in reality we have continued to take and take and take space away from people – walking people, conversing people, bike-riding people – and given it to the cars. We have given it away to single occupancy loneliness; we have separated crowds by steel and have stolen the chance for citizens to really experience their community.
Lake Sagaris, president of Ciudad Viva in Santiago, Chile, spoke a similar tone in her presentation. There are so many faces to the world, yet segregating ourselves by an automobile takes the personality out of a community. Bicycling is not only about connecting locations but it is also about connecting people in communities. It is about growing an identity and giving people faces for which to see and respond. Sagaris’s people-packed photos were a reminder that people need people. We need that chance encounter on a sidewalk or on a bike-path where we can stop, talk, and connect.
Cities need to again consider its people when planning how to move them, consider their health, consider the air they are breathing, consider their ability to connect to their neighbors, and consider their quality of life. Bicycles are a solution to all of these issues and more, and it really is about the people. Bikes would be nothing without people to propel them.
Here I am, Velo-City Global – Copenhagen, the city of bikes. Even at the airport, the depot for planes, taxis, and travelers, you get a sense of how in-grained bicycles are in the culture of Denmark. There are ads for various products and services featuring bikes all over the airport; the promotions for the city wouldn’t be accurate without featuring the high density of bicycles. It is wonderful and inspiring.
I arrived to the conference sight by train, bikes are welcome on the train at any time of the day. I, however, did not travel with my bike. Instead I will be using one of the many of bikes offered through the conference. Surprisingly, this is the first bike conference, of this magnitude, I have attended that actually provides bikes for the participants. My registration packet even included the ticket for my conference bike. “Take your first left, cross two alleys and then turn left again; the warehouse with the bikes will be on your left,” said nice man at registration. Terrific!
The conference is being hosted in the old meat-packing district of Copenhagen, which means we are congregated in an immense open venue with exposed support beams, high ceilings, high windows, tall white-painted walls, surrounded by cobblestone streets (which is much of Copenhagen), and located in a maze of buildings . It all makes you feel so small but at the same time, I know I am part of something very BIG. Some of the meat-packing district is still used for pick-ups and delivery of goods, so finding the correct building that housed the hundreds of conference loaner bikes was a bit of an obstacle course around delivery trucks.
I found it finally and entered another beautifully renovated warehouse. Inside was a sea of bikes, people cruising around on bikes, mechanics by worktables working on bikes, lines of cargo bikes, and a small stand of reflectors and lights to purchase. On the far side was a woman with a laptop, registering and sending each participant on their way. The bikes were, to my standards, clunkers. They were recycled or recovered bikes from the city – which in itself was quite amazing. I couldn’t believe the city had recovered hundreds of working bikes, enough to provide for a conference of 850 participants. There were single speeds, 3-speed cruisers, and multi-speeds. Most all of them had the essential commuting features: a rack, basket, kickstand, chainguard, integrated lock, and bell. I set out to find my ride for the next five days.
I listened to the instructions – choose a bike, test ride to make sure it works, take it to a mechanic if it needs adjustments and then check out with the woman with the laptop. Simple enough. I was drawn to a yellow, up-right 3-speed cruiser, containing all of the commuting essentials, of course. It was quite rusty and even had a few cobwebs still on it but I liked it, and it fit perfect. The only thing I needed from the mechanic was a little WD40 to help free the rusted lock on the back wheel. I was off and free to experience Copenhagen by bike. What a beautiful and inspiring way to start a conference.
I have not seen a car parking garage nor have I seen anyone arriving to the conference by car. Instead, the atmosphere is reminiscent of my college campus, which was mostly closed to cars so that everyone had to arrive to class by foot or by bike. Arriving to the opening session of Velo-City Global you walk through another sea of bikes – rows and rows of bikes to the left and right of you.
Copenhagen and this conference visually remind me what we at the League are working towards, why we are here in Copenhagen, why we are a sponsor of this conference, and what great effects a bicycle can have. Stay tuned for more adventures from the seat of my rusty yellow bike in Copenhagen; there is much more to come!
Other resources:
Check out Copenhagenize – Denmark’s Bicycle Ambassador Mikael Colville-Andersen’s blog. He, too, is covering the conference, and posted a picture of the League’s State and Local Advocacy Coordinator Jeff Peel biking around Copenhagen.
~Alison Dewey
League Bicycle Friendly America Program Specialist
The most remarkable thing to me about the latest status report on the National Bicycling and Walking Study (www.fastlane.dot.gov) is that it’s the 15-year update. Fifteen years? I remember like it was only yesterday sitting down with Bill Wilkinson and the folks in the office of then-Congressman Martin Sabo to suggest the study, and that was way back in 1990 – then it got funded, consultants were hired, and the report was finally delivered to Congress on National Bike to Work Day 1994. Surely it can’t be that long ago…
The 15-year update is really pretty positive. It captures many of the exciting new trends and initiatives that have helped increase use and improve safety, especially in the last two or three years. The report is rightfully optimistic about where these trends will take us – and with continued leadership of the Department of Transportation and Secretary LaHood, who knows what we can achieve together.
I must say, though, that there is something missing for me. The original study came at a time of similarly high expectations. The Intermodal Surface Transportation Efficiency Act was really kicking into gear and spending was increasing; states had newly-hired, enthusiastic bicycle and pedestrian coordinators; the USDOT and FHWA themselves had newly appointed bicycle and pedestrian program managers; and after more than a decade of real neglect, bicycling and walking was starting to be taken seriously again at all levels of government. The case studies written as background to the overall report provided an invaluable snapshot of where bicycling and walking issues really were in the early 1990s.
The National Study itself had a very specific 69-point action plan for the Federal Government, as well as lengthy recommended action plans for state and local government. The five-year update reported on progress towards each of those 69 action items – and to be fair many of them had been completed. The 10-year update didn’t do a whole lot more than search and replace the dates and plug in some new crash and census data. So while the 15-year report references the new USDOT policy statement and documents the great success of the Safe Routes to School, Complete Streets and other programs…I’m still wondering where the action plan and leadership is for FHWA and NHTSA to capitalize on all this.
As the National Study came out in 1994 – hey, wasn’t there a World Cup going on then as well…right here in the USA? – Federal Highways and NHTSA embarked on a multi-year, multi-million dollar research program that resulted in crash analysis tools, level of service measures, training courses on the ISTEA planning process, a university-level design course for engineers, a bicycle safety research synthesis…all kinds of good stuff that helped move the ball forward. When TEA-21 was passed, FHWA came right out with detailed guidance on the new law and on what we now call complete streets.
That’s the kind of leadership we need anew at FHWA and NHTSA to really turn Secretary LaHood’s policy and support into concrete action. And in particular we need FHWA and NHTSA to demonstrate that kind of leadership to the State Department’s of Transportation because, if truth be told, a 15-year report on how state DOTs are doing in this realm would not make for such encouraging reading.
So, I am delighted to see that bicycle use and walking are up from 7.9 percent to 11.9 percent of trips and that fatalities involving the two modes are down 12 percent and 22 percent respectively since 1994 – and I am looking for the next milestone to be set; and this time with a deadline! We need to get to a 20 percent mode share by 2020 to really start to see the kinds of health, environmental, energy and traffic benefits we know we can all enjoy from getting more people out of their cars and onto their feet and their bikes. That’s the target we’re looking for now.
Andy Clarke League President
Clarke was appointed to the position of Executive Director in April of 2004 after successfully leading efforts to create, interpret and implement the various transportation programs that are available to improve conditions for bicycling and walking as the League’s State and Local Advocacy Director.
We don’t always get a lot of national and international media coverage for local bike events, so I have to say it was a pretty amazing sight riding up Pennsylvania Avenue Monday morning and seeing a wall of media people wielding cameras, microphones, even some notepads…apparently in the median and across the bike lanes! The combination of European royal-watchers, sports reporters, and a couple of political hacks each headed for their respective targets (the Crown Prince of Denmark, Caron Butler, and Congressmen Oberstar and Petri respectively) as we rode up to the intersection at Freedom Plaza.
The Associated Press story that followed (and was picked up in a lot of places) included a rather unnecessary jibe about a passing motorist complaining that the event was holding up traffic as people were trying to get to work. That was pretty ironic given that we deliberately started the ride at 9:30am to avoid rush hour, stayed resolutely in the bike lanes (which are still within the temporary orange traffic cones) all the way up Pennsylvania Ave., and didn’t spill over into the travel lanes even when we stopped for the wall of media at 13th Street. In fact, the only people who might have been in the way of traffic were…the media. And we had specifically asked them to gather in Freedom Plaza and not in the middle of the street!
Besides, if you are still trying to get to work and it’s already 9:45am…I think you should be blaming your alarm clock, or the traffic you got stuck in on the Beltway or the illegally parked tour buses and taxis on Penn. Ave., rather than a couple of dozen people in the wide median of a six lane roadway!
Another miserable piece of journalism from the DriveOn blog at USA Today used the ride to regurgitate misinformation about the bike lanes from AAA Mid Atlantic and the always civic-minded D.C. cab driver corps who are irritated that the bike lanes will prevent them from making illegal and dangerous u-turns – or at least make them more difficult. The facts about the bike lanes are that with the proper enforcement of cabs and tour buses who currently illegally park, double-park, pick-up and discharge passengers along Pennsylvania Ave., there is no degradation of service to motorists using the reconfigured street. Of course, that doesn’t make such good copy as an imaginary “war on drivers” that the USA Today writer so enthusiastically perpetuates.
After we left Freedom Plaza, the ride around the Monumental Core of Washington DC was a real treat – the weather was perfect, and taking in the sites by bike was an ideal way to go.
Clarke was appointed to the position of Executive Director in April of 2004 after successfully leading efforts to create, interpret and implement the various transportation programs that are available to improve conditions for bicycling and walking as the League’s State and Local Advocacy Director.
The League, along with its partners in the America Bikes Coalition, would like to thank Senators Kerry (D-MA) and Lieberman (I-CT) on the introduction of the American Power Act. We are excited that they have included policy necessary to lay the foundation to make significant advances in addressing the impact of transportation on our climate, energy dependence and mobility. Riding bikes means cleaner air, and the more infrastructure available for bicyclists – the more people will ride!
We support the policy reforms included in the bill because they direct states and regions to spend federal transportation dollars received from the climate bill to build sustainable transportation solutions. The three avenues for funding – Transportation Investment Generating Economic Recovery (TIGER) grants, (see how Tiger Grants fund bicycling ) the Transportation Efficiency grants, and the Highway Trust Fund with a green screen – give state and local governments several options to invest in low- and no-carbon transportation.
Once again, we thank you for your leadership on the American Power Act and the important policy
gains toward sustainable transportation. We urge you to increase the revenue returning to the
transportation sector, and index that investment to the price of carbon. Click here to read more.
Meghan Cahill League Director of Communications
Cahill joined the League in December 2008 and has a BA in Media Communications with a concentration in Italian Studies from the College of Charleston.
… but also wonders how replicable a model it is. Here’s the article.
Credit: AP via the Economist
Naturally in an article about Portland, biking gets a prominent mention:
The environment is also the main theme of public policy. The biggest force in local politics is not a party (Democrats in effect rule without opposition) but cyclists. The bike lanes are impressive and getting even better now as streets get “bioswales”, patches of turf and shrub that capture and filter storm water and simultaneously calm traffic and separate pedestrians and cyclists from the Priuses. Those who can’t bike are encouraged to use public transport, which is free downtown.
Darren Flusche League Policy Analyst
Flusche joined the League in April 2009 and has a B.A. in history from Syracuse University and a Masters of Public Administration with a concentration in public policy analysis from New York University.
The League was beyond excited that Streetfilms attended the 10th annual National Bike Summit and documented from an advocates viewpoint what it is like to participate in an event that seems larger than us all – the bicycle movement. Watch “Voices from the National Bike Summit” below, get inspired, and we’ll see you next year at the 11th annual National Bike Summit.
Meghan Cahill League Director of Communications
Cahill joined the League in December 2008 and has a BA in Media Communications with a concentration in Italian Studies from the College of Charleston.
The 10th National Bike Summit ended last Thursday, March 11th, with a momentous Congressional Reception, inspiring bike advocates from around the country – and Secretary of Transportation Ray LaHood – to bring the American bicycle movement to the next level! The 2010 Bike Summit was a paramount event for countless reasons but there are 10 clear highlights.
Drum roll please…
10. Rewards for A Decade of Service – The Summit really wouldn’t be what it is today without the ongoing support of three people we recognized for their decade of commitment to the event: Congressmen Jim Oberstar (D-MN) and Earl Blumenauer (D-OR) have spoken at all ten Summits, offering words of wisdom and inspiration; always challenging us to aim higher. Their staff provide invaluable logistical help and strategic guidance as we navigate the halls of power. The third award was to Bikes Belong, the title sponsor of all ten – a serious financial commitment which they exceed every year by also drumming up attendees. Thank You!
Just before the Summit kicked off, at the League’s annual meeting, we also recognized more than a decade of service by outgoing Chair of the League Board, Amanda Eichstaedt. She received the Paul Dudley White award for her contribution to bicycling over the years, including service on the League board and as Chair of the board for the past three years.
9. The League’s six asks for the Congressional Lobby Day (starting on page 14 of the agenda) were well received by our nation’s Senators and Congressmen. H.R. 4722, the Active Community Transportation of Act of 2010, had nine additional bill co-sponsors as a result of our meetings on Capitol Hill.
8. Bike/Ped Eligibility for Transit Funds Increased – Speaking at the opening plenary of the Summit, Federal Transit Administrator Peter Rogoff confirmed that the eligibility of FTA funds for bicycling and walking projects has been extended. Following a Federal Register notice last year, FTA has agreed that bicycling projects that increase access and service to transit facilities are eligible for FTA funding provided they are within a three-mile radius of a transit station (one mile for walking). Eligibility doesn’t guarantee any more funding for bike/transit projects, but certainly removes a major hurdle that has prevented it in the past.
3. Google announced at the Opening Plenary Session at the National Bike Summit an addition to their suite of online directions - Google Maps biking directions! “This new tool will open people’s eyes to the possibility and practicality of hopping on a bike and riding,” said Andy Clarke, President of the League of American Bicyclists.
2. Secretary of Transportation Ray LaHood energized and thanked the crowd at the League of American Bicyclists National Bike Summit on March 11, 2010 declaring, “You have a full partner in Ray LaHood.” Today, March 15, LaHood issued his new Policy Statement on Bicycle and Pedestrian Accommodation Regulations and Recommendations. LaHood then made the most substantial statement the DOT has ever made about bicycling and announced, a ” sea change. People across America who value bicycling should have a voice when it comes to transportation planning. This is the end of favoring motorized transportation at the expense of non-motorized.”
And finally, the number one reason the 10th Annual Bike Summit Rocked…
1. You! More than 725 bicycle advocates, educators, enthusiasts, and industry leaders attended the 10th Annual National Bike Summit and had more than 425 scheduled meetings on Capitol Hill! That is approximately 600 more Bike Summit attendees than we had 10 years ago!
To recap, the National Bike Summit was a great success, and the League is confident in the progress we will make in the year to come in conjunction with the Bike Summit! The League thanks all of our sponsors, advocates, supporters and industry leaders who turned out in record numbers to support the cause we all know will make America a healthier, better place to live – bicycling.
Meghan Cahill League Director of Communications
Cahill joined the League in December 2008 and has a BA in Media Communications with a concentration in Italian Studies from the College of Charleston.
The League of American Bicyclists was more than thrilled to have Secretary of Transportation Ray LaHood join us at the Congressional Bike Reception on the third day of the National Bike Summit on March 11, 2010. We were even more excited with his support of bicycling as a vital part of America’s transportation system. LaHood blogged, “Bicycles are a critical part of a cleaner, greener future in American transportation, so keep those wheels spinning.” Below is a clip of LaHood’s blog Fast Lane, recapping his Bike Summit experience. Read LaHood’s whole post here.
On Wednesday, I had the pleasure of addressing the National Bike Summit. I was invited to speak as a member of the Obama administration, but I have been a supporter of bicycling for many years and was a member of the Congressional Bike Caucus when I was in Congress.
$30 million would establish a federal transit safety oversight program
$ 1 billion a year for high speed rail funding
Commits to develop long term solutions to financing and performance
Administration seeks to integrate economic analysis and performance measurement in transportation planning to ensure tax dollars better targeted and spent.
Needs a program that “increases options, promotes s sustainable environment, and makes our economy more productive.”
States funding transportation with gas tax is unsustainable. Does not suggest alternative.
View the Department of Transportation Funding Highlights here.
The good news is that the share of all trips made by bicycle is up 25 percent since 2001, to one percent. The bad news is that even short trips are still dominated by privately owned vehicles, a category of vehicle that does not include bikes. Half of all trips are three miles or less, but fewer than 2 percent of those trips are made by bicycle, while 72 percent of them are driven. Private vehicles like cars, pick-up trucks, and SUVs, account for 60 percent of trips of a mile or less. Think about that next time you hear people wondering why we have such big problems with the environment, health and childhood obesity, and traffic congestion.
Eighty-five percent of bicycling trips are three miles or less, but nearly 58 percent of transit trips are longer than that. This fact — that most transit trips are longer than most bike trips — reinforces the compatible nature of the two. In regions with transit service, biking and transit together will get you pretty much wherever you want to go. Transit agencies should do more to promote bike-transit connections.
There are many worthy tables and graphs to be made with this data. For now, here is a simple one that illustrates the 30-40-50 trip distance concept. That is, nearly 30 percent of trips are a mile or shorter, 40 percent are two miles or shorter and 50 percent are three miles or shorter. It gives you a sense of how much of our daily travel involves distances that can be easily walked and biked.
Our thanks to the FHWA Office of Policy for help accessing these data.
Darren Flusche League Policy Analyst
Flusche joined the League in April 2009 and has a B.A. in history from Syracuse University and a Masters of Public Administration with a concentration in public policy analysis from New York University.
Did you miss the latest issue of the Journal of Public Transportation? Don’t worry. They’re posting them free online. The latest issue contains “Integrating Bicycling with Public Transport in North America,” a review of bikes and transit policies in eight North American cities by researchers John Pucher of Rutgers and Ralph Buehler of Virginia Tech. The authors conducted case studies of San Francisco, Portland, Minneapolis, Chicago, Washington, New York, Vancouver and Toronto.
Among the questions considered: what happens when a well integrated system that encourages bicycling and transit use leads to crowding? Many European cities provide ample secure parking at stations. In this article, the authors take a page from Complete Streets and recommend “Complete Stations,” which offer easy bicycle access to platforms and fully accommodate the needs of cyclists — an inexpensive solution compared to Park and Ride stations for cars.
Speaking of bikes on buses here is a great video from Chicago on how the two can safely share the road.
Using some of the findings in the report above, let’s play a little bikes-on-transit trivia.
(Note: the word “subway” is used below as a blanket term and does not refer only to New York City. Answers are subject to change as cities compete for the best transportation network in North America.)
1. Which city provides the most bicycle racks city-wide, including bike parking at almost all subway stations?
(A) Minneapolis
(B) Toronto
(C) New York City
(D) Chicago
2. Which city offers indoor or sheltered bike parking at the most subway stations?
(A) Washington
(B) New York
(C) San Francisco
(D) Chicago
3. Which city offers no secure or dedicated bike parking at rail stations and no bike racks on buses?
(A) New York
(B) San Francisco
(C) Vancouver, BC
(D) Washington
4. Which city allows bikes on subway trains at all times?
(A) Washington
(B) Chicago
(C) Toronto
(D) New York City
5. Which city has a bike ordinance encouraging parking bikes at sign posts, which are within a block of most bus stops?
(A) Portland
(B) Vancouver, BC
(C) Minneapolis
(D) Washington
6. Which city has five of the ten “bike stations” in the United States?
(A) Washington
(B) Portland
(C) New York
(D) San Francisco
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Answers
(B) There are 15,000 post and ring racks throughout Toronto
(D) Secure parking is available at 83 CTA stations, funding is secured for more in 2010
(A)
(D) Cyclists are asked, but not required, to avoid rush hour
(C)
(D)
Darren Flusche League Policy Analyst
Flusche joined the League in April 2009 and has a B.A. in history from Syracuse University and a Masters of Public Administration with a concentration in public policy analysis from New York University.
Today, on NPR’s Morning Addition, Ari Shapiro’s bike was among the first to roll into the new bike shelter located at Union Station. Not only will the shelter provide a safe facility for commuters to store their bikes, it will serve as a very visible symbol of the changing approach to transportation planning in Washington, D.C. For commuters arriving at Union Station via MARC, VRE or AMTRAK, the final leg of their commute is usually on the Metro or bus. Soon commuters will be able to purchase a yearly $100 membership or pay a daily fee of $1 to keep their bicycle in a safe, reliable bike shelter, adding some much needed connectivity to D.C.’s transportation system. (photo credit: The City Fix)
On a personal note, the opening of the bike station will greatly improve my daily venture into D.C. as I am a regular commuter on the MARC train and have found the lack of bike transportation options for commuters arriving in Union Station to be quite frustrating. Because commuters are not permitted to bring their bikes on the train, leaving your bike locked at the bike racks out front is the only other option. However, this is hardly a viable option, as is evidenced by the teams of wheeless and seatless bikes that stand embarrassed and dejected. The opening of the Union Station bike shelter provides a safe place for commuters to store their bikes, thus diversifying commuting options, relieving stress on the Metro and ultimately creating a healthier place to live and work.
Also, today’s Pittsburgh Tribune-Review has an article on a bike parking ordinance that was approved by the planning commission last night.
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