For those of you who attended the 2012 National Bike Summit, the subject may sound a bit familiar. We had a compelling keynote by Jason Ryan Dorsey, The Gen Y guy, who highlighted the distinguishing factors of this generation; many of which point to increased interest in active transportation.

The conversation was kicked-off by Phineas Baxandall, Senior Analyst at U.S. PIRG, who gave a great run-down of transportation trends across the board. A recent report from his organization, Transportation and the New Generation, put some compelling data behind what we already know: Millennials are driving less than the generations before them.

The chart Baxandall returned to again and again showed a 6 percent downturn in vehicle miles traveled since 2007 (below). “This is not a blip” he said.

So what’s the cause of the decline in driving? A lot of it stems from the millennials.

The under-35 age group is 25 percent of the transport population, and there was a 23 percent decline in VMT in that age group between 2001 and 2009. During that same span, biking rates shot up 25 percent, and walking rates rose 16 percent.

David Metz, a partner at the public policy research group Fairbank, Maslin, Maullin, Metz & Associates (FM3), shared some helpful insights into millennials’ values. Instead of donating time or effort, he said, millennials are more likely to support causes through monetary contributions. FM3′s research demonstrated that millennials value social ties and interconnectedness. They rated “success” not by how much money or material possessions they own, but by personal relationships such as a happy marriage, supportive friends, and strong family ties.

Between data, inspiring speakers, and insightful discussions, a question emerged: How do we get millennials engaged in bike advocacy? Of course, a question this big couldn’t be answered during a one-day workshop — but the conversation was energizing. Here at the League, we’re trying to get more youth involved through a consistent Facebook and attentive Twitter presence, as well as youth-rate memberships and a reduced registration fee for the National Bike Summit. We’re also planning a Club Leadership webinar focused on getting millenials involved in bike clubs.

But we also know there are miles to go before we sleep, and there’s a lot of work to be done to get millennials involved in making biking better. But the future is certainly bright. As Marc Gorton, founder of OpenPlans said in his speech: If millennials keep decreasing their VMT, “we’ll need to change the way we think about transportation.”

Do you have any insights or stories to share?

Katie Omberg
Events and Outreach Manager

Katie joined the League in April of 2010. For the two years prior, she worked at the Corcoran College of Art + Design as a programs coordinator. Katie has a BA in Religion from Mount Holyoke College in South Hadley, Mass. She enjoys biking to work.

There was one stunning exception to the downward trend: injuries to pedestrians spiked. The number of pedestrians injured in traffic crashes increased 19 percent, going from 59,000 in 2009 to 70,000 in 2010, according to NHTSA’s data. Meanwhile, pedestrian fatalities increased 4.2 percent.  Safer cars and drivers wearing seatbelts may be helping drivers’ safety, but they are little help to a person on foot.

With a one year increase of 11,000 pedestrian injuries, it is a good time to consider what can be done to improve road safety for all road users. Senator Begich (D-AK) has introduced an amendment (to S.1950) that would require the Federal Department of Transportation to set safety standards for motorized and non-motorized modes.  (A state could write its own safety policy or law to be exempted from the federal standard.) This law would give the US DOT the authority enact a Complete Streets policy and encourage states to implement their own.

The law says the Secretary of Transportation “shall establish standards to ensure that the design of Federal surface transportation projects provides for the safe and adequate accommodation, in all phases of project planning, development, and operation, of all users of the transportation network, including motorized and non-motorized users.” [Emphasis mine.] As stated above, states are granted a waiver if they pass a law of their own that accomplishes the same. The Secretary “shall determine whether the applicable State has achieved compliance with this section,” according to the amendment language.

The Commerce Committee will hear the bill on Wednesday, Dec. 14^th at 10:00am.  These Senators are on the Committee. You can use our Advocacy Center to send a message to your Senator to urge them to support the Begich amendment to S. 1950 for the SAFETY FOR MOTORIZED AND NONMOTORIZED USERS.

Majority Members

Chairman John D. Rockefeller IV
West Virginia

Senator Daniel K. Inouye
Hawaii

Senator John F. Kerry
Massachusetts

Senator Barbara Boxer
California

Senator Bill Nelson
Florida

Senator Maria Cantwell
Washington

Senator Frank R. Lautenberg
New Jersey

Senator Mark Pryor
Arkansas

Senator Claire McCaskill
Missouri

Senator Amy Klobuchar
Minnesota

Senator Tom Udall
New Mexico

Senator Mark Warner
Virginia

Senator Mark Begich
Alaska

Minority Members

Ranking Member Kay Bailey Hutchison
Texas

Senator Olympia Snowe
Maine

Senator Jim DeMint
South Carolina

Senator John Thune
South Dakota

Senator Roger Wicker
Mississippi

Senator Johnny Isakson
Georgia

Senator Roy Blunt
Missouri

Senator John Boozman
Arkansas

Senator Patrick J. Toomey
Pennsylvania

Senator Marco Rubio
Florida

Senator Kelly Ayotte
New Hampshire

Senator Dean Heller
Nevada

Darren Flusche
League Policy Director

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.

Next up is Lorna Green, director of operations.

Hi Lorna, how are you celebrating Bike Month this year?

I celebrate just being able to ride my bike.

What’s your favorite Bike Month experience?

I have found WABA’s Bike to Work Day activities both fun and enjoyable.  Just seeing how many people ride to work each day validates the work we do.

What are the best things about bicycling?

The best thing about cycling is the freedom — to be able to go anywhere on your schedule and under your own power.  Not waiting for the bus or train.  Not hoping you have enough gas in the car or waiting in traffic.

You live in Prince George’s County, an inner-ring suburb of DC. How is the bicycling experience different in PG County than it is in DC?

I live in an urban part of Prince George’s County.  Most cyclists in my area cycle out of the need for cheap transportation, not for recreation.  Most parents are too afraid to let their children cycle on a regular basis, so it is rare to see kids out on their bikes.  Even quality shopping is prohibitive since it is not reachable by foot or bike.

I see far too many near misses in my neighborhood.  A teenager died a few months ago just crossing the street.  We need more driver awareness and Complete Streets NOW!

When and why do you and your family ride your bikes?

There are some very nice parks several miles from where I live.  We like to go together and ride a few times a year.

What do you know now that you wish you knew before you started to ride frequently?

Through the League’s education program, I have found that there is a right way to cycle safely with traffic.

What do you typically wear to ride?

Regular clothes or a big shirt and sweat pants on the weekends.

Thanks, Lorna!

Darren Flusche
League Policy Director

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.

Representatives Matsui and LaTourette (Photo source: National Complete Streets Coalition)

Should the bill pass, states would have two years to pass a law or put in place a DOT policy to require that “all transportation projects in the State shall accommodate the safety and convenience of all users in accordance with complete streets principles.” The bill defines these principles as “the safe and adequate accommodation…of all users of the transportation system, including pedestrians, bicyclists, public transit users, children, older individuals, individuals with disabilities, motorists, and freight vehicles” and “the consideration of the safety and convenience of all users in all phases of project planning and development.”

From the National Complete Streets Coalition:

“This bill will help ensure that our federal transportation investments are creating the safest environment possible for everyone using our roadways,” said Congresswoman Doris Matsui, the lead author of the Safe and Complete Streets Act. “Complete Streets policies are win-win for local communities: they save lives and create forward-looking projects that provide lasting value. I have seen firsthand the interest in Complete Streets on the local level, and a Federal Complete Streets standard will ensure a consistent approach for all our transportation investments.”

According to the Coalition, a Senate version of the bill is expected soon.

We are extremely pleased to see bi-partisan support for this important bill. During the National Bike Summit, the League and Ohio advocates gave Congressman LaTourette a leadership award for his support of Complete Streets.

Congressman LaTourette (white shirt) receives a League leadership award from the Ohio delegation and League staff (far left) at the National Bike Summit. (Photo: Chris Eichler)

Darren Flusche
League Policy Director

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.

• So, what is “Livability,” and what does it have to do with the Federal Highway Administration? The Role of FHWA Programs in Livability answers that question.

• Inspired by Bicycle Friendly Communities, PBIC announces the first Walk Friendly Communities.

• The NACTO design guide is now available in printable PDF form.

• Does your state have a good Complete Streets policy? The National Complete Street Coalition breaks it down.

• In 1999, Professor Pucher asked if North America was on the verge of a bicycling renaissance. Twelve years later, Pucher, Buehler and Seinen reassess.    The report includes several maps of commuter levels within US cities, like this one of Washington, DC:

• The Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) compiled recent research on pedestrian and bicycle safety engineering treatments, including sharrows.

• Update: “A different Darren” is right (see comment). It’s not too late to mention that the FHWA has announced interim approval of the use of green bike lanes.

Good stuff.

Happy Bike Month, everybody!

Darren Flusche
League Policy Director

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.

Just last week I was treated to a bike tour from the city’s Acting Bicycle Program Coordinator Hayes Lord. Though I’m a frequent visitor of the city, and there seems to be new pathway or separated lane each time I go. On this particular tour, Hayes showed me the 1^st and 2^nd Avenue separated lanes that were still being installed as we rode by. There is no doubting the impact these types of facilities are having in drawing out new cyclists. That draw is part of the reason for new political support in addressing safety and throughout the city.

While the separated facilities in Manhattan often receive the most attention, NYC DOT has been busy installing and mapping a variety of infrastructure treatments. Using all the tools in their toolbox they’ve helped make it possible to safely bike in all 5 boroughs via low trafficked streets, a system of sharrows and routes, access across bridges, cycletracks, and other separated facilities as well as standard bike lanes. Clarence Eckerson Jr. of Street Films has a great new video showing how his commute uses a mixture of these facilities and how they work.

How does this compare to your commute where you live? Are there examples in the video that could translate into your community?

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.

Because he is on the prestigious House Appropriations Subcommittee on Transportation, his opinions regarding transportation policy and infrastructure spending are important. “Congressman LaTourette has historically been generally supportive of recreational bicycling; agreeing to co-sponsor Complete Streets demonstrates an understanding that bicycling and walking can also be transportation” said Lois Moss, founder of Walk+Roll Cleveland.

The Complete Streets Act would require transportation agencies to adopt specifically defined Complete Streets policies that within two years and apply them to federally funded transportation projects. Further, according to the Complete Streets website, “the bill directs the US Department of Transportation to develop a mechanism to ensure compliance with the bill and to report to Congress on what State DOTs and MPOs are doing to adopt and implement complete streets policies in accordance with the bill.”

Complete Streets and promoting bicycling need not be a partisan issue. And in the past it has not been. Representative Blumenauer likes to refer to it as bike-partisanship. But we recognize that it can sometimes be difficult to get support from both sides of the aisle these days. And so Rep. LaTourette deserves our thanks and support for being the first Republican to publicly support this bill.

Darren Flusche
League Policy Director

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.

Here’s LMB’s John Lindenmayer on why the legislation is important:

Read about how they did it.

Darren Flusche
League Policy Director

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.

One of the important achievements of the ADA was to require that facilities in the public right of way are built to accommodate users with disabilities. This led to improved standards for items such as crosswalks, curb cuts, sidewalks and pedestrian warnings and signage. The ADA has been remarkably successful in expanding transportation accessibility. However, there is still work to be done.

While we should take today to celebrate this historic achievement, let’s also take a moment and think about the work remaining to be done. Twenty years after ADA, and almost 40 years since the first requirements for curb cuts in Federal projects, it’s shocking that lack of access is still an issue anywhere in the transportation system. The fact that it is still an issue highlights the entrenched nature of State DOTs and local public works agencies that are so resistant to change. Where the ADA has forced transportation agencies to integrate the needs of people with disabilities into planning and projects, the needs of everyday pedestrians, transit users and, of course, cyclists are still routinely overlooked or dismissed. And don’t forget, the ADA didn’t require sidewalks – it says that if they are present, they must be made accessible. That’s why Complete Streets is so critical and is part of the unfinished business of ADA, and that’s why the disability community has been such a leader in the Complete Streets movement.

Complete Streets policies ensure that transportation agencies routinely design and operate the entire right of way to enable safe access for all users. Similar arguments were made about cost, control and need; but for many of us it’s tough to imagine going back to the time before the ADA made accessibility a part of the everyday work of planners and engineers. The League, in conjunction with other national partners, is working on instituting Complete Streets at the federal level, and there are many state and local campaigns currently going on that you can support. We look forward to the time that we try to remember what life was like without Complete Streets. We certainly can’t afford 20 more years to make it happen.

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.

Earlier this month, the Massachusetts Department of Transportation (MassDOT) launched an initiative called GreenDOT to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions; promote the healthy transportation options of walking, bicycling, and public transit; and support smart growth development. Among other things that package of efforts reaffirms the MassDOT Complete Streets policy.

Stephen wonders, though, how the state’s tight budget will affect GreenDOT ability to realize its ambitious goal of reducing GHG emissions by 2 million tons by 2020. He offers five low-cost steps for MassDOT to consider:

• Analyze all current and pending projects for their contribution to achievement of the three goals; stop or scale back those with a negative impact.
• Revamp membership and procedures of the MPOs so that funding decisions are shaped by the three goals.
• Build-in more public oversight and muscle to keep the government on track.
• Move Beyond the “Highway Design Guide’s” Flexibility To Require Prioritization of Environmental, Walking, Bicycling, and Transit Facilities.
• Refocus on Small, Local Projects and Programs To Continue Progress Despite the Continuing Fiscal Constraints.

Sounds like a good start. For more on these recommendations, read the whole post.

Darren Flusche
League Policy Director

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.