The League is excited to announce a new member of our staff: Ken McLeod. A lawyer and a cyclist, Ken is our new Legal Specialist, working with the Advocacy Advance team.

So what’s Ken’s story? Where’s he from and how did he end up at the League? Here’s a quick Q&A on Ken’s biking background…

What’s your first memory of riding a bike?

My first memory of riding a bike is learning to ride at Fort Worden on the Puget Sound, a defense fort built during World War II to protect Seattle. I would often camp there with my family and the camp site loop is the first place I rode around. Back home, the first trail that I rode on was the Burke-Gilman Trail, from my dad’s house in Lake Forest Park to Gas Works Park on Lake Union across from downtown Seattle.

What got you interested in law and where did you go to school?

I became interested in law while I was an undergraduate at Pomona College. At Pomona I studied Philosophy, Politics and Economics as a interdisciplinary major. In each subject I saw law as one of the ultimate expressions of the subject and thought it would be a great field to be involved in because of the way it reflects society’s judgments about those subjects. I went to William & Mary for law school because of its relaxed setting and proximity to the D.C. area.

What interested you about working for the League?

I became interested in working for the League as I went through law school and became a more consistent bicyclist. On my way to law school, driving from Seattle to Williamsburg, my car broke down twice, once in Chicago and once just north of Richmond. It barely passed the Virginia car inspection after a year of occasional amateur and professional repair. I had already been riding for recreation on many weekends while living in Seattle and my car troubles helped ease me into biking more for errands and commuting. For better or worse, law school makes you think of the legal implications of everything and since I was biking all the time it was hard not to think about biking and the law. One of my professors suggested to me that one of the best ways to react to the difficult job market is to pursue things that you would like to be involved in, even if it is not a traditional legal career. Soon after that suggestion I looked into national organizations for bicyclists and found the League.

What will you be working on here at the League?

Most general, I’ll be working to improve the legal resources provided by the League. Different laws are important to different types of bicyclists and bicycling advocates and I hope to provide legal resources tailored to the many different constituents of the League. At some point our legal resources will include an advocacy element based on best practices drawn from state laws. I will also be working on a project to track federal spending on bicycling. The tracking system is currently at a very early stage, but the goal is to understand how federal money is spent and how bicycling advocates can ensure that money is spent on bicycling projects.

What bike do you ride today and what inspires you about cycling?

I ride a Novara Buzz V. Cycling inspires me because it turns transportation into interaction. When I bike I feel a connection to the area that I’m biking through and often discover new places that I likely would not have notice in a car. As a former college athlete it also feels great to get out and ride. It’s great exercise and a great change of pace from running for fitness. Also, a morning bike commute wakes me up as well or better than a cup of coffee — although I usually still drink some coffee.

Welcome to the League, Ken!

 

With the passage of the new transportation law, the route to federal funding for biking and walking in your community isn’t as direct as it used to be. With dedicated programs, like Transportation Enhancements and Safe Routes to School, eliminated and folded into the new Transportation Alternatives program, there’s far more flexibility in how — or if — federal dollars are spent on bike/ped projects.

But if there’s one guiding principle to this new landscape it’s the increased importance of state departments of transportation and Metropolitan Planning Organizations — or MPOs.

As Darren Flusche, League Policy Director, explains: “The new transportation law gives Metropolitan Planning Organizations (MPOs) more responsibility for distributing federal transportation funds. MPOs serving areas with more than 200,000 residents are required to run a competitive grant program to distribute federal funds from the Transportation Alternatives (TA) program.”

So how do advocates and officials work together to ensure biking and walking are integrated into the funding process in general and, more specifically, this new competitive grant process? Working with MPO staff who are leading the way in bike/ped planning and funding, Advocacy Advance put together a short new report highlighting best practices for MPOs, including:

• General best practices
• Planning
• Funding and funding approaches
•  Best practices for the Transportation Alternatives competitive grant process

Click here to read the full report.

 

This week, Hoboken was among the cities hit hardest by Hurricane Sandy. High winds and intense rain battered the New Jersey town, and, as of this morning, much of the city is underwater. But as Hoboken rebuilds it has a new sign to hang, a new achievement to celebrate: This month, Hoboken became a Bronze-level Bicycle Friendly Community — and a shining example of how much can be done when a community comes together to make biking a priority instead of an after-thought.

“When it comes to bicycling in Hoboken,” says Ryan Sharp, the city’s Principal Planner and Bicycle Program Manager, “strong support can be found just about everywhere.”

It starts with Mayor Dawn Zimmer, a cycling advocate and bike commuter. It extends to the City Council — typically embroiled in contentious partisan battles — which voted unanimously for the city’s Complete Streets Policy, to adopt the Bicycle & Pedestrian Master Plan, and to stripe bicycle facilities on a huge percentage of Hoboken’s streets. And it ripples throughout the city, too, thanks to Bike Hoboken, the local bicycle advocacy group with more than 600 active members (an impressive membership in a city of just 50,000 people!).

“The city doesn’t begrudgingly consider bicycle accommodation only after vocal members of the community rally to action,” Sharp explains. “Instead, bicycles are at the forefront of every transportation project the city engages in.”

Hoboken has gone innovative, enticing some of its former car-hungry residents to the lighter side of transit. When faced with a car parking problem downtown, instead of looking to build more parking that would eventually just cause more congestion, the city unveiled essentially an Adopt-a-Rack program. In exchange for a small donation, local residents and businesses can have a bike rack installed at their request. And parking will get even more convenient in coming months: This summer Hoboken won grant money to install five bike corrals throughout the city.

Did your chain ring come loose on your way to work this morning? In Hoboken, bicyclists can stop by the bike repair station at the PATH Bus terminal, equipped with a bike stand, air and some basic tools to get them to work without waiting on the local bike shop to open. Is your parking permit incentivizing driving? Hoboken resident are declaring parking freedom by giving up their permit under the “Surrender Your Permit” program, which provides perks like discounts at bike stores, a free helmet, bike commuter classes and bike safety gear.

Helmets and gear certainly comes in handy for the “Summer Streets” program, which makes the roads car-free and open to all types of physical activity every Sunday from June through August. Everyday cycling is getting more comfortable too. Cycle tracks are planned for Observer Boulevard and the city has also committed to having 75 percent of Hoboken streets marked with bike lanes or sharrows.

Hoboken is an illustration of how great leadership, under former DOT Director Ian Sacs and Mayor Dawn Zimmer, can pedal a troubled city forward and win accolades like “The Most Walkable City” (Walkscore), the #1 Transportation City and now a Bronze level Bicycle Friendly Community. We are looking forward to an even more pedal friendly Hoboken soon to come. It’s achievements like these that allow Mayor Dawn Zimmer to say: “In just a few years, Hoboken has raised the bar for what it means to be bike-friendly in New Jersey.”

And, according to Sharp, the achievements have only just begun. “Having such strong support and leadership for bicycling from top-to-bottom,” he says, “ensures that progress will continue to be made for years to come.”

Our thoughts are with the residents of Hoboken as they rebuild – and we hope they’ll be out on two wheels, soon!

 

Last week we announced the latest round of Bicycle Friendly Businesses and RDG Planning & Design was on the list of more than 70 award recipients nationwide.

The Omaha-based company has been on the list since 2009, but their recent work has boosted them from the Silver to Gold level. How have they done it? Passion, persistence, and dedication to making their workplace better for bicyclists — in a number of ways.

I had a chance to talk with Cory Scott, RDG City Planner; Stuart Shell, RDG Architect and Sustainability Committee member; and Brian Spencer, leader of the Healthy Lifestyle Learning Community to discuss their recent success in the BFB program.

So why is bicycling important to RDG Planning & Design?

Shell: Everything at RDG starts with our employees and the community. We want to create a healthy culture in our workplace where folks feel empowered to be stewards of their health and their environment. RDG strives to give employees multiple options in commuting to work, whether by bike, foot, public transit, or by car. It’s important to us to provide support for those options equally.

Spencer: We are trying to be a collection of very healthy people, not only physically but emotionally and mentally, so that we can be better employees, community members, spouses, mentors, and contributors. Balance is important.

How has the BFB program helped improve RDG for bicyclists?

Scott: We love the BFB program for many reasons:

• It allows us to benchmark how we’re doing compared to other companies like us.
• It gives us a roadmap to support bicycling in the workplace.
• It gives us a third party perspective on how we can improve.
• It provides tangible feedback to put before management and respond to.

Shell: The program provided specific comments on how we could improve — it was expertise that we didn’t have here. The application and feedback were precisely the tools we needed to get action on improving things here. The League helped us identify where we needed to focus.

What were some key things about the BFB program that you think every business should know?

Spencer: The feedback definitely! You make suggestions that we never thought about.

Shell: The four award levels encourage progress and reward our efforts to improve. It also adds a competitive element for us to achieve greater success.

How does it benefit RDG to be involved in local bike advocacy?

Scott: At RDG, we want to be change agents in the community. It is very satisfying as a professional to have a positive effect on our community and other communities. Our work encourages local participation and being involved in local bike advocacy gives us another way of achieving that.

Learn more about the BFB program and see the full list at bikeleague.org/businesses

 

Alison Dewey
League Program Manager, BFB & BFU

Dewey joined the League in 2008. For four years prior to that, Dewey worked for Massachusetts- based Landry’s Bicycles and served on the board of the Massachusetts Bicycle Coalition. Dewey has a MA in International Relations and Communications from Boston University and is a graduate of St. Olaf College. She spent three years as a Peace Corps volunteer in Senegal.

Well, we’re not in Kansas anymore! (Sorry couldn’t resist.) But, if Dorothy were looking for safe and accessible streets to make her journey, she’d be well-served to look down the road to Lee’s Summit, Missouri.

A suburb of Kansas City, Lee’s Summit is was among the 28 new Bicycle Friendly Communities announced last week. And they did more than click their heels to make this place a better home for bicyclists. Missouri’s fifth BFC has been working hard to grow its greenway trail network, implement its new Complete Streets policy and implement a new bicycle transportation plan.

Brent Hugh, Director of the Missouri Bicycle and Pedestrian Federation, says Lee’s Summit’s commitment goes beyond biking to full-spectrum support for active transportation:

Lee’s Summit was the first city in Missouri to be officially recognized as a Walk Friendly Community–and now they will be first in Missouri to be recognized as both Walk Friendly and Bicycle Friendly. The city has definitely been a leader in these areas and has inspired other communities across Missouri and across the bi-state metro area to do likewise.

They were one of the first communities in the Kansas City metro area to adopt a Complete Streets policy. And they didn’t just adopt a policy, either. No, they spent years going through planning and citizens’ committees, getting the principles adopted into the city’s long-range plan, and then working with all city staff, departments, elected officials, and community organizations to develop an approach to complete streets that has broad-based community support. The result is a policy that staff, elected officials, and community groups can support.

Lee’s Summit is a great example of how cities can go from nothing, to better facilities to good facilities to excellent facilities in a step-by-step manner. An outer-ring suburb of Kansas City, the city historically had no bicycle or pedestrian plans or policies. Starting in the 1990s the city looked at trails plans, sidewalk connectivity, and a system of wide sidewalk trails along major roads–but were hesitant to install any on-road bicycle facilities. But the trails system has been implemented in a thorough and consistent manner and it’s used and liked by residents. With more facilities came more use — both bicycle and pedestrian use — and that helped to build support and momentum for the next step: the Complete Streets policy and inclusion of on-street bicycle facilities in the city’s plan.

The city is moving forward, step by step, and the next step hasn’t always been easy. But the work done in previous steps has helped build support for the next step in the process. Citizens — particularly family physician Ed Kraemer of Lee’s Summit — have driven the city’s Complete Streets policy and the push for a more bicycle- and pedestrian-friendly city. Ed worked to implement the city’s no-smoking policy and after that success, became interested in the health benefits of making the city more accessible and welcome ot biking and walking. Along the way, a large group of citizens has become involved in the process and community groups has been a huge part of Lee’s Summit’s success.

This is just the next step for Lee’s Summit, and it’s going to be exciting to see the city implement it’s on-road bicycle system alongside the existing trail system and education/encouragement/enforcement programs. We’d love to see Lee’s Summit continue to become more bicycle friendly–Platinum Level should be their goal!

A Platinum mindset: We’ll support that!

The adoption of a Bicycle Transportation Plan into the City’s Comprehensive Plan certainly demonstrates the communities buy-in beyond the cycling advocate’s level. And they’re planning for the next generation of cyclists, too: All of the middle and elementary school students are part of the Safe Routes to School program. With the support of residents and city officials, it’s no wonder Kansas City bike events and the Kansas City Triathlon both take advantage of the city’s bike-ability, with courses staged in the city.

With a dedication to improving the bicycling facilities they currently have along with their willingness to act on recommendations to make their city better, we have no doubt that Lee’s Summit can reach its goal. Like Dorothy might have said: There’s no place like Lee’s Summit, if you’re looking for a model suburban city transforming itself into a Bicycle Friendly Community.

 

When talking with people who are interested in biking more but haven’t yet overcome their reservations, one of the things that comes up a lot is the challenge of one particular intersection or stretch of road. It’s too busy, or it just feels uncomfortable and dangerous.

I often remind those folks that they don’t need to ride to their destination along the same route they would drive. Sometimes there’s an alternate route that can avoid the dicey parts, but we’re just not used to looking for it. Route selection is an important factor in encouraging more people to hop on their bikes.

How do different environments impact safety and comfort? What features are people looking for it their route? Several new studies have come out that address these questions. Knowing what routes people on bikes choose will help communities deliver more bike-friendly streets – for existing and potential cyclists.

Cycle tracks and quiet residential streets increase safety

A widely reported study in the American Journal of Public Health by researchers from the University of British Columbia’s Cycling in Cities Research Program found that infrastructure reduces the risk of injury.

• Major streets with parked cars and no bike infrastructure had the highest risk.
• Cycle tracks – bike lanes physically separated from automobile traffic – alongside major streets and residential street bike routes were the least risky.
• Major streets with bike lanes and no parked cars had about half the risk of major streets with parking and off-street bike paths had about 6/10 the risk.
• The authors also note that streetcar tracks, downhill slopes, and construction added noticeably to riskiness.

“The only shocking thing about this study is just how blindingly obvious the results are, and that it has apparently taken 40 years for us to figure this out!” says League President Andy Clarke, referring to reported safety benefits of cycle tracks. The lesson, Andy notes, is that poorly designed facilities in the early 1970s did tremendous damage to the reputation of bicycling infrastructure, which set back the growth of bicycling networks. Cycle tracks and bike lanes still need to be used in the right places with careful attention to detail to avoid repeating the mistakes of the past.  “Fortunately, we have learned a whole lot more about good design that does work and we’re starting to see the results,” Andy says.

On the topic of route selection, the researchers compared their safety data to the results of an earlier study on the stated-desirability of different bicycling conditions. Not surprisingly, the safer routes were also the most popular:

(Source: University of British Columbia, Cycling in Cities Program)

  Read the rest of this entry »

On Tuesday, I sat down with more than 20 active-transportation professionals and allies at the Moving Millennials workshop hosted by Transportation for America. The aim of the full-day session: Learn about trends in transportation for 18-35 year-olds — and figure out how to turn the decreased interest in driving into an increased energy around bicycling.

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?

 

What do Facebook, Angie’s List and General Mills have in common? As of this morning, they’re all Bicycle Friendly Businesses (BFBs)!

Today, the League recognized 71 new BFBs for their role in pedaling America toward greater prosperity and making their businesses welcoming to bicyclists. Headlined by iconic companies — like Facebook, Apple, Inc., and the Hewlett-Packard Company — this round of awards pushes the total number of BFBs to nearly 500 businesses in 42 states and the District of Columbia.

“Businesses are the engine of our economy, but more and more companies are realizing the bicycle can be a powerful catalyst for increased profits, reduced health care costs, happier employees and more customers,” says League President, Andy Clarke. “We’re excited to see the most innovative minds in technology, retail, and manufacturing voting for a more bicycle-friendly America and making significant contributions to our economic growth by promoting healthy, sustainable transportation.”

Bicycle-friendly businesses encourage a more bicycle-friendly atmosphere for employees and customers alike. Through cost-effective investments, BFBs attract, reward and retain staff that are not only healthier and happier, but more productive, driven and passionate about the work they do and the communities they live in.

Award winners in this round include:

• Facebook (Gold)
• Apple, Inc. (Silver)
• Burton Snowboards (Silver)
• Hewlett-Packard Company (Silver)
• Amway (Bronze)
• Angie’s List (Bronze)
• General Mills (Bronze)
• William-Sonoma Inc. (Bronze)

Click here for the list of Fall 2012 awards.

Click here for the full list of all Bicycle Friendly Businesses.

Facebook, a new Gold-level BFB, is just one of the growing number of household names that has taken steps to encourage bicycling as a means to enhance the workplace, contribute to the community and improve their overall earnings.

“We’re honored to receive this award from the League of American Bicyclists,” says Jessica Herrera, Facebook’s Transportation Manager. “Over the years, we’ve focused on providing sustainable, green transportation alternatives to our employees. as well as helping our local neighborhood do the same. These efforts have included providing bicycles to our employees to use on or off campus, helping to re-stripe the roads around our neighborhood for the safety of cyclists in the area, and offering bicycle repairs onsite. Our employees are enthusiastic about these efforts, many choosing to cycle to work each day and others participating in events such as Bike to Work Day. We’re proud to support these initiatives and look forward to more opportunities to help in the future.”

Learn more at bikeleague.org/businesses.

Yale and Princeton are already among the nation’s elite colleges. Now they’re among the top universities when it comes to bicycling, too. Today the League announced the designation of nine new Bicycle Friendly Universities, growing the program to 44 colleges in 25 states. Click here to see the full list.

“Just like many students aspire to an Ivy League education, a growing number of college students want their university to be smart about biking, too” say League President, Andy Clarke. “Young adults want to drive less and ride more — and they’re choosing schools, like Yale and Princeton, that are making bicycling a vibrant part of campus life.”

At Yale, a new Bronze level BFU, bicycling is on the rise, thanks to both a student and a departmental bike sharing system; “commuter counseling” for the Yale community, an annual Bicyclist Appreciation Breakfast and more. “With Yale’s dedicated leadership in sustainability, creating a safe and attractive environment at Yale for bicyclists and reducing single occupancy vehicle usage in the city are goals for us and many in our community,” said Holly Parker, Yale’s Director of Sustainable Transportation. “We’re grateful for the attention this award will draw to the extraordinary combined efforts of the City of New Haven, local advocacy through Elm City Cycling, and the university. Together, we will continue making a difference.”

At Princeton, also a Bronze BFU, new students get information about bicycling in their welcome packets, introducing them to the large network of campus paths, weekly bike maintenance classes, plentiful bike parking, free bike locks and the wide array of U-Bikes and CycLab programs and events. “Princeton is honored to become part of the Bicycle Friendly University program,” said Andrea DeRose of the University’s Transportation & Parking Services. “The University encourages biking as an efficient mode of transportation for faculty, staff and students — and strives to increase the number of bicycle-related facilities and bicycle-related polices on campus.”

Also in this round, the University of Utah shot up the ranks to a Silver designation in its first application. With innovative on-road facilities, bicycle-related academic course offerings, a successful anti-theft campaign, on-campus bike rental and bike collective, and a wealth of pro-cycling policies, the Utes aren’t stopping at Silver.

“Bikes and their riders are not strangers here at the University of Utah — over the years cycling has gathered more attention as a healthy and sustainable mode of active transportation,” said Heidi Goedhart, the university’s Bicycle Coordinator. “We’re conveniently situated within a Silver Bicycle Friendly Community that is surrounded by excellent mountain bike and road bikeways, as well as a growing cycling community. With the adoption of our new Bicycle Master Plan, we have proven our commitment to planning the university’s future with bicycles by outlining a set of clear goals and objectives.”

To learn more about the program or apply, check out www.bikeleague.org/university.

 

When we announced our latest round of Bicycle Friendly Communities last week, we focused on major U.S. cities — like Los Angeles, Nashville and Miami — making the ranks. But those population centers are just the start of an impressive list of new and renewing BFCs across the country.

For instance, Bentonville earned a Bronze designation. The Northwest Arkansas city may have fewer than 40,000 residents, but I bet the name rings a bell. After all, it’s the home of Walmart’s corporate headquarters. And the international corporation has played a key role in the local cycling scene.

Perhaps the most impressive example of Walmart’s commitment to bicycling on its own campus AND the wider community is the recent launch of its BikeShare program.

As Barbara O’Connor, Director of Walmart’s Walton Life Fitness Center, explains:

The Walmart BikeShare program launched on May 14, 2012 with 80 bikes placed at eight locations within the Walmart campus. Our BikeShare Program which is at no cost to our associates, is a result of a grassroots effort by 20 associates that came together two years ago to develop a plan to help reduce the carbon foot print within our local community. We worked closely with the city of Bentonville and Bike Bentonville to design routes that would incorporate our superior trail system and allow our associates safe passage throughout the community. The program has been well received by our associates. We had over 200 participants sign up during our first week and now have over 500 registered participants and bikes at 14 locations! Considering our heavy usage we have not had any accidents or theft of our bikes.  Our associates have found that riding a bike not only saves them time as they have front row parking when traveling to meetings or downtown to grab a bite to eat, but that this alternative mode of transportation is good for their health. I’ve had numerous associates tell me that once they started riding the BikeShare bikes, they got hooked on cycling and have taken the next step a bought a bike!

That’s not all. Walmart has worked with the city on initiatives that address education and encouragement — which are two of the other key criteria in becoming a BFC.

“In addition to our BikeShare program,” O’Connor says, “Walmart embraces cycling by promoting the annual Bike to Work Day. In fact, many of our executives participate on this ride. We also have a number of departments that get together on a regular basis for group rides after work either on their road bikes or to take advantage of the trails on their mountain bikes… The Walton Life Fitness Center partnered with the City of Bentonville on a mountain bike camp that teaches basic mountain biking skills to local youth and adults. We also partnered with the Bentonville School District for the first bike train on Bike to School Day, as well supporting the Bentonville High School Bike Business and Entrepreneurship program.”

Of course, the dedication to bicycling in Bentonville goes far beyond Walmart.

“Bentonville really is a great example of a community embracing our Bicycle Friendly America programs — using the BFC and BFB programs in particular as a blueprint for action,” says League President, Andy Clarke. “There are world-class mountain bikes trails within a couple of miles of downtown. In fact, you can rent a bike from a local bike store on the town square, ride right past the Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art on a paved trail — itself part of the 40-mile, Razorback Greenway — and within a few minutes be on great singletrack or quiet country roads. Bentonville also hosts one of the biggest single bike rodeos in the country; has an active Safe Routes to School program; is installing signed routes, shared lane arrows and bike parking throughout the community; and is inspiring regional action on bicycling infrastructure. They’ve hosted an LCI seminar, started a local advocacy group, and are working side-by-side with their biggest local employers to create the kind of quality of life that will attract the best talent in the world to Northwest Arkansas!”

Thanks to Walmart for their leadership in promoting bicycling — and congratulations to Bentonville for becoming one of the newest Bronze BFCs.

 

The Federal Highway Administration issued guidance today to state departments of transportation on the Transportation Alternatives Program (TA) — a key piece of the new federal transportation bill, MAP-21. The guidance provides specifics for state agencies and resolves any ambiguities in the complex legislative language.

Today’s release is just the basics — an “interim” guidance. We expect more comprehensive guidance to be issued later in the fall. But here’s the good and bad news for bicyclists.

Good news:

• Transportation Alternatives (TA) maintains local control over biking and walking funds, preserving the original intentions of Senators Cardin and Cochran.

• There was some concern that the language could be interpreted to make state DOTs eligible for 50 percent of TA. This would have diminished local control over half of these essential funds. Fortunately, state DOTs remain ineligible for TA funding.
• However, state DOTs and Metropolitan Planning Organizations (MPOs) can partner with eligible entities to carry out a project. This increases flexibility for states and helps local governments get the help they need while maintaining local control.

• Safe Routes to School coordinators are eligible under TA.

• MAP-21 was written in a way that makes the entire Safe Routes to School (SRTS) program eligible for Transportation Alternatives funding, but not required. This made it difficult for the DOT lawyers to interpret whether requirements under the old SRTS program should be requirements under the new TA program. However, DOT does interpret SRTS coordinators to be eligible under TA. We believe that fully staffing these programs is critical to successfully implementing them.

• The DOT will provide a model MPO and State Grant process.
  • While TA legislative language does not define a competitive process, the DOT has committed to publish a model Request for Proposal or Notice of Funds Available that states and MPOS may use at their discretion. Having a model available should speed the process of MPOs getting their grant programs up and running.

• Nonprofits, while not eligible to receive funds, can partner with other eligible entities.
  • The legislative language is clear that nonprofit organizations and NGOs are not eligible for TA funding. However, the guidance states that nonprofits can continue to partner with any eligible entity. Watch for the model grant program to see if such partnerships are incentivized.

Bad news:

• SRTS projects are no longer 100% federally funded. 

• Under previous transportation laws, Safe Routes to School projects were completely federally funded. This level of federal support was especially important for low-income communities.

• Bicycling and pedestrian safety and education programs for adults are not eligible.
  • Non-infrastructure safety and education programs are no longer eligible for funding — not even under the new Safe Routes for Non-Drivers eligibility. The guidance does point out, though, that adult safety and education programs are eligible under the Highway Safety Improvement Program (HSIP) and the Surface Transportation Program (STP). It also points out that education for kindergarten through eighth grade is eligible under Safe Routes to School.

Next steps: Speak up locally and turn to the larger programs

We can take two clear messages from today’s guidance:

• State and local action is critical to ensure funding for biking and walking projects and programs.In MAP-21, local leaders — like mayors and school boards — have more direct access to federal funding for biking and walking infrastructure. Now, more than ever before, it’s up to state and local advocates to make communities more bike-friendly and walkable.To learn more about how to get involved in a campaign in your state, visit our Advocacy Advance Navigating MAP-21 resource center at AdvocacyAdvance.org/MAP21.

• Accessing funds from the transportation bill’s larger programs is more important than ever.Larger highway programs like the Highway Safety Improvement Program (HSIP), Congestion Mitigation and Air Quality (CMAQ), and Surface Transportation Program (STP) are not only more essential sources for infrastructure dollars, but also for funding education, encouragement, and safety programs.If you’re interested in learning how to maximize eligibility for biking and walking projects under MAP-21′s largest programs, view Advocacy Advance’s webinar and our reports on these funding sources.

Most of the areas on which we had issued recommendations have still not been determined. We will, of course, continue working at the federal level to advocate for changes to improve funding opportunities for biking and walking projects.

Click here for more from our partners at America Bikes and here for more from the Safe Routes to School National Partnership.

 

As a bike shop owner, your bottom line is high on your priority list. Keeping up sales means making sure you have great product, loyal customers and knowledgeable staff. It also means constantly working to build your customer base.

So many folks across the U.S. are interested in biking but may not feel safe taking to the roads — at least, not at first. Without a bike trail or separated bike lane, they may not start biking at all. Without federal funds, those trails and facilities may not get built.

But one thing is for sure: Without the strong, united voice of advocates and bike shops participating in the National Bike Summit, our members of Congress won’t know the incredible impact those bike projects have in local communities.

The National Bike Summit is the premiere advocacy event of the year for bike shops and anyone else interested in securing funding for bike infrastructure. More than 800 retailers, advocates, and cycling enthusiasts of all kinds come together to tell Congress about the benefits of bicycling and make the case for federal funding and pro-bicycling policies. This year’s theme is Bicycling Means Business. That doesn’t just mean we’re serious about showing elected officials that bicycling is important. It also highlights what you already know: When more people bike, your business improves.

NBDA understands the close relationship between bike funding and the success of bicycle retailers. That’s why they are generously offering 24 scholarships to first-time Summit attendees who work at bike shops. Not only will this scholarship pay for your registration for the 2013 National Bike Summit, but it will also fund your travel and lodging (up to $625). One retailer who attended the Summit in 2012 remarked that, “with all of the things we are faced with as retailers, I feel this could be the most important event…[we] need to convince our peers to go to this event… this is important.”

Ready to apply? Click here!

As we highlighted yesterday, our latest round of Bicycle Friendly Community awards includes some big names — including Los Angeles, California.

League President, Andy Clarke, presented the designation to city officials at MacArthur Park, and Lisa Sarno from Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa’s office snapped some great photos of the event.

For me, the images really drove (er, pedaled) home a key point: Becoming a Bicycle Friendly Community truly is a team effort.

It takes supportive elected officials, like Councilman Ed Reyes. “More and more people are leaving their car keys at home and taking advantage of L.A.’s bicycle-friendly streets,” Reyes said. “We are leading the nation as a bicycle-friendly city, thanks to an active bike culture and bicycle advocates working with the City. I am honored to accept this prestigious award on the City’s behalf.”

It also takes supportive and innovative city staff, like Michelle Mowery, Senior Bicycle Project Coordinator at the LA Department of Transportation (who’s being honored by Multicultural Communities for Mobility (MCM) at its third annual awards ceremony next week!).

And, of course, it takes leadership from local bike advocacy organizations, like MCM, the Bicycle Kitchen, C.I.C.L.E., and the Los Angeles County Bicycle Coalition. “The Los Angeles County Bicycle Coalition thanks the Mayor, City Council, and City departments for their dedication and leadership to achieve this award,” said Eric Bruins, Planning & Policy Director for LACBC. “The staff of LADOT and LAPD regularly go above and beyond to serve people who bicycle. We look forward to continuing to work with the City to implement the Bicycle Plan and realize our shared vision of a better, more bike-able Los Angeles.”

With that kind of teamwork, we know LA is just getting starting climbing the BFC ranks. Onward and upward to Silver, Gold and Platinum!

Congratulations to LA — and all the fall award recipients!

Click here to see the full list of Fall 2012 BFCs.

 

Ever wonder how your local engineers determine how wide to make your bike lane? Have you pondered why your local planners made your bike path the width that it is? When it comes to these types of decision, it’s likely they looked to AASHTO for guidance.

The American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO) recently released their Guide for the Development of Bicycle Facilities. This long-awaited update includes many wonky measures and standards that your local engineers and planners are using to provide your community with safe bicycle facilities. Just one example? Thanks to this new fourth edition of the Guide, bike paths being designed and planned now are suggested to be at least 10 feet for bicyclists, a two-foot increase from the third edition in 1999.

This is exciting and important stuff so the League has teamed up with Toole Design Group, PBIC, the Federal Highway Administration, and AASHTO to deliver  in-depth training across the country to our Bicycle Friendly America partners, local governments, and advocates.

The first training was here in the Washington D.C. region last week. The morning opened with League president Andy Clark welcoming all 35 participants, followed by Toole Design Group — a national firm that specializes in multi-modal planning and key contributors to the Guide — giving the nuts and bolts of the training. In addition to private consultants and bike advocates, seven Washington D.C. region local governments were represented!

The new AASHTO Bike Guide is a key resource for transportation professionals in designing, building, modernizing, and preserving safe and efficient bicycle facilities.  Check out our Find It page  to see if it is happening in your region.

Here is a list of upcoming trainings:

Seattle on October 26

Salt Lake City, November 7  

Boston, November 16

Register for a training in your region today!

 

Alison Dewey
League Program Manager, BFB & BFU

Dewey joined the League in 2008. For four years prior to that, Dewey worked for Massachusetts- based Landry’s Bicycles and served on the board of the Massachusetts Bicycle Coalition. Dewey has a MA in International Relations and Communications from Boston University and is a graduate of St. Olaf College. She spent three years as a Peace Corps volunteer in Senegal.

Each new round of Bicycle Friendly Community awards is exciting, but today’s announcement is big. With the addition of major urban centers — including Los Angeles, Miami and Nashville — two-thirds of America’s largest cities are now BFCs.

Over the past 10 years of the BFC program, we’ve seen communities of all shapes, sizes, demographics and geography make biking a comfortable, convenient option for transportation and recreation. It’s both a challenge and a triumph in any community, but it’s truly inspiring to see these enormous and enormously influential cities join the club.

And their efforts pay off. As we highlighted on the blog last week (check out the cool infographic!), bicycle commuting rates in the largest BFCs has increased 80 percent since 2000 — far above the national average of 47 percent and more than double the rate in non-BFCs (32 percent).

Leaders like LA serve as a great example that, even cities known for Carmageddon, can take cost-effective steps to start making cycling an integrated part of the transportation system. This can be done in any region of the country and we can’t wait for all 15 of the largest cities to get on the BFC board: Come on Dallas, Houston, Jacksonville, Phoenix and San Diego!

Click here to read the press release about today’s announcement — and see the new and renewal awards in this round.

 

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