m-bike.org

Author: Todd Scott

  • National Bike Summit: Day Two

    img_2159Secretary Ray LaHood

    LaHood is the Secretary of Transportation, and although there was some hesitation in the cycling blogosphere when Obama nominated him. After today’s presentation, that hesitation should be gone.

    He told the crowd at the opening session that we’ll build on our successes in pedestrian and bicycle promotion. He noted we’re on the verge of making more progress in doing the things America really wants to do. Creating livable communities is becoming the priority.

    And finally, he assured us that we have a full partner at the Department of Transportation.

    Congressman Earl Blumenauer

    Blumenauer started with the rhetorical question: “How many people right now are stuck in traffic on their way to a health club to ride a stationary bike?”

    He added:

    • Families biking are an indicator species for livable communities
    • With Congressman Oberstar chairing the transportation committee, the “table is set for us” when it comes to writing the next transportation bill.
    • We need to be relentlessly bike-partisan. There are no blue or red bikes.
    • There are currently 213 legislators in the bike-partisan caucus. 218 would be a majority — and that’s a Summit goal.
    • The Commuter Choice act will be taken up in this legislative session. The gist is it adds flexibility to the commuter tax benefits and allows the mixing of modes, e.g. biking and transit.
    • New Clean-TEA legislation would set aside 10% of a carbon tax to help communities reduce the carbon-footprint of their transportation, making it more sustainable in the long term. The justification? One-third of greenhouse gas emissions are from transportation. ?Cycling and walking can offset that. Clean-TEA would be an amendment to a climate change bill.

    Also, Congressman Blumenauer biked to the Summit from the Capitol and was sporting a pant strap.

    Congressman Dan Lipinski

    Congressman Lipinski touted the fact that he’s not only a cyclist, but a card carrying of the League of American Bicyclists.

    Lipinski did warn us that we must remain vigilant as there is still a mindset out there that bikes are not transportation.

    Congresswoman Doris Matsui

    Congresswoman Matsui spoke about the Complete Streets legislation that is on the verge of being introduced in the House and Senate.

  • National Bike Summit Kicks Off

    The 2009 National Bike Summit is underway!

    Yesterday begin with a great presentation on Copenhagen, include an introduction from the Danish Ambassador to the U.S.

    Some of the key points are:

    • Most Danish do not consider themselves cyclists.  They’re just people riding bikes and most everyone is doing it.
    • They typically don’t publicly address safety. When you do, it makes people think cycling isn’t safe. Although they didn’t directly tie this to bike helmet promotion, almost none of the bikers in their presentation wore them.
    • 36% of all trips in Copenhagen are by bike.  That’s a higher percentage than cars or mass transit. Their goal? 50%.
    • Having a Bike-free day in Copenhagen would cause a bigger protest than car-free.

    Congressman James L. Oberstar, the father of Safe Routes to School followed.  He mentioned:

    • A new aviation bill will ensure more bicycling facilities at airports.
    • “Bicycling is going to be available everywhere.”
    • “We need to make bicyclists a standard transportation mode by law.”  He will make sure the next transportation bill explicitly designates bikes as a mode of transportation.
    • Now going to be a mode of transportation.
    • Is cycling going to be in the transportation bill?  That’s not even a question.  The question is how much.
    • “We’ve got a generation of mobility-challenged children.”

  • Off to the National Bike Summit

    img_3014In a few hours I’ll be on a plane to Washington D.C. for the National Bike Summit.

    I believe this is my fourth trip to the Capitol to meet with legislators and their staff, so it’s becoming a little easier to know what you need to do and say.

    I’ll primarily wear my Michigan Trails and Greenways Alliance hat to:

    • Introduce the Detroit Greenways Coalition
    • Share our vision for building trails and greenways in the cities of Detroit, Hamtramck, and Highland Park.
    • Present Detroit?s Active Transportation 2010 proposal
    • Advocate for continued Enhancements funding within the next federal transportation bill

    I recently purchased a netbook so I will try blogging from the Summit.

  • Cycling in the Netherlands Report

    netherlands

    Other countries regularly ask the Netherlands to help them shape their own bicycle policy. We welcome such requests, because we want to contribute to a more sustainable, cleaner, healthier and more efficient transport system. With this brochure, for example, which introduces you to cycling in the Netherlands.
    — Tineke Huizinga, State Secretary of Transport, Public Works and Water Management

    The Netherlands is a world wide role model for promoting cycling. And as Huizinga notes, his county has a “great cycling reputation.”

    This recently released cycling report shines a light on what they’re doing to grow that reputation.

    How good are they doing? In 2006, 26% of all trips were made by bicycle. In the U.S. the bicycle share is an anemic 0.7%.

    One interesting note about the report is nearly all of the cyclists are not wearing helmets — quite a departure from what we typically see in the U.S.. Recently while collecting photos for MDOT’s bicycle map, the stated preference was for helmeted cyclists.

    At a minimum, take some time to skim through the report and admire the photos. It really is an amazing document that will inspire any cycling advocate.

  • Our Lame Road Safety Videos

    A new series of public service advertisements (PSA) were released in the U.S. to target youth reckless driving.

    National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) data shows that, on average, more than 300,000 teens are injured in car crashes each year, nearly 8,000 are involved in fatal crashes and more than 3,500 are killed. Research also shows that teen drivers are involved in more than five times as many fatal crashes as adults. Young drivers are more likely to speed, run red lights, make illegal turns and die in an SUV rollover.

    “This PSA campaign has a real opportunity to reach teens around the country,” said Thurbert Baker, Attorney General of Georgia. “By speaking up about reckless driving, young people can save lives, both their own and those of their friends.”

    We love Fred Willard and Rob Riggle as much as anyone, but these are absolutely forgetable, sanitized and uninspired videos, but especially when compared with other safety videos from other countries.

    These other videos don’t just “speak up” about reckless driving, they graphically display those Black Swan moments when taking risks adds up to a horrific result. They’re graphic. They’re memorable.

    From Think! UK:

    More videos from Think!:

    From “The Faster you go. The bigger the mess.” series:

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_z8Mnf22D30

    From cycling-related video from Speed Matters:

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TZwPVKOPLjY