Post Office Box 104871
Jefferson City, MO 65110-4871
MoBikeFed is a 501(c)(4) non-profit corporation
Webmaster email: webmaster @ mobikefed
.org
BikeMO--MoBikeFed's Fall Foliage Bicycle Ride Join us October 18th for BikeMO, the ride that supports bicycle advocacy in Missouri. Beautiful mid-Missouri roads, beautiful fall weather, beautiful fall leaves . . .
Needs of Amish buggies match those of cyclists - MoDOT pedestrian policy drafted - MoDOT bike safe grate policy moving ahead, slowly - rumble strip report under review - new bike safety booklet for use by bike clubs, schools, advocacy organization, and bike shops - reports on many individual bicycle and pedestrian road projects and trails across the state.permanent link to article: "New "Wheels & Heels" from MoDOT online"
posted by Brent Hugh at
9/29/2003 01:31:00 PM |comment on this article
81-yr-old cyclist rides from Chattanooga to Liberty, MO
Sunday, September 28, 2003
An 81-yr-old cyclist recently completed a ride from Chattanooge, TN, to Liberty, MO. He was re-creating a ride he first completed when he was a mere 57 years old. According to the ClayPlatte Dispatch article:
Donahoo said, the toughest part of the trip was in southeastern Missouri where the terrain is hilly, the roads lack shoulders and the wind was brutal.
"I got my kicks on Route 66," Donahoo said. "I was trying to avoid the hills." While Missouri is one of the worst biking states, he said, the friendliest for bikers is his home state of Tennessee.
"They have wide shoulders and marked bike lanes," he said.
Just 15 miles from his Liberty, Donahoo had a flat tire.
So tired he lacked the strength to pull a new tube onto the rim of his bike, Donahoo said he was tempted to call his brother- in-law to come and get him.
Just then a kind stranger came driving by in a pickup truck and asked if he needed help.
Walk A Child To School Day coming up - Wed., October 8
Saturday, September 27, 2003
Communities around the country are organizing events for children and parents to walk to school as part of International Walk to School Week, October 6-10. Such events are excellent opportunities to discuss opportunities for increasing funding for pedestrian facilities and safety when TEA-21 is renewed. Currently only about 1% of federal funds are dedicated to pedestrian and bicycle projects through the Enhancements program.
A toolkit for organizing a local event, including a sample press release, a listing of health professionals and other allies in your area, and a walkability checklist may be found at WalkToSchoo.org.
permanent link to article: "Walk A Child To School Day coming up - Wed., October 8"
posted by Brent Hugh at
9/27/2003 08:13:00 AM |comment on this article
KCMO police pursuit policy examined
Wednesday, September 24, 2003
Friends of Toni Sena, the bicyclist who was killed by a man trying to escape police in a high-speed chase, met with the KCMO police board Tuesday. KCMO actually adopted a more restrictive pursuit policy in November 2002. This policy has resulted in less chases than before. The board is planning to consider the pursuit policy further.
Some communities have gone as far as to adopt no-pursuit policies, finding that, on balance, the public safety is best served by such a policy. High-speed chases put the lives of police officers and innocent bystanders at significant risk.
Here is more information from Laurie Chipman, one of the organizers of the campaign:
Here is the result of our meeting with the KCMO police board.
After Carol sent a press release there was lots of interest by the media. Fox 4 news taped interviews and parts of our meeting on Monday evening. We met on Monday to prepare for our meeting on Tuesday.
Several people came to support us yesterday. One man read the editorial in yesterday's paper and wanted to tell his story. We were well prepared with facts and statistics. There was a sign on an easel and a "white paper" of facts that was left with the board. The board was unaware of some of the issues and facts regarding police pursuit and how dangerous and pointless it can be. If anyone wants to know some of these issues ask us or go to pursuitwatch.org for more information.
This chase started in Leawood and crossed to Prairie Village too. It would be great (a dream) to get all the metro area cities to have similar policies and cooperate more with each other, to share information, and see this as the metro area issue that it is.
The Corps of Engineers has been working on a $280 million flood control project on the lower Blue River in eastern Kansas City, MO. Now they are soliciting public input on a greenway plan for the river to accompany the flood control work. I attended the meeting tonight (one of three public meetings this week); here are a few notes:
Several bicycle supporters were there, mostly mountain bikers. We spent quite a bit of time talking about various cycling issues, multi-use trail possibilities, mountain biking trail possibilities, and the like.
They're planning a multi-use trail along the Blue River through the whole area under study (MO river to Bannister). John Rhoades (the person recently hired by MARC to oversee the MetroGreen program) mentioned that such projects can be funded 95% (!!!!) by federal Transportation Enhancements funds. More typical enhancements percentage is something like 80%, but since this is already a federal project (Corps of Engineers), the 95% thing kicks in.
They're very interested in considering connections between the Greenway and neighborhoods, streets, existing or planned trails, etc. Part of the idea of the meetings was to gather info about possible connections. The idea that this corridor could be a sort of "I-435" for bicycles is pretty interesting & exciting. The Blue River valley is currently a huge dividing line across eastern KC. With the greenway in place, it would be a nexus--a gathering & connecting link--instead.
Todd Posson talked about how making a whole corridor of mountain bike trails--the present BuRP, plus a series of trails in Swope Park, plus a few other trails south of Swope Park--all interconnected by the main greenway trails, could really make KC a mountain biking mecca. That sort of extensive network of trails, within an urban area, and all connected by off-road links--in addition to other area trails like Landahl, Lawrence, Smithville, etc.--could really make KC a mountain bike tourist destination.
I made my little impassioned speech about how public access to the river is essential for building public support for massive river-centered projects like the Blue River flood control project. And that when we have spent $300 million of public money on flood control, rebuilding the river channel, and building levees, it isn't putting it too strongly to say that we DEMAND and EXPECT access to the river.
The really big story here, though, is simply that Kansas City, Missouri, and the Corps of Engineers, are PLANNING a massive greenway project and ASKING for public input about it. They're NOT taking zillions of dollars of public funds and then locking the public out (like some--cough, cough--nearby levee districts). And WE are not begging THEM for a trail or greenway, or trying to petition them to do it. They are going to do it, and THEY are asking US for advice about the best way to go about it.
THAT is big news . . .
There is still one more meeting about the Blue River Greenway. They are spending $300 million (!!!!!!) of your money here (can I put enough exclamation points on $300 million? This is an AMAZING lot of YOUR DOUGH for a project that is hardly on the radar screen . . . ).
And there is the potential here to change an armpit of the KC area into a gem. Don't be shy about expressing your opinions!
They're interested in citizen input about everything from landscaping, wildlife, wetlands preservation, trails, and parks, to land use, roads, connections to neighborhoods, etc. etc. etc.
* Wednesday, September 24, 5 - 7 p.m. at Hillcrest Community
Center, 10401 Hillcrest Rd.
(From I-435, east on Bannister Rd., south on Hillcrest Rd.,
approximately 1 mile, Center is on the East side of the street.)
Many European towns restricted traffic, offered cheap subway rides or lent bikes in an experiment Monday to cut air pollution - a problem that aggravated Europe's deadly heat wave this summer.
The event was part of "European Mobility Week," whose organizers say that 40 percent of the transport sector's carbon-dioxide emissions come from private cars in cities.
Death of schoolchild leads to controversy but little change
Sunday, September 21, 2003
A 12-year-old boy was killed crossing a busy, high-speed street in front of his school in Springfield, MO. In the month following the child's death, there has been much discussion and some changes on the street where the boy was killed. But the situation at other schools across Springfield is little changed.
MoBikeFed has supported legislation creating a statewide, uniform 20 MPH speed limit in school zones.
The speed limit on the street where the 12-year-old was killed, which is immediately adjacent to the school and used by a number of middle schoolers every day, was 45 miles per hour.
permanent link to article: "Death of schoolchild leads to controversy but little change"
posted by Brent Hugh at
9/21/2003 08:24:00 PM |comment on this article
Motorist/bicyclist controversy in Columbia
A recent Columbia Daily Tribune story covers an incident that occured between a local motorist and three cyclists:
Driving on a leisurely Sunday afternoon on the two-lane, rural highway near their Harrisburg-area home, Scott and Rita Cason happened across what is becoming a frequent sight in Boone County.
Near the crest of a hill on Route J, their pickup came up behind three bicyclists, two of them riding side by side.
The motorists pulled up along the bicyclists and gave them a lecture on safe cycling.
The article discusses the issue from the viewpoint of the motorist and of the cyclists and concludes with this:
[Brent Hugh of the Missouri Bicycle Federation] has the best advice of the day.
Missouri, he says, is gaining a nationwide reputation as being unfriendly for bicyclists, and that trend needs to be reversed.
The recipe for success is a bit of patience and education for both drivers and cyclists.
"Most often, the road users motorists must wait for are not bicyclists, but other motorists," Hugh says. "Either way, people need to get a grip - waiting a few seconds for somebody else isn’t the end of the world."
Bruce Adib-Yazdi sends this info about Springfield's Family Fun Bike Ride September 20th:
There were about 40 participants in the Family Fun Bike Ride that was organized by Springbike, and sponsored by Ozark Greenways, Hearts and Parks, the City of Springfield, and Jordan Valley Ice Park.
There were all kinds of bikes - from road bikes, to stylish commuters to kids with training wheels. Among the group was the City Manager, Tom Finnie. Before the ride, many people just wandered around Jordan Valley Park, enjoying the warm morning sun and seeing what the park was all about. Some had their tires aired up, others had minor mechanical problem fixed - Sunshine Bike Shop was there to offer assistance.
Dan Kinney, the Director of Springfield-Greene County Park Board started the ride with a few words about the Hearts and Parks coalition. I made note that we were on E. Trafficway, which has the only dedicated bicycle lanes in the City, (the lanes on W. Battlefield are in the county) and the group applauded, thanking the City Manager for them. Then we were off.
We stopped at several downtown and center city projects along the way. (Expo Center, Ice Park, Car Park, Hammons Field Ball Park, Future Arena site, Jordan Valley Park Phase I, Cider Days, Walnut Street / South Street Entertainment District, the Square, Founders park, Jordan Valley Greenway, The Creamery Art Building) We talked a bit about them, and the development of downtown and center city in general, as well as about bicycle safety and rules of the road. It was a good combination of seeing the center city grow, and learning about bicycle safety. Total of 1.6 miles, and 35-40 minutes. Also along this route were several City, State and Federal government facilities.
At the end there were gift bags for all, which included bicycle safety info, a Hearts 'n Parks bicycle bell, Cider Days passes, and several other fun things. Immediately following the ride was the dedication of the new Expo Center. Mayor Tom Carlson started the dedication (which included MANY local and state elected officials, as well as MODot for public funding for the Car Park) by acknowledging the ride as one of several activities the day had to offer, and he then pulled three names from a hat containing names of those who participated in the ride. Each of the three received bike shop gift certificates. Good publicity for cycling in general.
All in all, I believe this event was a success, and the Advocacy Committee thinks we need to do something similar next year, again with Hearts 'n Parks, and again in the downtown / center city area. Maybe during Bike Month in May? Undoubtedly by then there will be new things to see in this area of the city.
Earlier this summer, I was driving near my home on 350 Highway and I noticed MoDOT was starting to work on a re-paving project on the highway. It dawned on me that they were probably going to re-pave the shoulders and then put rumble strips on them. The result would have been, that a perfectly good bicycle facility (6- to 8-foot wide paved shoulder) would have been ruined.
I wrote MoDOT about the rumble strip issue. I also brought up the issue of bike-safe drain grates.
Several weeks later, the MoDOT engineer who was working on the project wrote me back and indicated that they had evaluated the need for rumble strips on that stretch of 350 Hwy and decided that they are not needed. He had also gone in and looked at every drain grate to make sure that all necessary grates were replaced with a bike-safe design.
I have recently ridden on the newly paved shoulders, and the result is a beautiful and very useful bicycle facility.
Speaking with a some people at MoDOT, it turns out that the method I used to report my problem and request action is actually the best and the easiest way both for us and for them.
Using this method gets your request "through channels" and on the desk of the engineer who is actually working on the project in question.
This has proven to be a highly effective method and MoDOT has been responsive to citizen concerns about bicycle safety issues in new construction or re-construction. I know of at least three problem situations that MoDOT has corrected in the past few months, due to citizen feedback.
Please be sure to write MoDOT and thank them if they make the changes you request! This is about more than fixing one particular problem spot--it's about educating engineers and planners and developing a good working relationship with them so that they take the bicycling community seriously and listen to what we have to say in the future.
permanent link to article: "How to contact MoDOT about a bike/ped issue"
posted by Brent Hugh at
9/19/2003 04:51:00 PM |comment on this article
Kansas City's Riverfront Heritage Trail coming together
Thursday, September 18, 2003
The KCStar has an article about the current construction of various segments of the Riverfront Heritage Trail. The trail will stretch from the Isle of Capri Casino to Berkley Riverfront Park and finally across the Kaw River to downtown Kansas City, Kansas. Several segments of the trail are already completed; the grand opening of the trail is planned for July 4th, 2004, to coordinate with the Lewis and Clark bicentennial celebration in the area.
"Things are coming together in the next year that have been 20 years in the making," [Port Authority attorney Mike Burke] said. . . .
Darby Trotter, longtime civic activist and president of the Kansas City River Trails Inc., a nonprofit organization, said he's often embarrassed when he compares Kansas City's riverfront to other cities' scenic riverwalks. But Kansas City is finally starting to reclaim its history with its new trail.
"We want this to be a recreational and educational experience," he said. The suburbs have many popular trails, he notes, but they need a downtown hub. "If we do a good job," he said of the river trails citizens organization, "we'll eventually work our way out of a job."
The controversy revolves around the fact that the number of through lanes for motorists was reduced from 4 to 2. This creates room for a center turn lane for motorists and bicycle lanes on both sides of the road, without requiring any additional pavement width--a type of re-configuration known as a "road diet" [Dan Burden's web site has a pamphlet explaining the advantages of road diets--PDF format].
Most bicycle accommodations in Toronto have not required reduction in motor vehicle lanes--and so the controversy about this project.
For most people, what is very difficult to understand about road diets, is the reduction in through lanes for motor vehicles actually results in better traffic flow and less congestion. A well-designed road diet is a triumph of good road design over the brute force approach--"brute force", in this case, being more lanes. Fewer lanes can do more work if they are properly designed--that is the basic idea behind road diets.
A road diet can actually increase the level of service for motorists, bicyclists, and pedestrians--and all that without requiring even one extra inch of pavement.
The bike lanes were completed two weeks ago in spite of attempts of councillors Case Ootes Ward 29 Toronto-Danforth and Brian Ashton Ward 36 Scarborough Southwest to block their completion. Even the Toronto Star published an editorial condemning these bike lanes. They opposed the reduction in car lanes from 2 in each direction to 1 in each direction. They spoke of fears of grid lock, congestion traffic chaos. . . .
How were the motorists reacting to having two west bound lanes reduced to one. Would frustrated motorists, used to racing along at 70 km per hour, be tempted to pass on the right in the bike lane? Would they cut me off as they fled the feared congestion? What I noticed was that traffic was moving slower, possibly even at the 40 km posted limit. Drivers were well behaved and waited patiently at the lights. I felt quite comfortable in the bike lane, much more safe than I felt prior to the lanes being installed.
One thing that I noticed was that a different type of cyclist was using Dundas Street East. . . . . A broader range of cyclists was taking to the street. This illustrates the vision of the Bike Plan to “Create a safe, comfortable and bicycle friendly environment in Toronto, which encourages people of all ages to use bicycles for everyday transportation and enjoyment.”
Petition circulating to request re-consideration of KCMO police pursuit policies
Tuesday, September 16, 2003
On July 10th, 2003, Kansas City-area resident Toni Sena, an innocent bystander who was riding her bicycle on a quiet neighborhood street in the Brookside area, was run down and killed by a motorist involved in a high-speed chase with police from both Kansas and Missouri. Now Sena’s friends and family are questioning police pursuit policies.
"Since the death of Ms. Sena . . . I have become more concerned about risks to the public from these chases and the circumstances under which they happen," says Laurie Chipman, a friend of Sena.
Apparently the KCMO officers involved were in compliance with the KCMO Police Department's Pursuit Policy. Perhaps it is time to re-consider that policy.
With the 20/20 vision of hindsight, however, it is clear that the very thing the pursuit was trying to prevent--injury to innocent bystanders--was actually caused by the pursuit.
One in four police chases ends in a collision.
Many of these collisions result in serious injuries to police officers and innocent bystanders.
Because of the obvious dangers of high-speed chases in such areas, pursuit policies of police departments across the country have been questioned. Many police departments have gone to a "no pursuit" policy, or very restrictive pursuit policies.
Police departments with “no pursuit” policies sometimes do not catch perpetrators immediately. But they usually pick them up later on. And they find that, on balance, public safety and the safety of police officers is better served by a "no pursuit” policy.
The form includes instructions for returning the signatures via fax, email, or regular mail.
You NEED NOT be a Kansas City, Missouri, resident to sign. Friends of Toni Sena are trying gather 1000 signatures by September 23rd, 2003, to show community support for a reconsideration of the pursuit policy and to present to a meeting of the Police Board.
You can also show support by attending the Police Board's meeting September 23, 10:30 am. Carol Hatcher says, "We plan to make a short (5 min) presentation, answer questions, and hopefully begin to make a positive difference for the safety of our community." Contact Carol (hatchercs@hotmail.com) for more info about the meeting.
permanent link to article: "Petition circulating to request re-consideration of KCMO police pursuit policies"
posted by Brent Hugh at
9/16/2003 09:38:00 PM |comment on this article
Ken Kifer, 1945-2003: Teacher, construction worker, philosopher, bicyclist
Ken was struck by the drunk driver Saturday evening and died in the hospital Sunday. He was riding just six miles from his home, undoubtedly on a route he had ridden many, many times before. The drunk driver had been arrested for a DUI and open container violation on Friday and was released from jail just four hours before the time he killed Ken.
According to the police report, the driver was operating at a very high rate of speed and under the influence of drugs and alchohol. He was driving south; Ken was riding north on the opposite side of the road. The driver has been charged with murder.
Ken has been a very influential and steadying force in the online bicycling community. Aside from the value of his common sense summaries of good bicycling practice and worthwhile, well thought-out contributions to conversations on many subjects, Ken was one of relatively few prominent online cycling advocates whose objective seemed to be to unify rather than divide the community.
Ken was not a polemicist; he sought honest discussion and persuasion. And by far his most persuasive argument was his own life.
In his own words:
As a child, I found myself in a hostile environment. As an adult, I have found myself under attack for having unusual ideas. Therefore, I have usually stayed in the background and concentrated on making my private life worthwhile.
My ideas are not orthodox, as I am neither conservative, liberal, nor moderate, but a non-conformist and an individualist.
I strongly agree with the necessity for a life built on values rather than on personal desires or convenience.
I think that we should all waste less and consume less, learn to appreciate Nature more, take better care of our bodies, and adopt a less-stressful pace of life. I promote using a bicycle instead of a motor vehicle because doing so is kind to the environment, good for the body, and good for the psyche.
MetroGreen has become one of the most important ways to improve the quality of life for Kansas City area residents.
But MetroGreen faces substantial challenges. To overcome them, a successful trails system will need solid planning, steady funding and passionate leaders.
Sidewalks are nonexistent in suburbs where developers have been awarded variances to the sidewalk ordinances. Where sidewalks do exist, they are crumbling and ill-maintained, and those individuals who must make their way around town in wheelchairs can frequently be seen wheeling down auto- congested four-lane streets. . . .
I was going to suggest that readers try to make their way around town without an automobile but decided against this. I don’t want to be held responsible for consequent injuries.
Riding, walking or wheeling in our town is hazardous to one’s health.
Missouri River bridge at Jefferson City now bike-friendlier
Terry Whaley of Springfield recently sent a letter to the Jefferson City Tribune praising the re-striping and signage on the northbound Missouri River bridge at Jefferson City, that makes the bridge far more bicycle-friendly and allows bicycle access between Jefferson City and the Katy Trail:
Having heard that the north-bound Missouri River bridge had been striped and signed for bicyclists we decided to check it out.
Our biking helmets are off with a well-deserved salute to MoDOT and Caryn Giaratano, our (MoDOT) statewide bicycle pedestrian coordinator, for at last achieving a long overdue objective of many cyclists in the state.
Our connection from the Amtrak station to the trail worked great! Keeping in mind that we were three experienced road cyclists, we all agreed that the comfort level was within reason and the striping and signage worked well to alert drivers of the possibility of cyclists. This improvement will also aid out-of- state visitors wishing to make a connection to the Katy and Jefferson City for dining, lodging and access to Amtrak.
This improvement was made with little cost to the state and will go far in the promotion of the Katy Trail and its connection to our capital city. We now need MoDOT's continued interest and support to make such a connection on the southbound Jefferson City bridge to have a fully connected network for the Katy and Jefferson City.
Additionally, MoDOT should be commended for forward thinking with regard to seeing that all new Missouri River bridges or improvements to current bridges connecting to the Katy provide accomodations for cyclists and pedestrians.
Incidentally, as a first simple step to help make some of the bridges connecting the Katy Trail to nearby communities, members of MoBikeFed on MoDOT's Bicycle/Pedestrian Advisory Board are working with MoDOT to have these bridges provided with "Share the Road" signs. This is, obviously, only a first step in making these bridges more bicycle friendly, but it can be done relatively quickly and with relatively little expense.
permanent link to article: "Missouri River bridge at Jefferson City now bike-friendlier"
posted by Brent Hugh at
9/10/2003 11:19:00 AM |comment on this article
Shawnee, KS, becomes first KC metro-area city to receive the LAB's "Bicycle-Friendly City" award
Aaron Bartlett of MARC sent this announcement:
The League of American Bicyclists named Shawnee, Kansas, a Bicycle-Friendly Community for the City's efforts to provide safe facilities for bicyclists and encourage its residents to bike for transportation and recreation.
Through policy and design, Shawnee has focused on increasing opportunities for physical activity and is recognized as a national model for its efforts to reduce obesity. MARC bicycle planner Aaron Bartlett presented the award on the League's behalf at the City's August 11, 2003 City Council meeting.
Shawnee was the first city in the Greater Kansas City area to draft and adopt a bicycle transportation plan that incorporates both on-road and off-road bicycle facilities. The plan could serve as a bike-friendly model for many communities in the region.
The League of American Bicyclists considered several factors in making the award. Reviewers examined bicycle facilities; policies and bicycling promotion efforts; enforcement of traffic laws on motorists and cyclists; traffic safety education efforts; and processes to plan and evaluate policies and facilities for cycling.
The Bicycle Friendly Community campaign is a national grassroots efforts designed to achieve a bicycle-friendly America by encouraging safe bicycling in communities of all sizes.
We tend to assume that driving pays entirely for itself, and that that's reason enough for government to favor roads over other transportation choices. Not only do drivers pay for their cars, we believe, but also for gasoline that is taxed enough to cover the construction and maintenance of all the roads we'll ever need.
A brief thank you email or call would be a nice gesture, if Representatives voted as you asked them to.
If you do write, please mention that you support, and you hope he/she will support, MoBikeFed's and America Bike's complete agenda for TEA-21 Reauthorization:
Funding for Safe Routes to Schools
Increases in Transportation Enhancements and Congestion Mitigation/Air Quality (CMAQ) funds
Increased use of safety funds for bike/ped-related safety projects and campaigns
Routine accommodation of bicyclists and pedestrians in all new and reconstruction road projects.
House re-instates Enhancements by overwhelming majority
We just received this announcement from Martha Roskowski of America Bikes:
Yahoo! Moments ago, the House of Representatives voted to restore funding for the Transportation Enhancements program in the 2004 Transportation Appropriations bill with over a hundred Republicans voting yes! The bi-partisan effort was led by Representatives Petri (R-WI) and Olver
(D-MA).
Huge thanks to everyone who wrote letters, made calls and let Congress know that the Enhancements program was important. Your voice was heard!
This victory not only restores $600 million in dedicated funding for 2004, it puts the bicycle and pedestrian community on strong footing for the bigger battle over the reauthorization of TEA-21, the 6 year
transportation funding bill.
More later. Nice work, y'all!
I am THRILLED!
-m
Martha Roskowski
America Bikes
Campaign Manager
www.americabikes.org
martha@americabikes.org
On Thursday [MoDOT] commissioners will consider a proposal that the Missouri Department of Transportation help fund the project with nearly $800,000 in federal money.
McKenna and another commissioner wonder whether that would drain money from other projects around the state, such as bicycle paths and roadside beautification. . . .
This year the state received about $14 million in federal transportation enhancement funds, which cannot be used for building or repairing roads.
Since the federal program began in 1993, Kittrell said, 75 percent of the funds have been used for bicycle and pedestrian trails and 17 percent for beautification along highways. The rest has gone toward historic preservation, such as rehabilitating old train depots.
Armstrong Kelly says she and young Lance used to take long bike rides on weekends, exploring the back roads of Texas in what they called "adventures in uncharted territory."
A working single mom, she couldn't drive her only child to school, so Lance also would ride his bike to class and swim practice.
"Parents always worry about their kids being away from them, but riding a bike taught Lance about responsibility and accountability," she says. "Those values helped make him the champion he is today."
Citing statistics from the Texas Bicycle Coalition, she says that in the 1960s more than 60% of American kids walked or rode their bikes to school. Today that figure is down to only 13%.
Transportation Enhancements comes to House vote Thurs, September 4th
Tuesday, September 02, 2003
MoBikeFed has issued an Advocacy Alert requesting all who support bicycling to call their Representative Sept 2nd or 3rd (Tues or Wed) to support the Transportation Enhancements program, which supports the majority of bicycle- and pedestrian-related projects across the United States. The vote on the House Appropriations bill that would eliminate the Enhancements program is planned for Thursday, Sept. 4th, 2003.
You can find your Representative's contact info in about 5 seconds by visiting www.House.gov and entering your zip code. Making a phone call only takes about 2 minutes.
Ask your representative to "Support Transportation Enhancements and vote in favor of Representative Petri's amendment to strike Section 114 from the transportation appropriations bill (H.R. 2989)."
American Trails has issued a very helpful notice which explains the issues involved:
The ISSUE
Trail advocates and supporters face a major hurdle on the floor of the House of Representatives when Congress returns from its August recess after Labor Day.
On July 24, the House Appropriations Committee voted to eliminate funding for the popular Transportation Enhancements (TE) program. The Appropriations Bill (H.R. 2989) approved by the Committee will be voted on by the full House of Representatives in early September. Section 114 of H.R. 2989 eliminates the set-aside for the TE program. This means there are no dedicated funds for TE.
But we have good news! Representative Thomas E. Petri (R-WI) has agreed to sponsor, along with other House members, an amendment to strike Section 114 from the transportation appropriations bill (H.R.2989) when it comes to the House floor in early September. The effect of this amendment, if successful, would be to restore full funding for Transportation Enhancements activities.
Talking Points
Some Congressional offices have been saying that the full House Appropriations Committee "fixed the problem" from Representative Istook's original bill by giving States the flexibility to use these funds for either highway or TE projects. The decision to eliminate funding for TE while maintaining eligibility for TE activities appears to have even misled some Congress members. If left as is, states will have the authority over how these funds are spent.
Congress established the TE program in 1991 as a guarantee to their constituents that a small percentage of their gas tax dollars would be targeted to small-scale, community-initiated, locally selected transportation projects. H.R. 2989 breaks that promise, and contradicts the intent of ISTEA and TEA-21 to provide balanced, intermodal transportation networks.
Congress created the program because state departments of transportation were simply not investing in projects supporting bicycling, walking, trails, scenic or historic preservation, and other enhancements to the transportation system.
Proponents of the funding cut say revenues are falling and the economy is tight and therefore cuts must be made - but H.R. 2989 actually increases the transportation budget by $4.5 billion over the Administration's funding request.
Core elements of the Administration's new six-year transportation reauthorization proposal - SAFETEA - address mobility, access, safety and personal choice of travel modes. President Bush's HealthierUS Initiative recognizes the importance of creating, enhancing and promoting environments that make it easy for people to be physically active in their daily lives through changes in community design, transportation and architectural policies, and programs.
The long-term impact of the TE program has already resulted in more transportation options that allow for incorporating active living into daily activities and routines; and changes in local community design, transportation, and architecture make it easier and more inviting for people to be physically active. Just think what another 6 years will bring!
Surveys by groups as diverse as AAA, STPP and America Bikes show that Americans want more than just highways for their transportation dollars.
Since 1991, the TE program has provided $6 billion for state and local transportation projects. Fifty-five percent ($3.3 billion) has gone for bicycle and pedestrian projects. However, this still represents less than one percent of all federal transportation funding. The TE program has been the funding source for three-quarters of all bicycle and pedestrian projects implemented under ISTEA and TEA-21.
The TE program has supported more than 16,000 local transportation projects in almost every county and Congressional District in the country. These projects have made American communities better places to live by:
1. Inspiring community revitalization,
2. Creating safe places to walk and bicycle,
3. Improving the health of families and communities through increased access to and use of trails and bikeways,
4. Restoring historic transportation infrastructure, and
5. Sparking hometown pride.
Nationally, 13% of traffic fatalities are bicyclists and pedestrians, while receiving less than one percent of federal transportation funds. Not only does TE address the "safety" issue by providing safe places to walk and bike, but studies show that increasing bicycle and pedestrian trips can decrease the danger by making these modes more visible and more a part of the normal traffic flow.
The ACTION
Under H.R. 2989, absent Sec. 114, Transportation Enhancements would receive approximately $812 million per year. (In the last year of TEA-21, the TE share was about $600 million.)
Please contact your US Congress Representative now. Ask them to vote to restore guaranteed funding for the Transportation Enhancements program. Ask them to vote in favor of Representative Petri's amendment to strike Section 114 from the transportation appropriations bill (H.R. 2989). Better yet, ask them to co-sponsor Representative Petri's amendment!
The OPPORTUNITY
Congress members return from recess after Labor Day and this vote is expected to be scheduled [Thursday, September 4th, 2003]. It is critical that you contact your Representative as soon as possible. Please make that call or send an email or a letter today.
To CONTACT ANY MEMBER (or their staff) at their D.C. office, you can call the U.S. Capital Switchboard: 202-224-3121 and ask to be transferred.
Thanks to the efforts of the Transportation Enhancements Coalition, here are materials that provide a set of tools for saving TE:
The Rails to Trails Conservancy has posted state-by-state information on projects that is extremely valuable if you are talking to your congress member or their staff.
* Pie charts which summarize each state's spending by TE activity (a national pie chart is also posted)
* Project lists for each state listing every programmed TE project, sorted by county * Recent media coverage
Visit the Transportation Enhancements Clearinghouse: www.enhancements.org.
* Call, email, and/or write your US Congress Member immediately - tell them about the projects in their District that have benefited from this program and what the funds will mean to future projects and quality of life. Ask them to co-sponsor Representative Petri's amendment.
* Call Representative Petri's office and thank him for sponsoring the amendment: 202-225-2476. (This is VERY important!)
* Try to get an interview on a local talk radio show (public radio can be a very good forum).
* Ask your Mayor and County Supervisor to write a letter or pass a resolution to keep these funds local (sample resolution is attached).
* Write an article or letter to the editor or take a reporter out on a favorite trail that is dependant on the Transportation Enhancements fund for completion.
Don Baack
6495 SW Burlingame Place
Portland, OR 97239-7001
503-246-2088
Baack@pacifier.com
SWTrails Web Site http://explorepdx.com/swtrails.html
Motorist charged in July death of 9-yr-old Kansas City, Kansas, cyclist
Monday, September 01, 2003
The driver who hit and killed a 9-year-old Kansas City, Kansas, cyclist was charged recently, according to a KCStar article:
Angel Ovando was arrested and charged with two misdemeanors in the death of Luke Cunningham. If convicted, Ovando could face up to one year in jail for each of the charges -- vehicular homicide and leaving the scene of an accident involving a death.
According to the KCStar article about the collision, the cyclist ran a stop sign and entered the intersection without slowing or checking for traffic.
The motorist--like many who drive on the street where the accident happened--was driving too fast in a neighborhood near a park where children frequently play. The motorist failed to stop upon striking the boy, dragging the boy and his bike a distance down the roadway. Undoubtedly the boy's injuries would have been less severe had the motorist stopped immediately.
And then the motorist fled the scene.
Like most bicycle collisions, the first mistake was the cyclist's--failing to stop at the stop sign and check for traffic. This is the most common mistake made by young cyclists.
But--also like most bicycle collisions--the accident could have been avoided or the severity greatly reduced if the motorist had been driving more carefully--looking out for young people on or near the streets, driving at a speed appropriate for a neighborhood with many children, and stopping as soon as possible rather than proceeding and then fleeing the scene.
permanent link to article: "Motorist charged in July death of 9-yr-old Kansas City, Kansas, cyclist"
posted by Brent Hugh at
9/01/2003 02:40:00 PM |comment on this article
KCStar editorial supports KC connection to Katy Trail
A Kansas City Star editorial encourages the creation of a link between the Kansas City area and the Katy Trail:
"There's incredible community interest in it," says Marlene Nagel of the Mid-America Regional Council, which is working closely with the state on the Katy extension.
The best plan for a Kansas City link is to create a trail along the old Rock Island Railroad line that runs northwest from Windsor — on the Katy Trail — to Pleasant Hill. State officials say they came close to getting that line donated by Union Pacific when it owned the property. . . .
The Katy Trail would be even more popular with Kansas Citians if it were more easily reached from the metro area. Converting the Rock Island line would be a huge community service.
Ken was struck by the drunk driver Saturday evening and died in the hospital Sunday. He was riding just six miles from his home, undoubtedly on a route he had ridden many, many times before. The drunk driver had been arrested for a DUI and open container violation on Friday and was released from jail just four hours before the time he killed Ken.