April 2011 - Spokes Magazine

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COMMUTER CONNECTION by ron cassie ron_cassie@yahoo.com we make cycling more cycling more l o v e y o u r bike [more] fun fun Takoma Bicycle KHS | ReDline | ToRKeR | PARTS | ACCeSSoRieS | RePAiRS 7030 Carroll Avenue Takoma Park, MD 20912 301.270.0202 www.takomabicycle.com MDOT Report: Few Maryland Schools Encouraging Students To Bicycle Or Walk According to a new report released by the Maryland Department of Transportation, less than 20 percent of all schools in the state actively encourage walking or bicycling to school by students. Among the key finding of MDOT’s 94-page report and survey, completed with partners in the education community and the bicycle and pedestrian community, was that none of the 24 school districts in the state had an explicit student pedestrian or biking policy. Only 12 percent of survey respondents said their school had an active Safe Routes to School group. Nationally, 16 percent of students, aged five to eight, walk or bike to school. At the same time, the U.S. Center for Disease Control reports that obesity among children aged 6 to 11 has tripled since the early 1980s, from roughly six percent to more than 19 percent. The results of the Maryland survey suggest that it’s important for state officials to understand local school policies regarding walking or biking to school, suggesting this could be an untapped resource for increasing children’s daily physical activity. “With obesity on the rise across our country, we need to create more opportunities for children to get exercise by safely walking or biking to school,” said Maryland Transportation Secretary Beverley K. Swaim- Staley in a statement. “The value of this survey is that we now understand the obstacles across the state that may keep students from walking or biking to school,” she continued. “With this information, we can now work with principals and school districts on ways to improve sidewalks and other infrastructure, as well as develop policies that support walking and biking to school.” Statewide, elementary schools have the highest percentage of schools promoting walking or biking at 22 percent. Middle schools are the lowest overall, with just nine percent promoting walking or biking. The majority of schools discouraging walking and bicycling report that they do so because of lack of a adequate infrastructure or concerns about the personal safety and conduct of children while walking and bicycling to and from school. Not surprisingly, most schools that discouraged walking and bicycling indicated that sidewalk and crossing improvements needed improvement to reverse a restrictive policy. There’s also strong correlation between population density and school attitudes towards walking and bicycling. Schools in urban and suburban areas are more likely to encourage students to walk and bike, and rural areas had higher rates of schools discouraging the practice. According to 59 percent of survey respondents at schools that currently discourage or prohibit student walking or biking, improving pedestrian and bicycle infrastructure, such as sidewalks or bicycle lanes, is one of the keys to improving accessibility for students. However, non-infrastructure improvements, such as crossing guards, promoting Walk to School and Bike to School days, and parental involvement, could also boost student walking and biking. Yellow School Bus Blues A primary goal of the recently released survey was to provide Maryland officials with an understanding of the policies and practices governing walking and biking at individual schools and within entire school systems. The survey identified a number of challenges that stand in the way of walking and biking to school and developed a series of recommendations to address those challenges. Beyond the children’s health issues, the cost of transporting such a high percentage of children to school continues to rise. In 2007, 1,000 Friends of Maryland released a report, Yellow School Bus Blues, illustrating trends in busing costs for Maryland’s school districts. Since 1992, statewide expenditures for school bus transportation have more than doubled, reaching $438 million by 2006. Done in cooperation with the Maryland Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Committee, the University of Maryland and the Maryland State Department of Education, survey partners identified eight key issues making it difficult for principals and superintendents to promote walking and biking. The issues as stated in an MDOT press release: 1) Many school principals are unaware of Maryland’s Safe Routes to School program, administered by the State Highway Administration to improve sidewalks and pedestrian crossings in the vicinity of schools. 2) Principals are concerned that students lack the skills needed to walk and bike safely. 3) Principals noted that there are no safe pathways leading to the school, citing a lack of sidewalks, traffic volume and speed, and poor crossing conditions for pedestrians. 4) Some principals are concerned about liability issues. 5) Schools with higher rates of free and reduced lunch are less likely to have received SRTS funds and have active SRTS groups. Yet, according to survey results, these schools are more likely to encourage walking and biking to school. 6) School district transportation departments focus on busing. 7) Principals are overburdened with responsibilities. 8) Schools are located in areas not conducive to walking or biking. Based on the results of this project, survey partners developed an extensive series of recommendations. Some of those recommendations include: 1) Increasing outreach to principals and school districts to make them aware of existing programs and information already available on creating safer bike and pedestrian routes around schools. 2) Maryland should continue to work with local schools and partner organizations to provide students with bike and pedestrian training. 3) Schools should be required to develop route plans identifying the safest routes for children to walk or bike to and from school. 4) Increase targeted law enforcement where appropriate. 5) Urge school district transportation departments to adopt a holistic approach to school transportation, including walking, bicycling and carpooling – as well as busing. 24 April 2011
6) Create incentives for principals to encourage walking and biking. 7) Encourage new schools to be located in areas that are pedestrian and bike friendly. The complete Maryland Statewide Student Travel Policy Survey can be found on the internet at: www. mdot.maryland.gov/Planning/Bicycle/Documents/ School_Survey_Report.pdf. “designed and operated to enable safe, attractive and comfortable access and travel for all users. Pedestrians, bicyclists, motorists, and public transport users of all ages and abilities are able to safely and comfortably move along and across a complete street.” • Establishing an education and safety program. • Establishing greenways, special paths for bicyclists, trails and pedestrian routes — and promote them so residents and travelers are more aware of the networks. The proposal also seeks development of blueways – water trails for canoeists and kayakers. “We recognize that funding and other constraints are likely to impact the progress that has begun with the execution of this document,” the commission’s report stated. “However, we are hopeful that ultimately, as a community, we can move the hopes and aspirations embodied in this document forward, such that within the next five years we can look back and see a city that is clean, safe, and friendly to everyone: walkers, the disabled, bikers, and those who choose more traditional modes of transportation.” The full report of the Commission can be viewed at: www.richmondgov.com//mayor/documents/ MayorsPBTCommissionReportOpt.pdf Bootcamp for Cycling Advocates Coming to Baltimore Richmond Pedestrian, Bicycling and Trails Planning Commission releases report Last summer, Richmond Mayor Dwight Jones put together a Pedestrian, Bicycling and Trails Planning Commission made up of “a group of committed individuals — government employees, citizens, neighbors and friends — who believed that the city of Richmond can achieve the goal of a pedestrian/bike friendly way of being over the next two years.” According to an earlier City Master Plan report, “Currently, much of the roadway systems in the city is conducive to neither bicycle or pedestrian travel. Many of the city’s major transportation corridors lack streetscape elements to encourage pedestrian use.” In November, the mayor’s commission published its 218-page report, the goals of which include: • Setting aside between $80,000 and $105,000 for the creation of a pedestrian, bicycle and trails coordinator position. Plus, up to another $300,000 for public relations, marketing and education. • Setting policy and design standards for a Complete Streets program, including spending up to $1.25 million for the installation of signs and labeling streets with paint to “balance safety and convenience for everyone using the road.” Complete streets are roadways, the commission stated, A bootcamp, entitled “Winning Campaigns Trainings” designed to help bicycle and pedestrian advocates learn the tools necessary to create and manage powerful campaigns to increase biking and walking in their communities, is coming to Baltimore, Md., May 13-15. Hosted by Bike Maryland, the boot camp will begin Friday from 5-9, continue on Saturday, from 8-4:30, and finish on Sunday, from 8-1. The proven curriculum is led by long time advocates and national experts with first-hand experience conducting – and winning – bicycle and pedestrian campaigns. Participants will learn how to: Ride! (just plain fun) • Focus on a specific, winnable campaign for their community • Identify and map the key decision makers • Craft a persuasive message to rally members and policy makers • Use media outlets to communicate to a broad audience • Become an effective fund raiser, and • Create a detailed campaign blue print that ensures success and builds toward even greater victories. For details or to register contact People Powered Movement at (202) 449-9692 or log onto www.peoplepoweredmovement.org BIKE SHOP Owners: Ron & Trina Taylor, 2-time Ironmen Drop by and test ride the new 2011 jamis tri-bike line. See and feel what the buzz is all about! Monday-Friday 11am - 7pm Saturday 9am - 6pm Sunday 10am - 5pm 703-548-5116 302 Montgomery Street Alexandria, VA 22314 Richmond Mayor Dwight Jones Now selling essential tri-gear: clothing, shoes, wetsuits, bike accessories. April 2011 25
Page 1 and 2: Serving Cyclists in the Mid-Atlanti
Page 3 and 4: On theCover Ride with heroes and Wo
Page 5 and 6: BICYCLE RIDE ACROSS GEORGIA 32nd an
Page 7 and 8: It was a day that pretty much finis
Page 9 and 10: F I S H E R D R E A M E D . T R E K
Page 11 and 12: town and bike valet/parking locatio
Page 13 and 14: public health people, and low-incom
Page 15 and 16: THE PERFECT RIDE NO MATTER HOW YOU
Page 17 and 18: than two miles on the NCR trail tog
Page 20 and 21: Triathlete Doug Landau (right) was
Page 22 and 23: Behind Bars Let’s Talk About Bike
Page 26 and 27: Progress Continues on Black Rock Mi
Page 28 and 29: calendar of events To be listed, se
Page 30 and 31: calendar continued from p.29 teur a
Page 32: SATURDAY & SUNDAY | JUNE 11-12, 201

April 2011 - Spokes Magazine

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