BikePGH presents Bikefest 2011, over 50 events to celebrate cycling in Pittsburgh.
Festivities kick off on August 12th with a fundraising party at the Pittsburgh Opera. Anyone who’s been there in the past will confirm, this is a party not to be missed.
Visit bikepgh.org/bikefest for more info.
Mississippi is known for the blues, and given what the Starkville District Attorney has said about the case of involving Jan Morgan being hit by a car and then run over after the driver stopped to check on her, seems that there is good reason. As per the Starkville Daily News, the March 22nd accident report reads:
“The cyclist was westbound on MS 50 near the Truelove Loop intersection. V1 (vehicle one) was westbound on MS 50 approaching the cyclist from the rear. The front of V1 collided with the rear of the bicycle. The impact threw the cyclist into the air before landing on the hood of V1 and onto the windshield. V1 continued for a few feet before coming to a stop. The cyclist was then thrown to the asphalt when V1 stopped. The driver of V1 exited the vehicle and observed the cyclist while talking on the phone. D1 (driver one) then reentered her vehicle and ran the cyclist over again before being forced from her vehicle by a witness. V1 came to a final rest facing west in the westbound lane on MS 50 just meters west of the Truelove Loop intersection. The cyclist came to a final rest near the right front tire of V1.”
According to the blog by Jan’s husband Dave (fwiw together they own Boardtown Bikes) the District Attorney has determined that no felony charges will be filed against the driver, as there is nothing on the Mississippi books specifically outlawing running down a cyclist, getting out of your car to see how they are doing, and then running them over again. Apparently while attempted murder is certainly illegal in Mississippi, along with a number of other things, running over a fellow human after you’ve already hit them in broad daylight while not legal isn’t that against the law. Given the circumstances it is almost hard to believe, but with every week bringing another tale of a cyclist being run down and the driver receiving nothing but a slap on the wrist it unfortunately isn’t terribly surprising. Perhaps the pressure will make the DA reconsider, or get activists fired up enough to actually get a law passed outlawing actively running over another person in Mississippi.
Fyxation has just announced their Bikes Are Better initiative—a line of soft goods from Holdfast, Rickshaw Bags and Fyxation with 25% of the profits of each piece going towards a local or national cycling non-profit. It’s Fyxation’s way of giving a bit back to the advocacy community responsible for many of the racks and lanes and other infrastructure improvements that make cycling safer and more enjoyable. From now until June 30th the Alliance for Biking and Walking is the recipient of the funds, with another organization for for July to be announced in due time.
From the League of American Bicyclists:
Thank you to the thousands of you who contacted the director of your state transportation agency regarding last week’s action alert. Your voice has been heard loud and clear. Due to your combined efforts, the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO) has withdrawn their recommendation to the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) to weaken the requirements for states to give “due consideration” to the needs of bicyclists and pedestrians when constructing roadways. The League of American Bicyclists, the National Center for Biking and Walking, and America Bikes will be meeting with AASHTO officials next month to discuss this and other important issues.
If you haven’t already, please take action to ensure that state transportation agencies do not gut important bike funding. Visit our Advocacy Center and ask your Governor to rescind federal transportation dollars proportionally across all programs.
You can follow progress on these and other campaigns at bikeleague.org/blog. Thanks again for your support.
From the League of American Bicyclists:
Your state DOT may be ready to cut millions in bicycle and pedestrian funding
Take Action!
Contact your Governor today!
In the latest budget deal between the Republicans and Democrats, the two parties agreed to rescind (read: take back) $2.5 billion in unspent federal transportation funds. Your state DOT has the power to decide which funds they send back. And based upon history we know what happens next.
Your state DOT may try to empty out the funds that pay for your sidewalks, bike lanes, trails, and education programs.
We have seen this before, and it is happening again. Last year, when states had to send back $2.2 billion in transportation funds, almost half of that money came from programs that fund bicycling and walking projects. See our Rescessions FAQ’s for more information.
Please contact your Governor today to tell them this is wrong. Funding cuts for the rescission should be fair and proportional across the board.
Thank you in advance for your help !
According to a press release from the London Cycling Campaign: The London Cycling Campaign is holding a Day of Action on London’s streets on Wednesday 30 March 2011 to highlight the problem of lorry-related cyclist fatalities, and to collect signatures for its No More Lethal Lorries petition.
LCC volunteers will gather at nine locations during morning and evening rush hours with megaphones, placards and petition forms to highlight the problem of preventable lorry-related deaths.
Visit www.no-more-lethal-lorries.org.uk for more info.
We are proud to announce that BikePGH has won the Alliance for Biking and Walking’s “Advocacy Organization of the Year” award.
Here’s what the Alliance had to say:
On its face, Pittsburgh is a tough place to ride a bicycle. The streets are steep and twisting, and the winters are long and brutal. But bicycle mode share is up and the Steel City is charged up with new enthusiasm for active transportation. Why? Bike Pittsburgh. The advocates at BikePGH have been working hand-in-hand with government officials to get new infrastructure on the ground, partnered with the local companies to get the business community on board and created innovative programs, like Car Free Fridays, that are getting more people on bicycles. But BikePGH excels at more than the nuts and bolts of basic organizing. The members of their small staff are the best kind of ambassadors for the movement: They’re friendly, energetic and welcoming. The work and attitude of BikePGH are making Pittsburgh a mighty appealing place to ride… despite the tough terrain.
Stephen Box writes: I’m running for City Council in Los Angeles and thought that my journey from happy cyclist just trying to ride home with my wife to a guy who is running for City Council of the largest city in the most populated state in the most powerful country in the world might be of interest.
From the LA Weekly: After decades of neglect, L.A. is finally taking bike riders seriously, thanks in part to a mayor and City Council members who ride bicycles, but more because of activists like Box, who approach the issue with all the fervor and righteousness of civil rights marchers in the 1960s. They’re challenging the car-centric culture that all but defines Los Angeles, and demanding a new vision.
LA cyclists can cast their vote tomorrow, Tuesday March 8, 2011. Visit www.stephenbox.com for more info.
Bike licensing proposals pop up regularly, and are just as regularly deemed ridiculous and not cost effective. The latest is one proposed by Queens Assemblyman Michael DenDekker to require a $25 license plate on all bicycles in New York, citing that if bikes are going to use roadways that someone has to pay for it. While many people think that local and municipal roadways (the ones bicycles use most often) are paid for via gas taxes and automobile registration, the truth of the matter is that they are paid for by local income and property taxes, which all local residents paying taxes are already contributing towards. The bill is likely dead on arrival, but it might be worth telling Michael DenDekker how you feel via his handy web contact form.
The Los Angeles Bike Plan was recently approved by city council, with some 1200 miles of additional interconnected bike paths to be created over the next 35 years. While it seems like a long time, and it certainly is for anyone currently commuting to work and back via car-hogged streets, it is worth remembering that “Rome wasn’t built in a day.” 1600 miles of bike paths is nothing to sneeze at, even if some of us reading this news today may never see it completed or at least be well past our cycling prime.
See the whole plan at www.labikeplan.org
From the Greater Philadelphia Bicycle Coalition comes this report on NJ Assemblywoman Cleopatra Tucker’s effort to implement a statewide bicycle registration system.
Under the bill, a person who violates any of the bicycle registration provisions would be subject to a fine up to $100 for each offense. In addition, the bill authorizes the chief administrator to suspend or revoke a bicycle registration for any violation of the laws, rules, or regulations regarding their operation.
On it’s surface there seems to be a number of problems with the system (one strike and your registration is revoked?) and I doubt it will gain traction in the legislature, but worth reading about and looking for in your locale.
From SF.Streetsblog.org:
Valencia Street’s nearly two-year-old Green Wave signal re-timing aimed at prioritizing bicycle traffic speeds continues to please street users, city leaders, and advocates alike. What started as a temporary pilot will become a permanent institution this week with the installation of four new Green Wave signs along the corridor.
“Green Waves are the most recent example of the SFMTA finding innovative ways to further improve cycling in San Francisco,” said SFMTA CEO Nat Ford.
The Alliance for Biking and Walking is reading for their annual Advocacy Awards, and are looking for 2011 nominations. Individuals are free to nominate their local organization as a whole or individuals that have made a particular impact with advocacy efforts over time.
Send in your advocacy hero at the Alliance’s nomination form.
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