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THE IMPERATIVE OF WALKABILITY

It's a simple fact of human physiology: we evolved to walk. Curiously, though, for the last 50 years of transportation planning, humans have been devolving our transportation networks to make the simple act of walking increasingly infeasible and dangerous.

Advocates for communities where people can get around on two feet are faced with a host of challenges: they must push for better understanding of the design, planning, and legislation that enable walkable places; then, they must work to push and support public officials in implementing those improvements. In a testament to advocates' work, it's a relatively recent phenomenon that mainstream developers, planners, public officials, and members of the media have begun to recognize the importance of designing, planning, and legislating for walkability. 

Let's take a look at what Alliance member organizations were saying about pedestrian safety this week. 

• Delaware's pedestrian fatalities are down in 2014 compared to recent years. Amazingly, we live in a world in which Delaware will be fortunate if *only* 18 people die while walking this year. 
• In Pittsburgh, a recent newspaper article quoted a state DOT engineer saying that Pittsburgh's hilly terrain makes it hard to build for pedestrian safety. BikePGH's Scott Bricker called foul in an op-ed respose.
• Hey cities: nobody can help you decrease pedestrian crashes if you don't collect and report reliable data on pedestrian crashes. WalkBoston highlighted a front page Boston Globe story that raises awareness about the need for better pedestrian crash reporting. 

INFRASTRUCTURE NEWS

The Washington Area Bicyclist Association fights back against a secret plot to eliminate part of a popular regional trail. 

The Boston Globe editorial board called for protected bike lanes on Commonwealth Avenue, a major arterial in the city. 

Cleveland has a new mile of bike lane on Puritas Ave. 

In a ceremony at the state capitol, Connecticut revealed their new CTfastrak rapid transit buses. 

THE BIG PICTURE

If you don't ride a bike but you're sick of traffic jams, support bicycling. 

Georgia Bikes and Teton Valley Trails and Pathways both moved offices. 

Bicycle Commuters of Anchorage changed their name to Bike Anchorage. It's a trend! 

Colin from the Silicon Valley Bicycle Coalition is heading to Copenhagen on a study tour led by the Knight Foundation. Neat! Looks like the same tour that a Georgia mayor and DOT board member will be on. 

5 reasons for older Texans to ride a bike. 

Ridesharing is a hot topic in Pennsylvania after the PA Utilities Commission banned Uber and Lyft from operating in Allegheny County. PA Walks and Bikes breaks it down. 

High school student and Cadence Cycling Foundation rider Tamia Santiago is helping to close the biking gender gap. 

The first female mayor of Pittsburgh, who commissioned the city's first-ever bike map, passed away at the age of 96.

ADVOCACY AVENUE

Bike Baton Rouge started a Change.org petition for a Complete Streets ordinance. 

Here are BTA Oregon's next big projects. 

As Caltrain renews their strategic plan, San Francisco advocates push for higher bicycle capacity. 

Bike the Vote in San Francisco! The San Francisco Bicycle Coalition hasn't endorsed anybody yet, but here are the candidates' answers to the Coalition's survey. 

Biking has seen big growth in Burlington, VT. 

A new report from the Bicycle Coalition of Greater Philadelphia pulls together count data from 2005 through 2013 to reveal a city increasingly interested in getting around on two wheels. Check out the full report!

LEGISLATION LANE

California's Protected Bikeways Act reached the Senate floor this week. 

The mayor of Omaha, Nebraska is making moves to institute a suite of multimodal improvements, including a new Active Living Advisory Committee, a Complete Streets policy, and a multimodal transportation coordinator in the planning department. 

The Georgia DOT invites comments on its Statewide Transportation Improvement Program (STIP). 

The Maine DOT passed a Complete Streets policy!

PROGRAMMING

Educational video from San Francisco: how to lock your bike. 

Educational infographic from Pittsburgh: safe riding tips. 

Educational advice from Washington state: take the lane! 

Burning Man is next week, which means that the Reno Bike Project is blowing up. 

Philly ladies talk best clothes for biking. 

Be a bike ambassador in the Washington, DC area! 

MassBike has been organizing Playways, entire neighborhood blocks that are open for playing, walking, and biking. 

A cool idea for recognizing the folks who have always been there for your organization: hold a party just for your 10+ year members. 

This communications director has already shared a few sponsored blog posts from Transportation Alternatives' BikeNYC blog in hopes that the Roundup could spark such sponsor parterships at other organizations. But this is the most interesting one yet: "The Best of Bike Taiwan," by the Taiwan Tourism Bureau. 

Kidical Mass is spreading in New York City! 

GET A JOB

Bike Denver is hiring a part-time student coordinator for the Ride on Auraria program. 

BikeHouston is hiring up a storm: they're seeking a development manager / director, a government and community affairs manager / director, and a marketing / communications associate.

The Adventure Cycling Association is hiring a membership maketing coordinator. 

Bike Miami Valley is hiring an executive director. 

The state and local biking and walking advocacy movement is growing. Check out the Alliance for Biking & Walking job board for listings all over North America. 

TRAILER

New study from New Zealand: For every dollar spent on protected bike lanes, cities could save as much as $24 in lower health care costs, less pollution, and less traffic. (FastCoExist)