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CHANGE AT THE ALLIANCE

First, some big news you might have missed around these parts: Jeff Miller is stepping down after seven years as president of the Alliance for Biking & Walking. He’s ready to recalibrate his work/life balance to spend more time with his foster toddler twins and figure out what adventures lie ahead. His passion and leadership will be missed!

NEW YEARS RESOLUTIONS

Some people pledge to go on a diet at the new year; some commit to a road diet. Some Alliance partners are gearing up for 2015 with renewed resolve to making biking and walking safer, more appealing, and more convenient in their communities. For example, Milwaukee-area members of the Wisconsin Bike Federation strategically picked 2015 targets for protected bike lanes on roads with little to no congestion, where they're less likely to meet with opposition. They also set a schedule for re-striping of crosswalks and bike lanes and set their sights on some bike boulevards in the coming year. 

Minneapolis wants to have the best Bike Week ever this year. Before they ring in 2016, advocates want to install at least seven new miles of protected bike lanes and host as many as eight Open Streets events. And while the governor finalizes his budget proposal, the Bicycle Coalition wants to remind him of eight key reasons why biking and walking should be front and center in his transportation budget.

If you’re still looking for a New Years resolution, the Cascade Bicycle Club would like to suggest that you resolve to become a leader in the kids’ bike movement – and they’ve got a Safe Routes to School leadership training to help you do it.

Meanwhile, Wisconsin’s Driftless Region Bicycle Coalition just wants to modernize its website. Let’s hear it for achievable goals!

INFRASTRUCTURE INLET

Colorado activists get inspired to up their game when a recent list of the best new bike lanes doesn’t include a single one in their state.

New York state activists are celebrating economic and community development funding for several great biking and walking projects.

Huge victory in the DC suburbs: It looked like all was lost in White Flint, but Montgomery County and the Maryland State Highway Administration have hammered out an agreement to reduce car lanes and include bike lanes and an off-road shared-use path! Huzzah!

Calgary installs vehicle activated traffic calming signs on bike/ped paths to reduce conflicts.

Looking at indicators ranging from retail job density to number of bus stops, La Crosse, Wisconsin, determines where bike share would and would not be feasible.

The best of both worlds? The design for Pearl Street in Cambridge, Mass., would turn resident parking into a buffered bike lane during the day – but the plan is under attack.

Plans for a protected bike lane on a new street in Athens, Georgia, are in jeopardy.

BIG PICTURE BOULEVARD

California Bicycle Coalition takes a look at the state’s best infrastructure, leaders, decisions, and ideas of 2014.

Looking for tips on winter cycling, or just a little inspiration? If these folks can ride at negative 8 degrees, you can bike through the winter too! This hack from Pittsburgh could save you some frostbitten fingers, too. 

Keeping sidewalks clear of snow and ice is critical for safe winter walking. Active Trans has downloadable flyers to remind residents to do their shoveling duty, and businesses can put up posters boasting of their own de-icing prowess.

Not surprisingly, folks in Buffalo also have a few things to say about the importance of snow removal.

Let bike-friendly Google employees power your organization! MassBike did it – here’s how.

Are you a scofflaw cyclist? A pair of professors are studying the issue. Help their research by taking this 10-15 minute survey.

Unsure how to navigate a traffic circle by bike? The Cascade Bicycle Club has a tutorial for newbies.

ADVOCACY AVENUE

Bicycling means business in Washington: a new study confirms that bicycle riding is #3 in recreational activities in the state by total expenditures, with over $3.1 billion spent. 

Philly’s #UnblockBikeLanes campaign succeeded in pushing police to issue more tickets to drivers in violation.

How New York’s Families for Safe Streets has turned grief into an unstoppable Vision Zero machine.

San Francisco Bicycle Coalition’s incoming director, Noah Budnick, talks about bringing New York’s Vision Zero campaign to the Bay Area.

Chicago advocates raise money to resurrect Streetsblog Chicago.

Portland activists remind transportation officials that they committed (in 2010!) to reduce car traffic on a street designated a greenway, and as such should have a third as many cars on it as it does.

San Diego County Bike Coalition names Tern Bicycles Community Partner of the Year for supporting Open Streets events.

LEGISLATION LANE

The Wisconsin Bike Fed is pushing Gov. Scott Walker to dedicate 2 percent of the state transportation budget to biking and walking – up from 1.2 percent.

Houston area bicyclists are also seeking 2 percent for bike/ped, but their regional planners think 0.4 percent is plenty -- even though their own research shows that the general public would spend 14 percent on sidewalks and bikeways. 

A “game-changing” bill introduced in Minnesota would dedicate 9 to 10 percent of a sales tax to biking and walking projects, which would direct more than $30 million a year to projects in the Twin Cities alone. (That’s more money than Bike Walk Twin Cities normally had to spend over seven years.)

Nebraska’s legislature debates Legislative Bill 39, which would clarify expectations of how drivers should pass bicycles, repeal the mandatory sidepath law, and give cyclists the right of way to cyclists in a crosswalk.

The DC Council keeps pushing on a bill to expand cyclists’ ability to collect compensation after a crash, even if the crash was more than zero percent their fault.

Caltrain announces that three out of six cars on Bombardier trains will accommodate bikes .

PROGRAMMING PROMENADE

Santa Cruz cyclists “light up the night” with costumes, bike flair, and a bike light giveaway.

Iowa holds handbuilt bike expo in honor of legendary builder Tom Teesdale, who died on the RAGBRAI last year.

Portland embraces the inherent crappiness of winter biking with the Worst Day of the Year ride.

GET A JOB

Bike Easy is hiring a new executive director.

The San Francisco Bike Coalition is seeking candidates to become their new communications director.

The Cascade Bicycle Club is hiring an events and sponsorship coordinator.

Transportation Alternatives needs an IT systems coordinator.

Cycle Toronto is hiring a communications and outreach coordinator.

Bike Miami Valley is looking for a business development manager.

The Pittsburgh Downtown Partnership is seeking candidates for planning director -- a new position.

The Living Streets Alliance is looking for parking valet supervisors.

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

Biking RAGBRAI this year? Better come up with your team name. And it better be at least as good as “Butt Ice.” Try the RAGBRAI team name generator!