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Your Friday t(w)o do list:
- Congratulations to our finalists in the Xtracycle cargo bike contest: BikeHouston, Bike Fed of Wisconsin, Bike Walk Montana, Community Cycles and Local Motion. See how they've use an Edgerunner in their advocacy and cast your vote for the winner here!
- Sign up now to get the early-bird rate on our National Training — Organizing, Leadership, and Digital Strategy for a Stronger Movement — July 29-31 in Milwaukee.
TAKE ACTION
Last week, Senator Jim Inhofe (R-OK) and Senator Barbara Boxer (D-CA) said they are "nearly done" drafting the federal transportation bill. According to the League of American Bicyclists, this is our BEST chance to get the Transportation Alternatives Program we want in the bill. Please ask your Senators to co-sponsor the Transportation Alternatives Program Improvement Act. Adding their name to the bill will tell Chairman Inhofe and Ranking Member Boxer know there is broad support for a robust program to fund bike lanes, trails, sidewalks and bike share. Learn more and take action here.
INFRASTRUCTURE INLET
The San Francisco Bicycle Coalition heralded 2015 as The Year of the Protected Bike Lane.
The Los Angeles County Bicycle Coalition will be ribbon-cutting in Malibu next week as the city christens its first-ever bike lane.
Bike / Walk Nashville is singing the praises of a new multi-use path in an industrial corridor that serves as a gateway from Nashville's downtown core to over 2,000 acres of nearly contiguous open space and developed parks.
BikeWalkKC spread the news about the first buffered bike lane in Kansas City, Mo.
Thanks in part to the organizing efforts of Bike Houston, bicycle facilities will be included in the rebuilding of the city's West Alabama Street.
Los Angeles Walks called for a strategic and equitable process to rebuild and rehab more than 10,000 miles of sidewalks after the city settled a lawsuit that includes the largest disability payout in the country: More than $1 billion in funds to fix and improve sidewalks throughout the city.
Bike Austin started a petition to support bike lanes in Northwest Austin.
Bike Walk Connecticut helped to pack the house for a Bikeway Design Workshop led by Portland's Roger Geller.
And the Minneapolis Bicycle Coalition welcomed the prospect of 48 miles of new green lanes in the city's draft Protected Bikeways Plan (below).
BIG PICTURE BOULEVARD
The Atlanta Bicycle Coalition provided insight for a National Journal article about the Atlanta Beltline trail — and how it's "stitching the city together" after a legacy of infrastructure projects that have too often divided the city by race and class.With the latest round of awards from the League of American Bicyclists, advocates like Washington Bikes commended new Bicycle Friendly Businesses in their cities and states.
The Bicycle Alliance of Minnesota is pumped up about the news that their work — and that of their partners in the health sector — is helping to bend the curve on obesity rates at a faster rate than their neighboring states in the Midwest.
ADVOCACY AVENUE
The California Bicycle Coalition applauded Caltrans' new strategic objective to triple the bicycling mode share statewide by 2020 — which sounded awfully familiar, since that's also a goal of CalBike's latest stategic plan.
Amid calls to rescind the city's Platinum Bicycle Friendly Community status from the League of American Bicyclists, the Bicycle Transportation Alliance shared five ideas for immediate action to improve bicycling in Portland.
Livable Streets Alliance in Boston called attention to a new study that found that drivers are more likely to ignore people attempting to cross at crosswalks when driving at speeds above 30 mph. ("Sounds like another great reason to design streets for 20-25 mph or less!")
The push for Vision Zero, led by advocates at Walk SF and the San Francisco Bicycle Coalition, got stronger in San Francisco with a public pledge of support from Board of Education Commissioner, Sandra Lee Fewer, on Bike & Roll to School Day.
Backed by more than 220 signatures on a petition for Safer Streets, the Bicycle Coalition of Greater Philadelphia pushed for increased funding for the city's Streets Department to ensure it has the resources to fill pot holes, repave streets and paint new bike lanes at an adequate pace.
Following a mobilization from the Washington Area Bicyclist Association, bicycle and pedestrian funding was saved in the Arlington County, Va., budget.
And, in partnership with the Suitland Civic Association, Dupont Village Neighborhood Watch, and Black Women Bike DC, WABA hosted a "road walk" to help neighbors and commuters envision a "Safer Suitland Road" (below).
LEGISLATION LANE
After two years of hard work on the Pedestrian Safety and Comfort Bond, Living Streets Alliance in Tucson cheered the approval of the measure for the November ballot, which could mean $12 million for pedestrian improvement projects.
With municipal funding discussions on the horizon, the Bicycle Transportation Alliance is rallying its members and supporters to tell "Metro Councilors to dedicate funding for safe routes to school for every kid in the Metro-area."
The League of Michigan Bicyclists came out in support of the state's Prop 1, which would create $1.3 billion in constitutionally guaranteed funding to make critical safety repairs to Michigan roads and bridges, as well as support Complete Streets implementation through increased non-motorized transportation funding.
The Washington Bikes smiled for the camera as Governor Jay Inslee signed the Dead Red bill into law, which will mitigate the frustration of cyclists stuck at a broken red light (below).
Marking the launch of the city's new Indego bike share system, the Bicycle Coalition of Greater Philadelphia benefitted from a unique partnership with Nutcase and Uber that got helmets in the hands of riders — and provided a donation to the advocacy group, too.
To boost participation in its Commuter Challenge, the Bicycle Transportation Alliance is teaming up with other workplaces for a Portland Employers Bike Summit on May 15.
Inspired by conversation at its Women & Biking Forum, Bike PGH is kicking off a monthly rotating coffee for women and trans identified people who bike or are interested in biking to get together to plan events, discuss topics of interest, and further engage in the bicycling community.
Leading up to its Bike to Work Day in late June, Bike Denver is announced a month of Bike to Work Wednesdays, incentivizing folks to "conquer their commute" on two wheels.
The Bicycle Coalition of Maine is gearing up for the latest training in its Community Spokes Program, an effort to create a statewide network of bicycle and pedestrian advocates at the local level.
Bike Chattanooga pedaled and Lululemon yogis struck a pose on the city's famous pedestrian bridge, creating a beautiful scene (and video) celebrating Chattanooga's Scenic Streets event.
And the amazing work of the Tulsa Hub was featured in a PBS digital short.
GET A JOB
The Los Angeles County Bicycle Coalition is seeking a Membership Manager and a Volunteer and Education Coordinator.
The Alliance is looking for a research intern.
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
In the wake of the discussion around Volvo's Life Paint, Bikeyface came up with her own brilliant product...
