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Your Friday t(w)o do list:
- 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.
- Make that money! Sign up for our next Distance Learning Webinar on "Earned Income Strategies for Biking and Walking Organizations" coming up on May 20.
So Much Bike Love
It's the first day of May, a month of endless activities celebrating and promoting the many joys and benefits of bicycling. Today in Harrisonburg, Va., riders will partake in a costumed parade, while Greensboro, NC, celebrates its first-ever Open Streets event. Later this month, there will be a Bike Pie Jousting Tournament in Rhode Island, a CycleMAYnia talent show in Santa Barbara, a Soul Bike Ride in Dorchester, a Bicycle Second Line in New Orleans, a Bike Prom in Salt Lake City, Bike to Eat Week in Austin, a tour of public murals in Houston and literally hundreds — nay, thousands! — of additional events in communities nationwide. As bicycle advocates, May is prime time for promotion and education, and, in the name of raising awareness, we'll do just about anything — even ride into a Great Lake wearing a superhero cape. Keep us posted on your events by tweeting @BikeWalk or emailing This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .
Jared Kolb, executive director of Cycle Toronto, riding into Lake Ontario last night
Infrastructure Inlet
Advocates in Philadelphia were among the hundreds of local residents and officials -- including Mayor Michael Nutter — who helped launch the Indego bike sharing system by riding half of the 600 bikes to 60 stations around the city (video below).
The Living Streets Alliance was joined by Tucson Mayor Jonathan Rothschild in christening the city's first curb-separated bike lane.
The San Francisco Bicycle Coalition applauded the city's commitment to make improvements to 24 miles of bike lanes in 2015.
Bike Walk Knoxville celebrated the inclusion of $1 million for bike infrastructure, $3 million for sidewalks / crosswalks and $1 million for greenway corridors in the city's 2015-2016 budget.
MassBike highlighted the completion of two new multi-use trails in Lexington.
And Bike Delaware applauded the state DOT's move to integrate "Level of Traffic Stress" into its planning processes as a key step in achieving a "bikeways network that everyone can use."
Programming Promenade
City leaders in Highland Park, a suburb of Chicago, unanimously accepted an agreement to become the first Family-Friendly Bikeways community, a new designation created by the Active Transportation Alliance.
The League of Illinois Bicyclists reported in its just-released Spring 2015 newsletter that its BikeSafetyQuiz.com, an interactive online teaching resource, has reached more than 20,000 adults and children throughout the state in less than two years.
The Bicycle Coalition of Maine once again raised significant funding at one of its signature events, with more than 2,000 people attending its annual Bike Swap.
Bike East Bay is going all out for Bike Month this year, partnering with groups like Rich City Rides for a Cinco de Mayo ride, interfaith clergy for a Blessing of the Bikes and East Bay Housing Organizations for a tour of affordable housing.
And San Luis Obispo County Bicycle Coalition is working with law enforcement for Light Up SLO County, an effort that will allow patrol officers to give away free bike lights to riders without legally required illumination (image below).
Advocacy Avenue
Following the release of the city's draft Protected Bikeways Plan, the Minneapolis Bicycle Coalition has started an online petition and campaign to rally public support for that plan to be implemented.
More than 1,400 Chicagoans from 43 different wards took up a call to action from the Active Transportation Alliance to save the Kinzie protected bike lane (image below).
The Bicycle Coalition of Greater Philadelphia announced it will be launching IBikePHL.org, a photography blog to showcase the diversity of Philadelphia’s growing bicycling community.
The Bicycle Coalition of Maine's Board of Directors formally adopted a change to the organization’s mission to include supporting walking and pedestrian issues, as well.
The New Jersey Bike + Walk Coalition is calling on officials in Monmouth County to live up to their Complete Streets policy, reconsider 12-foot travel lanes and include bicycle accomodations in upcoming repaving projects.
Local Motion in Vermont was deeply saddened by the tragic death of two bicyclists in as many weeks, and is working with local partners to amplify its Safe Streets Project.
Legislation Lane
In New York City, Transportation Alternatives and Families for Safe Streets launched a multimedia campaign calling on the City Council to defend the Right of Way Law and ensure that bus drivers are NOT exempt from the lifesaving Vision Zero law (image below).
In addition to asking lawmakers to increase the Active Transportation Program by $100 million, the California Bicycle Coalition highlighted the benefits of electric bikes at its annual Advocacy Day at the state capitol in Sacramento.
Bicycle Colorado rallied its members to save the state's Safe Routes to School program.
Bike Walk Connecticut mobilized to urge members of the state Finance Committee to support "the Governor's proposals to develop and fund a first-rate active transportation network of bike lanes, greenways, multiuse paths, and pedestrian infrastructure in Connecticut."
BikeDFW partnered with the Plano Bicycle Association to circulate and publish the results of a Cycling Questionnaire for Plano City Council candidates.
Comings and Goings
Shane Farthing announced that, after five great years, he's stepping down as the Executive Director of the Washington Area Bicyclist Association at the end of June.
Get a Job
The Community Cycling Center in Portland, OR is seeking a Director of Finance and Administration, as well as an Event Coordinator.
The San Diego County Bicycle Coalition is seeking a Membership and Marketing Coordinator.
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
And just in case you were wondering...
