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A Big Week in State Capitols
From South Carolina to California, from Connecticut to Oregon, it was a big week for bike-ped advocates mobilizing to support or stall bills in their state legislatures. With millions of dollars in funding and significant safety improvements on the line, organizations went to their online arsenals, using action alert emails and memes on social media to engage their constituents — and show state leaders the widespread support for more livable communities.
When it's crunch time in your city or state, do you have a digital strategy in place? Have you created a ladder of engagement that both listens and speaks to the diverse stakeholders in your community, and recognizes the new ways folks are engaging in social movements? Be proactive in your advocacy and attend the Alliance's National Training — Organizing, Leadership and Digital Strategy for a Stronger Movement — so you're building momentum and cultivating a broad constituency that will help you choose your battles and carry you to victory.
Register by June 12 to take advantage of early bird rates and click here to read more about our facilitators from Fission Strategy (below).
Infrastructure Inlet
The Washington Area Bicyclist Association won a five-year battle with illegal U-turns on Pennsylvania Avenue with the Department of Transportation beginning installation of protective rubber parking curbs
The Virginia Bicycling Association applauded Fairfax County's plan to add 35 miles in bike improvements to help build out its future 1,130-mile bike network.
This morning, the Des Moines Bicycle Collective celebrated the expansion of the city's bike sharing system — with Iowa Governor Terry Branstad.
Bike Newport commended the city's plan to install 160 new sharrows.
Walk/Bike Nashville backed a city proposal to spend a record-setting $25 million on sidewalk improvements over the next year.
NapaBike weighed in on the city's draft parking plan, noting that, with 4,600 car parking spaces and only 43 bikes racks, #WeCanDoBetter.
The Bicycle Coalition of Greater Philadelphia welcomed news from the city's streets department that 14 miles of new bike lanes will be installed, including more than three miles of innovative bike infrastructure (map below).
Advocacy Avenue
Emily Yetman, executive director of the Living Streets Alliance in Tucson, Ariz., shared how, win or lose, a ballot measure campaign can be a big boost for a bike/ped organization.
The Alliance's Naomi Doerner reflected on questions prompted by the latest report from Advocacy Advance: "Active Transportation Equity: A Scan of Existing Master Plans."
Bike Denver celebrated the lifting of a bicycle ban on the city's 16th Street transit mall on both Saturdays and Sundays.
Bicycle Indiana used Bike to Work Day as an opportunity to promote its SHIFT pledge — and highlight its innovative online storybook.
The Cascade Bicycle Club released endorsements for Seattle City Council and five others across the region.
After a local Bike Walk Summit showcased the need for more data on the economic impact of bicycling, the Shenandoah Valley Bicycle Coalition kicked off a public survey to gather information on how bikes boost business.
The Washington Area Bicyclist Association commended the DC Taxicab Commission's use of "Look for Cyclists" stickers to reduce the risk of dooring for local riders.
Bike Cleveland helped rally a huge turnout at a community meeting that clearly demonstrated opposition to a proposed widening of Pearl Road and the desire to "study a narrower configuration that will calm traffic, make it more bicycle and pedestrian friendly, and serve the people who live and work in the community" (below).
Legislation Lane
The Palmetto Cycling Coalition got a big victory with the passage of a state Bicycle and Pedestrian Safety bill in its House of Representative that, among other provisions, institutes more appropriate penalties for killing or injuring a vulnerable road user.
Bike Walk Connecticut also marked a major win with the passage of a state Bike Bill that, among other provisions, remedies Connecticut’s outdated laws that conflict with best practices for modern, safe bikeway design and active transportation.
The Bicycle Transportation Alliance, along with Oregon Walks, secured introduction of a bill that would establish a state taskforce on Vision Zero.
The California Bicycle Coalition is mobilizing its members to support a $25 million increase to the state's Active Transportation Program.
The New Jersey Bike + Walk Coalition targeted an intractable state legislator in ramping up its push for a safe-passing law.
The Bicycle Alliance of Minnesota recapped a state legislative session that included the retention of Safe Routes to School funding and a transportation bill that "will allow more local control and flexibility especially related to driving and parking lane width and making room to add bike lanes."
Iowa Governor Terry Branstad proclaimed May 20 Ride of Silence Day in the Hawkeye State.
The Wisconsin Bike Fed geared up to fight a last-minute bill that would institute a new state tax on bikes.
And the League of Michigan Bicyclists, along with partner organizations, celebrated a successful state bike advocacy day.
Programming Promenade
The Minneapolis Bicycle Coalition convened its monthly Diversity and Equity Committee and came up with specific ways to address the "unbearable whiteness of bike advocacy" in its community.
Wyoming Pathways announced the theme and speakers for its 2015 Bike-Walk-Trails Summit.
Bike Walk Mississippi encouraged state residents to show their support for sharing the road on Wear Yellow Day.
The Active Transportation Alliance in Chicago shared a new video on the Playstreets program, which closes streets to cars and opens them to healthy outdoor activities.
More than 330 Ride of Silence events took place nationwide to honor bicyclists who have been killed on U.S. streets, including six rides in the state of Maryland (below).
Comings and Goings
The New York Bicycling Coalition hired a new Executive Director: Lori Torgersen.
The NOLA Defender published an in-depth interview with new Bike Easy ED, Dan Favre.
Get a Job
The Alliance is seeking an Executive Director; please share with your networks!
The City of Atlanta is seeking a Chief Bicycle Officer.
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
It's confirmed: Closing streets to cars won't trigger the end of the world.
