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"Sometimes 3 really equals 5"

From right-sizing roads in Colorado to narrowing lanes in California, from the passage of Complete Streets policies in Connecticut to local engineers getting out on bikes in Ohio and Georgia, this week's Roundup is proof that advocates are playing a huge role in changing the discourse on how we configure our streets.

Yep, it's wonky, but numbers matter and, we've got all you bike-ped nerds covered with a Vision Zero report card from New York City, insight on the problematic sizing of speedhumps in Milwaukee, a new multi-modal comprehensive transportation plan for Los Angeles... and more.

Another number that matters: 8/7/15. Today is the final day to apply for scholarships to the 2015 National Open Streets Summit. Not sold on attendance? Read "5 Key Trends in Open Streets" from Mike Lydon, a co-organizer of the Summit and prinicpal at The Street Plans Collaborative.

Equity Intersection

Members of Andando en Bicicletas en Cully (ABC), a racially diverse group of residents from a neighborhood in Northeast Portland (initiated and supported by The Community Cycling Center) debuted the results of a “PhotoVoice Project” that called attention to poor street conditions in the low-income area. "This project is important to get roads repaired and make it safer for families to bike and walk," said Wendy Yah Canul, a member of ABC. According to CCC, 36% of streets in Cully are considered sub-standard and unsafe compared to 19% of streets citywide.

Also in Portland, the Bicycle Transportation Alliance celebrated its 25th anniversary with the announcement of a new women's initiative.

The East Coast Greenway Alliance shared thoughts from the road as a team of students from Georgia and North Carolina completed a two-week bicycle ride along the Gullah Geechee Cultural Heritage Corridor, celebrating the region’s culture and supporting the economy of its South-Atlantic coastal residents.

Eight students from the Cadence Youth Cycling program at the Bicycle Coalition of Greater Philadelphia attended Lobby Day at City Hall to advocate for better bicycling policies. “I wanted them to come back and understand that their voice is important,” said Cy Maramangalam, Cadence Program Manager. “And I wanted them to know what can be done – even as a teenager – that they can take steps forward to make change on the issues that they care about.”

And Washington Bikes highlighted the rise of Kidical Mass in Washington state.

PhotoVoice Project conducted by Andando en Bicicletas en Cully in Northeast Portland

Advocacy Avenue

Transportation Alternatives in New York City published a "Class of Vision Zero: Mid-Year Report Card" that gave high marks to the mayor, city council and department of transportation, but barely passing grades to NYPD, the state legislature and department of motor vehicles.

The Los Angeles County Bicycle Coalition celebrated a "huge victory" with the passage of Mobility Plan 2035, the first comprehensive update to the city’s transportation policies since 1999 — a plan LACBC called "right for Los Angeles and right for our multimodal future."

In the run-up to the municipal election this week, Walk Bike Nashville published the results of a Walking and Biking Questionnaire distributed to all mayoral candidates.

In the wake of the widely publicized "Wiggle Stop In," the San Francisco Bicycle Coalition continued its fight against a police crackdown on bicyclists, gathering more than 700 signatures on a petition to shift resources back to more pressing aspects of the city's Vision Zero efforts.

The Santa Barbara Bicycle Coalition recapped progress on the city's Bicycle Master Plan, including concerns that "while survey results show respondents overwhelmingly asked for buffered and protected bikeways wherever feasible, very few of these types of bikeways are even under consideration in the current plan."

The Active Transportation Alliance applauded a pilot program to allow bikes on the Northern Indiana Commuter Transportation District trains in 2016 — a major victory considering the line received the organization's satirical "Broken Spoke Award" just a few months ago for being the least bike-friendly commuter train line in the nation.

In line with its Unblock Bike Lanes campaign, the Bicycle Coalition of Greater Philadelphia raised its voice against road construction blockages of bike lanes, which have resulted in serious injuries.

Class of Vision Zero: Mid-Year Report Card from Transportation Alternatives in New York City

Infrastructure Inlet

In unveiling its capital campaign to create a new Cascade Bicycling Center, the Cascade Bicycle Club shared its plans to "turn [an] alley into an activated learning space, [where] new cyclists of all ages can learn how to ride in a safe, car-free environment."

In response to road right-sizing projects in their state, Bicycle Colorado explained how, in traffic engineering, "sometimes 3 really equals 5."

In California, Bike East Bay made "The Case for Narrow Lanes," highlighting evidence that wide lanes encourage motorists to drive faster and make complete streets implementation more difficult.

The Wisconsin Bike Fed drew meaning from tragedy, illustrating the hazards of improperly installed speed humps that likely contributed to the death of a beloved supporter.

Bike Walk Connecticut celebrated construction beginning on the state's first road diet — along a stretch in East Hartford that has seen 35 bicyclist and pedestrian crashes since 2009.

Bike Delaware participated in two "Better Block" events that temporarily transformed streets in Wilmington and Laurel.

The Santa Barbara Bicycle Coalition cheered the opening of a new bicycle roundabout on the campus of the University of California Santa Barbara.

Given a series of incidents of crime on the Metropolitan Branch Trail, the Washington Area Bicyclist Association won agreement from transportation and law enforcement officials to "install mile markers throughout the trail backed by changes to the 911 computer dispatch system to ensure a timely and direct law enforcement response to 911 calls."

The vision for an alley outside the new Cascade Bicycilng Center in Seattle

Legislation Lane

After an expertly executed, highly visible campaign by Washington Bikes, Governor Jay Inslee announced he would preserve historic funding for biking and Safe Routes to School.

Bike Pittsburgh mobilized its members against a wrong-headed "Bicycle Fashion Bill" in the state legislature that would require "Any person operating a pedalcycle between sunset and sunrise shall wear high-visibility safety apparel, which may include a vest, jacket or shirt, that is retroreflective."

BikeHouston continued its push for Vision Zero by initiating a "group of stakeholders that we hope can become the Vision Zero Task Force and be formally empowered by the Mayor to take action."

Bike Walk Connecticut applauded West Hartford for its adoption of a strong Complete Streets policy.

BikeSD publicly thanked one of its councilmembers for reversing her opposition to a key bike lane project — and mobilized its members to add their gratitude with a quick online form.

GObike Buffalo rallied it's supporters to tell New York Governor Andrew Cuomo to "support the 30 mile-per-hour speed limit on the Scajaquada Expressway in Buffalo."

Staff of Washington Bikes with Governor Jay Inslee (suit)

Programming Promenade

Yay! Bikes in Columbus, OH, celebrated a successful program to educate design and transportation professionals on cycling infrastructure by leading them on small group rides throughout the city.

Putting another exclamation point on professional education, Georgia Bikes! recapped a series of workshops on best practices in bicycle and pedestrian facility design in four cities, funded by the Federal Highway Administration’s “Accelerating Safety Activities Program.”

Bike Pittsburgh announced a partnership with Healthy Ride that allows participants in the organization's City Cycling Classes to use one of the bike share bikes at no cost.

Bike Cleveland shared it's excitement at playing a key role in the development of the school district's comprehensive Safe Routes to School travel plan, including "hosting bike audits of roads and neighborhoods, and working with city planners and officials to improve conditions along “priority corridors” that benefit as many children as possible."

BikeWalkLee applauded the work of the Sanibel Bicycle Club in winning a partnership with Blue Ash Media Group, one of the state's premier digital media advertising firms, to place bike safety messages in dozens of locations near the community's heavily traveled shared use path.

No bike? No problem! Free bike share use for BikePGH City Cycling Classes!

Comings and Goings

Michael Payne, the Executive Director of BikeHouston, joined the board of the Safe Routes to School National Partnership.

The Bicycle Collective announced the hiring of Sharah Yaddaw as the director of its Salt Lake City location.  

Bike Austin announced the hiring of a Community Relations Manager: Becky Moriarty.

Sharah Yaddaw, new director of the Bicycle Collective Salt Lake City location

Jobs

WalkSacramento is seeking an Executive Director.

The Boston Cyclists Unions is seeking an Executive Director.

BikeWalkKC is looking for part-time Youth Instructors.

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.

The Master Plan: Readings from beyond the streetscape

Over the past several months, we were privileged to work with Hemly Ordonez, Vice President of Digital Strategy and Mobilization at Fission Strategy, who co-facilitated our National Training in Milwaukee last week. Here's some of what she's reading this week. Follow her @HemlyMO on Twitter.

Beyonce is being asked on social media to defend LGBT rights in her hometown of Houston #BeyBeAHero

"Visions from the Inside" Taps 15 Artists To Illustrate The Letters of Detained Migrants

Millennials are the Best Educated and Worst Paid Generation

Facebook is testing an online marketplace in Sydney and Auckland

Dr. Dre is donating new album royalties to fund arts center in Compton

Trauma Stewardship: An Everyday Guide to Caring for Self While Caring for Others

Image by Zeke Pena from "Voices from the Inside" project