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Honoring MLK, Exploring Equity

In this edition of Roundup, Chicago advocates honor and elevate the legacy of Martin Luther King Jr.; Minneapolis bicyclists consider what equity means for their work; San Francisco grapples with an unsettling interaction between cop and cyclist; leaders of color weigh in on enforcement and Vision Zero; Bike Pittsburgh celebrates gender equity in its staff; and so much more!

Advocacy Avenue

Bike Easy in New Orleans kicked off its Clairborne Corridor Ambassadors program, hosting the first training that will equip community members to identify and execute campaigns for safer streets in areas of higher poverty.

Walk San Francisco explored the balancing act between budgets and street safety, emphasizing that "throwing money at a problem won't fix it" and thus "Vision Zero funds should be focused on the precise points where they can make the most difference."

Following the release of its strategic goal to double bicycling in the city by 2020, the Minneapolis Bicycle Coalition shared the results of an independent study on the impact of that mode share shift, which found "the total health, environmental and transportation-related economic benefits would amount to approximately $63.5 million per year."

Bike Pittsburgh celebrated the results of a local transportation survey that found an exciting 8.6% of local commuters travel by bike and another 9.3% commute by foot.

The Santa Barbara Bicycle Coalition cheered "there’s something magical about seeing civic engagement work," when a joint committee agreed to tell city staff to put back — and extend — a major route to the Bike Master Plan.

Thanks to a mobilization from the Savannah Bicycle Campaign, the City is putting the brakes on a proposed ordinance that would have prohibited people 12 and older from riding bikes anywhere in the popular Forsyth Park.

Bike Delaware shared the grief of Johanna Bishop, whose son was killed while riding his bike by a motorist who was just sentenced to eight years in prison.

Bicycle Colorado shared its vision to get to 13% bicycle mode share by 2030.

A study by Alta Planning + Design showed big returns on a doubling of bicycle mode share

Equity Intersection

Dangerously cold temperatures put the ride on hold, but Slow Roll Chicago brought bicyclists and partners together on Martin Luther King Jr Day to "celebrate King’s legacy and reflect on what that means to the Slow Roll Chicago movement and the greater community."

The Bicycle Transportation Alliance spread the word about the "Transportation & Equity in Portland Region Online Survey," which not only seeks input on streetscale projects but also looks for feedback from "communities around the region grapple with housing affordability challenges."

Bike Pittsburgh shared the story behind the creation of the Public Allies Care Packs by Bike Program , which aims to Pittsburgh’s homeless population.

The Minneapolis Bicycle Coalition tapped into a recent piece by Dr. Adonia Lugo to explore with some of its key leaders and stakeholders what equity can and must mean for the local and national bike movement.

The San Francisco Bicycle Coalition shared their concerns about an unsettling interaction between a cop and a cyclist, saying "Allegations made this week by Donovan Reid raise serious questions about police using excessive force against someone biking."

Tamika Butler of the Los Angeles County Bicycle Coalition, Keith Benjamin from the Safe Routes to School National Partnership and the Alliance's Naomi Doerner shared insights on the intersection of police reform and Vision Zero on the latest episode of the "Why Isn't Anyone Talking About This" podcast.

Cycles for Change released a call for proposals for the 2016 Youth Bike Summit to be held in Minneapolis this May. Submit your proposals here!

Slow Roll Chicago celebrated the legacy of MLK

Infrastructure Inlet

Georgia Bikes! expressed its concerns about the state's newly released 10-year plan for transportation projects: "With nary a mention of 'active transportation' or 'alternative modes,' much less 'bicycling' by name, our new statewide transportation plan is not moving the needle on urban traffic congestion relief or vulnerable road user safety."

The Boston Cyclists Union thanked its members and supporters for weighing in with local officials — and winning changes to make biking safer on the Longfellow Bridge. 

Bike Walk Connecticut called on the Governor to include $7 million in funding for the Recreational Trails Program in an upcoming Bond Commission meeting, suggesting that "multi-use trails should no longer be considered as 'nice to have' amenities."

Meanwhile, the Iowa Bicycle Coalition congratulated the state on approving $1.3 million in funding for six Recreational Trails Program projects.

Thanks to the state's longest budget impasse, the Bicycle Coalition of Greater Philadelphia called attention to delays in the completion of bike facilities, pointing out that "although 14 miles of new or refurbished bike lanes were planned in spring 2015, we ended the year with fewer than planned." The group also released a new online Bike Lane Toolkit that allows folks to share their support for bike projects in their neighborhoods with their council members directly.

The Washington Area Bicyclist Association applauded plans from Montgomery County, MD, to "become a national leader in low stress bike networks."

The Savannah Bicycle Campaign cheered the recommendation of a state commission to create a 450-mile system of trails in coastal Georgia.

 

Legislative Lane

The Bicycle Alliance of Minnesota is pushing the state legislature to lower city speed limits from 30 to 25 miles per hour.

The San Francisco Bicycle Coalition was disappointed by the Mayor vetoing the highly publicized Bike Yield Law, which would "support safer streets and hold the SF Police Department’s leadership to their promises for smarter enforcement."

In partnership with organizations like the American Heart Association and California Walks, the California Bicycle Coalition came out in opposition to the Governor's state spending plan, noting: "The proposed budget would invest $16.2 billion in transportation dollars for programs that focus primarily on repaving and expanding roads versus moving people and advancing equity – even proposing to use money designated to fight climate change to do so."

The New Jersey Bike + Walk Coalition lamented the Governor failing to sign a law that would have created a Pedestrian and Bicycle Advisory Committee for the state.

The Rhode Island Bicycle Coalition applauded the introduction of a distracted driving bill that has the support of AAA Northeast and the RI State Police.

Bike Walk NC expressed its dismay with the state DOT's final report on the H232 Bicycle Safety Law Study, citing concerns that the report "makes recommendations to restrict bicyclists’ use of our roadways that are counter to the votes of the study committee."

Up north, Local Motion in Vermont is mobilizing its members and supporters to voice their support for Burlington's first-ever "Walk-Bike Master Plan."

And, down south, Bike Houston is also galvanizing public engagement for the upcoming release of the city's Bike Plan.

Minnesota advocates are pushing to lower speed limits

Programming Promenade

California Walks announced its new encouragement campaign, Walk San Jose, "a series of community-identified walking loops across the city, each focused on a different neighborhood and its people, history, architecture, public art, natural resources, and more–the possibilities are truly endless."

HUB in Vancouver released a new campaign aimed at increasing local riders' Bike IQ.

The Wisconsin Bike Fed announced its Fed Up With Winter event, which will bring together riders to pedal together indoors during the peak of frigid temperatures.

Also keeping member engaged during the down season, the Minneapolis Bicycle Coalition debuted the first of its Winter Advocacy Skills Share Series.

The Iowa Bicycle Coalition held a "Guess the Route" Contest in advance of the 2016 RAGBRAI Announcement Party.

The Virginia Bicycling Federation congratulated the Shenandoah Valley Bicycle Coalition and the Harrisonburg-Rockingham Metropolitan Planning Organization on a very successful Bike Summit.

BikeTexas continued to promote its new "Lunch with BikeTexas" program, engaging members and supporters in its weekday livestream on Periscope.

The Green Mobility Network is partnering to provide bike valet at the upcoming Miami Marathon Expo.

GO Bike Buffalo marked nearly 250 youth served by their build-and-ride-a-bike program.

Comings and Goings

Welcome to new Alliance member organization, Trails and Open Space Coalition!

Bicycle Colorado introduced its new Active Transportation Manager, Rachel Hultin.

Bike Pittsburgh celebrated the fact that they're now a majority-female staff!

Jobs

Bike Newport is seeking a Development Director.

PeopleForBikes is seeking a Director of Local Innovation.

Queen City Bike is seeking an Executive Director.

BikeHouston is seeking an Executive Director and Community Relations Manager.

Old Spokes Home & Bike Recycle Vermont is seeking a General Manager.

WalkSacramento is seeking an Executive Director.

The Boston Cyclists Union is seeking an Executive Director.

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

The founders of Slow Roll Chicago were featured in a powerful CNN story: "Restoring MLK's Dream, street by street"