Jody Bikes

Support the Bicycle and Pedestrian Safety Act

Bicycle Safety Act would redirect funding

Thursday November 21, 2013 5:29 AM

I respond to the Friday Dispatch article “More Ohioans die on road in 2012.” Ohio’s rate of crashes is so high, it has even raised the national statistics, which means we are lagging other states in taking action to address safety on our roadways.

As part of this phenomenon, we are seeing a dramatic increase in the number of men and women killed while bicycling or walking on our roadways each year. We know that young people want to live in communities which embrace safe, active transportation. Ohio needs to do more.

People who bike and walk make up 16 percent of roadway fatalities, and yet less than 1 percent of safety funding is directed to infrastructure that would protect those biking and walking. A coalition of bipartisan House lawmakers has introduced the Bicycle and Pedestrian Safety Act, which will require the U.S. Department of Transportation to set specific safety targets for all roadway users — not just motorists, but pedestrians and bicyclists, too.

The legislation would give the U.S. Department of Transportation the flexibility to determine the best method to meet these safety measures, and call on our leaders to reduce the number of people who are killed or injured on our streets every year.

This bill says clearly that the lives of all roadway users are important, and creates accountability toward preventing needless deaths. Without it, people who bike and walk will remain in the blind spot of our transportation system.

Please contact your congressional representative along with Sens. Rob Portman and Sherrod Brown to ask them to vote for this straightforward, bipartisan bill, the Bicycle and Pedestrian Safety Act.

JODY DZURANIN

Operations manager

Consider Biking

Columbus

http://www.dispatch.com/content/stories/editorials/2013/11/21/1-bicycle-safety-act-would-redirect-funding.html

 

Ride Local - Think Global

The National Bike Challenge is back for 2013 and a month longer this year. It starts May 1 and goes until September 30 this year.

Consider Biking will be hosting the Greater Columbus contest as well as supporting in other parts of the state.    No matter where you live, when you sign up, you will be grouped in the correct challenge for your geographic area.  

You can sign up today and starting gathering points during the warm-up period.  Then May 1 all points reset to zero for the Challenge Period. 

Make sure to get the mobile application for Endomondo, it makes ride logging very easy.

Sign up now and invite your colleagues. It's free and fun!

The toolkit has a sample email to invite others to ride on your team.

Challenge Toolkit for Organizations

Points Awarded: 

You get points for:

• Biking - Transport (commuting, errands, bike to an event)
• Biking - Sport (rides for recreation, training or exercise)
• Mountain Biking 

It’s time for the Ohio Bike Challenge (http://bit.ly/ohiobc)!

 

The Ohio Bike Challenge is from May 1st to September 30th and gives you a great way to log miles, and ride on a virtual team.

 

Cleveland's Complete Streets Demo Project

 

HOME > POP UP CITY > POP UP ROCKWELL POP UP ROCKWELL a complete and green street experiment Pop Up Rockwell is a one-week experiment to test "complete & green street" improvements on downtown Cleveland's Rockwell Avenue (between W. Roadway and E. 6th Street), which took place during April 21-27, 2012. The week-long installation was the culmination of a five week graduate urban design studio involving the research, design, installation and evaluation of proposed street transformations. Pop Up Rockwell gives city officials, bicycling advocacy groups and members of the public an opportunity to experience and respond to a future vision of the city in three dimensions, in a real environment, before large financial and political commitments are made. The project builds on the Cleveland Urban Design Collaborative's (CUDC) expertise in temporary urbanism developed through Pop Up City, an initiative started by the CUDC in 2007. The project is led by graduate students at Kent State University's Cleveland Urban Design Collaborative, but involves partnership with several stakeholder groups representing advocacy organizations, non-profits, municipal government, federal agencies and local businesses. The installations built by CUDC graduate students included Cleveland’s first cycle track, stormwater bio-filtration benches, enhanced transit waiting areas and wind animated public art. Lessons learned from the short-term project may influence permanent changes on Rockwell Avenue and the temporary use model will hopefully become more widely used in other public engagement processes. A full project report including details on the installations, design process, lessons learned and additional temporary use resources can be downloaded here. The idea for Pop Up Rockwell emerged as a response to the desire of Clevelanders to see on-the-ground action in the typical lull between planning and final implementation. The project tackles design questions posed by two initiatives undertaken by the City of Cleveland, which will significantly impact the physical environment of the city: the Complete & Green Streets ordinance and the Group Plan Commission report. In 2011, Cleveland City Council passed the Complete & Green Streets ordinance requiring 20% of the money spent on road projects to cover the costs of amenities for bicyclists, pedestrians and persons with disabilities. The ordinance also necessitates considerations for energy efficiency and stormwater management in all projects. Cleveland's local bicyling community and environmental advocates are eager to see follow through on the language found in the legislation. The second initiative Pop Up Rockwell supports is the Group Plan Commission report, released in May 2011, which included a recommendation to transform Rockwell Avenue into "Cleveland's Green Street showpiece." Rockwell Avenue could serve as a connective spine between several key sites in the Group Plan report, including the Warehouse District, Burnham Mall and Public Square. The intention is that a physical, albeit non-permanent, example of a complete and green street may help grow public awareness of the Complete and Green Street ordinance and build political support for permanent implementation of the Group Plan Commission's recommendations. Download the Final Report! (30 MB PDF) Additional resources: Download the Midterm Review Presentation! Download the Pop Up Rockwell studio syllabus! Press: Introducing Cleveland to cycle tracks at next week's pop up block | GreenCityBlueLake Institute [April 12, 2012] Pop Up Rockwell will rock what's possible for Cleveland's downtown streets | Cleveland Plain Dealer [April 20, 2012] Kent State University urban planners mount bike-friendly event in heart of downtown Cleveland | The Associated Press [April 21, 2012] Cleveland street goes 'green' in urban experiment | WKYC-TV [April 25, 2012] The project is supported by the George Gund Foundation and Cuyahoga Arts & Culture, in partnership with GreenCityBlueLake Institute, Northeast Ohio Regional Sewer District, Downtown Cleveland Alliance, Bike Cleveland, The Bike Rack, City of Cleveland, Group Plan Commission and Cleveland Public Library.

READ MORE

 

Connecting the Dots

My experience at this year's  League of American Bicyclists  National Bike Summit in Washington DC  can best be described as a true life “connect the dots” puzzle. When you begin a dot-to-dot puzzle,  it is bunch of random data points, but as each dot is connected the “bigger picture” emerges.

In our case, the dots were the Senators and Congressional Representatives and the lines are formed with each visit by our 17 Ohio delegates. We prodded through the halls of 5 different buildings, visiting 20 offices while expressing our request, “please support bicycle and pedestrian funding because it creates vibrant communities and positive economic impact.” The layout of the offices is an illustration of the challenges of navigating the political process. We jumped through lots of hoops to “get in”. I personally removed my high-heeled shoes 5 times over the course of the day to get through the various metal detection systems. (Oh yes, the “price” of freedom.) Our delegation was geographically diverse and even the first timers were proactive in their research and stepped up to the challenge. We had representation from Dayton, Athens and 3 who covered the whole state. We had no constituents from the Cincinnati area, so that is a goal for next year.

My highpoint of the week was connecting the dots between the Columbus and Cleveland delegations. Last year there was only one delegate from the Cleveland area and technically, she had already moved to Portland, OR. So to have 5 engaged delegates from the NE Ohio region was a huge leap forward. We formed connections that will only grow stronger from here.

Our meetings ran the whole spectrum, we visited with some leaders who have been supportive in the past and we thanked them for their continued support. We also visited with leaders who were cold and distant and did not want to hear our message. However, they still gave us the cursory meeting and I have to believe at least a seed was planted. They know if they vote against bike-ped funding they are going to hear from “the bike pin people”. On a recent Outspoken Cyclist podcast, Rich Olken surmised that 1 phone call to congress is equivalent to 100 emails and 1 in person visit is like 100 phone calls. So think about the impact our 20 in person meetings had, the equivalent of 200,000 emails! Rich Olken started an informal Bike Lobby day, which has now evolved into today's Advocacy Day with over 800 participants from 49 states. As I write this, the House is scrambling to come up with a Transportation Bill which can get enough votes to pass. They have already pulled 2 off the floor which did not have enough votes. We will keep working toward transportation funding which recognizes that active transportation is part of America’s future - we can’t just move automobiles and expect to thrive as a Nation.

A difference of Opinion

I continue to be amazed by the so called bike advocates in this town who fight against bike accomodations like bike lanes and a bike share system.  It is no wonder the city is kind of slow in their implementation of bike stuff, they are gun shy.    This fall the city started installing bike shelters - nice covered bike rack areas and then suddenly some bike riders are crapping their pants that they cost too much!    The city has also installed many miles of sharrows and they can't catch a break -  half the people say sharrows suck and are not good enough - we MUST  have bike lanes.  The other half hate them because they believe it makes car drivers think that a bicyclist is ONLY allowed to ride on streets that have the bike markings.    

We are up for the bikes belong Green Lanes Project and I really hope they choose Columbus.  If any city could benefit from having some PROFESSIONAL and unbiased guidance - it is this place!   What a challenge we will be.  Part of the problem here is that you have hundreds of bike advocates with different ideas of what it is going to take to make the city better for bike riders.  I am pretty convinced that a handful of them have NO interest in getting more people out there to join them, they just want to make it better for the brave people that already ride.  They really don't want to deal with the mainstream people that would join the roads if it really was a more bike friendly city.  

 

Here is the video from the Green Lanes project.  Man oh Man I hope they pick us, then get ready for the hardest work ahead - getting this disparate group of passionate advocates to actualy start pedaling together in a constructive, productive direction.      

 

Columbus is largest city in the Midwest without downtown Bike Lanes!

In response to a Columbus Underground post "Report Says Columbus is Second Largest City with no Downtown Bike Lanes" the author of the post below took painstaking effort to clarify that Columbus is actually the 4 or 5th largest city without bike lanes.  He does have some good points in the post and touches on Connect the Core.  

It's just that his title puzzles me, is he questioning the journalist integrity of Columbus Underground or Consider Biking?  I guess either way the next step is to take it up with our respective editorial review boards. 

 

Biking Columbus

Journalistic Integrity

 

I often try to give the impression that I don't care about stuff, but honestly, I care a lot. I care that a reader can feel assured that he/she can state facts found on this blog and be able to quote this blog without making an ass of his/herself. Sure I

I will summarize my beef so that readers who are uninterested in bicycle gossip can live their lives. A press statement (discussed below) had some inaccuracies whilst reporting on the state of bicycling in Columbus. With that said, Columbus could be a lot more bike friendly which includes increasing bicycling infrastructure.

Recently, Consider Biking has been working on "Connect the Core" which aims to add bicycle lanes or bicycle tracks downtown. Within their summary, the cost for 12+ miles of bike lanes would cost ~$140,000, this is less than what we've been spending on the bike shelters. Although I'm iffy on bike lanes, that's a relatively good price and sometimes a city should just dive in. 

via bikingcolumbus.blogspot.com

 

Why are you honking at me?

Recently I was riding my cruiser bike on High St to the Whetstone Rec Center when an SUV came up behind me and honked.  When we both arrived at the Rec Center, I asked him why he was honking at me.    

The link is http://www.facebook.com/jodydz/posts/10150446119973920  

Here is the chat:

Bike-car confrontation. Biking to rec center, I got honked at. When I arrived, he was dropping his kids. I asked about the honk and he told me I should not be in the road.

Like ·  · Unfollow Post · Thursday at 2:54pm via mobile

•  
• Jessica Mathews likes this.
• • 

    David Hohmann Grrrrr.....

    Thursday at 2:55pm · Like
  • 

    Dave Watts Did you tell him @$$holes shouldn't have driver's licenses?

    Thursday at 2:56pm · Unlike ·  2
  • 

    Jody Dzuranin Should I give his kids a bike map which explains rules of the road?

    Thursday at 2:56pm · Like ·  6
  • 

    Jessica Mathews YESSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS

    Thursday at 2:57pm · Like
  • 

    David Roseman It was very brave of your confront the motorist. That's why I carry small supply of the laminated dual sided Consider Biking card with ORC code 4511 digest. Simply hand off, smile, & bike away. Or, if all else fails, file a police report for harrassment/road rage & illegal use of horn.

    Thursday at 3:05pm · Like ·  4
  • 

    Jody Dzuranin I just kept saying bikes are vehicles and being on the road. He said who's fault would it be if I hit you? I said "yours, and I am glad you didn't. You live in a bike friendly city, get used to seeing bikes! "

    Thursday at 3:16pm · Like ·  11
  • 

    Jody Dzuranin Being = belong

    Thursday at 3:17pm · Like ·  1
  • 

    Shari Veleba Wow, never thought that drivers did that to cyclists.

    Thursday at 3:34pm · Like
  • 

    Maggie Hardin it always scares me to see the cars driving right beside the bikes without giving them any space! Let alone the whole lane as the law says

    Thursday at 3:45pm · Like
  • 

    Joe Kaiser If someone has a mad on, they will look for any anonymous target to inflict it on.

    Thursday at 3:55pm · Like
  • 

    Jody Dzuranin Funny people don't honk at school buses, cota buses, firetrucks, ambulances, usps mail delivery... they are all vehicles which require a car driver to slow/yield...but a bike is just too difficult to manage.

    Thursday at 4:02pm · Like ·  1
  • 

    J.d. Kimple I've had similair conversations. It usually makes them think when you say "You must not have read the Ohio Revised Code, because legally I have as much right to this roadway as you do." I even had to use that on a cop. Sad sad sad.

    Thursday at 4:03pm · Like ·  1
  • 

    Bill McDonald That makes me crazy

    Thursday at 4:03pm · Like
  • 

    Jody Dzuranin ‎J.d. Kimple I showed him by Consider Biking bottle, I said this is where I work, don't you think I would know the Bicycle laws?

    Thursday at 4:04pm · Like
  • 

    J.d. Kimple Nice. I bet he was woefully, gleefully ignorant.

    Thursday at 4:05pm · Like
  • 

    Mark D'Anniballe It's easier to take a cyclists life than risk the 10 seconds it takes from their day to move 3 feet out of our way.

    Thursday at 4:12pm · Like
  • 

    Katie Arnold ignorant...that's all I have to say about that!

    Thursday at 4:13pm · Like
  • 

    Marie Silver Keister I think most people just don't know the law. They are not taught this in driver's ed. The City will be starting a major public education campaign next year -- but it's going to take time for people to understand this.

    Thursday at 4:13pm · Like
  • 

    Joe Spinelli Sounds like he needs a remedial driving course.

    Thursday at 4:15pm · Like
  • 

    Mark D'Anniballe The problem is and shall be the "hipsters" and bike messengers who continually break the laws and make the "true" cyclists pay the price. This is why we are hated around the city.

    Thursday at 4:19pm · Like ·  1
  • 

    Jody Dzuranin Mark - not all hipsters break traffic laws. But you are right, any cyclists who blows thru a light makes it worse for all bike riders.

    Thursday at 4:22pm · Like
  • 

    Rocky VanBrimmer 

    Equal education applies... Almost hit cyclist in Dublin daily for blowing through stop signs. With that, it would be rather polite if bike riders would stay close to the bermnso I can pass you safely... Fortunately, I have learned to watch ...See More

    Thursday at 5:03pm · Like
  • 

    Jody Dzuranin Thanks Rocky for the benefit of the doubt. Until recently that section of High had share the road markings "sharrows", but it was repaved and the markings will be re-applied in the spring. They provide a visual reminder to expect bikes. Rocky it can be unsafe for a rider to hug the berm for many reasons.

    Thursday at 7:23pm · Like ·  1
  • 

    Lisa Hall You were right to confront him.Probably he shouldnt be driving mad with his kids in the car! I have been rearended 3x since Oct.Got my car fixxed, and rearended again.All by SUVs or minivans.

    Thursday at 9:04pm · Like
  • 

    David Roseman 

    Last summer while driving through Worthington neighborhood I almost hit a cyclist as he blew through a 4-way stop as I was slowly proceeding. I managed to circled around, parked my car, got out & politely asked him to stop. Which he did.. p...See More

    Yesterday at 1:30am · Like
  • 

    Tony Winslow Troglodyte.... I went to the DMV and picked up one of the books that they give out when kids get their temporary learners permit for a friend that was given bad information from a Columbus cop.

    Yesterday at 4:32am · Like
  • 

    Jessica Mathews Jody - I LOVE YOU! I'm yelling at my computer, reading these comments! Yeah baby, yeah!!

    Yesterday at 9:54am · Unlike ·  1
  • 

    Kate Terrill People are so clueless! Isn't it in the drivers rules that bicycles are allowed a certain number of foot clearance as well as that it's illegal for adults to ride on the sidewalk!

 

Jody on the Outspoken Cyclist

The Outspoken Cyclist – 12/03/2011

The calendar says December, but the weather still says October. No complaints here, and if the “weather suits your clothes” as the song says, keep riding outdoors. The three month indoor ride to nowhere will start soon enough.

The first stop on tonight’s tour takes us south to the capitol of our fair state, Columbus, Ohio, and a conversation with Jody Dzuranin, Operations Manager for Consider Biking. Consider Biking serves ‘people who pedal’ in the Columbus and surrounding area of Ohio. Jody will bring us up to date on their Open Streets initiative, and progress on the Ohio-to-Erie Trail, among other exciting opportunities for cyclists.

Regardless of how warm (or cold) it is, daylight is at a premium this time of year. Our second guest can help with that if you want or need to ride at night safely and legally. We’re joined by Thomas Prehn, President of Cateye America. Thomas has news about some very cool lights, including USB-rechargeable models inexpensive enough to fit in your Christmas stocking (hint, hint).

SHOW LINK: HTTP://WWW.WJCU.ORG/2011/12/03/THE-OUTSPOKEN-CYCLIST-12052011

 

LISTEN TO THE OUTSPOKEN CYCLIST

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 59:02 — 27.0MB)

Additional Information about projects mentioned in the Show:

Bike Share: 

• Videos on Bike Sharing
• Bike-Sharing Blog
• Resources on ConsiderBiking.org

Open Streets

National Bike Summit – March 2012

Ohio to Erie Trail

The Ohio State University is a LAB Bicycle Friendly University 

How We Roll | BikeOSU | YayBikes

Ride Sexy...for Safety!

My teammate Jess and I have been doing a little bicycle experiment lately...Dressing up to ride bikes,  Skirts, heels, etc. (Actually Jess has been riding chic for awhile, but I just started this summer).     When we're biking in style, it seems we get noticed more and as a result the cars drive slower and steer clear.  I guess it started as an experiment, but then I realized, wow it seems safer riding when I am dressed like a girl.  It's out of the ordinary, so people take notice.    

There seems to be a contingent of "Safe Cycling Advocates" that believes safety means a reflective vest and other equipment to get the driver to notice you.  I am suggesting there is another way to be noticed on the road.  

How about a video and/or print campaign, that shows attractive ladies riding bikes dressed up in skirts and heels.  

The messages:

• Ride Sexy
• Drive like they're all pretty girls! 

I have also dressed like a clown for various meetings and that again, seems more safe because it is eye catching.  

• be different, be safe
• Be weird, Be seen
• Biking is no time to be a wallflower

After dark:

For night time, I realize there is no substitute for good lighting, but the lighting can be sexy too! Project Aura: Bicycle Safety Lighting System

Project Aura: Bicycle Safety Lighting System from Project AURA on Vimeo.

Why Sexy for Safety?   I believe our goal is really to decrease the overall odds of a crash or fatality. I don't believe our goal is that every rider is going to be a safe rider.  What we need is more riders in general and that will mean some safe and some unsafe riders.  The fact that we have more riders will decrease the accident statistic because there is a larger number in the denominator.  It's statistical safety.   Our efforts should be placed on getting more people on bikes and less focus on getting all riders to be safe riders.   When we do things purely about "good safety" it reinforces the message that bicycling is unsafe and scary; which turns people away from riding altogether.    The bicycle message should focus on making bikes appear fun and cool so the casual rider (especially females) are willing to try it out.   

Additional Reading:

Have helmet laws put the skids on Australia’s bike share scheme?

Cycle Chic: Denmark's bicycle ambassador is bringing sexy back to cycling

TEDxCopenhagen - Mikael Colville-Andersen - Why We Shouldn't Bike with a Helmet 

Doodah Parade – ‘Put a skirt on it’ Ride.

From Consider Biking 7/5/11

Jul 5th, 2011 | By Jess | Category: Events & Activities

Yesterday, July 4th marked the 28th Annual Doodah Parade. – a march to celebrate freedom of speech, through humor.  Fun was poked at the usual suspects:  Arnold Schwarzenegger, Anthony Weiner, John Kasich and Terrelle Pryor to name a few.  Thousands watched and laughed along the Short North route.

In case you hadn't heard or read, a few weeks ago a Dutch girl was stopped by NYC cops.  They attempted to 'fine' the woman because she was wearing a skirt while riding her bike.  The NYC cops claim that the female bicyclist was 'too distracting.'  When I read this article, I about fell out of my chair at this far-fetched, brainless ban (read the article here:  http://www.dutchdailynews.com/girls-on-bicycles/).

I wanted to do something about this – let people know about the absurdity regarding this lack of Freedom of Expression while riding your bike.  What better audience to make fun of this than the good ol' Doodah Parade.  About fifteen of us rode, men and women, skirts flowin' proud.  Thanks to all who joined and all who complimented us on the cause.

Enjoy the pics.

 

Don't worry folks, that booty's fake 

Comments are closed.