Jody Bikes: Advocacy

National Bike Month in Ohio

From National Bike League @bikeleague:

May is National Bike Month. To find out what is happening in your area, check out the 150 Bike Month Special Events that have already been posted. And it’s not too late to use our Bike Month Guid e to create a successful National Bike Month Event in you community, workplace, city or state.

league_bike_month_logo

Twitter users — Follow #bikemonth and check out the twitter feed on our homepage and Bike Month pages to stay in the loop.

Ohio Events

May 1 begins @bikeleague #BikeMonth

See the list of events planned statewide

National Bike Month in Ohio

PS: If you tweet about biking to work, use hashtag #biketowork and #Ohio

Apr 30, 2011 2:17:40 PM | Advocacy, Bike Month

Take Action for Bicycle Funding

Action Alert

AASHTO wants to weaken US DOT bicycle accommodation policy
Contact Your State Department of Transportation

Write Your Letter Today

Here is my letter, I added the last paragraph.

Dear Director Wray:

I am writing to you today to make you sure you are aware that the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO) is urging the U.S. Department of Transportation to weaken their guidance on bicycle and pedestrian accommodation in the design of new and improved transportation facilities. As a member of AASHTO, I urge you to reject this recommendation made on behalf of state transportation departments.

The current definition of “due consideration” of bicyclists and pedestrians is that “bicyclists and pedestrians should be included as a matter of routine, and the decision to not accommodate them should be the exception rather than the rule.” AASHTO should be a leading voice in shaping holistic and comprehensive transportation systems, not resisting them. In fact, AASHTO’s own 12 year-old Bicycle Guide, due to be up dated this year, says that bicyclists and pedestrians can be expected on any roadway they are legally allowed to operate and therefore should be accommodated.

Again, I ask that you contact AASHTO President Susan Martinovich to let her know that you disagree with the recommendation. Thank you in advance for your assistance in this matter.

This is especially important in Ohio where we are experiencing escalating levels of obesity-related disease and the sky rocketing healthcare costs to address these chronic conditions. In general, these conditions are mostly preventable with an active lifestyle which can include the regular use of a bicycle for fun, fitness and transportation.

Apr 17, 2011 2:41:13 PM | Advocacy

Video: The Columbus Bicentennial Bike Plan

Columbus Bicentennial Bikeways Plan from Columbus Public Service on Vimeo.

Visit the http://publicservice.columbus.gov/bike/ for more information on the City of Columbus Bicentennial Bike Plan.

Apr 7, 2011 6:16:28 PM | Advocacy, Columbus Ohio

Feeling Safe = Being Safe

This video about the thriving Barcelona Bicing and the failing Melbourne Bike Share highlights a factor that challenges a long-time Bicycle "safety" principal.

The bike helmet.

Video from Mike Rubbo @rubbomike

Here's my related post on the topic

OMG She’s Topless

Mar 12, 2011 2:28:04 PM | Advocacy, Bike Share

DC LAB Bike Summit March 8-11

We're headed to Washington DC for the League of American Bicyclists National Bike Summit. We'll rub tires with 800+ fellow bicycle advocates from all across the country. We have 15 folks representing Ohio and 4 from Consider Biking!

Here is the program for the summit. Page 22 shows the list of Congressional members who have joined the house and senate bi-partisan bike caucus. We have 4 reps and 1 senator from Ohio and we hope to see that higher after we visit!

Conference Program Online

Some of the Speakers are:

Ray LaHood: U.S. Secretary of Transportation
Ken Salazar: U.S. Secretary of the Interior
Janette Sadik-Khan: Commissioner, New York City Dept. of Transportation

What's a bike summit without bikes? There will be a Congressional Bike Caucus Ride on Friday morning March 11; 8:30 am to 11 a.m. This year the ride is dedicated to Caucus Member Representative Gabrielle Giffords as an encouragement in her recovery.

Check out the FAQ page for all the details!

Twitter:

Follow @consider_biking for updates and watch hashtag #bikesummit11

Mar 4, 2011 11:07:03 AM | Advocacy

Get your Wheels to Washington!

National Bike Summit
March 8-10, 2011
Grand Hyatt|Metro Center|D.C.

ACTING ON A SIMPLE SOLUTION – NATIONAL BIKE SUMMIT

There are more people riding bikes than ever. Yet half of all U.S. trips are three miles or less, and more than 90 percent are made by car. The National Bike Summit has improved bicycle-friendliness and livability in many communities, but the need and opportunity to improve physical activity, safety and livability in the U.S., while reducing congestion, greenhouse gas emissions and our dependence on oil – remains greater today than a decade ago.

These issues seem difficult to solve but the answer is simple.The answer is the bicycle. Now is the time to ask Congress to make strategic transportation investments that foster healthy people and healthy communities. Join us March 8-10 in Washington, D.C. to act on a simple solution – the bicycle.

KEYNOTE SPEAKER ANNOUNCED

Janette Sadik-Khan, the Commissioner of the New York City Department of Transportation, is the keynote speaker at the National Bike Summit's opening plenary, Wednesday March 9.

SUMMIT INFORMATION

REGISTRATION LINK (early bird ends 2/3/11; Login to get the member rate)

SUMMIT FAQs (There is a first-time attendee advocacy orientation on Tuesday evening).

Visit the League on Facebook for updates http://www.facebook.com/leagueamericanbicyclists

PLEASE JOIN THE OHIO DELEGATION!

We need a strong showing to influence our lawmakers to adopt bicycle-friendly policies!
Bring your bicycle (or rent one) and join us for the Congressional Bike Caucus Ride (Friday, March 11; 8:30 am to 11 a.m.)

Nov 23, 2010 11:49:35 AM | Advocacy, Bike Friendly