Hundreds of Millions Available through CDC Prevention Grants
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 On September 17, 2009, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention announced a new program: Communities Putting Prevention to Work. Thirty to forty communities will receive a total of $373 million in American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (stimulus) dollars to support interventions that reduce obesity (through improved physical activity and nutrition) and/or reduce tobacco use. The Opportunity for Bike/Ped: Communities Putting Prevention to Work provides an important opportunity for bicycle and pedestrian professionals, enthusiasts and advocates to act quickly to get your city or state to: 1. Apply for the funding; 2. Educate the health department about the range of bike/ped interventions that can be included in their application and action plan; and 3. Include your organization as a partner in the effort. The Alliance has worked with our partners at America Bikes and the Safe Routes to School National Partnership to prepare a list of sample bike/ped activities that fit within the five interventions that are required as part of the CDC application. We encourage you to review these sample activities and assess which would work well in your community. Funds are available to make these projects a reality-so it is in your interest to work with your health department to develop the bike/ped aspects of the CDC application for obesity prevention, and to demonstrate how your organization can be a resource to them. For more details please visit the Alliance's Action Center. |
Alliance Launches People Powered Blog
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Do you ever wonder what the over 145 Alliance organizations are up to? If so, check out our new People Powered Blog. The new Alliance blog features the successes and stories of how Alliance organizations are impacting their communities. If you frequent our site you may be familiar with our old Member News page. Thanks to the help of our volunteer web developer, Alexandra Goldschmidt, this section of our site has been transformed into the new blog with dynamic features that allow you to submit your stories, add tags, and comment on articles. Any Alliance organization leader is welcome to contribute and share stories from your organization. Visit http://www.peoplepoweredmovement.org/site/index.php/site/blog/ and click "Submit Your News." Tag the story with your organization's full name, and acronym if you go by one, so that visitors can easily search for you. The next phase of this project will be to link blog articles to Alliance organizations through our web system so that when visitors click on your organizations name, all related stories will appear. Stay tuned for updates and in the meantime, share your news! |
Hundreds of Photos, One Trip to Tuscany
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The Alliance for Biking & Walking launched the People Powered Movement Photo Contest on September 1st, commencing a three month competition as amateur and professional photographers alike vie for the prize of an all-expenses-paid 10-day bike tour of Tuscany and a year's supply of CLIF BARs. The Grand Prize Winner will also choose a local biking or walking advocacy organization to receive a $1,000 Communications Grant.
Two runners up win brand new commuter bikes. And first place category winners will have their photos published in the 2010 March/April issue of Momentum Magazine.
Submitted photos will serve to build the Alliance for Biking & Walking Advocacy Photo Library, which will provide free high-quality images to grassroots organizations promoting biking and walking.
Entries will be accepted through November, and public voting will take place from December 1st - December 31st. Finalists' photos will be judged by a panel of experts,who will determine the winners.
The
contest is made possible by 42 Below, Momentum Magazine, CLIF BAR, VBT Biking and Walking Vacations, Planet Bike, Rickshaw Bagworks, Bicycle Times, Breezer, Dahon,
Cycle California! Magazine, Bicycle Retailer and Industry News, Funes Design,
and JPG Magazine.
To view the contest video, for full contest
rules, and to enter, visit www.PeoplePoweredMovement.org/PhotoContest.
Newsletter Cut-and-Paste: Alliance
organizations and partners: please cut and paste the above article into
your organization's newsletters. Spread the word on this exciting contest and help get great images you can use!
Please support our sponsors who make this contest possible!    |
How Has the Benchmarking Report Helped You?
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 Have you used data from the 2007 Benchmarking Report with local media, in your presentations and reports, to help set goals for your city/state/organization, or to generally support your efforts to promote biking and walking? The Alliance wants to hear how the Benchmarking Report has impacted you! Please send examples of how you have put the Benchmarking Report to work in your community to Kristen@PeoplePoweredMovement.org. For your time, we'll put you on our mailing list to be among the first to receive the 2010 Benchmarking Report - for release January 15, 2010. The Benchmarking Project is an ongoing effort to collect data on bicycling and walking from all 50 states and at least the 50 most-populous U.S. cities, made possible by support from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and on-going support from Planet Bike. Data including biking and walking levels, safety, funding, infrastructure, staffing, and more is illustrated and published in this biennial report. Data is made available to government officials, advocates, the media, and the public to support efforts to increase biking and walking. Please send examples of how you have used the Benchmarking Report to Kristen@PeoplePoweredMovement.org by October 30, 2009.
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Develop Your Winning Campaign in Richmond or North Little Rock
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 Is your organization looking to develop a winning campaign that will propel you to the next level and grow your capacity? Check out the two remaining Alliance Winning Campaigns Trainings of 2009 in North Little Rock, AR and Richmond, VA. Join your fellow bicycle and pedestrian advocacy leaders to learn from expert coaches and each other through the Alliance's proven curriculum on choosing, directing, and winning campaigns to increase bicycling and walking. After three days, you will have a detailed campaign blueprint that will help you achieve your campaign goals and set up your organization for greater victories in the future. Registration includes most meals during the training and a chance to network with other local advocates in the area, as well as an opportunity to see some of the latest innovations in these communities. - North Little Rock, AR: October 16-18, Early registration ends October 2. Register Today!
- Richmond, VA: November 13-15, Early registration ends October 13. Register Today!
And stay tuned for the Alliance's 2010 training RFP to be released in mid-October, offering a chance for your organization to host a Winning Campaigns training in 2010. |
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Still Time to Join the Safe Routes to School "Dear Congress" Campaign |
 Three weeks ago, the Safe Routes to School National Partnership called on parents, children, school officials, and community leaders to write "Dear Congress" letters to demonstrate the importance of the Safe Routes to School program. Now they have extended the campaign deadline until Friday, October 23.
They are looking for help in generating hundreds or thousands of letters from parents, children, program staff and volunteers, and school and city leaders about why Safe Routes to School matters to individuals and their communities. The Partnership will be bundling letters and delivering them to Congress to energize the fight to strengthen and expand Safe Routes to School in the transportation bill.
We hope you and/or your organization will write a letter and help spread the word to other people and organizations. For additional information, including ideas on what to include in your letter and submission instructions, visit http://www.saferoutespartnership.org/national/299443.
Newsletter Cut-and-Paste: Alliance
organizations and partners: feel free to cut and paste the above article into
your organization's newsletters. Spread the word of this important effort!!
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Take the 2-Mile Challenge!
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When leaving the house every morning: do you reach for the car keys or the bike lock? We've all seen the facts - 40% of all urban travel happens within 2 miles of home; 90% of that is by car. It's tough to stomach the amount of carbon dioxide that gets emitted by people firing up the car just to run a quick errand. The folks at CLIF BAR think it's time to challenge the conventional ways we use our car without hesitation. They call it the 2 Mile Challenge.
Biking to fight climate change is the name of the game - and the 2 Mile Challenge Team competition brings a little fun and competition to the mix. Beginning this week at www.2milechallenge.com, people everywhere can sign up, log in and challenge yourself, your friends, and the greater community by simply committing to ride your bike. What color team will you join - Red, Blue, Gold? Each quarter, the leading team will be eligible for great prizes including Clif Bar & Company products, bike gear, and other cool loot from bike-friendly companies. Whether you're home at your computer logging your trips on 2milechallenge.com, typing on your mobile phone, or Twittering your updated mileage, it's easy to keep rolling wherever you are.
Those looking for some extra motivation for keeping up with their challenges can put a little "wager" on the line, with the proceeds going to the Alliance for Biking and Walking, amongst other like-minded nonprofit organizations.
Join the ride. Bike to fight climate change.
Newsletter Cut-and-Paste: Alliance
organizations and partners: please cut and paste the above article into
your organization's newsletters. Spread the word of this awesome effort
and support the Alliance while you're at it!
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Alliance Training Strengthens Grassroots Membership Programs
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San Francisco was buzzing September 17-19, as 56 advocacy leaders converged for the Alliance for Biking & Walking's Membership Development Training. The training ,which drew participants from 40 organizations, 21 states, the District of Columbia, and two Canadian provinces, focused on strengthening bike/ped advocacy organizations through membership development. During the three-day training, advocates got to see first hand how the San Francisco Bicycle Coalition has recruited over 10,000 members, more members per capita than any other major city-based organization. The Alliance pulled the dynamic duo of Ellis Robinson (Buttonwood Partnership) and Kate McCarthy (San Francisco Bicycle Coalition) together to lead the training. Participants also played a key role sharing the success stories and challenge and swapping membership materials. Participants walked away with membership plans ready to implement to grow their organization's membership. According to Elena Santogade, Volunteer & Membership Outreach Coordinator for Transportation Alternatives, "It was a unique opportunity to think on the big-picture level, to re-think our work-from systems and workflow to our overarching goals and guiding principles, and to connect with our colleagues around the country (and in Canada, too!). " Click to see photos from the training. And, check the Alliance's Online Resources Library for examples and materials shared at the training. Thanks to everyone for making the time and investment to participate in the training, including a special thanks to San Francisco Bicycle Coalition for all the assistance with logistics, accommodations, and other details that made the event a success. We also thank our fabulous sponsors including: Planet Bike, 42BELOW, Trek, Breezer (Advanced Sports Inc), Dero Bike Racks, J&B Importers / Sun Bicycles, City Car Share, San Francisco Bicycle Coalition, Rickshaw Bagworks, and Susie's Forest. The Alliance gives a special thanks to Planet Bike for also awarding a dozen scholarships with travel stipends to advocates from startup organizations. Thanks to our sponsors who made this training possible!   |
| $1.2 Million Requested in 2nd Round of Alliance Grants |
The second round of the Alliance's Advocacy Advance Grants, which commenced in August, drew 75 inquiry applications from 36 states and three Canadian Provinces totaling over $1.2 million. Advocacy Advance Grants is a new program of the Alliance made possible by remarkable support from SRAM, Planet Bike, and Bikes Belong. The Alliance will award $250,000 in 2009 to startup organizations and innovative campaigns to dramatically increase biking and walking. Alliance and League staff reviewed the highly competitive round two inquiry applications, and invited 20 organizations (10 start up/capacity and 10 innovation applicants) to submit full proposals. Each startup/ capacity building finalist will also receive a training scholarship made possible by Planet Bike. The Alliance will announce the second round of grant recipients by October 31st. For more information about Advocacy Advance Grants, please visit www.peoplepoweredmovement.org/grants. |
Alliance Welcomes Fall Interns!
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We are thrilled to have two exceptionally talented interns for the fall.  Jessica Weber joins the Alliance as our new Member Services Intern. Jessica is a second year Master of Public Administration student concentrating in Sustainability Policy at West Virginia University. Her particular interests involve the identification and development of sustainability initiatives, and she believes that working with Alliance member organizations will provide an exciting opportunity for her to utilize her interpersonal, analytical, organizational, and management skills to promote environmental stewardship. This fall, Jessica will be assisting with the coordination of our last two Winning Campaigns training events, working to improve our membership and data collection processes, and assisting with many other member services, programming, and outreach efforts.  Nadia Prupis joins the Alliance as our new Communications Intern. Nadia recently graduated from UC Santa Barbara where she majored in English and led a campaign in 2008 for California High Speed Rail, sparking her interest in alternative transportation. In addition to her experience with community organizations, she has written numerous articles for Bay Area magazines, and hopes to make a living out of her three passions-writing, nonprofits, and San Francisco. This fall Nadia will be assisting with final development of the 2010 Benchmarking Report and with the Alliance's Annual Report. She will also be managing and promoting the People Powered Movement Photo Contest, and will be writing for the Alliance's new People Powered Blog. Send your news or tips to Nadia "at" peoplepoweredmovement.org. Welcome Jessica and Nadia! |
| Alliance Member News |
Be sure to check out what Alliance members have been up to in the right column of this e-newsletter and on our new People Powered Blog. | |
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| Portland Unveils its First Cycletrack |
Portland's Bicycle Transportation Alliance (BTA) celebrated the unveiling of the city's first cycle track on August 31st. The new cycle track runs on Broadway, from southwest Clay to southwest Jackson, and separates cyclists from from parked cars by a 3-foot striped buffer zone. In addition to the bicycle-friendly lanes, the Portland Bureau of Transportation (PBOT) has painted green markings throughout the track to facilitate left-hand turns for bikers. Known as "Copenhagen lefts," they are the first of their kind being used in North America. Read more here.
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San Francisco Launches Better Market Streets Project |
Starting on September 29, San Francisco drivers will start seeing changes in traffic flow on Market Street downtown. Working in coordination with the San Francisco Bicycle Coalition, Mayor Gavin Newsom announced the commencement of the Better Market Street Project, a package of several pedestrian and public transit improvements. Tests include restricting private motorists traveling eastbound on Market Street south at 8th Street. Public transit, bicycle, emergency, and delivery vehicles will continue to have full access. This project is made possible in part by an Alliance Advocacy Advance Grant. Read more here.
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New Report Sets Benchmarks for Bicycling in Virginia |
BikeWalk Virginia, in cooperation with the Virginia Department of Health, Virginia Department of Motor Vehicles, and Virginia Department of Transportation, released the first-ever comprehensive report of bicycling and pedestrian planning, resources, accommodations, and safety in the state of Virginia. BikeWalk Virginia surveyed 39 cities, 95 counties, and 157 incorporated towns in Virginia. According to BikeWalk Virginia, " The report established a valid benchmark against which progress in expanding resources can be measured." The organization plans to conduct continuing surveys and update the report every two years. Read more here.
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New Reports Spotlight Traffic Safety in NYC
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 Transportation Alternatives has just released two extensive reports on traffic safety and enforcement. From Chaos to Compliance: How the NYPD Can Grasp New York City's Traffic Safety Problem and Executive Order: A Mayoral Strategy for Traffic Safety quantify the level of lawless driving and document the failure to create deterrence from dangerous driving on New York City streets. The reports received wide acclaim, with coverage by every major New York City news organization. Both Mayor Bloomberg and Police Commissioner Ray Kelly commented on the findings. This efforts have been made possible in part by an Alliance Advocacy Advance Grant. Read more here.
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Colorado's New 3-2-1 Courtesy Code
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Bicycle Colorado is introducing a new education campaign for safer roads - the 3-2-1 Courtesy Code. "By following these simple guidelines, members of the bicycling community seek to create goodwill and positive sharing of the road with motorists. Safety is the ultimate goal. Also, by collecting signature pledges on the banner, we are building broad support for positive behaviors on public roads." Find out more at http://bicyclecolo.org.
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Bikewise: Tracking Bicycle Data for Success
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On 2009 Bike to Work Day, Cascade Bicycle Club introduced bikewise, a place to learn about and report bike crashes, hazards, and thefts. "By sharing our experiences with each other, and with researchers and relevant agencies, we aim to make biking safer and more fun." They have already gathered reports from over twenty-five states and eight countries. Visit www.bikewise.org to ad your reports, or check out www.cascade.org for more information.
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Bike Pittsburgh's 2009 BikeFest a Smashing Success
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According to Bike Pittsburgh, their 2009 Bike Fest had 50+ events on the calendar attracting people from far and wide. The fundraiser party was packed with over 500 attendees raising nearly $14,000 for bicycle advocacy. The group parked over 200 bikes, raffled off a Cannondale Quick 4, and even offered great dance floor shots. Visit www.bike-pgh.org to see pictures from the event.
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