Act Now to Save Millions in Bike/Ped Funding in YOUR State
|
It's happening again! The latest budget agreed upon by the U.S. Congress includes $2.5 billion in rescissions to unspent federal transportation funds, which means hundreds of millions of dollars for bike/ped projects and programs could be in peril.
As many of you know, the last round of rescissions in 2010 hit hard and disproportionately for bike/ped programs: 44 percent of the money sent back to Washington from state DOTs came from Transportation Enhancements and CMAQ, even though those two programs constitute only 7 percent of federal transportation funding. In some states, DOTs handed back several years' worth of TE funding in one blow. We can't afford to take a hit like that again and it's critical that we mobilize to prevent it.
The League of American Bicyclists Advocacy Center has model text you can send directly to your state's governor, asking that rescissions are fair and proportional. These messages are specific to your state and take into account your state DOT's action in the last round of rescissions in 2010.
- If you are in AK, DC, DE, HI, IA, IL, IN, KS, MD, ME, MN, MO, MS, NH, PA, RI, SC, UT, VA, VT, WV, WY please click here.
- If you are in AL, AR, AZ, CA, CT, FL, GA, ID, KY, LA, MI, MT, NC, ND, NE, NJ, NM, NV, NY, OH, OK, OR, SD, TN, TX, WA, WI please click here.
As we learned in the last round of rescissions, no state is safe. We strongly urge all advocates and supporters to be as proactive and engaged in this effort as possible! Click here for more information and links to additional resources on rescissions.
Click here for more updates from Capitol Hill in our recap of the Alliance Federal Policy and Legislation Call on April 21.
|
|
Register Now for our Membership Development Training: July 20-22
| |
Members don't just bring money and meaning to your organization - they build your credibility and political power to improve biking and walking in your community.
But boosting your ranks isn't easy. It takes specific skills and strategies to grow your base of active members, supporters and volunteers. That's why the Alliance created the nation's only membership development training geared specifically for bike/ped advocacy organizations. And the first event in 2009 was so successful that we're doing it again this summer.
Sign up now for the 2011 Membership Development Training, July 20-22, in Chicago, IL!
Once again in 2011, this specialized and affordable training will draw on the expertise of membership guru Ellis Robinson, who has more than 30 years' experience serving more than 500 local, state, and national advocacy groups as a strategic membership consultant. She'll be joined by Kate McCarthy from the San Francisco Bicycle Coalition, Lee Crandell of the Active Transportation Alliance and other bike-ped leaders from around the country who will add their expertise.
The training will focus specifically on best practices in membership development and retention, provide opportunities for group discussions and sharing of success stories with peers, and offer opportunities for one-on-one consultations with Robinson, McCarthy, and other Alliance leaders with expertise in this field.
This training is for organizations of all sizes, at all stages: Whether you're looking to lay the foundation for your first membership plan, enhance your current plan or learn tactics to better engage the members you already have, this workshop will address your specific needs. And, if you joined us at the first training, this isn't simply a repeat of 2009. The curriculum is different, drawing on plenty of new ideas and innovations to brush up and build on your current knowledge. (Click here for a draft agenda.)
Take it from Ren Barger of Tulsa Hub: "The Membership Development Training [in 2009] offered new key methods to organize more folks to create a 'movement' and renewed me with so much energy and determination." And don't forget: This event also includes social activities Wednesday and Thursday evening, providing plenty of chances for peer-to-peer networking.
Join us July 20-22 in Chicago, IL, for a one-of-a-kind opportunity to learn best practices and network with your peers on this vital topic. Registration is now open and early rates are available until June 15. Click here to sign up today!
|
| Apply to Host an Action2020 Workshop |
 Advocacy Advance - the partnership of the Alliance and the League of American Bicyclists - is now accepting applications for its Action2020 Workshops.
Advocacy Advance has a renewed focus for 2011: double federal funding for biking and walking in the next three years through increased spending at the state, MPO and local level. We plan to meet this ambitious goal by awarding $125,000 in grants to organizations with campaigns aimed at maximizing transportation spending on biking and walking at the state, regional, and local levels.
In addition to grants, the Advocacy Advance team provides best practice reports, technical assistance, coaching, and Action2020 Workshops. These trainings are designed to ensure advocates, agency staff, and elected officials have the knowledge, skills and resources to access untapped or under-utilized federal funding sources at the state, regional and local level to build bicycling and walking infrastructure and programs.
The deadline to apply for a workshop is Friday, May 27. Click here to download the application form. Advocates, agency staff, and/or elected officials are strongly encouraged to work on and submit a workshop application together. These workshops are offered for free, thanks to the generous support of SRAM.
Visit the Advocacy Advance trainings page to learn more. If you have any questions about Action2020 Workshops, e-mail info@advocacyadvance.org, and we will happily assist you in your application.
|
| Another Successful Winning Campaigns Training in Iowa! |
Last month, 13 advocates from seven Midwest bicycle and pedestrian advocacy organizations gathered in Davenport, Iowa for an Alliance Winning Campaigns Training.
Hosted by the Iowa Bicycle Coalition and facilitated by veteran bike/ped advocate Dave Snyder and Alliance CEO Jeff Miller, participants had two and a half days to develop their campaign strategy, learn from fellow organizers, and - of course - bike along the Mississippi River.
"This training helped me become a better leader and advocate for bicycling," said Jessica Giard from the South Dakota Bicycle Coalition. Giard not only worked through the development of a complete streets campaign, but also said she plans to apply what she learned to other aspects of her burgeoning organization.
Campaigns that were addressed by other training participants included 3-foot passing laws, Safe Routes to School, mandatory training for all crossing guards in Iowa, and working with a state DOT to update drivers' license manuals and exams to include questions about biking and walking.
Not knowing what a campaign was before the Friday evening session of the course, Ruth Myers from Active Transportation Alliance in Chicago said she now has a clear blueprint, identified targets, manageable goals, and is well on her way to improving Chicago metro stations to be more accessible to cyclists and pedestrians. "Whether you are a novice advocate or an old hand, you'll learn something from this course," she said.
Heed the advice of Wes Ridgeway from the Missouri Bicycle and Pedestrian Federation: "If you want to participate in projects in a positive way, please take this training." Join the many organizations and advocates that have participated in and grown from the Alliance's Winning Campaigns Trainings.
Click here to check out pictures from the Iowa training and then sign up for the upcoming training in Seattle, June 3-5.
|
Winning Campaigns Training Comes to Seattle: June 3-5, 2011
|
 We know many of you are geared up with a full-slate of exciting National Bike Month activities. Ride that momentum right into a successful summer by attending the next Winning Campaigns Training, June 3-5 in Seattle, Washington!
The Alliance's Winning Campaigns Training gives you the skills, strategies and advice you need to kickstart and turbocharge campaigns to improve biking and walking. Led by longtime advocates and national experts, the training will teach you how to focus in on a winnable campaign, identify key decision makers, rally community members and the media, fundraise for the effort and much more. With guidance from facilitators and your peers, you'll leave the training with a detailed Campaign Blueprint that outlines each step to your victory.
 Sign up today for our next training, hosted by the Bicycle Alliance of Washington, June 3-5, in Seattle. Be sure to register by Friday, May 6, to get the early-bird rate of just $75 for Alliance members and $125 for the general public. That's 25 percent off the regular rate!
The Winning Campaigns Training is more than a workshop. It's a fun, interactive, inspiring experience that fosters collaboration and connection among your region's advocates. Join us in Seattle!
|
| May Mutual Aid: Recruiting Interns, Involving More Women |
May is a busy month, but we've lined up two Mutual Aid calls that you won't want to miss. Sign up now for:
- May 4, 2011- Grow Your Organization's Capacity with Interns: Does your organization have more work than it can handle? Have opportunities that you just can't find the time to pursue fully? Have you thought about hiring an intern to help with the workload, while contributing to someone's career advancement and education? Interns can be a no- or low-cost way to help your organization with special projects or ongoing organizational work that is bogging you down. The benefits go both ways. Interns receive real-world experience and some receive course credit and compensation. On this call we'll hear from Alliance leaders who have hired and managed interns. Bring your questions, challenges, and experiences to share.
- May 25 2011- Bringing More Women into the Movement: Women make up more than half the U.S. population, but are underrepresented in active transportation. Data suggest that women are less likely to walk to work and are outnumbered by men by more than 2:1 when it comes to bicycling for transportation. But there is a rapidly growing interest in biking and walking among women and a new generation of female leaders in the bike/ped movement. Join us on this Mutual Aid Call as we discuss how to draw more women to our organizations, campaigns and movement at large.
All calls start at 2 p.m. Eastern and run for one hour. As always, be sure to register, so you'll receive the agenda and speakers' talking points before you dial in.
Didn't make it to our April Mutual Aid calls? We've got you covered! Click here for the "Fundraising Fundamentals" tip sheet and call recording. Click here for the "Expanding your Organization's Reach with Social Media and Web 2.0 Technology" tip sheet and here for a wealth of additional resources.
|
|
New Alliance Safe Routes Activity Books Available for Purchase
|
 Safe Routes to School programs are gaining momentum across North America in an effort to improve the health of millions of children by making it safer and more accessible for them to bike and walk to school. The Alliance created its new Safe Routes to School Coloring and Activity Books to be a resource in this growing effort. Each book provides 16 pages of fun and engaging drawings, safety tips and activities to encourage safe biking and walking to school. Click here to download sample pages from "Let's Walk There!" and "Let's Walk to School!" To make these resources accessible to as many communities as possible, the initial printing of books is available to advocates, educators and bicycle and pedestrian officials at a discounted price. Additional discounts apply for Alliance members. For orders up to 2,500 activity books, the cost is $0.95 each or $1.89 per paired set, plus shipping and handling. For orders of more than 2,500, click here to download a price chart below lists rates for custom-branded activity books, printed with your organization or agency's logo, name and website. To purchase books or for more information, please contact Jeremy Grandstaff at (202) 449-9692 x3 or jeremy@PeoplePoweredMovement.org. |
Strategic Planning Success in Washington State
 Last month, 39 visionaries gathered to shape the direction of statewide bicycle advocacy in Washington State.
Bike club leaders, active transportation advocates, and public officials joined the Bicycle Alliance of Washington's board and staff for a two-day strategic planning summit for the organization. Facilitated by the Alliance's Jeremy Grandstaff, the group crafted vision and mission statements, as well as goals and action steps to propel bicycling into the mainstream of daily life. "The Strategic Planning Summit was a fabulous investment in the future of the Bicycle Alliance and a bicycle-friendly Washington," Executive Director Barbara Culp says. "With input from our important partners and key stakeholders, we've charted our course for the next five years." This volume of work won't sit on a shelf, Culp adds. The board and staff are sifting through the volume of comments generated from the Summit to prioritize the work and guide the organization's growth. Is your organization interested in strategic planning assistance? For more information or questions about this program, click here or contact Jeremy Grandstaff, Alliance Member Services Director, at Jeremy@PeoplePoweredMovement.org. |
Help T4America Promote Dangerous By Design Report
|  On May 24, Transportation for America is releasing an updated version of Dangerous by Design: Solving the Epidemic of Preventable Pedestrian Deaths. The report will provide data on pedestrian fatalities over the past 10 years, including city and county rankings. The report will also call on Congress to support a federal Complete Streets bill and protect dedicated funding for walking and biking. Why release an update now? The hope is that this high-profile report will inform discussion around the next federal transportation bill before it's introduced in both houses of Congress. And you can help. T4America is looking for local and state advocacy organizations to get involved in two ways. - While statistics are important, nothing inspires media attention like good stories. T4America is looking for help with local stories that can illustrate:
- A location (intersection, crosswalk, side of the highway where peds are forced to walk) that was unsafe and where there had been a pedestrian injury or fatality, but the implementation of a complete streets policy or federal investment in improving the design of the facility, improved the safety of that location.
- A facility or location that has been made markedly safer by federal investment (for instance, a Transportation Enhancements project) or implementation of a complete streets policy
- An example of a pedestrian fatality or serious injury or series of injuries/fatalities clearly caused by the poor design of the facility
- In November 2009, T4America was able to work with local walk, bike, transit, equity and health groups across the country to generate hundreds of stories around this report - and hope to do so again. T4America would like to know if your organization is interested in hosting or co-hosting a local release of the report in your community.
If you're interested and able to help spread the word about this important report, contact Akshai Singh at (202) 955-5543 x211 or akshai.singh@t4america.org. |
| Step Up: Participate in the National Walking Survey |  America Walks is conducting a National Walking Survey to learn more about who walks and why we walk. The survey will help walking advocates understand what motivates avid walkers and what keeps others from walking more. When the data is analyzed, America Walks will tell you what we've learned and how we can use the results to promote walking in America. Help the Alliance and America Walks by taking the National Walking Survey today. This survey will take just five minutes to complete. Results are anonymous and your feedback is vital in helping us shape future policies and campaigns for walking. America Walks urges you to help the survey go viral: Post it, forward it, Facebook it, Tweet it! |
SRTS Webinar on Bike Trains: May 5
|
 Would you like to see a bike train chug merrily through your neighborhood? The Safe Routes to School National Partnership wants to help! Bike trains are a great way to get students actively commuting to school by organizing a group of children and parents who ride together with other families. To lend a hand to folks interested in creating a bike train in their community, the Partnership is hosting a webinar on "Organizing Successful Bike Trains" this Thursday, May 5th, at 1 p.m. EDT. Funded by the SRAM Cycling Fund, the free webinar will share success stories from Tampa Bay, Florida; Portland, Oregon; and Washington, DC. It will also provide guidelines and strategies on how to create and organize a bike train, and tips and tactics to keep them running smoothly. Click here to register now. Questions? Email Dave Cowan at the Partnership. |
| 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 People Powered Blog. |
|
|
|
|
|
Alaska Advocates Freeze their Keys for Bike Commuting
In a move to encourage more bike commuting, support local business and to prepare cyclists for the bike-riding season in Anchorage, the Bicycle Commuters of Anchorage hosted Freeze My Keys for the second year in a row. The event ran April 1 through May 1, 2011, and provided willing participants with two options for participation. The first option asked participants to freeze an old, unimportant car keys to symbolize their intent to completely rely on their bicycle instead. The second option simply asked participants to freeze their car keys for a few hours at a time and ride their bicycle more than normal. Find the full story here.
|
|
SABA Responds Proactively to Young Cyclist's Death
Last month, in the early morning of April 1, a young woman was struck and killed while bicycling near California State University. The Sacramento Area Bicycle Advocates responded almost immediately, reacting proactively to the tragedy with an effort to make cyclists more visible during the most dangerous nighttime hours. While the city department of transportation investigated the cause, SABA didn't wait to take direct action. The advocates immediately leveraged their Light On! program to raise awareness around CSUS and in the wider community by distributing free headlight and taillight sets near the campus. "We hope that giving out lights will be a one small step toward helping repair a campus that is torn over this disaster," Tricia Hedahl, SABA's executive director, said. Click here for the full story.
|
| Active Trans Urges DOT to Track Doorings
Between 2005 and 2009, the Illinois Department of Transportation tracked an average of 3,500 bicycle-vehicle crashes per year. As a result of those collisions, more than 3,300 cyclists were injured and as many as 27 were killed each year. While those numbers are astonishing, what's even more shocking is that they do not include the type of collision that's arguably the most common to on-street cyclists: doorings. According to a recent article in the Chicago Tribune, the IDOT has stated that it does not track these dangerous collisions because the vehicles involved aren't moving and because it simply has not received many requests to do so. Bicycle advocacy groups are working hard to change this. After IDOT denied its request that law enforcement officials report dooring incidences, the Active Transportation Alliance began mobilizing its members to urge the IDOT to begin tracking doorings. Read the full story here.
|
|
CicLAvia Draws More than 200,000
 The good folks at the Los Angeles County Bicycle Coalition have helped to make CicLAvia an incredible success - and Alliance CEO Jeff Miller had the good fortune to attend the first event of 2011 last month. He provided this report: For more than six hours I soaked up as much as I could: the sun, the views, the smiles, the sheer beauty of seeing hundreds of thousands connecting with their neighbors and city in a wonderfully unique and natural way. Los Angeles is known to most of us for its tangle of congested highways and smog from the millions of cars. But, during CicLAvia, I saw an amazing city of cyclists! Estimates put the crowd at 200,000-500,000 people and I think every demographic was represented among the masses. Sure, there were plenty of folks wearing lycra on expensive bikes - Lance Armstrong included - but they were out numbered by the hipsters on their fixies, sporting tattoos and U locks hanging from belts. Really the largest numbers were everyday people, wearing normal clothes on a wide range of bikes. Read Jeff's full account here.
|
|
Idaho Advocates Campaign to Restore TE Program
Idaho is currently the only state not participating in the Transportation Enhancements program, dramatically reducing the state's ability to provide livable communities and safe, alternative transportation options for Idaho residents. In late March, the Idaho Pedestrian & Bicycle Alliance announced a new campaign to change that. Transportation Enhancements are federal funds provided to support projects aiming to expand transportation options and improve quality of life for residents. The TE program is a competitive, application-based program that passes these federal funds to projects throughout Idaho to enhance communities, including pedestrian and bicycle infrastructure. It provides $14 in federal money for every $1 allocated by the local government. But, beginning in April 2008, the Idaho Transportation Department suspended its TE program. On March 29th, IPBA kicked off an effort to convince the state to reverse its decision and reinstate funding for important bike/ped infrastructure. Find the full story here.
|
|
Hawaii Advocates Get Trail Back on Track
Hawaii residents had already been deprived of a long-awaited multi-use path along the Queen Ka'ahumanu Highway once. Peoples Advocacy for Trails Hawaii wasn't going to let it happen again. Last month, the advocates took action for the long-promised trail on the Big Island - and won. The project in question was the Queen's Lei Pathway - a proposed 17-mile multi-use trail that wraps around North Kona, connecting homes, schools and shopping areas with "a place for keiki [children], kupuna [elders] and everyone in between to walk, ride a bike, run, and get around safely." The Lei started with just one strand: a path along the Queen Ka'ahumanu Highway. After years of advocacy, in 2003, that pathway became a First Priority Project in the Hawaii Bike Plan. But the priority status didn't stick: During the Phase I widening of the highway the pathway fell to the wayside. But PATH continued to push forward. Read more here.
|
|
Thanks to Missouri Advocates, Susie Tree Now Grows in STL
 At long last, a living memorial now grows in the city of Susie Stephens' tragic death. To commemorate and honor her joyful and lasting legacy, a handful of bike/ped advocates planted a Susie Tree in the shadow of the iconic Gateway Arch. Susie was an inspiration to all who knew her. She was a passionate bicyclist and environmentalist, who celebrated life through song and advocacy and believed that the tough work of making the world a better place is best done with a smile on your face. After her death, Susie's mom, Nancy MacKerrow, started the Susie Forest project, planting trees around the globe to memorialize Susie's indominable spirit. Sinking roots into the city where Susie passed was a long-held hope for MacKerrow and her family. This past month, a trio of advocacy groups - Trailnet, the Great Rivers Greenway and the Missouri Bicycle and Pedestrian Federation - helped to make that hope come true. Read the full story here. |
|
Memphis Advocates Fire Up Campaign For Bike Lanes
The irony is impossible to ignore: A burger joint leading a charge against bike lanes. By any measure, Memphis is certainly in need of safer streets that support physical activity. In 2010, the city was labeled by Bicycling magazine as one of the worst places to ride in the entire United States. At the same time, Memphis was at the top of another list: It had the highest rate of overweight residents of the largest 50 cities in the U.S., with a staggering 70 percent of all adults overweight or obese. So when Memphis officials rolled out a massive street project that didn't include any facilities to encourage bicycling or walking, local advocates at Livable Memphis were ready to take action - and a won a commitment from the mayor for 55 miles of new bicycle facilities by 2012. Now that the promise is hitting the pavement, some business owners are pushing back with misguided fears that bikes curb commerce. Click here for the full story.
|
|
LA Advocates Win Dedicated Funding for Safe Routes to School
On April 1st, the Los Angeles City Council considered - and passed - an allocation of $1.2 million in funding for a citywide Safe Routes to School Plan. Safe Routes to School programs are state and federal funding programs aimed to improve bicycle infrastructure within a two-mile radius of schools, including funding for education and encouragement programs. According to the Safe Routes to School National Partnership, 25 percent of school-aged children living in the City of Los Angeles are overweight, and parents driving their children to school accounts for 15 - 25 percent of the city's morning traffic congestion. According to Jennifer Klausner, the Executive Director of the Los Angeles County Bicycle Coalition, "Approving the funding for this plan is a progressive step toward making the streets around our schools safer and more inviting for children and families bicycling and walking to school." Read more here.
|
|
Subscribe to the People Powered Blog
Stay up-to-date with all the news from the Alliance and stories from member organizations across the continent by subscribing to the RSS feed of our People Powered Blog. Just click on the little orange button on the top of the blog and you'll get our near-daily posts hot off the digital presses!
|
|
|
