SAVE THE DATE!
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August 24th & 25th
Burlington, VT
Benefit for Local Motion
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MEMBERSHIP RAFFLE: DEADLINE EXTENDED!
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You can still win a trip to Tuscany, courtesy of our friends at VBT. Simply Join or Renew by August 31, 2012 and we'll automatically enter you in the drawing! Read full details here.
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Colchester Causeway Repair is Underway
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Comprehensive repairs have begun and the Colchester Causeway is now completely closed. Work will continue through October 2012. Please respect the signs and fences, which exist for your safety. Want to help the repair effort? Donate to The Big Fix! |
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Find Us At ...
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Update: Can Williston Rd. be Saved?
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Marc Companion rides the new bike lane on Williston Rd.
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You've got to give South Burlington officials credit. They have embarked on an ambitious demonstration project to see if a section of Williston Road can be made a safer and more pleasant place to walk, bike and drive.
It started June 28. As part of the State of Vemont's Williston Road repaving project, they included a City-sponsored demonstration project to test a "Complete Streets" scenario between Hinesburg Road and Kennedy Drive. Williston Road was re-striped with reduced through lanes and a center two-way left tum lane. Data is now being collected and traffic behaviors observed during the demonstration period and a decision will be made on its permanent design. Your input is needed! Read more ... |
Help us Restore the Trail & Ferry for 2013!
We're getting close!
 | | Do you believe in ferries? Support The Big Fix! |
To help Colchester & Burlington repair the flood-damaged Island Line Trail -- and to help us relaunch expanded Bike Ferry service -- we need your help to raise the final $69,000 for The Big Fix campaign. We've already raised $1.43M!
Click here for some ideas on how you can help.
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Cruise Raises $164K for Trail Repair & Ferry!  | |
Honorary Co-Chairs Bill & Carole Hauke challenged participants to match their $100,000 gift (photo by Doug Goodman)
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On July 11th, a capacity crowd of 150 trail enthusiasts boarded the Northern Lights to take a special trip up to 'the cut' in the Causeway. See photos here! It was part of The Big Fix-- Local Motion's $1.5M fundraising campaign to repair the Island Line Trail from the record 2011 flooding, and to relaunch dramatically expanded Bike Ferry service. The energy on board to finally complete the 14-mile Burlington / Colchester / South Hero trail was palpable. Honorary Co-Chairs Bill & Carole Hauke announced their tremendously generous $100,000 challenge grant as the boat paused next to the causeway. Read more ...
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Support Richmond's Complete Streets Efforts
 | The US Route 2 shoulder in its current condition. Help improve this section of road by adding your name to the petition. (Video courtesy of Roger Bombardier).
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The Richmond Trails Committee is organizing a public petition to the Vermont Agency of Transportation (VTrans) to get better conditions for walking and biking on the section of US Route 2 that passes through the town. See pictures of the challenging conditions here.
The section from Richmond Village to the Exit 11 (Interstate 89) Park & Ride is of special concern. VTrans plans to repave this road in 2015, and the Committee is calling for a wide, well-marked shoulder to be established according to Complete Streets principles.
Wouldn't it be great to be able to bike or walk from Richmond village to the CCTA LINK buses at the Park & Ride?
You can help by signing the online petition, supported by Local Motion and other area businesses and organizations. About 200 signatures have already been collected in Richmond.
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Walk/Bike Funding Largely in States' Hands
We are not going to let 20 years of progress in biking and walking come to a halt!
It's true that the new federal transportation bill (MAP-21) slashed guaranteed funding for biking and walking, but we are still very much in the game -- thanks to you, and thousands of other advocates, who called, wrote, and e-mailed Congress as the bill was being written. In sum, Congress left much of the future bike/walk funding decisions to states -- so it now falls on us to make sure Vermont and our local governments use every opportunity in the new law to increase the safety and convenience of biking and walking. Read more ... |
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City Council Praises Bike Path Rehab Plan
 On July 16, efforts to comprehensively rehabilitate Burlington's popular but aging bike path moved a step closer to reality. After two years of focused effort, the Bike Path Task Force's Chair John Bossange presented the final improvement plan to the City Council. All the Councilors who spoke praised the plan and urged fast action. The total rehabilitation package will cost between $11M and $16M, depending on the level of improvements. The Task Force recommended the City consider the following funding approach: Read more ... |
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Support Bike Education: Shop at Kohl's!
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Have a favorite 4-7-year old? Purchase Skippyjon Jones merchandise at Kohl's and support bike safety training for kids!
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Every year, our local Kohl's department store down at University Mall sells high-quality kids' books and toys through their Kohl's Cares for Kids program -- with 100% of proceeds going directly to the Vermont Children's Hospital. The hospital then gives just about all of the funds -- over $25,000 this year! -- to Local Motion for bike skills training for kids.
Every every single penny from this program helps kids become great bike riders! Learn more here ...
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Lookin' Good! Bike Portraits from The Ramble
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Thanks to Local Motion member Peter Wadsworth for taking the shots and putting together this fun video from the 2012 Old North End Ramble ! Look at all the beautiful people on their beautiful bikes. Pedal on! |
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This Bike Rack Brought to you by [YOU!]
Do you support more and better bike racks for greater Burlington? Are you interested in a creative way to get more visibility for your business? Then Local Motion has a deal for you! With partial support from the Chittenden County Regional Planning Commission, we're launching an initiative this fall to get a whole lot more bike racks on the ground where people need them. Our goal is to work with businesses across the region to provide them with high-quality racks for their customers at a major discount. To make this happen, we need sponsors! For just $100, we'll permanently affix a brass plaque with your company's name, a brief message, and your website or phone to the top of a rack. If you want more visibility, Learn more ... |
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Save the Date
Please join us for this important screening event on November 1, 2012, 5:30-8:00 pm, at South Burlington High School.
Various partners have gathered together to host a screening of the Challenges segment of THE WEIGHT OF THE NATION -- a documentary presentation of HBO and the Institute of Medicine (IOM), in association with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the National Institutes of Health (NIH), and in partnership with the Michael & Susan Dell Foundation and Kaiser Permanente. Learn more.
Challenges examines the major driving forces causing the obesity epidemic, including agribusiness, economics, evolutionary biology, food marketing, racial and socioeconomic disparities, physical inactivity, American food culture, and the strong influence of the food and beverage industry.
The screening will be followed by panel that will lend their professional expertise and share more about local efforts to support Chittenden County residents' ability to choose to lead active lives and incorporate nutritious, local foods into their meals. Everyone has a part in this health issue, specific next steps you can do as an individual as well as part of the community will be discussed. We hope to see you there!
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VPT Interviews Chapin Spencer on Sidewalks
 | | Vermont Newsguy - Sidewalks, Chapin Spencer, Director of Local Motion |
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On Purchasing Your First Bike
 by Peter Burns
Last week I was at a bike shop for a minor repair. A woman was trying to figure out what kind of bike to buy. She asked me what advice I would give to someone who wanted to ride, but had not done so since childhood.
I said, "Tell the bike guys what kind of riding you plan on doing, and they will help you pick out the right kind of bike. Take it slow at first, and gradually you will get in shape for riding."
If there had been more time I would have mentioned a few other
things as well --. Read more ...
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Local Motion member, storyteller and writer Peter Burns is an avid biker, walker and swimmer in the Burlington area. He began bike riding through the winter in the early 80's. A passionate advocate for biking and walking, he tries to maintain a tiny carbon footprint.
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Happy Trails!
Local Motion 2012 Crew: Brian, Chapin, Charlene, Christine, Dan, Don, Jane, Jason, Kevin, Leslye, Lou, Marion and Mary Catherine |
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