Kelly Ave Speed Enforcement

[An excerpt from a community list serve to the police:]

Greetings,

Please, Please come back. Even with "Your Speed" sign, cars are whizzing at 40 + in a 25 zone
...
MTA BUSES are guilty with every passing in both direction.

Suggest you make personal visit in unmarked car and observe.

Don't get out of your car. You might get hit by a bus !

Pedestrian & Bike traffic sharing the road is UP.

SAFETY FIRST,

Will look forward to seeing the officers.
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My bike

[Combine: a lot of people ask about my bike and the following request from Xtracycle and you get this post.]
Experience the practical and magical on an Xtracycle
A Humble Request

We here at Xtracycle are proud of all the changes we've seen in the last year - for our company, our community, our country. But sometimes that pride gets in the way of being true to the fact that we are still a company that has employees, an office, and a warehouse full of stuff (even a forklift!) - and all of these wonderful things cost money.

The recent economic slowdown has affected our distributors, our retailers, and in the last few months we've felt it as well. We are proud, but we should be honest too. We need your support. We need your business, and we need it now. We are committed to make it through tough times stronger, more resilient, and focused on the goal of building bikes that change lives. And we also have to pay the bills. Purchasing Xtracycle products, right now, will keep all of us healthy and strong.

Help us sell 100 Xtracycles by the end of may - we all know someone who will benefit from becoming an Xtracycle owner. We'll keep you posted on our progress each day - check our blog for updates. We are grateful for the opportunity to serve you.

We are grateful for the opportunity to serve you.

Xtracycle - The Original Longtail Company
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Study: Walkable Communities Lead to Increased Physical Activity

The results of an eight-year study examining whether physical attributes of a community contribute to physical activity have been published in the April 2009 volume of Social Science and Medicine. Researcher Jim Sallis, funded by the National Institutes of Health, evaluated 32 communities in the Seattle WA and Baltimore MD regions and found those who lived in walkable neighborhoods got substantially more exercise each week than those living in low-walkable areas. Residents of walkable communities were also less likely to be overweight or obese. USA Today provides more details on the study. The findings are available to purchase online.
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LaHood to Streetsblog: No, I’m Not Changing the Name of My Blog

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* Though you don't really get the sense that LaHood lives and breathes transportation policy like, say, New York City's Janette Sadik-Khan, a lot of the right words are coming out of his mouth these days. Yesterday's talk wasn't limited to roads, bridges and zillion dollar mega-projects. The Obama Administration, he said, is committed to a transportation policy that will "enhance mobility, support a cleaner environment and help make our communities more livable." LaHood is clearly making the connection between transportation policy and urban development. He said (and I'm condensing this a little bit): "What we’re trying to do is take some of the resources we have on the transit side and connect them with what Secretary Donovan wants to do. We want to create livable communities. Portland is really the model for it. We want to create housing opportunities so that people can walk out their front doors and go wherever they want to go without getting into an automobile. That’s really the goal."

Amen, Secretary.

After the talk I introduced myself and Streetsblog to LaHood and told him that we'd like to sit down with him for a Q&A in Washington D.C. some time soon. LaHood said that he had his own blog too, The Fast Lane. Had I seen it?

"Of course," I said. "Streetsblog readers are big fans. But what do you think about changing the name of your blog to The Fast Track?"

Someone in the background, I think one of his staffers, laughed. LaHood stopped walking and gave me what I took to be a who-is-this-insane-person kind of look.

"We think Fast Lane works pretty well," he said, and headed off to a medal ceremony for the ferry crew members who rescued US Air Flight 1549 in the Hudson River last winter.

All I'm saying is think about it, Ray. Think about it.
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Chairmen Rockefeller and Lautenberg Introduce National Surface Transportation Policy Bill

WASHINGTON, D.C.- Today, Senator John D. (Jay) Rockefeller, IV (D-WV), Chairman of the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation, and Senator Frank Lautenberg (D-NJ), Chairman of the Subcommittee on Surface Transportation, introduced The Federal Surface Transportation Policy and Planning Act of 2009. This important legislation establishes a comprehensive and unifying mission for the nation’s surface transportation system.

“The United States’ population is projected to rise to 420 million people by 2050, a 50 percent increase from the year 2000. This growth will only exacerbate the congestion and mobility challenges that plague our national surface transportation system today. We need to establish a blueprint for a 21st century surface transportation system,” said Chairman Rockefeller. “This bill does just that. I look forward to working with my Senate colleagues on this blueprint as we move forward on reauthorizing and reforming the surface transportation programs.”

“A national surface transportation policy for our country is long overdue,” Senator Lautenberg said. “We need a transportation policy that reestablishes our leadership throughout the world when it comes to transportation – and meets our country’s transportation demands for generations to come. This legislation will establish a national policy that improves safety, reduces congestion, creates jobs, and protects our environment.”

BACKGROUND
The surface transportation programs authorized under the Safe, Accountable, Flexible, Efficient Transportation Equity Act: a Legacy for Users (SAFETEA-LU) enacted in 2005 will expire at the end of this September. The National Surface Transportation Policy and Revenue Study Commission created by SAFETEA-LU and other transportation policy experts have called for the creation of a cohesive national policy with performance-based outcomes, and a fundamental restructuring of the federal surface transportation programs. The Federal Surface Transportation Policy and Planning Act of 2009 establishes the foundation for making these reforms.

This introduction of The Federal Surface Transportation Policy and Planning Act of 2009 follows President Obama’s proclamation of the week of May 10th as National Transportation Week in recognition of the importance of the transportation infrastructure to our nation’s economy and security.

Summary of The Federal Surface Transportation Policy and Planning Act of 2009
The Federal Surface Transportation Policy and Planning Act of 2009 would lay out a strategic, integrated plan that will address the challenges to our national infrastructure and federal programs.


Major Goals of The Federal Surface Transportation Policy and Planning Act of 2009
• Reduce national per capita motor vehicle miles traveled on an annual basis;
• Reduce national motor vehicle-related fatalities by 50 percent by 2030;
• Reduce national surface transportation-generated carbon dioxide levels by 40 percent by 2030;
• Reduce national surface transportation delays per capita on an annual basis;
• Increase the percentage of system-critical surface transportation assets that are in a state of good repair by 20 percent by 2030;
• Increase the total usage of public transportation, intercity passenger rail services, and non-motorized transportation on an annual basis;
• Increase the proportion of national freight transportation provided by non-highway or multimodal services by 10 percent by 2020; and
• Reduce passenger and freight transportation delays and congestion at international points of entry on an annual basis.

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Bike to Work Day attracts record number of riders

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Several riders, who met at City Hall for a rally this morning to mark the day, said the city has made progress in marking lanes and installing bike racks. They credit Mayor Sheila Dixon, who rides two or three days a week, with starting to transition from an all-car culture.

"There have been a lot of changes," Shoken said. "It's great to have a mayor who rides a bike."

The mayor also did some riding this morning and attended the rally for Bike to Work Day, sponsored by the Baltimore Metropolitan Council, a coalition of the region's elected officials. Stephanie Yanovitz, a senior transportation planner for the council, said 1,016 people registered for the ride in Baltimore and five surrounding counties - a record number. About 800 registered last year.

Yanovitz said the group would do a follow-up survey with riders to see how many plan to continue commuting by bike and how their trip today went. The group has information about biking on its Web site, baltometro.org, and has regular riders who can offer advice on routes, riding in traffic and how to handle logistics such as what to do about work clothes.
...
His advice to new riders: scout a route in your car, incorporating your comfort level with traffic; consider riding just a day or two at first rather than all five work days; keep some work clothes at work so you don't have to carry them; and have a positive attitude. Also, wear bright colored clothes and keep yourself visible. More people get into sticky situations because drivers don't see them, he said.

And, support the cause. "Events like this [Bike to Work Day] increases awareness people are doing this. The city is supporting it, businesses are supporting it. And more and more employers are finding places for people to put their bikes. We're all better off."

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Light Blossom

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Light Blossom collects its own energy from the sun and wind by transforming its appearance throughout the day. At night, its efficient LEDs beam light only where needed - and only when needed - through proximity sensing.

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Senate Bill Steers Away From the Car

By Alec MacGillis
Washington Post Staff Writer
Thursday, May 14, 2009

As stimulus spending on highways and bridges ramps up, Senate Democrats are submitting legislation today that suggests the nation's transportation policy is headed for a major overhaul, with a strong emphasis on reducing automobile use and carbon emissions and boosting public transit, inter-city rail and rail freight service.

Sen. John D. Rockefeller IV (D-W.Va.), chairman of the Commerce, Science and Transportation Committee, and Sen. Frank Lautenberg (D-N.J.) are introducing legislation that they say lays out the guidelines of what they expect the next five-year federal transportation spending plan to accomplish. Their goal is to influence the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, which is responsible for drafting the spending plan. The House plan is expected in early June, and the bill is due for reauthorization this fall.

Among other goals, the Senate legislation decrees that the plan must reduce per capita motor vehicle miles traveled on an annual basis, reduce national surface transportation-generated carbon dioxide levels by 40 percent by 2030, and increase the proportion of national freight provided by means other than trucks by 10 percent by 2020.

"A national surface transportation policy for our country is long overdue," Lautenberg said. "We need a transportation policy that reestablishes our leadership throughout the world when it comes to transportation -- and meets our country's transportation demands for generations to come."

There was disappointment among both highway boosters and transit advocates that initial versions of the economic stimulus package provided $35 billion for transportation projects, less than five percent of the package. Transit advocates were cheered, though, when the White House added $8 billion for high-speed rail at the last minute.

The focus for those trying to ascertain the administration's transportation agenda has since turned to the five-year bill, which is expected to cost at least $400 billion. One big question is how the government plans to fund transportation spending, with revenue from the gas tax increasingly falling short. The new Senate bill does not address that problem.

Another big question is how much the bill will provide for public transportation. As it now stands, 80 percent of federal transportation money goes to highways. But David Goldberg, an official with the advocacy group Transportation for America, said Congress and the White House are sending signs that the new plan could represent a major break. The White House has already said it hopes to spend $1 billion per year on high-speed rail.

"We are optimistic," Goldberg said.

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Thoughts on bike safety not like playing Russian Roulette at all

With it being Bike Month and all and people looking into biking more here are some of my thoughts on bike safety on roads:

For some reason we think exposure (the amount of miles or time spent) in traffic has an influential affect on safety. The longer you are out there the higher your chance of getting into an accident, sort of like playing Russian Roulette every time you want go somewhere each mile is another spin of the chamber and click of the hammer. But what if that is not a good analogy at all?

First it helps to understand where the concept comes from. As we look at automobile use we see the number of miles driven increasing three times the rate of the population, so it is hardly fair to compare raw total crash counts of today with that of ten years ago. So how do we compare? At first glance miles driven seems like a good idea but think about it, just because you have to drive further to do the same daily chores families did 10 years ago does that make your life safer? Hardly.

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AARP Calls for Streets to Accommodate Older Citizens

Road Planners Display Blind Spot for Oncoming Generation of Older Drivers

Update Design Guidelines and Complete Streets Will Accommodate Everyone, AARP Report Challenges


WASHINGTON, DC--Two-thirds of transportation planners and engineers have yet to begin addressing older people in their street planning; yet by 2025, 64 million people will be over age 65 according to census projections and by 2030 a quarter of all U.S. drivers will be 65+. This is the alarm raised by “Planning Complete Streets for the Aging of America” a major new report on roadway safety and the aging of the American population from AARP’s Public Policy Institute. The full report can be found here: <a href="http://www.aarp.org/">http://www.aarp.org/</a>[…]/2009_02_streets.html.

Streets, sidewalks and roadways designed to achieve “Complete Streets” can make getting around safer for everyone, the report suggests. Yet in a poll of adults age 50+ also conducted for the report, two in five said their neighborhood sidewalks were inadequate (although, by 2030, 20% of those age 65+ will not be drivers). Nearly half said they could not cross main roads close to their home safely, preventing many from walking, bicycling or taking the bus. But safer, more accessible streets won’t happen until federal, state and local authorities and planners wake up to the need for roads that address the challenges of the coming age wave, the report charges.

“Improvements can reduce older driver crashes and pedestrian injuries without adversely affecting traffic; in many instances, local travel flow and accessibility are improved,” said Nancy LeaMond, AARP Executive Vice President for Social Impact. “But while a growing number of states and localities have Complete Streets policies, too few have been built. Furthermore, an outdated bias in engineering practices competes with current local desire for user-friendly “Complete Streets” design.

The report recommends that federal, state, and local highway and street design guidelines serve older people by 1) reducing vehicle travel speeds at intersections where older drivers and pedestrians need more time to make decisions and execute changes, 2) making the physical layout of roads, crosswalks and sidewalks easier to navigate, and 3) making it easier for older drivers and pedestrians to notice, read, understand and respond to visual cues and information.

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