Wheels & Heels

Email news from MoDOT Bicycle/Pedestrian Coordinator Caryn Giarratano

Greetings Windbenders,

It seems that every day I pedal harder but cannot regain contact with the peleton! I still love my job and am very grateful for any and all who volunteer to help me (and that’s a loooonng list!). In addition to my heavy daytime workload, I took a gold medal in the Show Me State Games road race and a silver in the State Championship Time Trial. I qualified in all four events to represent Missouri in the 2005 National Senior Games to be held in PA.

MoDOT is seeking input on the Statewide Transportation Improvement Program!!! See … http://www.modot.state.mo.us/ plansandprojects/construction_program/STIP2005-2009/STIP2005-2009.htm.

The Missouri Bicycle Federation continues to work well with the MoDOT Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Committee for which I serve as Chair. At the last BPAC meeting, Director Dave Snider spoke and Brad Temme from the Transportation Planning Enhancement Program presented the new funding application process for Transportation Enhancements (we use this money to fund many sidewalk and shared use path projects).

I have been sitting on the planning committee for the Missouri Trail Summit that will be held this fall and trying hard to rewrite MoDOT policy regarding BP. (The new rumble strip policy went into effect on July 1. Continuous, 16"x 5", milled rumble strips will be appearing four inches outside the edgeline on the paved state road shoulders in your community during new road construction or rehabilitation.) I gave an ADA (American with Disabilities Act) requirements presentation to a group of MoDOT folks using FHWA Barbara McMillen’s materials. I am thrilled to have the opportunity to sit on a committee to discuss editing the Project Development Manual regarding bicyclists and pedestrians.

MoDOT’s mission remains the same: to build, maintain and operate the state’s transportation system. Along those lines, the BPAC and MO Bicycle Federation have partnered to create a cross-state bike map. An intern in Transportation Planning is working hard to identify which of these routes have shoulders.

The Page Avenue bike lane opening celebration was May 28. Many MoDOT folks were in attendance, including Director Dave Snider and me. Lots of folks rode across this beautiful facility after the ribbon-cutting. I stoked for Glenn Meyer on his Litespeed tandem and rode with Larry Welty, Lucy Smith, Wesley Stephen, Ed Hassinger and Steve Sleet.

Coy Hart, LAB Road I Instructor from Springfield, presents a very thorough day-long class to teach bike-handling skills. I passed the written and practical tests and received a lovely certificate!

Update on Director Search: Commissioner Jim Anderson reported that the semifinalists were interviewed a couple of weeks ago and that someone should be on board by September. Team members are Patrick Lynn, senior policy advisor to Governor Holden; Senator Jon Dolan; Representative Lanie Black; Dr. Jack Magruder, Blue Ribbon Panel chair; Richard Walter, District 7 engineer; and Marge Schramm and Jim Anderson, commissioners. The Employees' Association also provided input on the specification. View the job specification at http://www.modot.mo.gov/jobs/. Click on Central District, then on Director of Transportation.

Good Law for Rail-Trail: Holden signed into law a bill protecting landowners from civil liability whose property adjoins state-designated trails, as well as municipal and county trails. This bill promotes the creation of new hiking, biking and walking trails. This bill also encourages the completion of Katy Trail State Park, which could stretch from St. Louis to Kansas City. See http://www.moga.state.mo.us/statutes/c200-299/2580000100.htm.

Show Me Better Biking Map Draft: A new draft revision of the proposed Cross-State Bicycle Route Map has been uploaded by the Missouri Bicycle Federation. The map pinpoints several east-to-west and north-to-south routes across the state, as well as identifying secondary highways throughout Missouri that offer great cycling. By going to this link for the MBF you can view the map, and then offer feedback on it if you are so inclined: http://www.mobikefed.org/mobikemap2004/index.html.

BP Statistics that Do NOT Involve Motorists: Crash statistics collected by the Highway Patrol include only those bicyclist crash statistics that occur with a motorized vehicle. For a better overall picture of bicycle crashes, look at the website with information from hospital databases. See… http://www.dhss.mo.gov/InjuryMICA/. Step #1, choose your variable...say, age. Step #2, click on mechanism and step #6, choose motor vehicle-non traffic...leave the default items checked. Click submit. After pulling up the initial grid, click on the hotlink to expand the chart to split out the different types of injuries.

Missouri Fitness Challenge: In Missouri 60% of adults are overweight or obese. One of the primary reasons for obesity is lack of physical activity. With 26.5% of Missouri's adults having no leisure-time physical activity and 44.1% of high school students not being enrolled in physical education classes, Missourians suffer from many chronic diseases caused by obesity. Costs associated with obesity in Missouri are estimated at $1.6 billion. This year SHAPE UP MISSOURI! will kick off on September 13th and run through November 5th (Registration began July 1st) with individuals, families and seniors from your community registering to participate in the challenge. See… http://www.mofitness.org/shapeupmo.htm. Shape Up Missouri makes national news… http://www.bikeleague.org/index.cfm.

The American Dream in America's Heartland… St. Charles County - a Place Where Everybody Knows Your Name: It's a reality at New Town at St. Charles, near Historic St. Charles in St. Charles County. The town was planned as a traditional neighborhood development with five compact, walkable and mixed-use neighborhoods - each is approximately a half-mile across - surrounding a series of lakes. The five neighborhoods are a mix of residential and commercial uses. See… http://home.businesswire.com/portal/site/altavista/index.jsp?ndmViewId= news_view&newsId=20040630005549&newsLang=en

MARC Continues to Support Pedestrians: The National Center for Bicycling and Walking (NCBW) has presented Walkable Community Workshops working with Metropolitan Planning Organizations (MPOs). Instructors give a presentation on the elements of a walkable community and solutions to common issues with results including traffic-calmed neighborhoods, revitalized main streets, more pedestrian-friendly intersections, accessible sidewalks and safe routes to school programs. Contact Aaron Bartlett, Mid-America Regional Council, abartlett@marc.org, 816-474-4240, http://www.marc.org/.

Hazardous Motorist Reporting System: A Department of Revenue program allows citizens to send confidential complaints about Missouri drivers who may be unsafe. This program has resulted in 2300 letters to drivers asking them to take steps to prove they are still able to drive safely. About one-third of those who receive the letters end up losing their driving privileges. An additional percentage receives driving restrictions. http://www.newstribune.com/stories/072603/sta_0726030021.asp, http://www.dor.mo.gov/mvdl/drivers/unsafe.htm

MO DNR Division of State Parks Seeks input…Help identify gaps in the system of state parks and historic sites by completing a survey at www.mostateparks.com/survey/.

St. Louis Has a Walkable Community Group: Join others who are interested in pedestrian safety and walkable communities by becoming a member of the "Walkable St. Louis" website. See… http://www.sustainstl.org/walkablestl/.

OTHER STATE NEWS

CA Shared Use Pavement Marking Approved by Committee: The bike + chevron shared lane marking was approved by the CA Traffic Control Device Committee. Next Caltrans (CA DOT) will need to adopt this pavement marking prior to being officially adopted in the MUTCD 2003 CA Supplement and available for use in California. See … http://www.bicycle.sfgov.org/site/dptbike_index.asp?id=22747.

CO Safe Routes to School Bill Becomes Law: The program is to help children bike and walk to school by providing for installation and improvement of bicycle/pedestrian trails and pathways, crossings and paved shoulders along roads around schools. Safe Routes calls for traffic calming and innovative programs like a "Walking or Biking School Bus," in which an adult chaperone travels daily along a set route through a neighborhood, allowing children to walk or bike together in a group. See… http://www.BicycleColorado.org/for/SafeRoutes.

IL Increasing Federal Funds to a State: The Illinois Federal Clearinghouse was created in 1999 to improve the ability of state agencies, businesses and other groups to secure appropriate federal grants, contracts and other investments. According to this report, in the first year of the clearinghouse's existence, the level of federal funding to state agencies rose by almost 19 percent. See… http://trb.org/news/blurb_detail.asp?id=3945.

MD Safe Routes to Schools Guidebook: The Maryland Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Committee, supported by the Maryland Department of Transportation and the Maryland Department of Health and Mental Hygiene recently published the "Maryland Safe Routes to Schools Guidebook."
See… http://fha.state.md.us/fha/cphs/chn/index.html.

MI Grant Recognizes Portland Efforts: This two-square-mile town of 3,789 people was the only Mid-Michigan city selected to receive a $100,000 "Cool Cities" grant from Granholm's pilot program. See… http://www.statenews.com/article.phtml?pk=24573, http://www.statenews.com/archives.phtml.

MT Police Ticket Motorists for Failure to Yield to Pedestrians: Using plain-clothed officers attempting to cross the street, Montana police officials wrote 48 citations, 35 for failure to yield the right of way to crossing pedestrians. See… http://www.kpax.com/Global/story.asp?S=2016163&nav=LpDlObOu

PA Has Safe Routes to School Program: State of Pennsylvania's program will help communities to enhance their revitalization efforts and ensure safe walking and biking routes to schools. See…
http://www.dot.state.pa.us/penndot/Bureaus/CPDM/Prod/Saferoute.nsf.

SC Receives a "Complete Streets" Grant: The Bikes Belong Coalition and the League of American Bicyclists announced the awarding of a "Complete Streets" grant of $50,000 to help South Carolina implement its policy to improve conditions for bicycling and walking. The SC Transportation Commission adopted a policy that promotes the development of "Complete Streets," defined as including consideration for bicyclists and pedestrians as a matter of routine on roads and highways. The Commission’s policy requires that SC counties and municipalities to make bicycling and pedestrian improvements an integral part of their transportation planning and programming where State or Federal Highway funding is utilized. See Palmetto Cycling Coalition… http://www.pccsc.net and LAB… http://www.bikeleague.org.

VT Pedestrian and Bicycle Facility Planning and Design Manual: State of Vermont Agency of Transportation; December 2002. See… http://www.aot.state.vt.us/progdev/ Documents/LTF/FinalPedestrianAndBicycleFacility/PedBikeTOC.html.

WS Truncated Dome Report for Access Ramps: The Wisconsin Department of Transportation has released a report that evaluates the constructability, durability, aesthetics and cost of selected handicap access ramps. The report also addresses conformity of the different ramps with Americans with Disabilities Act guidelines. See… http://trb.org/news/blurb_detail.asp?id=3948.

NATIONAL NEWS

TEA-21: The Conference Committee working to reconcile House and Senate proposals for the next Federal transportation bill was not able to finalize any legislation before Congress adjourned for the summer. It did extend existing TEA-21 programs through the end of September. The stumbling block continues to be overall funding levels. See…http://trb.org/news/blurb_detail.asp?id=3979 or http://www.transact.org/transfer/trans04/7_01.asp.

Safe Routes to School Course: The Pedestrian and Bicycle Information Center (PBIC) has received funding to develop a National Safe Routes to School Training. Participants will learn how to make changes to existing school routes to encourage and enable safe walking and bicycling, how to plan and properly accommodate new schools and develop an action plan for their area. See… http://www.bicyclinginfo.org/saferoutes_training.htm.

Olympic Cycling Schedule: Men's TT, 8/18, NBC, 12:30-4 p.m. ET; Women's TT, 8/18, NBC, 8 p.m. to midnight ET; Track, 8/20-25; Women's MT, 8/27, NBC, 12:30-2 a.m. ET; Men's MT, 8/28, NBC, 12:30-2 a.m. ET. See … http://www.usacycling.org/news/user/story.php?id=1150.

National Traffic Safety Data Collection: Before 9/10/04, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) is seeking public comment to help upgrade America's traffic safety data collection systems and to help reduce the incidence of death and injury on the country's roadways by increasing the flow of timely, accurate, uniform, complete, and accessible traffic safety data.
http://trb.org/news/blurb_detail.asp?id=3993.

Latest Developments in Traffic Control for Bicyclists: The National Committee on Uniform Traffic Control Devices (NCUTCD) has the role of advising the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) on additions and changes to the Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices (MUTCD). The MUTCD, published by the FHWA, is the standard across the United States for signing, pavement marking and all other traffic control on public roads and streets. To make the 2008 publishing date of the next Manual, changes need to be ready by early 2006. Changes being considered include… Shared Lane Symbol, Travel Mode Signs for shared use paths and Bicycle Guide Signing Improvements. See…http://members.cox.net/ncutcdbtc/signs/index.html or http://www.ncutcd.org/ or http://members.cox.net/ncutcdbtc/sponsors/btcsponspr04.pdf.

BP Question and Answer Database: "What is the ideal clearance height for a covered bridge for bicycle use?" "Is there a pedestrian-friendly route across the United States?" "What is the ideal crosswalk design pattern?" "How do I get my bicycle helmet to fit properly?" The Pedestrian and Bicycle Information Center (PBIC) receives hundreds of requests for technical information and assistance each year. PBIC is now developing a database of these questions and the responses provided by its team of experts and will make it available on PBIC websites in an easily searchable format. See… www.pedbikeinfo.org, www.walkinginfo.org, or www.bicyclinginfo.org.

Report to Assess Metropolitan Planning Organizations’ Support for BP: The National Center for Bicycling and Walking presents "Taking Steps" to assess MPOs on their bicycle and walking accommodations. See… http://www.bikewalk.org/assets/Reports/steps_booklet.pdf

Guidelines for Accessible Design Are Released: The U.S. Access Board has released new design guidelines that cover access for people with disabilities under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) of 1990. The guidelines detail how accessibility is to be achieved in new construction and alterations; and provide specifications for various building elements and spaces, including entrances, ramps, parking, restrooms and telephones, among others. The new design document updates the Board's ADA Accessibility Guidelines that were first published in 1991. See… http://trb.org/news/blurb_detail.asp?id=3977.

Travel Patterns of Older Americans with Disabilities: The U.S. Department of Transportation's Bureau of Transportation Statistics has released a report that examines and compares the travel patterns of older U.S. residents with disabilities to those of older residents without disabilities and to younger drivers with disabilities. See… http://trb.org/news/blurb_detail.asp?id=3975.

Mayor’s Bike Ride is Success: The state and local bicycle advocacy leaders of the Thunderhead Alliance have reported a strong showing for the second year of the Mayor’s Bike Ride, a memorial to one of Thunderhead’s founders, Susie Stephens. States who participated include…CO, IL, MN, OH, OK, PA, TX and WY. See… http://www.thunderheadalliance.org.

More Images Added to PBIC Online Image Library: The Pedestrian and Bicycle Information Center recently added 300 images to its searchable online image library. These images document innovative pedestrian, bicycle and traffic engineering treatments used in the United States, Germany, England and the Netherlands. See…http://www.pedbikeimages.org/.

Bikes Belong Has New Director: Tim Blumenthal, 49, current CEO of the International Mountain Bicycling Association (IMBA), has been picked from a pool of more than 500 applicants to direct Bikes Belong during its next phase of growth and bike industry leadership. He will start work in September. See…http://bikesbelong.org/.

Signal Study for Pedestrian Needs: The AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety is conducting an 18-month research project to evaluate design of pedestrian walking signals as well as walking speeds of older pedestrians. Signal Timing and Safety for Older Pedestrians project goals include defining recommended walking speeds for timed pedestrian intersection signals and determining areas in which pedestrian countdown signals should be used. Scott Osberg, sosberg@aaafoundation.org, http://www.aaafoundation.org.

Guide for Reducing Collisions with Pedestrians: The National Cooperative Highway Research Program (NCHRP) Report 500: Guidance for Implementation of the AASHTO Strategic Highway Safety Plan Volume 10: A Guide for Reducing Collisions Involving Pedestrians provides strategies that can be employed to reduce the number of collisions involving pedestrians is ready for review. See… http://trb.org/news/blurb_detail.asp?id=3905.

LAB Bicycle-Friendly Community Applications Due August 20: The League of American Bicyclist's Bicycle Friendly Community Campaign is a national grassroots effort to increase the number of trips made by bike, promote physical fitness, and help make communities more livable. The Campaign works to encourage bicycling, to achieve a bicycle-friendly America and is based on engineering, education, encouragement, enforcement and evaluation/planning initiatives. See… http://www.bicyclefriendlycommunity.org, http://www.bicyclefriendlycommunity.org/apply.cfm.

Walkable Community Workshop Application Deadline is August 13: For the past eight years, the National Center for Bicycling & Walking (NCBW) has presented the Walkable Community Workshop program (formerly called pedestrian road shows) to help make communities better places to live and travel by foot, by bike, by public transit and even by car. This program presents traffic calming programs; revitalization of main streets; more pedestrian-friendly intersections, accessible sidewalks and safe routes to school. Contact Bob Chauncey, http://www.bikewalk.org/technical_assistance/direct_assistance/wcw.htm, bob@bikewalk.org,

TRB Funding for New Solutions: The Transportation Research Board program, Innovations Deserving Exploratory Analysis (IDEA) will provide start-up funding for promising, but unproven, innovations in surface transportation systems. To be considered during the current award cycle,
proposals must be submitted by September 1, 2004. See http://gulliver.trb.org/publications/sp/idea_announcement.pdf.

OTHER NEWS

International Walk to School Events Schedules for October: The Partnership for Walkable America (PWA) announced that International Walk to School Week will be October 4-8, 2004 with the focus event of International Walk to School Day on October 6, 2004. Communities are encouraged to register their events online. In addition, professionals and other individuals who can provide expertise or resources in support of community efforts in their state are encouraged to register as resource people. See…www.walktoschool.org.
International Walk to School Awards: Forty-three programs representing thirteen countries participated in the first International Walk to School Award. This award recognizes the outstanding achievements made to encourage children to walk to and from school and create healthier, safer and more sustainable communities. The winner of the first IWALK Award is Buckinghamshire County Council in partnership with Holmer Green First School in England. Summaries of all the applicant programs are available at www.iwalktoschool.org.

Kayaker Hauls Bike: Mike Read is an outdoors and travel enthusiast who is tracing the trail of the Corps of Discovery in a most interesting manner: He is bicycling some segments of the Lewis and Clark National Historic Trail, while the wetter parts of it he is paddling in his Easy Rider kayak. When traveling by kayak Mike hauls his foldable Bike Friday Pocket Llama on board; when riding his bike he tows the kayak in a
trailer. "I am a kayaker carrying a bike on board for road trips around obstacles," Mike says, revealing his preferred mode of travel. He has dedicated his solo journey to the memory of Sacajawea. See… http://www.mikeread.com>http://www.mikeread<http://www.mikeread.com>.com

President Bush has become a serious mountain biker: See… http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/C/CVN_BUSH_MOUNTAIN_BIKING? SITE=COFRI&SECTION=HOME& TEMPLATE=DEFAULT.

Bicycle Friendly Cities Applications Are Due August 20: The League of American Bicyclists is sponsoring a Bicycle Friendly Community Campaign to increase the number of trips made by bike, promote physical fitness and help make communities more livable. The League application asks for information on engineering, education, encouragement, enforcement and evaluation or planning initiatives that encourage bicycling and make these activities safer. Applications received on or before August 20, 2004 will be considered in the next application review cycle, with announcements of winning communities scheduled for October 2004. See… http://www.bicyclefriendlycommunity.org Application… http://www.bicyclefriendlycommunity.org/apply.cfm.

Prevent Injuries Due to Poor Bike Fit: For weekend bicycle enthusiasts and Tour racers alike, the risk of a bicycle-related injury may increase with an ill-fitting bicycle, says the American Physical Therapy Association (APTA). "Good bike fit promotes good posture with muscles and joints working in harmony. If this doesn't exist, riders will likely experience pain and be predisposed to injury." APTA says the most common bike fit errors include excessive saddle height, excessive handlebar reach and misalignments of the pedal and shoe. See… http://www.apta.org.

Bicycling ad for Nike: http://www.nike.com/wearyellow/seelanceride/main.html. (After watching this man ride for years, I think Lance has a cameo in this with the hospitalized children but someone else rode the rest. See what you think.)

Traffic Calming for Bicycles and Pedestrians Photos Are Available: See… http://www.drdul.com/docs/bikecalm.pdf.

Detection of Bicycles by Quadrupole Loops: A study on traffic sensors by Steven G. Goodridge, Ph.D.
http://www.humantransport.org/bicycledriving/library/signals/detection.htm.

Conclusions "Safety in Numbers" by Peter Jacobsen (Injury Prevention, 2003; 9:205-209): Where more people walk or bicycle, the less likely they are to be injured by motorists; Motorist behavior controls collisions with people walking and bicycling; Efforts to enhance pedestrian and cyclist safety need to focus on modifying motorist behavior; Policies that increase walking and bicycling appear to be an effective means to improving the safety of people walking and bicycling. See… http://ip.bmjjournals.com/cgi/content/full/9/3/205

Bike Helmets Tested: Consumer Reports has an article on helmets in their July issue. Twenty-nine helmets were rated for safety: 15 adult helmets, eight youth models and six toddler helmets.
http://www.consumerreports.org, http://www.helmets.org

Special Project and Pilot Study Funds Deadline is August 30: The purpose of the "Mini-grant" program of the National Children's Center for Rural and Agricultural Health and Safety is to support small-scale projects and pilot studies that address prevention of childhood agricultural disease and injury. A maximum of $15,000 may be requested. Contact Barbara Lee, 800-662-6900x1, lee.barbara@mcrf.mfldclin.edu, http://www.marshfieldclinic.org/research/children/childrensReport/.
Precedent-Setting Ruling in Bicyclist Dooring Case in Toronto, Canada: Bicycling activist Hannah Evans won $1,125 in damages plus a portion of her legal costs from the city yesterday in small-claims court, in a decision her lawyers labeled a test case. See… http://tinyurl.com/3xryw

PEPTRAN Software Plots Routes: The European Community Research and Development Information Service (CORDIS) reports that a European Union-funded project has developed a new journey planning software, Pedestrian and Public Transport Navigation (PEPTRAN), that develops proposed routes based on driving, walking and public transport services. See… http://trb.org/news/blurb_detail.asp?id=3934

Mighty MO Canoe Rental: Take a float trip from Rocheport down the Missouri River. See… http://www.mighty-mo.com/.

SOURCES OF INFORMATION

Adventure Cycling … http://www.adventurecycling.org
American Pedestrian and Bicycle Professionals … http://www.apbp.org/
Bikes Belong Coalition … http://www.bikesbelong.org
League of American Bicyclists …http://www.bikeleague.org, bill@bikeleague.org.
Missouri Bicycle Federation … www.mobikefed.org
National Center for Bicycling & Walking … http://www.bikewalk.org, info@bikewalk.org
Transportation Research Board …http://www.TRB.org, rhouston@nas.edu

CALENDAR

September 7-10 Pro Walk/Pro Bike 2004 will be held in Victoria, British Columbia, Canada, the National Center for Bicycling and Walking, http://www.bikewalk.org/PWPB2004/PWPB2004.htm.

October 4-8 is International Walk to School Week.

October 6 is International Walk to School Day.

October 7-9 the first Missouri Trail Summit conference will be held in Columbia, MO, for all types of trail users, planners and builders from single track in the woods to on-road paved roads. Paula Diller, paula@mopark.org, 573-636-3828, www.mopark.org.

October 21-24 17th National Trails Symposium, Austin, Texas, Dr. John Collins, University of North Texas, Department of Kinesiology, Health Promotion & Recreation, 940-565-3422, Collins@coe.unt.edu, http://www.americantrails.org.

November 1 in Jefferson City, MO…The MoDOT Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Committee (BPAC) will meet 10 am to 3 pm. See…http://www.modot.mo.gov/othertransportation/bike_ped/BikePedProgram--BPAC.htm.

Please forward this newsletter to anyone you feel may be interested. If you are not on the mailing list and would like to be added, please email me your address information.

Tailwinds, Caryn

caryn.giarratano@modot.mo.gov, www.modot.mo.gov, 573-522-9297, POB 270, Jefferson City, MO 65102-0270Email news from MoDOT Bicycle/Pedestrian Coordinator Caryn Giarratano

permanent link to article: "Wheels and Heels – July 2004"
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