Charlotte Area Bicycle Alliance (CABA) » Events – national

NEWS FLASH ! BIKE-PEDS LOSE IN D.C.

martinzimmerman8 — Sat, 04 Feb 2012 10:20:03 +0000

Partisanship triumphs once again

DATELINE: 8:41 a.m. Feb. 3 -

The U.S. House of Representatives Transportation and Infrastructure Committee yesterday voted down the bipartisan Petri/Johnson/Lipinski amendment that would have fixed many of the deficiencies in the House transportation bill, particularly as they relate to the “Transportation Enhancements” ( a major source of traditional bike-ped funding ) and the “Safe Routes to School” programs. “Safe Routes to Schools” is currently administered locally through the Mecklenburg County Health Dept.

The vote as expected was along party lines, with 29 Republicans voting against funding (2 Republicans in favor, including the amendment cosponsors).

But all is not lost. This was a committee vote. It may not be the nail in the coffin.

See how Congresspersons voted now.

Please phone NC Rep. Shuler and thank him for his support.

NC Rep.Coble voted with the Republican majority.

Rep. Heath Shuler – Democrat -225.6401 (area code 202)

Rep. Howard Coble – Republican – 225.3065 (area code 202)

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TECHNICAL DETAILS:

The bill contains changes to two of the three core programs for pedestrian and bicycle infrastructure; one program remains intact:
1) The Recreational Trails program is consistent with the structure under SAFETEA-LU. Funding is established at $85 million for each of fiscal years 2013 – 2016.

2) The Safe Routes to School Program is eliminated in its entirety.
Eliminating the SRtS program means the loss of $180 million per fiscal year for infrastructure and non-infrastructure projects to support walking and bicycling as modes of transportation for children to school, as well as the established institutional support of the SRtS coordinators at each state DOT.

3)    The Transportation Enhancement activities remain eligible under the Surface Transportation Program, but the 10 percent set-aside of apportioned funds is stricken.Eliminating dedicated funding for transportation enhancement activities means these projects will have to “compete” for prioritization with all other surface transportation projects in regional and state planning processes. The following activities which were eligible under SAFETEA-LU are eliminated:
a.    Acquisition of scenic or historic easements, including battlefields
b.    Historic preservation
c.    Rehabilitation and operation of historic transportation facilities
d.    Preservation of abandoned railway corridors
e.    Establishment of transportation museums
These five categories combined comprise 24% of all state DOT project programming of TE activities since 1992. Eliminating these activities will significantly restrict the flexibility state DOTs have relied upon in the past to enhance the nation’s surface transportation system. This is especially true for the two most popular activities of these five singled out for elimination, rehabilitation and operation of historic transportation facilities (9.4% of all TE activity) and preservation of abandoned railway corridors (7.2%).

Outside of the three core programs, there are two other noticeable provisions of this bill for pedestrian, bicycle and trail interests:
1) Funding for the CMAQ program is moved to the new “Alternative Transportation Account,” which was previously the Mass Transit Account.
2) The ability of state DOTs to use CMAQ or STP apportionments to fund bicycle and pedestrian coordinator positions is stricken. Eliminating the bicycle and pedestrian coordinator positions represents a huge step backward for state DOTs. It passes more of the burden of administering federal-aid highway programs directly to them.

CABA INVITE ! – DNC 2012

martinzimmerman8 — Sat, 15 Oct 2011 13:25:55 +0000

CABA selected to serve

Democratic National Convention Advisory Group for Sustainability

At the request of Dan Murrey and his Host Committee staff (with the behind the scenes support of Mayor Anthony Foxx ), we are pleased to announce that CABA will participate directly in convention planning in the coming months.

We pledge to make this the greenest convention with the smallest carbon footprint to ever land in the Queen City !

We intend to provide expertise to promote an innovative green transportation framework that will equal or surpass the success of the 2008 Denver convention. We will join other NGO partners incuding June Blotnick of Clean Air Carolina, Shannon Binns of Sustain Charlotte and Bill Gupton of the Sierra Club. We look forward to this opportunity to advance cycling as an integral component of the bigger mobility picture.

League of American Bicyclists – SUMMIT IN D.C.

martinzimmerman8 — Fri, 25 Mar 2011 15:00:31 +0000

N.C. cycle delegation mounts Capitol Hill

800 total delegates ! The most ever !!

Last year we had 17 delegates from all over N.C. This year: 20 ! Talk about an adrenalin rush ! This year Ray LaHood, US Secretary of Transportation, spoke along with Janette Sadik-Khan, NY City’s bicycle czar. Since 2007, the Big Apple has completed more than 250 miles of bike lanes and 20 miles of cycle track.

Charlotte’s delegates this year included Bart Stetler (Queen City Bikes), and Jim Grover (Pres./Tarheel Trailblazers). For the Streetsblog wrap up article, CLICK: League of American Bicyclists Summit. Each year on the final day of the Summit NC delegates lobby on Capitol Hill at all the NC Congressional offices. This year’s theme was to advocate that no money be cut from bicycle and pedestrian programs.

DEMOCRATIC CONVENTION 2012

martinzimmerman8 — Fri, 12 Nov 2010 21:00:13 +0000

What it means for Charlotte … and biking

One doesn’t need to be partisan to recognize the benefits.

30,000 to 35,000 delegates, national and international media, key policy and political decision-makers and other visitors to area hotels, restaurants, entertainment and other businesses
New construction and other jobs for two years leading up to and during convention week. Early estimate of $150 million – $200 million potential economic impact for an estimated $40 million – $45 million investment – to help support libraries, schools, parks, public safety and other services crucial to quality of life.

And that’s not all. Do you know that there was bike sharing at the 2008 Denver Convention, and a surplus of $1 million that was poured back into bicycle accommodations after the convention ended. Talk about “green” dividends !

CLICK: Here‘s m y vote, to add your name to the rest and to tell the power brokers that Charlotte is where it’s happening. Word has it that they’re checking out local support very carefully before making a decision at the end of this year.The convention is set for September 2012. The Iowa caucuses and New Hampshire primary take place that February, less than 15 months away.

CYCLING NATIONAL CAMPAIGN

martinzimmerman8 — Sat, 23 Oct 2010 12:00:45 +0000

Peopleforbikes.org surpasses 100,000

They’re not asking for money – just log in and vote. The idea is simple enough. It’s a way to show our elected leaders and the public that people across the entire country that we believe that bicycling is important and should be promoted. The goal is 1 million signers.

Lance Armstrong, mountain bike legend Gary Fisher, Minneapolis Mayor R.T. Rybak, and basketball-great Bill Walton have signed the pledge; More than 1,000 Trek, Specialized, Cannondale, and Performance Bike shops coast to coast have gathered hand-written pledges at their sales counters. Now it’s your turn. CLICK: I support cycling and take 5 seconds to finish.

CABA in CHATTANOOGA

martinzimmerman8 — Wed, 15 Sep 2010 00:00:23 +0000

National leadership conference

100 leaders meet and greet

Martin Zimmerman, CABA Exec. Director and scholarship grantee - has returned from a gathering aboard the Delta Queen of 100 reps. from sister organizations in the US and Canada sponsored by the Association of Bicycling and Walking (ABW). Valuable information and networking to help the cause of cycling and walking in urban areas. Chattanooga is moving up the charts for its progress as a “green” community and fun place to live. If you go there, make sure to try out the Walnut Street bridge, which is one of the longest car-free bridges in the world.

Another major conference in Chattanooga – ProBike/ProWalk 2010 has been attended by CABA members and supporters Chris Gladora, Dick Winters, and John Cock (Alta Design).

Walnut St bike/ped bridge (left) spanning the Tennessee River

COOL BLOGS AND WEBSITES

martinzimmerman8 — Wed, 18 Aug 2010 06:05:46 +0000

Bicycle Kinetic Sculpture

Beware of Rat King

Funky, zany, and outrageous ! It’s catching on in the U.S. and Europe. CLICK: 9th Annual Baltimore Kinetic Sculpture Race for a hilarious set of images.

Air cosmonauts lead the way

WIN A BIKE ! raffle for CABA

martinzimmerman8 — Mon, 16 Aug 2010 16:00:53 +0000

New Belgium Brewing offers Cruiser bikes

Here’s how it works: Make a$2 donation to CABA using the icon on this webpage. $2 = 1 entry; $20 bucks = 10 entries, etc.

Each month from June until October NBB will be giving away 2 of these bad boys!

Enter as many times as you like
Bikes will be shipped to a bike shop near you. About the bike….it’s a Felt-made cruiser complete with phat red rims, custom fenders, and killer front rack. This rack has wood slats made from repurposed wood.

New Belgium Brewery of Ft. Collins, CO brews Fat Tire Ale and sponsored the successful June 20 Urban Assault Ride in Charlotte

Ray LaHood SPEAKS OUT

martinzimmerman8 — Mon, 26 Apr 2010 12:00:10 +0000

8 Minute segment on NPR News

DATELINE: April 25 – US Dept. of Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood announces what he’s calling a “sea change” in transportation policy. “We’re elevating it to the point where as we develop new road systems, as we develop communities where people can use light rail or street cars or buses, bike trails and walking paths will be equal partners, if you will, and equal components of those kinds of transportation opportunities in communities across America,” LaHood tells NPR’s Guy Raz.

LaHood is also pushing the idea of a nationwide interstate biking system. To listen to the full 8 minute segment and read the blog comments CLICK: LaHood gives the finger. And thanks to Kathy Z for passing this info onto CABA.

NEWS FLASH

martinzimmerman8 — Sun, 18 Apr 2010 12:00:19 +0000

US Sec. of Transp. speaks out

“At long last, the feds have said the needs of pedestrians and cyclists must be placed alongside, not behind, those of motorists. In what amounts to a sea change for the Department of Transportation, the automobile will no longer be the prime consideration in federal transportation planning. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood ….makes it clear that walking and riding are “an important component for livable communities.”

LaHood wrote on his blog. “This is the end of favoring motorized transportation at the expense of non-motorized.”

For full article on Autopia blog, CLICK: LaHood