2012 Year in Review

2012 Year in Review

Yes this is an opinion piece so please, if I have forgotten anything please comment or shoot me an email.

Highlights in no particular order

1.        3 Feet Passing Law – From the Bike Fort Wayne Plan - The attention to local and state regulations and laws pertaining to bicycles represents another aspect of the policy orientation of the plan. Changes in laws and policies that define and promote safe use of roadways will reinforce the project and program components of this plan. For example, a state law that requires motorists to give cyclists at least three feet of space when passing, raises awareness of a safe practice and, since it is enforceable, can quickly facilitate a desirable shift in motorist behavior.

I have to tell you that this is by far the highlight of the year.  Thanks to the Planning and Policy Office for pushing this forward and for the City Council to see the value of safety for Fort Wayne Cyclists.  Next up on the Legislative Agenda, according to the Bike Fort Wayne Plan, Complete Streets.  Let’s do it!

2.       Fort Wayne named Bronze Level Bicycle Community by the League of American Bicyclists.  It is totally sweet that the efforts over that last few years have been recognized!

3.       The Towpath Trail Completed and Dedicated – All of those wishing to get near downtown from the Aboite area can now do so.  I haven’t been on this section as of yet but I hear it is awesome.  Read about it HERE

4.       The Fort 4 Fitness Spring Cycle Criterium and Bike Tour – I did not participate in the tour but I heard that it was a nice route and fairly well attended.  I actually spent all day at the Criterium and it was so cool that I will be there again next year!

5.       Return of Courteous Mass – Last year a couple Lawyer friends of mine scared the crap out of me about liability regarding the marginally popular Courteous Mass Ride so we quit it.  That changed this fall with the return of the ride thanks to 3 Rivers Velo Sports sponsorship and most importantly, insurance.  Every 2^nd Friday at Lawton Park.  Leaves at 6:30PM.

Not Necessarily Highlights

1.       The Fort 4 Fitness Bike the Fort – I volunteered and worked at a stop station for this.  I feel as though in order to increase participation in this event it needs to be free!  Cyclovia. Close the streets and let everyone ride everywhere with not a car in sight. We can make this happen!  I was surprised that anyone participated in this at all.  Why does it always have to be about money?  They actually charged people to go ride their bikes on City streets and quite a few people paid.  Obviously I am not the target market.

2.       The Lack of Implementation of Bike Fort Wayne Plan – The Bike Fort Wayne Plan was approved over 2 years ago and it called for bike infrastructure to be built all over town including on Calhoun and Fairfield and Ewing among many others.  It has not materialized at all!  We, the cyclists, are the losers here.  I have said it before and now I will say it again.  Trails (which I love!) cost hundreds of thousands of dollars per mile to get built.  Bike lanes/Bike Routes are a fraction of that cost per mile yet we seem to be hung up. Why?  I don’t get it.  

Hope to see you all at the Chilly Challenge tomorrow.

Later

2013 Chilly Challenge

Hey there gang.
This is coming up fast so I thought I had better put something out there about it.
Chilly Challenge info from 3 Rivers Velo Sports.  As always it is on New Year's Day!  1PM

In a nutshell. a few hundred of us crazies meet at Psi Ote Barn at Northside Park and ride up to Johnny Appleseed park to go watch the Real Crazies jump in the St. Joseph River.

 Here is video of last year's Real Crazies.



From there you can continue on to get in 15 or 25 miles. It is co sponsored by the Parks Department.  After you are done, we all meet back where we started and eat some chili and other fine snacks for free!  Thanks 3RVS!

I think this will be my 5th year doing it and it always is pretty entertaining.  I sure hope it's nice out.  The coldest I remember has been 7 degrees F a few years back.  The pace is usually pretty mellow so I always wear an extra layer or two.

Hope to see you there.
PJ

Bicycle Culture by Design

Breathtaking

How the Dutch got their cycle paths

I think I might have posted this before but who cares?  It's AWESOME!

Oh Man!

Exploring NYC during Sandy.....on bikes

Inspiring

a four year old kid rips some downhill.  Makes me want to head out to Franke Park

Friday fun

Espresso on the go full story and more pictures here

3 foot law passed!

It is official!  The Common Council of the City of Fort Wayne voted unanimously to approve G-11-08-12, an ordinance amending Title 7, Chapters 70, 71, 72, and 74 of the City of Fort Wayne Code of Laws.  In short this ordinance codifies a number of traffic laws with regard to transportation. 

While there is a few big changes like: making it legal to ride your bike on a sidewalk as long as you yield to pedestrians many of us in the cycling community are excited about the section regarding passing a cyclist.

SECTION 4. That Chapter 71, Title 7 of the City of Fort Wayne, Indiana Code of ordinances be amended as follows to add:

§ 71.06 OPERATION OF VEHICLES IN ROADWAYS WHERE BICYCLES

ARE PRESENT

(D) PASSING OF BICYCLES

The operator of a motor vehicle passing a bicycle proceeding in the same direction on a highway, street, or road shall leave a safe distance, but not less than three (3) feet, when passing the bicycle, and shall maintain that distance until safely past the overtaken bicycle.

We in the advocacy community have been lobbying the Indiana State Legislature for years to create a Vulnerable Road Users Law.  They have not.  This last year the bill was not given a vote in the Committee.

I would like to thank Mayor Thomas Henry, Community Development Department, the Ordinance Committee and the Fort Wayne Common Council for helping to create an environment within our great community that is friendly toward Bicycles.  This is BIG.    

This guy just amazes me

Courteous Mass July 2012

We are excited to get back into it.
Here is the drill.
All parties are welcome to join and help bring common courtesy back to the streets. For those who need a refresher on what Courteous Mass is, here is the deal:

1. The ride will respect and abide by the city’s traffic laws.
2. Rides will be on the slow side to ensure no one is dropped and that the Mass stays a mass
3. The Mass will only take up one lane, two when necessary for safety.
4. The ride will stop at red lights and stop signs. If a light turns red mid-mass, the riders who made the light should safely pull over to wait for those who were caught by the light.
5. Riders are asked to signal turns, call out danger, and communicate their intentions to other riders.
6. All riders are required to wear helmets

The goal of these rides is to be a visible and positive example of the cooperation that can exist between cars and bicycles when people respect the laws and each other. So join the Mass and help make Fort Wayne a better place for bicycles.

Ride is every 2nd Friday of the Month which is TOMORROW FRIDAY THE 13TH Meet at Lawton Park by the Softball Fields at 6:15, Ride at 6:30.

This is a 3 Rivers Velo Sports sponsored ride.  Thanks again to their Board for allowing us to bring it back!

Courteous Mass 2012

Hey Ya'll!
As you may or may not know, we discontinued the Courteous Mass ride due to the fact that we did not have insurance for our ride leaders (Vince and me).  I had a couple of lawyers tell me that I was crazy for putting myself in that position.  Their arguments made a heck of a lot of sense.
Fast forward to last Thursday.
Vince and I presented Courteous Mass to the Three Rivers Velo Sports Board of Directors as a viable touring ride for cyclists who want to ride in town.
They agreed and now our ride will be added to the 3RVS touring schedule!  Whoo Hoo!
Thanks to 3RVS especially Board President, Patrick Stelte for his support.

Will the ride change you ask?
Not really except we will have a more designated routes and all participants will be required to ride with helmets.
We are excited to get back into it.
Here is the drill.
All parties are welcome to join and help bring common courtesy back to the streets. For those who need a refresher on what Courteous Mass is, here is the deal:
• The ride will respect and abide the city’s traffic laws.
• Rides will be on the slow side to ensure no one is dropped and that the Mass stays a mass.
• The Mass will only take up one lane, two when necessary for safety.
• The ride will stop at red lights and stop signs. If a light turns red mid-mass, the riders who made the light should safely pull over to wait for those who were caught by the light.
• Riders are asked to signal turns, call out danger, and communicate their intentions to other riders.

The goal of these rides is to be a visible and positive example of the cooperation that can exist between cars and bicycles when people respect the laws and each other. So join the Mass and help make Fort Wayne a better place for bicycles.

Ride is every 2nd Friday of the Month.
Meet at Lawton Park by the Softball Fields at 6:15, Ride at 6:30.

July 13, 2012 is the next one.
Hope to see you all there.
Best,
FWBC

10 Most Bike-Friendly Campuses Across America - Best Colleges Online

10 Most Bike-Friendly Campuses Across America - Best Colleges Online

Should the bicycle friendliness of a University help to sway where you go to college?  If you are a huge biker then maybe it would.
I also was pretty stoked that my Alma Mater is listed at #8!  Go Northern Arizona University!

We are doing it again. Last Friday of the month Bike to Work Friday!

Dash In
Friday May 25th
7 - 8AM
Grab a coffee, talk bikes, bike products, bike commutes, bike advocacy, etc!
Join us...

From Forbes Magazine

Tanya Mohn, Contributor

I write about travel and road safety.

5/20/2012 @ 7:46AM |2,961 views

Pedaling to Prosperity: Biking Saves U.S. Riders Billions A Year

 

Biking on Woodward Avenue in Detroit, Michigan (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

New data highlight that bicyclists in the United States save at least $4.6 billion a year by riding instead of driving.
The analyses were released on Friday to coincide with National Bike to Work Day, part of National Bike Month, which occurs each May.
The average annual operating cost of a bicycle is $308, compared to $8,220 for the average car, and if American drivers replaced just one four-mile car trip with a bike each week for the entire year, it would save more than two billion gallons of gas, for a total savings of $7.3 billion a year, based on $4 a gallon for gas.
The findings were announced by the League of American Bicyclists, Sierra Club, and the National Council of La Raza, an advocacy organization for the Hispanic community, to reflect the strong economic and health benefits of bicycling, and its importance as a safe and efficient mode of transportation.
“There are so many reasons more people are riding, from improving their health to protecting the environment,” Andy Clarke, the League’s president, said in a statement. “But, especially in tough economic times, bicycling can also be an economic catalyst, keeping billions of dollars in the pockets of American families.”
More Americans are choosing to bicycle for everyday transportation. Between 2000 and 2010, the number of bicycle commuters grew 40 percent nationwide, and was even greater — 77 percent — in the some cities, according to the report.  Yet “government funding of safe bicycling projects is not keeping up. Though biking and walking account for 12 percent of all trips in theU.S., these transportation modes receive only 1.6 percent of federal transportation spending.”
The average American household spends more— 16 percent of its budget—on transportation than on food or healthcare. Low-income families spend as much as 55 percent of their household budgets on transportation, the report noted.
Making it easier and safer for people to walk or bicycle “is a matter of fairness,” Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood wrote on his blog Fast Lane on Friday. “Many Americans cannot afford a car or are physically unable to drive. According to a recent Brookings Institute report, more than 10 percent of Americans not only don’t own a car, but don’t even have access to a car. In our cities, that number is even higher.”
LaHood noted that walking and bicycling are options people want, citing a national poll released by Princeton Survey Research Associates International in March that indicated that “more than 80 percent of Americans support maintaining or increasing federal funding for biking and walking.” “The benefits of bicycling are real, and there’s no arguing with the impressive ridership data,” LaHood said. “Bicycling is an important part of the 21st century transportation mix.”
Click here for the full fact sheet and more about National Bike Month, and here to read: New Report Finds That More Biking and Walking Do Not Increase Crash Rate.

Bike month festivities continue!

May 22^nd        Breaking Away at the Downtown Library @ 6:30PM

Ride on down to the library during National Bike Month to view this Hoosier classic bicycling film. Dennis Christopher stars as a recent high school graduate in Bloomington, Indiana, who is caught with his friends drifting between high school and adulthood. Filmed entirely on location, it was named one of the American Film Institute's most inspiring films of all time.  Rated PG; 100 minutes; 1979 

Hope to see you there!

Fort Wayne 2012 Ride of Silence recap

And here are a few stills from the Journal Gazette.
http://www.journalgazette.net/apps/pbcs.dll/gallery?Site=JG&Date=20120516&Category=NEWS&ArtNo=516009998&Ref=PH

Thanks so much to all who came out, those who got the word out, Officer Griffin for the escort and the Journal Gazette for getting us some press.

Bicycles can change a city....for the better

The Next Great Technology Platform: The Bicycle - Atlantic Mobile

Bike commute to church!

This fixie? Was spotted in Emmanuel Lutheran Church today.  Awesome.

Bike to work day!

Last Friday of the month means bike to work day in Fort Wayne.  Meet at the Dash in on Calhoun for coffee and good times.  Hope to see you tomorrow.