We've Moved

Bike Delaware News Has Relocated

We would like to announce that after about 11 months of effort and lots of talk Bike DE finally went live with their new website. The site is still at the original address: http://www.bikede.org/

This new site will combine the old website content along with the blog content. A one stop shop for Bike DE! As a precaution, we will not delete this blog until we are 100% configured and functional. There will be no new entries posted here, however.

The only items our users need to adjust for this change is to update any RSS feeds you might have configured to use http://www.bikede.org/feed/ rather than the old blogger address. Also, remove the word "index" from our home page address on any bookmarks, links, or shortcuts you may have saved (right click, "properties").

The new site will continue to evolve over the coming months as Bike DE continues to grow so keep coming back to see what is new!

Thank you,

Bike DE Public Relations and Web Crew

BOD

Bicycle-Oriented Development

A lot of folks have heard about "TOD" ("transit-oriented development"). Why can't we have "BOD" ("bicycle-oriented development") too?

By Linda Baker

Published September 20, 2011 in the New York Times

PORTLAND, Ore. — Portland is nationally recognized as a leader in the movement to create bicycle-friendly cities. About 7 percent of commuters here travel by bike (the national average is under 1 percent) and the city has an ambitious plan, adopted last year, to increase that proportion to 25 percent by 2030.

Until recently, Portland’s bike initiatives focused on improving the transportation infrastructure, said Roger Geller, the city’s bicycle coordinator. But as businesses awaken to the purchasing power of cyclists, “bicycle-supported developments” are also beginning to appear around town, Mr. Geller said. These are residential and commercial projects built near popular bikeways and outfitted with cycling-related services and amenities.

An indoor bike rack at EcoFlats in Portland

Read more>>

Montreal Gazette: Cyclists need be cowboys no more

by Mira Katnick

September 19, 2011

Published in the Montreal Gazette

Montreal -- For those who hadn’t biked in Montreal prior to its recent transformation into a bicycling city, I would like to explain how it was to be an urban cyclist. Cyclists had to take on a different mentality; some would say they had to act like cowboys. We became cowboys because there was no place for cyclists in the city. There were no apparent regulations for cyclists, so we had to make our own rules. We’d go through intersections on walk signals; no one wanted us on the roads, so we’d follow the rules of the sidewalk. We’d go on green lights with a no-walk signal; no one wanted us on the sidewalk either, so we’d follow the rules of the road. We had to jostle our way between parked cars and speeding traffic, keeping a careful eye out for parked cars opening doors. We’d dread having to play tag with city buses, which ride at the same pace as a bicycle, weaving in and out of the path of bicycles to reach bus stops. The only way to get out of bus tag is to get ahead by running red lights. Cycling through red lights was also a necessity in order to get ahead of the adjacent traffic that would tend to turn right as soon as the light would turn green without signalling or checking for bikes. Thankfully, through the perseverance of the bicycling community in co-operation with the cities on the island of Montreal, an incredible network of appropriate bicycle paths has been built, giving access to a growing population of urban bicyclists. With this transformation there is a slow but sure change in the mentality of cyclists. We now have a dedicated place on the roads. With this newly established sense of place comes pride for our space and a desire to hold onto it and ensure that these paths are not taken away from us. We have a place to commute without jostling amongst opening doors and bus routes. We are seeing (in most places) that priority is given to cyclists at intersections and that traffic lights take into account the requirements of the cyclist. At first we had to yell at cars and pedestrians to remind them to heed the newly paced traffic lights, but now even the other cowboys on the road are starting to follow the rules set up around cyclists. I have heard on numerous occasions surprise to see cyclists stopping at red lights and stop signs, but I’m not surprised. Civil obedience is the outcome of giving a group a place in society. [Full article ...]

Senator Coons' Office Tells Us About World Carfree Day

Yesterday (September 22) was "World Carfree Day" which we know because Senator Coons' office told us (while simultaneously giving a very nice shout-out to Bike Delaware on the Senator's blog.)

Senator Coons' staff is clearly on the ball. (And doing our job for us.)

Read the Senator's blog HERE.

Ride this Saturday for a fossil fuel-free future!

Join us on Sept 24 for a ride to several alternative energy projects, begun or planned, in New Castle County. We'll gather at Limestone Presbyterian Church in Hockessin at 7:30 to leave at 8, biking first to the PBF Refinery in Delaware City to encourage them to test a carbon capture process on some of their land. Other stops will include a wind turbine, a planned solar park, commercial composting, reforestation, a fuel cell, and vehicle-to-grid electric car manufacture. All in a roughly 38-mile loop.

Or, join us after the long ride, back at the church, for speakers, tune-ups from the Urban Bike Project, information about climate change in Delaware and what you can do about it, and more, from 1 to 3. Come on your bike, and dress for attention during your ride! 350.org shirts and banners encouraged. Limestone is just 8 miles from Wilmington, and 8 miles from Newark.

Check back for confirmation of the times the week before the event. See you on the 24th as we move beyond fossil fuels! Event webpage, RSVP HERE.


View Larger Map

The True Cost of Driving

From World Carfree Network

Probably the most comprehensive analysis ever compiled on auto dependency. Also see What Does Driving Really Cost

Some Statistics:
The typical American male devotes more than 1,600 hours a year to his car. He sits in it while it goes and while it stands idling. He parks it and searches for it. He earns the money to put down on it and to meet the monthly installments. He works to pay for petrol, tolls, insurance, taxes and tickets. He spends four of his sixteen waking hours on the road or gathering resources for it. And this figure does not take account of the time consumed by other activities dictated by transport: time spent in hospitals, traffic courts and garages: time spent watching automobile commercials or attending consumer education meetings to improve quality of the next buy. The model American puts in 1,600 hours to get 7,500 miles: less than five miles an hour. (6)

Contents:

• The Car and Global Warming
• The Car and Pollution
• Oil
• Pollution During Manufacturing
• Pollution During Disposal
• The Environmental Cost of One Car
• Road Building
• Deaths and Accidents
• Cars vs. Trains: Cost comparison
• External costs of traffic in the EU
• Pollution reduction on Carfree Day
• China's Car Culture: The Numbers

All of this, not to mention the huge toll on wildlife, probably measured in the millions of deaths every year. Some drivers even aim for and deliberately run over animals, including this beautiful Box Turtle found crushed at the very edge of the road.

e-How: Bicycle to work for a tax deduction

As seen on e-How.com

Do any of our readers participate in this program? Please share your comments.

It's great to save money and get exercise, and biking to work can be a beneficial way to achieve both. Not only will you save money on gas and car repairs, you can even profit by staying off the motorways. Former President Bush signed into law the Bicycle Commuter Benefits Act, which gives each commuter a tax break and credit for their environmentally sound decision.

 Instructions:

1)  Contact your employer and let him know your intention to begin biking to work. Ask if the employer is currently participating in the Bicycle Commuter Benefit Act. All employers are eligible, and there is no reason for them to deny the benefit or back out of the program.
      
2)  Purchase a bicycle and save the receipts for all bicycle-related expenses. These can include repairs, tires, locks, helmet, clothes and bags. Present this information to your employer. Once your employer has this information, it must file with the federal government to participate in the program.
      
3) Begin commuting on bicycle to work [continue reading...]

Move By Bike

No Truck. But A Substantial Amount of Beer

Bike Delaware News Special Interview: Marty Drinan

Bike Delaware News recently caught up with Marty Drinan, Secretary with the Wilmington Ski Club and an active member of multiple other non-profit organizations. When it comes to action alerts, Marty is easily Bike Delaware’s most consistent responder. So much so, he even made the trip downstate on a weeknight - in a Prius no less - to advocate for the Georgetown-Lewes Rail Trail.

FW: Marty, welcome to Bike Delaware News.
MD: Frank, thanks for having me, it's always a pleasure.

FW: How many miles roundtrip is your commute, and how many days per week do you ride?
MD: 12 miles round trip and 1-4 days/ week during late spring to fall.

FW: How many years have you been riding, and what's your longest ever ride?
MD: Resumed riding in 1995 when I got a new bike. The longest daily ride is about 95 miles.

FW: What other careers have you had before Siemens Healthcare Diagnostics?
MD: Farming, Chemical Plant Operator, Research Chemist.

FW: Tell us some of your favorite pastimes when you are not on the bike.
MD: Beer brewing, Square-dancing, Repairing the Wilmington and Western Tourist Railroad, Ushering at the Grand Opera House, Reading, Cooking.

FW: What other non-profit organizations have you served or volunteered with?
MD: Wilmington Ski Club, Bike DE, Rails to Trails, Adventure Cycling, Wilmington and Western, National Railroad Historical Society, NorDel Model Railroad Club, First State Brewers, Saengerbund HausBrauers, Ancient Order of Hibernians, Knights of Columbus, Grand Opera House, Circle Four Square Dance Club, English Country Dance Club.

FW: What do you most enjoy about your commute, and the least enjoy?
MD: Cycling to work helps reduce my weight. Cracks in the road, glass, debris.

FW: Is there special bike equipment or technology you couldn't do without?
MD: Airfree tires or Slime tubes and tread bands. Can't do without the helmet mirror!

FW: Where do you find your nitch in bike advocacy?
MD: Answering action alerts, as I find it easiest to fit them in my schedule.

FW: Have you ever completed a multi-day bike tour?
MD: Vermont, Cape Cod, Western Pennsylvania.

FW: What do you think needs to happen if more folks are to take up biking in Delaware?
MD: Traffic calming, off alignment bikeways, complete streets, increasing gas prices.

Dinner with the ladies; a night out on the 2004 Tour of Cape Cod.

Marty rides the Cape Cod Rail Trail

More time spent with the lovely ladies of the Wilmington Ski Club; this time at the Harp 'N Bard in Clifton, NJ.

Delaware Transportation Spending Strategy #9

Where Bicycling Shows Up in the State's Spending Priorities

About a month before the Delaware General Assembly passed "Walkable, Bikeable Delaware", Governor Jack Markell signed Executive Order #26, releasing an updated "State Strategies for State Policies and Spending". What the heck are "State Strategies for State Policies and Spending"? Well, in a nutshell (also known as an Executive Summary) these "strategies" are supposed to "coordinate land-use decision-making with the provision of infrastructure and services in a manner that makes the best use of our natural and fiscal resources."

Agriculture, the environment, education and more...they all have spending "strategies" that we're supposed to be following in Delaware so that limited resources are spent wisely. At Bike Delaware, however, our particular focus is on transportation and bicycling. Does the state recognize bicycling as a prudent investment? Do we show up anywhere in the state's transportation spending priorities?

Indeed, we do. Delaware's official top transportation spending strategies include maintaining the current transportation system (#1), improving the traffic-signal system (#2), making investments to reduce injuries and fatalities (#4) and building sidewalk networks (#8). State transportation strategy #9 is

"Collaborate to link cities and towns by a network of off-alignment multi-use paths that can be used by commuters in addition to recreational pedestrians and bicyclists."

So, there you have it. We're not the state's #1 transportation strategy. That should not come as a surprise. But we are on the list even if only at #9. That's an important acknowledgement and, given the miniscule number of people who currently use a bike as their main way to commute in Delaware, a remarkably visionary action by the state. Let's build on that opportunity.

Governor Jack's Tour Postponed

By Kirsten Louis

Last week New Castle County and Delaware suffered a great loss when Sgt. Joseph Szczerba was killed in the line of duty.

Sgt. Szczerba's funeral services are scheduled for Friday, September 23rd. Due to this scheduling conflict, Gov. Markell must reschedule the Tour of Delaware. I will follow up in a few days with another date that works for Gov. Markell's calendar.

Should you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact me either by email at kirsten@markell.org or by cell (302) 650-8777.

All the best,
--
Kirsten Louis
Markell for Delaware
office: (302) 322-8800
cell: (302) 650-8777

An "I95" For Bicycling Between Wilmington and Newark?

Is it possible to build a limited access "I95" for bicycling between Wilmington and Newark? Hop on and turn one way and arrive in minutes at the Wilmington Riverfront and the Wilmington Train Station? Or turn the other way and head to the Pomeroy Trail and downtown Newark?

Let's find out. Meeting details HERE.

2011 Mountain Bike Jamboree scheduled for Oct. 2

Join the Delaware Trail Spinners on Sunday October 2nd (rain date Sunday October 23rd) from 9am – 3pm for group rides for all ability levels on marked trails, great food from Fast Eddie's, beer from Dogfish Head, live music, bike games including the ‘Earn Your Wings’ Pixie Bike Race sponsored by GT Bikes, bike shop and vendor tents, and much more. Bring the family and enjoy a day of riding and celebrating at beautiful Fair Hill. You won’t want to miss it!

   

Bike Demos:
Test ride a brand new mountain bike from GT Bikes on our marked demo route.

Raffle Prizes:
We have some great prizes for the raffle this year. And as always, 100% of proceeds from the raffle (and registration) go toward local trail building projects. Look for prizes from the following great companie:

GT Bikes – Complete GT mountain bike

Twin Six - Cycling jerseys, socks and water bottles

Dogfish Head – Cycling jerseys, socks and wall signs

House Industries – Wool cycling jersey

Osprey Hydration Packs – Osprey Viper Hydration Pack

And many more to come!

Registration/Schedule:

Registration opens at 8:30am, with group rides beginning at 9:00am. After the ride, join us back at the Fairgrounds. The festivities will be begin at noon.

Food:

Fast Eddie's will be there with great BBQ, plus burgers, dogs and sides for sale. Of course, you're also welcome to bring or grill your own lunch if you wish. 

Cost:

$10 for IMBA members (must show IMBA membership card), $15 for non-members. Kids 16 & under: $5. Kids 12 & under: FREE. Parking fee included in cost of admission.

Location:

Fair Hill Fairgrounds on Rt. 273 in Elkton, Maryland (same location as the Fair Hill Classic Mountain Bike Race).

For more information, visit the event webpage HERE.

Reply letter from Senator Tom Carper

Dear Mr. Warnock:

 

Thank you for contacting my office to express your support for funding for Transportation Enhancement activities and for a clean extension of federal surface transportation funding and programs.  I appreciate hearing from you on this important matter and I am pleased to inform you that my colleagues and I recently passed a clean extension of the surface transportation program, ahead of its scheduled expiration on September 30, 2011, in order to give Congress more time to debate a long-term transportation bill.  The extension will tide the program over until the end of March 2012.

 

As a senior member of the Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works, the matter of maintaining our nation's infrastructure is of the utmost importance to me.  According to the American Society of Civil Engineers, our infrastructure is in woeful condition, and transportation infrastructure is no exception.  As you know, on August 10, 2005, President George W. Bush signed into law the Safe, Accountable, Flexible, Efficient Transportation Equity Act: A Legacy for Users (SAFETEA-LU).  As a member of the committee that crafted SAFETEA-LU, I helped secure $63.6 million in new highway, transit, bridge, rail and "smart growth" projects in all three Delaware counties.  SAFETEA-LU expired on September 30, 2009, and is currently operating under short-term extensions. 

 

With that said, I strongly agree with you that Congress must take action to consider and adequately fund a comprehensive, more long-term reauthorization measure soon, so that we have the chance to address the problems in our nation's transportation system. I am a strong advocate of expanding transit and alternative transportation options. We face ever-worsening congestion on our roads and limited capacity on our rail lines. It is clear to me that the American people want more transportation options and better transit infrastructure—in both urban and rural areas. Like you, I would like to see a more widespread public transportation system in Delaware and throughout the country. 

 

As you mentioned, Transportation Enhancement activities, the Safe Routes to School Program, and the Recreational Trails Program offer funding opportunities to help expand transportation choices, including pedestrian and bicycle infrastructure, multi-modal trails, scenic and historic highway programs, historic preservation, and environmental mitigation.  I assure you that I understand the importance of these programs.  As Congress considers a comprehensive, more long-term reauthorization bill, I will be sure to keep your views about these programs in mind.

 

In closing, federal funding is necessary for maintaining the safety and quality of our infrastructure, while at the same time creating jobs and stimulating state and local economies.  I believe it will take a combination of innovative approaches to build the financial base that this nation requires to adequately address our transportation needs.  I look forward to considering further improvements to the ways we fund and implement infrastructure projects in the upcoming transportation reauthorization bill.  When the transportation reauthorization bill comes before the full Senate for a vote, I will be sure to keep your views in mind.

 

Sincerely, Tom Carper, United States Senator

Delaware advocates met with Senator Carper and presented him with an award at the 2011 National Bike Summit held in Washington, DC. L-R: Amy Wilburn (Delaware Bicycle Council), Frank Warnock (Bike DE), Senator Tom Carper, John McCormick (White Clay Bicycle Club) and Ceci McCormick (also WCBC).

More MUTCD Humor

We won! Federal support for bicycling is preserved

By Tim Blumenthal, Director, Peopleforbikes.org

The U.S. Senate affirmed its time-tested support of bicycling Thursday by forcing Senator Tom Coburn of Oklahoma to withdraw his proposal to eliminate dedicated funding for the Transportation Enhancements program.

Peopleforbikes.org supporters and our advocacy partners influenced this outcome by sending close to 50,000 emails and making thousands of phone calls to their U.S. Senators in just 48 hours. Thank you!

As a result, funding for all federal transportation programs has now been extended to March 31, 2012. The key, cost-effective programs that make bicycling safer and easier -- Transportation Enhancements, Safe Routes to School, and Recreational Trails -- will continue to receive modest, dedicated support -- about 1.5 percent of the total federal transportation investment.

Every U.S. Senate office received an unprecedented number of well-crafted emails and articulate phone calls this week from people who bike. This powerful show of support for bicycling made a strong impression on Congress and influenced the positive outcome.

We reminded the Senate that bicycling investments support a growing number of transportation trips coast to coast, and save government agencies money on road repairs, parking infrastructure costs, and health-care costs. They recognize that this is a small investment with a big payback that makes Americans safer.

A huge thanks to the thousands of Americans, our supporters, who rallied quickly to contact their elected officials on this challenge. We will continue to keep you posted on key issues and opportunities that affect the future of bicycling in the United States.

I hope you'll join me in taking a ride this weekend to celebrate!

Too Many Cyclists

by Amelia Hill

Published in the Guardian

September 9, 2010

Can there be too many bikes in a city for safety? It's not a question usually asked: the received wisdom, supported by research and backed by campaigning groups, is that the more cyclists there are, the safer the roads become for everyone.

But in Copenhagen – one of the most bike-friendly cities in the world in which 36% of its inhabitants cycle to work or school, and which has committed to increasing that figure to 50% by 2015 – there are controversial voices coming from unexpected places.

According to the Danish Cyclists' Federation and Wonderful Copenhagen, the official tourism organisation for Denmark, the sheer success of the drive to get more locals and tourists on bikes is creating a dangerous, intimidating and unpleasant climate for cyclists in the city.

"In Copenhagen, we have quite extraordinary problems around cycling congestion," said Aneh Hajdu, of Wonderful Copenhagen. "I don't take my children on their bikes into Copenhagen at rush hour any more. It's too dangerous and scary. I just wouldn't risk it."

Read rest of article>>

*******************

Bike Delaware is concerned about this issue but we think several more decades of poor land use and transportation investment decisions may help us avoid Copenhagen's unhappy predicament.

In other stories, a famous actress is concerned about having too much money.

Together For The First Time

Joint Meeting of the Wilmington Bicycle Advisory Committee and Newark Bicycle Committee

When: September 28 at 4PM

Where: WILMAPCO (850 Library Avenue, Newark)

Agenda: "Off-alignment" multi-use path connecting Wilmington and Newark

Questions? Email wbd@bikede.org

Drivers smash the illusion that we're a rational society

From the Canberra Times

Not long after Henry Ford drove the car into mainstream American life, a new area of psychology began to flourish. Its aim, in layman's terms, was to understand why apparently normal people become complete arseholes behind a steering wheel. Leon Brody's 1955 book, The psychology of problem drivers, concluded that ''problem drivers are problem people; or rather, people with problems, including problems of which they often are not aware''. Until then, researchers had believed most crashes were caused by physical shortcomings such as slow reflexes, poor eyesight and glare-recovery time. But, as Herbert Stack wrote in the Bulletin of the New York Academy of Medicine in 1956, ''[In] all of our studies, these characteristics have been found to have little significance. The real causes of accidents are far more deep-seated. They have to do with our attitudes, our emotions, and our judgments.''

We don't need to read this in journals; it's evident to any observant driver, even on Canberra's comparatively calm roads. Once inside a car, a harsh self-interest replaces many civilians' usual willingness to co-operate. Driving becomes less a means of travelling efficiently than a competition to get ahead of nearby ''rivals''. We throw caution out the window in favour of cutting our journeys by seconds. Drivers who are mild mannered in all other aspects of life become enraged by the perceived slights of other motorists (and especially cyclists). And almost no one respects basic road rules such as speed limits and the requirement to indicate; somehow, when we're in a car, these laws become optional.  [Continue reading...]

2011 Savage Century only one month away

By Craig Hall, WCBC Event Director

It’s fall once again, and that means it’s time for the final major WCBC event for the year: the 2011 edition of the Savage Century! Plans are well underway for another great ride! A great weather forecast is on order, given that for the past 2 years, we’ve had rain and then wind. The 3^rd year will be the charm, with comfortable fall weather, and scenic autumn riding in the hills of Chester and Lancaster Counties. Come out and enjoy the cooler weather after the hazy, hot and humid summer days (and canceled rides) we all endured!

This year’s ride is scheduled for Saturday, October 15, beginning once again at the W.L. Gore facility on Barksdale Road, just south of Newark. Registration opens at 7AM. The same 4 routes (40, 60, 75, and 100 miles) as last year will again be used, so we’ll have rest stops at both Nottingham County Park (all routes) and out at the Colemanville Church (on the 100-mile route).

Check the WCBC website for more information and registration links.

Also, in order to continue the outstanding tradition and reputation of WCBC major events, I’m hoping I can count on a number of you to volunteer some of your time on the day of the event to help with setup, registration, SAG, rest stops, and cleanup! We need ~ 15 – 20 volunteers. Please let me know as quickly as possible if you would be willing to volunteer. If you have volunteered for the Savage Century before, please let me know if you have a preference as to where you’d like to volunteer. Also, if you are willing to put on your baker’s hat and maybe even test a new recipe, please let me know. These home-baked treats are clearly a favorite of the cyclists who participate in our events.

Volunteers:  Please send your replies to:  SavageCentury@WhiteClayBicycleClub.org

I’m looking forward to another successful Savage Century, and with your help, the Club’s tradition of hosting great rides will continue. Thanks for your continued support!