2010 Bike Summit and Rolling Press Conference

On April 30, riders concluded 4 days on the road in Delaware, bringing the following message to numerous cities and towns along the way: The Delaware Bike Summit is coming, and so is a bike-friendly Delaware! See photos on the final day, Newark to Wilmington, HERE.

Have you registered yet? Now is the time. Held on Friday, May 21, 2010, 8:30 am until 2:00 pm at the Wilmington Baby Grand Opera House, this year's Summit will focus on Delaware. Explore what's been going on since the last Summit, examples of Delaware communities working towards Bicycle Friendliness, and how you can become more involved in bicycle friendly initiatives. Community leaders, local, county and state elected officials, members of non-profit organizations that promote bicycling, and bicyclists themselves are encouraged to attend. Space is limited so please register early! More . . .

Making Connections

DART drivers like Eddie Thompson make riding the bus a pleasure. With so much practice, our VP, Caroline Honse can sling her bike up on the bus bike rack in 20 seconds; but not when Eddie is driving. He jumps off the bus with a big smile, teases her about her high fashion matching panniers, and loads the bike on the bus for her. She always thanks him for his courtesy and he replies with surprise, "but of course. You are a lady".

So why not go a step further - VP Honse writes a letter to the Director of DART:

Dear Director Kingsberry—
I’ve been commuting by bike and DART bus (between Newark and Wilmington) for the last three years and wanted to thank DART for the ability to transport my bike on the bus. I’m the Vice President of BikeDelaware, an advocacy group working to make Delaware a more bike-friendly state. As part of this I write a blog to highlight these activities and I have just posted a blog that mention DART buses and one particular bus driver, Eddie Thompson. Please take a moment to look at this blog which you can access HERE.

As Bike Delaware works to get more Delaware residents to enjoy biking as well as begin to use a bike for commuting to work, I expect that even more people will take advantage of the bike racks on DART buses. On May 21st, there will be a Delaware Bike Summit held in Wilmington in conjunction with the professional level Grand Prix Bicycle Race. ~Caroline

Reply from Director Kingsberry:
Caroline, thanks- you made my day. We will include Eddie's name in our Driver of the Month contest. Please send information about the conference on May 21, 2010. I would like to attend. I am a biker. We will give you material for the conference gift bags. ..........................Stephen

Newark achieves LAB's Bronze Bicycle-Friendly Communities award!

Washington, DC - April 28, 2010 - The League of American Bicyclists is proud to announce 16 new Bicycle Friendly Communities (BFC), five renewing BFCs and 19 Honorable Mentions. As we have seen in the last few cycles, the majority of the new BFCs are in the East and Midwest – three quarters of the awarded communities are east of the Mississippi River. Additionally, two new states now have designated BFCs: Newark, Del. and Simsbury, Conn. "Communities from all areas of the country, climates and populations see bicycling as an integral component of building livable communities. The Bicycle Friendly Community program is recognizing those leading the way", said Andy Clarke, League President. See the full press release in pdf HERE.

Bronze is only the beginning, as Newark looks to achieve Silver (and beyond) in LAB's Bicycle-Friendly Communities awards program. Much work remains, including the completion of a safe on and off-road bicycle transportation network throughout the city. But they can't do it alone. Cyclist input is crucial to the success of this endeavor. The Newark Bicycle Committee has monthly public meetings, held at Wilmapco, 850 Library Ave Suite 100, on the 3rd Thursday of every month.

Email Jeff Riegner for further information, and how you can participate. View the current Newark Bicycle Plan draft in pdf HERE.

Wanted! Urban Bike Project of Newark

It's time for Urban Bike Project 2 of Newark.

On my way out the door for tonight's meeting, and . . . surprise!

Where'd they come from??

Another curious visitor, Mike across the way, checking in for a brake adjustment.

And this is just a sampling . . .

Remembering Katarzyna Reteruk Five Years Later

On April 28th, 2005, 22 year old Katarzyna Reteruk was killed by a distracted driver in the right turn lane of the intersection of Routes 1 and 24 by an 18 YO driver. The Polish exchange student was riding at night with lights and just left her place of employment. The Driver was charged with operating a vehicle causing death, although the outcome of the charges is not known.

Reteruk's death was the first posting on the Bike Delaware blog and occurred in a year where several other serious crashes brought bicycle safety on Route 1 to the state news headlines. In response to the pressure exerted by Sussex Cyclists and Bike Delaware, DelDOT added bicycle markings to the shared right turn/bus lane that replaced bike lanes and funding for bicycle safety stations on roads with commuter bike traffic remains in place. The Junction and Breakwater trail was also extended to Lewes, which allows daytime cyclists travelling to and from Rehoboth Beach to avoid Route 1. These improvements have been cited as contributing to a significant decline in serious bicycle related injuries in the area.

But there is more to be done, laws that cite distracted drivers and protect vulnerable road users need to be codified. And the need to improve cycling conditions along and across Route 1 still exists. Upgrading the Junction and Breakwater with lighting, signage and a firmer surface could provide a reasonably practical alternate route from the beach to some of the highway businesses and apartment complexes.


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The intersection where Katarzyna Reteruk was killed remains hazardous for bicyclists and pedestrians.

Acquiring the money and political will to achieve this vision will require a comprehensive campaign on the part of bicycle advocates. You can help by making a contribution or donating some time to Bike Delaware.

Coming soon: Bike lanes, buffered shoulders over the Saint Georges Bridge

Amazing what a little paint can do. The Army Corps of Engineers has recently repaired the surface of the St. Georges Bridge. A new buffered shoulder has been delineated and bike lane paint markings are being placed leading up to the bridge on both sides. NOTE: Northbound lanes are closed at this time, and cyclists are asked to avoid using the bridge until construction crews have completed their work. Further information TBA, pending a DelDOT press release.

The signing of Complete Streets in Delaware, 1 year later

April 24 marked the 1 year anniversary of Governor Markell's signing of Executive Order 6, bringing us a statewide Complete Streets policy. Cyclists throughout Delaware have been writing us, wondering when we will start seeing the first green shoots of this historic milestone. First and foremost, it is important to note the executive order, signed on April 24th 2009, called for a Complete Streets policy to be drafted, then go to comment from multiple agencies and the active transportation community. This has already taken place. The Governor has since signed off, giving DelDOT the green light to proceed with implementation guidelines, due this June. So, this is where we stand on Complete Streets in this relatively short time.

That said, what has happened in the last year that advocates can point to as progress, signs that Delaware has already begun the transformation, and that DelDOT will indeed redefine "transportation" to encompass all modes? We believe the following provides answers:

• The above mentioned Complete Streets Policy was signed by Governor Markell at Delaware's first ever Bike Summit, and is expected in place by June 2010.

• Received a design guidance memorandum from DelDOT, promising to buffer all pork chops, pedestrian refuge, and triangular channelizing islands with at least 5' for bicycle safety and potential bike lane installation.

• Achieved buffered shoulders on the St. Georges Bridge, giving cyclists a centrally located, safe crossing of the C&D Canal (NOTE: this is currently under construction in the northbound lane and is not recommended for usage at this time).

• Members reporting that bike lanes are indeed being installed in some locations, on DelDOT's own accord and with the help of adjacent land developers. One example on Rt.273 (Nottingham Road at Casho Mill) saw them actually remove right-turn only lanes in favor of bicycle safety.

• Multiple townships and cities in Delaware adopting their own Complete Streets policies, with goals of a BFC ranking.

• Meetings with Anthony Aglio, our best friend and ally as Bicycle Coordinator in DelDOT, to review pave and rehab projects covered under the current budget. Advocates advised the installation of bicycle facilities and made safety recommendations for those with high usage and/or serving as vital links. One such example included Limestone Road, Rt.7 between Paper Mill and Valley Roads.

With this level of progress in such a short time, not even accounting for those advocates who have fought tirelessly on the Active Communities Transportation Act, trail and bridge construction, and linking numerous greenways and off-road networks, we will keep our top-10 in the LAB Bicycle Friendly States ranking. Our goal is to edge higher and higher as we turn our focus toward education and legislation.

None of this would have happened, or been possible without the non-stop, tireless efforts of advocates from multiple constituents to Bike Delaware. In just 1 year, the above is coming to fruition, even in these economically troubled times. And we thank those at DelDOT, working along side us in these achievements.

Please consider joining Bike Delaware today, and/or making a contribution – any size, monetary or logistical – to bicycle advocacy in Delaware.

Frank Warnock

SR 82 stays, result of public feedback

The Delaware Department of Transportation (DelDOT) recently completed a Virtual Public Workshop intended to receive public comment on a proposal to declassify State Route 82, removing the state route designation from the roadways that are part of the corridor. As a result of the response generated by the online presentation, DelDOT has announced that no change will be made.

The Virtual Workshop was posted on the DelDOT website on March 4, 2010 and remained available for public viewing and comment for a period of 30 days, until April 4th. Viewers were given an opportunity to respond to the delisting proposal, also online. During the presentation and survey period, DelDOT received 120 responses. Seventy-five percent (75%) of respondents indicated that they opposed the removal of the state route designation from SR82. The main concern expressed by opponents of the proposal was the value of the state route designation when giving directions to visitors who would make their way through the roadways that constitute SR 82. Cont . . .

Public Meeting: SR 2 and Upper Pike Creek Road

In order to address motor vehicle safety issues at the intersection of Old Harmony Road/Upper Pike Creek Road, DelDOT is proposing to close the median on Kirkwood Highway (Rt.2) and provide left-turn access to these roads only through U-turns at the signalized intersections of Green Valley Circle and Harmony Road. This will also include lengthening the left-turn lanes at Harmony Road and Green Valley Circle, and modifying the signal timing.

Many examples already exist throughout Delaware, often dividing neighborhoods and breaking safe connections for the non-motorized. We believe this proposal, if implemented, will see many Harmony Road bicyclists continue straight across Kirkwood Highway, and turn right illegally against traffic to a blind left on Upper Pike Creek.

Please consider attending the following meeting on April 28th, to encourage DelDOT to consider other options allowing safe, direct, multi-modal access to both Upper Pike Creek Road and the adjacent Richardson's Lane townhouse community.

PUBLIC INFORMATIONAL MEETING
Hosted by: Senator Karen Peterson and Representative Mike Ramone, with Shante Hastings and Mark Tudor of DelDOT in attendance.

Wednesday, April 28, 2010 at 7:30 pm
Shue-Medill School Cafetorium
1500 Capitol Trail (Rt.2, just east of Red Mill Road)
Newark DE

Project Description HERE.
Virtual Workshop (closed) HERE.

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Sussex Ride of Silence announced

The Sussex County Ride of Silence will also be held on May 19. The ride will start as usual in the parking lot of the strip mall behind the WaWa on the southbound side of Rt. 1 at Dartmouth Road in the Lewes area (Note: This is not in the town of Lewes but on the Rt. 1 highway). All are welcome. Riders should be ready to ride at 7:00 pm. Helmets are required and lights are recommended. The ride is about 8 miles at 12 mph or less. Troop 7 will provide a police escort.

See it on the web HERE.

Be Part of a National Cycling Event!

Volunteers are needed for the Wilmington Grand Prix, a professional cycling event and family street festival, held in Downtown Wilmington on May 22. This is a USA Cycling event and is nationally recognized. Cyclists or those who have experience with crowd control are encouraged to volunteer as a Course Marshall. There will be training for course marshalls. Volunteer opportunities are also open to assist with the street festival. All volunteers will receive a souvenir Grand Prix T-shirt and free lunch. Course marshalls will also receive tickets to the Grand Prix Kick-Off Party and Post-Race Party. Those interested should go HERE or contact Julie Wenger at: juliemirowenger@gmail.com

Join Delaware Bike Summit Committee Riders, April 29-30

Thurs-Fri, April 29-30, 2010. For the 2nd year, the planning committee for the DE Bike Summit is sponsoring a "Rolling Press Conference" through the state, to promote the May 21 DE Bike Summit. Last year, the participants were primarily planning committee members. This year, they're extending an invitation to riders in northern Delaware to join the group on their ride from Smyrna to Newark on 4/29, then Newark to Wilmington on 4/30. This will be the last 2 legs in a 5-day ride through the state. If you are interested in participating in this ride, please email Anthony Aglio and Jim Westhoff:

Anthony.Aglio@state.de.us
James.Westhoff@state.de.us

They will notify you of the time and place to meet, which will depend on the timing of press conferences in Newark and Wilmington. You will be responsible for providing your own transportation after the ride. If you don't want to bike back on Friday, there are several buses that can transport you and your bike to Newark. The riding pace is leisurely, particularly because some of the particpants don't do that much cycling.

Neighboring Maryland making progress

Maryland, right next door, is making big progress. A warm round of kudos for the dedicated work of several at their State Highway Administration (SHA) and other advocacy groups:

SENATE BILL 624 - Intersection rules of the road:
Authorizing a person operating a bicycle to ride the bicycle in or through a crosswalk in specified locations under specified circumstances; requiring a vehicle to yield the right-of-way under specified circumstances to a bicycle that is in a crosswalk; authorizing, under specified circumstances, a person who is operating a bicycle or motor scooter to use the roadway even if a shoulder is present; etc.

SENATE BILL 51 - 3-Foot Law:
Requiring that a driver of a vehicle, when overtaking a bicycle, an Electric Personal Assistive Mobility Device (EPAMD), or a motor scooter, pass safely at a distance of not less than 3 feet, with a specified exception; requiring a driver of a vehicle to yield the right-of-way to a person who is riding a bicycle, an EPAMD, or a motor scooter in a bike lane or shoulder under specified circumstances; etc.

HOUSE BILL 282 - Bicycle and Pedestrian Access:
Funding and Reporting Declaring that it is the policy of the State that, in developing the annual Consolidated Transportation Program, the Maryland Department of Transportation shall work to ensure that there is an appropriate balance between funding for specified transportation projects for pedestrians and bicycle riders and specified highway construction projects and place increased emphasis on specified transportation projects; requiring the Statewide 20-Year Bicycle-Pedestrian Master Plan to be reviewed and updated in specified years; etc.

SENATE BILL 321 – Handheld Phone:
Prohibiting a driver of a motor vehicle that is in motion from using the driver's hands to use a handheld telephone except to initiate or terminate a wireless call or to turn on or off the handheld phone; providing that a violation of the Act may be enforced only as a secondary violation; establishing penalties of $40 for a first offense and $100 for a second offense; prohibiting a driver of a school vehicle or a holder of an instructional permit or provisional driver's license from using a handheld phone while driving; etc.

However, Maryland's DOT still needs to adopt a design guideline for "triangular channelizing islands" (aka Pork Chops), providing a minimum 5' continued shoulder or bike lane for safety through intersections. That is not the case here, on Rt.40 in Elkton:

View DelDOT's own, recently adopted 5' design guidance memorandum, in pdf HERE.

NJ Transit eliminates bike accessible bus over Del Mem. Bridge

NJ Transit announced today that it will discontinue Salem County Transit (SCOT) route 423 effective May 1. The bike rack equipped buses offered 4 weekday round trips over the Delaware Memorial Bridge between Rodney Square and Pennsville/Penns Grove. Though the service was rarely used by bicyclists, its bike rack equipped buses served as the only reliable way to travel over the Delaware River via bicycle between the Cape May Lewes Ferry and the Ben Franklin Bridge in Philadelphia.

The Three Forts Ferry offers four round trips between Delaware City and Fort Mott NJ on select days during the summer months, however we have heard of ferry operators refusing to carry bikes on board. Call (302) 834-7941 ahead of time to confirm that they will carry your bicycle.

MD SHA Revised Guidelines for Rumble Strips: Comments needed!

Responding to Bike Delaware concerning cyclist-unfriendly rumble strips on Rt.273 - a very popular bike route for northern Delaware and Cecil County cyclists - Maryland's State Highway Administration presented us this "Revised Interim Draft" (pdf). If you are disappointed with the current design, such as the spacing between the rumble strip and the white line, and how they follow the breakdown lane striping to a pinch, or provide few if any openings for cyclists to exit, PLEASE take a few moments to review this new policy.

Excerpts from the draft:

• "Along expressways where bicycles are expressly permitted to travel and along other highways where shoulder rumble strips are desirable, the accommodation of bicyclists must be considered".
• "Where the outside shoulder is less than five feet in width: The installation of rumble strips is to be coordinated with the Bicycle Coordinator within the Office of Planning and Preliminary Engineering, who will provide the needed coordination with the Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Committee".
• "Although safety is maximized by continuous rumble strips, for highways where the posted speed limit is less than 55 mph, gaps for bicyclists shall be installed".
• "Transverse rumble strips should not be placed on roadways used by bicyclists unless a minimum clear path of 4 feet is provided at each edge of the roadway or each paved shoulder as described in AASHTO’s "Guide to the Development of Bicycle Facilities".

This new draft, when accepted, will be used when implementing along other MD highways in the future. So if you enjoy riding in Maryland, please review and email your comments to cschreiber@sha.state.md.us

How can we get one of these?

We've seen them in Delaware for motorcycles, now public service personnel. When for pedestrians and bicyclists? Delaware should qualify, taking 2nd place in the U.S. when it comes to non-motorized fatalities.

PSAs like this can only help as an education tool, and in the interest of safety. Hopefully, with such grim statistics, we'll be given equal consideration.

Complete Streets "Green Shoots?"

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Acting on a tip from a co-worker today, I altered my usual commute and pedaled over to the intersection of Casho Mill Road and Rt.273 (Nottingham Rd) in Newark. What I found not only made my day, but my entire year so far. Gone were the right turn-only lanes, in favor of bike lanes. Now, this is something you don't see everyday!

Note the line breaks, signaling to motorists it's okay to share the bike lane closest to the intersection to make a right turn.

The real deal; right turn-only lane eliminated! Note the original striping, grinded out AFTER the road was recently resurfaced and re-striped, and replaced with the bike lanes. Hope for Rt. 4?

The rest of my ride home was very pleasant, encountering several other cyclists as I continued east on Rt.273 into Newark, then on to Delaware Ave bike lanes with plenty of students on their bikes, and eventually back home in Ogletown.

This was a great day, one of renewed hope that Complete Streets will become a reality in Delaware. Thanks to Anthony Aglio, and those at DelDOT who work tirelessly on behalf of the non-motorized.

Still waiting for answers on MD 273 rumble strips

Bike Delaware met with Maryland's State Highway Administration back on March 9, 2009 to shed light on serious design flaws with the implementation of rumble strips along popular bicycle routes. Route 273, very popular with area cyclists and a main feature among WCBC event rides, was implemented in such a way as to force cyclists to avoid the shoulder entirely, or risk loss of vehicle control while attempting to leave the shoulder for turn situations or to avoid debris or parked cars.

In a recent discussion with Maryland's Director of Bicycle and Pedestrian Access, the following was learned from SHA:

"We're still working on the guidelines. It's been a long process in part because of concerns raised by the bicycling community. We want to make sure we get it as right as possible for all road users. I don't think we want to send [a] draft as it stands at the moment, so I guess someone should email back and explain that we're still working on it".

Of particular concern was this happening in spite of Rt.273's designation as a MD bike route. Despite its high speed limit, it remains a favorite among Delaware and Cecil County cyclists, often serving as an "out and back" ride for those less inclined to ride non-shouldered roads.

16 year old killed while crossing Rt.273 on Bike Rt.1

A 16-year-old boy was killed by a hit and run driver while walking across Rt.273 on Brownleaf Road, a popular connection for the non-motorized between 2 major developments. That and another unrelated death in Millsboro in the same hour bring the number of pedestrian crashes to nine for the year, compared with two at this time last year. At this rate, Delaware will be competing with Florida for the top spot in non-motorized fatalities for 2010.

According to the Wilmington News Journal article, "Birchwood Drive resident Steve Adams said just about every one of his neighbors across the street, with homes on Del. 273, has had a vehicle run into a yard or house. One time, one even had a car run into his swimming pool. There's never a police officer on that road, Adams said. They gun it and nobody stops them. They run that red light every day. Unfortunately, last night someone was killed".

Brownleaf Road across this intersection is also Bike Route 1. Though it may not have helped much in this situation, it should be noted there is no pedestrian signal lighting, crosswalks, or bicycle safety features present. The in-ground trip sensor is also non-bicycle friendly. With sporadic motor vehicle presence, cyclists and pedestrians are often forced to run this light on red when no cars are present, sometimes in a near miss situation.

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Bike Delaware to offer rides for the novice

On many days in Delaware, you can see groups of serious long-distance bicyclists in their brightly-color spandex biking clothing power their way up and down the scenic hills of northern Delaware. Sadly however, you rarely see families with kids, senior citizens, or just "regular" people out on Delaware roads biking for fun, exercise, or to run errands. The good news is that this about to dramatically change!

Bike Delaware, an advocacy group of bicycle enthusiasts who promote biking as an alternative to driving, is launching a campaign to get Delaware citizens back in the saddle again for safe and leisurely organized bike rides throughout the state. Vice President Caroline Honse has organized Elderberry Bike Rides, designed for people of all ages and bike riding abilities to participate in group rides where they can learn safe bike riding practices while enjoying the beautiful scenery and historical areas of Delaware. The target groups for the 2010 Spring, Summer, and Fall Rides will be families with kids, senior citizens, and others who haven't biked in years and are a bit hesitant about taking on the longer, faster, group rides offered by other bike clubs in Delaware.

Planned activities throughout the year will include: Scavenger Hunt for all ages at Glasgow Park; Exploring Old New Castle historical areas and wetlands by bike; White Clay Creek Bike Ride & Picnic; Senior Sunset Ride Down Hall Trail with Dutch Treat Dinner; Junction-Breakwater Trail Ride in Rehoboth Beach; Nature & Street Photography Bike Ride in Newark area; Autumn Leaf Peeper Ride at Bellevue State Park. Safe Toddlers on Trike Trials and Kid's Bike Games will also be offered for the tiniest bikers among us.

Don't miss out on seeing Delaware up close and personal by bike, making new friends, and being kind to our environment. Park your car and go Green with Bike Delaware! We'll be happy to assist new riders with gaining confidence and experience in riding a bike according to the Delaware Bike Rules of the Road. See the flier in pdf HERE. For more info or to be placed on the ride email list, contact: DelawareBikeRides@gmail.com

Ride of Silence to be held on May 19

Wednesday, May 19, 2010. At 7:00 PM, the Ride of Silence will begin in North America and roll across the globe. Cyclists will take to the roads in a silent procession to honor cyclists who have been killed or injured while cycling on public roadways. Although cyclists have a legal right to share the road with motorists, the motoring public often isn't aware of these rights, and sometimes not aware of the cyclists themselves. For New Castle County, the start location is the Newark Charter School, Elkton Road in Newark (map). Further details to be announced HERE.