Upcoming events and rides

Urban Bike Project
Tuesday, Aug. 2, 6:30-9:00 p.m.
Pre-Grand Re-Opening Final Bike Fix  If you or anyone you know is interested and available to help us clean up the shop, sort some inventory, strip a few parts off of old bikes or put some usable ones back in tip-top shape, come join us. We would LOVE to have you. Email to confirm, as we will be having refreshments and need a rough head count. Contact: laura@urbanbikeproject.com

Thursday, Aug. 4, 6:30-9:00 p.m.
UBP Grand Re-Opening! FINALLY we will once again be OPEN to our community this coming Thursday, August 4, 2011. Thanks to the generosity of each and every one of you, this community organization quadrupled the loss we recently experienced ... and the donations just keep comin' in! We are so fortunate to be in a community that gives back to so many. Thanks to your generosity we are making plans to expand not only our Youth Earn-A-Bike, and our Free Bike Programs, but to extend our outreach to many more in need. We will keep you posted in the coming weeks and months on our progress, because, really, this is just as much your success at it is ours. Thank you for every kindness, donation, words of encouragement, and contribution of ideas that you have sent our way over the past few weeks. Contact: laura@urbanbikeproject.com

Saturday, Aug. 13
4th Annual Mike Clark Memorial Ride
Register for this event through bikereg.com and find more detailed information at our Featured Events Page. 3 rides featured: Conguer the Hills- 100K, 75 mile routes take cyclists through scenic New Castle County, Delaware and Chester County, Pennsylvania traversing up some of the most challenging hills in the area. Ride the Rollers- 50 mile and 25 mile routes provide a gently rolling course. Kid’s Ride- A 6-mile guided route will be provided for children, including children from the Boys and Girls Clubs of Delaware. Minimum age is 8 years.
 
Monday, Aug. 15
Family Friendly Ride at Winterthur
Leave the main visitor’s parking lot at 5:30 pm for a family-friendly 3-4 mile ride through Winterthur with a Ride Leader, or ride the full 5-mile route on your own.  Road bikes, mountain bikes, or hybrids are OK  -- the ride will be only on paved paths. Note that parts of the route are fairly hilly and we will be sharing the roads with some cars.  A cue sheet will be provided.  Enjoy riding through the beautiful grounds of Winterthur and see the unique architecture of some of the old buildings on the site. The ride is only this one evening so don’t miss this opportunity that is being extended to the biking community.  Winterthur is located on Rt. 52, between Greenville and Centerville. For more information contact Carol Ireland, president@whiteclaybicycleclub.org, 302-995-9658.

Saturday, Aug. 27
13th Annual Shore Fire Century
Ride beautiful, scenic routes (35, 65, and 100 miles) taking you through flat to gently rolling farmland in central Delaware. All routes will be marked with support (until 5:00 p.m.). A wide array of bicycle friendly food will be available at rest stops at regular intervals (five on the century). [Event web page]

Saturday, Sept. 10
25th Annual Amish Country Bike Tour 
Delaware's 25th Annual Amish Country Bike Tour -- One of the state's largest and most established cycling events -- will be Saturday, September 10, starting at 411 Legislative Avenue in historic Dover, Delaware. Last year, 1,400 cyclists from a 14-state region participated. Register online or register by mail now to save time and money. If you register early, you save $15, plus time it takes to register day of the event. Teams of 10 or more, when registering together, can save $20 per person. [Event web page]

It's official - 3 foot passing law signed by Governor Markell

By Amy Wilburn, Chair, Delaware Bicycle Council

On Monday 7/25/2011, Governor Markell signed SB 38, Delaware’s “three foot passing” bill. With the signing of this bill, Delaware becomes the nineteenth state to have a passing law to protect cyclists. The law not only provides additional legal protection, it provides an important educational opportunity.

Delaware’s law reads as follows:

“The driver of a motor vehicle, when approaching a bicyclist traveling in the same direction, shall ensure the safety and protection of the bicyclist by:

a.  Proceeding with caution and yielding the right-of-way by making a lane change into a lane not adjacent to that of the bicyclist, if possible, with due regard to safety and traffic conditions, if on a roadway having at least 4 lanes with not less than 2 lanes proceeding in the same direction as the approaching vehicle; or,

b.  Proceeding with caution and reducing the speed of the vehicle to a safe speed and leaving a reasonable and prudent distance by providing a minimum of three feet of clearance while passing such bicyclist, if changing lanes would be impossible or unsafe.”

 

The Delaware Bicycle Council again wishes to thank Senator Dave Sokola for sponsoring this bill and for working with the Council, the Delaware State Police and DelDOT to ensure that the bill addresses the needs of cyclists.  The Council also wishes to express appreciation to Senator Sokola’s legislative aide, Glenn Shipley, for his efforts, to Representative Valerie Longhurst and her legislative assistant, Melissa Hopkins, for spearheading the effort in the House, and to the following other cosponsors: Representatives Schooley, Hudson, Keeley, B. Short and Senator Cloutier.

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Poster's note: While some might question its effectiveness, having a 3’ passing law is more about education and legal protection for bicyclists than actual enforcement out on the road. Not only is this a significant moral victory for Delaware bicyclists, it also adds another legal tool should an incident occur. Delaware also passed a vulnerable road users law, and we have legislation in progress to legalize the use of right turn-only lanes as shoulders. These additions and changes to the law will go a long way toward reversing the dismal prosecution rate enjoyed by at-fault motorists when striking a non-motorized road user.

Georgia: Mother Gets Retrial in Jaywalking Death

Even though it will expose her to the possibility of serving jail time, a Georgia mother has opted for an offer of a retrial of her earlier conviction for vehicular homicide.

In a case that seems like something out of George Orwell or Franz Kafka, Georgia mother Raquel Nelson was convicted of vehicular homicide in the death of her 4 year old son...even though she wasn't driving a vehicle.

There are many questions about this case that even a casual observer of our legal system would be curious to know the answers to. For example:

1) What is the name of the prosecutor who decided to charge a pedestrian - whose child was hit and killed by a car - with vehicular homicide?

2) Where did he or she attend law school?

3) Did he or she really pass the bar exam?

4) Does the prosecutor in question have a history of drug abuse or mental illness?

Someone who is not a prosecutor in Georgia might be tempted to think that Ms. Nelson's grief and despair and - no doubt - guilt at the momentary lapse of attention that may have contributed to the death of her 4-year old son might be sufficient punishment in and of itself. But in Georgia, apparently, the death of a child is insufficient punishment for jaywalking. Jail time is also necessary, lest there be any ambiguity at all about who is at fault when a child is killed on one of our crazy high speed roads.

Beat Bike Blog: Cars kill more people than guns

Sobering statistic from our friends in Connecticut.

The automobile, a tool invented to safely transport people with all its crumple zones, airbags, seat belts, safety glass, computers and various safety systems, kills more people every year in the United States than the gun; a tool invented to kill.

Over the last few decades - roughly speaking - every year fire arm deaths are in the 30,000's and motor vehicle deaths in the 40,000's.

Year           Firearms               Motor Vehicles
1999...........28,874......................41,717
2000...........28,663......................41,945
2004...........29,569......................42,836
2007...........31,224......................41,059

Facts were drawn from Wikipedia and the CDC. Read the full blog post HERE.

DO Video: Goodwill partners with UBP, donates bikes

Watch this touching video on the Wilmington News Journal's website HERE.

Bike lanes, white lines, and the MUTCD

Cutting off bike lanes with solid white lines continues in Delaware. We encourage DelDOT to please consider the striping guidelines found in the Manual of Uniform Traffic Control Devices as equally applicable to bike lanes and shoulders where bicycles (vehicles by law) are permitted to ride. 

Section 3B.04 - White Lane Line Pavement Markings and Warrants

Where crossing the lane line markings with care is permitted, the lane line markings shall consist of a normal broken white line. Where crossing the lane line markings is discouraged, the lane line markings shall consist of a normal solid white line.

 Brand new bike lane cut off on Limestone Road in Hockessin

 Porter Road in Bear, NE of Route 72/Wrangle Hill Rd

We otherwise recognize and thank DelDOT for the many other bike lane installations that were designed to exacting standards, as seen below in Glasgow.

See our previous post "Making the Case for Open of Dashed Taper Lines" HERE.

Bike lanes to nowhere: Airport Rd to Commons Blvd

Bike Delaware has received a number of inquiries from potential bike commuters who's only sticking point is Airport Road, where it turns into Commons Blvd in New Castle. State of the art bike lanes installed in 2007 disappear into 4 lanes of curb to curb highway, where traffic is especially hostile at peak times. Except for the brazen, there is no safe way to reach Reeds Way - home to Wilmington University, Wesley College, and New Castle County's Government Center - as well as the New Castle County Airport by bike or on foot.

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Above: The point at which the bike lanes on Airport Road disappear into the curb. Few cyclists would even attempt this during peak travel times. Right lane Sharrows are also out of the question in this higher speed environment.

The idea of adding a buffered, bi-directional multi-use path (MUP) along the southside of Airport/Commons, from where the bike lane meets the curb at Schley Road, has been talked about. It would provide the only safe alternative to the infamous Hares Corner intersection (Rt.273/Rt.13) which, even with crosswalks, is widely viewed as the most hostile in all of Delaware. Points along Route 13 such as Flight Safety, with several confirmed bike commuters of its own, would also come into play.

A crude map showing approximately where such a facility could be routed, in dashed dark blue. Apparently, DelDOT owns enough right of way (ROW) outside the current configuration to accommodate an additional 8' pathway.

The current offering - Hares Corner. Would you commute by bike with this on your daily menu? Even a crosswalk on the eastbound side is anything but safe for pedestrians, never mind bikes. We consider this intersection "too far gone" when it comes to at-grade crossings.

We urge DelDOT and/or New Castle County to explore all options for safe bike commuter routes through this region. A number of potential commuters are waiting for an alternative to Hares Corner and the Rt.13 corridor to access points along Commons Blvd and the airport.

Donations for UBP pour in at WCBC picnic

Those attending the White Clay Bicycle Club's annual picnic on July 23 gave an unprecedented show of support for the Urban Bike Project of Wilmington, who were recently robbed of much of their inventory and vandalized. Bikes of all types - some like new - were donated, along with parts and accessories to help UBP get back on their feet. UBP Staff and volunteers are elated over the outpouring of kindness from the bicycle community and caring citizens in general.

A view of the staging area off to the side of the pavilion, where the club enjoyed a BBQ lunch.

Volunteers came to haul the donated bikes and parts to UBP's facility on N. Market St. in Wilmington. Now this is a guy I would get my next roof or siding from!

If you have bike(s) or parts to donate, visit our previous blog post HERE for information. Read the story about this despicable act - what amounts to robbing a lemonade stand - HERE.

US Postal Service to issue a bike commuter stamp

Commute by Bike -- The United States Postal Service is ready to again give us our day in line with stamps celebrating bicycling–having already honored The Simpsons, Cinderella, E.T., countless cars, motorcycles, aircraft, trains, plus real and fictional spaceships. (Not to mention the Gambling-Addicted Twin Sister of The Statue of Liberty).

Each of the four colorful se-tenant stamps features a different kind of bike and rider: a young child just learning to ride with training wheels, a commuter pedaling to work, a road racer intent on the finish line, and an airborne BMX rider.

Recent surveys indicate that Americans enjoy approximately 2.5 billion bike rides a year. Bicycling organizations around the country report increased participation in local biking activities, and nearly half of all Americans say they would like more bicycling resources, such as trails and bike lanes, in their communities.

Bicycling is a low-impact aerobic activity that just about everyone — from young children to retirees — can enjoy. The health benefits are impressive: Riding a bike lowers the risk of obesity and heart disease, while improving muscle tone and strength. Bicycling can also lower stress.

Earlier this year a utilitarian cyclist was featured in the Go Green stamp series. The rider is hunched over, straining to transport a strange assortment of items: some bamboo poles, a football, a picture frame, a pineapple, a bottle of milk, and poking out the front basket are Freddy Krueger‘s hands.
The Postal Service is the owner of the world’s second largest civilian fleet of vehicles (behind Wal-Mart). A press release about the stamps also says that USPS is “helping the environment by delivering mail by bicycle in locations throughout Arizona and Florida.”

[Read the entire article HERE on Commute by Bike]

Los Angeles outlaws yelling threats at bicyclists

USA Today -- Motorists who even threaten a bicyclist by yelling at them could be held as criminals or potentially face a lawsuit before charges are filed under a law being enacted in Los Angeles.

The Los Angeles City Council made it a crime to threaten cyclists physically and verbally. Yes, that means you can't even yell at them. If you do, cyclists can sue drivers in civil court -- even before the city files criminal charges, according to the Los Angeles Times.

The state could go further: It's considering a law that could get motorists ticketed if they venture within a 3-foot safety zone for bicyclists. (poster's note -- a 3 foot passing law was just passed by Delaware's Legislature)  [Continue reading]

Jane Jacobs on neighborhoods, placemaking, and active living

Cross-posted from National Resources Defense Council.

Amazingly, this is the first time I have seen and heard the late Jane Jacobs speak. Everyone in my world knows her work and her wisdom, of course: she was voted #1 in Planetizen's 2009 poll of urban thinkers.

The excellent video below, produced by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, starts with some odd, dated footage but quickly becomes highly relevant to today's thinking about communities and sustainability - and very enjoyable, too.

Her 1961 book The Death and Life of Great American Cities was immensely influential to the field of urban planning. Read about it on Wikipedia.

Shore Fire Century T-shirt deadline 10 days away

By Tom and Cindy Mannis, Event Directors

Considered by most as the best flat century in the mid-Atlantic, registration for the 13th Annual ShoreFireCentury is now open, but there are 10 days left to order a T-shirt when you register. So to guarantee you get one, register now!

If you’ve never done this ride you are missing a wonderful flat course through the central farmlands of Delaware. You have the choice of riding a 35, 65 or 100 mile route. All routes start and end at the same spot. All routes will be well marked, have sag support and several rest stops with food and beverages. The ride is put on by the White Clay Bicycle Club.

You can sign up on line or by a mail in registration. For full details, visit the event website.

When design kills - the criminalization of walking

Cross posted from Grist

By Sarah Goodyear -- Bad design kills people. That's right. It's not a matter of aesthetics, or of politics, or of opinion. It's a plain fact: When you design streets solely for cars, people die as a result. The underlying conditions that are responsible for those deaths are rarely or never challenged. The victims often get blamed for their own injuries or deaths.

Don't believe me? Well, let me refresh your memory about Raquel Nelson, the Atlanta-area mother who was recently convicted of vehicular homicide, second degree -- but not for anything she did behind the wheel. No, she was crossing a busy road with three children when her 4-year-old son was struck by a car and killed.

Yes, you heard that right. The mother, who was also struck and injured, was charged with vehicular homicide, second degree, in the death of her son. Meanwhile, the prosecutor dropped vehicular homicide charges against the driver -- who later admitted to having been drinking, was on painkillers, and was legally blind in one eye -- allowing him to plead guilty simply to hit-and-run. Oh, and he had previously been convicted of two hit-and-runs that occurred on the same day -- one of them on the same road where he struck the Nelson family (cont.)  [ Full article ]

New Bus Service to Delaware City and the Secret Bicycle Ferry to NJ

Yesterday marked the debut of DART's Route 25 bus service to Delaware City. You can now board a bus at Rodney Square in Wilmington to explore the Delaware City waterfront and access the ferry to Fort Delaware State Park. You can ride the boat to visit the moated Civil War prison on Pea Patch Island Wednesdays through Fridays during the Summer.

But did you know that four of the Ferry's round trips cross over into Fort Mott New Jersey? In fact the Three Forts Ferry offers the only pedestrian and bicycle access across the Delaware River between the Lewes Ferry Terminal and Philadelphia's Ben Franklin Bridge. Fort Mott is a great day trip, and if you bring your bike along it is an easy two mile ride to Pennsville and a scenic six miles to Salem. For road cyclists it offers car-free access to popular cycling routes in Salem and Cumberland Counties.

Ferry Departure Times:

Delaware City to Fort Mott
10:00, 12:00, 2:00, 4:00

Fort Mott to Delaware City
10:30, 12:30, 2:30, 4:30

One caveat for bikes - since there are no bikes allowed on Pea Patch Island and very few bicyclists have used this service, it is strongly advised that you call the Park Office ahead of time to let them know that you will be bringing your bike and going through to Fort Mott. 1-302-834-7941


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Urban Bike Project accepting donations at WCBC's July 23 Picnic

By Brenda Mehta, White Clay Bicycle Club

Urban Bike Project was burglarized and they no longer have any bikes to offer the community. WCBC's annual picnic offers a great opportunity for all of us to help them out by donating our old bikes and accessories, which in turn will help them rebuild their inventory.

Volunteers from the Urban Bike Project are willing to pick up these items from the picnic on Saturday, so please RSVP if you have donations that you can drop off or bring with you. You can also drop off any items at their location, contact information below:

Urban Bike Project

Email: (the best way to get in touch with them)
info@urbanbikeproject.org

Shop Address:
Urban Bike Project of Wilmington, Inc.
1908 N. Market St
Wilmington, DE 19802

Mailing Address:
Urban Bike Project of Wilmington, Inc.
809 W. 28th St
Wilmington, DE 19802

"There are two favorite words on my list. One is my wife's name, and the other is CMAQ."

Walkable, Bikeable Delaware: CMAQ

Ask your average bicyclist what "MTB" or "GPS" or "SAG" acronyms stand for and you're likely to get a quick and possibly even accurate answer. But ask a cyclist what "CMAQ" stands for, and you'll likely get a blank stare, even though (as the quote from Chicago's bicycle coordinator that serves as this blog post's title hints at), it's (potentially) one of the most important bicycling-related acronyms out there.

Here it is: "CMAQ" = Congestion Mitigation and Air Quality. It refers to a U.S. government program, established in 1991, specifically to support surface transportation projects that either improve air quality, provide congestion relief, or both.

In the 20 years that Delaware has been receiving (hundreds of millions of) federal CMAQ dollars, however, we have not spent a single penny from the CMAQ program on bicycling-related projects. Not one penny. Why is this? Is it because the federal government discourages or forbids using CMAQ funds for bicycling projects? No. In fact, the opposite is true. If you go to the U.S. government's CMAQ web site, there is a photo gallery where they show 616 pictures of all the great projects - in many different eligible categories - that have been completed with CMAQ funding. Of the 616 photos, 129 are of bike/ped projects.

No, the problem has not been with the federal government. The problem has been on our end. For a bike/ped project to be eligible for federal CMAQ funds, the state has to be willing to put up 20% of the total cost of the project and, between 1991 and 2010, Delaware hasn't been willing to do that. That is, we haven't been willing to do that until two weeks ago, when the Delaware General Assembly voted $5,000,000 for state bike routes, every dollar of which is potentially leverageable with $4 of federal CMAQ funds.

Our elected officials, especially Senator Venables and Governor Markell, have shown visionary leadership by recognizing the immense return on public investment that investing in walking and bicycling provide. But to maximize the state's investment, we must access the federal matching funds which we are - now - eligible for. We look forward to seeing whether our new transportation Secretary recognizes, and seizes, the opportunity that the General Assembly has just handed to him. The Delaware General Assembly has emphatically declared - twice! - in recent weeks that Delaware is in a new era for bicycling. First, in May, the General Assembly passed "Walkable, Bikeable Delaware". Then in June, it voted $5,000,000 in new money for bicycling. Now all we need is for DelDOT to start pedaling!

If you would like to learn more about CMAQ or anything else related to Walkable, Bikeable Delaware, email wbd@bikede.org.

A look at Maryland's revised rumble strips

In April of last year, we reported on the Maryland State Highway Administration's newest rumblestrip guidelines manual, which includes several revisions to account for bicycle safety. An application along Route 273 (Telegraph Road), a favorite among Delaware cyclists heading out to/back from Cecil County, proved dangerously unsafe. We are happy to report the latest application discovered, in this case Route 213 south of Elkton, are installed according to spec -- for a 55+ mph highway.

Maryland State Highway Administration's first application found on Rt.273 in Cecil County are cut wide, deep, without intermittent breaks between intersections, and follow the right turn-only taper lines to a pinch. There is also a 1' offset, placing them exactly where many cyclists prefer to ride away from roadside debris.

The latest design, found recently on Route 213. A vast improvement in depth, width, and approach to intersections and right turn-only lanes. As stated in SHA's revised guidelines where posted speed limits are concerned, there are no intermittent breaks in the rumblestrip and the offset remains, however, they are much safer and easier to cross on a bike than the previous design.

While we thank SHA and MDOT for hearing our voice and acting in a timely manner, our preferred design for all roads regardless of mph can be found in South Carolina, as seen here on the author's recent Bike Tour of the Blue Ridge. Rumblestrips hugging the white line (actually part of it) with intermittent breaks so riders may safely exit from behind at any given time.

Urban Bike Project robbed, vandalized and depleted of all its inventory

Special message from Laura Saperstein, Volunteer Coordinator, Urban Bike Project

It is with heavy heart that I share with you our sad news. Today, when one of our crew arrived at the Urban Bike Project, it was only to discover that it had been vandalized and depleted of all its inventory some time throughout the night.

For this reason, I must tell you that Open Shop, our regularly scheduled hours on Thursdays and Saturdays, will be CLOSED until further notice. For all those who have signed up to volunteer at Open Shop tomorrow (7/16/11), and Thursday (7/21/11), please consider joining us again soon when we reopen. But for right now, we have no bikes to offer our community; and, while we would rather be spending our time of service to those in need, we will, instead, be using it to clean up and regroup.

We plan to keep everyone up to date on our progress; but, please check back regularly via our website or Facebook page for more information. We foresee the need for a volunteer only "bike-rebuild" night and/or a bike drive in the near future. If you or anyone you know, are interested in participating, please let me know, and I will keep you informed directly, of dates and times, as they are scheduled.

Although this is a very untimely and unfortunate wrench in our works, we want to THANK YOU, our friends, donors and supporters who have helped us make this summer one of its most successful yet! 

As a side note, Mechanics class, scheduled for Monday, July 18th, will run according to plan. And, so shall our Youth Earn-A-Bike program scheduled for next week. We are looking forward to serving our community's kids and have planned a really special program for them, led by Corry, and with the support of the White Clay Bike Club, DelDot, and our LCI's, John, CeCi, and Paul.

Thank you again for your understanding, and we hope to see you very soon!

Editors note: UBP can use your help now more than ever. Please consider donating whatever you can, whether it's volunteer time, bikes, parts, or a monetary contribution.

WILMAPCO Council Meets TODAY

Representatives of a consortium of Delaware organizations will attend today's Wilmington Area Planning Council (WILMAPCO) to comment on the opportunity to complete the final phase of the Wilmington-to-New Castle bicycle highway in the wake of the vote by the Delaware General Assembly on June 30 to vote $5,000,000 for state bike routes.

Bike Delaware last spoke to the WILMAPCO Council about this project almost exactly 1 year ago today.

Please join us if you are interested in sharing your views with the Council on the amazing opportunity they have to advance this project.

The Council meets at 6:30PM in Newark. Map showing meeting location at 850 Library Ave, Suite 100, Newark HERE.

"Bike the City" beginner ride scheduled for July 17

The Delaware Nature Society is putting on the bike ride/program listed below. Learn about an area that's "in our back yard" but one that many people don't know much about.  Registration is free. Go to the Delaware Nature Society website registration/donation page HERE, or call (302) 239-2334, Mon. thru Fri 8:30-4:30. Make sure to have the program number available. Ride description as follows:

Bike the City (Program #: U11-213-DC )

Sunday, July 17, 1 pm- 5 pm, Member/Non-Member: $10/15. Take a beginner ride through the city of Wilmington and the Riverfront, and learn how to get around safely on a bicycle with Carol Ireland of Bike Delaware. Stop along the way to discovery natural history points of interest. Finish the day with demonstrations on bike maintenance including changing a tire. Bring your own bike or borrow one from the Urban Bike Project. Ride starts and ends at DEEC. Reminder, bike helmets are recommended and required by law for children. Leaders: John Harrod and Carol Ireland

Are DelDOT's Multi-Use Paths a lost cause?

A common question at Bike Delaware has to do with Multi-Use Paths, also known as "MUPs", and who exactly maintains them. For some of us, especially in New Castle County, this facility type might be the only option or connection that makes our commute safe when there is no other alternative. Overall, they are not very common, but several do exist in the Newark area, some as part of the East Coast Greenway. There are lengthy new editions expected south of the C&D Canal, as well as along Rt.40.

Route 72 under I95, south of Newark - one of a few truly safe crossings of I95 w/o on-off ramps. DelDOT responded to our action alert to clear mud from the path, however, drainage is the real culprit and the slippery stuff reappeared within days.

The chief complaint we receive is the deteriorated, sometimes dangerous condition these facilities are left in. Bike Delaware is investigating, and thus far we have found no specific policy or set guidelines for care and maintenance. According to the "Summary of DelDOT Livable Delaware Responsibilities Matrix" of 2001, however, the following can be found under "Maintenance Policy":

• Bike Paths: For those bike paths which have been, or will be created within the paved surface of the roadway, and designated by paint striping, cleaning and repair of these facilities will be accomplished within the existing established procedures and policies governing highway sweeping and pot hole repair. Where bike paths are constructed as separate, stand-alone facilities, there is no current policy guiding frequency of cleaning, or standards defining an acceptable level of maintenance. Such a policy needs to be developed. Specialized equipment not currently in the Department’s inventory or contracted services will be required to properly maintain separate paths. Existing equipment is designed for roadway service, and is too large and heavy to be utilized on stand-alone bikeways without damaging the physical structure of the path. There is no current effort to begin the process of developing a maintenance policy for bike paths.

Vegetation, trees, and brush eventually render some paths inaccessible.

Still since 2001 when Livable Delaware began, it appears there has been no set policy established for the care and maintenance of MUPs constructed by DelDOT. In some extreme circumstances, however, DelDOT has responded to "Report a Road Condition" as a matter of safe practice, filling potholes or removing debris. While helpful, this is simply not enough on facilities that, as a whole, are in an obvious state of decay. Like the roads they usually parallel, they should be considered as part of the same right of way, and assessed for pave and rehab as an equal level of service.

Bike Delaware is considering this issue as part of their 2012 goals. For starters, we would like to see:

• Parallel MUPs automatically assessed as part of the same ROW when considering pave & rehab opportunities.

• MUPs that follow their own ROW also be included as part of the nearest road they parallel, OR have them placed under county jurisdiction and maintenance. Some already are, including Lewden Green (pictured at bottom).

If we do not address this issue, most of these facilities will become "paths to nowhere." Lawsuits could ensue, with attempts to hold adjacent property owners liable.

Route 72 south of Newark: For most, a "safer" alternative to riding in the lane with high speed traffic. A width of roughly 5' remains of what was, and should be an 8' wide well defined pathway according to design standards.

As a reminder, Bike Delaware does not advocate for parallel bi-directional MUPs in all but the most demanding cases. Unlike properly designed cycle tracks, there are serious safety issues associated with bicyclists riding "upstream" through side streets and entrances, and you surrender your rights as a road user at intersections. In addition, motorists expect bikes to use the path - even if there's a shoulder - regardless of the condition. There are some cases where the MUP is seen as a safer alternative, however; Rt.72 between Rt.4 and Old Baltimore Pike south of Newark is one such example, given 4 lanes of high speed/high volume traffic curb to curb. Unless riding in a group, you are likely to be bullied or harassed by drivers who see you as ignorant or inconsiderate for not using the "bike path".

Lewden Green, aka "The Corcoran Greenway" behind Airport Road in New Castle County - maintained and in good shape.

Building Bikeways for the Future

By Drew Knox

President, Bike Delaware

When Governor Markell signed off on the 2012 state budget passed by the legislature, tucked into that bill was an allocation for $5,000,000 for state bike routes – a tape measure home run for Bike Delaware. Typically, those funds would qualify for a 4x match of federal funds, or an additional $20MM, which would be a grand slam in any park.

How did this happen? Through luck, focus, and hard work. We were lucky to have an extremely supportive and visionary governor, who had already been an early supporter of Complete Streets. Our focus began in late 2010 when Bike Delaware conducted an extended conversation with its membership about advocacy goals for 2011. We decided to concentrate our very limited resources on two main advocacy campaigns, one being a state funding earmark. In early 2011, we hired our first executive director, James Wilson, who worked tirelessly campaigning first for a General Assembly resolution to seek additional funds for bikeways and then to attach funds to implement the resolution in Delaware’s budget. This resolution passed both houses thanks in large part to Senators Venables and Sokola. More hard work was done by WCBC volunteers Carol Ireland, Gail Robillard, and Frank Warnock to create an executive director space for James to work in.

So, did we win? Hardly. We got a big score in the early innings of what could be an unending game. As politics spin in Washington, matching funds could become a wild pitch. According to the League of American Bicyclists, “Key Congressional leaders are attacking Transportation enhancements, Safe Routes to School, and Recreational trails and are taking steps to cut off dedicated federal funding for bicycling and walking.” Moreover, Senator Inhofe (R-OK), the lead Republican negotiator on the transportation bill, declared that one of his top three priorities for the transportation bill is to eliminate “frivolous spending for bike trails.”

In future articles, we will discuss where we would like to see these new funds applied and other recent signature successes. Meanwhile, we need your support. Bike Delaware’s funding is still precarious. As bicycling enthusiasts, you will be the earliest recipients of an improved bikeable/walkable infrastructure so, please, go to the Bike Delaware website to volunteer and/or make a contribution.

Enormous Stakes for Delaware in DC Fight

House Transportation Chairman John Mica (R-FL) announced today that his transportation bill will eliminate dedicated funding for bicycling and walking, including Transportation Enhancements, Safe Routes to School and the Recreational Trails Program, and discourages states from choosing to spend their dollars on these activities that are “not in the federal interest.”  Chairman Mica’s statement that these programs remain “eligible” for funding is worthless; without dedicated funding for these three programs, they are effectively eliminated. 

That's right. Walking and bicycling are not legitimate forms of transportation, serve no public benefit, and do not deserve federal funding - not even 1%. Doesn't matter, either, that the fatality rate for bicycle users is 10 times (1000%) the fatality rate for the occupants of cars and small trucks per mile (or kilometer) traveled. 

And, the timing could not be worse. Delaware's General Assembly just put up $5M for non-motorized transportation and recreation. These programs can be used to leverage that amount by 4x, or $20M for our state, for projects that could change bicycling and walking as we know it.

Things on the Senate side are not much better. Senator James Inhofe (R-OK), the lead Republican negotiator on the transportation bill, declared that one of his TOP 3 priorities for the transportation bill is to eliminate ‘frivolous spending for bike trails'.  This is in direct conflict with Senator Barbara Boxer’s (D-CA) commitment to maintain dedicated funding for biking and walking.  However, the Senate is working towards a bi-partisan solution, and Senator Inhofe’s comments mean funding for bicycle and pedestrian programs is at risk of total elimination.

Bike Delaware has been in contact with Delaware's congressional delegation. They are aware of how valuable these federal programs have suddenly become (since just last week!) for Delaware. Delaware is poised to reap an enormous windfall...if these federal programs are preserved.

Resources:

SRTS on-line letter

LAB's Time to Take Action, including talking points.

Thank our representatives in DC for fighting for a more walkable and bikeable Delaware: Rep. John Carney's contact info, Sen. Chris Coons contact info, Sen. Tom Carper's contact info

SB 120 passes unanimously in Senate, House awaits

In what may be another "first" for the First State, Senate Bill 120 passed the Senate unanimously on June 30, and now awaits House approval in January 2012. This bill would confirm that bicycles may legally operate when proceeding straight in right-turn-only lanes, as well as when operated upon the paved shoulders of Delaware's roads and highways. Bicyclists routinely use these features in the interest of safety, mainly to avoid altercation and stay out of harm's way. It's value is profoundly evident on our minor and principle arterials, where right turn-only lanes (RTOLs) are the norm and bicyclists often find themselves using them as a continuation of the shoulder. This often results in competition with turning drivers as they try to position themselves correctly, with the bike continuing straight through the intersection or side street. Under the present code, a crash here usually puts the cyclist at fault for "being in the wrong lane".

Not only will SB 120 provide much needed legal protections, it also lays the groundwork for shared RTOLs, which includes a simple striping modification and bike lane symbol(s). Bike Delaware is currently working with DelDOT Traffic on a few design proposals for testing and eventual implementation.

Senate Bill No. 120

AN ACT TO AMEND TITLE 21, CHAPTER 41 OF THE DELAWARE CODE RELATING TO BICYCLES.

Section 1. Amend title 21, Chapter 41, Delaware Code by deleting the word “or” appearing at the end of Section 4196(a)(2) thereof, and further by renumbering current Section 4196(a)(3) thereof as Section 4196(a)(4), and further by adding a new subsection (a)(3) to Section 4196 thereof, to read as follows:

“(3) When proceeding straight in a right-turn-only lane; or”

Section 2. Further amend Section 4196, title 21, Chapter 41, Delaware Code by adding a new subsection (d) thereto, to read as follows:

“(d) Any person operating a bicycle may ride upon a paved shoulder, with due regard for any traffic control devices intended to regulate or guide traffic or pedestrians.”

SYNOPSIS

This bill would confirm that bicycles may legally operate when proceeding straight in right-turn-only lanes, as well as when operated upon the paved shoulders of the state’s roads and highways. Because many of these shoulders are also used as parts of entrances and turning lanes, the bicyclists are required to use due regard for those conditions in traversing these pavement segments. 

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Bike Delaware thanks the Delaware Bicycle Council, DelDOT and their attorney for taking on this process, including sculpting the language, drafting the actual bill, finding sponsors and introducing it. SB 120 can be found on line and tracked HERE.