Posted by Chapin on Jul 19 2011
Tags: Bicycling, Burlington, Delivery, Economy, Vermont
This Thursday July 21 @ Maglianero Cafe will be a presentation from the Massachusetts based Pedal People bike delivery cooperative. Come here their story!
Posted by Jason on Jul 13 2011
Here is a story from Nancy Schulz, executive director of the Vermont Bicycle and Pedestrian Coalition, about why it pays to take the time to file a report with the police if you’re out on your bike and someone in a car threatens or harasses you:
On the evening of Sunday, July 10, I was bicycling on a dirt road in Berlin, VT. I had just passed over a stretch of rough “washboard” when I heard a car approaching rapidly behind me. I then heard a horrible crunching, crushing sound as the car hit the washboard while going too fast. In fear, I pulled off the road and looked over my left shoulder to see the car leave the road just behind me, tear up the turf, and rip off its rear bumper. The car then passed me, dragging its bumper, before two young male occupants hopped out and stuffed the bumper in the back seat. Over the next 15 minutes, the driver pulled over as I cycled by and then passed me two more times. Once, the car came very close and the passenger screamed at me while the driver leaned on the horn. The next time, the passenger hung his naked rear end out the window.
I reported this repeated harassment to a Berlin police officer, who appreciated hearing the details of what happened to me. I was told that the same driver on the same evening had hit a mailbox and almost hit a little girl who was bicycling. The driver was cited for DUI and leaving the scene of an accident. His car was impounded and the police had obtained a warrant to search the vehicle. They were pleased to know about the location of the car leaving the road and the debris left behind, including the foam liner of the bumper.
I gave a signed statement to the police and requested that the driver be charged with violating the Safe Passing law, which took effect one year ago. I shared copies of the law and the penalties because the officer was not aware of this law. I asked to testify in court about my unfortunate experience and I offered to provide a training, on behalf of the Vermont Bicycle & Pedestrian Coalition, to the Berlin police department that would cover this law and much more. The officer made copies of the documents for posting and was very interested in the training opportunity.
If you, while bicycling, walking, running, riding a horse, etc. on Vermont’s roads, have experienced harassment from a motorist, please report what happened to you and let the police know that you would like the motorist to be cited for violating the “Safe Passing” law. By doing so, you are assisting law enforcement and you are helping to protect others from experiencing what you experienced or worse. If you ignore this kind of behavior on the part of drivers, it will continue. Don’t tolerate it. You, as the victim, are a credible witness. Please speak up and save lives! Thank you.
You can find the text of the Safe Passing law on the home page of the Vermont Bicycle & Pedestrian Coalition web site: www.vtbikeped.org
Posted by Todd on Jul 11 2011
Tags: Food, South Hero
An amazing crowd of over 200 bicyclists turned-out on Saturday for the 2nd annual Heart of the Islands Bike Tour! Hosted by Vermont Farm Tours, this fun ride led pedal pushers and their curious taste buds throughout the Champlain Islands to discover farms, vineyards, artists and crafters of all kinds. The weather was, dare I say, perfect and everyone there seemed to be enjoying the chance to meet the people who produce the local foods and works of art that we all enjoy.
Bravo to tour organizers Chris and Melissa, and all their amazing volunteers!
Watch Vermont Farm Tour’s Facebook page for more photos.
Posted by Chapin on Jul 06 2011
One of the world’s most cited experts on innovative transportation planning is coming to speak in Burlington. If transportation policy interests you, come to this presentation!
Todd Litman of the Victoria Transport Policy Institute (VTPI), Victoria, BC, Canada will speak at a Burlington Planning and Zoning Department event that is kicking off their downtown and waterfront planning process. Todd is the founder and Executive Director of the VTPI and has worked on numerous studies that evaluate transportation costs, benefits and innovations. He his part of the team currently working on the Transportation Study for the City’s planning project and has graciously agreed to participate in this Speaker Series.
VTPI is an independent research organization dedicated to developing innovative and practical solutions to transportation problems. Their research is among the most current available and has been widely applied. VTPI helps clients:
Come hear Todd’s expert perspectives!
This event is listed on Local Motion’s online calendar at:
http://www.localmotion.org/news/calendar?task=view_detail&agid=429&year=2011&month=7&day=13
Posted by Chapin on Jun 25 2011
Local Motion sends a HUGE thank you to the 5 area bike shops that are donating 7% of their proceeds July 1-3 to repairing the flood-damaged Island Line Trail! So if you need any cycling or outdoor equipment, please shop at one of the five shops below the first three days of July.
Participating Shops: Alpine Shop, Earl’s Cyclery & Fitness, Old Spokes Home, North Star Sports and Skirack. Kudos to Roger Frey from Earl’s Cyclery and Zandy Wheeler from Skirack who came up with this promotion! Here’s the ad that will be running in area papers:
Posted by David Jacobowitz on Jun 02 2011
Tags: Bicycling, Construction, Share the Road
A guest blog post by Local Motion volunteer and certified bike safety instructor, David Jacobowitz:
I teach bike safety education mostly to adults. Recently, it was a pleasure to address students in Luis Vivanco’s Bicycles, Globalization, and Sustainability course recently. I use the curriculum set out by the League of American Bicylists, which is based on John Forester’s principle that bikes fare best when they act like and are treated like vehicles.
The students want to go on field trips around the Burlington area, so it is a good idea to have them educated a bit on basic bike safety. These are good students. They have made it to higher education and they are good at learning complicated stuff. So bike safety would seem to be a breeze.
It was. We pretty quickly went over the basics of Vermont law, rules of the road, ABC Quick Check, skills you might need for safe riding and avoiding hazards.
In the discussion three scenarios came up which I want to present:
Sometimes bikes do not act like other vehicles on the road. When is it OK to deviate from Forester’s principle? Leave your thoughts in the comments below.
Posted by Jason on Jun 01 2011
Local Motion launched a new initiative this spring to loan bikes and resources to schools that want to teach bike skills to kids. This initiative is part of our BikeSmart program, which builds on a curriculum developed in collaboration with the Center for Health and Learning and the Vermont Safe Routes to School program. Three schools — ADL Middle School in Essex Junction and Flynn Elementary and Edmunds Elementary in Burlington — have used our trailer and equipment so far. The reaction from teachers and kids alike has been overwhelmingly positive!
Sixth graders at ADL Middle School honed their bike skills with help from Local Motion
Ruth McGowan and Ashley Stebbins, PE teachers at ADL Middle School, led off the season with a training for all 110 sixth graders at the school. Students worked on smooth starts, anti lock braking, signals, helmet safety, bike basics and an obstacle course. “We owe a huge thank you for this outstanding opportunity to Local Motion and their trailer filled with top quality kids’ bikes!” McGowan said. “This is an outstanding opportunity for Vermont students to learn bike safety. The equipment is excellent, the curriculum is provided, and it’s all free!”
In mid-May, the bikes went to Flynn Elementary in Burlington’s New North End. Sarah Austin, the after-school site director at Flynn, built bike skills training into programming for the week. “The program was wonderful!” Austin said. ”What an amazing experience for everyone involved.” The bikes also went to Edmunds Elementary, where after-school staff were able to squeeze a few trainings in between the rainshowers.
Many thanks to MVP Health Care, exclusive business sponsor of Local Motion’s BikeSmart program for 2011. Their support made this spring’s “loaner” program possible.
Thanks also to the many other partners who helped launch this program in 2010 and continue to support it now, including: VTrans, Fletcher Allen Health Care, Kohl’s Cares for Kids, the Vermont Health Foundation, Ronald McDonald House Charities, Skirack, Maaco of South Burlington, Airbrush Ron, and CCTA.
Posted by Jason on May 31 2011
As part of the Safe Streets project, Local Motion is teaming up with some of Vermont’s top cyclists to promote riding by the rules of the road. We’re working with the “Tuesday Night Worlds” ride, a fast-paced ride that starts in South Burlington and circles through Shelburne and Charlotte every Tuesday evening after work. Our goal is to support ride leaders as they work to make this ride a model for how cyclists and motorists can each get where they are going — and get along with each other in the process.
Bobby Bailey orients cyclists about ride etiquette
About 40 riders showed up on May 24, which was our kick-off event. Bobby Bailey, a cycling coach and regular participant in the Tuesday ride, emphasized the importance of holding to a tight double pace line (that is, no more than two riders abreast) for the first few miles until the group got out onto quieter country roads. He also made it clear that they would be stopping as a group at stop signs and crossing together so as to minimize their impact on traffic flow.
“This ride can be pretty competitive,” Bailey said. “People get in race mode, and all they focus on is keeping up with the guy in front of them.” The best way to make sure that riders stop for stop signs, he explained, is to set the ride up so that everyone agrees to stop. That way, riding by the rules doesn’t make a rider fall behind the pack, and stopping becomes the norm.
Officer Josh Flore and riders listen to the pre-ride orientation
Officer Josh Flore of the Shelburne Police Department joined the group at the start of the ride to talk about safe and respectful riding. He then met the riders at Irish Hill Road and Mount Philo Road in Shelburne, a busy intersection where riding by the rules is especially important. “The riders did great,” he said. “They stopped just like they should and then moved through fast.”
Starting June 6, Local Motion will be running ads on The Point family of radio stations about respectful riding, driving, and walking. Listen for the ads, then visit our website at www.safestreetsVT.org for more info and resources!
Many thanks to the Vermont Governor’s Highway Safety Program, which is the lead funder of the Safe Streets project.
Posted by Chapin on May 30 2011
Tags: August First, Bicycle, Burlington, commuting, Skirack, Vermont
Over 30 bike commuters came to the first annual Bike To Work Fuel-Up at August First on National Bike to Work Day. Local Motion handed out reflective legbands and traffic safety guidelines while Skirack provided free bike checks.
Thanks to August First, the Skirack, and the Governor’s Highway Safety Program for helping Local Motion host this event!
Posted by Chapin on May 26 2011
Tags: Bicycling, Economy, Tourism, Vermont
After two years of declining rankings, advocates and public officials have successfully rebounded Vermont’s bike-friendly rating to 15th in the country. As we continue to promote Vermont as a premier cycling destination, our ranking is good for business.
2008: VT 17th
2009: VT 23rd
2010: VT 34th
2011: VT 15th
There are many reasons for the improvement. The VT Bike & Pedestrian Coalition helped pass the “Safe Passing” bill last legislative session. Local Motion has geared up our Safe Streets activities in Chittenden County. Burlington officials overhauled their cycling ordinances last year to include a 3′ passing law. VTrans continues to improve internal processes including bike/pedestrian counts on sidewalks and trails around the state.
We expect to improve VT’s 2012 ranking too as we’ve had many recent successes — a passage of a statewide Complete Streets bill (thanks AARP), a bike parking bill at state buildings (thanks VBPC), and VTrans is poised to reopen the state’s Bike & Pedestrian Program to new projects (after being suspended for seven years). Let’s do more so that we can crack the Top 10 in 2012!
The League of American Bicyclists coordinates the Bike Friendly States ranking. The Bicycle Friendly State Program is generously supported by program partners Bikes Belong and Trek Bicycle.
