This just in from America Bikes

On Thursday, February 2, 2012 the House Transportation Committee will vote on the American Energy and Infrastructure Jobs Act, a bill that eliminates crucial funds for biking and walking.

This long-awaited multi year transportation bill eliminates the two largest programs that fund biking and walking infrastructure—Transportation Enhancements and Safe Routes to School. Without these programs, communities all over the country will lose resources to build the sidewalks, crosswalks, and bikeways that make biking and walking safe and accessible in communities across the country.

According to America Bikes- Top Ten Problems with the bill in priority order:

1. Transportation Enhancements is gone.
2. Safe Routes to School is gone.
3. The Congestion Mitigation Air Quality program (CMAQ) is less likely to support pedestrian, bicycle, and transit improvements because air quality is no longer the operative measure.
4. States are no longer required to maintain safe bridge access for bicycles.
5. Placeholder for what’s wrong with the planning language.
6. Rails to Trails are no longer eligible for funding under the Surface Transportation program.
7. Pedestrian and bicycle coordinators in state DOTs are eliminated.
8. Pedestrian, bicycle and Enhancements clearinghouses gone.
9. Eliminates the requirement that rumble strips “do not adversely affect the safety or mobility of bicyclists, pedestrians or the disabled.”
10. Eliminates language that specifically includes traffic calming and improvements for ped-bike safety as eligible HSIP projects.

Visit the America Bikes Website to connect with legislators on this critical issue.

Please act today.

Roanoke will host a Bike Summit on February 27-28, 2012

The Roanoke Bike Summit will provide information for communities, businesses and universities from the League of American Bicyclists on its programs of guidance and professional assistance in  becoming bicycle friendly.  Achieve national recognition from the League at Bronze, Silver, Gold or Platinum levels.  Learn how by attending a session of interest to you.

Bicycle Friendly University:                          Monday, Feb. 27, 9:00 a.m. – noon

Bicycle Friendly Business:                              Monday, Feb. 27, 1:30 – 3:30 p.m.

Bicycle Friendly Community:                        Tuesday, Feb. 28, 9:00 a.m. – noon

Location:   

Roanoke Higher Education Center

108 N. Jefferson St

Roanoke, VA 24016

The main entrance is on the “back” side of the building, not Jefferson St.  There is an adjacent parking garage on Centre Ave.

Map:                http://g.co/maps/u3uhs

The Roanoke Bike Summit is free of charge but advance registration is requested.

Online Registration:    http://bikeroanoke.com/summit/

The Roanoke Bike Summit should be of interest to those who are concerned with disease prevention, environmental sustainability, energy sustainability, air quality, transportation alternatives, traffic safety, recreational opportunities, fitness, livable communities and quality of life.

On January 1, 2012 our organization officially became “Bike Virginia”!

We are proud to announce this name change and the reason behind it.

As of this month we are Bike Virginia, our mission is solely focused on bicycling.

Over the past 12 years we have worked to address both bicycle and pedestrian issues. That time was not without challenge. While the two matters converge at some critical junctures, often the things bicyclists and pedestrian needs require very different advocacy and at times these interests are at odds to one another.

Over time we’ve learned that the strongest synergy lies in bicycle education and advocacy because at the community level cycling is better organized. Clubs and groups for dedicated to bicycling exist across Virginia. In our experience the biggest changes happen when fostered at the community level. Working with local groups creates greater impact. By focusing in on bicycling alone we can offer even more to localities.

“Walking advocacy tends to be less formalized. People walk all the time, but it’s hard to get people passionate about the topic, passionate to the point where they will dedicate time and energy to improving walking,” said Dr. Kim Perry, Executive Director of Bike Virginia. Does this mean the organization does not care about walking? Not at all. We recognize walking as a critical mode of transportation and recreation. Our organization is a strong proponent for multi-use paths and greenways, both are frequently used and enjoyed by walkers and runners. Walking will also continue to be a part of our Share the Road messaging and our Awareness Week campaign.

“We are also seeing a growing energy in local governments to include walking in planning,” said Perry. Bike Virginia also works  with national organizations that support walking such the Alliance for Biking and Walking, Coalition for Smart Growth, and Complete Streets.

After much consideration, the board and staff at Bike Virginia concluded that we can have the most impact by carefully focusing our work. We are very excited about this concentrated mission. Look for more changes soon. Our domain name will change to reflect the new organization name. There is a design contest underway for a new logo. The organization website will go through a refresh, to look and feel more like our Resource website. New programs and events will be added.

“There are a lot of good things coming,” said Dr. Perry as she spoke of the year ahead.

Registration opened December 1, 2011 for our 25th Annual Bike Virginia Tour.

The 2012 tour will visit beautiful Northwestern Virginia and neighboring West Virginia counties.  We’ll be riding the great roads and visiting historic locations around Winchester, Berryville, Charles Town, Shepherdstown, and Harper’s Ferry.

Riders can sign up for a single days or the full five day tour. Choose from multiple accommodation options including hotels and camping.

The 2012 routes are rated a 6 of 10 on our 10 point difficulty scale.

Learn more or sign up at www.bikevirginia.org

Just in from the Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT). Here at BWVA we are excited to see the new Bike Plan released from the state. Our Executive Director, Dr. Kim Perry, and board member Ron Enders participated in the development of the plan by serving on the Bicycle Advisory Committee.

Press Release Dated October 24, 2011

RICHMOND – The Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT) recently completed the 2011 State Bicycle Policy Plan identifying the agency’s vision and goals for the future of bicycling in the commonwealth. The plan ensures that bicyclists remain an integral component of Virginia’s multimodal transportation system.

The new plan institutes the needed framework for establishing and maintaining a transportation system that encourages bicycling by providing infrastructure accommodations for bicyclists of all ages and abilities. The plan also is intended to improve public health and safety by reducing traffic congestion and emissions contributing to air pollution.

Strategies and opportunities have been identified in the plan to enhance the implemented Commonwealth Transportation Board’s 2004 Policy for Integrating Bicycle and Pedestrian Accommodations, while addressing stakeholder concerns across the commonwealth. The recommendations outlined in the policy will be used throughout Virginia to assist in the planning, design, construction, operation and maintenance of bicycle accommodations.

The Virginia State Bicycle Policy Plan contains four main recommendations:

-          Clarifying bicycle accommodation policies

-          Providing staff with resources to integrate the requirements of bicyclists in projects and programs

-          Improving outreach and coordination on this transportation alternative

-          Evaluating the established bicycle plan performance measures

This plan is the first in a three-part series that VDOT has undertaken to establish the vision for the Commonwealth’s Bicycle and Pedestrian Program. Future steps include the creation of a pedestrian policy plan and an implementation document for both plans. The Bicycle Policy Plan was created with the assistance of a Policy Implementation Team and the Department’s Bicycle Advisory Committee. To view the finalized State Bicycle Policy Plan, visit http://www.virginiadot.org/programs/resources/VDOT_Bicycle_Policy_Plan.pdf

Here at BikeWalk Va we’ve been busily working for the past year on a new website. The site is an online tool-kit of resources for biking and walking advocates, planners, and enthusiasts.

On the site you’ll find a wide array of information from inspirational case studies, to expert interviews, to useful tools and connections. The site is an ongoing project and will continue to grow as we learn and as new topics arise.

Visit today at http://resources.bikewalkvirginia.org/