Roundabout Tutorial

This is an interesting instructional web animation on how bikes, peds and motorists should approach a roundabout from the Waterloo region (county) of Ontario. Pretty important around here as all of you know since local equate them with Jersey traffic circles. As many of you may know Roundabouts are proposed for section 700 of US 202

http://www.region.waterloo.on.ca/web/region.nsf/index?openpage#

Ben Franklin Bridge Hours

Effective, Wednesday, November 10, the Benjamin Franklin Bridge walkway hours will be shortened to 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. daily until Spring 2005. The walkway was previously open from 6 a.m. to 7 p.m. Like last year, walkway hours are being shortened due to daylight savings time. The north walkway is open and the south walkway is closed until further notice due to the bridge painting project.

Ben Franklin Bridge Hours

Effective, Wednesday, November 10, the Benjamin Franklin Bridge walkway hours will be shortened to 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. daily until Spring 2005. The walkway was previously open from 6 a.m. to 7 p.m. Like last year, walkway hours are being shortened due to daylight savings time. The north walkway is open and the south walkway is closed until further notice due to the bridge painting project.

Kudos to Mayfair CDC's "Clean Sweep"

Thanks to the Mayfair Community Development Corporation for doing an excellent job of keeping the bike lanes in Mayfair clear of debris. They have 4 sidewalk/street sweepers that they deploy throughout the neighborhood. On October 1 I spotted a sweeper cleaning debris off the bike lane on Torresdale Ave the same day that the East Coast Greenway Alliance Tour group rode down Torresdale as part of the ECG Maine-to-Florida Tour . This morning I spotted two sweepers, one sweeping the roadway edge along Ryan Ave and another sweeping the bike lane on Brous Ave.

http://www.mayfaircdc.org/

From DVRPC: NJDEP Calls For Rec. Trails Applications

NJDEP, Office of Natural Lands Management, has issued a call for applications for the National Recreational Trails program. It is anticipated that about $700,000 will be available. Deadline is December 15, 2004.

The Maximum Grant is for $25,000 under TEA-21’s Rec Trails program
You can download the application which has all more info about Rec Trails here

http://www.state.nj.us/dep/parksandforests/natural/2005_rtp_grant_package.pdf

Any questions concerning the program or funding should be directed to Larry Miller of
the Office of Natural Lands Management at 609-984-1339 or larry.miller@dep.state.nj.us

New Scenic Byways Brochure touts scenic beauty of the Blue Route and Exton Bypass

In the tradition of Boring Postcards Penndot now has a brochure that features these two "scenic byways". The main attraction of the Exton Bypass; QVC Studios. And don't forget the Abandoned Ikea store is right off the Blue Route at Plymouth Meeting. So get on your bike and explore these two local wonders. Oh that's right its illegal.

Election Year Fatigue: 24 Hour News Stations Don't Have Time To Cover Many Election Issues

Are you tired of watching CNN, MSNBC and Fox News talk to partison spin doctor's about the same four or five issues? Are you annoyed that the moderators of the debates have failed to ask questions about the environment, health or transportation? Do you cringe when the only time you hear about bicycles is when Bush or Kerry crash?

If so its worth taking a look at the Common Cause website:
http://www.commoncause.org/site/pp.asp?c=dkLNK1MQIwG&b=191982

So where do they stand?
Ironically CNN does have a good matrix on where Bush, Kerry and Nader stand on the issues.
http://www.cnn.com/ELECTION/2004/special/president/issues/index.html

But what about the decision makers that affect your life?
According to the League of Women Voters Pennsylvanians will be electing the following positions
one US Senator
19 Representatives to the US House
PA Attorney General
PA Auditor General
PA Treasurer
PA Senators in odd-numbered districts and
All of the Representatives to the PA House

Go to Project Vote Smart and type in your 9 Digit Zip Code. This will generate a list of your current elected officials and candidates. Scroll down to select candidates, most of whom have filled out a questionaire on where they stand on the issues.

mcall.com - Bicycling group wants Allentown museum

A new bicycle advocacy group wants to obtain a vacant building near the future America on Wheels transportation museum at Lehigh Landing in Allentown to create a museum dedicated to the bicycle.

Read more on the article in the Allentown Morning Call.

Falls Township Bike Auction (phillyBurbs.com)

Falls Township is holding a bicycle auction Oct. 16 at police headquarters, 188 Lincoln Highway, Fairless Hills. Those interested can inspect the bikes on the auction block from 8:30 a.m. until the auction begins at 9 a.m. Cash and checks with identification will be accepted as payment, and all sales are final. For information, call 215-949-9100.

Delaware Bicycle Master Plan

DelDOT has initiated this effort to determine a statewide network of bicycle routes to fulfill their mission to provide infrastructure for bicycle travel as a transportation option. It is DelDOT's goal to designate and maintain these routes for riders seeking both long touring and utilitarian trips. The Delaware Bicycle Plan has designated 24 corridors where bicycle improvements will be . In addition the plan aims to establish policies that give bicycles due consideration in all highway projects.

A parallel pedestrian master plan is in the early stages.

http://www.deldot.net/static/projects/bike_and_ped/bike_facilities/index.html

Public comments are being accepted throughout the project. Take a look at the display boards for September 2004 for an overview of the project http://www.deldot.net/static/projects/bike_and_ped/bike_facilities/boards.html

My observations on the plan included that a bike access is needed on all transit vehicles and facilities, a bike facilities line item is needed using state gas tax or toll revenues, a complete streets policy, a checklist similar to PennDOT’s should be added to the design manual, as well and an bicycle education module is needed in the state public schools, and most importantly performance measures to benchmark progress and bicycle use.

Bicycle Coalition participates in Schuylkill River Park Press Conference

Railroad called 'disrespectful' for closing off access to parkCSX says the safety risk is too great to allow entry to the Schuylkill River Park across its tracks. Reporters from from FOX29, WB17 and Channel 6, KYW and the Inquirer were there.

Physical Inactivity Cost Calculator

Physical inactivity, as described by the Surgeon General, is less than 30 minutes of moderate
physical activity most, if not all, days of the week. The Cost Calculator allows a business city or state to quantify the cost of physical inactivity.

? Two-thirds of Americans are officially overweight, up from
half just 20 years ago
? In 2000, the health costs of overweight and obesity were
estimated at $117 billion
? Physical inactivity contributes to numerous physical and
mental health problems and is responsible for an estimated
200,000 deaths per year.? A national study of 448 metropolitan counties found that
people living in sprawling, low-density counties walk less,
weigh more and are more likely to be obese or have
hypertension than peoplel iving in more compact counties.

keyISSUES:
? Plan and design communities that foster walking and biking
? Create “complete streets” that allow for physical activity
and have a network of sidewalks, paths and trails
? Ensure access for all to well-maintained parks, trails and
recreational facilities
? Support healthy school environments, including
neighborhood schools rather than regional schools,
mandatory PE classes and safe routes to school
programs

Save the Route 82 Bridges:

The Pottstown Mercury

"BIRDSBORO -- Pennsylvania Department of Transportation officials told the borough Tuesday that two bridges along Route 82 will be removed and not replaced.

'They said those bridges will definitely be coming out,' said Borough Manager Randy Miller. 'There was never a plan to replace them.'

Pedestrians use the bridge to walk across, but when that bridge is gone they?ll have to cross the stream.

'For horses, that?s not difficult, but for people it will be,' Miller said.

He added that there is a plan in the works to try to resolve the problem, but he refused to elaborate until it?s a done deal.

PennDOT officials said they will remove the bridges during their next working season, which will be sometime in 2005.