Wheels come off Huntsville's proposed cycling-safety ad campaign

Why did the reporter not contact ALDOT or the Feds for their side of the story?

By Steve Doyle

February 25, 2010, 7:12AM

Ellen Hudson / The Huntsville TimesMayor Tommy Battle pedals through downtown Huntsville during the inaugural Mayor's Bike Ride last May.HUNTSVILLE, AL -- Lack of money has derailed Huntsville's proposed bicycling safety ad campaign.

Things seemed to be on track. Officials announced the idea months ago, the City Council gave its blessing and the Alabama Department of Transportation promised a $197,000 federal grant to pay for it.

But James Moore, a senior city planner who works on cycling issues, said the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration recently "rescinded" the money it had earmarked for such grants.

"It's a real punch in the gut," Peter Hannah, who chairs the city's cycling task force, said Tuesday. "We're still going to plan for the mayor's bike ride and some other things, but things that are low-budget.

"Where we go from here, I don't know."

Mayor Tommy Battle pedaled around the city last spring to draw attention to cyclists' rights and plans to do it again in May. Three cyclists have been killed in traffic accidents here since September 2008.

Rumors have been flying that the city failed to get the grant application in on time, but City Administrator Rex Reynolds said that's not true.

The paperwork was done properly, he said, but state transportation officials needed extra time to review it because what the city wants to do has never been tried in Alabama.

Huntsville is proposing to plaster city buses with cycling-safety messages and pledged $40,000 toward the campaign. While the state was analyzing the idea, Reynolds said, the feds took the grant money off the table.

"This was the first type of bike awareness grant that had been reviewed by the state," he said Tuesday. "That in itself is a sign that we've got to do a better job about bicycle awareness.

"It needs to be second nature to us, rather than something odd."

While the city has started looking around for other grants, Reynolds said he is not ready to give up on the $197,000.

"We have not been told it's a dead end," he said.

Great Bike-Friendly Cities

Look a Mayor encouraging and Louisville mentioned again. Thats what I love about here no matter how much the people are presented with facts they still don't get it. 

Freewheeling is the way to go in these cities.

By David Swanson

Photo by Loic Bernard/iStockphoto.com

These North American metropolises welcome visitors on two wheels.

If Boston's confounding roads have never been easy to explore by car, imagine the obstacles visiting bicyclists face. In 2006 Bicycling magazine put the city on its list of America's worst cities for cycling—for the third time.

Enter Mayor Thomas Menino. Recognizing the benefits of a bike-friendly culture—for the environment, to ease traffic congestion, for public health—the mayor appointed a former Olympic cyclist as the city's bike coordinator, launched an annual cycling event, and became a biker himself. The city installed 15 miles of bike lanes and distributed 40,000 cycling maps. While Boston has a long way to go, Bicycling named it a "future best city" in 2008. Cities from Louisville to Los Angeles are ramping up their bike accessibility, and visitors are a big part of the game plan. The result may be a boost in car-free tourism across North America, like that which has existed in European cities such as Amsterdam and Copenhagen for years. Here are the leaders among North America's bike-friendly cities.

• Portland At the confluence of the Willamette and Columbia Rivers, Portland is "arguably the best big city in America for cycling," says Andy Clarke, president of the League of American Bicyclists. The city boasts the nation's highest percentage of bicycle commuters—nearly 11 times the national average. Visiting cyclists will find dozens of rental shops, 75 miles of off-street pathways, and a cycling culture that has produced educated drivers used to navigating around bikes. Local accommodations supply bike maps, and some, such as the Hotel Monaco, have created a car-less package that features a light-rail airport transfer and a guided bike tour. One of the city's most scenic rides is the Waterfront Loop, which cruises along both sides of the Willamette, passing over or near 12 bridges. A cup of joe or microbrew is always nearby. Just west of downtown are miles of paths in Forest Park. They provide dramatic views of the glacier-carved Columbia River Gorge and—on clear days—nearby volcanoes Mount Hood and Mount St. Helens.

• New York Since 2006, the city has almost doubled to 400 its miles of bike lanes in the five boroughs and the Department of Transportation plans to add 50 miles annually. The NYC Greenway circles almost all of Manhattan with water views and many of the city's top sights along the Hudson River. Make sure to stop at the new pocket parks near Ground Zero. Rental company Bike and Roll has six rental stations between Battery Park and Riverside Park. One of the city's iconic rides is across the Brooklyn Bridge. There's a dedicated bike lane, but watch out for pedestrians who inadvertently cross the line on busy weekends. For the best views of the city, start on the Brooklyn side. In summer, put your bike on the ferry in Lower Manhattan and cycle car-free Governors Island, a five-mile loop.

• Chicago With cycling mayor Richard M. Daley leading the charge, the city now has 12,000 public bike racks, 141 miles of marked, on-street bike lanes, and 35 miles of shared-use trails. Bobby's Bike Hike and the McDonald's Cycle Center in Grant Park offer tours and rentals. The cycling season kicks off the Sunday of Memorial Day with a fund-raiser. An eight-lane, 15-mile stretch of Lake Shore Drive closes from Grant Park to Bryn Mawr for "Bike the Drive," drawing nearly 18,000 cyclists of all ages and abilities. The rest of the year, bikes are welcome on the 18-mile Lakefront Trail. Visitors with bikes can board Chicago's Metra trains to suburban stations like Aurora and jump onto the Fox River Trail to Elgin (about 20 miles), returning to the city using a different Metra line.

• San Diego A favorable climate encourages cycling year-round. One of the most popular rides is a 26-mile loop around San Diego Bay on relatively flat terrain, using the ferry to access Coronado Island and the Silver Strand. But in addition to easy beach rides, San Diego County is a haven for advanced riders. Few restrictions limit bikes on public transportation, making it convenient to access the backcountry or cycle up the coast along Old Highway 101 for great ocean views.

• San Francisco While the hilly city might not seem like the most obvious place for a leisurely ride, one of the country's most picturesque routes is the Bay Trail, following the shoreline from downtown San Francisco to Sausalito. Along the nine-mile trip: the Palace of Fine Arts, the Presidio, and Fisherman's Wharf. Riders can even return via ferry. Another highlight: crossing the Golden Gate Bridge; it's an experience anyone can tackle using dedicated bike lanes. "You can get a lot closer to San Francisco's sights on a bike than you can on a bus," says Aimee Harcos of Bike and Roll, which rents bikes from four locations and offers daily guided tours. From the Golden Gate, more advanced cyclists can access the Marin Headlands, Muir Woods, and 2,572-foot Mount Tamalpais.

• Montreal Last year Quebec's largest city became the first in North America to launch a full-blown bike-share system (see box, page 15). Visitors (and residents) can pick up and return bikes to any one of 400 solar-powered facilities sprinkled around the city for just $5 a day. A popular ride within the city follows car-free Olmsted Road along the gentle slopes of Mont-Royal, designed by New York's Central Park architect Frederick Law Olmsted. A longer path follows the Lachine Canal past locks and small bridges.

• Washington, D.C. Pierre-Charles L'Enfant did not have had bikes in mind when he laid out Washington, D.C., "but he did a marvelous job for cyclists," says Andy Clarke of the League of American Bicyclists. "The monumental core has great bones for cycling." Rather than freeways, grand avenues define the capital, and along the nearly two-mile National Mall there are pools, memorials, and museums connected by a network of quiet service roads and paths—ideal for bikes. The Mount Vernon Trail runs 18 miles south along the Potomac River from Roosevelt Island to George Washington's stately estate in Virginia.

• Tucson Miles of bike lanes criss-cross the old Spanish pueblo. One popular route follows the (usually dry) Rillito River for about 15 miles, much of it along an arroyo and encompassing sweeping Santa Catalina Mountain vistas. Just outside the city, bikers can ride amid stands of cacti in Saguaro National Park.

3 Events and One exciting announcement

1: Alabama Department of Transportation seeks public input on proposed Bike and Pedestrian Routes.Thursday Feb, 25 @ 320 Fountain Circle from 5-7 p.m. Two of the eight state bicycle routes proposed by the Alabama Department of Transportation will go through Huntsville. DOT representatives will be present to discuss the plan and to answer questions. more info here 

2: Critical Mass Friday Feb 26, meet @ 6:30 ride @ 7pm SE Corner of Courthouse Downtown. This months theme "Does anyone in Huntsville really believe in Climate change?"

3: Vintage Ride Sunday @ 2pm starts from Huntsville Middle School always a good time with some good people!

And now for our exciting announcement.........

Huntsville Safe Streets Advocates will be offering "FREE" Commuter Classes starting in April and again in May for Bike month, more info and a sign up are currently in the works this will not be a "Fear Based Initiative", but a fun learning experience!!!! Learn from commuters from Huntsville, NY, Boston, Minneapolis, Portland and Chicago. These instructors will apply the challenges of Big City commuting to the Streets of Huntsville and I hear there might be some great coffee and snacks a brewing by some of Huntsville newest micro business's.

State DOT pushing pedal power plan Be There Thursday

Looks like our State is encouraging walking and biking, Let's all try and show up and voice our support

From HSV Times

By Keith Clines

February 23, 2010, 6:28AM

View full sizeEric Schultz / The Huntsville TimesThe state plan would use many existing roads to create a statewide system of bike routes.HUNTSVILLE, AL. - Two of the eight state bicycle routes proposed by the Alabama Department of Transportation will go through Huntsville.

Local residents can view the routes Thursday at a DOT-sponsored public involvement meeting to gather public comments about the draft Statewide Bicycle and Pedestrian Plan.

The meeting will be in the first-floor conference room in the city engineering building at 320 Fountain Circle from 5-7 p.m.

DOT representatives will be present to discuss the plan and to answer questions.

The draft plan is available for review on the DOT Web site at dot.state.al.usand at each of the nine DOT division offices across the state.

The state’s goal for the statewide bicycle route system to provide access across the state, between metropolitan areas, and to natural and cultural sites.

The routes mainly would involve roads, trails and greenways. Bicycle and pedestrian facilities include striped bike lanes on a road, a road designated by signs as a route for bike use and shared use paths such as greenways and trails.

The plan has connectors to link the proposed state bike routes with local bike facilities, such as Huntsville’s bikeway routes.

The eight proposed state bicycle routes include five east-west corridors and three north-south corridors.

Both an east-west route and a north-south route would go through Huntsville.

The east-west route would connect Huntsville, Madison, Athens and Florence and use each city’s bicycle-pedestrian plan. It would connect to the Natchez Trace Parkway near the Alabama, Mississippi and Tennessee state lines.

The route’s primary roads would include Alabama 99, U.S. 72 and Alabama 35.

The north-south route would run along east Alabama from Huntsville to Geneva near the Florida state line.

The state route would connect with city networks in Huntsville, Troy and Enterprise.

The route would use U.S. 431 across Guntersville Lake, Alabama 227 to Lake Guntersville State Park, and connect with the Appalachian Highlands Scenic Byway on Alabama 68 east of Interstate 59. It would continue on the byway through Talladega National Forest.

The purpose of the plan is to guide the DOT’s decisions where bicycle and pedestrian
facilities should be provided to meet the demands for bicycling and walking.

The plan’s aim “is to identify opportunities statewide that will give rise to bicycling and walking as viable and safe modes of transportation.”

The state developed the plan after compiling an inventory of existing and proposed bicycle facilities and assessing present bicycle and pedestrian activities.

“Public opinion surveys throughout the last two decades have demonstrated strong support for increased planning, funding and implementation of shared-use paths, sidewalks and on-street bicycle facilities,” the plans says. “Much of the public interest stems from the increased awareness of the health and environmental benefits of walking and bicycling.”

A Different Path: SXSW 2010 Accepted Film

A Different Path' follows a sidewalk activist Senior, a Critical Mass trumpeter, city Kayak-er, and others, as they struggle to make their way through the modern automobile-centric urban environment. Each character uses ingenuity and humor to try and solve their modern mobility dilemma. The film is an artistic and poetic treatment of personal struggle and environmental concern over livable cities. Animation, carefully crafted cinematography, and original music created by the director with cast member Michael Louis Johnson, contribute to this documentaryÕs distinctive style from the director of "Hybrid" (Independent Spirit Award Ð 2001).

New bike paths for region, courtesy of U.S. stimulus

From philly.com
Ten new bike and pedestrian paths will be built in Philadelphia and South Jersey with $23 million in federal stimulus funds, local officials announced today.
The trails will fill in some of the gaps in a planned 108-mile network that eventually will link Philadelphia, Reading, Chester, New Hope, Cherry Hill, and Trenton.
"This will transform the network we have and make it accessible to a much larger and more diverse segment of our population," said Sarah Clark Stuart, campaign director of the Bicycle Coalition of Greater Philadelphia, which helped prepare the proposal approved by the U.S. Department of Transportation.
The three paths in Camden County and seven in Philadelphia will be constructed in the next two years, said Stephen Buckley, Philadelphia's deputy commissioner of transportation.
The Philadelphia paths will extend existing trails along the Schuylkill and Delaware rivers. The seven include new trails along the Delaware in North Philadelphia and Northeast Philadelphia, said Spencer Finch, director of sustainable development at the Pennsylvania Environmental Council. The council helped write the proposal.
The most expensive path is a 2,000-foot boardwalk to be built for $10.6 million along the east bank of the Schuylkill, from the end of the current trail at Locust Street to South Street. Construction could begin in a few months.
One Camden trail will connect the Benjamin Franklin Bridge walkway to the Wiggins Park promenade along the Delaware waterfront, while another will link the waterfront to the Campbell Soup Co. headquarters and Cooper University Hospital. The third Camden trail will connect the waterfront to paths along the Cooper River.
Construction of the approximately eight miles of trails will provide 600 to 800 jobs, Finch estimated.
The Philadelphia-area trails were approved for funding today, part of $1.5 billion allocated for 50 projects, as the Obama administration marked the one-year anniversary of the $787 billion American Economic Recovery and Investment Act.
"Not many bicycle or pedestrian projects got funded," Finch said. "These are relatively easy, quick, and cheap to do."
Buckley said, "We're really excited that we got this award. . . . Only 3 percent of the projects nationwide got funding."
Eight trails outside of Philadelphia and Camden in the local proposal did not receive funding.
In praising the award today, Mayor Nutter said he would support efforts to fill in the network's remaining gaps.
"I pledged," Nutter said in a statement, "that the city will support Delaware County, Montgomery County, Chester County, and Schuylkill County as they pursue state and federal funding to complete the regional trial network."

Cargo trikes are the new biodiesel delivery truck

By Jennifer L. Schwartz One of my favorite local companies, Boston Organics, is hopping back on the bicycle bandwagon. Literally. For local deliveries in close proximity to their Charlestown headquarters, Boston Organics will be using their new cargo trike to bring boxes of organic, local produce directly to customers’ doors. Kudos to Cathy for powering the trike. I’m sure you’ll be well rewarded with some beautiful glutes. Boston Organics isn’t the first company to employ pedal power. In fact, Jeff sought the help of Boston Pedicab to get started. You’ve seen the pedicab “drivers” around town… they wear fluorescent yellow shirts and are especially popular before and after Red Sox games. Use these guys! It’s a huge step in reducing your company’s greenhouse gas emissions, plus you’re supporting a local business that’s doing real good for the community. From Main Street Pedicabs

Camco gets $5.8M for bicycle paths

CAMDEN — Camden County will receive $5.8 million in federal stimulus money to construct two miles of bike paths through Camden to connect the suburbs to the waterfront and Philadelphia via the Benjamin Franklin Bridge.
That's nearly $3 million a mile.

Camden County's share is part of a $23 million, bistate grant to create a regional network of bike paths.

Philadelphia and surrounding counties will receive $17.2 million for the same purpose. The total grant is part of $1.5 billion in Transportation Investment Generating Economic Recovery (TIGER) grants that have been earmarked for improvements to roads, bridges, rail, ports, transit and intermodal facilities.

Though multiple agencies on both sides of the river collaborated on the application, Philadelphia's Deputy Transportation Commissioner Steve Buckley was the principal applicant. Together, the two states applied for $36 million to create 17 trails.

Work on the paths must be completed by 2012, said Jacob Gordon, general counsel for Cooper's Ferry Development Association, which will manage Camden County's share.

The grant, he said, will cover improvements to three trails:

Martin Luther King Boulevard from Cooper University Hospital to the waterfront (0.76 mile);

Pine Street from Haddon Avenue to New Camden Park behind Camden High School in Parkside to Farnum Park (0.74 miles);

Pearl Street to the Benjamin Franklin Bridge (0.51 miles).

A bike path already exists from North Park Drive in Pennsauken, around The Pub restaurant, to the south side of Admiral Wilson Boulevard. Still missing is a short link near a Hess gas station on the boulevard to 11th Street that would pass in front of a Campbell Soup Co. building that is under construction.

Though the grant does not cover this vital link, Gordon said he is confident the state Department ofTransportation and the county will close the loop.

When the proposed trails are complete, a bicyclist will be able to pedal safely from the suburbs to the Camden Waterfront or Philadelphia from either side of Cooper River.


read more here

Mexico promotes bicycles to reduce pollution

A bicycle-lending programme, known as Ecobici, has been launched in this Mexican capital to promote more environment-friendly modes of transport and to reduce car traffic and air pollution. 

Mexico's capital, home to nearly 19 million people and more than 5 million vehicles, is one of the most congested and polluted cities in the world.

Air pollution has been reduced from the levels registered in the 1990s, but Mexico City is surrounded by smog and generates 9.1 per cent of the country's carbon dioxide emissions.

The first phase of Ecobici will provide 1,114 bicycles at 85 stations, with bikes available for 30-minute loans to members who pay a 300-peso ($23) annual fee.

"Just as in other cities, like Barcelona, EcoBici is a project that seeks to recover public spaces, improve people's quality of life and, of course, help protect the environment,"Mexico City Mayor Marcelo Ebrard said at the ceremony Tuesday to unveil the programme.

EcoBici members will get an electronic card that allows them to borrow a bicycle, use it and later return it to a station.

Members exceeding the 30-minute limit will be required to pay 35 pesos (nearly $3), the mayor said.

The EcoBici stations are currently located only in certain neighbourhoods.

Mexico City officials plan to build a bicycle lane along the Metrobus Line 3 route this year, with the goal being to connect the metropolis with the neighbouring cities of Toluca, Pachuca and Cuernavaca. 

NYC Transforming Parking Meters Into Bike Racks

From Inhabitant

New York City is keeping the green news coming — the city recently announced plans to massacre and recycle 225 parking meters and turn them into circular bike racks! This news comes in the midst of NYC’s plans to increase bike commuting three-fold by 2020. New Yorkers across the five boroughs would tell you it’s rather hard to park your bike in the city, so the new racks are sure to encourage cycling.

The increase in bike racks is small compared to the current need in New York — there’s currently only one bike rack for every 30 bicyclists. It is meaningful, however — especially because they are sacrificing the ease with which you can pay to park a car. The meters are going to be replaced by “muni meters” at the end of each block.

The racks will replace every few meters on a given street, leaving some parking meters as is. The new racks have been specially designed to fit old meters, with two half circles installed on the meter’s main pole. This will save the city $200 per meter — the costs of ripping out the pole and repairing the sidewalk around it. They are also planning to recycle the tops of the meters for scrap metal.

Via GOOD

Boston’s Bike Czar Wants To Make “Bean Town” Bike Friendly

TDOT Announces Bike Lanes for Henley

Just because it's not here does not mean we can't compliment other cities. So way to go Knoxville!!!!!!


From Metro Pulse
Victory! The Tennessee Department of Transportation just announced it will build two bike lanes on the Henley St. Bridge instead of another lane for cars.

The announcement comes in response to the recommendation by the City of Knoxville, whose recommendation came in response to Jack Neely's piece last month (or as they put it, "strong public support" at a meeting about the issue. Sure).

Better get those tires pumped and gears greased! Only 36 months from when work begins next year!

Here's the press release in full for all you bicycle boosters: 


http://blogs.metropulse.com/the_daily_pulse/2010/02/tdot-announces-bike-lanes-for.html

Safe Routes to School Expands to Fair Haven, Foreshadows Citywide Approach

A couple of points here, as our proposal to expand the Mayor's Ride to include pedestrians, here is a prime example why we should have at least considered it here. If the Leadership here does not think it is important to have alternative forms of transportation then why should their parents. The fear everything because I might get sued is not the most effective way to govern, it does keep people in and off the streets, distrustful and more and more traffic,but is this the quality of life you want for the children of Huntsville. This is tied into their Bicycle Plan and The fact that they see that only 1/3 walk to school as being a problem is mind boggling. Could you imagine if that were the case at schools here?

And of the 650 kids that attend Fair Haven School, only about 250 walk to school, he said. “It’s a problem,” he said. “Students are more into the video games. And the environment I teach in, the parks aren’t playable or possibly not open. They need more exercise in their life.”

Elizabeth Benton's excellent article on the Safe Routes to School Program, a Federal program that will be implemented at a school in Fair Haven beginning this year, was published today by the New Haven Register.

The work reported on here builds upon the extensive public involvement in the Fair Haven traffic calming master plan, completed in 2008 with assistance from the City of New Haven and the Community Foundation for Greater New Haven. That process resulted in a series of very well-attended public meetings and "walkabouts" with Dan Burden, and in fact was one of the key events resulting in the creation of the citywide New Haven Safe Streets Coalition (PDF here).

The Fair Haven implementation, combined with the increased national focus on how the built environment plays a critical role in obesity prevention and child health, has sparked an interest in the program within New Haven's other neighborhoods. For example, Elm City Cycling's 2010 Bicycle Plan recommends gradually expanding Safe Routes to School to other schools in New Haven.

Program Promotes Walking to School, New Haven Register, 2/11/09

read more here

CARS grant update

There has been some misunderstanding lately related to the CARS grant. Federal funding is delayed with no expected date set on new funding. It did not receive the original 100% funding from the 2009 Stimulus Package because it was delayed with ALDOT. Note that BASC did not find out about this grant until 3 days before it was due last year. It was delayed with ALDOT because it is the first non-construction project that they have dealt with. By the time it was processed, the original $15mil sent to ALDOT with the stimulus package was used. Because of this, the city had to wait to Oct/Nov 2009 for the city council to approve the 20% in the budget for the 80/20 money because that is when the council does the budget.

Now that money for ALDOT from the feds that would have funded the 80/20 projects has been rescinded, and this includes other non-cycling-related projects that city was hoping to start soon. After the city approval, it had to go back through ALDOT and FHWA for that round of projects. Like ALDOT, FHWA has certain regulations for dealing with projects, and this non-construction grant was not easily processed within that framework of construction projects. The feds currently have the work plan and expect to approve it fairly soon. After that, it will be sent back to ALDOT for more paperwork, and after an account is created, the bidding process can begin. They expect to make more efficient guidelines for dealing with future non-construction projects. FHWA will start to do this at the next division review. So basically the inherent inefficiency of bureaucracy and the lack of regulations/guidelines specifically for non-construction projects is why it was slowed. Because ALDOT's money was rescinded by the feds, ALDOT and Alabama MPOs have had their budgets messed up. New federal money is not expected before this summer. Funding for the CARS grant is contingent upon the delayed transportation bill:

Livable Streets link

some more info on transportation bill delays

PDF cover letter on House website where more info can be found

other states have been delayed with it:

problems in Michigan

Scothlight 680 Reflective Vinyl

This 3M Product could make a good alternative to reflectors and lights especially for anyone who might have a hard time keeping up with lights or batteries.

Bright Bike from Michael Mandiberg on Vimeo.

Images and Video from Doobybrain.com

2nd Annual Heartbrakes Prom Benefiting Bici Cooperative

Our friends in Birmingham are having an alleycat!!!!! 


This event on February 13 marks one year that Bici Bicycle Cooperative has been kicking it wild style in Birmingham, Alabama. Couples race around downtown and partying all night long with a keg, music of some sort, karaoke, photo booth, and PIE lovingly made by PieLab in Greensboro, AL!

It’s that time again! We’re working hard to plan our next Bici Alleycat, the 2nd Annual Heartbrakes Prom Benefit. It’s going to be just as much fun as last year – racing around downtown Birmingham, killer prizes, beer, music, and a photo booth – all in a brilliant old warehouse.

Deets:
February 13, 2010
Race at 7:00
Start and after party @ Magic City Wholesale
$10 gets you racing, partying, and beering!
So far, we have prizes from Chrome, Rickshaw Bags, Knog, Higher Ground Roasters, and Good People Brewing Company. Hell Yes!

4 Million Fewer Cars on the Road

America's Love Affair with the Automobile May Be Coming to an End
Surprisingly, the U.S. car fleet has started shrinking, and while this is widely associated with the recession, there are other forces at work.

America's century-old love affair with the automobile may be coming to an end. The U.S. fleet has apparently peaked and started to decline. In 2009, the 14 million cars scrapped exceeded the 10 million new cars sold, shrinking the U.S. fleet by 4 million, or nearly 2 percent in one year. While this is widely associated with the recession, it is in fact caused by several converging forces.

Future U.S. fleet size will be determined by the relationship between two trends: new car sales and cars scrapped. Cars scrapped exceeded new car sales in 2009 for the first time since World War II, shrinking the U.S. vehicle fleet from the all-time high of 250 million to 246 million. (See data atwww.earthpolicy.org/index.php?/plan_b_updates/2010/update87.) It now appears that this new trend of scrappage exceeding sales could continue through at least 2020.

Among the trends that are keeping sales well below the annual figure of 15-17 million that prevailed from 1994 through 2007 are market saturation, ongoing urbanization, economic uncertainty, oil insecurity, rising gasoline prices, frustration with traffic congestion, mounting concerns about climate change, and a declining interest in cars among young people.

Market saturation may be the dominant contributor to the peaking of the U.S. fleet. The United States now has 246 million registered motor vehicles and 209 million licensed drivers--nearly 5 vehicles for every 4 drivers. When is enough enough?

read more here

Help Haiti

Tuesday evening a major earthquake struck Haiti near the capital of Port-au-Prince causing catastrophic destruction in the western hemisphere's most impoverished nation. At least 2 million people have been affected. Oxfam has 200 staff on-the-ground responding with public health, water, and sanitation services to prevent the spread of disease.

• Help now by donating to our Haiti Earthquake Response Fund

BOISE IDAHO Leads the way!!!!

BOISE - A nearly five hour Boise City Council meeting Tuesday evening ended with several new laws in place to protect cyclists and pedestrians. The changes contain three sections penalizing both reckless drivers and cyclists and nearly everyone at the city council meeting attended in support.

Drivers will now be expected to yield to cyclists at intersections, leave at least three feet of distance between bikes and cannot cut bicycles off when turning. Cyclists are now legally required to give a warning before passing someone on the sidewalk, dismount in crowded pedestrian areas and cannot ride recklessly swerving on and off of sidewalks.

"Motorists and bicycles have to share the road," said Michael Zuzel, member of a special city task force on cycling safety. "They have to share the responsibility for making the roads safe. That's why some of these ordinances would penalize motorists for their behavior and some would penalize cyclists for their behavior."


read more here