Stop the Madness

Sadly it's the same story over and over again. Someone's cellphone conversation is more important than a person's life.

Businessman killed while riding bicycle; no charges filed

A Scottsboro businessman and exercise enthusiast was killed on his bicycle Wednesday afternoon by a driver reaching for her cell phone.

Carlos Serrano, 49, died at the scene on Veterans Drive in Scottsboro after he was struck by the vehicle driven by Kimberly Kelsey Drawbaugh, 26. The police report stated the driver said she didn't see him as she reaching into her purse for her phone. Serrano was thrown 200 feet from the spot of impact near the intersection of Crawford Road.

Also Wednesday, Democratic lawmakers called for states to ban texting while driving or risk losing one-fourth of their federal highway money. Currently, 14 states and the District of Columbia have laws that make texting while driving illegal.

Such a bill passed the Alabama House 92-4 last year but never made it out of the Senate.

A study performed by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration shows that 955 deaths and 240,000 accidents in 2002 could be attributed to cell phone use. The study was conducted in 2003, but the results weren't made available until last week, which helped prompt lawmakers' actions.

Police Sgt. Scott Matthews said no charges have been filed against Drawbaugh, a Scottsboro resident, but he said the case could be sent to the grand jury.

Serrano, a native of Spain who traveled the world to compete in marathons and triathlons, was the president of Polyamide High Performance, one of the top international suppliers of nylon fibers for air bags. In a newspaper interview in 2007, he said he became interested in fitness 10 years earlier while at a corporate seminar that included a health management class.

There he realized he worked too much, didn't eat properly and didn't get enough exercise. That ignited his quest for fitness.

Because he was so passionate about exercise, Serrano encouraged those around him to be fit, too. His two children were successful athletes in several sports. Daughter Laura was the top finisher for Scottsboro High in a state golf tournament in May, and son Carlos Jr. was training with his father for a half-Ironman triathlon in Augusta, Ga.

From The Huntsville Times

Nashville MPO

Take a look at Nashville's MPO site. It is comprehensive and encourages public involvement. Seems like they have learned it is much more productive to talk to people instead of talk at them. OBEY THE RULES OF THE ROAD OR ELSE!!!!! sorry I digress:)
Nashville MPO
Nashville MPO Public Participation

As a public agency, the Nashville Area MPO encourages members of the public to participate in the development of regional transportation plans and programs and in meetings of the Executive Board and its Technical Coordinating Committee.

Bicycle, pedestrian plan open to public comment

Hey Nascar (Huntsville) even Nashville get's it!!! PEDESTRIANS AND CYCLISTS

Most roads in and around Nashville get a grade of D for serving pedestrians and cyclists.

That was the finding of the Nashville Area Metropolitan Planning Organization, which is wrapping up work on a regional transportation plan through 2035. Bicycling and walking will be included, and the public can learn more and help set priorities for sidewalks, greenways and bike lanes at meetings next week.

"We can see what people want, look at existing facilities, look at what is planned," said Leslie Meehan, who is developing the walk/bike part of the plan. "That's where we can develop priorities. … Where should we be putting dollars to help people get around?"

Planners have found a lot of demand for places to walk and bike.

It was amazing to me. Fifty to 60 percent of people walk or bike at least once a month," Meehan said, referring to a survey of 1,700 residents. "With just a little change … that would jump to 80 percent. There's a huge desire out there."

Nashville's Green Ribbon Committee has set a goal for everyone to have access to two ways to get around — a private vehicle and then mass transit, walking or biking.
read more here

Check out here too

More on Complete Streets

From Complete Streets Website

The streets of our cities and towns are an important part of the livability of our communities. They ought to be for everyone, whether young or old, motorist or bicyclist, walker or wheelchair user, bus rider or shopkeeper. But too many of our streets are designed only for speeding cars, or worse, creeping traffic jams.
Now, in communities across the country, a movement is growing to complete the streets. States, cities and towns are asking their planners and engineers to build road networks that are safer, more livable, and welcoming to everyone.

Instituting a complete streets policy ensures that transportation planners and engineers consistently design and operate the entire roadway with all users in mind - including bicyclists, public transportation vehicles and riders, and pedestrians of all ages and abilities.

Complete Streets

In urban planning and highway engineering, complete streets are roadways designed and operated to enable safe, attractive, and comfortable access and travel for all users. Pedestrians, bicyclists, motorists and public transport users of all ages and abilities are able to safely and comfortably move along and across a complete street.[1] Proponents claim that Complete Streets also create a sense of place and improve social interaction, while generally improving property adjacent land values.

Complete streets policies direct transportation planners and engineers to consistently design with all users in mind.[citation needed] These policies have been adopted by a few states (including Oregon, Florida, South Carolina) and a number of regions and cities. Places that adopt complete streets policies ensure that their streets and roads work for drivers, transit riders, pedestrians, and bicyclists, as well as for older people, children, and people with disabilities.[citation needed] Complete Streets improve motorist attitude and behavior toward other street users.

A Federal Highway Administration safety review found that designing the street with pedestrians in mind—sidewalks, raised medians, turning access controls, better bus stop placement, better lighting, traffic calming measures, and treatments for disabled travelers—all improve pedestrian, bicyclist and motorist safety.(1) One study found that installing these features reduced pedestrian risk by 28%.(2) Other experiences show reduced crashes of 50-76%, especially when medians, proper turn radii, and access controls are added.

The Institute of Medicine recommends fighting childhood obesity by changing ordinances to encourage construction of sidewalks, bikeways, and other places for physical activity.(3) A report of the National Conference of State Legislators found that the most effective policy avenue for encouraging bicycling and walking is complete streets.(4) One study found that 43% of people with safe places to walk within 10 minutes of home met recommended activity levels, while just 27% of those without safe places to walk were active enough.

About one-third of Americans do not drive.(6) Complete streets help provide safe access for people who use wheelchairs, have vision impairments, and for older people and children. More than one quarter of all trips are one mile or less – and almost half are under five miles. Most of those trips are now made by car. Streets that provide travel choices give people the option to avoid traffic jams and increase the overall capacity of the transportation network.

State bans wine label with nude nymph

The state's alcoholic beverage regulators have deemed a wine label -- featuring a vintage 1895 bicycle advertising poster with a nude nymph flying alongside a winged bike -- has been rejected by the state as "immodest," and it must be removed from grocery store and bar shelves. read more stupidity here

HUD wants city of Huntsville to repay $191,000 for properties bought with federal money

Is the City losing it's federally funded gentrification dollars? Seems like a lot of the same good old boy's and girls doing the same incompetent jobs.

The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban development wants the city of Huntsville to repay $191,000 for several vacant lots and decaying homes in the Lowe Mill neighborhood bought with federal money.

Mayor Tommy Battle said HUD officials told him Wednesday that the properties, mostly on Boardman Street, are being "disqualified" because environmental tests were not performed on time. read more here

The Nook

The Nook ordered a bike rack. They said it will be a few weeks until it arrives.

Tour De Gallery

Meet at The Huntsville Art Museum 6pm as we ride the Gallery Tour by Bike. We will end at Lowe Mill. This is a slow and leisurely ride no need for leadership.

This is a Car Free event!!!!

26-mile trail for Scottsboro?

Now I am not one for Greenways,but here are a few things that are interesting.
1: Money
2: How they connect these to make them commuter usable (complete streets)
3: Retired forward thinking engineer.
4: No committee and 20 people showed up to support it.
5: Unanimous support from their city council.
6: 26 miles nothing to sneeze at.

TVA requested hearing due to location near Roseberry

SCOTTSBORO - Jim Olyniec of Scottsboro presented a proposed 26-mile biking, walking and hiking trail at a public hearing Monday night that would connect schools and shopping centers.

Olyniec is a retired engineer who volunteered to design the trail for the city.

I believe in this project," he said. "I'll devote whatever resources I can to make it work."

Several of about 20 people who showed up for the hearing spoke favorably of the plan. No one spoke in opposition to it.

The Tennessee Valley Authority required the hearing because a portion of the proposed trail goes through its land along Roseberry Creek. read more here

also note: To provide comments on the proposed trail or for more information, e-mail Olyniec at jimoly@scottsboro.org

Driven to Distraction

From the NY Times

A 2003 Harvard study estimated that cellphone distractions caused 2,600 traffic deaths every year, and 330,000 accidents that result in moderate or severe injuries.

Yet Americans have largely ignored that research. Instead, they increasingly use phones, navigation devices and even laptops to turn their cars into mobile offices, chat rooms and entertainment centers, making roads more dangerous.

Read more Here

Another Incident

Dear Bill Kling,

We have met on a number of occasions including the shooting of the share the road PSA's. I'm not sure if this has already been brought to your attention, but here is a very disturbing account of a recent bike/car incident involving a child in Huntsville: http://blog.al.com/times-views/2009/07/letters_to_the_editor_saturday_3.html

I have been harassed numerous times riding my bike as a commuter in Huntsville, most recently, I was riding North on Meridian to work yesterday and a car yelled at me to get on the sidewalk as they turned into a parking lot. I swung back and talked to the woman (nicely) and she had no idea 1. that I'm supposed to be on the road 2. that there were share the road signs put up by the city on the very road we were on. She said she was yelling at me because she was worried I would get hit....My experiences during my daily commute and errands by bike, illustrate that City efforts for education and outreach are not effectively targeting drivers and that signage (where it is present) is not sufficiently visible to drivers. The city has yet to install all the signage promised in the wake of Sarah Chapman's death and the signs that do exist are often too small or poorly placed to be noticed on Huntsville's larger and busier roads such as Meridian St. and Whitesburg Dr. I am aware of the numerous budget issues and beaurocracy involved in merely placing signs and painting Share-rows on road surfaces; however, I am also frustrated that it just hasn't happened and that for drivers - the roads don't look any different than they did a year ago and bikes still don't 'belong' on the road.

Leela Pahl

South Huntsville Needs Motorist Education and Manners

From Scott:

Yesterday afternoon I finally got the license plate number of the redneck that buzzes me and lays on his horn every time he passes me on Hobbs Island Road. He’s done this at least 3 times in the past 2 to 3 weeks, making it a point to not give way at all and sit on his horn as he passes. Each time he’s done this there have been no cars coming in the other direction to keep him from moving over, it has always been on a stretch with plenty of “line of sight” down the road, and once he was in a line of three or four vehicles all of which gave me ample room when passing and he still did this crap. The good thing is that not only did I get the license number and a good description of the vehicle but I also saw exactly where he lives. After yesterday’s incident I continued riding east on Hobbs Island and noticed the car at a house on the right side of the road about 1 ½ miles past the railroad crossing. I rode an out and back and the car was there on my way back too. If you ride this road often and are familiar with it, it is the first house in a row of about 3 houses with a chain link fence in the front yard(s) that is/are always open. There are usually about 2 or 3 dogs in the yards and driveways and they will try and chase cyclist if they notice you in time. This is just before you pass the Ebenezer (something or other) Church. Like I said if you are familiar with this road you likely know where this is. The car is a junkie looking dark green Ford Taurus (I believe it’s a Taurus) 4 door. I noticed yesterday that part of his front bumper is torn off/missing. The license plate number is 47T812N in case someone has a run-in with him and recognizes the car from my description.

Has anyone else had problems with the vehicle I described? Also, does anyone have contact info so I can report this? I’m still debating as to whether or not I should report it because I don’t know what if anything the police will do. They did little to nothing when I was hit by a hit and run driver so I don’t see them really doing anything to this guy other than asking him if he did it, telling him to stop (yea that’s going to work), and then the guy in return might do something malicious to cyclists in the future. I’ve thought of all types of ways to vandalize his vehicle which I know isn’t the thing to do but I was/am pretty angry about the whole thing.

Scott is currently calling the cops to report this and we will let you know what happens.

Pedestrian hit crossing University Drive

While our city talks of all their exciting plans for those of you who can afford them, loft living, bad broadway plays at merrimack and prosperity to all who support the arsenal,brac and nasa another person is hit by a car. If you think this has no affect on you as a cyclist you must be an idiot. Do you really think we are safe when HPD rides around all day talking and texting? How can we expect drivers to pay attention when the police are so distracted. Tommy should have run on the platform "more of the same" or "more of the insane" depending on your trust fund status.

HUNTSVILLE, AL - A pedestrian was struck by a car on University Drive in Huntsville and badly injured. The accident happened just before 10:30am Tuesday at the intersection of University and Henderson.

Several witnesses at the scene say the young woman appeared to be trying to run across University and beat the traffic when she was struck by a driver in the westbound lane.

Emergency personnel responded to the scene and the victim was transported to Huntsville Hospital.

Right now, we have no word on her condition, but a nurse at the scene said it appeared to be serious.

here are some emails

contact@hsvcity.com

Bike Ped Coordinator - jo.sommers@hsvcity.com

District 1 City Councilman Richard Showers, Sr - richard.showers@hsvcity.com

District 2 City Councilman Mark Russell - Mark.Russell@hsvcity.com

District 3 City Councilman - Sandra.Moon@hsvcity.com

District 4 City Councilman - Bill Kling bill.kling@hsvcity.com

District 5 City Councilman - Will Culver will.culver@hsvcity.com

Last in the US and Proud!!!!!

Can't Blame Mississippi for this. Keep in mind why we are at the bottom. The good news is more Brac more wack drivers!!!!Maybe a new motto "Pro Life as long as you can afford a Truck or SUV" Almost a year has passed and the Share the Road Sign are still not finished!!!!
From HSV Times

Thoughtless driver

My son was riding his bike on South Bailey Cove/Green Cove around 3:30 p.m. on July 6 and was struck by a red SUV (maybe a Jeep) while crossing the street. The car was traveling north and struck the front tire of the bicycle on the passenger side front bumper of the vehicle.

The person driving did not stop and I have to wonder what were you thinking? Did you wonder if he was hurt? Did you even think about what just happened? Have you thought about it since?

I really find it unconscionable that someone could strike a child on a bike and just keep going as if nothing happened. Really, what were you thinking?

Kelly M. Evans,
Huntsville, 35803

'Green' brothel offers discounts to customers who arrive by bike

From NY Daily News

The prostitution business in Germany has been hit hard by the worldwide economic downturn, so one brothel has come up with a novel promotion that's also good for the environment.
Maison d'envie in Berlin is offering a $7 discount off its usual $100 fee to customers who arrive on bicycle.
"Obviously we hope that the discount will attract more people," said brothel owner Thomas Goetz. "It’s good for business, it’s good for the environment — and it’s good for the girls."
"We have around 3-5 new customers coming in daily to take advantage of the discount."

Prostitution is legal in Germany and 400,000 prostitutes have formally registered since 2002.

New York City finishes 200 miles of bike lanes at Grand Concourse cermony

From the greatest city in the world!!!!!!! Wow a city that considers all modes of transportation not just getting brac people new lanes for their monster trucks and ass's.

With one last dash of paint, New York became the self-proclaimed "bike capital of the nation" Wednesday.
City leaders gathered on the Grand Concourse in the Bronx to paint the final stretch of a 200-mile, three-year bike lane expansion that nearly doubled the number of bike-lane miles across the car-packed five boroughs.
The project's completion brings the city's total street bike lanes to 420 miles and its total bike lanes, including park space, to 620 miles.
City Transportation Commissioner Janette Sadik-Khan compared the project's size to a one-way road between New York and Boston, with New York now having double the number of bike-lane miles as Chicago. Bike commuting has increased by 45% since the project began, she said.
Wednesday's celebration emphasized the all-around benefits of biking, with Parks Commissioner Adrian Benepe lauding how new bike paths attract people to city parks, and Dr. Thomas Farley, city health commissioner, applauding the benefits of physical activity and bike lane safety. read more here

Life Cycles @ Lincoln Mill

The new location of life cycles at Lincoln Mill. Jim has a great space and he has done a lot of hard work to really make the space look great.






more pictures here

keep on keepin' on

THE REVIVAL/KEEP ON KEEPIN' ON from morehartfilms on Vimeo.

New Website Bikerules.org

bikerules.org

Biking Rules is a new 'Street Code' for NYC cyclists, following the simple principle that our responsibility to others on the street increases in relation to our potential to cause harm.

With Biking Rules, NYC cyclists are taking the lead to create safer, saner streets. We need your help in making this Street Code catch on. Click here to find out more.

Critical Mass Art Extravaganza Pics

Mississippi's still fattest but Alabama closing in

WASHINGTON – Mississippi's still king of cellulite, but an ominous tide is rolling toward the Medicare doctors in neighboring Alabama: obese baby boomers.
It's time for the nation's annual obesity rankings and, outside of fairly lean Colorado, there's little good news. Obesity rates among adults rose in 23 states over the past year and didn't decline anywhere, says a new report from the Trust for America's Health and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation.
And while the nation has long been bracing for a surge in Medicare as the boomers start turning 65, the new report makes clear that fat, not just age, will fuel much of those bills. In every state, the rate of obesity is higher among 55- to 64-year-olds — the oldest boomers — than among today's 65-and-beyond.
That translates into a coming jump of obese Medicare patients that ranges from 5.2 percent in New York to a high of 16.3 percent in Alabama, the report concluded. In Alabama, nearly 39 percent of the oldest boomers are obese.read more here