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News
Active Community Transportation Act
Oregon Representative Earl Blumenauer introduced the Active Community Transportation Act, H.R. 4722, on March 3rd. The bill is also known as the ACT Act is a revolutionary piece of proposed legislation. The bill would create a competitive grant program where communities compete for $2 BILLION to help make their communities better for walking and biking by building out their pedestrian and bicycle networks.
Over 700 bicycle advocates will be in Washington, D.C. next week for the National Bike Summit, where the ACT Act is sure to be a major topic of discussion. The attendees of the National Bike Summit are going to advocate to their respective Senators and Representatives to support the ACT Act.
The Alliance for Walking & Biking has made it possible for people outside of Washington to help lobby the bill. The Virtual Lobby Day (on March 11th) is everyone’s opportunity to take action on the ACT act and demonstrate the need for such legislation.
More details from the Alliance for Walking & Biking below:
TAKE ACTION
Given the timing of the bill’s release, we have a unique opportunity to conduct a Virtual Lobby Day and present a strong and unified voice on Capitol Hill, Thursday, March 11th. In conjunction with the National Bike Summit we ask that you call your representative next Thursday at the same time that over 700 Summit participants will have in-person meetings in congressional offices.
TALKING POINTS
Please call your representatives on March 11th to ask them to co-sponsor H.R.4722: “The Active Community Transportation Act.” For locals that would be Congressman Peter DeFazio at 202.225.6416 in D.C. or 541.465.6732 in Eugene
Here are some possible talking points for you:
• Bicycling and walking are part of the solution. Half of all trips in the United States are three miles or less, yet the majority of these short trips are made by car. Shifting more of these short trips to biking and walking would not only reduce congestion, air pollution, greenhouse gas emissions, and our dependence on oil, but will also improve physical activity, safety, and livability.
• Investing in bicycling and walking infrastructure works.Commuting by bicycle has increased 43 percent since 2000 – and by 69 percent in designated Bicycle Friendly Communities that have invested in infrastructure improvements.
• Please co-sponsor the Active Community Transportation Act (H.R.4722).
We’ll send out a “Call to Action” next week as a reminder to place your call.
Update on STP-U Funding Issue
An interesting thing happened at Mondays City Council Work Session. Because of a policy recommendation made by the Sustainability Commission that Surface Transportation Program-Urban (STP-U) funds be used for bike/ped projects and not strictly pavement preservation as is currently mandated by council, the council members heard from the community that they would like to revisit this issue. Here is a great wrap-up of that meeting from Howie Bonnett (highlights mine):
Staff (Mark Schoening) had prepared a memo in advance listing three projects for the funds, located on Hilyard, Coburg, and Martin Luther King, which were basically pretty much automobile projects. He also had prepared a memo about how much money had been obtained from various sources for bicycle projects in Eugene in the last 5 years and, due to some big monies recently (stimulus funds for the bridge, etc.,) it averaged 2.5 million per year for bike/ped projects. That seemed to make the Councilors feel that a lot of money was being spent on bicycle/pedestrian projects.
Perhaps somewhat in response to whether the STP-U funds should be spent for alternative transportation modes, Schoening had also listed two bike/ped improvements which could be done in connection with the Martin Luther King and Coburg projects, each costing about 100,000 out of the 2.5 or so million. There followed a discussion of whether these bicycle projects should be bumped to last on the list, or whether they should be done in any case even if the projects required supplemental funds to complete (Schoening offered that gas tax money could be used to make sure the projects were completed). This irritated some councilors, who wanted it clearly stated that the bike/ped work would only be done if it was determined that there was sufficient money for the three road projects, even though Mark Schoening said there would be savings if the bike/ped work was done at the same time as the road repair. A motion to move bikes/ped projects to the bottom of the priority list was made and defeated 5-3 (Poling, Clark, and Solomon losing) and then the main motion passed unanimously which gave the staff authority to add the bike/ped work to the road work on the 3 projects, funded with STP-U funds.
So, net outcome, is that only about 5 % of so of the STP-U funds will go for bike/ped projects, as part of the Coburg and MLK projects. The policy recommendation of the Sustainability Commission was not directly discussed, even though Council has had it for over a month. It is clear that the very large unmet need to do street repair work (now up to 170 million of so), is being used as an argument to suck up all monies for the roads. As I have tried to point out, trying to meet this unmet need as it gets larger and larger, will mean that our ability to build infrastructure to promote alternative mode (active) transportation through diversion of transportation dollars which are discretionary is seriously hampered. Maybe we should have a community discussion about how much money each year it would take to catch up with our unmet road repair needs, and see if we want to undertake that, or whether we should start talking alternatives. Even the 36 million GO Bond measure is a drop in the bucket.
According to Lee Shoemaker, the Cities Bicycle and Pedestrian Coordinator, the projects for the Coburg and MLK projects would be:
Coburg Road Corridor safety improvements for pedestrians and cyclists coordinated with pavement preservation projects that would be funded by STP-U.
And street preservation bond. Could include visual countdown signals, access management where there are willing property owners, and bicycle wayfinding Signage.Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard Corridor – enhanced pedestrian crossings at east end of corridor coordinated with pavement preservation project that would be funded by STP-U.
Having three council members who voted to move bike/ped projects to the bottom of the last priority is disheartening to say the least and to see the type of projects that should just naturally be part of any complete street talked about being taken off and then highlighted as ‘special bike/ped’ projects sort of rubs salt in the wound. These kind of improvements don’t complete an incomplete network, they simply add what should have been added already.
I also think it is very misleading to have a memorandum that shows $12.5 million in bike/ped projects over the last 5 years when $8.5 million of that was a large bridge project ($5.7 million) and several preservation projects. Take those out and you have about $4 million over 5 years for active transportation projects… $2.5 of that hasn’t been built yet. Which leaves you with $1.5 million new bike/ped infrastructure actually built. How does that compare to non-active transportation projects?
The memo and the Councils reaction to it makes it seem like the City feels it is spending enough on active transportation already. While there has been some great investments and good plans for active transportation we still have an incomplete network that families are afraid to use. We need to be putting large amounts of transportation dollars to completing that network. Bridges are flashy and preservation is essential but we need to be making an investment in the future and that is getting people out of their cars more and active in their transportation choices by having safe and comfortable infrastructure that makes that choice easy.
There are few flexible funds in transportation money. How are we going to complete a network without those funds? We’ll need a plan and we’re working on that with the Bike Master Plan process, but we’ll also need funding! Where is the plan for that funding??
Some calendar items we’ll be looking at for this issue are the MPC public hearing on March 11 and action by the Metropolitan Policy Commission on April 8. Stay tuned for more.
Eugene Needs a Bike Education Instructor
The BTA Bike Safety Education Instructor position for Eugene is open and we need someone to lead the program to teach local students this important course. This program has a lot of great potential for growth and GEARs is working with the BTA to expand it to a more robust and sustainable job. Contact Paul Adkins or Shane Rhodes for more detailed information or apply via the BTA Website:
| Organization | Bicycle Transportation Alliance |
| Job Title | Bike Safety Education Instructor |
| Reporting To | Program Manager |
| Pay Rate | $14.00 per hour |
| Status | Seasonal, part-time, non-exempt |
| Location | Primarily in Eugene area with occasional trainings in Portland |
| Job Timeline | March 7 through June 30 with opportunity to renew in the Fall |
| Hiring Timeline | Open until filled |
Vision Statement:
Bicycling transforms communities by reinventing transportation and offering solutions that help solve the universal challenges to health, livability and the environment.
Executive Summary:
The Bicycle Transportation Alliance (BTA) is a non-profit 5,000-member organization with a mission to create healthy, sustainable communities by making bicycling safer, more convenient and more accessible in Oregon and SW Washington.
The Bike Safety Education Instructor is responsible for the delivery and support of the Bicycle Safety Education program conducted by the BTA and funded by ODOT.
Responsibilities:
• Deliver 10-hour Bike Safety Education Curriculum in elementary and middle schools. Locations will be determined in partnership with the Program Manager.
• Represent the BTA at assigned workshops, trainings, forums, activities, events and other educational program opportunities in the region.
• Identify and pursue potential fundraising and in-kind donations as well as local grant and partnership opportunities.
Accountabilities:
Organization and Planning
Plan and organize in order to effectively manage multiple essential tasks with minimal support including the management of program scheduling, supply logistics, volunteer management, and relationship building with community partners. Report program activity in a timely and accurate manner to the Portland-based Program Manager.
Bike Safety Education Expertise
Posses skilled bicycle riding and maintenance skills needed to instruct and support students of varied ability and maintain dozens of bicycles in good order.
Presentation Skills
Organize and deliver lessons that effectively inform and engage young people using current presentation technologies as well as being able to make effective spontaneous presentations to children in classroom and outside settings.
Emphasize inclusiveness, work to minimize the impact of the differences in student’s ability and self-confidence to produce memorable and rewarding experiences for the students in our programs.
Requisite Experience:
• Studies in child development, education, physical education, outdoor recreation and public health preferred
• Experience in bicycle safety instruction, education, physical education, outdoor recreational, public health or volunteer management preferred
• Exhibits a passion for bicycle transportation and/or an interest in creating livable, healthy, and sustainable communities.
Non-Discrimination:
The BTA does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, national origin, age, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, marital or familial status, physical or mental disability or legal source of income.
To Apply:
Please send cover letter, resume, completed BTA application form in PDF format via email to humanresources@bta4bikes.org. No calls, please.
Download:
BSE instructor job description
BTA application form
Ask Eugene City Council to prioritize flex funds for bike/ped improvements.
On February 8, Eugene City Council will consider the Sustainability Commission’s policy recommendation that more flexible funding be allocated to bicycle and pedestrian improvements, rather than to pavement preservation projects.
Call or email your City Council representative now and ask them to support this recommendation.
As mandated by City Council several years ago, Eugene has been required to spend its Surface Transportation Program – Urban (STP-U) dollars on pavement preservation and surface repair. Then, in 2008 Council passed the $35.9 million “pothole bond measure,” which means that more of the flexible STP-U funding could be allocated to other projects, such as bicycle and pedestrian improvements.
The Sustainability Commission unanimously approved the STP-U policy recommendation December 16, 2009:
“Recognizing that transportation funding has, by mandate, been focused and prioritized on automobile travel, and taking into account that Surface Transportation Program-Urban (STP-U) funds and some other capital funds are discretionary, the Commission recommends that the City Council allocate these funds for bicycle and pedestrian improvements.”
Many pedestrian and bicycle improvements aren’t made because there is a lack of funding (and very few flexible funding opportunities) for bike/ped infrastructure projects. City Council should not pass up this opportunity to support the Commission recommendation. Contact information below:
Eugene City Council
Phone: (541) 682-5010
Email: mayorandcc@ci.eugene.or.us
Mayor Kitty Piercy
Phone: (541) 682-5010
Email: kitty.piercy@ci.eugene.or.us
Fun & Important Gatherings Over the Next Two Weeks!
Winter in the Willamette Valley doesn’t mean hibernation for cyclists. Recreational rides are happening and important advocacy projects are still prevalent. There are several GEARs rides happening each week. Check out the Rides section of the site to see those or download this months ride list here.
The coming two weeks hold even more fun events for the local cycling scene.
Here’s a run down on some of them:
January 16th:
The Tweed Ride has happened a couple times in Eugene already. This winter bundle up in your finest for this dapper ride. Leave from Wandering Goat and wander around town showing off your cycle chic style.
Street Skills for Families is a bike course directed at students living in the 4J school district and is part of the Safe Routes to School program. Class attendees will not only learn about basic traffic skills but also learn how to perform a bicycle safety check, how to properly fit a helmet, how to size a bicycle for a child, and how to properly carry things on a bicycle. The class will be held at McCornack Elementary from 12-3 pm. A light lunch will be available beforehand (11:30 AM) and afterward we’ll meet up with the Kidical Mass group for Soup and a Unicycle show (see below). More information and registration at the Eugene SRTS site.
This months Kidical Mass ride will meet at its usual spot (Monroe Park) at 3:00 p.m. and then ride West to meet up with the group from the Street Skills for Families class. Then the group will ride back to McCornack Elementary to enjoy some free hot soup and a Unicycle show from the McCornack unicycle team. See the Kidical Mass site for more information on those rides.
January 20th
The City of Eugene will be holding a hearing on the Riverfront Research Park Conditional Use Permit that has been approved but which has been appealed. Come to this hearing to give your input on the importance of this area as a vital connection for cyclists from the University area to the river path system. You can find more information at the Connecting Eugene website.
January 24th
The Fourth Annual Eugene Walking & Biking Summit!!!
Why go?! How about:
Free Off the Waffle breakfast & Full City Coffee
Free Child Care
Great speakers
Important input on Eugene’s first Bicycle and Pedestrian Master Plan
An awesome Fashion Show
Informative and interesting booths
Raffle Prizes
…Need you more?!
Join the event on Facebook
As we reach these events we’ll be doing more in-depth stories on each event and some wrap-up as well.