Starting around the 1920s, streets were taken away from children (and then from the rest of us as well).  There are very few people alive today who remember this history.  Now public educations campaigns like the ones shown below are unnecessary.  They have been internalized and we teach our children these lessons ourselves.

1927

 

1923 (Massachussetts Safety Council)

 

1932 (Chicago Motor Club)

 

Pedestrians, bikers and others are pushing for greenways – designated streets that offer safer ways of getting around without having to drive.

By Sonia Krishnan, Seattle Times staff reporter – Bob Edmiston was ready. He had his bike. He had his route to work at the University of Washington. So last February, he started cycling from his Madison Park home through the Washington Park Arboretum.

Here’s what he wasn’t expecting: getting almost killed at least twice a week. And developing a preference for aggressive drivers over distracted ones. (“At least I know the aggressive drivers see me.”)

Edmiston, 47, set out to find a safer way — away from the crowded, intimidating main roads, but still convenient enough to get to work in a reasonable amount of time.  [Continue reading...]

Bike Delaware members have reported seeing some additional bike parking being added along Newark’s Main Street. While anything at all is welcome by the bicycling community – ranked among the nation’s highest in modeshare at 4.7% (likely higher on Main Street) – it will take more than a few “yellow zone” tube racks, pictured above. While we applaud and are grateful for the City’s efforts to isolate and use whatever sidewalk space is available, it would be unfair to ticket bicyclists until regular provisions are made available, even if it comes at the expense of a few car parking spaces, such as on-street “corral” parking.

Above:  The author was ticketed last night for parking on a tree in front of Panera Bread. While politely worded about tree preservation – totally understood – the nearest (newly installed) tube rack was about 30 yards away, in front of “Gecko”, and in use.

Some good news:  A member of the Newark Bicycle Committee has been meeting with the Newark directors of Planning, Public Works, and Parks and Recreation to show them custom bike parking solutions developed by Vintage Metalwork of Milford, DE. Responses have been favorable. If approved, they will be presented to other municipal committees in the beginning of March. Planners are aware of individual Merchants that might be willing to invest in bike parking as well. All of this tells us that the City is seriously moving toward a green, bicycle-friendly initiative that can only help Main Street’s traffic woes – and for that we are grateful.

The sooner we can get parking installed along Main street, the sooner others will see the benefits first hand, and hopefully be more willing to join forces. This will hopefully lead to enough bike parking at regular intervals, at which time the city can legitimately begin enforcing its “no bike parking on trees or other city furniture” ordinance.
Above:  Yesterday’s scene out front of Panera Bread on Main Street in Newark. It would be unfair for the City to ticket any of these folks until equal or better bike parking capacity is installed.

[Related Content]

Enjoy the event in pictures, with captions below:

The city of Wilmington’s brain trust

Looking back at 2011 and looking forward to big new projects in 2012.

A fine selection of tasty treats awaits, as folks started streaming in at 5pm.

Certificates were standing by, ready for deserving recipients who have helped make our organization successful.

 Next up: Newark Winterfest at Little Saigon on Old Ogletown Road in Ogletown. We hope you can make it!

The Hill

02/15/12, 10:00 AM ET

Speaker John Boehner is delaying a vote on the $260 billion transportation bill that was scheduled this week. Boehner (R-Ohio) told his conference Wednesday morning that it was “more important that we do it right than that we do it fast” in explaining his decision, a clear signal GOP leaders lack the votes to win approval of the package.

Read rest of article from The Hill HERE.

The delay is good news for walking and bicycling.  If enacted into law, H.R. 7 would eliminate the dedicated federal funding set-aside for walking and bicycling. It would destroy the federal Transportation Enhancements program (“TE”) which, for the last 20 years, has been the main source (51%) of federal funding for walking and bicycling:

Bike Delaware contacted Rep. Carney for a statement on the American Energy and Infrastructure Jobs Act (HR7):

Representative John Carney (Delaware): “Although I do not serve on the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, I am following the progress of the American Energy and Infrastructure Jobs Act.  In December, I joined over one hundred of my colleagues from both sides of the aisle in calling for a long-term reauthorization that’s fully paid for and funded at or above current levels.  I do not support the elimination of successful programs that would limit Delaware’s ability to improve and expand its infrastructure for all modes of transportation.  Strong pedestrian and bicycle networks improve Delawareans’ quality of life and provide a safe way for families to shift to other modes of travel for work, school, and recreation.  When these networks are well designed and utilized, we consume less gas, reduce traffic congestion and vehicle emissions, and enjoy healthier lifestyles.  No other state in the country is making a more ambitious effort to invest in walking and bicycling than Delaware with its First State Trails and Pathways Initiative.  Any surface transportation authorization should, at a bare minimum, provide Delaware with the flexibility to allocate federal transportation funds according to our priorities.“

The American Highway Users Alliance is a nonprofit advocacy organization serving as the united voice of the transportation community focused exclusively on advancing public policies that improve roadway safety, expand freedom of mobility and increase highway system performance.  It represents motorists, RV enthusiasts, truckers, bus companies, motorcyclists, and a broad cross-section of businesses that depend on safe and efficient highways to transport their families, customers, employees, and products.

The American Highway Users Alliance support the House “highway bill” H.R. 7:

A tight vote is expected in the House for the 5-year highway bill. The House bill is a conservative approach to infrastructure investment. It prioritizes highway investments to focus on interstate commerce routes and improved safety. The bill reduces Washington red-tape, better aligns highway spending to highway user fees, reduces waste and diversion, increases States’ programming flexibility, and eliminates earmarks.   Tell Your Congressman to Vote “AYE” on H.R. 7.

From a walking and bicycling point of view, what is most notable about H.R. 7 is that it would eliminate the dedicated federal funding set-aside for walking and bicycling. If enacted by the Senate as well, this legislation would destroy the federal Transportation Enhancements program (“TE”) which, for the last 20 years, has been the main source (51%) of federal funding for walking and bicycling:

Bike Delaware contacted Rep. Carney for a statement on the American Energy and Infrastructure Jobs Act (HR7):

Representative John Carney (Delaware): “Although I do not serve on the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, I am following the progress of the American Energy and Infrastructure Jobs Act.  In December, I joined over one hundred of my colleagues from both sides of the aisle in calling for a long-term reauthorization that’s fully paid for and funded at or above current levels.  I do not support the elimination of successful programs that would limit Delaware’s ability to improve and expand its infrastructure for all modes of transportation.  Strong pedestrian and bicycle networks improve Delawareans’ quality of life and provide a safe way for families to shift to other modes of travel for work, school, and recreation.  When these networks are well designed and utilized, we consume less gas, reduce traffic congestion and vehicle emissions, and enjoy healthier lifestyles.  No other state in the country is making a more ambitious effort to invest in walking and bicycling than Delaware with its First State Trails and Pathways Initiative.  Any surface transportation authorization should, at a bare minimum, provide Delaware with the flexibility to allocate federal transportation funds according to our priorities.”

By Angela Cunneely, Membership Director –

On a recent cold early Sunday morning, I headed south to Milford to visit with Steve Curtis (above), President of Vintage Metalwork, Inc. I first met Steve at the Delaware Bike Summit in Lewes, where he had one of his brilliantly designed and beautiful bike racks on display. Steve has a Masters Degree in Historic Preservation, including materials conservation from the University of Pennsylvania and was schooled in traditional ornamental metalworking in the United States and in Europe. His knowledge of metalwork and historic preservation and conservation is impressive and extensive. With his son Nicholas, also extensively trained, and other family members, Steve and Vintage Metalwork provide products that are beautiful, functional, and dignified. What impresses me so much about Steve, and Vintage Metalwork, is their dedication to preserving history, while solving some of life’s very contemporary problems, such as where to park a bicycle safely and securely.

With bicycle parking desperately needed in Newark, I wanted to investigate further, and visit the shop where these beautiful creations were brought to life. The shop is large, clean, and stocked with many works in progress. Vintage Metalwork is a family-owned business, established in 1997 to provide a service dedicated to the revitalization of historic ornamental metalwork through restoration, rehabilitation and reproduction. Their goal is to keep the art in traditional metalworking alive by creating hand-made products that are steeped in tradition yet contemporary, viable and of a quality that will endure the urban landscape.

Vintage Metalwork applies traditional means of metalworking, such as blacksmithing. They also apply the latest in metalworking technology to design and produce timeless site furnishings. With that goal in mind, they have designed hand worked solid steel bike racks that are both functional and beautiful. In addition to restoring original pieces, they recycle and re-use metals, also.

With gas prices increasing, and more cyclists choosing to commute and visit Main Street in Newark by bicycle, it is obvious that a solution must be found to the lack of parking that is now a problem in the downtown. Steve’s beautiful and practical designs would not only provide Main Street with bicycle parking, but they would maintain the dignity and landscape that residents have come to associate with their hometown’s heart.

But creating beautiful bicycle racks is not all that they do. Vintage Metalwork also design unique pieces to surround and protect trees, and they have worked on extensive restoration projects including one of Governor’s Island NY, which, being from NYC, I was particularly interested in. Vintage Metalwork was tasked with the metal work restoration work for Castle Williams during the National Park Service’s 2010 stabalization of the castle.

No job is too small for Vintage Metalwork! They recently installed this bike rack at the New Castle home of Bike De’s Executive Director, James Wilson. Beautiful and functional, it fits in with the historically preserved homes that characterize Old New Castle.

Thanks to Steve for agreeing to meet early on a Sunday, and for braving the cold weather to show me around! It was an interesting and informative visit!

Cross-posted from Grist -

Americans’ ideal home size declined to 2,100 square feet from a peak of 2,300, according to real estate research firm Trulia. Meanwhile, the U.S. Census bureau has found that the ideal home size tracks with the reality — the average size of a new U.S. single family home is also down.

U.S. homes would have to shrink to nearly a third their current size to match the average size of a home in the U.K.  [Continue reading ...]

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What does this have to do with bicycling, you ask? Non-existent or unenforced land use policies are probably the single biggest impediment to safe bicycling routes in the State of Delaware.

WHERE: 229 Rehoboth Ave, Rehoboth Beach, Delaware 19971 (Commissioner’s Meeting Room downstairs)

WHEN: 10AM, February 18

You can see the bicycle plan HERE.

The proposed plan is notable for its inclusion of bicycle boulevards.  Bicycle boulevards are low-speed streets which discourage cut-through motor vehicle traffic using traffic calming strategies, but encourage bicycle traffic.  They are enormously popular and effective in places like Portland and Berkeley.  If Rehoboth Beach adopted bicycle boulevards, these would be the first in Delaware…and possibly the first on the entire East Coast.
Featured in delmarvanow.com

REHOBOTH BEACH — Progress is being made on the city’s bicycle and pedestrian master plan study, and the public is invited to see what’s been happening during a public workshop Feb. 18.

Jeff Greene, project manager at Delaware Greenways, said everything is right on schedule. He presented the challenges facing bicyclists and pedestrians, as well as potential improvements for Rehoboth streets, to the Board of Commissioners at its Feb. 6 workshop.

Those challenges included a lack of east-west bike routes other than Rehoboth Avenue, education of tourists and residents, Silver Lake Bridge, the connection between Scarborough Avenue and Schoolvue, and crossing Route 1, Greene said.  [Continue reading ...]

RELATED:

• Bicycle Boulevards

• Presentation of Draft Infrastructure Recommendations for Rehoboth Beach

THESE ROADS are exactly what we don’t want to see.

We are very fortunate in Delaware to have a DOT that is conscience of bicycle safety when it comes to rumblestrips. Unfortunately, this is not the case in nearby Pennsylvania on many of its state roads that are popular for biking.

Maryland’s State Highway Administration recently came on board with bicycle-friendly rumblestrips. This after a disasterous installation on Route 273 in Cecil County, just up the hill from Newark.

The example above on Route 213 is a designed for posted speed limits 55 mph or greater. Despite breaks only at the intersections, they are narrow with shallow enough dimples to cross in and out of the shoulder with minimal disturbance.