Category: Biking Elsewhere

WASHINGTON, DC, June 15,
2009 (ENS) – For the first time, the U.S. EPA is opening a competitive grant
program for local and tribal governments that want to establish and implement
climate change initiatives to reduce greenhouse gas emissions in their
communities.

A total of $10 million
will be distributed next January in Climate Showcase Communities grants.

“Ending climate
change and moving to a sustainable, clean energy future begins on the ground in
our communities,” said EPA Administrator Lisa Jackson, announcing the new
grants program today.

“We’re offering a
helping hand to local areas that are leading the way in confronting climate
change, and a call to action for anyone concerned about making a difference
where they live,” she said.

The EPA is requesting
proposals from local governments, federally-recognized Indian tribal
governments, and inter-tribal consortia to create replicable models of
sustainable community action, generate cost-effective greenhouse gas
reductions, and improve the environmental, economic, public health, and social
conditions in a community.

The agency expects to
award about 30 cooperative agreements, each one ranging from $100,000 to
$500,000.

Approximately five
percent of the funds, or about $500,000, is being set aside for tribal
governments.

A 50 percent cost-share
is required for recipients, with the exception of tribal governments and
intertribal consortia, which are exempt from matching requirements under this
grant.

“We can cut energy
costs and reduce harmful emissions at the local level, and build a model for
fighting climate change in every community,”
Jackson said.

The Climate Showcase
Communities grant program aims to create models of sustainable community action
that generate cost-effective and persistent greenhouse gas reductions while
improving the environmental, economic, public health, or social conditions in a
community.

Knoxville , Tennessee Mayor Bill Haslam and Susan Edwards of the Knoxville Utilities Board celebrate the purchase of 400 blocks of renewable energy. April 30, 2009. (Photo courtesy City of Knoxville )

Continue reading “EPA Offers $10M for Climate Change Showcase Communities”

Columbia MO
…
An incident of cyclist harassment by a driver in February prompted Sixth Ward Councilwoman Barbara Hoppe to introduce an ordinance that would make harassment of bicyclists, including shouting threats and honking for the purpose of frightening a cyclist, a Class A misdemeanor, punishable by $1,000 fine or a year in jail.
After hearing testimony at last night’s meeting, the council passed the ordinance unanimously.
Continue reading “New city rules shield cyclists”

Kerri and crew start off on their nine week journey biking across the country and helping to build houses for Habitat for Humanity.
Continue reading “Bike and Build dipping their wheels in the Atlantic Ocean!”

WASHINGTON – Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood said Wednesday said he wants Congress to extend the current transportation-funding formulas for an additional 18 months, putting himself at odds with some senior congressional Democrats.
Mr. LaHood’s proposal to put off a wholesale overhaul of federal transportation policy until after the 2010 elections is an acknowledgment that the administration is too tied up in legislative battles over health care, energy and financial overhaul to tackle the contentious issue of how to pay for an upgrade of the nation’s roads, bridges and other transportation infrastructure.
"I recognize that there will be concerns raised about this approach," Mr. LaHood said in a statement. "However, with the reality of our fiscal environment and the critical demand to address our infrastructure investments in a smarter, more focused approach, we should not rush legislation."
But the Chairman of the House Transportation Committee, Rep. James Oberstar (D., Minn.), opposes such a long delay in attacking the nation’s long-term infrastructure-financing problem, and he wants to increase highway funding significantly starting in October.
Mr. Oberstar’s committee is crafting a new $450 billion, six-year transportation-spending bill. The Senate has introduced a similar bill, but the House is expected to move its version to a vote first. Mr. Oberstar plans to unveil his bill this week and hopes to bring it to the House floor for a vote before the August recess.
In a meeting with reporters Wednesday, Mr. Oberstar was adamant that Congress must pass a new law before the current one expires.
"Extension of current law is unacceptable," Mr. Oberstar said. "Now is the time to move."
The debate over how to fund transportation improvements has been simmering for months. The White House hasn’t put forward a solution to the central problem: gasoline taxes and levies on vehicle purchases aren’t generating enough money to pay for the projects that federal and state officials say are necessary.
Continue reading “Transportation Chief Wants Delay in Highway Bill”

The Partnership for Sustainable Communities established six livability principles that will act as a foundation for interagency coordination:
1. Provide more transportation choices.
Develop safe, reliable and economical transportation choices to decrease household transportation costs, reduce our nation’s dependence on foreign oil, improve air quality, reduce greenhouse gas emissions and promote public health.
2. Promote equitable, affordable housing.
Expand location- and energy-efficient housing choices for people of all ages, incomes, races and ethnicities to increase mobility and lower the combined cost of housing and transportation.
3. Enhance economic competitiveness.
Improve economic competitiveness through reliable and timely access to employment centers, educational opportunities, services and other basic needs by workers as well as expanded business access to markets.
4. Support existing communities.
Target federal funding toward existing communities – through such strategies as transit-oriented, mixed-use development and land recycling – to increase community revitalization, improve the efficiency of public works investments, and safeguard rural landscapes.
5. Coordinate policies and leverage investment.
Align federal policies and funding to remove barriers to collaboration, leverage funding and increase the accountability and effectiveness of all levels of government to plan for future growth, including making smart energy choices such as locally generated renewable energy.
6. Value communities and neighborhoods.
Enhance the unique characteristics of all communities by investing in healthy, safe and walkable neighborhoods – rural, urban or suburban.
Continue reading “EPA, DOT and HUD Announce Interagency Partnership for Sustainable Communities”

1. Different but equal: In all states, cyclists are deemed by law to be drivers of vehicles and are entitled to the same rights on the road as motorists.

2. Patience, not patients: You may need to wait until it is safe to pass a bicycle. Don’t tailgate. In conditions where there is not enough room for cyclists to ride to the right, they are allowed to ride closer to the lane of traffic, and sometimes even in the traffic lane.

3. A passing grade: Don’t pass cyclists until you can see that it is safe to do so. Allow ample space between your vehicle and the bicycle. If you pass too close, the drag from your car can cause the rider to swerve out of control.

4. The right behavior: Watch out for cyclists when you turn right. A bicyclist may be to the right of you and planning to go straight at the same intersection. Do not speed ahead of bicyclists thinking you can negotiate the turn before they reach your car. Cyclists may be going faster than you think, and as you slow to turn, they could crash into the side of your vehicle.

5. To the left, to the left: Also look for cyclists when making a left-hand turn. Cyclists who are traveling straight through the same intersection from the opposite direction may be going faster than you realize.

6. A back-up plan: When backing out of your driveway, always look to see if someone is in your path.

7. Parking: After parallel parking, make sure the coast is clear for opening the car door to exit. Make sure there are no cyclists riding alongside your car or fast approaching. By using the rear view mirrors and by turning around, a driver can spot approaching cyclists and prevent disaster.

8. Respect: Cyclists help the environment with each revolution of their wheels by opting to ride rather than drive. Do not resent them.

9. Honking: If you need to honk your horn to alert cyclists that you are about pass, do so at a distance. Otherwise, the noise can cause cyclists to lose their bearings.

10. Try it, you’ll like it: If you can’t beat them, join them. Riding is good for you and good for your environment.

Continue reading “10 TIPS FOR DRIVERS”

Apparently a motorist has had it with cyclists forcing him over the double yellow line in to on coming traffic and apparently they have never heard of the brake pedal and waiting for a safe opportunity to pass or requesting the road be improved to comfortably handle all users. So a flier is being circulated to encourage civil disobedience for motorist to block riders on the "Sunrise Century" in "celebration" of "Driver’s Rights" … to be a55 holes.
Continue reading “Block Dangerous Cyclist Day – Bolder Colorado”

This is the poll on DC Examiner:
Would you support a crackdown on rule-breaking cyclists in the D.C. area?
* Absolutely. Cyclists are completely reckless.
* I’d go further. They should be banned from roads entirely.
* No way. Misbehaving motorists are the real danger.
* Other (explain in comments)
Continue reading “Support cracking down on cyclists… heck no!”

One day, Philadelphia may live up to its reputation as a pedestrian-friendly city – a place where crossing signals no longer flash "Don’t Walk" before you reach the other side, where construction crews aren’t permitted to cordon off entire sidewalks, and where drivers don’t get away with blocking intersections while waiting to turn on red.
In fact, several recent moves by Mayor Nutter’s administration may hasten the arrival of that day. The latest came last week, with an executive order from the mayor directing that city officials look out more for cyclists, pedestrians, and transit users in city planning and projects.
That followed the crackdown begun last month on Center City motorists who block crosswalks and loading zones, or double-park. At the same time, parking-meter rates were boosted to free up space and cut down on congestion from drivers circling the block in search of street parking.
Continue reading “Making life easier for bikers, walkers”

Thought you would be interested in the World
Health Organization’s release of a 351-page report of a study funded by
Bloomberg Philanthropies