Category: Biking Elsewhere

When it comes to speeding, many American motorists don’t worry about safety. They just worry about getting caught.
Those are the findings by researchers from Purdue University who surveyed nearly 1,000 motorists about speed limits and driving habits. They found that https://www.baltimorespokes.org/admin/story.php?mode=editmany drivers are cynical about the safety benefits of driving within speed limits, and many think they can drive safely while speeding as long as they won’t get caught, according to the report in Transportation Research Part F: Traffic Psychology and Behaviour.
“So the faster you think you can go before getting a ticket, the more likely you are to think safety’s not compromised at higher speeds,” said Fred Mannering, a professor of civil engineering at Purdue, in a press release. “For whatever reason, respect for speed limits seems to have deteriorated.”
Continue reading “No Respect for Speed Limits”

According to an Oct. 20th news release, "Rails-to-Trails Conservancy (RTC) presents today the ‘Active Transportation for America’ report to Congress via Rep. James Oberstar (D-Minn.), who serves as the Chairman of the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure. The report quantifies — for the first time — the national benefits of bicycling and walking.
"Putting figures to facts, the report documents the transportation, energy, climate, public health, and economic benefits of bicycling and walking. Never before has the case been made so clearly that relatively modest federal investment in bicycling and walking can save Americans tens of billions of dollars each year. The report compiles success stories from communities across America to show the potential to realize these benefits.
"’The report illustrates the groundswell of public demand for investment in varied transportation choices,’ says Keith Laughlin, president of Rails-to-Trails Conservancy. ‘Americans want compelling opportunities to improve their communities with bicycle and pedestrian infrastructure. Having transportation choices will save people billions of dollars in fuel costs and millions of hours wasted in gridlock.’…"
Continue reading “INVESTMENT IN BIKING, WALKING WILL SAVE BILLIONS”

According to an article in the Oct. 27th edition of Smart Growth Online, "Even before gas prices spiked high above $4 per gallon this spring and summer, a Harris Interactive poll found last December that 81 percent of Americans would radically change federal outlays of the 1998 Transportation Efficiency Act for the 21st Century (TEA-21) from 79 percent for roads, 20 percent for mass transit, and 1 percent for biking and walking, to 37, 41, and 22 percent, respectively, in its 2009 replacement bill."
Continue reading “AMERICANS WANT HUGE TRANSPORTATION FUNDING SHIFT”

Adventure Cycling Association is part of an initiative to develop a national bike route system called the U.S. Bicycle Route System (USBRS). We serve on the Task Force for U.S. Bicycle Routes and have provided staff support to AASHTO (American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials) since 2005. AASHTO is a national nonprofit that supports the work of state departments of transportation (DOTs), including policy, design standards, and roadway designations. The AASHTO Task Force was charged with developing a national corridor-level plan and designation system that transportation agencies can utilize for the development of bicycle routes.
Continue reading “Developing a U.S. Bicycle Route System”

When gas prices gushed over $4 a gallon earlier this year, bike shops were (and still are) swamped with people who suddenly wanted to use pedal power for commuting, socializing and shopping. Attracting particular attention are so-called "longtails" — extra-long SUBs (sport utility bikes) with welded-on racks designed to haul big, bulky cargo, whether it’s a 200-pound load of bricks, surfboards or three or four bags of groceries. Here’s a look at four of the most popular SUBs I tested at the recent Interbike trade show in Las Vegas.
Continue reading “Sport utility bikes: a comparison”

by Brent Hugh, Ph.D.
When the question of on-road bicycling comes up in Missouri, a common question that is asked is: "Why should we allow bicycles on the road at all? Bicyclists don’t pay for the roads they are riding on, do they?"
…
But let us consider only one aspect: Do cyclists pay their way?
Some argue that roads are paid for entirely by user fees such as gas taxes, automobile registration fees, and the like. The argument goes that cyclists don’t pay these user fees and so they shouldn’t be allowed to use the roads.
Is this true?
Consider the facts:
1. According to the Federal Highway Administration (FWHA), 92% of the funds for local roads–the ones most often used by cyclists–come from property, income, and sales taxes. Bicyclists pay these taxes just like everyone else does.
2. FWHA calculates that 92% of federal highway funds come from user fees. But 8% come the general fund, so even a bicyclist who owns no car contributes to federal highway funds, too.
3. It is often said that the Missouri Department of Transportation (MoDOT) is funded completely from road user fees. As a sweeping generalization this is true, but in fact 45% of MoDOT’s funding comes from the federal government. A portion of this federal contribution comes from the general tax fund. Because of this, 3.6% of MoDOT’s operating budget comes from general taxes. Again, even the non-car owning bicyclist contributes to MoDOT’s operating budget.
4. In the end, all roads must be considered as a complete, interconnected network. Considering the road network as a whole, about 2/3 of the funding comes from user fees and 1/3 from general taxes. Again, our hypothetical non-automobile-owning cyclist makes a contribution.
5. Many services associated with the roadways are paid out of general tax funds. Examples: police, fire and ambulance services, traffic court, subsidized parking. A typical household pays a few hundred dollars per year towards such services. Bicyclists pay for a share of these services just like everyone else does.
6. Design improvements needed to make roadways more bicycle-friendly are generally inexpensive. Roads constructed to modern design standards are quite bicycle-friendly already–improvements like wider lanes and shoulders are included to improve safety for all road users and are not bicycle-specific. The bicycle-specific expenses in good road design are few: bicycle-safe grates and traffic signals that detect bicycles (and motorcycles), for instance. Such expenses may cost a few thousand dollars in projects with budgets of a few million.
7. Bicycles have a very low impact on the roadway. One study found that bicycles impose about 0.2 cents per mile in roadway costs. Bicyclist pay no user fees so the entire 0.2 cents/mile comes from the general tax fund.
What about motor vehicles? They impose an average of 3.9 cents per mile in roadway costs while paying an average of 2.5 cents per mile in user charges such as fuel taxes and motor vehicle registration fees.
The difference–1.4 cents per mile–comes from the general tax fund. So both bicycle and motor vehicle road use is subsidized from general tax revenue. This is fair, since both bicyclists and motorists pay into the general tax fund.
But bicycles have such a low impact on the road that their subsidy is actually quite low–the general tax revenue subsidy for a cyclist who rides 5000 miles per year is only about $10. …
Continue reading “Cyclists Pay Their Fair Share!”

[Apparently a report was issued that red light cameras increase crash rates, read more why that report is flawed.]
Continue reading “Findings in red light study not conclusive”

Faced with soaring gas prices, many commuters have traded in the gas pump for the air pump to tune-up their previously sedentary bicycles. According to a national study conducted by the Bikes Belong Coalition, 95% of bicycle shops said their customers attributed high gas prices to the purchase of new wheels this summer.
The shift to cycling brings new responsibilities. “People who are pulling old bicycles out of the garage really need to take them to a bike shop to make sure that they are properly working,” said Avery Stonich, Marketing and Communications Director of
the Bikes Belong Coalition.
Additionally, it is up to bicyclists (old and new) to educate themselves.“ The streets are very different now from the way they were 20 years ago. We are trying to make sure that we get the word out about the rules of the road and basic riding techniques so that people enjoy the experience,” said Andy Clarke, Executive Director of League of American Bicyclists. “You are and should be treated exactly the same as if you’re behind the wheel of a car — you have the same rights and responsibilities.”
That includes stopping at red lights and stop signs. According to a study completed by the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Federal Highway Administration, 21.7% of crashes experienced by motorists and cyclists result from a motorist failing to yield — meaning the motorist enters an intersection and fails to stop at a traffic signal, striking a bicyclist who is traveling through the intersection. Equally alarming, 16.8% of crashes involving motorists and cyclists result from a bicyclist failing to yield at an intersection. This means that 38.5% of motorist-bicycle crashes could be eliminated simply by stopping at red lights and stop signs.
If you’re considering making the switch from four wheels to two, there are some simple tips to avoid injury. Stonich’s top three rules: wear a helmet, ride with in the rules of the road, and be predictable.“ [Bicyclists] need to be comfortable on the road,” said Stonich.“ The truth is, people really need to feel safe to want to ride.”
Bicyclists “are somewhat vulnerable to drivers’ behavior,” said Clarke.“ Be predictable, be visible, be ready for that idiot who is going to run a red light or stop sign; don’t be intimidated, but be ready for that.”
“We are all in this together,” said Clarke. “It’s not about bicyclists or motorists. We all benefit from safe driving.”
Continue reading “With more bicyclists on the road, interesection safety more important than ever”

WASHINGTON, D.C. (September 18, 2008) — Although drivers tend to slow down when driving through a
photo enforcement zone, a recent study shows that speed cameras actually reduce travel time and improve
travel time reliability. The landmark study is the first in the U.S. to analyze multiple effects on driver behavior,
travel time, societal costs, and road safety.

The study, which became available to the public this summer, looked at a trial photo enforcement program on a
segment of Arizona State Loop 101 in Scottsdale. The program — the first in the U.S. to use fixed-site speed
cameras on a freeway — ran from January through October 2006 and cited drivers going at least 11 miles over
the 65 mph speed limit.

Simon Washington, the Arizona State University engineering professor who co-authored the report, found that
the speed camera program “not only improved safety but also improved mobility through travel time savings,
improved travel time reliability, and reduced travel time uncertainty.”

The report found that during the nine month speed camera trial program

• mean traffic speeds were reduced by nine mph
• total crashes were reduced by 44% to 54%
• injury crashes decreased by 28% to 48%

The annual estimated safety benefits ranged from $16.5 to $17.1 million, based on medical costs, quality of life
costs and other costs (lost productivity, wages, long-term care, etc.).

The report estimated that the reduction in crash frequency saved approximately 1,336 vehicle-hours a year
when crashes blocked one lane and 45,060 vehicle-hours a year when crashes blocked two lanes. The annual
benefit of travel time savings ranged from a low of $20,040 (one-lane blockage crash assuming $15/hr value of
travel time savings) to a high of $901,200 (two-lane blockage crash assuming $20/hr of travel time savings).
The six speed cameras (three facing in each direction of traffic) produced a clear change in driving behavior.

The average number of daily speeding detections per camera was

• 162.2 during the warning period;
• 129.7 during the program period;
• 1,482.4 during the after period; and
• 134.68 during the reactivation period.

“This study confirms what we have believed all along,” said Barbara Harsha, Executive Director of the
Governors Highway Safety Association (GHSA). “By reducing crashes, photo enforcement not only saves lives
but also enhances traffic flow and shortens time in the car.”
Continue reading “Speed Cameras Shown to Increase Road Efficiency”

Warning funny link
Continue reading “Bikerumor.com’s Guide to Using SPD Pedals”