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MARIN COUNTY BICYCLE COALITION (MCBC)
WEEKLY BULLETIN
February 3, 2010
1. Cal Park Hill Tunnel update
2. SMART convenes Technical Advisory Committee
3. Investing in biking and walking could save lives, says report
4. Video corner: Happy Anniversary SF Streetsblog
5. Ride tandem for Valentine's Day: SFBC’s Love on Wheels
1. Cal Park Hill Tunnel update
Final portion of project going out to bid soon
Last summer, MCBC reported that there was "light at the end of the tunnel", and that the County of Marin was on track to open the Cal Park Hill Tunnel by early 2010. Additional work needed to be done to build the "tunnel within a tunnel" - the bicycle and pedestrian multi-use path which will be completely separated from the future SMART train. Work is progressing on this portion of the project, and now the final parts of the project, the approaches on the north and south ends, are out to bid and are scheduled to be opened February 11. Final work on the tunnel should start in late spring, and is expected to take about six months to complete. We expect that the Cal Park Hill Tunnel will be open before the end of the year.
For more information, and photos of the Cal Park Hill Tunnel visit the MCBC website. MCBC thanks the County of Marin, Department of Public Works, the Marin County Board of Supervisors, and SMART for continuing to make this project a priority during these fiscally challenging times.
2. SMART convenes Technical Advisory Committee
For implementation of the train and pathway system
On January 27th the Sonoma-Marin Area Rail Transit convened its first Technical Advisory Committee (TAC) as part of its implementation of the 70-mile SMART train and pathway system. The TAC consists of representatives from cities, towns, counties and the Sonoma and Marin County bicycle coalitions, with Andy Peri as the MCBC representative. The TAC has the purpose of providing guidance on a wide range of issues, including road crossings, pathway alignment, public-transit interfaces and other issues related to the design of the SMART rail line.
The Marin County Bicycle Coalition's goal is consistent with the commitment expressed by the SMART Board of Directors, which is to build the entire 70-mile train and pathway project, from Larkspur to Cloverdale, as soon as possible. The MCBC continues to work to ensure that the multi-use pathway will be built on schedule consistent with current plans and that if SMART funding comes up short, that pathway construction will still be built concurrently with any rail sections or phases.
Get more information on the SMART campaign here.
3. Investing in biking and walking could save lives, says report
States with the lowest levels of biking and walking have higher traffic fatalities and chronic disease
From a press release by the Alliance for Biking and Walking:
A new report released today [January 28, 2010] by the Alliance for Biking & Walking shows that lack of investment in biking and walking could be contributing to higher traffic fatalities and chronic disease rates in the U.S.
“Bicycling and Walking in the United States: The 2010 Benchmarking Report” reveals that in almost every state and major U.S. city, bicyclists and pedestrians are at a disproportionate risk of being killed, and receive less than their fair share of transportation dollars. While 10% of trips in the U.S. are by bike or foot, 13% of traffic fatalities are bicyclists and pedestrians. Biking and walking receive less than 2% of federal transportation dollars. Seniors are at an even greater risk. While adults over 65 make up 9% of walking trips and 4% of biking trips, they account for 19% of pedestrian fatalities and 9% of bicyclist fatalities.
"State investment choices can be a life or death issue for people who walk and bike," says Jeff Miller, President of the Alliance. "Creating safe streets for everyone will save lives and improve health and quality of life in communities."
The report also highlights the fact that states with the lowest levels of biking and walking have, on average, the highest rates of obesity, diabetes, and high blood pressure. In contrast states with the highest levels of biking and walking have, on average, the lowest rates of obesity, diabetes, and high blood pressure. In addition, where rates of biking and walking are greater, more of the adult population is likely to achieve the 150 minutes of weekly moderate-intensity aerobic activity recommended by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). According to CDC, physical activity can reduce your risk of dying early from the leading causes of death, like heart disease and some cancers.
The report also ranks states and the 51 largest U.S. cities in biking and walking levels, safety, funding, advocacy, and policies. It further compares U.S. cities to their international peers, finding that overall, U.S. investment in biking and walking lags far behind that of other developed nations. This may explain why the U.S. has fewer people who bike and walk than its international peers.
Miller says, "Our data show that increasing investment in biking and walking could lead to more people biking and walking. The more people bike and walk, the safer it is and the healthier the community. It's a virtuous cycle."
Bicycling and Walking in the United States was funded by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and made possible through additional support from Bikes Belong Coalition and Planet Bike. For more information and to download the report click here. For a fact sheet highlighting report findings click here.
4. Video corner: Happy Anniversary SF Streetsblog
A few weeks back, SF Streetsblog held a party to celebrate their one-year anniversary. SF Streetsblog came on the scene last year the day SFBC held their "Save the Market/Octavia Bike Lane Rally" and quickly became the go-to source for Bay Area transportation news. We're thrilled to have Streetsblog in San Francisco, producing news about sustainable transportation, livable streets and bicycling issues.
Watch this Streetfilms video for clips of the party and interviews with local leaders and advocates.
Source: The San Francisco Bicycle Coalition
MESSAGES FROM OTHER ORGANIZATIONS
5. Ride tandem for Valentine's Day
SFBC’s Love on Wheels is back; Fri, Feb 12, at Rickshaw Stop in S.F.
Kate McCarthy of the San Francisco Bicycle Coalition writes:
In the name of love, bicycles, and bicycle love, everyone's favorite dating game for bicyclists -- the San Francisco Bicycle Coalition's Love on Wheels -- is back, Friday, February 12 at Rickshaw Stop in San Francisco, just in time for two-wheeling singles to go tandem for Valentine's Day. Just like the '70'sDating Game on TV, watch hot bicyclists pair up on stage: Lovelorn lovebirds each quiz three possible dates (hidden from their view) and choose one to ride off with, on a date provided by Love on Wheels sponsors: sfbike.org/love.
Meanwhile, phone numbers, emails, and bike stats are exchanged all over Rickshaw Stop by single cyclists while those not-so-single cyclists cheer on their single friends and win sweet date-y raffle prizes from Love on Wheels sponsors and get their photos taken in the rickshaw photo booth, all to the tunes of DJs Laron and Jamie Jams.
Watch the Love on Wheels video and see photos from last year's event.
Admission to Love on Wheels is $5 for San Francisco Bicycle Coalition members (with membership card); $10 for non-members (or free when you join the SF Bicycle Coalition at the door). As always, it is free to park your bicycle with the SFBC Valet Bike Parking crew!
Marin County Bicycle Coalition
P.O. Box 1115
Fairfax, CA 94978
Office Location: 733 Center Blvd., Fairfax, CA 94930
(415) 456-3469 – phone
(415) 456-9344 – fax
http://www.marinbike.org
The MCBC is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization. You donations are tax-deductible to the fullest extent of the law.
We are a membership-supported group. If you are not already a paying member, please join today. Printable membership forms are on our website, http://www.marinbike.org.
Thank you for being a part of the solution.
To reach the MCBC Staff:
- Kim Baenisch, Executive Director, 456-3469 x 1#, kim@marinbike.org
- Tom Boss, Membership Director, 272-2756, tom@marinbike.org
- Jo Ann Richards, Volunteer and Activities Coordinator, 456-3469 x 7#, joann@marinbike.org
- Bob Trigg, Administrator, 456-3469 x 3#, bob@marinbike.org
- Deb Hubsmith, Advocacy Director, 454-7430, deb@marinbike.org
- David Hoffman, Director of Planning, 456-3469 x 4#, david@marinbike.org
- Andy Peri, Advocacy Outreach Coordinator, 457-0802, andy@marinbike.org
- Wendi Kallins, Safe Routes to Schools Program Director, 488-4101, wendi@marinbike.org
- Laura Kelly, Safe Routes to Schools Project Coordinator, 456-3469 x 2#, laura@marinbike.org
- Peggy Clark, Share the Road Program Manager, Safe Routes to Schools Project Coordinator, 456-3469 x 8#, peggy@marinbike.org
- Aviva Joseph, Safe Routes to Schools Teen Coordinator, 456-3469 x 5#, aviva@marinbike.org
- Gwen Froh, Safe Routes to Schools Teen Coordinator, 456-3469 x 5#, gwen@marinbike.org
- Frances E. Barbour, Safe Routes to Schools Instructor, 577-4601, frances@marinbike.org
- Heather Crawford, Safe Routes to Schools Instructor, 456-3469 x 6#, heather@marinbike.org
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