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MARIN COUNTY BICYCLE COALITION (MCBC)
WEEKLY BULLETIN
March 10, 2010
1. Rep. Woolsey to co-sponsor Active Community Transportation bill
2. FHA report recommends increasing safety and bike/ped use
3. Stretch your MCBC Membership
4. Valet Bike Parking season begins at Fairfax Brewfest
5. Mountain Bikers needed for the Ridge to Bridge, Saturday, April 10
6. Bikes, Frisbees and car-free streets: SFBC kicks off Healthy Saturdays
1. Rep. Woolsey to co-sponsor Active Community Transportation bill
Bill will help continue construction of Marin’s bicycle and pedestrian network
Congresswoman Lynn Woolsey has agreed to co-sponsor H.R. 4722, the Active Community Transportation Act of 2010, which was recently introduced in the U.S. House of Representatives by Rep. Blumenauer.
H.R.4722 is the next iteration of the Nonmotorized Transportation Pilot Program (section 1807 of SAFETEA-LU). Through that legislation, Marin County was one of only four communities throughout the U.S. that received $25 million toward construction and promotion of an integrated bicycle and pedestrian system. With H.R.4722 and the selection of Marin County for continued investment, we could come close to finishing construction of the planned bicycle and pedestrian system in Marin County, where already nearly 14% of trips are made on foot or on bike. In fact, bicycle use has more than doubled in the past 10 years, and walking has increased by more than 50% while injuries and fatalities have decreased 34%.
Active transportation (walking and bicycling) saves us money as individuals, as communities, and as a nation. Americans across the country want more opportunities to travel by foot or bike. Nationally, we could save tens of billions of dollars--every year--by investing in more walking and bicycling. With high costs of driving, automobile congestion, an obesity epidemic, oil dependence and environmental concerns, we need to have the healthy and affordable choice to travel by foot or bicycle for the shorter trips that dominate our daily routines.
MCBC thanks Congresswoman Woolsey for supporting this important piece of legislation.
2. FHA report recommends increasing safety and bike/ped use
Based on a 2009 trip to five countries by U.S. officials
The Federal Highway Administration just released a report on Pedestrian and Bicyclist Safety and Mobility in Europe, which compiles exciting recommendations for improving safety and increasing bicycle and pedestrian use that were gleaned from a trip to five countries with U.S. officials in 2009. You can access the report here.
The abstract for the report states, “The team learned that many of the countries studied have established an urban street user hierarchy that gives the highest priority to walking, biking, and public transit. Team recommendations for U.S. implementation include encouraging transportation policy that gives walking, biking, and other nonmotorized modes the highest priority in the road user hierarchy. The team also recommends evaluating innovative strategies and designs to improve pedestrian and bicyclist safety for possible U.S. use, institutionalizing traffic safety education that starts at an early age, and developing programs that encourage regular walking and biking.”
The Marin County Bicycle Coalition is very pleased to see these findings and hopes that the federal government takes action to implement such strategies in the very near future!
3. Stretch your MCBC Membership
Volunteers needed at the Annual Member Meeting
On Wednesday, April 7, celebrate MCBC’s 12th Anniversary with MCBC Board and staff at the Annual Membership Meeting. Join us from 6:30 to 8:30 PM at the San Rafael Corporate Center to learn more about the Alto Tunnel and Marin’s planned bicycle and pedestrian network.
Volunteers are needed for the following roles:
- Setup at 5:30 PM – 2 people needed
- Greeter at 5:50 PM – 1 person needed
- Registration at 6:15 PM – 1 person needed
- Pick up pizza donation at 5:45 PM – 1 person needed
- Breakdown at 8:30 PM – 2 people needed
- Photography – 1 person needed
Can you help? Contact Jo Ann Richards at joann@marinbike.org or 415-456-3469 x7#.
4. Valet Bike Parking season begins at Fairfax Brewfest
THIS Saturday, at the Fairfax Pavilion
Valet Bike Parking season kicks off this Saturday at the Fairfax Brewfest. The 15th Annual Fairfax Brewfest, a fundraiser presented by the Fairfax Chamber of Commerce, is one of Marin's favorite rites of spring.
This year the Chamber has upped the ante with a record 15 local breweries, plus delicious local pub-style food and live music from the renowned Tom Rigney and Flambeau. MCBC’s free valet bike parking lets you be even greener on this green-themed day (St. Paddy's is next week).
The Brewfest takes place this Saturday, March 13, 1-5 PM at the Pavilion in Fairfax; discounted advance tickets are available now at the Brewfest website..
For more information on MCBC’s Valet Bike Parking program, click here.
For more information on the Fairfax Brewfest, click here.
5. Mountain Bikers needed for the Ridge to Bridge, Saturday, April 10
Bay Area Ridge Trail’s Ridge to Bridge benefit mountain bike ride.
The Bay Area Ridge Trail is one of the few organizations advocating for multi-use trails in Marin County and the greater Bay Area. They donated $385,000 to construct the new Dais Ridge Trail, which will open to hikers, bikers and equestrians later this spring. Show your support for all that they do by signing up for the Ridge to Bridge Benefit Ride on Saturday, April 10, 2010.
This fully supported ride is just $65 ($55 for MCBC members with discount code: MarinBikesRtB). We’ll meet near the Golden Gate Bridge in the morning, then get shuttled to Samuel P. Taylor Park to start the journey back to the Golden Gate Bridge. We will ride amazing trails with spectacular views, so bring your camera. There are three options, including the 35-mile Endurance Ride, 28-mile Advance Ride and 12-mile Intermediate Ride.
Ridge to Bridge supports the Bay Area Ridge Trail and is sponsored by Access4bikes, the Bicycle Trails Council of Marin, REI, WTB, Black Sheep Adventures and Clif Bar.
All riders will be entered in a drawing for great prizes, including WTB tires and saddles. So SIGN UP TODAY and support legal mountain biking in Marin County!
MESSAGES FROM OTHER ORGANIZATIONS
6. Bikes, Frisbees and car-free streets: SFBC kicks off Healthy Saturdays
Saturday, April 3, noon to 2 PM, in Golden Gate Park
Teri Gardiner of the San Francisco Bicycle Coalition writes:
Join the SF Bicycle Coalition for a kid-friendly day in Golden Gate Park to kick-off six months of car-free Healthy Saturdays. We'll be celebrating our work to help win this car-free space with Freedom from Training Wheels, to help kids learn to ride on two wheels, a picnic and fun games, like frisbee. Bring a blanket to sit on and something to share at the potluck picnic.
When: Sat., April 3, 12pm-2pm
What: SF Bicycle Coalition Healthy Saturdays Kick-Off Picnic
Who: San Francisco Bicycle Coalition
Where: Golden Gate Park, 14th Ave E Picnic Area (just west of the Rose Garden)
Website: http://www.sfbike.org/?ggp
FREE!
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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