Streetside E-News: July 2013

---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: "Alliance for Biking & Walking" <streetside@peoplepoweredmovement.org>
Date: Jul 2, 2013 9:44 AM
Subject: Streetside E-News: July 2013
To: <aquarianm@gmail.com>
Cc:

Biking and walking advocacy news for July 2013. Can't see the images? Click here.

July 2013 - In This Issue Register for the National Open Streets Training July Photo Contest: Win a Yuba Join the 2013 National Walking Summit Last Chance to Join the Climate Ride Spearheading Your Online Fundraising Initiative Lobbying & Elections for Bike/Ped Advocacy Upcoming Mutual Aid Calls Register for the National Open Streets Training Kick-start an Open Streets event in your community!    The Open Streets Project is excited to partner with the American College of Sports Medicine to announce the first ever National Open Streets Training in Minneapolis, August 9th - 11th.       Join advocates, local government officials and business groups to learn how to start your planning process on the right foot.    The training will discuss the key elements of successful Open Streets, including coalition-building, outreach to key stakeholders, marketing and branding, choosing a successful route and more.     Plus, you'll get to explore an Open Streets initiative in action: the training will overlap with Open Streets Minneapolis, and local organizers will be on hand to offer their expertise and answer questions.    Learn more and register » Snap a Photo, Win a Cargo Bike for Your Group Want to win a cargo bike for your state or local advocacy organization? Enter the Alliance's first monthlong "Advocates in Action" photo contest!     Partnering with Yuba Bicycles, the Alliance is proud to offer Alliance member organizations the chance to win one of two Yuba Mundo cargo bicycles.    What'll it take for your organization to start pedaling off with one of these amazing bikes? Simple. Show us how you currently haul your way to cycling advocacy and why a Yuba Monda cargo bicycle would make your on-the-ground advocacy so much better.    Learn more and enter » Join the Movement at the 2013 Walking Summit  When we build safe, accessible walking environments, people will choose to get around on foot more. More walking means more economically resilient communities, safer streets, increased physical activity and lower levels of diseases associated with lack of inactivity.   To learn how to strengthen the national "movement about movement," please join the National Walking Summit on October 1 - 3, 2013 in Washington, DC.     The Alliance is collaborating with America Walks and other national partners to promote the Every Body Walk! Collaborative, the organizing entity behind the summit.     Register now! » Support the Alliance on the Climate Ride There are just a few spots left on the Climate Ride from New York City to Washington, DC this September. Join the ride and fundraise for active transportation organizations, including the Alliance!      The Climate Ride is an amazing multi-day bike trip from the heart of New York City to the Capitol steps in Washington, DC September 21 - 25.   All riders choose which organizations their contributions support, so you can designate the Alliance and a number of Alliance member organizations as beneficiaries.    Join Alliance Communications Manager Mary Lauran Hall and other members of Team Alliance! Ride with us on Team Alliance for Biking & Walking.    Learn more and register today! Lessons from a Mutual Aid Call: Spearheading an Online Fundraising Initiative   Effective fundraising to support advocacy efforts is vitally important for a well-run advocacy organization.     From testing smart email campaigns to leveraging social media to employing new crowdfunding tools, Alliance organizations can use many methods and approaches to boost online fundraising.      On a recent Alliance Mutual Aid Call, experts in online fundraising recommended great methods and digital tools to fund biking and walking advocacy organizations' work and projects.    Missed the call? View notes and listen to a recording here.   Lessons from a Mutual Aid Call: Lobbying & Elections for Biking & Walking Advocacy   While the biking and walking lobby is far from "all powerful," representing the interests of people who bike and walk in the political process is one of the most important things that organizations in our movement do.     Whether through a public candidate survey, a ribbon-cutting event for local media, or working behind the scenes with elected officials, active transportation advocates use a variety of successful tactics to heighten their political clout and improve street safety.    This past month, expert advocates in our movement discussed best practices and tips on lobbying and participating in elections.   Check out our blog for a call recording and tip sheet with takeaway points.  Upcoming Mutual Aid Calls and Advocacy Advance Webinars Our Mutual Aid conference calls are a great forum to gain insight from your Alliance peers on the specific issues and topics that are important to your organization. Additionally, Advocacy Advance has been hosting a series of calls to help you direct funding sources toward investments in biking and walking.  All calls begin at 2 PM eastern time.   This month: July 3, 2:00 - 3:00 PM eastern:  Bike/Ped Advocacy 101 Getting started in the world of biking and walking advocacy? Join this call to learn the basic ropes of starting, sustaining, and growing a biking and walking advocacy organization. We'll cover the basics on advocacy, best practices for winning organizations, and more.   Panelists will include:  Andy Hamilton, Board President, Walk San Diego  Greg Billing, Advocacy Coordinator, Washington Area Bicyclist Association  Ethan Fawley, Board President, Minneapolis Bicycle Coalition July 17, 2:00 - 3:00 PM eastern: Once Upon a Time: Effective Storytelling for Advocacy   The best way to incite action - whether action means donating, contacting an elected official, or sharing something on Facebook - is to create an emotional connection through a real-life story. Join this call to learn how to tell effective stories in your organizational communications.     Panelists will include:  Molly Haigh, Director of Media Relations, Fitzgibbon Media Evan Manvel, Director of Policy, Planning and Government Affairs, Cascade Bicycle Club   July 22, 2:00 - 3:00 PM eastern: One Year Later: Where We are on Transportation Alternatives One year after Congress passed a new transportation law, MAP-21, federal and state governments are making decisions on how the Transportation Alternatives Program (TAP) will be implemented. How is the policy working at the state and local level? How can agency staff and advocates best influence the process? Join this webinar to learn details of the new guidance, compare states' funding plans, hear about trends and tools for Metropolitan Planning Organizations and explore strategies to maximize valuable funds. Panelists will include:  Brighid O'Keane, Advocacy & Programs Director, Alliance for Biking & Walking Caron Whitaker, Vice President of Government Relations and Darren Flusche, Policy Director, League of American Bicyclists  Margo Pedroso, Deputy Director and Stephanie Weber, Regional Network Manager, Safe Routes to School National Partnership July 24, 2:00 - 3:00 eastern: Working with Transit to Win Ballot Measures It's is a rising trend across the country: successful transportation funding ballot measures include bicycle and pedestrian projects. There is tremendous potential to build partnerships between transit, bicycle and pedestrian advocates at the local and state level. Join this call to hear from advocates about the work that is happening around the country. We'll also brainstorm ways to collaborate and strengthen ballot measures that improve transportation choices and investment. This call is brought to you by the Advocacy Advance partnership.   Panelists will include:  Andrew Austin, Founding Executive Director, Americans for Transit  Dave Campbell, Program Director, East Bay Bicycle Coalition  Allison Leach, Center for Transportation Excellence  Rhonda Smythe, Policy & Advocacy Manager, Trailnet July 31, 2:00 - 3:30 eastern:  Partnering with Education and Equity Groups  A key step in building equity into our organizations is developing mutually beneficial partnerships with community allies. Join this call to hear about effective collaborations between active transportation, education and equity group, and how those relationships can develop into strengthened advocacy and programs. August calls: August 7: Bringing Bike Share to Your Streets   August 14: Safe Routes for All: Thinking Beyond the School August 28: Creating Bike Friendly Business Districts  This past month: Making the Health Argument to Boost Walkability (5/8/13) What would you like to discuss on a Mutual Aid Call? Does your organization have expertise to share with peer organizations and other advocates? Email Mary Lauran with your ideas! Quick Links Join/Renew Donate Benchmarking Training Mutual Aid Open Streets Advocacy Advance Blog Register Now   August 9 - 11: National Open Streets Training in Minneapolis, MN   July 3:  Bike/Ped Advocacy 101   July 17: Effective Storytelling for Advocacy   July 22: One Year Later: Where We are on Transportation Alternatives   July 24: Working with Transit to Win Ballot Measures   July 31: Partnering with Education and Equity Groups    June 26: Managing Volunteers for Open Streets Events   August 2 - 4: Winning Campaigns Training in White Plains, NY Member News Multimodal Funding on the Line in Pennsylvania Thanks to innovative partnerships and hard work in Harrisonburg and throughout the state, advocates in Pennsylvania supported the passage of a transportation funding bill in the state Senate. As of this writing, the bill is undergoing consideration in the House, where several amendments threaten to undercut biking and walking funds.    New York State Passes Speed Camera Legislation After a long campaign by advocates from New York City's Transportation Alternatives, the state legislature approved a bill that will allow the city to install speed cameras near schools. Speeding ranks as the number one cause of traffic deaths in the five boroughs, and installing cameras is an important step in addressing the problem. Read more »   Delaware Increases Bicycle and Pedestrian Funding  After hard work from advocates and an upswelling of public support, Delaware's general assembly voted to bolster the state's Transportation Enhancements program with additional funds. This year, the League of American Bicyclists ranked Delaware as the most bicycle-friendly state east of the Mississippi. Read more » Centers for Disease Control Withdraw Outdated Helmet Claim In response to a claim filed by the Washington Area Bicyclist Association, the federal government has officially withdrawn the claim that helmets prevent 85% of head injuries. The statistic was based on a 1989 study that has been debunked by subsequent research, but the factoid remains to garner citations in media stories and government documents. Read the details » Partner News Transportation for America Finds One in Nine Bridges Deficient  A new analysis from Transportation for America finds that nearly 67,000 of the nation's 605,000 bridges are rated "structurally deficient" and are in need of substantial repair or replacement. Even as significant threats of bridge collapse loom, Congress has not identified an adequate funding steam to support bridge repair. Learn more » Complete Streets Bill Introduced in Congress   A bill introduced by Rep. Doris Matsui and Rep. David Joyce would make Complete Streets a nationwide standard. Smart Growth America and the Complete Street Coalition are supporting the bipartisan bill. Learn more on the Smart Growth blog »   Federal Highway Administration Releases Transportation Alternatives Guidance The federal government has released final guidance for Transportation Alternatives, the new multimodal program under the federal transportation bill. Caron Whitaker from the League of American Bicyclists has a full analysis of the rules. Learn more » Thank you to our  Sponsors!

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Estimated 35-40 Miles Today

I stopped at Prince's Road Crossing, where the Elgin branch of the Illinois Prairie Path meets the Great Western Trail.

I figure the ride to Juicy-O and back to the Prairie Path added 7 miles. The mile post at my stopping point listed 8.4 miles to the Fox River Trail at Geneva.

Saw this guy in downtown Villa Park on the return leg.

Ride on,

Dan
 

Just Made The Prairie Path...

...coming from Juicy-O via Main Street in Lombard. About 7 miles so far.

Light overcast, 65 degrees, slight breeze. Headed West toward Wheaton.

Ride on,

Dan

Breakfast Before The Real Ride

My wife Saren is joining me here in a few minutes so we can fuel-up for the morning.

The new Schwalbe tires ride great.

Ride on,

Dan

10 smart summer bike tips

---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: "PeopleForBikes" <info@peopleforbikes.org>
Date: Jun 27, 2013 6:33 PM
Subject: 10 smart summer bike tips
To: "Daniel Stafford" <aquarianm@gmail.com>
Cc:

Hi Daniel! It's officially summer—prime time for a bike ride. Here are two handy infographic guides to help you make it a bicycling summer to remember. Read on and click through to share with your friends and family.  Happy riding!

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Schwalbe Active Kevlar-Lined Tires

http://www.schwalbe.com

I've been hard-riding both bikes the past couple of weeks, 20-30 miles round-trip at least four days per week.

Both bikes had some old tires on them. (The '72 had original Schwinn tires) Both of them have blown tires on me. The '72 dry-rotted at the bead seal and let the steel strings out on the rear. The '75 got a bulge in the front tire and it blew on the last two miles of a 30-mile cruise.

Enough. I got four new Schwalbe's and have them on the '72. Big Blue gets new shoes tomorrow afternoon.

Ride On,

Dan

News Stand All Stickered-Up

Thank you to Bicycle Times Magazine for the stickers!

I now have this set up in our condo building's bicycle room. The little stand holds up to 81lbs, so we have room for a few more issues to share!

Ride on,

Dan

Battery-Operated Black Light LED Strobe

I just ordered three of these (one as spare) to mount on the back of the Lightning Bug. (1972 orange Continental)

I expect to have them on the bike by next weekend.

Ride on,

Dan

Rode Big Blue To Wheaton And Back...

...and the weather was gorgeous. I saw a bald eagle flying North over the prairie path on the way out.

Also, they're building a huge condo complex in down town Wheaton.

Ride on,

Dan

Omelette And New Inner Tubes

I rode my '75 Connie (Blue Bird) over to Omega for a spinach-feta-tomato-onion-mushroom omelette with side of fruit, no potato, no toast with coffee.

After breakfast, I rode up Main Street to the Lombard bike shop to buy inner tubes. (I bought three of them for $24.)

Tack on another ten miles today.

Ride on,

Dan

Mostly Successful First Ride

I got about a six-mile ride between sites and back last night.

However, I got a flat just as I was getting  back to my home base. I heard that sound every cyclist dreads: "POP! Pish...pish...pish...pish..."

Thankfully, I carry a spare inner tube and hand-pump.

Ride on,

Dan

Lightning Bug All Racked Up...

I just got the rack and milk crate installed, and the main LED flashers, head and tail.

I still have to get and add the black light LED strobes under the milk crate, and some red and white LED flashers on the front and rear forks, aiming into the wheels.

Ride On,

Dan

Fluorescent Orange Bike Rack

I spent the day spraying this in Ace Hardware fluorescent orange flat marker paint, followed by Rustoleum gloss clear enamel. It goes on the Lightning Bug today.

Ride On,

Dan

Your first bike:

*Hmmm. I'd have to go with the Rollfast my grandparents gave me on my 8th birthday... Dan

---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: "PeopleForBikes" <info@peopleforbikes.org>
Date: Jun 14, 2013 10:08 AM
Subject: Your first bike:
To: "Daniel Stafford" <aquarianm@gmail.com>
Cc:

Dear Daniel, If you ride, you have had a first bike. Maybe that first bike is still your bike today. Or, perhaps, many two-wheeled companions have rolled through your life since.   To celebrate the start of summer—the time when so many kids are getting on their bikes for the very first time—we want to know:   What was your first bike? Tell us now, and it could be featured on PeopleForBikes!   You might remember your first bike well. It was a gift that marked the first days of summer, glistening new red paint sparkling in the hot sun. Or, maybe it was a well-worn, well-loved hand-me-down from a neighbor or older sibling. On it, you felt real freedom for the first time, flying solo down the road. Exhilarating independence, all through a simple machine.    Maybe you don't remember your very first bike (it was so long ago), but there's another bike that led you to fall deeply in love with bicycling. The one that took you to work for the first time. Perhaps it took you on your first singletrack excursion. Maybe it even took you across the country. This is the bike that changed your life.   So tell us, what was your first bike, or the first bike to change your life? Everyone has a story. We want to hear yours.   Share your first bike story here: http://peopleforbikes.org/myfirstbike   Happy riding, The PeopleForBikes team

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Sweet Little Lightning Bug...

Sweet Little Lightning Bug...



Shiny and nimble and fast,
That's what $60.00 and some elbow grease can get you,
Twelve hours with some four-aught steel wool makes fools,
Fools like those who thought "Old, dirty, and dingy."

It's all in the details,
In knowing what's underneath that thin patina of age,
Vintage 1972 and she's still a stunner today,
My sweet little Lightning Bug,
She gleams and glows and rolls like a dream;
I dream of the big city at night,
Modern LED's to go with the generator light,
Show off some real steel and chrome,
Green that is,
Green gold,
Chicago steel,
Help save the planet a little.

AquarianM

By: Daniel A. Stafford
(C) 06/13/2013

*Note: 1972 Schwinn Continental, mens' 24" frame, bought for $60.00 + tax, cleaned up sweet. I'm adding a rear rack that I'll paint fluorescent orange, and I've got a brand new orange milk crate to put on the rack. I found a source for battery-powered LED black lights online, I'm going to put two of them under the milk crate and strobe them on the bottom of the fluorescent orange rack, so that the glow blinks on the ground. Then I'll mount several bright white and red LED strobes so that they shine directly on those shiny wheels. Now you know why I call her Lightning Bug. The idea is to replace as many gasoline-powered trips in the company truck around the city at night as I can with a lot of fun, Dan-powered exercise. Full details and pictures of the restoration: http://1975continental.blogspot.com/search/label/1972%20Continental

*Posted at Poetic Constellations "Constellations Gateway" general poetry forum:  http://poeticconstellations.yuku.com/topic/61209/Sweet-Little-Lightning-Bug