==
Bike-Walk Alliance of NH == 
March 2011: Bicycling takes "center stage" in DC!
If
you bike or walk in New Hampshire, there is something on this Bike-Walk Alliance
of NH web site that should be of interest to you! There is so much activity
here in the Granite State involving biking and walking it is difficult to
write about all of it. However, let's get started!
Highlights of March news follow
BWA-NH had two members at the LAB National Bike Summit. For the annual summit in Washington DC on March 8-10, Ken Colburn of Meredith and Paula Bernard of Goffstown represented BWA-NH on Capitol Hill. Both are LAB Certified Cycling Instructors and are highly motivated to advance cycling education here in NH. Also attending was Bill Fisk, a BWA-NH member and Safety & Education Chairperson of the Granite State Wheelmen. A very intense program at the Bike Summit included meetings with key LAB personnel, our US Representatives and Senators, and US Secretary of Transportation Ray LaHood. With all the budget cutbacks, the economy still struggling, gas and oil prices going out of sight, and health issues caused by the lack of exercise, there was a lot to learn and discuss to help keep progress being made in our world of bicycling. Whether for transportation or recreation, cycling plays a key role in the health of country with very little funding compared to almost all other programs. More and more people are learning the benefits and taking up cycling. Education for both cyclists and motorists allowing our roadways to be shared is very important. The Traffic Skills 101 course scheduled for April 2 and 9 in Concord will help cyclists become competent users of their bicycles on the road.
More details and photos about the National Bike Summit will be posted as they become available. Here is a video of the Congressional Bike Ride taken on Friday, March 11, featuring a quick summary and comments from LAB President Andy Clarke.
The LAB "Traffic Skills 101" course will be held in Concord on April 2 and 9 with LCI Paula Bedard being the coordinator. A $10.00 discount is allowed for cycling advocacy organization members of LAB, BWA-NH, CNHBC, BCM, VBPC, or MassBike. See the TS-101 page for details. Act soon -- registration cut-off date is March 30!
LAB
President Andy Clarke to visit New Hampshire.
On Sunday, April 10 at the Derryfield Restaurant in Manchester, Andy Clarke
will be the keynote speaker at the Spring Banquet being hosted by the Granite
State Wheelmen bicycling club and BWA-NH. Andy will be fresh from the National
Bike Summit of March 8-10 so he will have a lot of inspirational news to relate
about what happened in DC and what is planned for the rest of 2011. In these
challenging economic times, bicycling receives a lot more attention. Come
to the banquet and learn for yourself what is taking place and have a nice
meal and social evening at the same time. Reservations will be accepted until
April 5. Admission is $25.00 per person or $40.00 for a couple. Send payment
to GSW Banquet, 215 S. Broadway # 216, Salem NH 03079-3322. For more info,
see the GSW web site www.GraniteStateWheelmen.org or call Kirk Hutcheon at
603.490.8357.
NH 2011 Commute Green program taking shape. The national Bike/Walk to Work Day as started in 1976 by the League of American Bicycles (then the LAW) has been expanded to multiple events, days, and other "green" modes of travel here in New Hampshire. BWA-NH is pleased to support the bicycling and walking events and to be a member of the statewide Commute Green committee. This year we expect to have greater involvement from various public transit providers, carpoolers, and even the Downeaster train service. A new web site is being created just for this statewide program. Please check out www.CommuteGreenNH.org to see the latest news then participate in the most practical, energy saving, and lowest cost transportation option for you. Any travel taken by a means other than a single-occupancy car counts toward being "green", not just going to and from work. More info will be available next month, so check back then!
The
Southern NH Trails and Outdoor Expo will be on Saturday, April
9, 10 am to 4 pm at the Hampshire Hills Sport and Fitness Center, Emerson
Road, Milford, NH. Building upon successful expos beginning in 2006, this
years Expo promises to bring together a diverse and large group of individuals
and companies with a common interest - enjoyment of the great outdoors. BWA-NH
and the GSW will have a booth which will promote rail trails, recreational
cycling, and bicycling education. Please mark your calendar to be sure to
join us!
Rail
trail advocates
continue to work on developing and planning additional sections with the goal
of many being connected, especially along the Salem-Manchester-Concord-Lebanon
corridor with other sections going to Lake Winnipesaukee. Developing a trail
past Concord is problematic but good progress is being made thanks to the
efforts of Concord's Transportation Policy Advisory Committee on Bicycling
(TPAC). Input to the bicycling master plan is being finalized. The goal is
to develop a 10-12 foot wide paved path, roughly following the Merrimack River
through Concord from South to North. It is envisioned as a continuous, off-street
path, connecting the eventual terminus of the "Northern Rail Trail"
at the Boscawen Town Line to the proposed "Salem to Concord Bikeway"
at the Pembroke Town Line. The path is intended to be a 4-season paved facility
to serve bicyclists, pedestrians, skiers, snowshoers, and other non-motorized
users, and to be universally accessible to the extent practicable. It is intended
the Path serve transportation and recreation purposes, connecting villages,
providing access to the Merrimack River and adjacent open space, and providing
safe and inviting health and fitness opportunities. The Path will provide
river views as well as access to the River when possible, and it will follow
a somewhat direct north-south route to facilitate transportation use. It would
also diversify Concord's transportation system by adding a green, healthy,
non-motorized transportation option.
News
of interest from prior months follows -- just in case you missed it!
Bike-Ed in public schools continues: With the assistance of a Safe Routes to School grant to help "Train the Trainers" in standardized and sustainable bicycling education in our NH public school, the eight LAB Certified Instructors are ready to implement training for both the students and school staff. The program is now in the "roll-out stage" with actual classes to start in March. On-bike training will start in April. For more information, contact Dave Topham at dave@bwanh.org.
Burritos
for Bicycling:
The first fundraiser for the Central NH Bicycling Coalition (CNHBC) was held
on December 16th, 10am to 10pm, at Boloco's, corner of Fort Eddy Road and
Loudon Road in Concord. A donation of $0.50 for each sale of their great Burritos,
Burrito Bowls, or Salads went to CNHBC as part of Boloco's 12 Days of Giving.
Customers also had a chance to buy raffle tickets for prizes donated by S&W
Sports, Eastern Mountain Sports, Pat's Peak, Sunny's Table, Goodale's Bike
Shop, and the Bike-Walk Alliance of NH. Live holiday music was provided by
Chris Peters. All money raised will go toward improving bicycle programs and
infrastructure in the Greater Concord area. CNHBC is a BWA-NH affiliate and
has the tax status to accept donations and gifts on a tax-deductable basis.
(More...)
Charles Martin, NH-Rail Trail Coalition President and author of NH Rail Trails, was recently nominated by the New Hampshire Bureau of Trails for the 2010 American Trails, Trail Advocacy Award. The Bureau of Trails has been working closely with Charles for over five years and in that time he has made great strides in the trails community. Charles is very passionate about trails, but his true love is Rail Trails. He recognized there was no comprehensive information about rail trails in New Hampshire, so he took it upon himself to write a book about the rail trails in the state (New Hampshire Rail Trails) that are available to the public to recreate on. Although he didn't need to, he asked the Bureau of Trails to review his book since many of the rail trails in New Hampshire are state owned. He did a great job outlining exactly what the public would be asking about when looking for a local rail trail. For more details about the NH-RTC, please visit the NH Rail Trails Coalition web site..
Bicycling
education in NH continues in the off-season months with the eight
LAB Certified Instructors (LCIs) working together to plan a series of courses
starting in the spring of 2011. BWA-NH is hosting monthly conference calls
plus a lunch meeting on November 14 to help keep everything moving forward.
Paula Bedard, one of our newest NH LCIs, is arranging a LAB Traffic Skills
101 to be offered at the BWA-MH office in Concord. Details will be posted
on this BWA-NH web site so please check the calendar page often. (More...)
The
NH Rail Trail Coalition
fourth annual meeting was held at the BWA-NH Concord office on November 13.
Approximately 30 people attended with the key note speaker being Craig Della
Penna, a nationally recognized authority on rail trails who now operates a
realty business specializing in properties along rail trails. The many rail
trail groups attending the meeting gave 5-minute "mini-talks" on
the status of their trail, challenges faced, and accomplishments in the past
year. (More...)
The
proposed Granite State Rail Trail
got a boost from a National Parks Service assistance grant and publicity via
the Valley News in the Hanover area. See
the article which appeared on November 27, 2010. The combination of the
Manchester & Lawrence corridor, the Northern Rail Trail, and a connection
between them is the "Granite State Rail Trail" as proposed by the
NH Rail Trails Coalition.
(More...)
The Central New Hampshire Bicycling Coalition (CNHBC) is new non-profit advocacy organization affiliated with the BWANH that will be working people and communities around Concord to make it safer and more enjoyable to bicycle. CNHBC has loosely been around for a year holding the annual Concord Area Bicycle Swap and running other projects like the Market Days Bicycle Valet. We have also been running a small Bicycles for Refugees program, working with employers around the region on growing a Bicycle Sharing scheme, and assisting communities with their Safe Routes to School programs. (More...)
Yoga for Cyclists is
the name of a new DVD created by none other than BWA-NH member (and NH-DOT
employee) Christine Wilkinson. Various scenes were shot in Bear Brook State
Park, Allenstown NH, with Christine providing a lot of good advice about maintaining
flexibility and correct posture. Please view the Merchandise
page on this web site or Christine's
site for more details and ordering information. The price is $15.00 plus
$5.00 for shipping.
Bikes
for Transportation
is part of the agenda for the Monadnock Transymposium Scheduled on November
17 in Keene. BWA-NH will be represented as a statewide organization which
recognizes and promotes the use of bicycling and walking for transportation,
not just recreation. (More...)
Bridge
access for bicyclists was
addressed again concerning the Hampton River bridge on Route 1-A near Hampton
Beach State Park. This bridge is on a very popular cycling route and is also
used by the GSW Seacoast Century. Just before the September 25-26 event, signage
was noted which directed bicyclists traveling in either direction to dismount
and walk their bikes on a narrow sidewalk which is only on the northbound
side. Cyclists heading south would have to cross two lanes of busy traffic
and jump a 10" concrete curbing - twice - to proceed in the normal southbound
travel lane. BWA-NH worked with NH-DOT to have the signs removed for the Seacoast
Century, just hours before it started, but the issue was not resolved for
the long term. (More...)
The Friends of the Northern Rail Trail announced the completion of another 1.8 mile section into West Franklin on October 9, this funded by a Recreational Trails Program grant. In addition, with recent major donations from the Granite State Wheelmen, the Mascoma Savings Bank, and the New Hampshire Electric Cooperative, the Friends of the Northern Rail Trail in Merrimack County completed a $66,900 matching fund campaign to secure a $334,643 Transportation Enhancement grant from the Federal Highway Administration and administered by the New Hampshire Department of Transportation. The funds were used to construct 8.3 miles of rail trail between Potter Place and the Danbury town garage. This new rail trail connects the existing rail trail in Grafton County with the recently completed 12 mile segment between Potter Place and West Franklin, making this 46 mile trail the longest rail trail in New Hampshire. For details, please visit www.fnrt.org.
Concerning
rail trails in the southern tier of the state,
the first phase of implementing a $1.2M TE grant for work on the M&L corridor
between Derry and Salem is underway. The Town of Derry is working with project
coordinator Bill Scott from Salem to develop their section first as this will
connect the existing paved rail trails in Derry and Windham. Actual construction
should start in the spring.
Bicycling
education in NH got another boost in September
when Paula Bedard of Goffstown and Ken Colburn of Meredith completed their
LAB Certified Instructor (LCI) training in Maine under the guidance of Charles
LaFlamme, the League of American Bicyclists' LCI Regional Trainer. (More...)
BWA-NH is about to start the SRTS-funded "Train the Trainers" program designed to ensure standardized and sustainable bicycling education in NH schools. (More...)
New England Bike-Walk Summit, Providence RI, October
7, 2010 was a resounding success with 165 bike-ped advocates registered
for a full day of nine very informative sessions plus presentations by the
East Coast Greenway Alliance, Bikes Belong Coalition, Alliance for Biking
and Walking, League of American Bicyclists, and the Rhode Island Department
of Transportation. (More...)
Concord, NH earns LAB's Bronze Bicycle Friendly Community
award, the first community in New Hampshire to do so, and is only
the fourth in New England. Bicycle Friendly Community awards are intended
to educate and reward communities for actively supporting bicycling. (More.)
Rail
trails continue to make news with the ribbon-cutting ceremony on October 7
for Phase II of the Winnipesaukee River Trail.
This section of trail was the first "rail with trail" approved in
the state. (More...)
NH Rail Trail Coalition 4th Annual Conference, Saturday, November 13, 2010, 8:45 am to 3:45 pm
Some
space was still available for the conference as of October 15. Admission of
$30.00 includes lunch. BWA-NH is pleased to host the conference at our Concord
office location, 57 Regional Drive, Suite 6, as rented from the Safety and
Health Council of Northern New England. Some 22 rail trail groups are expected
to participate with the keynote speaker being Craig Della-Penna, the foremost
expert on northeast rail trails, speaking about multi-state trail connections.
For more info, visit www.nhrailtrails.org
or contact NH-RTC President Charles Martin at DrChas@TDS.net.
Bicycles, mopeds, and scooters now allowed on the Sagamore and MAAR bridges
Bridge access a major "Win" for those of us on two wheels! For nearly a year, BWA-NH has been quietly working with NH-DOT and FHWA to remove the restriction of bicycles, mopeds, and scooters on two key bridges crossing the Merrimack River. Using two wheels for transportation is highly supported at the Federal level, especially after the announcement in March by US DOT Secretary Ray LaHood. Locally, the Sagamore Bridge connecting Route 3 (DW Highway) in Nashua to Route 3-A in Hudson and the soon-to-be-completed MAAR project (the $200 million Manchester Airport Access Road including the Pearl Harbor Survivors Bridge) connecting Bedford to Manchester no longer restrict bicyclists. Both bridges connect to roads commonly used by bicyclists with alternate routes not practical in terms of time and distance. Small bike-ped sidepaths were provided but they are not maintained for travel year round, are not illuminated, go through wooded areas being a security hazard, and do not accommodate mopeds and scooters. For those who use efficient two wheels as a true vehicle for transportation year round, the only viable solution is to utilize the bridges for their intended purpose: transportation. Daytime recreational cyclists, families with kids, and those not competent in vehicular cycling will still have the opportunity to use the sidepaths - they are not expected to share the road with 45 MPH traffic. For commuter cyclists including those on electric bikes, mopeds, and scooters, lifting this restriction not only grants access to these two bridges but sets an example for the entire state. Bicycles are vehicles and access to roads and bridges for transportation must be considered per Federal guidelines.
BWA-NH member and GSW Safety & Education Chair Bill Fisk was highly instrumental in seeking the restriction being lifted on the Sagamore Bridge and he foresaw the same issue with the original plans for the MAAR bridge. Bill is a year-round bike commuter who believes in vehicular cycling and that roads are meant for people to travel from point A to point B with minimal problems and delays. His use of the Sagamore Bridge was a problem when only the east-bound lane allowed for bike travel, but when both directions were closed in February 2010 without notice to the public, Bill worked with BWA-NH and NH-DOT to seek having the restriction removed. Many meetings and roadway design reviews followed with the bike ban being lifted as of May 25, 2010.
BWA-NH
wishes to thank Bill Fisk and many people within NH-DOT including Commissioner
George Campbell and MAAR Project Manager Alex Vogt who helped lift the bridge
access restrictions. Cooperation at all levels within NH-DOT and acknowledging
that vehicular travel on two wheels should be accommodated on bridges now
allows better and safer use of our shared roadways.
Rail
trail news
The Granite
State Wheelmen bicycling club offered $25,000.00 via ten $2,500.00 grants
to the 22 NH rail trail groups. Applications were received, scored, and the
winners were notified on June 10. Presentation of the awards were made at
the BWA-NH Concord office, 57 Regional Drive, Suite 6 (in the SHC-NNE section)
on July 29. Rail trail supporters, bicyclists, and guests were invited to
attend the 7:00-9:00 PM event. Snacks were provided by the GSW.
Some post-event publicity at local levels was arranged by the award recipients. Coverage in the NH edition of the Eagle Tribune was arranged by the Windham Rail Trail Alliance at their newly-restored Windham Depot. The article is available here in PDF format.
The
winners of the ten $2,500.00 grants were: Derry
Rail Trail Alliance, Friends
of Northern Rail Trail, Merrimack County, Friends of the Goffstown Rail Trail,
Friends of the Salem Bike Ped Corridor, Londonderry Trailways, Milford Conservation
Commission, New Hampshire Seacoast Greenway, Pathways for Keene, Windham Rail
Trail Alliance, and the WOW Trail (Laconia).
TE Grant approved for sections of the Salem-Concord Bikeway
The
long-planned Salem to Concord Bikeway received a major boost via a $1.272M
grant from the Transportation Enhancement program. The communities of Derry,
Windham, and Salem will be able to build a paved rail trail connecting to
the existing and well-used trails in Derry and Windham. See recent
newspaper article for details. BWA-NH is pleased to have helped coordinate
the many months of proposals, meetings, and paperwork which resulted in the
grant being awarded. With only $6.4M available to the entire state for two
years and serious competition for that money, being awarded nearly $1.3M is
a major victory. Details will be forthcoming soon.
Help for rail trail and local bike-ped advocacy groups
BWA-NH
helps local bike-ped and rail trail organizations generate income by utilizing
BWA-NH as their 501(c)(3) fiscal sponsor. Not every group wants the overhead
and cost of attaining the IRS tax-exempt status to accept grants and donations.
As the statewide "umbrella" organization with a mission of bike-ped
advocacy and education, BWA-NH affiliates can obtain most 501(c)(3) benefits
at minimal cost and inconvenience. Two organizations have taken advantage
of this offer (Friends of the Salem Bike-Ped Corridor and the Central NH Bicycling
Coalition) with a third expected late this year. If interested, contact BWA-NH
at 603.898.9926 or email info@bwanh.org.
Update on Distracted Driving Awareness
Focus
on Distracted Driving continues with funding expected from the NH Highway
Safety Agency to purchase two portable computerized simulators which should
help increase public awareness of this deadly action. The Injury Prevention
unit at Dartmouth is working with BWA-NH to obtain and use the simulators.
When not in use, one will be stored in Hanover and the second at the BWA-NH
Office (SHC-NNE suite) in Concord for easy access. Funding is expected in
early 2011.
Enforcement
of the "3 Foot Rule"
has taken another step forward via a reporting system offered by BWA-NH. Any
cyclist who is harassed, threatened, or hit by a motorist should obviously
report the incident to the local police department. (A listing of NH police
departments with non-emergency numbers is available on the BWA-NH web site.)
In many cases such incidents are not witnessed and certainly not by a police
officer so the matter could be one person's word against the other for what
really occurred. However, across the country, if the same offending motorist
is reported three times to the police they will take action without them actually
witnessing the incidents. Often a motorist with a grudge against bicyclists
or some who think cyclists don't belong on "their road" will harass
cyclists again and again, almost like a game because they can get away with
it. Even if the police are willing to take action after three reports about
the same offending motorist, the plan fails when the incidents and subsequent
reports occur in different towns. For example, on Memorial Day a regular GSW
rider was hit with a full beer can thrown by the passenger in a car speeding
down a 30 MPH country road at about 60 MPH. Reportedly several teenagers in
the car howled with delight when they saw the cyclist crash into a ditch.
They appeared to be "high" on alcohol or drugs as the car careened
down the road into the next town where another cyclist could be their next
target. The report filed with the first town is not likely to ever be seen
by police departments in surrounding towns. Our BWA-NH initiative is to request
that cyclists provide us with the same incident report filed with the local
police department. Once a pattern of three incidents is recorded, regardless
of what towns where the incidents occurred, then action can be taken at the
county or state level. Cyclists should not attempt to take direct action against
a motorist as you will not win either physically or legally. Two tons of steel
against a cyclist on a 20 pound bike is no match, and if the cyclist happens
to catch a car after a "dust-off" (say at a stoplight) and the cyclist
hits the car with his fist or foot, the cyclist will be in more trouble than
the motorist who provoked the action. Let's see if better logging of harassment
incidents will get some of the motorist "clowns" a day in court
and a nice fine which, if repeated, could lead to loss of license.
New Hampshire is #6 in the country!
New
Hampshire has been rated as the sixth most "Bicycle Friendly State"
in the country for 2010 by the League of American Bicyclists! The ranking
system started in 2008 when NH was rated as #10. In 2009, the rating went
up to #8, and now we are at #6. (We may be biased, but we believe BWA-NH helped
NH attain the higher scores.) The top five states for 2010 are Washington,
Wisconsin, Maine, Minnesota, and Oregon. For a listing of all states and comparisons
to prior years, click here.
For complete details about the BFS program, please
visit the LAB web site.
"Tour
de Forts" on May 16, 2010
BWA-NH
partnered with Great Bay Services in Newington to offer a unique biking and
walking tour along the shorelines of New Castle, Portsmouth, and Kittery to
explore the old forts and enjoy scenic views of the waterfront. Please see
the Tour de Forts page
for a review of this fantastic day on the seacoast!
April is National Distracted Driving Awareness Month
Distracted driving continues to make headline news around the country. The US House of Representatives passed a resolution on March 23 declaring April as National Distracted Driving Awareness Month. Whether caused by talking or texting on cell phones or other distractions within the car when driving, the resulting crashes are taking a tremendous toll on many people with the most vulnerable road users, bicyclists and pedestrians, always faring the worst. Check out our distracted driving page for more information.
BWA-NH is investigating the use of a Distracted Driving Simulator which might just make a positive difference here in NH. This product focuses on behaviors and their consequences versus typical driver training simulators. Several organizations are checking out this product from Virtual Driver Interactive which could be used by various groups in different venues. Funding from multiple sources is also being explored. We should know within a few weeks if this idea will gain traction here in NH.
US Secretary of Transportation Ray LaHood declares
"sea change" regarding bicycling
At the National Bike Summit hosted by the League of American Bicyclists in DC, on March 10 US Secretary of Transportation Ray LaHood was a keynote speaker and declared bicycling to be an important factor for all state departments of transportation to recognize and accommodate. The official US Department of Transportation policy statement was announced on March 15. Since then various pundits have found fault with the policy based on their car-centric attitudes. The LAB and other national bike-ped organizations are attempting to prove that bicycling, while not for everyone, is a viable method of transportation and should be accommodated by the infrastructure. For relatively little investment, the return for the states, communities, health, less pollution, and saving fuel can be very significant. BWA-NH urges all bicyclists to write to their governor requesting their state Department of Transportation complies with this national policy statement. A simple, on-line letter can be drafted and sent via this link to the LAB web site.
NH Rail Trails Coalition making progress
This statewide organization comprised of some 22 individual rail trail groups has been working with NH-DOT, NH-DRED Bureau of Trails, and local organizations to promote the development of connected rail trails within NH. The most recent development involves Londonderry Trailways, Manchester Moves, and the Manchester-Boston Regional Airport in determining how to route the Manchester to Lawrence corridor around the airport. With local leadership from Londonderry, a walking tour along the perimeter of the airport was conducted on March 27. The proposed route will be formally presented to the airport and NH-DOT (owner of the corridor) in April. The route around to airport, and potentially connecting to the terminal, is a key link in the Salem to Manchester rail trail, that being part of the NH-DOT Salem to Concord Bikeway as proposed in 2003. The NH-RTC has proposed including this project in the overall Granite State Rail Trail which someday could have connectivity to many areas of the state beyond the immediate Salem to Manchester communities. BWA-NH is helping to facilitate NH-RTC and the individual rail trail organizations see this concept become a reality.
On
May 15, a ribbon cutting ceremony in Lakeport will official open a new one-mile
segment of the WOW Trail along the westerly shore of Lake Winnipesaukee. Issues
concerning insurance, rail-with-trail liability, and a fence seemingly required
to separate future trail segments from the track used by a scenic railroad
have yet to be resolved.
Check
out New Hampshire via this YouTube parody
The "Granite
State of Mind" video of almost five minutes gives an entertaining
look at the many regions of NH and some history as well. It starts in black
and white then changes to color toward the end. And while not bike-ped related,
the scenes depicted are typical of what we see when cycling through this beautiful
state. So when you have five minutes to spare, click
and have fun!
BWA-NH
at LAB National Bike Summit, March 9-11
Linda Gould, BWA-NH Executive Director, and Josh Sattely, our Legal Council,
attended the 10th annual Bike Summit in Washington DC along with Bill Kennedy,
the GSW President, and over 700 bicycling advocates from around the country.
Linda arranged meetings with our NH Congressmen and staff personnel to help
push favorable legislation. US Secretary of Transportation Ray LaHood was
a keynote speaker and declared bicycling to be an important factor for all
state departments of transportation to recognize and accommodate. For more
details about the summit, visit
the LAB web site.
While the Bike Summit schedule was hectic, there was a little time for photos. Linda and Bill are shown in the pedicab while Josh joined them for a group shot.
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.
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Schools
prepare for more bicycling education in 2010
Bicycling education in many NH public schools continued in 2009. In just the Rundlett Middle School, Concord NH, nearly 1,000 students in grades 6-8 participated in the training provided by BWA-NH under a Concord Safe Routes to School program. The goal is to have sustainable bike-ed in the schools via the staff incorporating this training into every school year. The benefits of children learning to handle bicycles as vehicles will help them become better motorists, and as motorists they will be interact better with younger trained cyclists on our shared roadways. To help make this happen, BWA-NH started a "Train the Trainers" program which follows the guidelines of the League of American Bicyclists. A pilot program was held in Hopkinton during April and May 2009 and a second is now underway in Concord.
To
help incorporate this program on a statewide basis and with full LAB support,
BWA-NH applied for and received a Safe
Routes to School grant for $42,000.00. Currently certified LAB cycling
instructors (LCIs) must take additional training to become Master LCIs to
"Train the Trainers". In addition, the national bike-ed program
as created by the LAB and the National Bicycle Dealers Association (NBDA)
must be implemented with the support of a local bicycle dealer who is a NBDA
member. BWA-NH is very pleased to work with S&W Sports in Concord to fulfill
this requirement and roll out the program. Shop owner Tim Farmer has been
extremely helpful with many community-based bicycling programs. This new "TTT"
program will allow not only his staff to become LAB certified Youth or Skills
Cycling Instructors but the shop and BWA-NH will be able to reach schools,
other organizations, and the public. Plans are underway for current NH LCIs
to attain the additional training for the Master level. Once all factors are
in place, the "TTT" program for the schools will be offered at no
cost to train the staff in standardized and sustainable bicycling education
principles for them to implement annually for their students. Many schools
have already asked for this training so BWA-NH is not forcing this program
upon them. Awareness, training, compliance, and enforcement together will
make our shared roadways safer and more enjoyable when motorists and bicyclists
interact properly by following the rules of the road. To learn more about
the LAB bike-ed programs, please
visit their web site.
The "3 Foot Rule" is one of the laws stressed during all training
sessions conducted by BWA-NH, schools, bike shops, Department of Motor Vehicles,
Police Academy (PSTC), and driver training instructors. To help make more
people aware of this law, BWA-NH has a new jersey and bumper stickers to go
with the "3 Feet Please" T-shirts that were made available in 2009.
For the jerseys and T-shirts, please see the merchandise
page on this web site to order any item.
Rail
trail development and planning continues
Federal grant applications, local fundraisers, hearings with town and state
officials, and increased public support for rail trails as transportation
corridors have kept many BWA-NH members and the NH Rail Trail Coalition very
busy. The Salem-Concord Bikeway plan as approved by NH-DOT in 2003 has seen
a lot of activity along the Salem-Manchester section. The Southern NH Rail
Trail Alliance, presently comprised of Salem, Windham, and Derry with Londonderry
and Manchester expected to join soon, has a Federal Transportation Enhancement
grant in play for nearly $1.3M to complete sections of the M&L corridor
in the three towns. A critical presentation to the statewide TE Advisory Committee
is scheduled for March 15. This project follows NH-DOT's guidelines of the
2003 "Rizzo Study" for the Salem to Concord Bikeway as part of the
I-93 expansion. As a true transportation corridor serving three of the four
largest communities in the state, SNHRTA feels the time is right to make the
rail trail become a reality beyond the privately-built sections now in use.
For details please visit the SNHRTA
web site.
Public
support for the SNHRTA project is well represented in a blog created by
Carol Robidoux, the Derry reporter for the Manchester Union Leader, who did
the story on the rail trail in October 2009. Check out her blog at www.derryinklink.com
where she posted her story and photos on November 2, 2009.
NH
"Commute Green NH" program, May 15 to June 25.
Many new ideas and plans are underway for the 2010 "Commute Green NH"
six-week program. See the Commute
Green page for details.
Distracted drivers: a bicyclist's biggest risk?
Multiple nationwide studies have proven that using a cell phone while driving
effectively impairs the driver to a level greater than the legal limit for
a DWI conviction. That applies to simple voice calls while, for most users,
texting while driving provokes a higher level of distraction thus an even
greater risk to other road users, bicyclists and pedestrians in particular.
Currently the new NH law banning texting while driving is viewed as a joke
by many NH residents, drivers in many states, and it even made Associated
Press headlines on January 2, 2010. One resident of Warner, NH stated she
has no intention to stop texting while driving, despite the $100 fine she
could receive. Her comment: "I'd better start saving my money."
More details are provided on the Distracted
Driver page.
Bottom
line, "distracted drivers" seem to be the biggest hazard bicyclists
encounter on the roads these days. What can we do to address this issue? How
about if some of those people who believe they can multi-task so efficiently
that the texting-while-driving ban does not apply to them, be given public
tests in a driving simulator alternately using and not using a cell phone,
voice and/or texting. If given some publicity via the media, maybe the reasons
behind the nearly unenforceable law would make sense to the present non-believers.
A demonstration booth in a large mall would be sure to attract a lot of attention.
None of us want to be "taken out" by a distracted driver. There
are certainly many ways to be distracted other than by cell phone calls and
texting but that appears to be a leading factor these days. Remember, you
could be the next victim.
Motorist cited in violation of the "3-Foot Rule"
Following
an investigation of over two months by the Concord Police Department, the
motorist who hit commuter cyclist Susanne Kibler-Hacker on October 15, 2009
was ticketed for failure to exercise due care and violation of the "3-Foot
Rule" as enacted on January 1, 2009. The case was closed before Christmas
and was not publicized. Additional details are not presently known but a summary
appeared in the Concord Monitor on January 8, 2010. While recognition of the
"3-Foot Rule" is appreciated, given the life-threatening injuries
sustained by Susanne who, by all accounts, was cycling properly on her way
to work, two tickets and maybe a couple hundred dollars in fines does not
seem like much of a penalty. We need to publicize that such crashes must be
avoided and motorists must obey the "3-Foot Rule." More publicity
about the results of this investigation and stricter enforcement of the "3
Foot Rule" without involving crashes and injuries is needed to make New
Hampshire safer for bicyclists using our shared roadways. BWA-NH will continue
pursuing these goals.
Many
questions remain about this crash and the high threat from distracted drivers,
cell phone use in particular. Please see the Distracted
Driver page for details.
Rail trails still in the news
From
the Berlin Reporter:
As of January 11, a controversial proposal by the NH Bureau of Trails to open
about a mile on the east end of the 20-mile-long state-owned Presidential
Rail Trail to summertime use by ATVs and trail bikes has been withdrawn, for
at least a year, said Trails Bureau Chief Chris Gamache in a Monday afternoon
telephone interview. Businesses in Gorham requested the state's help in finding
a route that would bring ATV enthusiasts to their doors, he explained, noting
that the Gorham have been notified. Area residents, particularly those in
Randolph, were opposed to the idea of opening up any part of the former Boston
and Maine Railroad roadbed up to any summertime motorized use until the entire
route, from Gorham to Whitefield, could be scoped out and a master plan adopted.
"We don't have the time or the resources to pursue the idea at this time," Mr. Gamache. "We've been working with other landowners to try to get a satisfactory route in place." Those against allowing ATVs on the rail trail in non-snowmobile seasons have used local newspapers to express their opposition whereas those in favor — mostly business owners — have shipped their comments directly to Bureau headquarters in Concord. "We feel some obligation to help provide routes for ATV riders who come to Jericho Mountain State Park in Berlin to get to local services," said Bureau Chief Gamache.
A "Friends of the Presidential Rail Trail" organization is being formed, and its leaders have pledged to work in positive ways with the state agency, he added. (Note: The "Friends" organization is a member of the NH Rail Trails Coalition, which in turn is affiliated with BWA-NH.)
Progress
along the M&L corridor:
After an informative
tour of the Manchester & Lawrence corridor between Salem, Windham, and
Derry on July 22,
BWA-NH organized a tour from Derry through Londonderry to Manchester on October
28. Representatives from all related rail trail groups, the communities,
newspapers, and NH DOT Bike-Ped Office explored the completed, undeveloped,
and problematic sections by bike, foot, and caravan on a very rainy day -
but that was the only day key players were to be available. An important mid-tour
meeting was conducted at the Manchester-Boston Regional Airport with the focus
being on how the off-road trail could be routed past the airport. Several
ideas were proposed and are subject to further review.
An excellent summary was printed in the NH Union Leader the next day. One highlight of the tour was meeting with the Assistant Director of the Manchester-Boston Regional Airport, Richard Fixler. A follow-up meeting hosted by the Londonderry Trailways on December 3 led to more detailed ideas which will be reviewed with both the airport management and NH-DOT, the owner of much of the old M&L rail corridor.
A group of rail trail advocates from each community will work together under the name of the Southern NH Rail Trail Alliance. Focus will be on the M&L corridor and then on to Concord with NH-DOT 2003 Rizzo Salem-Concord Bikeway study being a key reference. Some findings of the October 28 "M&L-North Tour" will be found on the Rail Trails page. BWA-NH is pleased to help facilitate discussion and action on this project which is far more than a recreational trail. Transportation along New Hampshire's major north-south highways (Routes 93 and 28) with connections to Park and Ride locations and densely populated communities make this a very important rail trail.
An
informational tour of the Derry and Windham Rail Trails by their respective
groups was conducted on October
31 for a NH Union Leader reporter, Carol Robidoux. Her article which appeared
on November 2 and some photos are
available here.
In the Lakes Region,
the issue of proposed "Rail with Trail" along the WOW Trail remains
hung-up in the legislative Study Committee thanks to liability and insurance
concerns. Four meetings of the Study Committee in November, attended by BWA-NH
members, included much testimony but only seemed to prompt more questions.
At last report, the study of SB-203 had been extended for a full year. With
luck a resolution will be found so that more people can enjoy the beauty of
the Lakes Region in a safe and enjoyable manner.
Considerable progress is being made on rail trail design, coordination, and development around the state. A new effort to help publicize these efforts and seek funding is being organized by the Southern NH Planning Commission located in Manchester. The first meeting with all interested parties and rail trail groups will be on January 25 at 6:30 PM, 438 Dubuque Street.
The
NH Rail Trails
section on this web site has been expanded to capture more of the activities
underway around the state. To learn more about these efforts, about 40 advocates
attended the annual meeting
of the NH Rail Trail Alliance on November 14 at the BWA-NH Concord office.
A press
release from the meeting is available here.
Other
Rail Trail News:
The
NH Rail Trail Alliance is now the NH
Rail Trail Coalition as of January 1, 2010. The group of some 21
NH rail trail groups remains the same with the same steering committee and
continued affiliation with BWA-NH which provides the business address and
meeting space when needed. The name change was prompted to avoid confusion
with the acronym "NH-RTA" which was already used for the NH
Railroad Transit Authority. The NH-RTC has filed a trade name application
with the state to lock-in the new name.
More awareness and enforcement of the "3 Foot Rule"
On September 28, a letter written jointly by Director Donald Vittum of the PSTC (NH Police Academy) and BWA-NH was mailed to all 226 NH police chiefs and sheriffs to make them more aware of the "3 Foot Rule". A brochure called "Don't be a Road Hog/Road Warrior" created by NH DOT was enclosed with the mailing. Initial feedback has been positive as many police departments did not know about the law which took effect on January first.
From April through October, BWA-NH had a series of radio Public Service Announcements aired over 22 stations in southern NH to help inform the public about the law and how motorists and bicyclists must share the roadways. The NH Driver's Training Manual was updated and drivers education instructors have been informed via the NH DMV. Additional avenues of awareness have been undertaken during bike-ed classes in schools and workplaces.
Meanwhile, several incidents this cycling season will be testing the enforcement of the "3 Foot Rule." In some cases a matter of purposeful harassment of a cyclist by a motorist took place while other times a bike/motor vehicle crash sent the cyclist to a hospital. The worst known crash occurred on October 15 when Susanne Kibler-Hacker, a highly-experienced commuter cyclist, was hit from behind when cycling to work along Route 13/Clinton Street west of Concord. She was severely injured and for a while we wondered if she would survive. All details are still not known but the NH cycling community could not understand how the initially unnamed motorist was only given a warning "to exercise due care." The police investigation was still open at last report.
Bottom line, more enforcement of the "3 Foot Rule" is required and action taken when incidents or crashes are reported. Note that "crashes" are almost always avoided when everyone follows the rules of the road. Distracted drivers, whether using cell phones, texting, feeding a baby, reading, applying make-up, or playing with a radio, seem to be one of the leading causes of a motorist hitting a bicyclist these days. Yes, there are scofflaw cyclists and motorists as well, and that only makes a bad situation worse. If everyone followed the rules of the road and used common sense and courtesy, almost all crashes would be avoided. "Accidents" are caused by unavoidable circumstances; "crashes" occur when someone did not do what is right as either prescribed by law or common sense.
Our unique BWA-NH "3 Feet Please"
T-shirts are available in four sizes for $15.00 each -- see the Merchandise
page. BWA-NH is working with Souhegan Cycleworks in Milford NH to obtain
even more impressive cycling jerseys. To
view the bill click here.
Bicycling education in public schools continues
BWA-NH
completed a 12-hour bike-ed program at the Rundlett Middle School in Concord
as part of their Safe Routes to School program. About 1,000 students in grades
6-8 were taught the basics of proper helmet fit, bike maintenance, "bright
and tight" clothing, and rules of the road including hand signals and
lane usage. Additional tips to make cycling more fun and efficient were also
covered. The next group of students will be taught a similar course by the
school staff once they complete a "Train the Trainers" program in
the spring. One goal of BWA-NH is to have sustainable bicycling education
in all NH schools. A separate program for training the trainers is underway
via the League of American Bicyclists (LAB) and the National Bicycle Dealers
Association (NBDA). This program is planned to be implemented here in NH by
League certified "Master Cycling Instructors" starting next year.
Once children and adults all know how bicycling fits into our society and
shared roadways, the safer, better, and "greener" it will be for
everyone.
Rail Trail Notes
The NH Rail Trail Alliance (now the NH Rail Trail Coalition as of January 1, 2010 and an affiliate of BWA-NH) with Alex Bernhard as the spokesperson had a very productive meeting at NH DOT on April 1. What started as a simple meeting with Director Jack Ferns actually involved key personnel from at least five bureaus or departments. All questions were answered and several action items were agreed upon. A follow-up meeting is planned in about four months. Have a look at some of the happy participants!
BWA
is becoming better known throughout NH as the voice for bicyclists and pedestrians
concerning advocacy, access, and education. By working with the NH-RTA Steering
Committee and staff members at the Department of Resources and Economic Development
(DRED), BWA now has a vote on the Statewide Trails Advisory Committee (STAC).
While interest in rail trail development and management prompted BWA to seek
membership on DRED's STAC, all off-road facilities of interest to bicyclists
and walkers are of prime concern to BWA. By sharing information and ideas
between all users of the NH trail systems, BWA sees our involvement in STAC
to be a win-win story for everyone.
Statewide bicycling awareness ride planned for 2010
Picking up an idea from NH First Lady Dr. Susan Lynch, BWA-NH plans to be a key partner in organizing and supporting a statewide bicycling awareness ride next year. Some of the other organizations expected to be involved are the Regional Planning Commissions, NH DOT, the Foundation for Healthy Communities, the Healthy Eating-Active Living (HEAL) committee, Granite State Wheelmen, and other supportive groups around the state. The benefits of cycling are well known, and this event will highlight safety, health, obesity, economy, pollution, rail trails, on-road facilities, new laws including the "3-foot rule", and the sheer enjoyment of cycling. Multiple routes converging on Concord have been proposed so as to attract cyclists from around the state for this multi-day event. A steering committee is being formed with more plans expected to be released later this year.
Our Concord office has been relocated!
After
being at 163 Manchester Street for three years, on July 1, 2009 our BWA-NH
Concord office was relocated to a newer facility at 57 Regional Drive, Suite
6, right near the Concord Airport. We wish to thank Executive Director David
Henderson of the Safety and Health Council of Northern New England for allowing
BWA-NH to rent space and services of his office.
Safe Routes to School
This federally-funded SRTS program for children in grades K-8 living within
two miles of their schools provides for both infrastructure and non-infrastructure
projects, up to $100,000 each for the third round projects. Round 3 applications
were reviewed by the SRTS Statewide Advisory Committee (SAC) and were forwarded
to NH DOT Commissioner George Campbell for approval. Nearly $740,000 was awarded
in grants to eight communities and 14 schools in Round 3. Round 4 applications
will be accepted late this year. See the June/July
SRTS newsletter for details.
BWA-NH is pleased to be one of ten voting members on the SRTS Statewide Advisory Committee. For more details about this reimbursement program, please visit the NH SRTS web site http://www.nh.gov/dot/org/projectdevelopment/planning/srts/index.htm
Bike-Ed in the schools
Bicycling education programs during 2009 were conducted in Brookline, Concord,
and Hopkinton for both students and teachers. Seven presentations based on
the LAB "Kids-I" programs were given to students in grades 3 to
8. A "Train the Trainers" program covering six hours was conducted
for five staff members of the Hopkinton Middle School. Plans are underway
to implement a more comprehensive "Train the Trainers" program statewide
so that standardized bicycling education will become a routine and sustainable
component of the school curriculums. Bicycling education is supported by the
SRTS program. There are five LAB-certified bicycling education instructors
in NH who will provide the expertise for these programs. BWA-NH is pleased
to coordinate the efforts and to help meet the SRTS goals.
Note:The
NH BikeSmart program
featuring 45-minute presentations aimed at students in grades 3-5 now completed
its third season. The program is owned and managed by Roger Lohr of Hanover
NH, 603.643.0920, email Lohr21@myfairpoint.net. Details will be found on this
web site as a courtesy to promote all levels of bicycling education in our
schools, but BikeSmart is not a BWA or LAB supported program nor does BWA
have any control or management of NH BikeSmart.
New
Hampshire ranked 8th most "Bicycle Friendly State" in the country!
In May the League of American Bicyclists posted their 2009 Bicycle Friendly State rankings for all 50 states. We are very pleased to note that NH moved up two slots from 10th in 2008 to 8th this year, due in part to the implementation of the laws updated by "our" HB-1203 effective on January 1, 2009. For more details please visit the LAB web site; a summary of the ranking for all 50 states follows.
List shows 2009 ranking, state name, 2008 ranking, and change in rank from 2008. Thanks to Dr. Brent Hugh, LCI #1335 and Executive Director of the Missouri Bicycle & Pedestrian Federation for compiling this list.
1
Washington 1 –
2 Wisconsin 2 –
3 Maine 6 3
4 Oregon 4 –
5 Minnesota 5 –
6 Iowa 21 15
7 Arizona 3 4
8 New Hampshire 10 2
9 Delaware 31 22
10 New Jersey 9 1
11 Wyoming 18 7
12 Illinois 8 4
13 Colorado 22 9
14 California 7 7
15 Michigan 12 3
16 Maryland 35 19
17 Missouri 28 11
18 Utah 11 7
19 Massachusetts 16 3
20 North Carolina 13 7
21 Vermont 17 4
22 Hawaii 14 8
23 Virginia 23 –
24 Mississippi 47 23
25 Nevada 19 6
26 South Carolina 15 11
27 Kentucky 29 2
28 South Dakota 41 13
29 Indiana 24 5
30 Louisiana 26 4
31 Georgia 49 18
32 Florida 20 12
33 Kansas 25 8
34 Idaho 37 3
35 Rhode Island 27 8
36 Texas 30 6
37 Nebraska 33 4
38 Arkansas 39 1
39 Ohio 32 7
40 Pennsylvania 38 2
41 New York 34 7
42 West Virginia 50 8
43 Tennessee 36 4
44 Connecticut 42 2
45 North Dakota 46 1
46 New Mexico 45 1
47 Alaska 40 7
48 Oklahoma 43 5
49 Montana 44 5
50 Alabama 48 2
US Secretary of Transportation supports bicycling
Secretary
Ray LaHood has repeatedly spoken very favorably about bicycling and how some
ARRA funds should be spent in support of bicycling facilities. Check out some
details on the page devoted to this subject.
BWA-NH organizational structure enhanced
At
the December 2008 BWA-NH Board meeting, the foundation for an Executive Committee
consisting of ten divisions or committees was created. With all the bicyclist
and pedestrian advocacy and education programs now underway or planned, BWA-NH
simply needed more talented people devoting more time to make things happen.
The organization chart and listing of people filling the positions will appear
soon. BWA-NH is very pleased with the progress to date. The expertise and
commitment being devoted to the primary BWA-NH goals is very significant and
will result in a "cross-over" of support between the divisions and
committees. Established groups and organizations are encouraged to join BWA-NH
as affiliates with everyone retaining their own identity and internal structure.
Groups just forming are welcome to join BWA-NH as members or sponsors in order
to derive the benefits which can be provided by a state-wide "umbrella"
organization - and that is us!
BWA-NH attains IRS non-profit status
In
conjunction with the enhanced structure, BWA-NH is now a fully-certified IRS
501(c)(3) non-profit corporation. This allows tax deductable donations and
grants going back to our name change on April 10, 2006. All donations, memberships,
and sponsorship are deductable less $15.00 a year which pays for the GSW newsletter
and membership benefits. Our new Fundraising Committee will be seeking grants
to fund expenses such as PSAs for implementation of HB-1203 and "train
the trainer" programs to have bike-ed taught in public schools on a sustainable
basis. And this is just a beginning!
National Bicycle Commuter Act
While the year ahead promises plenty of challenges, there are also incredible opportunities. One is that people need to get on their bikes now more than ever - and thanks to the Bicycle Commuter Act, this will be first year you can actually get some credit from Uncle Sam for riding your bike!.
Many
details are now available. If you are interested,
read on!
Video
awareness tests posted
See
the "How Smart are
You?" page for new videos from Peter Warner of Transport for London
(TFL). Motorist often don't see bicyclists just because they are not looking
for them. Distractions like cell phones and texting are major problems, but
if a person is concentrating on one item the changes in surroundings (which
might include a bicyclist) are often not seen. How about you? Take the video
awareness tests to see if you notice details!