Real bike lanes for the MacArthur Causeway

Highway engineers have come up with plans for marking bicycle lanes on the MacArthur Causeway, the fast and scenic route from downtown Miami to South Beach. You may recall that 11 bicyclists were struck and injured on the causeway early one morning last August. They had been riding in the breakdown lane but veered around a bulb-out where that lane ended, and were run into by a taxi driver.

Plans that engineering consultant Julio Boucle showed the Bicycle-Pedestrian Advisory Committee this week, however, would have the causeway's motor lanes narrowed from 14 feet to 11, making room for a five-foot bike lane. Buses on the causeway would pull over to the right of the bike lane to drop and pick up passengers. The causeway lanes are scheduled to be restriped later this year anyway, as part of a resurfacing project.

Given the speeds I usually see on that causeway, I don't know that I'd favor riding there even with bike lanes. The Venetian Causeway, a few blocks to the north, also has bike lanes -- and traffic moves at a more reasonable pace. But as Mike Lydon observes at Transit Miami, the narrowed motor lanes will subtly moderate drivers' speed. And for strong and experienced riders, it might be OK. The best thing about this plan is that some people are always going to ride the MacArthur anyway, bike lanes or not, either from bravado, the appeal of the scenery or because they don't know the alternative route. The marked lanes and planned signage, I hope, will make everyone safer.

The MacArthur link two lines below will take you to earlier reporting about the causeway.

Engineer joins BPAC

Congratulations to Ken Groce, the newest member of Miami-Dade County's Bicycle-Pedestrian Advisory Committee. Groce is best known in the bicycle world for coaching the University of Miami's Triathlon Team, the TriCanes. His background in civil engineering was readily apparent as he plunged into Wednesday night's discussion. Groce was appointed by Homestead Mayor Lynda Bell. The committee reports to the Metropolitan Planning Organization, responsible for coordinating transportation plans throughout the county.

Planning for peak oil

Are you a "peak oil" believer? Many bicyclists expect only decreasing supplies of oil lie ahead of us. A blogger known as Gail the Actuary shares a list of how to prepare for a future of petroleum scarcity. Some of her tips:

• Buy a bicycle that you can use as alternate transportation, if the need arises.
• Start walking or jogging for exercise. Get yourself in good enough physical condition that you could walk a few miles if you needed to.
• Take care of your physical health. If you need dental work or new glasses, get them. Don't put off immunizations and other preventive medicine. These may be more difficult to get, or more expensive, later.
• Move to a walkable neighborhood. If it seems likely that you will be able to keep your job, move closer to your job.

There's much more at The Oil Drum: Campfire | Peak Oil Planning: What Should We Do Now?

Developers seek driveways across the M-Path

Bicyclists using the M-Path through Coral Gables need to know that two developers are seeking approval to build driveways across the Path to their properties on S. Dixie Highway near LeJeune Road. I'll deal only with the biggest site right now and do the other soon.

Kendall developer Jeff Berkowitz, perhaps best known for his Dadeland Station and its iconic Romero Britto sculpture, is well along with his plans for the Deel Ford property on the downtown side of LeJeune, currently being used to store The Collection's automobile inventory. His representative brought sketchy drawings to the county Bicycle-Pedestrian Advisory Committee last night, looking for the green light that Miami-Dade Transit, owner of the M-Path, wants from the committee before continuing negotiations with Berkowitz.

Committee members made several recommendations about controlling how cars would cross the path, and Berkowitz's attorney, Steve Helfman, indicated ready willingness to comply. But he didn't get the green light because, on this second appearance before the committee, the project still wasn't backed by drawings showing where the safety installations would go. If Helfman will come back next month with those plans, and a written promise to carry them out and maintain the safety installation, the committee indicated it will smile upon the project.

The other property is the empty corner of LeJeune and S. Dixie where a Shell gas station formerly stood. The owner, Scott Rosenbaum of Coral Gables, plans a multi-story office building. I'll come back to this project later.

Both sites are shown in a fine aerial photo at Transit Miami.

HNTB picked to start Miami's master plan

HNTB Engineering has been picked to start work on Miami's Bicycle Master Plan, says city bicycle coordinator Collin Worth. HNTB is a nationwide firm with a Miami office on Flagler Street.

You may have to ask for cyclist tax break

Any day now, if it hasn't already happened, your employer is likely to send around an e-mail saying pay raises will be deferred during 2009. Savvy bicyclists know that's to be expected in the current shrinking economy. But there is something you can do to better yourself that you may not have tried: Talk to your human relations department about getting the new bicycle-commuter tax credit.

Effective in January 2009, if an employer gives a worker up to $20 a month for bicycle-commuting expenses, it can be excluded from the worker's taxable income just as employer-provided transit discounts and parking are excluded. This new move toward parity for bike commuters was hard to get into the tax law -- and I'm not confident it will continue if we don't use it.

You may have to talk your company into doing this. The question of parity -- fairness -- between different classes of commuters probably isn't enough to do the job.

I see three obvious benefits to the employer whose workers commute by bicycle. One is that the parking takes up less space; ten bicycles will fit in the same garage parking space occupied by one standard automobile. The next is that bicycles don't pollute the air or create noisy traffic jams around the shop or office. But the topper, the one that I would find most persuasive, is the extra mental alertness and positive attitude of workers who bicycle regularly. That's an edge worth reaching for in any competitive business.

A new bike path for St. Petersburg

This Gulf Coast city could show our own a thing or two about being bicycle-friendly. The story's in the St. Petersburg Times.

Miami can do more

A tip of the hat to Linda Robertson, who uses her sports column in today's Miami Herald to call for a broader effort in greater Miami to serve the needs of all who get about town without using an automobile. She asks if we'll ever match the bicycle-friendliness of Boulder, Colo., or Austin, Texas -- then counts off the strikes against us.

I've been running for 35 years (biking to a lesser extent), here where I grew up and everywhere I've traveled. Our reputation is global: No drivers are more rude or oblivious than the ones in South Florida.

I recommend you check her out, and comment here or at the Herald site.

Runners a receptive audience

I've just closed down the Green Mobility Network booth at the Health & Fitness Expo held in conjunction with the ING Miami Marathon. It was great fun talking with the many runners and others who stopped to hear about our work to improve the facilities and social climate for bicycling in South Florida. I loved their positive attitude -- perhaps a result of their training and physical fitness. Bicyclists have a lot in common with runners, so it's not surprising that a lot do both. You might find allies for our cause among your friends who run.

Lawyer looks at "stop as yield"

Bicycle lawyer Bob Mionske looks at a "stop as yield" proposal offered to the Oregon legislature. Mionske points out that the current proposal is NOT identical to the Idaho law being cited in Oregon and Montana as a precedent to emulate.

This section of the Idaho law was added at the request of law enforcement, in order to clarify that cyclists must stop at a red light. Because it allows cyclists to proceed through red when it is safe to do so, after first stopping, the Idaho law addresses the reality that cyclists often have difficulty being detected by the embedded sensor loops at intersections. Although Idaho law allows cyclists to treat “red as stop,” the law proposed for Oregon would only allow cyclist to treat stop signs as yield signs; they would still be required to stop at red lights, and to remain stopped until the light turns green.

He gives some of the background, and the pros and cons, at Velo News.

Cyclists sighted at inauguration

012009_0432
Originally uploaded by Washington Area Bicyclist Association

Did you hear about the bike valet that was set up by the Washington Area Bicyclist Association for President Obama's inauguration? What a swell way to ease the traffic jam for the 800,000 people attending (by professor Steve Doig's estimate). Think of the bicycle-parking possibilities for big events in Miami! It ought to be expected. Thanks to Tom Blazejack for sighting this and other swell photos from WABA.

Cyclist dies after being struck by car in Davie - Breaking News - MiamiHerald.com

A bicyclist from Miami was killed in Davie yesterday. A few details are at Herald.com.

Should "stop" mean "yield" to cyclists?

There's a proposal out in Montana to make it legal for bicyclists to treat a stop sign as a yield -- simply slowing, making sure the way is clear, and proceeding through.

Robin Hamilton (D-Missoula) has sponsored HB 68, which is currently under consideration by the Montana Legislature, to be like Idaho and allow cyclists to treat stop signs like yield signs.

This would be of most help to riders whose special shoes clip onto their pedals, making it harder for them to stop and rest a foot on the ground. But all experienced cyclists know the frustration of stopping every block or so. You lose momentum and have extra work at every stop. There's more about the proposal at New West, where the discussion pro and con got pretty lively.

Vintage bicycle show

You might want to circle Feb. 8 on your leisure calendar. Coming that day to South Miami is a Vintage Bicycle Show and Volks Blast at Sunset Drive and U.S. 1. Here's the announcement from Mack Cycle & Fitness:

Viva la Volksblast! Presented by the Palmetto Bugs, Wide5 and the Miami V-Dubs. Come join 200 VW's as we SHUT DOWN THE TOWN! We block off 5 blocks of Sunset Drive in the heart of South Miami. This is a great location for the whole family, with activities for everyone, including shopping, a video arcade, and our shows entertainment right on site! We will have a dj starting at 10 a.m., with a band playing live music starting at noon.

Lance Armstrong launches new cancer campaign

Lance Armstrong returns to bicycle racing this week with more than personal glory in mind.

"The racing bicycle Armstrong will ride beginning Tuesday in the Tour Down Under bears the numbers 1,274 and 27.5, something the 37-year-old Texan hopes will bring to public attention the many millions who have died from the disease."

Read more at Yahoo! Sports.

A lovely Bike Miami Day

I worked hard but mostly enjoyed today's third Bike Miami Day. I saw fewer club riders than in the first one, in November, but there seem to have been more family groups.

There was a buzz of excitement when county bike--pedestrian coordinator David Henderson's new bike went missing, but it turned out someone mistook it for a shop's loaner and sent someone off down the street with it. Before lomg, it was back and David was smiling when I found him at Garcia's a little while ago.

The weather was excellent. Lovers of
Outdoor events are blessed to be able to go riding here.

Shop helps kids build their own bicycles

In several cities, there are workshops where children and teenagers can learn how to fix and take care of bicycles -- often, in the process, using spare parts to build a bike they can keep as their own. One such shop is BikeWORKS, in St. Louis, Mo. Here's a nice video about what's happening there.

A thought for the year

"A citizen on a $30 bicycle is equally important to one in a $30,000 car."

- Enrique Peñalosa
World Urban Forum - June 22, 2006

City alerts drivers to bikes

I sighted this illuminated sign near the public library in Coconut Grove a few nights ago. Thanks, Miami!

Water for the Bike Miami Day riders

Updated Jan. 17
The Miami Beach bike-advocacy group BASIC will hand out water at Maurice Gibb Park for anyone pedaling over to Bike Miami Day tomorrow. BASIC sparkplug Gabrielle Redfern will be there, at Dade Boulevard and Purdy Avenue, from noon to 3 p.m., and Sonia Lyn, a member of the Mayor's Task Force on Bikeways in Miami Beach, from 9 a.m. to noon.


View Larger Map
The location is at the east end of the Venetian Causeway, which provides the best bicycle route between Miami Beach and the mainland.

City Hall warms up for Bike Miami Days

Tomorrow at 9 a.m., Mayor Manny Diaz's staff is throwing a quickie block party in front of Miami City Hall. The idea is to give the public an early view of the fun and features they can enjoy on Sunday the 18th during the next Bike Miami Day. If you can bike to work tomorrow, or just happen to be in Coconut Grove anyway, why not ride on over and help build the buzz for better biking? Meanwhile, here's a flyer with lots of good info about Sunday.

Here's a map to City Hall:
View Larger Map

Bike advocate profile: Earl Blumenauer

There's a swell piece in print today about one of bicycling's great friends, Rep. Earl Blumenauer of Oregon. Here's a sample:

Mr. Blumenauer’s goals are larger than putting Americans on two wheels. He seeks to create what he calls a more sustainable society, including wiser use of energy, farming that improves the land rather than degrades it, an end to taxpayer subsidies for unwise development — and a transportation infrastructure that looks beyond the car.

For him, the global financial collapse is “perhaps the best opportunity we will ever see” to build environmental sustainability into the nation’s infrastructure, with urban streetcar systems, bike and pedestrian paths, more efficient energy transmission and conversion of the federal government’s 600,000-vehicle fleet to use alternate fuels.

For more, see the New York Times (registration may be required).

Miami picks a bicycle coordinator

Collin Worth, who has worked on Miami's emerging bicycle program for months as a member of the city's office of capital improvements, was designated the program's administrator today.

Worth started working for the city as a consultant on contract to capital improvements, and joined the city staff last year. His new duties will be parttime, and he remains in CIP.

Robert Ruano, the city's director of green iniatives, announced the appointment at a meeting of Mayor Manny Diaz's Bicycle Action Committee.

Infrastructure investment needed

In case you doubt our country even needs the infrastructure investment that bicycle advocates are trying to get in on, I encourage you to listen to Nobel prize-winning economist Paul Krugman discuss the matter. Then you might care to see David Brancaccio's blog item written shortly after the Krugman interview.

Boehner takes a slam at bike paths

Congressman John Boehner, the House minority leader, leaves no doubt about where he stands on our efforts to include bicycle facilities in the infrastructure spending package Congress is expected to adopt early this year. On the CBS News show Face the Nation yesterday, he was talking about the economic stimulus proposals:

I think there's a place for infrastructure. But what kind of infrastructure? Infrastructure to widen highways to ease congestion for American families? Is it to build some buildings that are necessary? But if we're talking about beautification projects or we're talking about bike paths, Americans are not going to look very kindly on this.

This is more of the same stuff we we used to hear from Transportation Secretary Mary Peters -- an unthinking assumption that car transportation is valid and other forms are not. It would not surprise me for a Boehner or Peters to point, for instance, to the bike lanes on our Rickenbacker Causeway as an indulgence. They should talk to some of the climate-aware scientists who use those paths every day commuting to their jobs along the causeway. Yes, the lanes provide for wonderful recreation, but they also take cars off the road, reducing congestion and saving gasoline -- and they help their users keep fit and healthy.

If you disagree with Rep. Boehner, it's very easy to let him know about it. His website lists this contact info:

H-204 The Capitol
Washington, DC 20515
Phone: (202) 225-4000
Fax: (202) 225-5117

Or you can use his contact form; just click here.

The full video of Boehner's interview is at CBS News. The part I wrote about happens about five minutes into the discussion.

Georgia bicyclists organize to build trails

Encouraging news from the Savannah area, where cyclists will conduct a multi-day rolling workshop into Florida to look at the potential for bike trails. There's more at SavannahNow.com

Many enjoy improved Rickenbcker

Hundreds of bicyclists enjoyed the ride today on Crandon Boulevard and the Rickenbacker Causeway. Many dozen even hung around for the remarks by county officials and Miami politicians.

There was much to feel good about - new pavement, safety markings and signs, better safety rails on the Bear Cut and Powell bridges, the toll gate that lets cyclists breeze right through onto the causeway. All that, plus a perfect day for riding and the prettiest place to ride in all of Florida.

Key Biscayne residents and motoring visitors were mostly patiemt as cars were herded into single file to give cyclists more room. Thanks, folks, we had fun -- and we'll return the favor in courtesy on the road.

Miami bicycling wins friends, recognition

There've been lots of big doings in South Florida's bicycle world lately, and The Miami Herald takes notice with a piece keyed to tomorrow's celebration on the Rickenbacker Causeway. See you out there? For the Herald piece by Andres Viglucci, no slouch as a cyclist himself, read your Saturday paper or click here.

Right-turn deaths show two views of driver duty

Lawyer-cyclist Bob Mionske paints an interesting contrast in his comments about two cyclists killed in Portland, Ore., by large motor vehicles making right turns. Portland is a famously bicycle-friendly city, and the deaths sparked quick efforts to try to prevent further incidents. Yet Mionski's column in Velo News, contrasting the Portland response with standard practice in parts of Europe, hit me right between the eyes with how a driver's needs and point of view are the starting point for American design and governance of our streets.

We bicyclists need to be extra vigilant at intersections. I am seriously reluctant to place myself to the right of any vehicle stopped at a light or stop sign unless one-way traffic would forbid the motorist's right turn. Even there I can't be sure the driver has seen the one-way sign, so making eye contact is important before I enter the intersection. I used to see a pair of signs on the back of big trucks: On the left, "passing side," and on the right, "suicide." Think about it!

Another thing we need to do is follow up on any case when one of us gets hit by a driver for any reason. It's the business of all bicyclists to demand appropriate charges be filed against reckless or negligent drivers. If you will help me keep track, we'll begin reporting the traffic cases. Just drop me a note about what you know. Be as specific as you can about time, place, names and which authorities handled the case.

Riding in unfriendly latitudes

In a lot of ways, Miamians have a sweet deal for bicycling -- flat terrain, nice weather, often informal workplaces. Consider our northern brothers and sisters, who take to the streets amid ice and snow. Now, what were you complaining about?

Selecting a bicycle helmet

Do you need a new lid to protect your brain? The latest reviews from the Bicycle Helmet Safety Institute are in, and there's a link below where you can see what's new and recommended (or not) for safety, style and comfort. The Institute's Randy Swart reports:

... There is no radical safety improvement this year that would compel you to replace your current helmet. Almost all of the helmets we describe meet standards and offer good if not excellent protection.

There are new helmets in 2009 that are worth a look if you need a new one. There are more new models appearing with the rounder, smoother profile that we think is best when you crash. The legally required CPSC standard ensures good protection in the US market. Without comparative test data we usually do not know if a model exceeds the requirements of the standard and offers superior protection. We hope for a new article from Consumer Reports during 2009 with some test data on the current crop of helmets.

I was glad to read that part about rounded helmets. I recently replaced the snag-prone elongated one that seemed so cool when I bought it a few years ago. Ah, yes, I promised you a link. Just click here.

Meanwhile, if you're concerned about how you look in a helmet, you might like the latest from Yakkay. Anybody around here selling these? Let me know and I'll mention it.

Cycling also subject to economic trends

Last summer's rising interest in bicycle commuting may not last, an industry consultant says in the New York Times.

Store owners said they had trouble last summer keeping up their stock of accessories, especially bike bags, car racks, tires and tubes. That told industry observers that people were actually using the bikes they had fixed up.

“The question is,” Jay Townley said, “will they take the bike out of the basement, inflate the tires and ride it again? My gut says no.”

Tim Blumenthal, executive director of Bikes Belong, disagreed. “I believe that last summer’s spike in gas prices and the reaction of Americans was different from any previous spike and any previous reaction,” he said. “It wasn’t just about sticker shock at the pumps. When people ride bikes, lots of good things happen.”

You can read more in A Surge in Bicyclists Appears to Be Waning.

Save us from our friends

Road-safety activist Jim Smith sounded off over the weekend in the Palm Beach Post. Here's a sample:

... separate lanes for all road users greatly reduce the number of possible conflict points among motorists, pedestrians, and bicyclists, thereby making it safer for all - e.g., designated bicycle lanes provide necessary separation for bicyclists and eliminate the need for drivers to cross over into the oncoming travel lane to safely pass them.

It's time for all bicyclists to recognize the difference between riding on a road with a designated bicycle lane and riding on a road that does not have one.

I doubt that many readers here will agree with Smith's primary point, that we should ride only in the bike lane where there is one. There's already one well-informed dissent at the Post's website. You can read more about it at Bicyclists, stay in your lane.

Spread the word to ride the Rickenbacker

A reader tells me that the Ride the Rickenbacker handbill I posted here before Christmas wouldn't print out well for him. If that was your experience, too, I suggest you visit the Parks & Recreation website and download from there. Either way, do bring your bicycle and your friends to the fun ride on Saturday, Jan. 10.

Thanks for your bicycle votes

If I read the numbers correctly at Change.org, the various proposals for encouraging bicycling as a national priority pulled in 1,423 votes during the round that ended with the last hour of 2008. That's a respectable showing, compared to 1,712 votes for Citizens' funding of the Nation's elections and 1,078 for ReBuild and RePower America with a Green Stimulus Package.

Perhaps unfortunately, there were more than a dozen separate pro-bicycle proposals, scattered in various categories. The one I featured here, Promote Bicycle Transportation, pulled 1,081 votes in the "other" category, ranking 5th behind:

1. Appoint secretary of peace in a Department of Peace and Non-Violence -- 3,363
   
2. Repeal the Patriot Act -- 2,068
   
3. End corporate "personhood" -- 1,979 -- and
4. Restore separation of church and state -- 1,877
   

Bicycling presumably would have led the Global Warming category had it been there. Tops there was the Rebuild and Repower item mentioned above.

Thanks to all of you who took part in the vote. I'll keep an eye on the process and see how it develops.

Meanwhile, a correction. At least once here I mischaracterized Change.org. Here is how they describe themselves:

Change.org aims to ... [serve] as the central platform informing and empowering movements for social change around the most important issues of our time.

Change.org is a social entrepreneurship venture based in San Francisco, CA. The company was founded by Ben Rattray in the summer of 2005, and with the support of a friend from Stanford, Mark Dimas, and a founding team of Darren Haas, Rajiv Gupta, and Adam Cheyer, Change.org launched the first version of its site in 2007.