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MPO Wants your Feedback on Future Cycling/Pedestrian Routes

The Active Transportation Advisory Panel (ATAP) of the MPO has developed a draft Active Transportation Master Plan. The plan is intended to serve as a guide for the development of a connected bicycle and pedestrian network in Brazos County. The plan includes facilities for all types of users, from recreational users to the highly confident bicycle rider.

We would like to receive your input on the plan. Two maps (one 11×17 the other a full size map for someone with a plotter) are linked below. If you have any thoughts, questions, concerns or other feedback please submit your comments here on our website. The ATAP will review all comments and make changes based on your feedback.

The map in two sizes:

Full Size (for plotter):

https://www.bcsmpo.org/DocumentCenter/View/473/Draft-BCSMPO-Regional-Bicycle-Pedestrian-Plan-Full-Size-20190304?bidId=

11×17 (harder to read)

https://www.bcsmpo.org/DocumentCenter/View/474/Draft-BCSMPO-Regional-Bicycle-Pedestrian-Plan-Tabloid-20190304

Comments requested:

https://www.bcsmpo.org/FormCenter/Contact-Us-5/Submit-a-Comment-44

What is Vision Zero?

Vision Zero is a strategy to eliminate all traffic fatalities and severe injuries, while increasing safe, healthy, equitable mobility for all. First implemented in Sweden in the 1990s, Vision Zero has proved successful across Europe — and now it’s gaining momentum in major American cities.

What is Vision Zero?

The 2018 Benchmarking Report on Biking and Walking

https://bikeleague.org/content/press-release-new-report-league-american-bicyclists-shows-national-public-health-crisis

WASHINGTON, DC – February 8, 2019: In 1958, Walt Disney imagined the future of transit was a “Magic Highway” where technology and infrastructure combined for fast, uncongested, sedentary travel by car. In 2019, with the rates of chronic diseases like obesity and diabetes rising and roads get deadlier for pedestrians and cyclists, the real solutions for better infrastructure are not found in 1950s futurism – they are found in the Bicycle Friendly Communities and States where more people are biking and walking, and fewer bicyclists and pedestrians are dying.

CLICK HERE TO READ THE 2018 BENCHMARKING REPORT ON BIKING AND WALKING »

Congress first authorized federal funding to improve infrastructure projects intended for bicyclists and pedestrians in 1991. In 25 years, the United States has made significant investments in infrastructure, but a review of data and official documents by the League of American Bicyclists for Bicycling & Walking in the United States: 2018 Benchmarking Report shows that more federal and state leadership is needed to make improvements in infrastructure. While forward-thinking advocates and city leaders have made progress for bicyclist and pedestrian safety at the local level, further leadership at the federal and state level is necessary to coordinate the design and implementation of cohesive, connected, and safe environments for bicycling and walking in America.

“The way we’re investing in infrastructure isn’t working,” said Ken McLeod, policy director with the League of American Bicyclists, and lead author of the 2018 Benchmarking Report. “There is a crisis in traffic safety and we have the tools to reduce the number of bicyclists and pedestrians killed on our roads every year—we need leaders at the national and state levels to take action: adopt Complete Streets policies, draft and implement bike and pedestrian master plans, and build protected infrastructure.”

The 2018 Benchmarking Report is the sixth edition of the report, the first published by the League of American Bicyclists. By combining data analysis with the League’s research and data collection, the 2018 Benchmarking Report offers the most comprehensive look at national and regional statistics on bicycling and walking alongside an examination of the policies and plans, or lack thereof, to improve infrastructure for people biking and walking. In investigating the relationship between states with Complete Streets policies and/or bicycling and walking master plans, the League found that states with long-term and multiple actions on both had more growth in active transportation.

“The Benchmarking Report should be a wake-up call,” said Bill Nesper, executive director of the League of American Bicyclists. “While the state and safety of bicycling and walking may seem dire, it’s not all bad news. The data shows there are places like Oregon, Minneapolis, and Washington, DC, where officials are working with advocates on the ground to create communities that are more welcoming for bicyclists and pedestrians. Local bike advocates are working to meet their communities’ needs and make biking better—it’s time for state and federal leaders to empower local efforts.”

Produced with support from groups such as AARP and Toole Design Group, the 2018 Benchmarking Report demonstrates the urgency to create bikeable and walkable communities to not only save lives on the roadway, but also encourage healthy living options. Just 30 minutes a day, 5 days a week, of moderate to vigorous physical activity for adults can help prevent eight types of cancer, heart disease, stroke, high blood pressure, type 2 diabetes, and depression. Even small amounts of physical activity each day have health benefits. Building Bicycle Friendly Communities and ones that enable even short trips to work, school, or the doctor’s office encourage healthier outcomes for everyone.

The 2018 Benchmarking Report contains state and city-level data charting the increases and declines in bicyclist and pedestrian safety, federal funding for active transportation infrastructure, policies and plans for biking and walking, and much more. A few noteworthy findings include:

  • Mississippi was the deadliest state for bicyclists with the highest average fatality rate per 10k bicycle commuters from 2012-2016. Mississippi also had the lowest percent of commuters biking to work in 2016 at .1 percent of the population.
  • Cities where the rate of biking to work is highest, like Portland, Oregon, and Washington, DC, have the lowest rate of bicyclist fatalities.
  • 71 percent of bicyclist deaths occurred in an urban area, with 61 percent occurring on principal or minor arterial roadways, which only make up 10 percent of the national roadway system.
  • 39 percent of biking trips and 35 percent of walking trips in 2017 were for social and/or recreational purposes.
  • 20 percent of biking trips in 2017 were to earn a living.
  • Women are underrepresented among people who bike to work, but there have been modest participation increases in recent years.
  • For people with an income below $25,000 per year, biking in an increasingly common method for taking trips.

A new initiative from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Active People, Healthy NationSM aims to get 27 million Americans more active by 2027. This initiative supports proven strategies to promote physical activity, including creating bikeable and walkable communities.

CLICK HERE TO READ THE 2018 BENCHMARKING REPORT ON BIKING AND WALKING »

The nearly 400-page 2018 Benchmarking Report contains graphs, maps, and tables touching nearly every topic related to bicycling and walking in the United States. Please contact communications@bikeleague.org to ask about specific cities or states, speak to an expert, or learn more about how your state and community can become more bicycle friendly.

 About the League of American Bicyclists 

The League of American Bicyclists leads the national movement to create a Bicycle Friendly America for everyone. With a history dating to 1880, the League is committed to engaging diverse communities and building a powerful, unified voice for change around protecting and promoting bicyclists’ rights. Learn more at www.bikeleague.org.

 

Chris Kochtitzky, MSP

Senior Advisor, Physical Activity Translation and Evaluation Team

Physical Activity and Health Branch

Division of Nutrition, Physical Activity, and Obesity

National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion, CDC

Phone: (770) 488-0545

E-mail: csk3@cdc.gov

Web: https://www.cdc.gov/physicalactivity/

MPO Asks Public for Transportation Project Ideas (Call for Projects)

IMMEDIATE MEDIA RELEASE

 

Release Date:      February 8, 2019

Contact Person:   Daniel Rudge

Bryan/College Station Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO)

(979) 260-5298 or drudge@bcsmpo.org

 

MPO Asks Public for Transportation Project Ideas

(Call for Projects)

The Bryan/College Station Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO) is accepting public requests for transportation projects for consideration and prioritization for its Metropolitan Transportation Plan (MTP).  The MTP is the MPO’s document that identifies long-range transportation planning needs and recommendations to address transportation network issues within the Bryan/College Station Metropolitan Area during the next twenty-five years.  Transportation projects included in the MTP include major roadway projects related to improve mobility and safety (applicable roadways are shown on the MPOs 2050 Major Thoroughfare Concept available at www.bcsmpo.org), transit routes and equipment, bicycle and pedestrian facilities, and projects related to the efficient movement of freight.

 

Those wishing to submit projects for consideration for inclusion in the MTP should do one of the following: 1) Contact Daniel Rudge via e-mail at drudge@bcsmpo.org; 2) Submit project requests in writing to the Bryan/College Station MPO, 309 North Washington Avenue, Suite 14 Bryan, TX 77803 or; 3) Go to the MPO website (www.bcsmpo.org), click on the Contact Us button and fill out the Submit a Comment Form.

 

Please provide a detailed project description when submitting requests.  For roadway and bicycle and pedestrian facilities please provide the roadway/active transportation corridor name or route number, beginning and end points or intersection and what improvements should be made.  Project requests will be accepted until close of business on Friday, March 29, 2019.

 

Should the public need special accommodations to submit a request, contact Lisa Lyon at (979) 260-5298 or by e-mail at llyon@bcsmpo.org.

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Tri County Hill Hopper – Feb 17, 2019

The Tri-County Hill Hopper is a BP MS 150 Recommended Ride. We have a variety of routes: 20.8, 36.4, 52 and 67.4 miles. All rides start promptly at 9:00 a.m. with a final route sweep at 3:00 p.m. Day of registration starts at 7:00 a.m., we strongly encourage registration before the event date! Admission is $35 until February 10th, $40 until February 15th, and $45 the day of. A t-shirt is included and guaranteed to riders who register before February 3rd. Start location is at Cole’s Antiques’ parking lot on the corner of Texas Highway 237 and FM 954 in Warrenton, TX. Helmets are required and headphones are not permitted. 

ADDRESS:

Cole’s Antiques, 3637 South, Texas 237, Round Top, TX 78954
(Parking lot is located on the corner of Texas Hwy 237 and FM 954) 

www.tchillhopper.org 

 

Cyclist Petition for Equal Treatment

We, the Cyclists….  In memory of Ken Spence, in honor of Deb Barton, and the many others who have been the victims of distracted drivers.  The letter and petition is to the local DA Mr Parsons, it starts with….

"Dear Mr. Parsons,
We write you concerning the recent death of our friend and fellow cyclist, Mr. Kenneth Spence.
As you may be aware, Mr. Spence was killed while riding his bicycle on the northbound access
road of Highway 6 in College Station. His death occurred on January 3, 2019.

…..

31 signers at 5pm!

Deb is taking signatures until she turns the petition in on Tuesday morning.  Call her if you want to sign 979.703.4370

 

The loss of fellow cyclist Kenneth Spence -with the follow up article in the B/CS Eagle.

The Incident

(I will not call it an accident at this time):

https://www.theeagle.com/news/local/authorities-college-station-man-on-bicycle-fatally-struck-by-vehicle/article_e2ef5340-1071-11e9-b01a-530c352d572e.html

Reaction

https://www.theeagle.com/news/local/recent-death-highlights-safety-concerns-for-local-cyclists/article_a20e2fdb-a34a-578f-aa15-7f23a3f2c92b.html

 

 

Veloway

The idea, I have for the velo way, is for it to circle the outer perimeter of park approximately 2 miles. It would have to be 12 foot wide, with a asphalt surface (cement cracks) with a white line painted down the middle to split the slower cyclist from the faster cyclist with everyone going clock wise. At any of the intersection with cars, the velo way would have to be raised at least 6 inches so to create a speed bump for the cars that travel through the intersection plus a stop sign giving the cyclist the right of way.

Before the intersection, designing a curve in the velo way to naturally slow down the cyclist would also help. Any pedestrian traffic would have to yield to the cyclist also. With the park having only one egress and one entrance, I don’t think this idea should be much of a problem.

The velo way will be for cyclist only and or maybe in line skaters but no pedestrians, no skate boards or any kind of motorized vehicle. Cyclist traveling at plus 25 miles an hour can not be playing dodge the people walking at 2 miles an hour.

I know this sounds like a dream but I think it is a good place to start. One of the important points is trying to make velo way as close to 2 miles as possible, smaller loops are much more monotonous becoming more of a criterion course with too many sharp turns in it.

Robert VAN BRUNT