Advocacy Project: Barriers to Bicycling

Purpose
Through this activity, I hope to show why biking should be encouraged as a form of transportation and to prove the need for adequate bicycle accommodation on our state roads.

Instructions
This is a two-part activity.

Part 1: Please read the following web pages:

• Learn about the benefits of bicycling and see for yourself what a great mode of transportation it really is.

• Check out these state- and nation-wide crash facts. The point is not to blame either motorists or bicyclists (because both are at fault), but to learn what causes accidents and think about how they can be avoided with proper bicyclist accommodation.

• Read the following Rules of the Road to learn how to keep yourself and others safe. It is important for bicyclists and motorists alike to know these rules.

Part 2: For your assignment, please choose ONE of the following options:

• Write a short description of a time when you were somehow involved in (or witnessed) a bicycle-motorist accident. Describe what happened and state how the problem could have been avoided.

OR

• Go out into the community and photograph a situation that is unsafe for bicyclists. (Ideas include lack of room on the road, huge potholes, etc.)
  

Even if you are not an avid bicyclist, hopefully this activity helps you bring the issue down to a personal level. As I mentioned before, both motorists and bicyclists need to take responsibility in this issue in order to keep all commuters safe: motorists can help by being respectful of bicyclists on the road, bicyclists can do their part by following traffic laws, and both can advocate for safer and more convenient bikeways. After all, many people will find themselves in both these roles through out their lives - it's important that everyone is working together!

Advocacy Project: Letter to Public Official

April 27, 2009

Representative Thomas Huntley
585 State Office Building
100 Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd.
St. Paul, MN 55155-1606

Dear Representative Huntley,

I am writing in order to voice my opinion on bill HF 1705: Bicycle and pedestrian accommodation inclusion required as part of trunk highway bridge improvement program. I am pleased that this bill is currently under consideration in the House because I believe the inclusion would be a wonderful and much needed improvement to the infrastructure of our state.

The issue at hand is one that affects several groups of people: bicyclists, walkers, motorists, and any other commuters who use the trunk highway bridges. If this bill is passed, bicyclists and walkers will gain safer and more convenient transportation. Benefits for motorists and other commuters exist as well, such as increased ease while driving from knowing that bicyclists have a designated spot on the road.

In uncertain economic times such as these, when families are trying to cut back on expenses, the option of biking to work, school, or even the grocery store will not go unappreciated. Improving bikeways and walkways will allow people to use these forms of transportation to get where they need to go in a safe and timely fashion. Families will be benefited if these accommodations enable a family member to get to work, and the option of alternate transportation may also free up a vehicle for a family member who needs it more.

A lack of adequate and safe bikeways and walkways can discourage people from utilizing such alternative forms of transportation. This can be reversed, however, by the addition of bicycle and pedestrian accommodation proposed in bill HF 1705. As a bicyclist myself, I have often felt unsafe while biking due to the lack of space allotted for bicyclists. Also, it is frustrating when bridges that do not have adequate accommodation interrupt bike paths.

I realize that including accommodation structures in bridge repairs may require a significant about of additional funds, but I believe these costs will be offset in the long run by other societal benefits. For example, a higher number of bicyclists and pedestrians can mean a decrease in the number of vehicles on the road, which in turn leads to a reduction in carbon emissions and other air pollutants. Also, biking and walking are good forms of exercise and recreation, and when a population increases its overall heath, a decrease in health care costs may be observed. Other benefits that may help our nation’s economy include increased jobs for construction companies, and less money spent on emergency medical care response to bicycle-vehicle and pedestrian-vehicle accidents.

I appreciate your past support for bills on related issues. Based on your vote for HF 1351: Transportation Policy Reform, which looks to improve our nation’s transportation, I have concluded that HF 1705 supports your interests as well.

In order to better accommodate the many bicyclists and pedestrians in the state of Minnesota, I encourage you to vote “YES” to HF 1705 to include this accommodation to bridges repaired under the trunk highway bridge improvement program.

Thank you for taking the time to read this letter and contemplate the issue at hand. Your service to our state is greatly appreciated.

Sincerely,

Hannah Schoof

Advocacy Project: Issue Overview

What is the issue?
Bike path connections are often interrupted by bridges without adequate accommodations. Lack of bikeways and pedestrian walkways, in addition to the inconvenience and lack of safety of existing ones, can discourage people from utilizing these alternative forms of transportation.

What current legislation has been proposed to address this?
H.F. 1705: Bicycle and pedestrian accommodation inclusion required as part of trunk highway bridge improvement program.

This bill requires the inclusion of accommodations on certain bridges that are repaired or replaced under the trunk highway bridge improvement program established in 2008. The bridge improvement program requires MnDOT to identify certain fracture-critical and structurally deficient bridges and prioritizes them for repair or replacement.

Who is affected by the issue?
Cyclists, walkers, motorists, and any other commuters who use the trunk highway bridges are affected by the issue. It also affects business owners and homeowners in close proximity to the bridges.

The people that may lose something from the inclusion of bicycle and pedestrian accommodation are business owners who may see a decrease in customers while bridges are under construction, homeowners who may experience an increase in traffic if detours during construction are necessary, and taxpayers who may see an increase in taxes.

Cyclists and pedestrians, however, can gain safer and more convenient transportation.

What are the consequences of the issue?
Improving bikeways and walkways will allow people to use these forms of transportation to get where they need (or want) to go in a safe and timely fashion. Families will be benefited if these accommodations enable a family member to get to work, and the option of alternate transportation may also free up a vehicle for a family member who needs it more. Society would experience a reduction in carbon emissions and other air pollutants because less cars would be on the road. Also, biking and walking are good means of exercise, and when a population increases its overall heath, a decrease in health care costs may be observed.

What is the economic impact of the issue?
The inclusion of bicycle and pedestrian accommodation is on bridges that will be repaired or replaced under the trunk highway bridge improvement program so no bridges will be redone solely for this purpose. Adding these accommodations, however, could cost between $500,000 and $6 million per bridge. Taxpayers and city and state budgets would most likely bear these costs.

On the other hand, people who can bike or walk will have decreased costs associated with vehicle maintenance and gas or other forms of transportation. Also, less emergency medical care will be needed to respond to accidents. Construction companies will have an increase in projects which can prevent layoffs.

What is the social impact of the issue?
Bridges under construction can be a pain because alternative routes become necessary. Businesses may suffer if it is inconvenient for consumers to get to them. Also, neighborhoods may see an increase in traffic (and the resulting noise and air pollution) if the traffic is routed through them.

Social benefits include less bicycle-automobile and pedestrian-automobile accidents. More individuals would be able to bike and walk for recreation, and the proposed bicycle and pedestrian accommodations would meet the accessibility requirements of the Americans with Disabilities Act.

What are the barriers?
Major barriers include the bill being dropped from consideration and the large costs associated with redoing infrastructure. The first barrier can be overcome by encouraging congresspersons to vote yes on this bill. The second one is a little more involved, but adjusting state and city budgets and putting higher taxes on corporations could help provide funding.

What are the resources?
The resources needed to address this issue include an increased awareness among the general population and money for the construction and repairs. Citizens can be made aware of the issue through tactics such as billboards, newspaper letters to the editor, and radio PSAs. The concerned citizens can then be encouraged to persuade their representatives to vote yes on this issue. Additional funding may be tapped from grants from organizations such as the Bikes Belong Foundation. Also, the U.S. Department of Transportation - Federal Highway Administration may have funds set aside for such purposes.

What is the history of this issue?
MnDOT already incorporates bicycle and pedestrian facilities, but this bill would ensure it happens with all qualifying bridges.

Existing state statutes relating to this issue include:

Minnesota Statues, Chapter 174, Minnesota Transportation Goals:

• Promote and increase bicycling as an energy-efficient, non-polluting and healthful transportation alternative.
• Provide safe transportation to users throughout the state.
• Provide multimodal and inter-modal transportation that enhances mobility, economic development, and provides access to all persons...
• Increase transit use in the urban areas by giving highest priority to the transportation modes with the greatest people moving capacity.
• Ensure that the planning and implementation of all modes of transportation are consistent with the environment and energy goals of the state.

Minnesota Statues, Chapter 160.264: Replacing Bikeways and Pedestrian Ways

Whenever an existing bikeway, pedestrian way, or roadway used by bicycles or pedestrians, or the sole access to such is destroyed by any new, reconstructed, or relocated federal, state, or local highway, the road authority responsible shall replace the destroyed facility or access with a comparable facility or access. Replacement is not required where it would be contrary to public safety or when sparsity of population, other available ways, or other factors indicate an absence of need for such facility or access.

Minnesota Statues, Chapter 160.265

The commissioner shall establish a program for the development of bikeways primarily on existing road rights of way.

Allies and Opponents
Possible supporters of this issue include bikers, pedestrians, and hospitals. Formal groups that would be in favor of this bill include the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) Bicycle and Pedestrian Program, the League of American Bicyclists, and the State Nonmotorized Transportation Committee (LINK).

Possible opponents of this issue include business owners and homeowners that would be affected by the bridge construction and any citizen concerned about tax increases.

My Recommendation
I want Rep. Thomas Huntley to vote YES on this issue!

(Sources:

http://www.house.leg.state.mn.us/sessionweekly/art.asp?ls_year=86&issueid_=39&storyid=1186&year_=2009

http://www.dot.state.mn.us/bike/bikepolicy.html)

Advocacy Project: Healthy People/THOMAS

Healthy People 2010 Objective

22-15. Increase the proportion of trips made by bicycling.

22-15a. Adults aged 18 years and older
Trips of 5 miles or less
1995 Baseline: .6%
2010 Target: 2.0%

22-15b. Children and adolescents aged 5 to 15 years
Trips to school of 2 miles or less
1995 Baseline: 2.4%
2010 Target: 5.0%





Progress Toward Healthy People 2010 Targets
At the time of the Midcourse Review, trend data were not available for both 22-15a and 22-15b. However, according to the website, data sources were identified for these objectives, and data to assess progress are anticipated by the end of the decade.


Progress Toward Elimination of Health Disparities
There were no observed changes in disparity.

Race and Ethnicity table: Data not available.

Gender, Education, Location and Disability table: 22-15a. Best group rate included people in the categories of male, less than high school, at least some college, and urban or metropolitan. 22-15b. Best group rate included people in the categories of male and urban or metropolitan. In both subobjectives, disparity from the best group rate was less than 10% or not statistically significant, or else data was not available.

Opportunities and Challenges
The convenience of automobiles in combination with lack of bikeways has led to a decrease in bicycling as a main mode of transportation. With the increase in gas prices over the last few years, however, more people have turned to alternate transportation such as biking. Awareness of air pollution and the affect of vehicles on global warming may also be motivation for people to bike. In addition, some cities offer citizens the opportunity to put their bikes on the city bus in order to combine the two modes of transportation.

Unfortunately, access to safe bikeways is a major concern for cyclists, especially in metropolitan areas. Lack of money to update roads with adequate bike lanes is a challenge for many cities. Also, some businesses and stores do not provide a place (such as a bike rack) for cyclists to lock up their bikes.


Emerging Issues
According to the Healthy People website, opportunities for physical activity through environmental and policy interventions is an emerging priority for public health. This includes increasing access to walking and biking trails and recreational facilities. By raising awareness of this issue, hopefully more suitable facilities will be created and individuals will be able to utilize bicycling as a safe mode of transportation.



A Related Bill in the Minnesota State Legislature

HF1705

Title: Bicycle and pedestrian accommodation inclusion required as part of trunk highway bridge improvement program.

Sponsor: Rep. Frank Hornstein [District: 60B] (introduced 3/16/2009)
Cosponsors: Hausman, Lieder, Nelson, McFarlane, Loeffler, Kahn

Latest Major Actions: 4/2/2009 Division action, to pass as amended and return to Finance; 4/6/2009 Author added (Kahn)
Status: In House for Legislative Session 86

My Political Representative: Representative Thomas Huntley

Recommended Action: Vote YES for HF1705 to require bicycle and pedestrian accommodation as part of the trunk highway bridge improvement program.

Advocacy Project: My Political Representatives

President
Barack Obama
Democrat

Contact Info

The White House
1600 Pennsylvania Avenue NW
Washington, DC 20500

Comments: 202-456-1111
Switchboard: 202-456-1414
FAX: 202-456-2461

Email: http://www.whitehouse.gov/CONTACT/

Website: http://www.whitehouse.gov/administration/president_obama/


Congresspersons
Senator Amy Klobuchar
Democrat

Contact Info

D.C. Office:
302 Hart Senate Office Building
Washington, DC 20510
Phone: 202-224-3244
Fax: 202-228-2186

Metro Office: 1200 Washington Avenue South, Suite 250
Minneapolis, MN 55415
Main Line: 612-727-5220
Main Fax: 612-727-5223
Toll Free: 1-888-224-9043

Email: http://klobuchar.senate.gov/emailamy.cfm

Website: http://klobuchar.senate.gov/index.cfm

Representative James Oberstar
Democrat

Contact Info

D.C. Office:
2365 Rayburn HOB
Washington, D.C. 20515
(202) 225-6211

Duluth Office:
231 Federal Building
Duluth, MN 55802
(218) 727-7474

Email: http://wwwc.house.gov/oberstar/zipauth.htm

Website: http://oberstar.house.gov/


Governor
Tim Pawlenty
Republican

Contact Info

Office of the Governor
130 State Capitol
75 Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd.
St. Paul, MN 55155

Telephone: (651) 296-3391
Toll Free: (800) 657-3717
Facsimile: (651) 296-2089

Email: tim.pawlenty@state.mn.us

Website: http://www.governor.state.mn.us/


State Legislators
Senator Yvonne Prettner Solon
Democrat

Contact Info

75 Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd.
Capitol Building, Room G-9
St. Paul, MN 55155-1606
Phone: 651-296-4188

Email: http://www.senate.leg.state.mn.us/members/member_emailform.php?mem_id=1061&ls=86
Website: http://www.senate.leg.state.mn.us/members/member_bio.php?district=07

Representative Thomas Huntley
Democrat

Contact Info

585 State Office Building
100 Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd.
St. Paul, MN 55155-1606
Phone: 651-296-2228

Email: rep.thomas.huntley@house.mn

Website: http://www.house.leg.state.mn.us/members/members.asp?district=07A


St. Louis County Board Chair
1st District Commissioner Dennis Fink
Democrat

Contact Info

Room 208
100 N. 5th Avenue West
Duluth, MN 55802
Phone: (218) 726-2458

Website: http://www.co.st-louis.mn.us/slcportal/SiteMap/HomePage/Departments/CountyBoard/tabid/554/Default.aspx


Mayor of Duluth
Don Ness
Democrat

Contact Info

Mayor's Office
Room 402, 411 West First Street
Duluth, MN 55802
Phone: (218) 730-5230
Fax: (218) 730-5904

Email: dness@duluthmn.gov

Website: http://www.duluthmn.gov/mayor/

Welcome to Environmental Edification!

Hi, my name is Hannah and I'm currently taking an Environmental Health class at the University of Minnesota Duluth as I work towards a major in Community Health Education. This blog will be used for posting all assignments for this class, including reviews of environmental readings and documentaries, and exchanging new ideas with my classmates.

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