Bikes Belong to help Build Trails in Wisconsin

Bikes Belong is the national coalition of bicycle suppliers and retailers working together to put more people on bicycles more often. Earlier this month, the coalition announced that it would be awarding CAMBA $5,000 to help fund the construction of the new Hayward single track. CAMBA (northern Wisconsin's Chequamegon Area Mountain Bike Association) is pleased to be the recipient of the $5,000 grant from the Bikes Belong Coalition.

Bikes Belong is a bicycle industry-supported foundation that works on behalf of the sport of bicycling across the U.S. and since 1999 has funded 53 projects totaling $530,000, with $460,000 in bicycle facility grants leveraging $246 million in federal funding in 23 states.

Another award was given to Adventure Cycling ($10,000) to help establish the corridor plan for our National Bicycle Route Network. “This system of bike routes, modeled after successful networks in Europe and Canada, will make bicycling a more visible and viable means of transportation and recreation on U.S. roads," states a release issued by Bikes Belong. "Adventure Cycling's expertise in creating bike routes throughout the United States has helped them forge partnerships to build momentum and support for this project. They have been working in close collaboration with the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO), and serve on its task force on bicycle corridor planning."

CAMBA is extremely thankful to Bikes Belong for their belief in our project and their financial support. For more information about the Bikes Belong Coalition, visit www.bikesbelong.org.

Trip into the Past: Canada Residents Bicycle to Reunion
Excerpted from Eau Claire Leader-Telegram, by Sara Boyd

It took 10 days for Pat and Nancy Caldwell, who live in Winnipeg, Manitoba, to get to their 45-year high school reunion on Saturday in Eau Claire. They weren’t delayed by traffic or missed airplane flights but because they arrived on bicycle.

“It’s an adventure,” Nancy Caldwell said. “We do it because it’s fun.”

The trip of more than 600 miles was one of their shorter excursions, said the couple, who graduated from Memorial High School in 1961. “We actually rode across Canada (last year),” Pat Caldwell said. “We were on the road for about 4½ months, and we covered over 6,000 miles.”

For the last five years, the Caldwell’s, both 63, have planned a bike trip during the summer months to stay active and enjoy the thrills that can be missed in a vehicle.

“Traveling by bike, you get a much greater feel for how other people live,” he said. “You get a much greater chance to meet people. They want to know where you’ve been and where you’re going.”

Sharon Bautch, a Memorial classmate, said the pair definitely have a passion for biking. “At the reunion they came up and said a little something in front of everybody about their trip,” she said. “They’re a very neat couple.”

For their journey to Eau Claire, the two would leave about 7 a.m. each day and bike until between 2 and 5 p.m., depending on the terrain, weather conditions and hotel locations. “We averaged about 60 miles a day,” she said. “One day we had to go 100 miles because there wasn’t any hotels from point A to point B. So we had to just keep pedaling.”

The two met during their senior year at Memorial and then attended UW-Eau Claire together. Pat Caldwell, who worked as a biologist, now works part time at a garden and woodworking shop in Manitoba. Nancy Caldwell is retired.

Beyond Eau Claire and Canada, the two have biked around Germany and are planning a trip to Holland. During the spring, summer and fall, the two travel with a group of five couples on day trips. “We call ourselves ‘Second Wind,’ ” Nancy Caldwell said with a laugh. When asked how long they will continue to make the yearly trips, Pat Caldwell simply said, “As long as we can.”

Through meeting new people and sharing their stories with friends and family, the Caldwells said, they encourage everyone to get out and move. “Follow your dreams,” Pat Caldwell said. “If you dream about doing something, go out and do it. That’s our attitude.”

Boyd can be reached at 833-9211, (800) 236-7077 or sara.boyd@ecpc.com.

Floyd Landis Talks Road Safety and Advocacy at Wisconsin Bike Fed Fundraiser

Floyd Landis took time out from his work to attend a bicycle advocacy in Madison, on Oct. 20.

On crutches following hip surgery, Landis was invited to keynote Saris Cycling Group's annual fundraiser to support the Bicycle Federation of Wisconsin. This is the second time Floyd has appeared at this event which raises funds for bicycle related projects in Wisconsin.

Landis addressed a group of approximately 500 at Saris' manufacturing and business headquarters in Madison on the need for cyclists to advocate for safety issues within their communities. "I find most Americans to be respectful to riders," he said, "but I wish more cities had dedicated bike lanes or paths like Madison does and educating drivers about bikes on the road is always going to be needed."

The fundamental issue of safety for cyclists, he said at the event, is about making sure cyclists and drivers have the education and support they need to coexist. "I believe most cyclists don't go out of their way to get in the way of a car and likewise, I don't think drivers are always aware of how close they are to a bike. Every now and then there is the driver who would rather see you in the ditch - or dead - but not too often. Unless you've been on a bike and had a car come close to you, you wouldn't think about this situation. Cyclists need to show as much respect as possible; it doesn't help to react to a driver and education for drivers is needed. Which is why I'm here tonight."

Chris Fortune, President of Saris Cycling Group, said that the fundraiser was his company's way of contributing to the dialog of road safety. "We need to create a safe environment for people to ride and that means dedicating space on the roads and teaching drivers to respect bikes (as well as) providing funding to make the roads safe - for programs like "Safe Routes to School" and "Bike to Work Week," he said.

Fortune said that the funding and advocacy work is intended to raise the profile of the cyclist in public debates. "We are dedicating the funds (from tonight's fundraiser) to the advocacy projects of the Bicycle Federation of Wisconsin. Last year BFW used the funding to hire a lobbyist to make sure that cyclists are heard at the state capitol when funding decisions are being made. Here in Wisconsin, over $7 million every year is pirated by the highway builders and redirected from bike and pedestrian initiatives to fund state highways. We have to turn that around. People aren't going to commute by bike or ride for pleasure if they don't feel safe. Floyd is here because he is giving back to the industry that he makes a living in and working together we can make a case for more funding for cycling initiatives."

State Cuts Cash for Bike Paths
by Sandy Cullen, Capital Times
October 16, 2006

Millions of dollars in federal money that could be used to create bike and pedestrian paths are being used instead to fund state highways, stalling many projects that could bring tourism and other benefits to communities across the state, bicycle advocates say.

Completion of the Badger State Trail and other bike paths in Fitchburg and Madison are among 92 planned bike and pedestrian projects that won't receive federal money through the state Department of Transportation in 2007-09, said Dar Ward, executive director of the Bicycle Federation of Wisconsin.

"There was a raid on it," said Rep. Spencer Black, D-Madison, of the $18 million a year in federal money the DOT could designate for bike and pedestrian projects. "Almost 70 percent of the money was taken away from this fund and put in the general transportation budget."

But Department of Transportation budget and policy analyst Jim Donlin said DOT does not receive enough money from the federal government to spend the maximum allowed in all program areas and instead tries to balance all of the state's transportation needs with the money available.

Ward said that since 1996, the percentage of bike paths and other eligible projects receiving money through the state's Transportation Enhancements Program has dropped from 57 percent to 20 percent.

"There's not enough money to go around, and the demand is just huge," Ward said. "Local communities are planning on these projects. They're expecting tourism to come in from them, and economic development."

The federation is appealing to legislators to direct more of the money toward such projects. For the four-year period from 1996 to 1999, the state allocated $31 million in federal money to fund 117 of 204 eligible projects, Ward said.

John Duffe, manager of the state's Transportation Enhancements Program, said $9.8 million will go to 28 of 143 projects eligible for funding in the 2007-09 budget. The program also funds projects such as streetscaping, crosswalks, lighting and historic transportation structures.

Duffe said $3.5 million is being reserved for other high-priority projects, including projects earmarked by members of the state's congressional delegation. Those include constructing a bike and pedestrian path and two bridges across Starkweather Creek, and a bike and pedestrian path and other facilities in Central Park, both on Madison's East Side. They also include completing the Glacial Drumlin Trail from Madison to Waukesha, and building bike and pedestrian paths from Waunakee to Westport and in Wisconsin Dells.

Donlin said the earmarked projects take money away from the Transportation Enhancements Program, which members of Congress might not realize.

Ward, a member of the 13-person committee that makes funding recommendations for the program, said the earmarked projects influence committee decisions on whether to fund other projects in the same communities.

Although the state can use up to 10 percent of one of its federal transportation grants for enhancement projects, it isn't required to. Much of the eligible funding goes toward other projects.

Fitchburg, which requested $1 million to pave the Badger State Trail, was denied $720,000 it sought for an extension of the Military Ridge Trail known as the Cannonball Trail. An additional request for $160,000 for a bicycle hub that would offer permits and maps at the junction of the Capital City, Cannonnball and Badger State Trails also went unfunded.

Fitchburg Ald. Steve Arnold said the Badger State Trail - a six-mile link from the Allied Drive area to Sun Valley Parkway in the town of Oregon - is needed to connect Allied Drive residents to jobs to the south. The trail would also "put more eyes on the street" and improve safety in the area, Arnold said.

Madison sought but did not get $1.1 million for a Sherman Flyer Path, which would serve a large number of pedestrians and bicycle commuters on the North Side, bypassing busy Sherman Avenue, said Tony Fernandez, a city transportation engineer.
Madison also lost out on a proposed $1.3 million pedestrian and bike overpass across the Beltline near Junction Ridge Road on Madison's far West Side.

Kick the Car Habit or “How I Learned To Stop Worrying and Live Well Without Owning a Car"

Between rising gas prices, endless car payments, and countless hours spent in gridlock traffic, do you ever get the feeling that you don't own your car, but rather your car owns you? How To Live Well Without Owning A Car is the first practical, accessible, and sensible guide to living in America without owning a car; The book examines America's car culture and explains how most Americans do not "love" their cars, but are addicted to them; And like any addiction, car-addiction is a costly one.

• The first practical, accessible, and sensible guide to living in North America without owning a car.
• Exposes the true costs of car ownership and shows how getting rid of your car can simplify your life and put you on the road to financial freedom.
• Packed with realistic, economical alternatives to owning a car, including chapters on carsharing, carpooling, and even car-free dating.
• Includes more than 100 real-world tips, strategies, and success stories from people who are happily car-free or "car-lite," from cities to suburbs.
• According to a 2004 American Automobile Association study, the average American spends $8,410 per year (roughly $700 per month) to own a vehicle.

Chris Balish is the author of the forthcoming book "How to Live Well Without Owning a Car: Save Money, Breathe Easier, and Get More Mileage Out of Life." He talks with Renee Montagne about how to live without a car, even in Los Angeles. Chris’ book became available in Summer 2006. The link below will take you to NPR’s site to listen to an interview with Balish.

http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=5649826

Ed. Notes: Interesting tidbit - the title was changed from “Kick the Car Habit” to “How To Live Well Without Owning A Car.” The former perhaps was too in-“cite” ful?