Save Open Space: Cycle For Cecil on Saturday April 25th

Join us on Saturday, April 25th 2015 at Fair Hill for Cycle for Cecil. There are a variety of distances offered: 15 miles, 35 miles and 65 miles. It is a great way to see the natural beauty of Cecil County! Sign up on-line with Active.com HERE.

This is a beautiful ride through the beautiful countryside of Cecil County Maryland. Cecil County is located in the north east corner of Maryland, on the Delaware border. The ride will take you through some of the vast open space that Cecil County Land Trust has worked to protect. The ride has multiple stops for drinks, snacks, and restrooms. The roads are very well marked, and the views are amazing!

The Cecil Land Trust is a non-profit 501(c)(3) charitable organization  that preserves farmland, woodlands, natural habitat and historic rural communities in Cecil County. One of our goals is to provide assistance to those interested in land conservation. You can help our cause by coming on this ride!

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NJBWC's Cyndi Steiner on Biking and Walking Communities

Jill Horner interviews Cyndi Steiner, Executive Director of the New Jersey Bike & Walk Coalition, about Biking and Walking Communities. NJBWC was created to address on-road safety issues, mainly a safe passing law. Currently, they are going for 4 feet, which is already the law in Pennsylvania.

NJ remains the only State in the NE without a safe passing law. Thanks to the efforts of the Delaware Bicycle Council, Governor Markell signed SB-38 in July of 2011, giving Delaware bicyclists 3 feet.

Who really has the back of road bicyclists in Delaware?

1st State BIKES is disappointed to see this recent claim attributed to Senator Dave Sokola:

The following is the list of Sokola-sponsored bills related to bicycle safety in Delaware, and who was actually responsible.

• SB-269, Vulnerable Road Users Law. On August 12, 2010, Delaware’s Governor Markell signed SB 269 into law. The bill, a project of the Delaware Bicycle Council, enhances the penalty for drivers convicted of careless or inattentive driving who cause serious physical injury to cyclists, pedestrians and other vulnerable road users. Other than a blog post reporting its passage, there was no formal support from Bike Delaware.
• SB-38, 3 Foot Passing Law. On July 25, 2011, Governor Markell signed SB 38, Delaware’s 3 Foot Passing bill. A project of the Delaware Bicycle Council, Delaware became the nineteenth state to have a passing law to protect cyclists. The law not only provides additional legal protection, it provides an important educational opportunity. Bike Delaware's Executive Director made it clear that Bike Delaware would "support" the bill, but not "babysit" (be present) when the bill came up for vote in the General Assembly.
• SB-120, an amendment to Title 21 that legalizes the use of right turn-only lanes as shoulders for bicyclists. This bill was required by DelDOT in order to proceed with experimental right turn-only lane/shoulder treatments, which at the time was a Bike Delaware project. Bike Delaware's Executive Director James Wilson publicly declared that the bill was unnecessary and refused to assist in its passage until the 11th hour, when he helped usher it onto the House floor at the insistence of the Delaware Bicycle Council Chair. He has also referred to bike lanes as "human meat grinders" and never actually advocated for converting shoulders.
• HB-235, cycling as Delaware's official sport. Does this even effect "rules of the road?"

That said, Bike Delaware did have the back of a road bicyclist who was following the rules of the road as stated in Title 21, 4196. They helped him prevail after being ticketed for putting safety first while biking in a sub-standard width lane.

Also visit our 4 part series: Who is advocating for on-road safety in Delaware?

Induced Demand: Building new roads just makes people drive more

VOX -- For people who are constantly stuck in traffic jams, it seems like there should be an obvious solution - just widen the roads.

This makes intuitive sense. Building new lanes (or new highways entirely) adds capacity to road systems. And traffic, at its root, is a volume problem - there are too many cars trying to use not enough road.

But there's a fundamental problem with this idea. Decades of traffic data across the United States shows that adding new road capacity doesn't actually improve congestion. The latest example of this is the widening of Los Angeles' I-405 freeway, which was completed in May after five years of construction and a cost of over $1 billion. "The data shows that traffic is moving slightly slower now on 405 than before the widening," says Matthew Turner, a Brown University economist.

The main reason, Turner has found, is simple - adding road capacity spurs people to drive more miles, either by taking more trips by car or taking longer trips than they otherwise would have. He and University of Pennsylvania economist Gilles Duranton call this the "fundamental rule" of road congestion: adding road capacity just increases the total number of miles traveled by all vehicles.

This is because, for the most part, drivers aren't charged for using roads. So it's not surprising that a valuable resource, given away for free, leads people to use more of it. Economists see this phenomenon in a lot of places, and call it induced demand. [More ...]

Poster's note: Another great article on the subject here in "Wired" Magazine. We will always advocate for DelDOT to accept this reality. Instead of adding lane capacity, direct funding toward maintenance, rehabilitation, and the implementation of Complete Streets within our existing infrastructure. Anything more just induces demand and encourages suburban sprawl.

Diverging Diamond Interchange coming to SR 72 bridge over Route 1

On Wednesday, February 25, 1st State BIKES advocates attended DelDOT's public workshop for a "Diverging Diamond Interchange" on SR 72 (Wrangle Hill Road) where it crosses over Route 1. According to DelDOT, the goal of the workshop was to present improvements that address immediate automobile congestion and safety concerns.

The SR72/Route 1 interchange as it appears today, via satellite

There is no question that this innovative interchange design will provide improved traffic flow, congestion relief, and safety - for motorists. A most notable innovation is the channeling of all non-motorized traffic to a shared use pathway in the center median. How this channeling is achieved was the main focus of our comments. The design shown above and in the video below uses shared use pathways throughout the entire interchange, and that is what they were showcasing at the workshop. That, however, is unacceptable for most intermediate and advanced folks on bikes. Similar pathways that exist now in Delaware relegate bicyclists to pedestrians at intersections, side streets and driveways, with narrowing and acute zigzagging through channelizing islands. It is critical that those lobbying for active transportation at the State level, and those working for us as DOT planners and engineers realize that bicycles are vehicles. They require equal level of service when it comes to ease and continuity in the public right of way. Progress is being made, but getting Complete Streets implemented to its fullest and safest can still be an uphill battle.

It was not clear how many other bicyclists showed up at the workshop. When we arrived at 6:30 pm, it appeared that attendance was light. No other bicyclists were there with us at that time. Hopefully our presence and comments were enough to sway the project engineers to consider a design that also involves the use of bike lanes that lead up to the median pathway facility before feeding into it (and then away from it again). The engineers were very receptive and showed a true willingness to include our suggestions, and for that we are grateful.

If you would like to comment on this project, email DelDOT Public Relations. You can also CC the project engineer at: nbergeron@rkk.com.

Mike Castle Trail Phase 2 construction to start in a few weeks

Press Release -- February 26, 2015

Final phase of Michael N. Castle Trail to begin in early March at the C&D Canal

St. Georges -- Delaware's Department of Transportation (DelDOT) and Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control (DNREC) today announced that the final phase of the Michael N. Castle Trail Project at the C&D Canal will begin in early March. The final phase, consisting of open-end construction services, is scheduled to be completed within 75 calendar days and will extend from the Maryland border to Guthrie Run.

This $190,856.10 phase of the total contract of $3,092,329.40 was awarded to GrassBusters Landscaping Inc., of Newark, who submitted the lowest of seven bids. Once completed, the trail will extend the full 16 miles from Delaware City to Chesapeake City, Maryland.

The scenic stretch along the canal bank will serve as a multi-use pathway, designed to accommodate pedestrians, bicyclists, anglers and equestrians; offering recreational activities including hiking, running and cycling on the trail.

Managed by DNREC's Division of Fish & Wildlife as part of the C&D Canal Conservation Area, and part of the First State Trails and Pathways Initiative initiated by Governor Jack Markell, the project is a partnership led by DelDOT and DNREC with regional and local organization and government partners.  [Check out the official press release ...]

Above: Phase 1 of the Mike Castle Trail, built in 2013. Phase 2 completes the path between Delaware City and Chesapeake City Maryland.

$30M in TIP funding for Bicycle and Pedestrian Projects

Bike Delaware claims that their strategic funding campaign - Walkable Bikeable Delaware - has helped win $30 million in new and discretionary state and federal funding for bicycling and walking over the next 4 years. Some of our readers have been asking for details on how this money will be spent, so we contacted Wilmapco for an accounting. The table below quantifies bicycle and pedestrian spending for each fiscal year in the 2016-2019 TIP, as well as FY 2015, in New Castle County:

Click on table above to enlarge. Kent and Sussex found here.

Two items that appear vague are Bicycle and Pedestrian Improvements and Recreational Trails. Below is how these are defined according to Wilmapco:

DE / Bicycle and Pedestrian Improvements: These are additional bicycle and pedestrian improvements that can be incorporated into projects listed as "multi-modal" in the TIP. Examples include adding sidewalks or connecting trails and pathways.

An example of a "multi-modal" TIP project is shown above, which includes pedestrian improvements on the S. Union Street railroad bridge. A bicyclist was killed a few years ago trying to ride on the existing elevated sidewalk, but improvements appear to be pedestrian-only.

Recreational Trails: These are Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) funds that DelDOT passes on to Delaware State Parks. These can be used for both building and maintaining off-road facilities, including pieces of the Newark-Wilmington Trail that fall within state park boundaries.

What percent of the overall budget will be spent on these projects? DelDOT's total allowance for 2014 was $486M, however, this number is expected to fall to under $400M in 2015 if the legislature fails to agree on new sources of revenue. Assuming we stay at or near this amount, however, it comes to roughly 1.5% of the total transportation budget that is dedicated to bike/ped. 

Is this funding fair and equal in terms of percent dead? Not even close. According to this source, there were 30 pedestrian & bicyclist fatalities in 2014 and 28 in 2013. There were 125 total traffic fatalities in 2014, therefore, people walking and bicycling accounted for 24%. In the 10 year period from 2003 to 2012, pedestrian & bicycle deaths accounted for 18% of the total, so we have seen a sharp increase in the last 2 years.

Is this set to change anytime soon? Apparently not, especially if DelDOT continues to pursue boondoggles like the Route 301 expansion project, which will cost roughly $600M. According to Angie Schmitt of Streetsblog, "Americans drive fewer miles today than in 2005, but since that time the nation has built 317,000 lane-miles of new roads - or about 40,000 miles per year. Maybe that helps explain why America’s infrastructure is falling apart" [Full article ...] 

In summary, we acknowledge Bike Delaware's steady strategic funding campaign that helped put aside funds for several bicycle and pedestrian projects. However, as impressive as $30M sounds, it's only a start and will have minimal, if any impact on safety among vulnerable roadway users. And that is why we need a balanced approach to bicycle (and pedestrian) advocacy; one that also includes retrofitting our existing infrastructure, updating and/or amending relevant laws, and stepping up education and enforcement. The roads will always be there in our travels, and must be addressed on equal terms.

It's time for Delaware's 3rd HAWK signal. Here's where.

Correction: As of 2015, two HAWKs have been installed in Delaware; one in Newark, the other in Dover.

5 years ago, DelDOT installed the first HAWK pedestrian beacon in Delaware. HAWK stands for High-intensity Activated crossWalK. Students and faculty at the University of Delaware's Webb Farm now find it much safer and easier to cross Route 72, which is a typical suburban arterial highway that crosses N-S through Newark. This HAWK was installed as a joint partnership between the Delaware Department of Transportation (DelDOT) and the University of Delaware’s College of Agriculture and Natural Sciences.

Unfortunately, the Route 72 location remains only the second State, 5 years running. Clearly, there are other locations that would benefit greatly from a HAWK. One of those is White Clay Creek State Park, where a striped crosswalk is the only facility available for the many park visitors that regularly cross between the Judge Morris Estate and Middle Run Valley.

As can be expected, Senator Karen Peterson - a best friend to walkers and bicyclists - has taken up the effort. Karen is putting safety first by asking DelDOT for Delaware's third HAWK signal beacon at this location.

Will they use (lack of) funding as an excuse? Bike Delaware has made it clear that $30 million has been set aside in the last few years for trails and pathways. Let's not forget that safely crossing arterial roads is a key component in any off-road facility.

Above: To the right is the entrance to White Clay Creek State Park. A striped crosswalk is the only marked infrastructure that connects the Judge Morris Estate to Middle Run Valley Park. Many park visitors make the crossing, which include hikers and mountain bicyclists.

The #1 reason for the HAWK is safety. Getting people across safely! If DelDOT needed pedestrian volume to justify a HAWK, they wouldn't have put this one (above) on Route 72 to cross students between farm fields, since most of the day no one uses it.

The HAWK is the ideal device for low to medium volume mid-block crosswalks, but high volume might justify the standard yellow-red-green traffic light with button activation. Above is the one on Delaware Ave in Newark at the Pomeroy Trail crossing, which works exceptionally well using "hot response" technology.

Check out DelDOT's brochure on the HAWK beacon.

Cross-county bicycle route(s) proposed for Cecil

1st State BIKES advocates have been discussing how to make Cecil County Maryland more bicycle friendly. Many view Cecil as being "orphaned" and in a world by itself when it comes to State bicycling improvements and Complete Streets. It shows in the lack of even minimal infrastructure. Yet, for both DE and MD bicyclists alike, it provides some of the best scenery in tri-state area. It is the first choice for several area bicycle clubs, as they head out for both weekend and weeknight rides from Newark.

Advocates began by asking Michael Jackson, Maryland DOT's Director of Bicycle and Pedestrian Access, for "Share the Road" signs along the 1/3 mile stretch of Route 896 in Maryland. His department not only obliged, but recommended the use of  "Bicycles May Use Full Lane" warning signs instead. The discussion then shifted to Barksdale Road, given its existing high volume of bicyclists - many that ride to and from Millburn Orchards. Barksdale Road in Newark already has some bike lanes and warning signs (MUTCD W11-1) which abruptly end at the Cecil County line where the road narrows to 2 lanes with no shoulder.

From there, the discussion shifted to the fact that Cecil County in general is long overdue for more widespread improvements, including the establishment of a few marked bicycle routes. As most are aware, DelDOT has been installing Share the Road signs (now W11-1 warning signs only) throughout New Castle County for many years - maybe even decades. Many were focused around the Bike Route 1 corridor. That resulted in many more connecting roads in New Castle County having at least 1 or more signs in each direction, and the majority of bicyclists will agree that they have made a difference and may have saved lives we will never know about.

Michael then put us in touch with Maryland advocates, who are eager to assist in this project. A meeting will be scheduled to discuss several route possibilities and appropriate signage. Stay tuned for more info as the project unfolds. You can also view the Cecil County Bicycle Plan, an amazing project that was thoughtfully organized by Wilmapco with very few bicyclists supporting them.

Don't Say 'Cyclists' - Say 'People on Bikes'

From CityLab -- What if you could help make a city’s streets safer simply by the way you talk about them?

That may sound fanciful, but some cycling advocates in Seattle - scratch that, some people who ride bikes in Seattle - say that’s exactly what’s been happening there over the past few years.

A recent post by PeopleForBikes blogger Michael Andersen notes that starting in 2011, a new group called Seattle Neighborhood Greenways has made a conscious effort to change the way they talked about biking, walking, and pretty much everything else to do with the way their city’s streets are used by human beings.  [Full article ...]

DelDOT will revise Route 72 project in the interest of bicycle safety

Based on the recommendations of advocates, DelDOT will increase bicycle safety with the upcoming Route 72 widening project. Represented in the effort was the White Clay Bicycle Club, the Delaware Bicycle Council, and 1st State BIKES.

In an email today, Joe Hofstee, Project Engineer, had this to say:

I wanted to let you know that the Department is recommending modifying the design of SR72 to provide an eight foot shoulder, two feet of which will be comprised of the gutter pan. In addition we are recommending the incorporation of the two foot wide painted buffer between the travel lane and bike lane. Before these changes are incorporated into the project we will be soliciting the public for feedback. We will be sending out a letter to the residents in the area and those who have attended public workshops for the project next week. The public will have until March 31, 2015 to provide feedback. In April the Department will make an official announcement on the proposed changes to the project.

It is also important that bicyclists attend an upcoming DelDOT Workshop that involves the Route 1 interchange at Route 72. Advocates want to see the new bike lanes (included with the above project) continued across Route 13 and Route 1 to connect up with Route 9 into Delaware City. This important piece, however, is only in the proposal phase. Details of that workshop as follows:

Subject: SR 1 Interim Improvements Location: Leasure Elementary School, Gymnasium
Date: February 25, 2015.  Time: 4:30 PM to 7:30 PM.  Project page HERE.

Check out our original post on this project HERE, which includes the recommendations made.

Vote for 1st State BIKES as North Delaware's 2015 Best!

How much do you enjoy reading 1st State BIKES? Do we have what it takes for North Delaware's Best? If you think so, VOTE for us! It's as east as selecting us from a list and entering an email address, as seen below!

We believe 1st State BIKES could easily win such a contest. Much to our disadvantage, however, blogs are not judged by a committee; it depends more on follower turnout. But imagine the statement we could make as bicyclists if an on-road advocacy blog was to win such a contest. Regardless, cast your vote today! Click the image below for a direct link.

Gatehouse Media partners with 1st State BIKES

1st State BIKES is proud to announce a new partnership with Gatehouse Media. Publications that include the Dover Post, Smyrna/Clayton Sun-Times, Middletown Transcript, Hockessin Community News, Milford Beacon and the Sussex Countian are now carrying select news items and events cross-posted from our website. For example, visit the Dover Post on-line to see our blog feed displayed under their Latest Blogs/Community column on the right.

A big tip of the helmet goes to Carlene Cox, Content Team Manager with Gatehouse, and Sundra Hominik of the Dover Post for pulling it all together! Below is a clip from the January 18th edition:

NCC secure bicycle parking campaign canceled

After a month posted on line, and circulating among social media outlets that were expected to show interest, our campaign for New Castle County bicycle parking reform and enforcement is being canceled. The number of signatories jumped to 14 shortly after introduction, and hasn't increased since. To even begin tackling an issue that involves changing a law or policy, this lack of interest can only hurt the effort.

To compare, let's take a look at all recent petitions that were started by 1st State Bikes, or started by others and supported through our blog and social media connections:

1. Extending trail hours beyond dawn to dusk (1,158)
2. Newark-Wilmington on road bicycle route (237)
3. Bicycles on Roadway warning signs (33)
4. New Castle County bicycle parking enforcement (14)

Petition 1, we have not been told of any progress. 2 & 3 are moving forward. Support for 3 is also weak, but we are fortunate that DelDOT Traffic is a willing partner with advocates and recognizes the need regardless of the numbers.

Stay tuned for more advocacy projects in 2015 that will need your support, and participate with us in spreading the word. 1st State Bikes is an all volunteer committee with no formal membership and no budget to back our efforts. Without the support of the LAB and Bike Delaware for road bicycling advocacy, we can only rely on our followers to step up and make the difference. Donating a few minutes of your time for a zero-commitment, easy to sign petition really isn't asking much.

If you value bicycling and walking, boycott the Koch Brothers

Koch-Funded Groups: Cut All Federal Funding for Walking, Biking, & Transit

Excerpts ~ A coalition of 50 groups, several funded by the Koch brothers, sent a letter to Congress arguing that the way to fix federal transportation funding is to cut the small portion that goes to walking, biking, and transit [PDF]. The signatories do not want Congress to even think about raising the gas tax, which has been steadily eaten away by inflation since 1993.

“This scorched-earth proposal would eliminate the ability of local transportation agencies to invest in their own transportation priorities and lock us all into a 1950’s — style highway- and car-only mentality that flies in the face of common sense — not to mention economics and what the free market and simple demographics have been telling us for years,” wrote Andy Clarke, president of the League of American Bicyclists.

Eliminating federal funding for transit would devastate many American cities, where transit agency budgets would be thrown into turmoil. And while federal funding for biking and walking can make a big difference because the infrastructure is so cost efficient, killing those programs won’t affect the solvency of the Highway Trust Fund. The savings wouldn’t even be enough to cover the cost of rebuilding a single interchange in Wisconsin. [Full article ...]

Below are the products we can choose to avoid, if we're to start defunding Koch Industries in whatever small way we can. Very unfortunately for bicyclists, Lycra is one of them. I am not sure what, if any alternative exists for this fabric, which also includes Spandex and Coolmax.

Bicycling, walking and transit are the perfect match for everything that conservatives say they hold dear. Therefore, this attack (among others and others) appears more out of resentment for a certain lifestyle/political ideology than actual conservative or libertarian values. Below is just a sampling, brought to you by Sami Grover:

Biking is about freedom of choice
Free marketeers can talk about freedom of choice all they like, but if everything is built around dependence on the motorcar, that freedom is an illusion. I may choose to bike with my kids in a not particularly bike-friendly town, but there are a myriad of obstacles put in my way - and those obstacles can be life threatening in many localities. Providing well-designed bike infrastructure ought to be a prerequisite for true freedom of choice when it comes to transportation.

Biking promotes self-reliance
From teaching kids that hard work pays off, to enabling people of all ages and socio-economic backgrounds to move about safely and efficiently, besides walking, bicycles are the most self-reliant form of transportation I can imagine. Heck, they are even easily maintained and repaired at home, meaning they encourage new skills and taking responsibility for yourself.

Bikes improve public health
Don't like Obamacare? One of the best ways to avoid over-reliance on public (or private) healthcare is simply to keep people healthy. And if you remove the barriers to human-powered transportation, you see more and more people voluntarily incorporating healthy exercise into their daily lives. Coincidentally, as more people bike, the streets get safer too - meaning fewer accidents, and fewer people suffering the consequences of other peoples' bad decisions. If that's not consistent with true libertarianism, I don't know what is.

Bikes can advance small government
Despite the silly Agenda 21 conspiracy theorists, even a cursory understanding of bikes and bike culture would suggest biking reduces the opportunities for government to intervene in our lives. Just watch bike traffic in Amsterdam: there's no helmet mandates, there are relatively few traffic signals or controls, and - to be honest - cyclists don't exactly follow all the rules. [Full article ...]

You can also sign this on-line pledge not to buy (or try not to buy) Koch Brothers products, brought to you by Daily Kos.

The Koch Brother's vision for America. Is it yours?

Join the safe passing campaign with a simple lawn sign!

A bicyclist tries to self-enforce the 3 foot
passing law in Newark - using a shovel.

Amy Wilburn of the Delaware Bicycle Council, and Gail E. Robillard of the White Clay Bicycle Club have been working tirelessly on a safety awareness platform. At this time, Delaware has not put the funds aside for an education program dedicated to bicycling. But we won't let that stop us; a safety awareness campaign can also be funded by the private sector, and the interest is definitely there.

From the litany of comments on WCBC’s Facebook page and list server over recent bicycling fatalities, using lawn signs to promote a safety message was the overall consensus. Safety PSAs using these signs - much like political campaign signs - have been implemented successfully by national and State motorcycle organizations. As a theme, it was determined that the 3’ passing law carried the strongest message.

We now have the following:

• Sponsors willing to fund this project
• A storage facility to house the signs
• Methods of distribution: bike clubs, sponsors, and other bicycle friendly organizations

THIS IS WHERE WE NEED YOUR COMMITMENT!

Those interested will be asked to place a sign in their front yard to help us get this message out. If you would like to participate, please email Gail with your full name and a full time contact number. As soon as the signs are complete, we will arrange getting them to you. Our target is to implement this campaign during May (Bike Month) which will increase our exposure, and have them available at Delaware bicycling events throughout 2015.

Below are the 3 signs being considered:

Don't hesitate ... please join the effort! This makes it very easy to help with an aspect of bicycle advocacy that has been largely ignored, given the drive for segregated bicycle facilities. Email Gail today at: ibike2@verizon.net

Cycle track video highlights need for better education and enforcement

The author, preparing to take a relaxed ride to Main Street

By Angela Connolly -- It was with great interest that I watched this video, and read the article. I was especially curious, as these roads are part of my regular ride to and from Downtown Newark, and I ride them often. Even as a new cyclist, several years ago, I was not terrified to ride on these roads - only eager to learn from my mentors how to take my proper place on them. To support the need for this cycle track, this video presents Ms. Jones's view of cycling these roads, and while I agree that they can be challenging to ride, her behavior at times had me concerned.

For myself, I have learned that in order to be safe, in Newark and anywhere else, I must ride responsibly and predictably. To me, that means cycling defensively, and anticipating different possibilities at all times. That means slowing down at crosswalks, especially around the busy University, or the Newark High School, and anticipating that I might encounter pedestrians. Pedestrians approaching the crosswalk are intending to cross, and must be yielded to. When sharrows are present, I ride right down the middle of the lane, keeping myself visible and out of the door zone. And when no sharrows are present, and I must take the lane to get where I need to go, I behave predictably - I don't stay near the curb unless I am intending to turn right. I don't hesitate or slow down in the bike lane when it is clear to move ahead. That sends mixed signals - where will motorists think you are going? Take your proper place on the road, and behave appropriately. And tell yourself this, as I have many times, while motorists honk at me and call me names - I am traffic. I belong here. It is my right to be in this lane. Put simply, if drivers are harassing and threatening bicyclists that are in the lane, the City and its police department are not doing their job (we already know that DMV - here and nationally - are not doing their jobs in terms of education and re-testing).

This isn't to say it's always easy. Is it always safe? No. And it's not always fun. But when cyclists don't claim their rightful place on the roads, it sends a signal loud and clear that we are letting ourselves continue to be treated as second class citizens, and not valid road users. Whether we ride for recreation, transportation, or both, we have the right to infrastructure that encourages us, not scares us. And that includes on-road facilities as well as off road. And while I agree that trails, pathways, and cycle tracks do have a place in the overall network, they are only part of the solution.

I feel like, instead of promoting the proposed cycle track, this article and video made a better argument for education and enforcement, both for bicyclists and motorists. It was an eye-opener that made me look at my behavior, and the sometimes inappropriate behaviors of my fellow cyclists, as seen in the video, who sometimes need to be educated, and more importantly, encouraged to ride the roads. A cycle track won't cure those bad behaviors. The use of the word "terrifying" to describe cycling on our LAB designated Bike Friendly hometown newspaper's front page is discouraging, and inappropriate. And it undermines the positive efforts that the Newark Bicycle Committee, and other advocates, have put forth. Fear-mongering will discourage cyclists and keep them from cycling in Newark until years pass and the cycle track might be built. This is Ms. Jones's experience, and it does not reflect all of our experiences. Cyclists have been made to feel like they do not belong in traffic for too long. 

In summary, this proposed cycle track might be a good idea, but it won't immediately address the concerns of those who need to commute and navigate all of the areas of Newark. Even if the cycle track is built, there will have to be education provided, so that those who ride it will do so properly, with the proper etiquette. So in the meantime, as we anticipate Newark's first cycle track, it's also important that bicyclists remain a steady and accepted presence on the road as well.

The author (not terrified) rides Delaware Avenue past S. Chapel Street in 2011. In its current condition, bicyclists need to have confidence and take the lane as needed, especially where the bike lane narrows across from the 7-11.  Surface conditions also demand lane control, as cracks and holes from shifts in the asphalt present a safety hazard. Lane control is necessary on many roads in Newark, especially those with sub-standard or door zone bike lanes.

Grad student's video highlights need for cycle track on Delaware Avenue

From the Newark Post -- Kirsten Jones is no stranger to the perilous Delaware Avenue bicycle lane.

The University of Delaware graduate student uses her bike as her primary means of travel around Newark and estimates she treks down Delaware Avenue at least five times a week.

In her daily travels on the road, she’s learned to be ready for anything: pedestrians stepping out into the street, cars abruptly turning in front of her, buses pulled over in her path and cars parked in the bike lane in front of Newark High School.

“Those are pretty standard experiences,” Jones said, noting that she knows several cyclists who have been in accidents on Delaware Avenue.

Recently, Jones strapped a camera on her bike to create a video documenting the obstacles cyclists face on Newark’s main west-to-east route. It was part of a study Jones did looking at the feasibility of building a two-way cycle track on Delaware Avenue. [Complete article ...]

 Delaware Avenue at the S. Chapel Street intersection in 2010. A brand new "pork chop" (concrete) island was recently installed, nudging bicyclists much closer to the lane of traffic than before.

Poster's note: A cycle track segregates bicyclists from traffic. How they will safely negotiate intersections and other access points from within, that remains to be seen. Many advocates for education and enforcement oppose such facilities, because they reduce or eliminate the bicyclist's rights as a participant in vehicular traffic.

DelDOT drifts off spec with Newark's first rumble strips

"Bicycle-friendly" rumble strips that showed up recently along Route 4 in Newark are the correct width and depth to accommodate bicycling. They have the proper escape breaks to allow entering and exiting the shoulder as needed. But as we've come to expect so often with DelDOT, critical parameters were ignored or somehow missed. In this case, the offset from the white line is double the 6" specified in the drawings, that advocates hoped would put an end to this issue once and for all. To make matters worse, there was no sweeping of the resultant debris, leaving the remaining shoulder space a hazard in several places.

The latest round of Rumble Strips, found here along Route 4 in Newark near the University of Delaware, have an offset of 2x what is specified in DelDOT's newly adopted Bicycle-Friendly Rumble Strips guidelines.

As described above, the design of the rumble strip itself is critical. But when it comes to safety, its position relative to the lane is at least as important - if not more important. Bicyclists will still prefer to ride in the shoulder, behind the rumble strip. But the more offset it is from the white line, the less debris-free space remains. This will prompt more experienced bicyclists to ride in the offset, or take part of the lane (or the whole lane in this case) instead, to avoid tire puncture or loss of vehicle control.

Edge line rumble strips, or "rumble stripes" are the overwhelming
favorite among recreation and transportation bicyclists. The above
photo was taken in rural Pennsylvania.

It is not clear why DelDOT keeps insisting on such a large offset - in this case, a foot or more. By the time a motorist senses contact with the rumble strip, they are well off into the shoulder and could be on their way to striking a bicyclist or other non-motorized user (pedestrians often walk in shoulders when no sidewalk is present). Some DelDOT officials have mentioned that edge-line rumble strips generate greater noise from more frequent contact, and thus, are disturbing to nearby housing developments. This is difficult to rationalize, however, given America's penchant for fake vehicle noise. Delaware's roads are disturbingly loud now, given what seems like every other vehicle having some type of illegal exhaust system. The police rarely - if ever enforce such noise, fines barely register, and it's not something people really complain about or it would be a recognized issue.

In summary, we again thank DelDOT for revising the guidelines and giving us a much safer rumble strip. This is critical should bicyclists unintentionally ride into one, or need to exit the shoulder for any number of reasons. But we will not stop advocating that they sharply reduce or eliminate the offset, thus maximizing safe available shoulder space. To achieve compromise, the only thing we ask is that they follow the guidelines set forth in their newly released rumble strip design guidance, as they did here on Route 896 south of the C&D Canal.

Transportation as big an issue, if not more so than Power Plant

Co-authored by Angela Connolly -- Everyone who consumes fossil fuels is complicit in the destruction of our planet's ecosystem, and thus our life support systems (as well as that of millions of other species that share the planet with us). It can be difficult to acknowledge one’s own piece in the puzzle, however. Fossil fuels are at the root of industrial civilization, and the American way of life. While it's important to hold people, corporations, and governments accountable - especially when things go horribly wrong, prosecutions are rare. Nevertheless, pumping up one’s own frustration and aggression is generally not effective, unless channeled through an organized advocacy effort. It can also be harmful to your own health and well being.

In the wake of the Gulf oil spill, and dozens of smaller yet similar incidents each year, you would think more folks would at least try to reduce their oil dependency. That and the dire consequences of climate change. At 71%, transportation accounts for the lion's share of oil consumption, and is second only to electricity in emissions. Yet the car remains the overwhelming choice, even for the shortest trips.

Here in Newark, we are an award winning bikeable (and walkable) city, yet a large portion of Main Street traffic is generated from adjacent communities, nearby student housing, etc. Trips that can be easily made on foot or by bike. Further disappointing is the lack of car-free or car-lite incentives that could be offered to students by the University of Delaware, as a means to reduce traffic congestion and improve quality of life. Like most - if not all American universities, this doesn't appear on their radar (certainly not in a Google search).

To summarize, the single greatest contribution folks can make is reduced driving. When it comes to replacing car trips, bicycling is a fun and easy way to go. There are other changes we can make as well. Here are 7 quick tips to ponder the next time you are brought to idle as a miles long oil train crawls its way to the Delaware City Refinery:

• Change your vehicle use patterns; use your car a lot less or not at all. Bike, walk, and/or use public transportation.
• If you must drive, be sure to have a fuel-efficient vehicle or car pool.
• Aggregate your trips, so there’s 1 weekly shopping trip, for example, instead of 4 or 5.
• Reconsider and reduce travel by air, i.e. telecommuting, Skype, etc.
• Buy products that are produced locally, not half a world away. In the same vein, buy fruits & vegetables in season, and produced by local farmers (if possible).
• Buy used products instead of new ones, which will reduce oil use both in production and transportation. Goodwill, Craig’s List, garage sales, to name a few. Also, watch for usable items that people place out for the trash - you would be surprised at the items that can be found on the curb! You or someone you know might be able to use these items. Just make sure that there are no tags on these items marking them for donation to organizations such as the Purple Heart or Cancer associations. Otherwise, they are up for grabs!
• Eliminate, reduce, and/or re-use plastics, which are derived from petroleum. Reusable shopping bags are a great first step. Our oceans are filling up with plastic; plastic that harms wildlife and never biodegrades, and enters the food chain and leaches toxic chemicals. For those of you who enjoy crafting, here's a great idea to make items from "plarn", which is yarn made from plastic bags.

Shopping by bike can be fun and easy. This errand included two rolls of carpet, Hibiscus, and a 6-pack.

This article isn't to say everyone can just drop the car and switch transportation modes. Much depends on circumstances, including where we choose to live. But imagine the impact if more folks made just a small effort, perhaps commuting or running errands by bike or on foot just 1 day a week. I'm not counting on it anytime soon, though, with plummeting gas prices.