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| Left to right: Andy Clarke, Pascal van den Noord and Jeff Olson at the New Amsterdam BIKE SLAM event in New York City. |
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When you're riding a bike, your mind is more free than when surrounded by a metal box. In Bicycle Diaries, the brilliant Byrne shares his free-flowing thoughts as he pedals in Berlin, Manila, and Syndey, and lends his star power to the bicycle friendly communities movement.
Left to right: Jeff Mapes (author, Pedaling Revolution), David Byrne, framebuilder extraordinaire Tony Periera, son of Jeff Mapes, and Alta Principal Mia Birk
photo © bikeportland.org |
Riding the WaveA note from Alta Principal Jeff Olson:
Alta is honored to be part of a growing, unprecedented wave of interest in walking, bicycling and livable communities. In just the past month, we've been part of events featuring the leaders of major cities, the U.S. Secretary of Transportation, Dutch and Danish bicycling experts, and rocker/author/artist David Byrne. Never has there been a better time for communities to join this movement.
We are helping to make this happen with projects like the Naugatuck River Greenway in Connecticut, where a former industrial site lined with Superfund sites is becoming an urban greenway; in Niagara Falls, NY, where the world-class Olmsted park is being restored and the Robert Moses highway is being converted into a trail; in Charlotte, NC, where new light rail corridors are being designed to include bikeways; and in Washington, DC, where Alta is leading a major study to make federal office buildings accessible to bicyclists. Every week takes us to a major event, great project meeting, or new program, finding support at the highest levels. Thanks to all of our colleagues and friends for making all of this possible! Together, we are creating sustainable solutions that are moving the world forward.
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Introducing Alta Bicycle Share
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Montreal-based Bixi provides the world's leading bike share technology, including solar-powered mobile stations.
| Bicycle sharing is a growing global phenomenon, with almost 90 programs circulating more than 86,000 bicycles. Bike sharing offers the convenience of owning a bicycle without the trouble of maintenance or storage, as well as opportunities to enjoy cities by bike while traveling. Alta is thrilled to be at the lead of this emerging trend.
We've come a long way since the early days of bike sharing! (Keep your eye out for the fascinating history of Portland's groundbreaking, more-hype-than-substance Yellow Bikes Program in Mia Birk's forthcoming book Joyride). Today's programs offer high-end technology, sophisticated software, and top-notch program management.
Our new company - Alta Bicycle Share - provides management and operation of bicycle sharing systems. Things are moving quickly! Alta Bicycle Share has been chosen as the preferred provider in Arlington, VA, as part of the Bixi team for the Boston region, and is a finalist in Melbourne, Australia.
Stay tuned for further updates on the bike sharing world. For more information, please contact Alison Cohen, Alta Bicycle Share Program Manager at alisoncohen@altabicycleshare.com.
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Alta's Recent Publications & Presentations Here's a selection of recent and upcoming publications and presentations. For a full list of available documents produced by Alta, check out the Presentations & Studies section of our website.
We are especially proud of our newest research documents:
Fundamentals of Bicycle Boulevard Planning & Design
Cycle Tracks: Lessons Learned Don't Miss These Grant Opportunities!
Contact Lauren Ledbetter in Alta's Berkeley, California office for more information about Alta's grant writing services, which have resulted in more than $35 million in awarded funds.
California Bicycle Transportation Account Applications due December 1st
California cities and counties- do you have a bicycle project that is ready to construct? Caltrans expects to issue $7.2 million in Bicycle Transportation Account (BTA) funds for the 2010/2011 cycle. Alta has written winning BTA grant applications for agencies around the state. To be eligible for BTA funds, local agencies must prepare and adopt a
Bicycle Transportation Plan that complies with Streets and Highways Code section 891.2(a) through (k). Bicycle projects must be identified in the Bicycle Transportation Plan to be eligible for this funding source.
$650 million in Bike/Ped Funding Available
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has announced a new program: Communities Putting Prevention to Work, which will award a total of $373 million in American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) dollars to support interventions that reduce obesity and/or reduce tobacco use. In addition the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) has released $120 million in ARRA funds for prevention and wellness programs for U.S. states and territories. Interested communities are encouraged to apply.
Deadlines:
Letter of Intent Deadline: October 30, 2009
Application Deadline: December 1, 2009
Resource Links:
Grant Information details available at Grants.gov
CDC's Community Health Resources
Sample Bike/Ped Interventions for Communities Putting Prevention to Work
Potential Partners: Bicycle and Pedestrian Organizations Operating at Local and State Levels
Health Officials Action Alert
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Midwest Bicycle Plan RoundupWhat does it take to create a successful bicycle plan that focuses on the unique character and needs of the city and its residents? The Midwest region holds the answer as a shining example of the nation's shift to non-motorized modes of travel. With a strong culture of outdoor enthusiasm; a civic investment in trails, parks and open spaces; and bicycle-friendly landscapes, here’s what is happening in several Midwestern communities.
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| Upgrading and connecting inaccessible roads are recommended as part of the City's implementation process. | Normal (IL) Bicycle and Pedestrian Master Plan
Whether taking a leisurely bike ride along the 24-mile long Constitution Trail or a short walk through Uptown, Normal residents and visitors value the Town's walking and bicycling opportunities. Home to Illinois State University and Mitsubishi Motors North America, Normal launched a master planning effort to build upon its existing network and achieve the Town’s goal of becoming a better walking and bicycling community.
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| Former mayor John Pat Dorrian started the Mayor's Annual Ride for Trails 20 years ago to promote bike riding. The popular event now boasts over 1,000 riders, and winds through Des Moines area neighborhoods and recreational trails. | Des Moines (IA) Bicycle and Trail Master Plan
Graced with amenities like the Principal Riverwalk and the Great Western Trail, the City of Des Moines is working to improve its trail network in an effort to increase the number of people cycling for transportation and recreation, improve cyclist safety, and increase the health and fitness of its residents. The City's bicycle and trail master planning effort will make bicycling a safe, convenient, and attractive travel mode for the City.
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| The city's relatively flat topography, compact size, and proximity to recreational opportunities in the Black Hills and Mt. Rushmore National Monument make it an ideal place to travel on bicycle or foot. | Rapid City (SD) Bicycle and Pedestrian Master Plan
The City of Rapid City, located in the foothills of the Black Hills of South Dakota, has recently embarked on a mission to develop its network of bicycle and pedestrian routes linking activity centers within the City and the larger regional network. The City will build on past and on-going efforts to improve the quality of life in Rapid City and its environs, and become a "greener" place to live.
For more information about the projects, contact Ann Freiwald in Alta's Midwest office.
Madison, Wisconsin
(608) 241-1462
annfreiwald@altaplanning.com
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Boston Set to Prove that Any Place
Can Become Bike-Friendly
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| As seen in the spectacular skyline view of Boston's Back Bay from the north bank of the Charles River Basin project, access to excellent infrastructure is crucial to creating opportunities for people to incorporate bicycling into their daily lives. | The state of bicycling in the Hub of New England is now on a fast track. Long considered one of the more bike-challenged cities in America, Boston is on the verge of big change. In 2007, four-term Mayor Thomas Menino rediscovered bicycling for the first time in 40 years. Soon after, he hired the incredibly energetic former Olympic cyclist Nicole Freedman as his Bike Czarina. With help from the newly-formed LivableStreets Alliance and longtime advocates at MassBike, new bike lanes were striped on Commonwealth Avenue. While only a mile long, the bike lanes—complete with innovative green striping at conflict zones—symbolized a sea-change in transportation policy and planning in Boston.
With its new Boston-based office, Alta is part of two major initiatives: bicycle sharing and a master plan for improved pedestrian/bike access over the ten bridges and 16 miles of linear paths in the Charles River Basin. As postulated in the fascinating business book Good to Great by Jim Collins, it is often easier to go from bad to great than from good to great. We think that Boston will demonstrate that in a big, big way.
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| Santa Clarita's participation in International Walk & Bike to school day resulted in hundreds of children walking and biking to school, instead of being driven. | Santa Clarita Kids
Lead by ExampleIt is estimated that a quarter of all morning traffic is parents taking their children to school. Coupled with concerns for the environment and childhood obesity, the City of Santa Clarita is taking action by launching its Safe Routes to School program for the 2009-2010 school year.
Known for its connected system of residential walking paths or paseos, Santa Clarita is a walker's paradise. But it wanted to go one step further to increase the levels of children walking and bicycling to school. Focusing on four pilot schools, the project features in-class training, games, assemblies and prizes designed to encourage and educate children (and parents) to walk and bike to school. To keep on top of the latest developments of the Santa Clarita Safe Routes to School program, visit the project website at www.scsaferoutes.com.
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New EmployeesAlta welcomes Senior Planner and Programs Manager Dana Dickman, and Alta Bicycle Share Director Alison Cohen.
 Dana Dickman is Alta's latest addition to its Encouragement Programs division, bringing diverse experience working in community based non-motorized transportation planning. She has worked closely with small and rural communities on the unique challenges they face in improving pedestrian and bicycling infrastructure and programs, as well as researched and planned for innovative approaches in urban environments. She was honored in 2008 as the Rex and Lydia Burkholder scholarship holder for Portland State University's Initiative for Bicycle and Pedestrian Innovation.
 Alison Cohen joins our team as Director of Alta Bicycle Share, bringing over ten years of a wide variety of entrepreneurial, corporate and environmental advocacy experience. In starting her own bike sharing company in 2007, she has worked with municipalities, private companies, and advocacy groups to understand the needs and challenges of bike share users and sponsors. She will be working with Alta to incorporate bike sharing into all aspects of our planning work.
More recent additions to the Alta team: To see our full Staff and Office directories, visit altaplanning.com.
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