Letter to the Editor of the Fort Collins, Coloradoan
Sept. 11, 2010
As an avid cyclist, former business owner and member of the city's Economic Advisory Commission, I value the quality of life that we enjoy in Fort Collins, and I support the modest tax increase proposed by City Council on the November
ballot. By my count, I pay more in tips at coffee shops and restaurants in Old Town than I would pay with this slight tax increase.
Our sales-tax rate is one of the lowest among Front Range cities, yet I am delighted with the quality of life we have created. But don't take my word for it. In 2010, Money Magazine described us as a "terrific small city" and shows a table with our local tax rate half that of the other Top 10 small cities on their list.
What will we get with this sales-tax increase? Fewer potholes and cleaner bike lanes for safer cycling, more parks and better trails and, if we're lucky, more police officers who can figure out how to get Colorado State University students to stop running stop signs on their bikes.
Is Fort Collins a great town, or what? Let's keep it that way. Vote yes on ballot issue 2B.
Rick Price, Ph.D.
Showing posts with label bicycle commuters. Show all posts
Showing posts with label bicycle commuters. Show all posts
Saturday, September 11, 2010
Thursday, January 15, 2009
Council Member Ben Manvel Announces he Will Run for Re-election in April
The Fort Collins Coloradoan reported the following announcement today:
Fort Collins City Council member Ben Manvel announced he is seeking re-election to the seat for District 1, which covers the northeast portion of the city.
In a prepared statement Wednesday, Manvel said if re-elected to a second four-year term, he would focus on the city's economic health, neighborhoods and transportation.
"In District 1, the progress made recently on North College and the River District is heartening, but difficult economic times demand that we continue to actively nurture those areas," he said.
Manvel taught mathematics at Colorado State University for 34 years before retiring in 2004. His community work includes involvement with United Way of Larimer County, Poudre Wilderness Volunteers and Foothills Unitarian Church. [End of Coloradoan report]
Manvel is shown below on the right with Parks Planner, Craig Foreman (left) and Fort Collins City Manager Darin Atteberry (center).
Ben Manvel has been a strong supporter of bicycling in the community, is a cyclist himself and bicycles to most City Council meetings from his home in Old Town. Manvel led the effort to salvage our Bike Coordinator's positioin in 2005 and was also a leader, with colleagues Kelly Ohlson, David Roy and Lisa Poppaw, in the effort to create a city Bicycle Advisory Committee.
Fort Collins City Council member Ben Manvel announced he is seeking re-election to the seat for District 1, which covers the northeast portion of the city.
In a prepared statement Wednesday, Manvel said if re-elected to a second four-year term, he would focus on the city's economic health, neighborhoods and transportation.
"In District 1, the progress made recently on North College and the River District is heartening, but difficult economic times demand that we continue to actively nurture those areas," he said.
Manvel taught mathematics at Colorado State University for 34 years before retiring in 2004. His community work includes involvement with United Way of Larimer County, Poudre Wilderness Volunteers and Foothills Unitarian Church. [End of Coloradoan report]
Manvel is shown below on the right with Parks Planner, Craig Foreman (left) and Fort Collins City Manager Darin Atteberry (center).
Ben Manvel has been a strong supporter of bicycling in the community, is a cyclist himself and bicycles to most City Council meetings from his home in Old Town. Manvel led the effort to salvage our Bike Coordinator's positioin in 2005 and was also a leader, with colleagues Kelly Ohlson, David Roy and Lisa Poppaw, in the effort to create a city Bicycle Advisory Committee.
Tuesday, December 30, 2008
US News and World Report Says: Bike to Work! Best Way to Improve Health in 2009!
That's right, THE US News and World Report has ID'd Bicycling to Work as one of the top ways to improve your LIFE in 2009, not just your health. We tend to agree. Read the article here.
Oriello posted the following comment on their web site:
Get organized and bike to work
Biycle commuting is really just about adopting good habits over bad habits. Biking to work will require you to be more organized, to plan ahead, to be prepared (remember the scouts?) and to put your coat on (remember your mother's words?) Once you get in the habit of leaving a little early you'll find biking to work is a lot easier. Have a look at our blog in Fort Collins, CO (free bikes at our bike library!)
Oriello posted the following comment on their web site:
Get organized and bike to work
Biycle commuting is really just about adopting good habits over bad habits. Biking to work will require you to be more organized, to plan ahead, to be prepared (remember the scouts?) and to put your coat on (remember your mother's words?) Once you get in the habit of leaving a little early you'll find biking to work is a lot easier. Have a look at our blog in Fort Collins, CO (free bikes at our bike library!)
Sunday, December 21, 2008
Are We On Our Way to A National Bicycle Policy?
Will the Obama administration bring us a National Bicycle Policy?
If you follow the news and read the blogs there are hints that we may be working our way that direction – a big change from the policies of the Bush administration. It was his Secretary of Transportation, Mary Peters, after all who said that we were wasting federal tax dollars by building bike paths and trails which are “not really transportation.”
If you are interested in following these developments, here are just a few of the people and policies you might want to watch:
1) Oregon Congressman Earl Blumenauer’s “bicycle commuter act” allows employers to provide $20 per month annually to incentivize bicycle commuters. Use it to pay for secure bike parking, buy a bike, or buy the equipment necessary for safe cycling. This bill passed as a rider in the famous Wall Street “bailout.” Sort of a default “gift” from the Bush administration.
2) Congressman Ray LaHood, an Illinois Republican, is leaving the House to become Secretary of Transportation. Lahood is a moderate Republican who has been a friend of bicycling according to Ed Barsotti, head of the League of Illinois Bicyclists. Read Barsotti’s thoughts on LaHood here. Among others, LaHood favors Rails to Trails and has spoken in favor of the Transportation Enhancements program that gives us most of the nation’s bike paths and bike lanes.
3) The National Park Service will allow park superintendents to open new trails in our national parks to mountain biking according to a ruling published in the Federal Register. Maybe one good thing to come out of the Bush administration? Read more about this at Spokes ‘n’ Folks.
4) The Adventure Cycling Association (ACA) reports that a US Bike Route System is in the works. The biggest news here is that it involves both ACA and AASHTO, the (American Association of State High Transportation Officials). This latter group
“foster[s] the development, operation, and maintenance of an integrated national transportation system. So having these highway geeks thinking about a national bike route is a big deal. Learn more at the Adventure Cycling Association.
5) Last, but not least, UPS has begun bicycle deliveries during peak times in some areas. The NYTimes reports that story in a copyrighted story Dec. 19, 2008. Raise your hand if you’d like to be a UPS bicycle delivery person when you grow up!
Follow all these stories and more in John Hopkins’ blog, Spokes ‘n’ Folks from the Green Mobility Network.
If you follow the news and read the blogs there are hints that we may be working our way that direction – a big change from the policies of the Bush administration. It was his Secretary of Transportation, Mary Peters, after all who said that we were wasting federal tax dollars by building bike paths and trails which are “not really transportation.”
If you are interested in following these developments, here are just a few of the people and policies you might want to watch:
1) Oregon Congressman Earl Blumenauer’s “bicycle commuter act” allows employers to provide $20 per month annually to incentivize bicycle commuters. Use it to pay for secure bike parking, buy a bike, or buy the equipment necessary for safe cycling. This bill passed as a rider in the famous Wall Street “bailout.” Sort of a default “gift” from the Bush administration.
2) Congressman Ray LaHood, an Illinois Republican, is leaving the House to become Secretary of Transportation. Lahood is a moderate Republican who has been a friend of bicycling according to Ed Barsotti, head of the League of Illinois Bicyclists. Read Barsotti’s thoughts on LaHood here. Among others, LaHood favors Rails to Trails and has spoken in favor of the Transportation Enhancements program that gives us most of the nation’s bike paths and bike lanes.
3) The National Park Service will allow park superintendents to open new trails in our national parks to mountain biking according to a ruling published in the Federal Register. Maybe one good thing to come out of the Bush administration? Read more about this at Spokes ‘n’ Folks.
4) The Adventure Cycling Association (ACA) reports that a US Bike Route System is in the works. The biggest news here is that it involves both ACA and AASHTO, the (American Association of State High Transportation Officials). This latter group
“foster[s] the development, operation, and maintenance of an integrated national transportation system. So having these highway geeks thinking about a national bike route is a big deal. Learn more at the Adventure Cycling Association.
5) Last, but not least, UPS has begun bicycle deliveries during peak times in some areas. The NYTimes reports that story in a copyrighted story Dec. 19, 2008. Raise your hand if you’d like to be a UPS bicycle delivery person when you grow up!
Follow all these stories and more in John Hopkins’ blog, Spokes ‘n’ Folks from the Green Mobility Network.
Thursday, December 11, 2008
Colorado State University Commuter Survey Released
According to CSU's press release:
Students prefer biking as their first choice with 36 percent pedaling to campus, while 34 percent commute by single-occupancy vehicle.
The 36% figure, however, refers to single-occupancy vehicles. In reality 38% of students drive to campus while 36% ride a bike. 65% of faculty drive and 25% pedal and among university staff, 73% drive and only 15% bike.
Click here for the full report: CSU commuter survey results released
Tuesday, September 16, 2008
Does CSU Need a Bike Coordinator or an Alternative Transportation Coordinator?
A Fort Collins landlord who rents properties to students near Colorado State University has built "the Cycle Pad" or bike storage facility “to promote sensible transportation to our CSU student tenants.”As he explains, “this may not surprise you but many of our CSU tenants drive their cars to campus each day, rather than walk or bike. Now when you consider that our properties are located within 300 feet of campus the car thing is bizarre to say the least. So we are trying to help tenants break the habit by focusing on the bicycle as a safer, quicker, healthier and more enjoyable way to commute the 300 feet to CSU. All our tenants have cars; many do not have bikes…yet.”
Mom Explains why Students Don't Ride
A CSU mom writes with some pretty clear reasons why her daughter doesn’t ride at to CSU:
“My daughter is a bike-riding student at CSU this year, but I can give you some insight into what needs to change for cycling to take off at CSU.
First, there are only a very few lockers at CSU, which must be rented, and none of them are large. It's hard to carry a laptop, helmet, removable bike light, large books, etc. all day. My daughter drove her car to school when she was a member of the Visual Ensemble because there was no other place to store her flags, but in her car.
Also, it would be a big draw for cycling if students were able to ride between classes and this advantage was pointed out to them. However, there seem to be large areas of campus where bicycling is prohibited, making it difficult, if not impossible, to ride to classes in time. Bicycle lanes need to be really well-marked and allow access to all parts of campus in as short a distance as is reasonable. In winter, my daughter has had real difficulty riding her bike when it's snowy. Perhaps a snowplow/sweeper thing for bike lanes?
One other thing, she's had her seat stolen, her basket stolen, and she interrupted a guy trying to take her fender.... They need publicized cameras on the bike racks and a program to prosecute and scare the hell out of thieves. I would also publicize the number of thieves caught to show that the program is working and to scare them off.
One other thought: lights are required to ride at night which most students have to do. Bike paraphernalia is expensive. And, they have to get their bike registered. Maybe a mid-campus registration week with free light giveaway. '
Just some thoughts.
What Universities Have Bicycle Coordinators?
You guessed it: UC Davis and Portland State, both in towns with Platinum Level Bicycle Community Designations have them. Here are some resources:
Explore the UC Davis Bicycle Program here: http://taps.ucdavis.edu/bicycle/
and read all about Davis as a bike town here:
“A Bicycle Friendly Community - The Davis Model”(a paper presented at Pro Bike/Pro Walk, September 1998, Santa Barbara, CA)By David Takemoto-Weerts (UC Davis Bicycle Program Coordinator)Read David’s paperhttp://taps.ucdavis.edu/bicycle/education/community.cfm
Portland State University
Has a transportation options coordinator and a campus bike co-op: http://www.bikeshop.pdx.edu/
Chicago
Chicago Department of Transportation has a University Marketing program that encourages students, faculty, and staff to bike/walk/take transit to campus in place of driving. The program is in place at the five largest universities: University of Chicago, University of Illinois at Chicago, Loyola, Northwestern, and DePaul. Each campus has a student intern who coordinates programming at the school. The intern is paid half by the University and half by the Chicago Department of Transportation. I coordinate the interns and assist with creating objectives and moving the program forward.
Univeristy of Minnesota twin cities campus
Has had a bike coordinator since 1996!http://www1.umn.edu/pts/biking.htm
I’m sure there are more.
Mom Explains why Students Don't Ride
A CSU mom writes with some pretty clear reasons why her daughter doesn’t ride at to CSU:
“My daughter is a bike-riding student at CSU this year, but I can give you some insight into what needs to change for cycling to take off at CSU.
First, there are only a very few lockers at CSU, which must be rented, and none of them are large. It's hard to carry a laptop, helmet, removable bike light, large books, etc. all day. My daughter drove her car to school when she was a member of the Visual Ensemble because there was no other place to store her flags, but in her car.
Also, it would be a big draw for cycling if students were able to ride between classes and this advantage was pointed out to them. However, there seem to be large areas of campus where bicycling is prohibited, making it difficult, if not impossible, to ride to classes in time. Bicycle lanes need to be really well-marked and allow access to all parts of campus in as short a distance as is reasonable. In winter, my daughter has had real difficulty riding her bike when it's snowy. Perhaps a snowplow/sweeper thing for bike lanes?
One other thing, she's had her seat stolen, her basket stolen, and she interrupted a guy trying to take her fender.... They need publicized cameras on the bike racks and a program to prosecute and scare the hell out of thieves. I would also publicize the number of thieves caught to show that the program is working and to scare them off.
One other thought: lights are required to ride at night which most students have to do. Bike paraphernalia is expensive. And, they have to get their bike registered. Maybe a mid-campus registration week with free light giveaway. '
Just some thoughts.
What Universities Have Bicycle Coordinators?
You guessed it: UC Davis and Portland State, both in towns with Platinum Level Bicycle Community Designations have them. Here are some resources:
Explore the UC Davis Bicycle Program here: http://taps.ucdavis.edu/bicycle/
and read all about Davis as a bike town here:
“A Bicycle Friendly Community - The Davis Model”(a paper presented at Pro Bike/Pro Walk, September 1998, Santa Barbara, CA)By David Takemoto-Weerts (UC Davis Bicycle Program Coordinator)Read David’s paperhttp://taps.ucdavis.edu/bicycle/education/community.cfm
Portland State University
Has a transportation options coordinator and a campus bike co-op: http://www.bikeshop.pdx.edu/
Chicago
Chicago Department of Transportation has a University Marketing program that encourages students, faculty, and staff to bike/walk/take transit to campus in place of driving. The program is in place at the five largest universities: University of Chicago, University of Illinois at Chicago, Loyola, Northwestern, and DePaul. Each campus has a student intern who coordinates programming at the school. The intern is paid half by the University and half by the Chicago Department of Transportation. I coordinate the interns and assist with creating objectives and moving the program forward.
Univeristy of Minnesota twin cities campus
Has had a bike coordinator since 1996!http://www1.umn.edu/pts/biking.htm
I’m sure there are more.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)