MapQuest posted on their blog today that Due to popular demand – and our desire for options – we’ve just released worldwide pedestrian and bicycle routing on all of our open.mapquest.* sites along with domestic transit routing on our Open.MapQuest.com site! The bicycle and pedestrian routing is wholly based on OpenStreetMap data – if it’s… read more
News
Removing Roads and Traffic Lights
I just happened upon an interesting article published in Scientific America. A mathematician in the 1960’s, Dietrich Braess, discovered a paradox: in a network in which all the moving entities rationally seek the most efficient route, adding extra capacity can actually reduce the network’s overall efficiency A real life test of this paradox played out… read more
Is it time to let go of “Share the Road” and move towards “Take the Lane?”
Here is a thought-provoking, real-life article that – I think – points to the necessity of cyclists being “courteously assertive” when it comes to claiming our space on the roads. Never – think I – should a cyclist be flattened because they were doing their best to share the road. Simply put, if the lane… read more
30 YEARS to achieve a reduction of 11 injuries!!
The reaction in the Netherlands to the bicycle accident reminded me of comments I provided on behalf of the Providence Bicycle Coalition a couple years ago. The comments refer to the state’s long-term transportation plan, which it must develop periodically in order to retain eligibility for federal funding. Sorry to say — very little has… read more
RAB Moving Day – Saturday Feb. 19th
This coming Saturday, Recycle-a-Bike is gathering for their first moving day. We received the following request: We are looking for 12-15 volunteers to help us take down our shed. The day will be broken into two shifts, 8am – noon and 1-5. We’re looking for people to help out either in the morning or afternoon.… read more
Breathing Slightly Easier
Word on the street from Washington, D.C. is that for the time being, biking and walking have been spared from the congressional chopping block: Of the nearly 600 amendments to the 2011 House budget bill (HR1), biking and walking, Transportation Enhancements and Safe Routes to School were not singled out to be cut. It’s an… read more
What’s Wrong with Johnston?
Several bike related issues came up at yesterday’s Environment Council’s roundtable with RIDOT Director Mike Lewis. One agenda item was an update on earmarks, special Federal funds that are paying for most of our state’s bike projects, but are threatened by the new Congress. According to a December 2010 update, one of the largest remaining… read more
Get Ready to Act
I’m hearing from many different sources that this week may well be a pivitol week for bicycle and pedestrian funding. Advocates in Washington D.C. feel that Congress may well be voting on federal budget cuts which could target biking and walking funds. If such a vote comes up, the various organizations are asking that each… read more
New Pavement Marking
Pop quiz: Does anyone know what the marking to the left is? Starting last Fall, I began seeing these pop up all over the East Side of Providence. The motorists clearly don’t know what they mean, do you?
Sharrows – Need Careful Implementation
The next version of the Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices (MUTCD) is due out really soon now. The MUTCD defines the standards used by road managers nationwide. The next release will include sharrows, which we’ve talked about both online and in our monthly meetings. They appear to be an attractive marking for older cities… read more
What Does “Share the Road” Mean?
I’m putting on my flack jacket in preparation for the inevitable onslaught of comments this post will encourage… Eden from Team Estrogen posted the following creeds: As a cyclist… I will ride predictably and follow the rules of the road. I won’t block your way without reason. I will ride to the right when it… read more
New Three Foot Ammendment
Representative Joseph M. McNamara has introduced H5096, which is intended to amend section 31-18-8. Due care by drivers to include: In addition, the driver of a vehicle overtaking a bicycle or other human-powered vehicle must pass the bicycle or other human-powered vehicle at a safe distance of not less than three feet (3’) between the… read more