12/27/08 - This month's issue of
Oregon Business magazine features a
cover story on Oregon's bicycle fueled industry and the cultural momentum behind it.
The article discusses Portland and regional businesses including manufacturing, sales, and organized events claiming in all the state generates $150 million in annual bicycle-related revenue. This articles comes on the heals of Alta's recent report on Portland's bicycle-related industry growth.
Mia Birk is featured in the article as well as the stories of several Oregon based business owners and a brief look at the growth of ridership and interest across the state. The January 2009 issue of
Oregon Business is currently available online and you can read the full article "
Geared Up"
here.
12/27/08 - Streetsblog
recently interviewed Alta planner David Pulsipher about his involvement in the forthcoming
Los Angeles Bicycle Master Plan Update and LA local education & community-building cycling group
C.I.C.L.E. The interview touches on the role of activism in the planning process as well as the importance of public involvement to help shift public perception of riders. "I really want to encourage feedback from the public," says David, "it helps us make sure we've addressed the common concerns out there."
Read the full interview here and check the
LA Bike Master Plan website for the latest news and updates.
12/15/08 - On December 4th the Miami Valley Regional Planning Commission adopted the Comprehensive Local Regional Bikeways Plan prepared by Alta reports the
Dayton Daily News. Among other features, the trails plan calls for complete connections between existing bike paths to encourage active, non-motorized transportation and improve safety.
The article discusses the reason MVRPC chose to drop the plan's language outlining Complete Streets policy- city staff and the League of American Bicyclists are optomistic that a similar policy will be adopted in the future. For more information on the plan and to review documents and presentations, visit the project website at
http://altaprojects.net/mvrpc/
12/12/08 - Tune in to
KERA 90.1 Dallas Public Radio (broadcast or
online) to hear
Alta Principal Mia Birk discuss how the proposed Katy Trail improvements and connections will improve personal travel options in the city. The KERA program "
think" hosted by Krys Boyd will also feature Eric Van Steenburg, executive director of the
Friends of the Katy Trail. Show starts at 12:00pm CST (see program guide
here) and you can read more about the discussion topic
here. You can tune in locally in Dallas on 90.1 or online at
http://www.kera.org/audio12/11/08 - The
Rails to Trails Conservancy is seeking active transportation project submissions to include in their federal economic recovery package proposal. According to RTC "The recovery package will likely be $700 billion or more, aiming to create and maintain 2.5 million jobs over the next two years. This framing is significantly different than previous estimates of $300 billion over a few months—hence our renewed call for projects." Learn more about the goals of this economic stimulus project and submission guidelines at the RTC
online submission page.
Submissions are due Monday, 12/15/08 - 12:00pm ET!12/10/08 - The
Association of Pedestrian and Bicycle Professionals (APBP) is hosting a series of webinars in the coming weeks featuring Alta staff. On December 17th Alta
Program Manager Jessica Roberts will be presenting "Bring SmartTrips Home," a look at programs use for individualized marketing to change trip behavior by offering information and support for shifting some car trips to walking, bicycling and transit trips. On January 21st
Alta Principal Mia Birk will join Portland Bicycle Coordinator Roger Geller for "Cycle Zone Analysis (CZA), A New Bicycle Transportation Planning Tool," discussing how this tool helps Portland planners more accurately assess and improve cycling conditions. You can learn more and register for theses webinars at
http://www.bikewalk.org/webinar.php. Cost is $50 per site for APBP members; $60 per site for non-APBP members.
If you missed these great presentations at the 2008 Pro Walk/Pro Bike conference, this is your opportunity catch them live and interact with the presenters. For a sneak peek at these topics, download the presentation slideshows from the
presentations & studies section of
altaplanning.com12/1/08 -
Alta Principal Mia Birk is hard at work on her forthcoming book:
Joyride: One Woman's Journey Empowering People and Transforming Communities. It is a memoir following her career, and telling the story of what we have done to revolutionize Portland and integrate bicycling and walking into daily life in communities across the U.S. Publication is planned for Fall 2009.
Click here if you would like to be notified about advance ordering information.
12/1/08 - A recent
Dallas Morning News editorial outlines the potential positive impact of the Katy Trail expansion project. Aside from offering transportation alternatives and a recreational outlet in existing neighborhoods, the expansion project could help extend new commercial and residential growth.
Read the full editorial here and learn more about the Katy Trail project- under development by Alta and Friends of the Katy Trail-
on the project website.
11/25/08 - Following a recent visit to Copenhagen,
Alta Principal Mia Birk has developed
Cycle Tracks: Lessons Learned, a guide to the advantages and best practices of implementing these bicycle-exclusive facilities. Cycle tracks have been an roadway accomodation for many years in European cities, but have only recently begun to appear in the United States. Safety and increased ridership are key factors in their popularity. To review the full report, visit our
Presentations and Studies page.
11/11/08 - The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel ask "
Can Milwaukee become the next big bike friendly city?" in the Editorial Board's blog. The article is about Alta's work with the City of Milwaukee and the
Bicycle Federation of Wisconsin to assist in
updating the Milwaukee Bicycle Master Plan including the public process and feedback integral to Alta's work. Alta Project Assistant
Susan Peithman is quoted in the article- she's a Chicago native with experience riding in Milwaukee and understands the issues facing the city and what it's taken for her present home of Portland to become a bike friendly city. For more information about the Milwaukee plan update process,
visit the project website.