1st Safe Routes to School National Conference:
“Creating, Building and Sustaining Momentum" To Be Held in Michigan
May 10 2007
The National Center for Safe Routes to School and the Safe Routes to School National Partnership proudly present the 1st Safe Routes to School National Conference: "Creating, Building and Sustaining Momentum." The conference will be held November 5-7, 2007 at the historic Dearborn Inn in Dearborn, Michigan, with the opening reception/program at the internationally renowned Henry Ford Museum. The Michigan Fitness Foundation is honored to host this inaugural event. Everyone interested in the health and safety of children should attend.
The conference will address the unique needs of those in urban, suburban and rural settings and will be of interest to those working in education, transportation, enforcement, design, health, community/advocacy, government, and, of course, safe routes to school programs.
Youth Earn A Bike is starting up at Back Alley Bikes for the summer!
May 9 2007
To make this program a success, we are looking for:
- Individual youth who want to earn bikes.
- Groups of 6 - 10 youth who want to earn bikes.
- Volunteers who enjoy working with youth.
Youth Earn A Bike is a two-week program in which youth
ages 8 - 16 can:
o Learn to fix flats and brakes
o Volunteer to help B.A.B.
o Find out about bike safety
o Earn a free bike!
Sessions for individual youth:
o April 27 & May 4
o May 25 & June 1
o June 22 & June 29
o July 20 & July 27
o Aug. 17 & Aug. 24
Sessions for groups of youth:
o May 11 & May 25 - Full
o June 8 & June 15
o July 6 & July 13
o August 3 & August 10
o August 31 & September 7
Each session is on a Friday from 4pm to 7pm
To register, or volunteer for this program, please
email Bec at conscious_art@yahoo.com.
Michigan Long-Range Transportation Plan Now Available
April 1, 2007
The Michigan Transportation Plan, the State Long-Range Transportation Plan, is now available on the Plan website. Public participation was a key component in the development of the Plan. Please visit the website at www.michigan.gov/slrp where you can review the Draft version of the Plan. On the Plan website you will also find a link to the comment questionnaire. Note that the comment period runs through May 14, 2007.
2007 LMB Board Election Results
February 6, 2007
Click here to contact your new Regional Director
2007 LMB Board Elections
November 22, 2006
Elections for Board Members will be held in January. You will receive an official ballot in the mail around January 4th. It will be due back to our office by January 20th. Results will be announced at the Annual Meeting on January 27, 2007.
This November, the Board of Directors expanded the number of LMB regions from eight to 12 and changed from boundaries based on Zip codes to ones based on counties. The Board also retained the option to appoint up to three additional At-Large Directors. Click here for a chart of Regions, current Region Directors and when they are up for election.
If you are interested in running for Region Director in one of the regions up for election (1, 2, 5, 6, 7, 10, 11 & 12) please contact the office for an outline of the responsibilities of Region Directors and/or to indicate your willingness to run for a seat.
LMB Board Changes Organization Structure
November 22, 2006
Big changes are in store for the League of Michigan Bicyclists in 2007. The Board of Directors has changed its composition. There now are 12 Regions. The Region Directors will take on expanded responsibilities within their regions. In addition to the Tour Committee, there are three new committees to gather input from members throughout the state to help LMB meet its goals. These new committees are Advocacy, Promotion and Education. Their responsibilities are detailed below. We are currently recruiting members for these committees; if you are interested, contact me at the office.
Additionally, at their November 11, 2006 Meeting, the LMB Board of Directors voted to change the By-laws and the responsibilities of Board members. The intent of these changes is to involve League members from across the state in setting the course that LMB will follow to make Michigan a bicycle- friendly state.
Following the January 2007 elections, the Board will go from eight Region Directors to twelve. The new region boundaries are drawn based on counties rather than Zip codes (click here to see enlarged map).
Also, in addition to their governance responsibilities as Board Members (i.e., setting policy, goals and directions for the organization), the Region Directors will also take on the following operational responsibilities in their regions:
Region Directors will:
1. Facilitate LMB’s education, advocacy and promotion efforts
2. Facilitate a Region Bike Caucus made up of member clubs, member organizations, member shops and interested members
3. Insure LMB presence at bike events (rides, fairs, programs)
4. Be local watchdog and advocacy resource
5. Represent LMB and maintain linkages with individuals, clubs, organizations, public officials and bike shops
The Board also established three additional operational Committees to the current Tour Committee. These are Advocacy, Promotion and Education. Each will meet at least three times a year (Fall, Winter & Spring). Their membership will also include LMB members from around the state. Committee responsibilities are:
Advocacy Committee
1) Advises Executive Director on advocacy issues
2) Annually recommends to Executive Director an advocacy agenda for the League
3) Serves as a link with bicyclists across the state on advocacy issues – locally, statewide and nationally
4) Serves as a resource for local advocacy issues and maintains linkages with local clubs and organizations
5) Helps develop materials and other resources to advocate for the rights of bicyclists
Promotion Committee
1) Advises Executive Director on promoting bicycling in Michigan2) Recommends LMB Membership rates, categories and benefits to Executive Director
3) Helps develop materials and other resources to promote bicycling, including:
a) Michigan Bicyclist Magazine
b) Annual Ride Calendar
c) Membership brochures
d) May Bicycle Month activities
e) Tourism packets & events
f) Route identification
4) Serves as a resource and maintains linkages to local clubs and organizations
Education Committee
1) Advises Executive Director on education issues
2) Annually recommends to Executive Director an education agenda for the LMB
3) Helps develop and disseminate publications and other resources to educate bicyclists and motorists, including:
a) What Every Bicyclist Must Know
b) Effective Cycling Instruction
c) Information about using bicycles as transportation
4) Maintains linkages with and serves as a resource to local clubs and organizations
If you are interested in serving on a Committee or running for the Board, please contact the LMB office at 1-888-642-4537 or office@LMB.org.
LMB Signs On To the
Global Warming Statement of Principles
October 3, 2006
The LMB is proud to
announce
that we have signed on to the Global Warming Statement of Principles. Global warming is one of the most serious threats to our environment, our health and our economy. The most recent scientific studies prove that global warming is here now and is already causing environmental changes that will have significant economic and social impacts.
Cars, trucks and SUVs are the second leading cause of global warming. While, creating cleaner automobiles is definitely a key in reducing pollution, we must not forget that the cleanest transportation option is inexpensive, readily available and already in most peoples garages. You guessed it…the bicycle. It doesn’t get any cleaner than human powered propulsion.
So committing to become a regular bicycle commuter not only improves physical health and saves you money, but you are also doing your part to fend off global warming.
> Learn about commuting options near you
> Learn about the Complete Streets Campaign (a national effort to redesign American streets to
accommodate
all users, including bicyclists.
> Tell your elected representatives that you are concerned about global warming and that it is time for them to act to stop it
(Don’t forget to mention the role bikes can play in this issue!)
I-275 Bike Path Clean Up Day
October 2, 2006
WHEN: Sunday morning, Oct. 8th at 9:30 AM.
WHERE: Parking lot of Farmington Industrial building just S. of 10 Mile on E. side of Haggerty. Go to E. most end of building, next to bike path. See map.
DETAILS: Wear long sleeved pants and shirts. Bring work gloves, and any
tools such as metal rakes (leaf variety), sickles, weed whacker brush
hogs (with metal blade instead of nylon line), regular weed whackers,
tree pole saws, stiff bristled push brooms, etc. We'll be clearing out
brush that has grown over the edges of the path from the sides and over
head. Also, if you have room in your car, it would be great if some of
you could bring your MTB's and kid trailers or wagons and some rope for
transporting the cuttings to spots along the path where we can access
the freeway. That's where we'll be dumping the cuttings for MDOT pick
up.
Don't forget water and a snack. There are also restaurants in the area.
I will be trying to secure large water containers as well.
Any questions, call Dave at:
day: 248-489-4961
eve.: 248-347-0136
> Learn more about the I-275 Bike Path
LAB Road 1 Class Offered In Battle Creek
September 26, 2006
League Cycling Instructor Larry McAuliffe will teach Road 1 in Battle Creek on October 14, 2006 from 8am until 6pm. This 9-hour course is perfect for those cyclists who wish to gain a full understanding of how to safely operate a bicycle in a variety of situations. The class will cover the following topics:
Recommended for adults and children above 14. The classroom portion of this course will be conducted at Team Active Cycling and Fitness in downtown Battle Creek.
For more information and to register for this course, contact:
Lawrence McAuliffe, Jr.
LCI#1395
Phone: (269) 968-8941
Email: bike_bc@att.net
Additional Bike Ed. Resources:
We've Moved Our Office!
September 1, 2006
Well, not literally, and not that far either. As of September 1st the LMB is now housed at 416 South Cedar Street-Suite A in Lansing. We are in the same building but in a different suite. We lost a wonderful view looking out over the Lansing River Trail, but more importatnly we have gained our own bathroom!
That reminds us: Have you moved lately. If so, make sure to update us so that you will continue to recieve important bicycling news from us. Email office@LMB.org with any changes to your contact information.
LMB Joins the Michigan Alliance For Safe Highways
September 1, 2006
Longer, heavier trucks present serious safety problems to the public, including bicyclists. Grim statistics support this contention: Each year, almost 5,000 people are killed in truck-related crashes and more than 100,000 are injured. Today, almost all of these trucks are conventional single trailer trucks, or "18 wheelers." Bigger truck proponents want to place even bigger trucks on the road -- including triple and long double longer combination vehicles (LCVs) -- and heavy single tractor trailers weighing 100,000 pounds or more.
Bigger trucks also translate into greater damage to bridges and roads -- and it will be the average taxpayer, not the trucking companies, who pays the bill for repairs and maintenance. With tightening budgets at the federal, state and local levels of government, additional resources for highway maintenance and bridge reconstruction will be hard to obtain. In addition, the inevitable result of bigger trucks will be more pollution, higher taxes, more congestion and an unbalanced freight transportation system.
The American public is overwhelmingly opposed to sharing its highways with bigger trucks and CABT helps turn this opposition into action. We work to ensure that the voices of average persons are heard and heeded in the halls of government across the country.
> Learn More about the Coalition Against Bigger Trucks
LEGISLATIVE UPDATE
SB 1224 Signed by Governor
August 17, 2006
Governor Granholm signed Bill #1224 on August 15, 2006 at 7:42 am, with immediate effect. The bill clarifies language that references bicycling in the state's vehicle code, making it more bicycle-friendly.
The LMB would like to thank all of our members who contacted their legislators to support this bill. We also want to thank Senator McManus for introducing the bill and the co-sponsors, Senators Kuipers, Birkholz, George, Garcia, Allen and Leland.
We are also extremely grateful to Todd Scott of the Michigan Mountain Biking Association and Nancy Krupiarz of the Michigan Trails and Greenways Alliance for their support in getting this bill passed.
> Read key provisions of bill #1224
I-275 Clean up Day!
When: Sunday, July 9th, 9:30 am
Where: The NE corner of the Meijers parking lot at 8 Mile & Haggerty (near Meijers gas station). We’ll be concentrating on the mile between 8 & 9 Mile Rds.
What to Bring: Long sleeve pants and shirts & work gloves! Remember water and something to eat! Remember to bring your food in a cooler if it's something that has to remain cool. Or, you can patronize one of the restaurants close by. A couple large foldable ladders and/or pole saws for trimming tree limbs, metal leaf rakes and long bladed bush trimmers/loppers would also be appreciated.
Cyclists: If at least a couple of you could bring your MTB’s along, with trailers if you have them, it will help in ferrying equipment to work site and back.
LMB Joins the Safe Routes to School National Partnership
June 19th, 2006
The Safe Routes to School National Partnership is a collaboration of bicycling and walking groups, as well as health advocates, schools, government agencies, and businesses. The partnership's goal is to advance the Safe Routes to School national movement. A key component of this goal is ensuring that the Safe Routes funding authorized by the new transportation law is put to the best possible use. The Bikes Belong Coalition is providing initial funding for this partnership. Deb Hubsmith—a nationally respected Safe Routes to School expert—has been selected to serve as the partnership's coordinator.
> Learn More About the Safe Routes to School National Partnership
LMB members, Michelle Ferrarese and Marty Heller, will be spending the summer and fall visiting and volunteering at Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) farms across our beloved state of Michigan – traveling from Ann Arbor to Petoskey by bicycle!
June 16th, 2006
Join Marty and Michelle and explore the wonders of CSA farms by joining them on a leg of their tour.
Learn more about the CSA By Cycle Tour 2006 and when they will be passing through your community!
LMB Named REI's Non-Profit of the Month
May 30th, 2006
Stop by our in-store table from 10am-2pm at the REI Troy store on June 10th and June 24th and the REI Northville store on June 3rd and June 17th.
> Locate These REI Stores
The 2nd Annual Lucinda Means Bicycle
Parade & Legislative Day a Big Hit!
May 25, 2006
About 50 bicyclists pedalled from the edge of the MSU campus to Lansing City Hall in honor of LMB former director Lucinda Means. Volunteers also helped LMB staff distribute letters of thanks and other pro-cycling literature to state legislators. Following that a large group of cyclists were invited to attend a very timely press conference by the Secretary of State on the Capitol steps kicking off their "Be Safe- Be Seen" campaign to help raise awareness with residents of road safety issues.
> View Photos by Tim Potter of the MSU Bike Project
> Learn More about the Lucinda Means Bicycle Parade & Advocacy Day
In case you haven't heard, May is Bike Month and May 15-19 was Bike to Work Week. Over 50 Lansing area businesses and organizations competed in the Smart Commute Challenge to try get the highest percentage of employees "smart commuting" (bicycling, walking, car pooling or busing). The awards were given out at an Awards Ceremony with Mayor Bernero on May 23 after the 2nd annual Lucinda Means Tribute Bicycle Parade. The LMB took first place in the mini division, pulling in a 100% commuting record despite the week's bismal weather. The LMB passed their first place price, a donated bicycle from the MSU Bike Project to the second place winners.
