Good sign

As I was biking over to UT for a meeting this morning, there was a bicyclist behind me. Then suddenly along Clinch, there were 5 of us biking in a row! A bike train, here in Knoxville. I was so proud. Plus, four of us were wearing helmets! Unfortunately, I seemed to be the only one that obeyed all the stop signs and traffic signals.

How can we get the word out to bicyclists that the traffic laws do apply to us and that it's for our own safety? When motorists see us breaking the law, the message is "look at that crazy person--running red lights, jumping up on the sidewalk for one block then back on the street--they don't belong on the road." We have to show respect to get respect.

Online reporting tool

(Kelley's note: please also report things to the appropriate authority so they will be fixed--don't just write about it on a blog or in this database! We have a list of phone numbers to call about dogs, potholes and aggressive motorists)http://www.knoxtrans.org/plans/bikeprog/otr_help.pdf

RoadGuardian.com

One way to make cycling safer is to know where the danger points and trouble spots are located.
Where have cyclists experienced "close calls"? Where have they been hit and injured?
Where have dogs chased them?
Where are pot holes located?
Where have cyclists been harassed by motorists?

The FIRST global tool for reporting, marking and sharing the geo-locations for cycling incidents and trouble spots. The goal of Road Guardian is simple: to save lives. And our success in meeting this goal depends upon all cyclists reporting, marking and sharing information on the danger points and trouble spots we encounter. Please tell all your cycling friends and buddies about Road Guardian… this can become a powerful tool for all of us to use in making cycling safer for everyone.

Neighborhood Bike Ride

More photos from the fabulous NBR at http://www.knoxtrans.org/bikeride/index.htm We were so glad the rain held off and we had nearly 200 people!

And remember to mark Wed, Dec 16, 7 p.m. on your calendar for the 3rd annual Tour de Lights. More info to come, but as always we will be awarding prizes for the most decorated person, bicycle, and helmet!

Thanks to Kat Campbell for the photos!

Downtown North Streetscape Public Meeting

The City of Knoxville will host a public meeting to review preliminary plans for a Downtown North Streetscape Plan. The meeting will be held at St John's Lutheran Church- corner of Broadway and 5th Ave. on Thursday evening September 24th starting at 6pm.

Hedstrom Design group has been working with the city and a 20 person steering committee to kick off this design process that will provide at completion a more detailed master plan for future development of the public right of way on the major corridors in Downtown North. Specifically N.Central St, Broadway, Gay St and 5th Ave. have been studied for potential improvements based on earlier recommendations from MPC and a more detailed analysis of current conditions in the area.

There will be a group presentation, question & answer time and the opportunity to study maps and make comments individually on what you like or don't like about the direction of the planning. Using information gathered from this meeting the design team in consultation with the steering committee will prepare a schematic design of the area to be presented at another public meeting later this year. We hope you will come and share your thoughts. Earlier plan documents and information on the subject area can be found at cityofknoxville.org/downtownnorth.

Updates

Sorry for the lack of blogging. Facebook is getting more and more attention so I hope you're checking us out there too.

The Bicycle Advisory Committee task forces on safety/classes, and on performance measures met recently. I'll be writing up some minutes from those meetings soon.

I attended a conference last week on behalf of Smart Trips and got some great ideas for marketing/outreach, for the bike program as well as Smart Trips. We're getting ready to interview candidates for the Smart Trips coordinator position this week. Since I have had to fill in, I'm looking forward to getting the new person hired and on board soon!

The valet bike parking was Sunday (aka Boomsday). I hear it was a good turnout for the first time, but since Lily's bedtime is waaaayyy before the fireworks, I didn't get to see it for myself. Lily and I helped with set up though. A huge thanks to all the volunteers, especially Jesse for bringing all the gear and taking the first AND last shifts.

Next up is the Neighborhood Bike Ride, on Sept 19th at 10 a.m. Please spread the word. This will be our 9th year and it would be great to have our biggest turn-out ever. It helps show the community how important bicycling is, and how many people enjoy getting around neighborhoods by bike. www.knoxtrans.org for route map and more info.

Alley Cat

Aug 30

4 p.m.

James Agee Park

Presented by Tennessee Valley Bicycles and Knox Revolution

Share the Road license plates

Pre-order your Share the Road specialty license plate! We need about 800 more people to sign up to make this a reality. The revenue from the license plates will help support statewide bicycle advocacy. There's an advocacy group called Bike Walk Tennessee (www.BikeWalkTN.org) that is getting started. I'll post more info as things progress. But meanwhile, show your support for bicycling by reserving your plate today.

http://www.jeffrothcyclingfoundation.org/

Weekly Update

The marketing/programs committee met yesterday. We're looking for your ideas on how to get the word out to bicyclists AND motorists about the rights and responsibilities of bicyclists on the roads. Share your suggestions here, or come to the next meeting (I'll post the meeting on here.)

Contest alert!!!! The Bicycle Program needs a logo, don't you think? Wouldn't you like to be the lucky one to say, "yeah, that's mine" when someone says "Hey, what a cool logo!" Send entries to kelley.segars@knoxtrans.org by August 31, and we will select 10 for a public vote.

Smart Trips is looking for a new program coordinator. The job notice is at http://www.knoxtrans.org/about/employ.htm

Valet Bike Parking

We have the opportunity to host Knoxville's first-ever valet bike parking station at Boomsday (Sunday, Sept 6) this year. But we need help! Festivities start at 1 p.m. so we need at least 15 people to cover all the shifts from noon til 11 p.m. If you can help, please email me at kelley.segars@knoxtrans.org

Thanks!

Bicycling Street Smarts handbook

This compact tutorial, available as a 46-page booklet and this online version, will increase your safety and confidence while bicycling on any road, whether you are a beginner or an expert. You'll have more fun and feel better about riding, be it for pleasure, fitness or transportation. See below for information about obtaining copies of the printed version.
This manual teaches safe bicycling techniques on public roads and streets, but it's up to you to apply them appropriately. Users of this manual assume full responsibly for their own actions and safety.