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Complete Streets Bills Re-Introduced

Todd Scott — Mon, 16 Mar 2009 17:23:16 +0000

Photo courtesy of Dan Burden

While meeting with members of Congress at the National Bike Summit, Complete Streets legislation was re-introduced. The same bill was introduced in the Senate in 2008 but died in committee.

The basic premise is road agencies should adopt a policy that ensures all transportation modes are reasonably accomodated, includinng biking and walking.

According to bill sponsor Senator Tom Harkin:

When Americans choose to leave their car at home and walk or ride a bike to school or work, they are making a healthy decision. We need to ensure streets, intersections and trails are designed to make them easier to use and maximize their safety.

This legislation will encourage Americans to be more active, while also providing more travel options and cutting down on traffic congestion.

Everyone is encouraged to use this quick online form letter to ask your Senator and Representative to support this legislation.

We typically got receptive but uncommitted support while in Washington DC, perhaps in large part because the bills were only recently introduced.

More details from the Complete Streets web site:

The Complete Streets Act of 2009 was introduced in both houses of Congress on Thursday, March 12. Senator Harkin (IA) sponsored S. 584 with Senator Carper (DE) as original cosponsor. In the House, Congresswoman Matsui (CA-5) sponsored H.R. 1433 with Representatives Tauscher (CA-10), Maloney (NY-14), and Wu (OR-1) as original cosponsors. The Complete Streets Act of 2009 defines effective complete streets policies that are flexible enough to use in daily transportation planning practice. The introduction of these bills is a key step in ensuring safer, better-designed streets across the country.

Organizations from the YMCA to the National Association of Realtors have lined up behind the measure, because they see the benefits complete streets will provide on issues ranging from the obesity epidemic to greenhouse gas reduction to providing inexpensive transportation alternatives in tough economic times. See what everyone is saying about the bills (pdf).

There is also additional information on the Transportation for America web site.

Complete Streets Legislation is Introduced

Todd Scott — Sun, 09 Mar 2008 23:47:18 +0000

Senator Tom Harkin from Iowa has introduced the Complete Streets Act of 2008. According to the Senator’s web site, “To reduce accidents, legislation will create ‘Complete Streets‘ to keep motorists, transit vehicles, bicyclists, and pedestrians safe.”

Making our streets bike and pedestrian friendly is a win-win for us all. It not only promotes healthier lifestyles, it lowers the amount of traffic congestion that many people deal with every day.

So, what would this bill do for the Detroit area? It would require M-DOT and SEMCOG to adopt policies ensuring “that the safety and convenience of all users of the transportation system shall be accommodated.” That means all new road construction and reconstruction should include bicycle facilities unless very specific justifications can be documented.

Some U.S. cities and states already have Complete Streets policies. In Michigan, only the City of Jackson has done so.

What can you do to help? Make a quick call to Senators Levin (202.224.6221) and Stabenow (202.224.4822) to let them know you support Senator Harkin’s Complete Streets Act of 2008. If no one answers, just leave a message of support, your name, and address.

Senator Harkin’s proposal has been endorsed by:

AARP
America Bikes
America Walks
American Council of the Blind
American Planning Association
American Public Transportation Association
American Society of Landscape Architects
Association of Pedestrian and Bicycle Professionals
League of America Bicyclists
National Center for Bicycling and Walking
Safe Routes to School National Partnership
Smart Growth America
Surface Transportation Policy Partnership
Thunderhead Alliance
Rails to Trails Conservancy

For further information on Complete Streets, visit www.completestreets.org.

Tax credit for donating land for parks

Todd Scott — Sun, 17 Feb 2008 21:58:39 +0000

This looks like a fine proposal from Senator Tony Stamas. His Senate Bill 1069 would give tax credit to those who donate their land (or an interest in it) to the DNR. The land must be used for the preservation of open space, natural resources, outdoor recreation, farmland preservation, and more. The DNR would manage this donation process, developing donation criteria, and approving them.

It seems like another means for encouraging land preservation and increasing outdoor recreation with the state. Whether it truly gets used, and whether this bill even makes it out of the Michigan legislature remains to be seen.

Making execise equipment tax deductible?

Todd Scott — Thu, 17 Jan 2008 18:11:22 +0000

Legislation was recently introduced (House Bill 5621) that would make exercise equipment and fitness memberships tax deductible in Michigan. Unfortunately it apparently applies only to stationary bikes, but bike trainers would likely be allowed.Here is actual wording from the proposed bill:

For tax years that begin after December 31, 2007, deduct, to the extent not deducted in determining adjusted gross income, an amount equal to qualified physical fitness expenses paid in the tax year not to exceed $1,000.00 for a single return or $2,000.00 for a joint return. As used in this subdivision:

(i) “Exercise equipment” means a product used for the sole purpose of engaging in vigorous exercise, including, but not limited to, a home gym; a treadmill; an elliptical, upright, or recumbent bicycle; a stairclimber; a rowing machine; or free weights and accessories. Exercise equipment does not include any type of sporting equipment or equipment purchased for participation in a sport.

(ii) “Physical fitness expenses” means the cost paid in the tax year for exercise equipment or memberships in a health and fitness program or club or in a gym if membership in the program, club, or gym is open to the general public.

Bicyclists update and improve Michigan road laws

Todd Scott — Thu, 24 Aug 2006 13:26:00 +0000

Governor Granholm signed our Senate Bill 1224 on August 15th. The MMBA, League of Michigan Bicyclists, and Michigan Trails and Greenways Alliance all wish to thank Senator Michelle McManus and her staff for helping us bring Michigan up to national standards with respect to bicycle laws. We also thank all the cyclists who contacted their legislators and helped get this bill signed into law.

How is the law changed?
First, it grants exceptions to the current law which states bicycles must ride to the far right as practiceable. The exceptions are:

When overtaking and passing another bicycle or any other vehicle proceeding in the same direction.
When preparing to turn left.
When approaching an intersection in a lane from which right turns are permitted and the bicycle operator intends to proceed straight through.
When riding on a one-way road having two or more marked traffic lanes, in which case the individual could ride as near the left-hand curb or edge of roadway as practicable.
When necessary to avoid conditions making it unsafe to continue along the right-hand curb or edge, including fixed or moving objects, parked or moving vehicles, bicycles, pedestrians, animals, or other obstacles; or in a lane too narrow to permit a vehicle to safely overtake and pass a bicycle.

The new law also:

Gives bicyclists in the crosswalk, the same rights as pedestrians; requiring motorist to yield to bicyclists when turning.
Allows bicycles to be parked on the sidewalk where it is not disallowed by signage and where the bicycle does not interfere with pedestrian traffic.
Eliminates language that allows local ordinance to require bicyclists to use an adjacent side path. It also eliminates requirement that a bicyclists under age 16 use the side path unless an adult accompanies him or her.

Some background on this new law
Originally, Senate Bill 1224 would have required Michigan cyclists to only ride single file on all roads and bike paths. We contacted the Senator and initiated a letter writing campaign. The response from cyclists was huge. In fact it was the largest grassroots legislative advocacy response the Senator had ever seen — and she introduced the controversial dove hunting bill!

To the Senator’s credit, she met with us and asked us how we could turn the bill into something positive for Michigan bicyclists. Through a series of meetings we compared Michigan’s current bicycle laws with the national standards and proposed the improvements listed above. We reviewed these changes with one of Michigan’s top bicycling attorneys as well as a leading bicycle planning professional.

Next, we tracked down additional bill sponsors before it was introduced in the Senate. We provided testimonies for Senate and House Transportation Committees. We researched and answered numerous questions from the legislators. We overcame a clerical error that omitted part of our original bill. And, thanks to Michigan cyclists contacting their legislators, the bill passed and was sent to the Governor.

Livonia may allow bicycles on main roads

Todd Scott — Thu, 29 Jun 2006 18:39:00 +0000

From the Detroit News:
The City Council may amend an ordinance that prohibits cyclists from riding on main roadways.

The council approved a recommendation this week to review the ordinance, which requires cyclists to ride on sidewalks or bike paths, if available, and not on main roads.

The request was spurred by Livonia resident Ken Pumo, who frequently commutes about 10 miles to and from his retail job in Novi by bicycle.
Read More

HB 4555: Paving gravel roads doesn’t count

Todd Scott — Fri, 31 Mar 2006 02:55:00 +0000

As you know, the state collects a fuel tax. That money gets divided among various groups, including counties, cities, and villages (but not townships.) Of this money, not less than 1% must be spent on non-motorized transportation. The City of Ferndale used their 1% to pay for their bike lanes, but not all communities spend their money that well.

One reason is the law considers the paving of gravel roads as a non-motorized project. This is where the Road Commission of Oakland County spends their 1%. They were surprised to hear that cyclists often prefer gravel roads.

In Lansing, HB 4555 was signed by the Governor yesterday. It removes the paving of gravel roads from the 1%, but allows the paving of shoulders. It also explicitly allows sidewalks in cities and villages, which the City of Royal Oak and others were already doing.

Another problem is MDOT doesn’t have the resources to audit this 1% requirement. Communities are required to submit 5-year programs, but there’s no enforcement or oversight.

I made the suggestion that the 1% expenditures be posted on the MDOT web site so cyclists can audit their local agencies. Unfortunately that did not make it into the bill, though it still could be done by either MDOT or a group like the League of Michigan Bicyclists (LMB). All the 1% expenditures are public, it’s just a matter of collecting them and making them readable.

m-bike.org » legislation

Complete Streets Bills Re-Introduced

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