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BAC April 2006 News & Digest

Hello BICYCLE ACCESS COUNCIL members.

It's a beautiful day in Pennsylvania!

THE 2006 PENNSYLVANIA BIKE CLUB CONFERENCE...

Held Saturday, April 1, in York, PA, hosted 7 clubs bringing 21 club representatives together for a full day to discuss bicycling issues. Also attending was a special guest, John Allen, author of "Street Smarts" who offered his views on various bicycling topics. Dave Bachman, PennDOT Bicycle & Pedestrian Program Manager spoke on current PennDOT programs and how PennDOT is open to input from Pennsylvania bicyclists.

THE NATIONAL BIKE SUMMIT...

March 1-3, held in Washington, DC, was attended by 375 participants, which included advocates from many states, as well as staff from the League of American Bicyclists (LAB), Adventure Cycling Association, Rails-to-Trails Conservancy, vendors, bicycle industry representatives and workshop presenters. The Bicycle Access Council was there.

This was the sixth year for this three day format of educational workshops and seminars. The second day is reserved for meetings with members of Congress around the Capitol. The LAB scheduled meetings with key members of Congress so they can hear just what the important bicycling issues are from their constituents. Among the issues highlighted during the congressional visits included a Bicycle Commuter Act and Complete Streets.

Kudos to the Bicycle Coalition of Greater Philadelphia for enlisting extra members to travel down for the day to swell the ranks of Pennsylvanians for a real blitz on Capitol Hill.

NO HANG UPS...

On utility poles. Whether it's a club ride or yard sale sign, it is illegal to use any metal fasteners to attach anything to poles. The statute says:

A person is guilty of a summary offense if he drives a nail or tack or attaches any metal or hard substance to or into any pole of any public utility pole line. 18 Pa.C.S § 6905 (Crimes Code).

FARS OUT...

The Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS) is the most often quoted statistic regarding annual bicycling fatalities.

In 2004, 719 bicyclists and 4,641 pedestrians were killed, accounting for 13 percent of all traffic fatalities in the United States. An additional 68,000 pedestrians and 41,000 bicyclists were reported to be injured as a result of collisions with motor vehicles.

The impact for Pennsylvania bicyclists will be analyzed in a future issue of the BAC News & Digest.

THE SHOW DID GO ON...

The Bike Show, that is, held March 11 and 12 in Carlisle, PA. This was a first time event in Pennsylvania with a small number of dealers, bike shops, exhibits and demonstrations on hand. The Bicycle Access Council was there meeting bicyclists from many parts of Pennsylvania.

THE KEYSTONE STATE IS NAMED FOR...

What? Okay, for last month's trivia question on how the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania earned the title of The Keystone State, the answer is provided in the Pennsylvania magazine (March/April 2006 issue).

Since Pennsylvania was the middle colony of the original thirteen (six above it and six below), it was likened to a keystone--the central, topmost stone of a door or window arch that holds the others in place.

MAY IS BIKE MONTH...

Bike-to-Work Week is May 15-19. Bike-to-Work Day is May 19. Are you ready?

A TOUR BY ANY OTHER NAME...

The Tour de France start in 2007 will be from London. England has been part of the Tour before. The 1994 Tour en Angleterre took a route from Dover to Brighton and Portsmouth, with crowds estimated at 3 million over the two days.

The UK Cycle Touring Club (CTC) welcomed the news that London will host the Grand Départ of the Tour de France in July 2007. The CTC is the national advocacy organization equivalent to the USA League of American Bicyclists.

CTC Campaigns & Policy Manager, Roger Geffen, said: “We hope that the Government and Transport for London will maximize the opportunities to promote cycle use not only as a recreational activity and sport, but as day-to-day travel."

The exact route that the Tour will take can be found at:

https://tfl.gov.uk/info-for/media/press-releases/2006/january/london-set-to-host-the-start-of-the-tour-de-france-in-2007/

SAVE THE DATES...

Check the BAC website for special club rides and events. Events may be posted at no charge for all non-profit clubs and organizations. Is your bike club ride there?

BAC NEWS & DIGEST ARCHIVES...

To view past issues of the Bicycle Access Council's monthly News & Digest, go to the BAC website, click on the BAC News & Digest button.

MISSION STATEMENT...

The Bicycle Access Council is a non-profit advocacy organization that serves as a forum for Pennsylvania bicyclists and as an ombudsman for bicycling issues.

It is the objective of the Bicycle Access Council to make bicycling on roads throughout the Commonwealth safe, respectable and a transportation choice by educating its members and the motoring public.

All funding for the Bicycle Access Council comes from memberships and donations. Annual membership is $20 per year. BAC does not share membership information.

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This message is not intended as SPAM. If you do not wish to receive future e-newsletters, reply to this message with UNsubscribe from BAC NEWS in the subject line.

Joe Stafford, Executive Director

Bicycle Access Council

P.O. Box 92

Dallastown, PA 17313

www.BicycleAccess-PA.org

(717) 417-1299

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