Battling childhood obesity

From Hampton Roads Cyclist:

“Solving the Problem of Childhood Obesity Within a Generation” is a sobering report to say the least.

From CDC Transportation Recommendations:

# Physical activity and active transportation have declined compared to previous generations. The lack of physical activity is a major contributor to the steady rise in rates of obesity, diabetes, heart disease, stroke and other chronic health conditions in the United States.
# Motor vehicle crashes continue to be the leading cause of injury-related death for many age groups. Pedestrians and bicyclists are at an even greater risk of death from crashes than those who travel by motor vehicles.
# Many Americans view walking and bicycling within their communities as unsafe because of traffic and the lack of sidewalks, crosswalks, and bicycle facilities.

WalkingInfo.org, funded by FHWA, "Crossing the Street is Dangerous"

From walkinginfo.org:

The street crossing experience comes down to the behavior of the pedestrian and the motorist as well as the design of the intersection or crossing. The behavior of motorists (whether, and how, they stop for a pedestrian) is influenced by a variety of factors, including the speed at which they are traveling. A motorist traveling at a slower rate of speed has more time to see, react, and stop for a pedestrian than someone who is going fast.

The article includes several sections about how to improve roads:

• Improve crossing visibility
• More than a marked crosswalk may be needed
• Intersections with existing traffic signals
• Intersections with existing STOP signs
• Locations without traffic signals or STOP signs
• Improvements to Marked Crosswalks
• Mark crosswalks with highly reflective material
• Raise the crossing above street level
• Narrow the roadway
• Improving signs and/or lights or signals in advance, or above the crosswalk
• Install or improve traffic signals

... and much more.

About WalkingInfo.org:

The Pedestrian and Bicycle Information Center (PBIC) is a national clearinghouse for information about health and safety, engineering, advocacy, education, enforcement, access, and mobility for pedestrians (including transit users) and bicyclists. The PBIC serves anyone interested in pedestrian and bicycle issues, including planners, engineers, private citizens, advocates, educators, police enforcement, and the health community.

The site is funded by the U.S. Department of Transportation Federal Highway Administration, FHWA.

We've put WalkingInfo.org in our list of Elsewhere links as it's a terrific resource to improve sharing the road safely.

A community service idea driven by people's actions

Inspired by a call to accountability and a recent court decision where a driver was found guilty of their infractions, yet was only given driver training comes an idea a Judge can require.

Community service for all offenders that have moving violations while driving, public intoxication, etc.

How would it work?

If someone is found guilty, pleads guilty, pays the fine - guilty - for any moving violation on Shore Drive or roads intersecting it, they are also required to perform "x" number of hours of community service on top of retaking driver training classes.

Community service based on best practices so they are performed safely :

1. Perform crossing guard duties. [As in, helping adults not children at schools, safely cross SD.
   
2. Speak at Churches, as example, or where requested about a program that encourages safe sharing of SD & the info on how to do that.
   
3. Attend certified cycling training and help spread the word about the importance of safe cycling.

Those are but 3 examples of community service people who violate certain laws would be required to perform.

Post your ideas in the comment section below to continue this idea.

Please come out to CP Shuckers to Save Lives on Shore Drive on Thursday, June 3 from 6-10 to support those who have lost their lives and to save lives

You can check out more at the Facebook Event page:

Date: Thursday, June 3, 2010
Time: 6:00pm - 10:00pm
Location: CP Shuckers, Shore Drive

More events are planned to increase awareness to safely share Shore Drive.

Join us May 11th at 1pm at First Landing State Park for SDSI2010 Meeting

From Dave:

Shore Drive Safety Initiative 2010 meeting tomorrow, Tues 11 May at 1 PM to be held at First Landing State Park Visitor's Center. The Visitor's Center is located on the Chesapeake Bay side off of Shore Drive. Take your first left after entering park. The Conference room is located on the left side (south side) of the building past the office's main entrance. You should not be charged an entry fee if you mention that it is for a Shore Drive Community Coalition (SDCC) meeting. This meeting will serve as the initial framework for an action plan and time-line to improve the safety along more of Shore Drive for drivers, pedestrians, and cyclists. If all interested and concerned parties can combine their efforts towards achieving this goal, much can be accomplished.

I thank you ahead of time for your efforts on behalf of all our residents and visitors.

David Williams
Chairman SDSI 2010

From Pedsafe, Highway Design Handbook for Older Drivers & Pedestrians

See “Pedestrians most at risk”:

Moreover, some older pedestrians have diminished physical and visual abilities that make street crossings more challenging. In recent years, an emphasis has been placed on improving the design criteria used by engineers to ensure that the needs of all users are being met; the Highway Design Handbook for Older Drivers and Pedestrians is one resource.

Highway Design Handbook for Older Drivers and Pedestrians

The proportion of the population over age 65 is growing significantly. Older road users can be expected to have problems driving and as pedestrians, given the known changes in their perceptual, cognitive, and psychomotor performances, presenting many challenges to transportation engineers, who must ensure system safety while increasing operational efficiency.

This Highway Design Handbook for Older Drivers and Pedestrians provides practitioners with a practical information source that links older road user characteristics to highway design, operational, and traffic engineering recommendations by addressing specific roadway features. This Handbook supplements existing standards and guidelines in the areas of highway geometry, operations, and traffic control devices.

Military ID required to enter Fort Story even while cycling

Saw several emails with people being turned away without having Military ID.

"Ride of Silence" DATE: May 19, 2010 TIME: 7:00 pm WHERE: Hundreds of locations world wide

Please remember this as you drive, walk or ride - share the road safely.

Join cyclists worldwide in a silent slow-paced ride (max. 12 mph/20 kph) in honor of those who have been injured or killed while cycling on public roadways.
WHY DOES THIS ORGANIZATION EXIST?

* To HONOR those who have been injured or killed
* To RAISE AWARENESS that we are here
* To ask that we all SHARE THE ROAD

THE RIDE OF SILENCE WILL NOT BE QUIET

On May 19, 2010, at 7:00 PM, the Ride of Silence will begin in North America and roll across the globe. Cyclists will take to the roads in a silent procession to honor cyclists who have been killed or injured while cycling on public roadways. Although cyclists have a legal right to share the road with motorists, the motoring public often isn't aware of these rights, and sometimes not aware of the cyclists themselves.

In 2003, Chris Phelan organized the first Ride of Silence in Dallas after endurance cyclist Larry Schwartz was hit by the mirror of a passing bus and was killed.
The Ride of Silence is a free ride that asks its cyclists to ride no faster than 12 mph and remain silent during the ride. There are no sponsors and no registration fees. The ride, which is held during National Bike Month, aims to raise the awareness of motorists, police and city officials that cyclists have a legal right to the public roadways. The ride is also a chance to show respect for those who have been killed or injured.
If there is a Ride of Silence in your area, we encourage you to join them. If there is not a ride planned in your area, please consider adding your city to the ever-growing list of sites. For complete information, go to:

Click to go to "Ride of Silence" website

A 6 minute segment on abc affiliate WVEC-13 “Dialogue” program showcases our local May is Bike Month activities and bicycling

The program will air on Sunday, May 9th at 12 noon.

Many thanks to Sharon Oakley with Bike Beat for arranging this great opportunity!

Ride safely,

Bruce

p.s. find all of the Hampton Roads May is Bike Month activities on http://www.facebook.com/VAmayisbikemonth

~Bruce

WVEC covers "Increase Pedestrian Safety on Shore Drive" FB Group

From WVEC.com.
Hat tip from Cheri's post in the "Increase Pedestrian Safety on Shore Drive" FB Group.