Huntsville Bike Committee

By Steve Doyle for the Huntsville Times

January 28, 2010, 7:36AM

HUNTSVILLE, AL — Saying he wants city government to set a good example, Huntsville Mayor Tommy Battle announced an immediate ban Wednesday on municipal employees sending text messages while driving.

His “Eyes on the Road” policy, which covers about 2,300 city workers, comes as lawmakers in Montgomery consider making Alabama the 20th state to outlaw texting while operating a vehicle.

“We’re products of an electronic age and want to use every second to be as productive as you can,” Battle said. “But while you’re driving is not a time to be productive doing anything but driving.”

“This is just a common sense policy.”

City Administrator Rex Reynolds said employees caught violating the ban would be admonished by their supervisor. Those who continue to break the rules could be suspended, he said.

Specifically, the policy prohibits employees from “sending, receiving or reviewing text messages and e-mails” from behind the wheel during work hours. It applies to both city-owned and personal vehicles.

Reynolds said he believes Huntsville is the first Alabama city to take such a public stance against driver texting.

Retiring Huntsville Police Chief Henry Reyes and his successor, Deputy Chief Mark Hudson, said they both strongly support the crackdown and hope the Legislature will follow suit.

While he could not recall any texting-related wrecks here, Hudson said anything that takes a driver’s attention off the road “significantly increases” the risk of an accident.

According to a city news release, studies have shown that about 20 percent of U.S. drivers admit to texting while driving. They are 23 times more likely to get into an accident than other drivers, it said.

“This policy will not only help save lives and reduce injuries,” Battle said, “but set an example for all the community.”

Meanwhile, state lawmakers continue to debate a broader, statewide ban on driver texting.

The bill, co-sponsored by local Republican state House Reps. Mike Ball, Mac McCutcheon, Howard Sanderford and Phil Williams, calls for a $25 fine plus court costs for the first offense, a $50 fine for the second offense and a $75 fine for subsequent convictions.

On Tuesday, the U.S. Transportation Department announced an immediate ban on texting by truck and bus drivers on interstate highways. Those caught in the act may be subject to civil or criminal penalties of up to $2,750.

By Keith Clines for the Huntsville Times

January 26, 2010, 6:42AM

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Glenn Baeske / Huntsville Times - The state’s proposed plan assesses current biking and pedestrian activities and will be used in development of facilities for bikers and walkers.

HUNTSVILLE, AL – Bicyclists, pedestrians and others interested in the state’s proposed Statewide Bicycle and Pedestrian Plan can attend a public involvement meeting in Huntsville next month.

The Huntsville meeting will be the fourth that the Alabama Department of Transportation will hold to gather public comments on the plan, which is part of the DOT’s Statewide Transportation Plan. Meetings are being held across the state.

The meeting here will be in the city engineering building at 320 Fountain Circle on Feb. 25. It will be held on the first floor, from 5 to 7 p.m.

The proposed plan is a comprehensive one that will address various aspects of developing facilities and programs for bicyclists and pedestrians.

DOT representatives will be present to discuss the plan and to answer questions.

The draft plan will be available for review on the DOT Web site atdot.state.al.us and at each of the nine DOT division offices across the state.

People of the bicycle,

At our last BASC meeting, there was some discussion about planning for the mayor’s ride in May.  Some suggested that this should become an all inclusive Bike/Ped event where not only cyclists are involved, but also pedestrians and runners – promoting a healthy, livable Huntsville.  City members of the committee are wary of this and are discouraging the idea.  I suggested that if we got a reasonable plan together and presented it to them, perhaps the city could reconsider.

So, let’s brainstorm.  Does anyone have suggestions?  Is it feasible?    Logistically, how can we have a route for bicycles AND pedestrians?  What attractions can take place that will bring  more people out?  What about a rain date?  What can be done to ease the fears of the city regarding this event?  If the city will block off the downtown streets for an entire day, I envision a car free day like other city’s have successfully done.

Let’s get creative!  Please post your comments below.

BASC

13-January, 2010

Meeting Agenda

1.       Approval of November Minutes

2.       Approval of December Minutes

3.       CARS RFP – What needs to be done to finalize it and get it on the street?  We are past the deadline. – James

4.       Complete Streets Petition Presentation to Mayor Battle – Sharon

a.        What’s been done?

b.       What can BASC do?

5.       May Bike to Work Month planning: – brainstorm

a.        Mayor’s Ride

b.       Activities

c.        What kinds of educational activities until the CARS grant is available.

6.       PSA Model after the Baton Rouge PSA – Rex?

a.        Getting the Mayor to do PSA like Mayor Holden.

7.       Public Input & Prioritization of work: BASC Action List.  What are we doing to get things done? – Sharon

8.       Capshaw Road Widening Project – add to action list and assign someone to keep track of progress. – Jamie

9.       Proposal for the use of $5000.00 – bike pike with a few adjustments.  Jamie

10.    Parking Ordinance Report – Marjorie

11.    Police Reports(?) if any – Rodney or Bradley

12.    Progress Report from TE. – Jo

a.        Timing of lights solutions

b.       Signage

13.    www.hsvbike.com – need more committee participation on the blog.  Chris Joy has been added as admin to post content.  Peter Hannah will continue to help out when needed.  Need committee members to subscribe to the blog on RSS and actively respond to comments. – Peter

14.    Next Meeting Time

Borrowed this list from the CommuterDude blog. A bit late, but always useful tips for winter riding. Other winter riding tips courtesy of Urban Velo as well.

When the Alabama Legislature opens it’s 2010 session today, HB35 will be introduced.  Currently, there is no specific prohibition against operating a motor vehicle while electronic text messaging. This bill would prohibit a person from operating a motor vehicle while text messaging or operating a handheld global positioning system (GPS); would provide penalties; and would provide exceptions.

Maybe this one will pass.

Today at 2:30, two citizens approached Mayor Battle with petitions in hand containing an astounding number of signatures which were collected in a very short amount of time. Leela Pahl presented a petition with over 1400 signatures in support of Complete Streets and presented a summary of the comments that were recorded with them. Sharon Bayer also showed a short presentation for the benefit of the Mayor. Below is her report.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Hi all,

Meeting went well.

Attendees
Mayor Battle
Rex Reynolds
Rodney Baker
Jo Somers
Marie Bostick
James Moore
Shane Davis

Leela did a fantastic job of presenting the Complete Streets petition, stressing the 1,400 signatures that were able to be gathered in a very short period of time. She summarized the comments and noted that they were from folks in all walks/ages of life. The mayor seemed impressed and interested in reading the comments. (He was also impressed with Leela’s notes on recycled paper).

I presented the Complete Streets concept, as a followup to our Green 13 Town Hall comments…The transportation planning/engineering folks seemed knowledgeable, the Mayor was somewhat. He was interested in learning more, and very interested in the Sharrows, and I mentioned the Bike Pike as a good place to use as a pilot project for them. He also seems to be on board with all aspects of Complete Streets but admitted that Huntsville has a long way to go. Some future projects, such as sidewalk bulbouts on Holmes, were discussed.

I was not happy with the reaction to expanding the Mayor’s Ride to includes walkers/runners – there was concern that we do not yet have a good venue or plan plus “there are too many runs now”. I think their major concern is traffic control/street closures, and may have to be brought around to the concept. We will have to do some major convincing and planning for this.

We did discuss Active Living by Design – incorporating exercise into part of the daily routine and a “Healthy Huntsville” concept. I mentioned that there are several breakouts at the National Mayor’s Conference in DC later this month on this and how to make cities more sustainable, however Mayor Battle is not attending.

I also challenged Mayor Battle to send some staff to the Pro Bike/Pro Walk conference in Chattanooga…I think he definitely will send some folks since it is so close.

Talked with Jo Somers briefly after the meeting, she thinks that it will definitely help get some funding moved up for Complete Streets projects.

Sharon

What: BASC Meeting

When: Wednesday, 13-January, 2010 at 5:00pm

Where: 308 Fountain Circle (in GIS/Zoning Building meeting room)