a middlesex revelation · the “omnibike” bill massbike wrote and filed an act to reduce traffic...
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A Middlesex Revelation
Richard FriesExecutive Director
MassBike
What the Hell is MassBike?● Non-profit founded in 1977
● Works in all 351 municipalities● Teach Safe Routes to School in 53 percent of schools ● Provide Technical Assistance to DPH, MassDOT, EOPSS,
MPTC, MOTT, MBTA, etc. ● Serve on Design Exception Review Committee● Represent Mass for LAB at National Bike Summit
● Provide Lobbying and Legislative work ● Work with T4MA, VZ Coalition and ELM
● Maintain 2,000 members● Creating Seventh Chapter
● Held First Annual Advocacy Boot Camp in 2016● Named Richard Fries ED in 2015
The “Omnibike” Bill
MassBike wrote and filed An Act to Reduce Traffic Fatalities(S 1905/H 2877) which includes:
● Funds bicycling education in all public schools● Requires convex mirrors on most trucks ● Hands free cell phone requirement● Standardizes cycling signage
● Safe passing or “vulnerable users” law ● Legalizes camera enforcement
● Updates Ch. 85 S. 11B ● Establishes uniform crash reporting
State of Our State
● Complete Streets ● Safe Routes to School● Mass In Motion ● Statewide Bike Plan ● Bikes on The T● Design Exception Review ● The Omni-bike Bill● E14-0006 Design Criteria
Rising Bike Commuting Rates1990 to 2014
● United States: +62 % ● Boston: +148 %● Minneapolis: +186 % ● Philadelphia: +237 %● Portland: +400 %● Chicago: +507 %● Detroit: +662 %
All U.S. Cities Bicycle Mode Share?
● Somerville: 7.4 % ● Cambridge: 7.4%
● Both in the Top Five Nationwide ● Boston 2.7%
● Massachusetts Ranked No. 4
What’s Next for MassBike?Do We Train Weakness or Race Strength?
There are more than 250 rail-trail projects within 125 miles of Northampton, making this region the densest network of rail trails in North America.
20th Century: Sub-urbanization
Lobbying+Marketing+Advertising=
The Suburban Mythology?
Suburban Reality?
21st Century: Re-urbanization
Those Crazy Millennials...
People Aged 18 to 35: ● From 2001 to 2009 drove 23 percent LESS ● Their average VMT plummeted from 10,300 to 7,900 ● They took 15 percent fewer trips by car● They took 16 percent more trips by bike ● They increased their transit passenger miles 40
percent ● Their 2014 gas consumption was at a 10-year low
Those Crazy Millennials...
Comparing those Millennials WITH jobs paying >$70K from 2001 to 2011:
● Used transit 2x more● Biked 2x more● Walked 37 percent more
The Revelation…
MAPC Trailmap: Massachusetts
MAPC and the Landline
Challenge: Funding
● Interstate Highway System: 90 percent completed in 18 years● 100 percent completion in 40 years at a cost of $425 billion
(2006 dollars) ● Bruce Freeman Rail Trail: 26 percent completed in 32 years● MassDOT 5-year plan: $225 million for trails 2018-2022 ● Political Mandate + Cultural Mandate = Funding
Challenge: Funding
Challenge: Funding
Bigger Challenge: Culture
21st Century: Re-humanizing the ‘burbs
● Increasingly Popular● Highly Effective ● Politically benign● Reinvigorates town centers● Cures Congestion● Boston Bike Deaths 2016? 0● Lincoln Bike Deaths 2016? 2● Alter Suburbs; Alter
Everything
John Burke’s Revelation
John Burke’s Revelation
Latest MassDOT Projection?
Networks That Work: Copenhagen?
So Where is the Smart Money?
America’s New Technology Highway?
Opportunity: MAPC Trailmap Middlesex
Opportunity: Heat Map and MBTA
Opportunity: Proposed Trails and MBTA
Opportunity: Middlesex County
● 225 miles of current bike paths● 350 miles of paths proposed
● Intersection of Mass Central and Bruce Freeman● Minuteman Bikeway● Cochituate Trail
● Assabet River Trail ● Nashua River Rail Trail
● Upper Charles River Trail● 66 miles of aqueduct trails● 23 Commuter Rail Stations
● 11 Bike-Accessible Subway Stations● 25 percent of Beacon Hill lawmakers
Behold Limburg
Behold Limburg
The “Fietsroutenetwerk”
The “Fietsroutenetwerk”
AccommodationsEvents
Sport Cycling Lifestyle Cycling
Bike Friendly Cafes Bike Shops
Transit ConnectionsSchools
Universities
Can We Be the Netherlands of America?
TransitCommuter rail Inter-city rail Compact design Rail trail network Railbed inventory Road network Tourist attractions
Quality of life Public health
Sustainability Tourism
Attract the best studentsAttract and retain employersAttract and retain employees
The Northeast Corridor
What to Do?
Fund DCR PathsFund MAPC LandlineFund a “Gap” Analysis
Fund MassDOT Paths Initiatives Fund MBTA station Improvements
Fund MOTT Build a Statewide Coalition of Locally Engaged Groups
Build a Beacon Hill caucus
Pass a $1 Billion Greenway Bond Bill for 2019
So What Can YOU Do?
● Support Your Bike Shop ● Join Your Local Bike Advisory/Friends Group
● Join MassBike ● Get to Know Local Officials ● Get to Know State Officials
● Attend MassBike’s Advocacy Boot Camp Feb. 10● Donate WHAT You Can: Time, Energy, Money
Nothing in Government Moves Unless it is Pushed.
It’s Not about Being Right; It’s About Being Strong.
