Do Bike Paths Promote Cycling?

This question seems to depend on where you are and who you ask. There have recently been contradictory findings in several studies across the nation. The issue as examined in the journal Transportation, however, appears to favor the causation even when factors such as location, socioeconomic status, safety, and public transit availability are considered. Learn more here!

SAVE Radio Episode 7 - Interview with Sarah Sadowski

Sarah Sadowski is the chair of the Non-Motorized Travel Advisory Council, one of Helena's citizen directed advisory initiatives. She stopped by the studio this week to talk to us about what NMTAC is, who it is, and how it can serve you!
The Non-Motorized Travel Advisory Council came to be through a city ordinance several years ago, which sought to increase the level of cooperation accessibility between the citizenry and local government. The council primarily serves the purpose of providing input and recommendations for further transit development. It consists of seven citizen representatives and a government representative as well as non-member contributors and guests.
As with all civic pursuits, it works best when there is cooperation and understanding. Sarah repeatedly stressed that patience, goodwill and genuine concern for the community's interests as a whole are necessary to facilitate meaningful development in the council. Furthermore, the best results have come from those whose participation has been solution oriented. There have been multiple groups to come forward with a stated problem and propose their ideas for how a certain intersection or stretch of road could be improved. Remember, transit development is an inherently slow problem; there are many considerations to be made from the perspectives of engineering, urban planning, efficiency and viability, to name a few.
NMTAC meets every second Tuesday of the month in the City-County Building from 5:15-6:30. Check it out!

Music for you:
J Boogie's Dubtronic Science - Universal Dub
Thievery Corporation - Until the Morning (Rewound)
Bob Marley - Three Little Birds
Jurassic 5 feat. Dave Matthews Band - Work It Out
Fugees - No Woman, No Cry
Bluebeat - Train Line Dub
Herb'n Legends - John's Song
Santana - Soul Sacrifice/Don't Try This at Home
The Jimi Hendrix Experience - The Wind Cries Mary
Queen - Bicycle Race

SAVE Radio Episode 6 - Interview with Ryan Leland

City engineer Ryan Leland joined me on the show this week to discuss the processes and challenges of guiding Helena's transit growth, both in the immediate and long term future. We discussed how the city's' main modes of transportation had changed throughout the years, and is starting to come full circle with a growing emphasis on non-motorized and public transit options. For example, in the early 20th century, Helena actually had a trolly system! Given that most people didn't have personal transit, this made sense. Over the years though, with the advent of the automobile and the growth of the highways, people turned to personal vehicles. It has taken us almost a century to realize that this option is in the long term far more expensive and unsustainable than public or non-motorized transit, and our transit trends are beginning to again accommodate more to the cyclist, pedestrian, and bus rider.
We also discussed what it takes to maintain roads and sidewalks in this type of climate. It turns out that the thawing and freezing of water does a great deal more damage to roads than cars do. As water seeps into the cracks and pores of the pavement surface and then freezes, it tears apart the binding of the pavement, exacerbating potholes, ruts, cracks and other weaknesses in the street. The materials sciences behind street construction have come a long way even since 2000, but the city is still challenged to maintain the roads, which have been budgeted to be replaced every 100 years. That's tough.
Finally, we touched on the concept of connectivity and how to engineer a street that is inclusive of all its users. This means installing ADA friendly ramps and crosswalks, bike lanes, roundabouts, and a host of other features that subtly direct the flow of traffic and make the street a safer place for all users. For a few examples, take a look at the bulb-outs by Carroll College while driving down Benton or take a look at the walking mall's crosswalk on Broadway!


Playlist:
Peter Wolf Crier - Hard as Nails
Bowerbirds - In Our Talons
Foals - Miami
Delta Spirit - Trashcan
Dawes - When My Time Comes
Future Islands - Swept Inside
Built to Spill - Happiness
Arcade Fire - Wake Up
Fleet Foxes - Blue Ridge Mountains
Modest Mouse - Gravity Rides Everything

SAVE Radio Episode 5 - Interview with Melinda Barnes

This week I took the opportunity to interview local cycling expert and bike shop owner Melinda Barnes. Among the most important things we talked about were cycling safety, and how to ease yourself into cycling and the community if you're new to the scene. There are obvious reminders, such as wearing the appropriate safety gear (helmet, reflective clothes and lights), but there are also operational considerations that should be made at all times, such as being aware of your surroundings and making yourself as visible as possible. That includes making sure your intentions as a driver (you are considered a vehicle while on the road) are obvious and that you obey traffic laws and norms.
If you are interested in beginning cycling, either for recreation or commuting, be sure to pace yourself and adjust to what your body can handle. A good idea would be to bike once or twice a week to and from work. If it is quite a distance, see if you can bike to a place and get a ride from there, or find alternate means of transportation to accommodate your needs. Avoid technically demanding rides such as steep slopes and winding roads until you have the confidence to handle yourself safely. If you'd like more information, check out Big Sky Cycling and Fitness at 801 N. Last Chance Gulch or their website bigskybikes.com.


This week's tunes:
Miike Snow - Animal
Cults - Go Outside
Oh Land - Sun of a Gun
Reptar - Stuck in my Id
Matt and Kim - Lessons Learned
FM Belfast - Par Avion
Crystal Fighters - At Home
The Naked and Famous - Young Blood
Friendly Fires - Skeleton Boy
Dale Earnhardt Jr. Jr. - Vocal Chords
Theophilus London - I Stand Alone
Little Boots - New in Town

SAVE Radio Episode 4 - Trains and You

Trains seem to be an almost forgotten mode of transportation in our country. How many people can say that they've taken the train from East to West, or vice versa? It seems that modern day trains are relegated to city-wide light rails and freight lines. That may change, however given the inefficient and unsustainable nature of personal transit. Public transit is set to become a much larger portion of transportation in the coming years, in effect returning to the way that America used to popularly commute. Take a look at city photos from a century ago. You'll see trollies, trains, and carriages mingled in with those Ford Model Ts. We won't be going back to carriages (I don't think), but trains and busses will play an increasingly important factor in our lives. This broadcast focused on the future of trains in America, and how we can again rely on timely, efficient public transit. I don't have the space here to elucidate the many considerations and costs of such an endeavor, but they can all be found here: http://www.fra.dot.gov/rpd/passenger/31.shtml

SAVE Radio Episode 3 - Interview with Steve Coen

For those of you out there that like to mingle community, the rugged outdoors, and sports, this was the show for you! I had the good fortune of interviewing the owner of the Garage bike shop and president of the Gravity Guild, Steve Coen. We talked about how he has made a career of his passion for the sport of cycling (especially downhill, hence 'gravity') and how this led him from working at the Great Divide Cyclery to opening the Garage. It's a mix of hang-out, workshop, and community center that engages Helenans of all ages to learn about cycling and to meet their fellow community members. One of the most interesting facets of the shop is the DIY workbench that can be rented on a per-hour basis, along with the cycle maintenance and repair workshops that provide you with all the knowledge you need to keep on cycling. Check them out at 334 Jackson Street, or online at gravityguildgarage.com!
We also touched on what it means to be a part of the Gravity Guild, Helena's downhill cycling team. Along with representing the city on the regional competitive scene, the guild also brings tourists and competition to our own South Hills. The team creates and grooms trails, liaises for cooperation and good-will between cyclists and hikers, and also creates and coordinates competitions right here in Helena! Check out the blog and events tabs on their site for more information. These are meant to be inclusive of any interested community members, and many of their events can be done with almost any kind of bike. The competitive factor is up to you, of course.

The playlist for the day will be posted shortly, so stay tuned!

Transportation Policies and Your Health

This article out of San Diego makes a case for urban cycling development and makes use of some sad-but-true statistics to back up the need in such a heavily developed area:

http://www.utsandiego.com/news/2012/feb/17/transportation-laws-can-affect-health/