Walk and Bike Berks County

ACT NOW: Save Biking / Walking Funding!

2012-01-27T14:58:00.002-05:00

Gear Up for the First-ever National Bike to School Day

2012-01-19T11:28:00.000-05:00

Wednesday, May 9th Celebration
Part of 2012 National Bike Month

(CHAPEL HILL, N.C.) January 19, 2012 – Prepare to switch gears this spring. The National Center for Safe Routes to School announced today that it will be coordinating the first-ever National Bike to School Day on Wednesday, May 9, 2012.

Bike to School Day builds on the popularity and success of International Walk to School Day, which is celebrated across the country – and the world – each October, and encourages a bike-focused celebration in the month of May. The National Center, which serves as the information clearinghouse for the federal Safe Routes to School program, is planning the inaugural event in partnership with the League of American Bicyclists, the organization that leads the celebration of National Bike Month.
“Communities and schools have been holding spring walk and bicycle to school days for years,” said Lauren Marchetti, director of the National Center for Safe Routes to School. “This inaugural celebration not only provides an opportunity for schools across the country to join together to celebrate National Bike to School Day but also to build off of the energy of National Bike Month.”

“Celebrating Bike to School Day will increase the excitement surrounding 2012 National Bike Month,” said Andy Clarke, president of the League of American Bicyclists. “Bike Month – including Bike to Work Week and Bike to Work Day – has grown year after year and we’re pleased to add a school- and kid-focused event to the celebration this year.”

Save the date and stay tuned! A newly redesigned version of www.walktoschool.org will be unveiled in early April with more information about Bike to School Day and new event planning resources and tools, including a new GIS-powered walking and bicycling route mapping tool. A “Win a Bike Rack” contest is also being planned to help build excitement and encourage registration of both events and resources for this inaugural event. Bookmark www.walktoschool.org and check back often to learn more.
National Bike to School Day is based on the Walk to School Day model. Walk to School Day was founded in 1997 as a way to bring community leaders and children together to build awareness for communities to be more walkable. The one-day event has now grown to a month-long celebration. In 2011, students and parents from more than 4,000 U.S. schools joined millions of Walk to School Day and Month participants worldwide. The reasons for walking have grown just as quickly as the event itself. For more information, visit www.walktoschool.org.

Bike to School Day, a part of the National Bike Month, will be held on Wednesday, May 9, the week before Bike to Work Week and Bike to Work Day.

About the National Center for Safe Routes to School
Established in May 2006, the National Center for Safe Routes to School assists states and communities in enabling and encouraging children to safely walk and bicycle to school. The National Center serves as the information clearinghouse for the federal Safe Routes to School program with funding from the U.S. Department of Transportation Federal Highway Administration. Part of the University of North Carolina Highway Safety Research Center, the National Center also provides technical support and resources and coordinates online registration efforts for U.S. Walk to School Day and facilitates worldwide promotion and participation. For more information, visit www.saferoutesinfo.org.

About the League of American BicyclistsThe League of American Bicyclists promotes bicycling for fun, fitness and transportation, and works through advocacy and education for a bicycle‐friendly America. The League represents the interests of America's 57 million bicyclists, including its 300,000 members and affiliates. For more information or to support the League, visit www.bikeleague.org.

ATTN: Berks County Teachers

2012-01-13T12:53:00.001-05:00

Safe Routes Berks
A new project is being offered through a partnership of Berks County Intermediate Unit with Walk Bike Berks called “Safe Routes Berks.” The purpose of Safe Routes Berks is to encourage pedestrian and bicycle safety for Berks County K-8 students as they walk/bike to school or the bus stop. Safe Routes Berks instructors will provide curriculum, training, support, and resources for K-8 health and physical education teachers. The initiative, which is funded by a number of sources including US Department of Transportation, will cover all costs related to professional development ( including substitute fees for teachers, curriculum and other resources/materials).

Michele Barrett, Safe Routes Berks Program Manager, would like to organize a Curriculum Review and Steering Committee consisting of K-8 health and physical education teachers to provide guidance for the project. Committee representation will include public and non-public school:

Grades K-2 teachers (2)

Grades 3-4 teachers (2)

Grades 5-6 teachers (2)

Middle School or Junior High Teachers (2)

Committee members will be required to attend 3 evaluation sessions throughout 2012 and 2013, beginning February 14 and 15. Substitute fees will be reimbursed.

On-Line Registration Instructions

To begin, please visit the website listed below and follow the step-by-step instructions that will display on the screen. Steps are also listed below for your reference. We hope that you will find this online registration system user-friendly.

1. Go to BCIU's Website http://www.berksiu.org/
2. On the left hand side of the screen under quick links, click on “My Learning Plan”
3. Scroll down to Step One and click on the link "click here to view course catalog"
4. Click "view now"
5. Locate “Safe Routes Berks “Pilot”
6. Click on the title of the training
7. Click on "click to enroll"
8. Following registration procedures that apply to you:

I’m a registered user – select this option if you have already created a personal account in My Learning Plan (MLP).
I’m a new user – select this option if you do not have an account. By completing this you are establishing an account with a username and password in a secure location for future reference. You can update or change any of this information as needed.
I’m a My Learning Plan.com user – select this option if you have an account with MyLearningPlan.com

For more information about the course, please contact Michele Barrett at info@walkbikeberks.org.
For technical support on using the online registration system, please contact Heidi Gamler 610-987-8548.

Register by Wednesday, February 8

Attention Teen Drivers and Parents: New Regulations Take Effect Tuesday

2011-12-23T10:07:00.000-05:00

Click to view video

A new law updating the state’s Graduated Driver’s Licensing (GDL) law for young drivers will take effect on Tuesday, Dec. 27. That means changes for existing junior drivers and permit holders, as well as teens who obtain their permits after the 27th.
The law requires everyone under the age of 18 in a vehicle to be properly buckled up, whether in a seat belt or a child safety or booster seat. By making the failure to do so a primary offense, a law enforcement officer may pull over a driver if the officer sees that someone under age 18 is not securely fastened.
The law also increases the required number of hours of behind-the-wheel training for permit holders from 50 to 65. Ten of those hours must be at night and five logged during inclement weather. This applies to teens who do not yet have their permits or have their permits but have not yet passed the on-the-road driving skills test. If you have your permit and have already passed that test, you are required to have just 50 hours of behind-the-wheel training, though the additional hours might be helpful to you.
The third component of the law sets restrictions for the number of passengers in a vehicle driven by a teen. In the first six months of being licensed, a teen can only carry one, non-family passenger who is younger than 18. After the first six months and until the junior driver turns 18, a limit of three non-family passengers under age 18 is permitted.
If a junior driver has been involved in a reportable accident for which the junior driver is partially or fully responsible in the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation’s opinion, the one-person passenger limit will apply until age 18.

For more information on the new teen driver law, visit http://www.dmv.state.pa.us/teenDriversCenter/newTeenDriversLaw.shtml

Tell Senator Pat Toomey and Bob Casey to Support Complete Streets

2011-12-13T14:29:00.000-05:00

From our friends at PA Walks & Bikes
Posted on December 13, 2011 by Shayne

Now is our chance!
While we continue to work to preserve federal funding for bicycling and walking, there is an opportunity this week to ensure that federally funded transportation projects accommodate the needs and safety of all users — including pedestrians and bicyclists. This would be a real chance to see Complete Streets policies enacted in every state.
On Wednesday morning, the U.S. Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation will consider an amendment offered by Alaska Senator Mark Begich to provide safe and adequate accommodations for all users in all federally funded street projects. This means safer roads for everyone, including those who walk, bicycle, ride transit, or drive cars.
Your Senator is a member of this committee and we need you to voice your support TODAY for the Senator Begich amendment to S. 1950 on “safety for motorized and nonmotorized users.”
Please forward this message to all of your members and supporters, with a link to the League of American Bicyclists’ Action Center, where you can send an email directly to your Senator. Below, you’ll find a sample letter you can customize to send to your Senator, as well. Attached, you’ll find additional talking points and information about the amendment.

This is the first time in more than six years that our federal representatives will take a vote on Complete Streets language — please, take action TODAY!

Nat'l Safe Routes to School State Network Report RELEASED TODAY!

2011-12-08T08:32:00.000-05:00

In the winter of 2009, a board member of WalkBikeBerks rallied a large, diverse coalition of stakeholders across Pennsylvania to collaboratively write ands submit a grant application to build the Pennsylvania Safe Routes To School State Network Project.

The application was accepted, and with the leadership of Pennsylvania Walks & Bikes, the PA SRTS State Network Project launched in January of 2010.

Now, you can read the final report of those efforts, combined with the efforts of the other state networks across the nation.

Report includes policy successes, lessons learned and local success stories
The Safe Routes to School National Partnership’s state network project brings together state leaders to remove barriers to walking and bicycling to and from school. We write to share with you the National Partnership’s 2010-2011 report, entitled: Safe Routes to School State Network Project Final Report, 2010-2011: Phase II - Successes and Lessons Learned, which includes policy successes, lessons learned and local success stories that were a result of policy changes led by the 20 state network coalitions.
Key policy wins from each of the 19 network states and the District of Columbia included improvements to state Safe Routes to School programs that increased award and obligation rates for local community grant recipients and lower-income communities, policies creating street-scale improvements for walking and bicycling, school siting and joint use agreements, supporting lower-income communities and improving personal safety. State networks influenced the distribution of more than $100 million in Safe Routes to School funds.
This report was written by the Safe Routes to School National Partnership, a national network of more than 550 organizations. The report was funded by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, the nation’s largest health foundation. Originally launched in 2007 in 10 states, the project supported networks during 2010 and 2011 in California, Colorado, District of Columbia, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Illinois, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania*, Tennessee, Virginia and Wisconsin.
Collectively, the 20 state networks engaged more than 900 partner organizations and agencies as active participants in improving the built environment and increasing physical activity for children, with a focus on serving lower-income communities. The networks each made substantial improvements to transportation policies and funding allocations, safety, land use, the environment and public health. In some states, networks were the first statewide group to address particular policy issues.

Every Body Walk! Launches New App!

2011-12-02T12:12:00.000-05:00

Every Body Walk! is committed to get Americans up and moving. The Every Body Walk! app enables you to personalize your walking plan, connect with walking communities, learn about the latest fitness trends and tips and more. Get connected and get walking!

Track and save your own walking routes, build your walking history--then share your progress on Facebook!

Discover walking groups and walking paths near you with an interactive map! Read the latest news about walking, health news, trends and more!
Watch videos that include walking tips, how communities are embracing walking, advice from experts and more!
To download the app, please follow the links to either the iTunes or Android marketplaces:

iTunes (opens iTunes application)
itms://itunes.apple.com/us/app/every-body-walk/id462444656

Android Market
https://market.android.com/details?id=air.org.everybodywalk.everybodywalk

Two new videos are available for embed:
An app video tutorial:
http://www.everybodywalk.org/films-a-info/inspiration/every-body-walk-app-tutorial
A PSA with 3 case studies:
http://bcove.me/b1ykkbu4

THE WINTER CYCLIST

2011-11-29T14:26:00.001-05:00

A wintry chill is in the atmosphere,

As from the heaving lake the storm wind blows;
And weak-kneed brethren of the cycle fear
That brings the riding season to close.

Jack Frost assails us with his wicked thrusts;
Our polka-dotted mufflers are on guard
And many a good wheel in the basement rusts
Which should be speeding down the boulevard.

And shall we join the patient, suffering throng,
Which crowds the rumbling street cars to the door?
Which kicks against the service loud and long,
But keeps on riding as it did before?

Nay! Perish such a thought. On every street
The hardy wheelman has the right of way;
No ancient female comes to claims his seat;
No cable breaks, no lumbering teams delay.

Our hearts beat high, our life-blood dancing flows,
Though ice-flakes sparkle in the biting air;
While street-car heaters, every patron knows,
Are but a vain delusion and a snare.

The steed that bore us through the woods aglow
With sunshine, where the morning glories creep,
Will bear us safely through the mud-streaked snow
Until it lies at least five inches deep.

~PETER GRANT

2011-11-17T15:36:00.000-05:00

The lack of a safe passing bill is one reason Pennsylvania only rated 25th for bicycle friendliness by the League of American Bicyclists. PA's legislative grade was a C.
Pennsylvania is on the brink of joining ranks with those 18 states and there is now an opportunity for you to take action to urge passage of a state-wide safe passing bill.
Our friends at PA Walks and Bikes have let us know that at long last, Pennsylvania's House of Representatives recently passed a 4 foot safe passing bill, HB170. HB 170 will amend PA's motor vehicle code to provide the following protections:

Every car that passes a bike must give a minimum of 4-feet of clearance

It will be against the law for a motor vehicle driver to pass a bicyclist and then veer sharply in front of forcing you to jam on your brakes to avoid injury

It will be legal to ride a bike on the public road at less than the minimum speed

It will be legal for a driver to pass a bicyclist when it is safe to do so by crossing over a double line.

It's now up to the Pennsylvania Senate to pass HB170 with no amendments. If you are a Pennsylvania resident, please send a letter today to your state senator and follow up with a phone call to their office. Take action to help make Pennsylvania's roads safer for bicycling.

Annual Appeal

2011-11-14T11:57:00.000-05:00

http://myemail.constantcontact.com/News-from-Walk-Bike-Berks.html?soid=1102617254371&aid=C3W1kjAjf9M

Since 2008, WalkBikeBerks has been committed to improving walking and bicycling in Berks County. With the support of community members like yourself, we have achieved a number of accomplishments. I've listed some of those achievements on the left bar of this letter.

This year we are especially proud of the fact thatyour financial gifts and volunteer efforts helped more schools and parents celebrate International Walk to School Day on October 5 than ever before. We look forward to sharing an even more successful 2012 with you.

In order for WalkBikeBerks to continue our successes and to continue our work for you, we need your support.

Please consider making a donation or become a member for $35.00. By doing so, you will be helping us make walking and biking practical, convenient, and safe in Berks County.

Click Here to make a donation and become a member.

BREAKING NEWS: Governor Corbett signs ban on texting while driving in Pennsylvania

2011-11-09T11:48:00.000-05:00

Governor Corbett signs ban on texting while driving in Pennsylvania

Put down your cell phone! The Governor has made our streets a little safer today!

2011-11-08T08:26:00.003-05:00

From RAILS to TRAILS....

2011-11-03T12:30:00.000-04:00

Thank you!

This past Tuesday, Nov. 1, the U.S. Senate voted 60-38 against Senate Amendment 821. The amendment, introduced by Senator Rand Paul (Ky.) and which we notified you about late last week, would have eliminated the Transportation Enhancements (TE) program—the nation's largest funding source for trails, walking and bicycling.

The bipartisan vote signals, yet again, the tremendous support for TE in communities of all shapes and sizes around the country.

For more on the amendment and the vote, please see Rails-to-Trails Conservancy's "Breaking News" story on this victory.

Thank you,

Kevin Mills
Vice President of Program
Rails-to-Trails Conservancy

ALERT: Walking and Bicycling Safety are under attack!

2011-11-01T08:45:00.001-04:00

Federal funding for bike and pedestrian safety
is once again on the chopping block.
Senator Rand Paul has seized upon the very serious T4 America reports examining the woeful condition of our country’s bridges to force Americans to make an unnecessary choice: safety in our cars while crossing bridges or safety while walking or biking in our communities.

Tell your Senators that we don’t have to choose. Protect bike and pedestrian funding against this misguided attack.

Senator Paul’s amendment would also change the TIGER program — competitive grants awarded to all kinds of transportation projects — so that projects to make walking or biking safer won’t be eligible. The amendment would also redirect a relatively small amount of funding — 10 percent of the TIGER program — into bridge repair. At the cost of safety for everyone who uses a road, states would gain enough money to repaint a few bridges.

And there would still be no real plan to fix bridges. Here’s what you aren’t being told about bridge repair:

States can already take up to half of their money for bridge repair and spend it on new highway capacity, no matter the condition of their bridges. And states can already spend most of what’s usually the biggest pot of transportation funding on almost anything they want. They could fix bridges, build transit, highways, bridges, sidewalks; it's all eligible, and totally up to the states. No mandates from Washington.

This amendment will be offered on the floor of the Senate tomorrow (Tuesday).

Write or call your Senators and tell them that this proposal will do almost nothing to fix our bridges while making us less safe.

Thank you again for stepping forward to help.
Stephen Lee Davis
Deputy Communications Director

Transportation for America

Walk Bike Berks Photo Album

2011-10-18T11:03:00.001-04:00

Walk Bike Berks Photo Album, a group on Flickr.

See pictures of Safe Routes To School and International Walk to School Day Celebrations held in Berks County. Enjoy our entire photo album!

Exeter and Birdsboro students 'take a walk' to focus on health and safe walking habits - Southern Berks News - Berks-Mont News

2011-10-14T21:01:00.000-04:00

Exeter and Birdsboro students 'take a walk' to focus on health and safe walking habits - Southern Berks News - Berks-Mont News

Five Steps to Riding Better -- Thanks LAB

2011-10-12T11:38:00.000-04:00

1. Follow the Rules of the Road

Ride with traffic and obey the same laws as motorists.
Use the rightmost lane that heads in the direction that you are traveling.
Obey all traffic control devices, such as stop signs, lights, and lane markings.
Always look back and use hand and arm signals to indicate your intention to stop, merge or turn.

Reflective Leg Band

2. Be Visible

Ride where drivers can see you.
Wear brightly colored clothing at all times.
At night, use a white front light and red rear light or reflector.
Wear reflective tape or clothing.

3. Be Predictable

Ride in a straight line and don’t swerve between parked cars.
Make eye contact with motorists to let them know you are there.
Do not ride on the sidewalk.

4. Anticipate Conflicts

Be aware of traffic around you and be prepared to take evasive action.
Learn braking and turning techniques to avoid crashes.
Be extra alert at intersections.

5. Wear a Helmet

Make sure that the helmet fits on top of your head, not tipped back or forward.
After a crash or any impact that affects your helmet, visible or not, replace it immediately.

LOW DRIVING SPEED CAN CAUSE SERIOUS INJURY AND DEATH

2011-09-30T18:27:00.000-04:00

Exciting new research. Please read this Forbes article (link below) that points to a new AAA Foundation study on Vehicle Speed and a Pedestrian’s Risk of Severe Injury or Death. This study updates the well-known research from Great Britain and quantifies the increased vulnerability of older pedestrians. The best part, the AAA Foundation calls for traffic calming in urban areas.
Forbes article http://www.forbes.com/sites/tanyamohn/2011/09/30/low-driving-speed-can-cause-serious-pedestrian-injury-and-death-report-finds/

AAA Foundation Report http://www.aaafoundation.org/pdf/2011PedestrianRiskVsSpeed.pdf

RESCHEDLUED! WalkBikeBerks Youth Bicycle Class: TODAY AT 9AM

2011-09-13T12:26:00.003-04:00

Saturday Sept. 24, 2011
RESCHEDULED FOR TODAY AT 9AM.

See You Today.
WalkBikeBerks
WalkBikeBerks is hosting a League of American Bicyclists Youth skills class on Saturday, September 24 from 9 AM to 11 PM. This is a 2 hour class for youth up to age 13 where they will receive specific, individual attention from our L.A.B. certified bicycle instructor Benton Levengood with assistance from WalkBikeBerks members. Topics covered include how to perform a bicycle safety check, helmet fitting and bike sizing.

Bicycling1-2-3 is FREE to Birdsboro Children ages 6-13
When: Sat. Sept, 24, 2011
Time: 9 AM to 11 AM
Where: Birdsboro Elementary School (Upper playground lot/basketball court)

To register for this course, email a parent and child's full names, phone number and child's age to: info@walkbikeberks.org.
Class size is limited so please register early.

We are able to provide some participants free helmets due to the generosity of AAA Reading-Berks. Limited sizes available to children who need a helmet.

Note: ALL participants must wear a properly fitting helmet to participate in our education rides.

2011-09-11T14:30:00.002-04:00

Sunday, September 11, 2011
9/11 - Diminished and Challenged to Keep All Loved Ones Alive
A Repost from Keep Kids Alive Drive 25's Tom Everson
Death diminishes and challenges us all, no matter what the circumstances.
As we observe the 10th Anniversary of 9/11, memorial services are held in communities of all sizes across our country. Even some NFL players wear specially designed gear in support of families who experienced the loss of a loved one on that day, or in the ensuing conflicts that have been fought in Afghanistan, and Iraq. Thousands have died, and whether each of us personally new these victims, we along with their families are diminished due to the loss of the love and service they would have continued to share with family, friends, and others in need throughout our world.

I am reminded, too, that over 350,000 loved ones have died during the past 10 years on our nations roadways. Their family and friends also grieve the loss of love, friendship, and service that their children, siblings, parents, cousins, friends undoubtedly would have shared had they lived.

How are all the deaths of these loved ones connected? Quite simply, the death of anyone we care for, and who cared for us, is never easy, and we are all diminished by what might have been had they lived - through the tragedies of the Twin Towers, Shanksville, and the Pentagon, to the battlefields of the Middle East, to the death of a child at the hands of a speeding, texting, or stop-sign running driver. We imagine a high school graduation, a wedding, a future grandchild, a hug, an "I love you," a hike in the mountains together, sharing holidays and birthdays, and so much more. We often grieve for the possibilities of the future, for what could have been.

Within our sorrow, we are left not only with memories, but also of the challenge of new possibilities - of what we each can do to create a legacy in remembering all the life and love a daughter, son, brother, sister, mother, father, friend has shared with us. Over the 13 years that I have worked to grow Keep Kids Alive Drive 25, I have encountered families who, like many of the survivors of the tragedies of 9/11, work to bring great good into our world in memory of their loved one. Click on these links to learn their stories.

•Cady Ann Reynolds, Age 17, Omaha, NE
•Conor Lynch, Age 16, Van Nuys, CA
•Brianna Vitek, Age 16, Winona, MN
•Emily Jasmine Ranyak, Age 18, Merritt Island, FL
•Gabby Mair, Age 12, Deltona, FL
•Brandon McPherson, Age 16, Weatherby Lake, MO
•Erika Joy Rowan, Age 16, Cozad, NE
•Graeme Preston Age 12, Freehold NJ
•Nick Peters, Age 15, Wahoo, NE
•Matt Schmill, Age 23, Omaha, NE
•James Davis, Age 29, White Bear Lake, MN
•Maddison Hart, Age 5, Sikeston, MO
•Myles McCarron, Age 16, Lunenburg, MA

In addition, these families have enacted redeeming actions on behalf of drivers, pedestrians and cyclists in memory of their loved ones:

•Sean Martin has tirelessly worked with local officials and schools in Miami Lakes, FL in honor of his son, Shaye, struck by a speeding motorist while walking on the sidewalk in a school zone. Shaye's photo appears on the above banner.

•Barbara Foster, along with her State Representative and many friends worked to see "Kyle's Law" through to passage to allow Texas communities to more easily lower their residential speed limits.

•Karen Steffan initiated Keep Kids Alive Drive 25 in Waukesha, WI in honor of Ashley - whose photo appears on the banner above.

•Natalie DeLeon's mother, Beatriz, daily efforts working with Massachusetts legislators to enact a primary seat belt law in her honor.

•The Henry family of Yardville, NJ set up an educational scholarship in honor of Anthony.

•The Diffenderfers of Perkiomenville, PA created a butterfly garden for the community in honor of 2 year-old Anna.

•The Faust family of Lees Summit, MO doggedly worked to address engineering challenges that factored in to Justin's death.

•The Lloyd family of Omaha set up a scholarship fun in honor of Shannon to support one or more classmates upon their graduation from high school in 2012.

As we embrace the life we have been given, each of us is challenged each day to live a life worthy of creating a legacy that can benefit others. We can start by paying attention to how our driving behaviors can make all the difference in keeping others, and ourselves, safe on and around roadways of all kinds. Begin today by visiting "Get Started to Keep Kids Alive."
Contact: Tom Everson

Invest in Transportation Infrastructure

2011-09-09T17:49:00.003-04:00

Investing in Transportation Infrastructure for All: A Statement from the America Bikes coalition
9/8/2011 - America Bikes has issued a statement supporting President Obama’s call for a “clean” extension of SAFETEA-LU. In this statement we also urge Congress to reject House Republicans’ demands that funding for bicycling and walking be stripped from the bill. Read America Bikes' statement right here.

Click the image Twice to Read this in Large Print
To learn more about America Bikes, click here: http://www.americabikes.org/news/

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September is National Childhood Obesity Month

2011-09-07T08:46:00.000-04:00

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Celebrate by walking and bicycling to school

President Obama and Congress proclaimed September 2010 the first-ever Childhood Obesity Awareness Month, calling national attention and action to this epidemic. This year, advocates are building on that success in planning for the second National Childhood Obesity Awareness Month and have provided a toolkit to support your efforts. This is your opportunity to unite with leaders in the White House and Congress, with the Governor of your state and Mayor of your city and with all in your community who care about our youth and the health of our nation today and tomorrow. Here are some highlights:

National, state and local leaders are called on to support and observe National Childhood Obesity Awareness month this September.

Organizations around the United States will plan and carry out activities that build awareness about childhood obesity and encourage action.

Individuals will take steps to help reverse the rise of childhood obesity.

Every person in the US can be an important part of Childhood Obesity Awareness Month by taking small steps (think walking and bicycling to school!) that add up to a big difference: eating more balanced meals and snacks, engaging in physical activity more regularly and sharing your personal plan and commitment with family and friends of all ages.
This toolkit provides information, weblinks and tools to promote and celebrate September as National Childhood Obesity Awareness Month. Use hashtag #childobesity in your tweets this month to join the conversation during National Childhood Obesity Awareness Month.

Walking School Bus

2011-08-29T11:21:00.000-04:00

Why develop a walking school bus?

Studies show that fewer children are walking and biking to school, and more children are at risk of becoming overweight. Changing behaviors of children and parents require creative solutions that are safe and fun.

Implementing a walking school bus can be both.

http://www.walkingschoolbus.org/

After you have visited this page and explored it's contents, please answer: 1. What is a walking school bus?

2. What do you think a bicycle train is?

3. How might either of these help you to develop active transportation plans for your students?

GREEN DRINKS: Wednesday

2011-08-11T21:31:00.000-04:00

Green Drinks

Wednesday, August 17, 2011

Green Drinks Reading
Join us for Green Drinks Reading!
Every third Wednesday at ViVA Bistro & Tapas Lounge
5:30-7:30pm

TOPIC

WalkBikeBerks will be speaking about Safe Routes To School (SRTS) and International Walk To School Day taking place on October 5th. SRTS promotes children walking and biking safely to and from school. October 5th, Walk To School Day is an international recognized day that promotes and encourages children to walk and bicycle to school on a regular basis. Since childhood obesity is a national epidemic, SRTS focuses on the health benefits as well as not only being good for the environment. The hope is that children will continue walking and biking throughout their lives. We will also discuss: How your school can participate in SRTS as well as WalkBikeBerks assisting schools and parents in this endeavor. We will give examples of Berks County schools that have SRTS programs and events. We will be including the five E’s of SRTS : Education, Encouragement, Enforcement, Engineering, and Evaluation. Cash bar and food will be available for purchase.

Safety Day at Chic-Fil-A

2011-08-09T16:19:00.000-04:00

Safety Day
Saturday
August 20
11 AM - 2 PM
Join us at Chick-fil-A Exeter for this fun and important back-to-school event! We will join the police and fire departments, who will all offer fun activities and useful information. Plus, enter to win one of four bike helmets! Don't miss it!

Mom gets choice in hit-run case: New trial or probation | ajc.com

2011-07-26T11:34:00.000-04:00

Mom gets choice in hit-run case: New trial or probation | ajc.com

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Results for #RaquelNelson

2011-07-26T10:54:00.000-04:00

Win Four Phillies Tickets On Ebay and Build Better Walking and Bicycling!

2011-07-25T18:28:00.002-04:00

Ebay Auction Now Open:
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=220819458323#shId

Donations support WalkBikeBerks!

Sprawl: Pedestrians and Transit Riders Come Last

2011-07-23T10:06:00.001-04:00

Pedestrians and transit riders come last [VIDEO]13

by Sarah Goodyear
21 Jul 2011 2:02 PM

Watch the full episode.
After my post yesterday about the devastating case of Raquel Nelson -- the Atlanta-area woman who was convicted of vehicular homicide after her son was struck by a driver while they were crossing a busy road -- I've been hearing from a lot of readers.
Commenter pdxcityscape posted a link to a PBS Blueprint America segment I can't believe I hadn't seen yet.
It exposes the dangerous design flaws on another Atlanta-area road, Buford Highway, and explains how outdated, auto-centric planning standards fail to serve an increasingly poor and carless suburban population. The results are often fatal. It's a terrific report. If you care about this stuff, watch the whole thing.
.....

Four Days: Phillies Tickets and More!

2011-07-20T19:23:00.001-04:00

You are Invited to the Open House

Sunday

July 24

1-4 PM

Gilbertsville

Complete Streets Slide Show: Because Streets Should Be Built for All Road Users

2011-07-14T12:48:00.001-04:00

Click on the Image to See the many different ways others in our nation are completing their streets.

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You are Invited

2011-07-10T17:09:00.000-04:00

REGISTER HERE

MORE ROADS = MORE TRAFFIC

2011-07-09T20:17:00.000-04:00

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An interesting discussion on NPR. Take a listen.

"...For decades, urban areas across the country have been adding lanes and building roads in an effort to fight congestion, but a recent study by the University of Toronto says that these tactics aren't actually all that effective.
The study looked at the largest metropolitan cities in the U.S. and found that widening and building more roads actually creates more traffic."

To listen to the full discussion on NPR click here: http://www.npr.org/2011/07/09/137708751/more-roads-may-pave-way-to-more-traffic

State Rep Mark Gillen Responds to My Letter -- Have You Written Yet?

2011-06-27T17:05:00.000-04:00

Dear Michele,
Thank you for your email regarding House Bill 1475, which provides for convictions and points, for speed timing devices, and for specific powers of department and local authorities. Please know that HB 1475 was referred to the House Transportation Committee on May 5, 2011. I am not on the Transportation Committee and, therefore, cannot vote to bring it to the House floor. Rest assured, however, that I will keep your comments in mind if or when this legislation comes before me on the floor. Again, thank you for your email. It is always helpful to have constituent input as I seek to represent the 128th legislative district.

-----------------------------------------------
Mark Gillen
State Representative
128th Legislative District
------------------------------------------------
District Office
29 Village Center Drive
Suite A-7
Reading, PA 19607
Phone: (610) 775-5130
Fax: (610) 775-3736
------------------------------------------------
Harrisburg Office
409 Irvis Office Building
PO Box 202128
Harrisburg, PA 17120
Phone: (717) 787-8550
Fax: (717) 783-7862
_________________________________________________
My email message to Rep Gillen was:

Action I would like to see: HB 1475:

Please consider that speed timing devices such as radar are traffic calming devices that save lives.

Traffic Calming Statistics

Most pedestrian fatalities occur in urban areas (73%) at non intersection locations (77%) in normal weather conditions (90%) and at night (67%). (NHTSA, 2007)
Road traffic crashes are the leading cause of death among young people (ages 10-24) in the world. (World Health Organization)
They are also the leading cause of death among children in the United States. (United States Center for Disease Prevention)
Speeding is the single most common traffic rule violation and contributes to one third of all road traffic crashes . (World Health Organization)
Traffic Calming measures are a key intervention to road traffic crashes and deaths. (World Report on Road Traffic Injury Protection)
If current trends continue, the number of people killed and injured on the world's roads will rise by more than 60% between 2000 and 2020. (World Health Organization)
In 2005 there were nearly 3 million people injured on the roads in the United States. (US Department of Transportation, Federal Highway Administration)
There were 43,443 people killed on US roads in 2005 alone (US Department of Transportation, Federal Highway Administration)
There are an average of 117 fatalities per day due to traffic incidents (US Department of Transportation, Federal Highway Administration)
30% of the people killed in traffic accidents each day are under 25 (US Department of Transportation, Federal Highway Administration)
Each year, 400,000 people under age 25 die in traffic accidents, averaging more than 1,000 deaths a day. (World report on Road Traffic Injury Protection)
In 2005, traffic accidents killed an average of 4 children under the age of 14 each day and injured 556 daily. In total, 203,000 children were injured and 1,451 were killed. (National Center for Health Statistics 2006 Report)
Two thirds of children who are hurt or killed in traffic accidents are struck and injured within several blocks (.25 miles) of their homes (American Journal of Public Health)

State Representative Thomas J. Quigley Responds!

2011-06-22T12:21:00.001-04:00

Dear Ms. Barrett:

Thank you for your e-mail regarding HB 1041 and SB 526. I have supported these measures in the past and will continue to do so in the future.

Thanks again for taking the time to share your thoughts with me.

Thomas J. Quigley
State Representative
146th Legislative District
717-772-9963 (Harrisburg Office)
610-326-9563 (District Office)

A Response from Senator Jay Costa, Jr, 43rd District

2011-06-20T13:37:00.002-04:00

Dear Ms. Barrett:
Thank you for contacting me to express your support for legislation that would amend the Pennsylvania Vehicle Code to allow local police departments to employ radar guns as a way to monitor speeding on our roads. Under current law, only the Pennsylvania State Police may employ radar guns. I appreciate your interest in this legislation, and I understand your support for the use of this device by local law enforcement.

As you may be aware, the General Assembly is currently considering legislation that would make this change. Senate Bill 526 is currently under the consideration of the Senate Transportation Committee, while House Bill 1041 is before the House Transportation Committee. These bills would make substantial changes to the way in which our speed limits are enforced, and it is important that we carefully consider the impact of these changes. If legislation on this issue should come before me, I will take your support and the local needs that you mentioned into consideration.

Once again, thank you for contacting me about this matter. Please feel free to contact me if I can assist you in any way.

Sincerely yours,
Senator Jay Costa, Jr.
43rd District
JC/jlg

Sample Letter to Your State Elected Leaders:

Honorable Representative _____________________:
Allowing local police to use radar will make our communities safer. Pennsylvania is the only state in the nation that does not allow local police departments to use radar for the purpose of speed enforcement.

In 2009 Pennsylvania suffered 32,669 speed-related car crashes, 538 of them fatal. According to the PennDOT Crash Facts & Statistics Report, these crash and fatality rates are higher than PAʼs rates of alcohol, careless, and distracted driver accidents combined.

HB 1041 and SB 526, both introduced this session, are similar bills that would allow
accredited local police departments to use radar in speed enforcement.
Every year hundreds of motorists are killed in speeding-related accidents. Radar is a proven, effective law enforcement tool to stop drivers jeopardizing othersʼ safety by disobeying speed limits. By keeping these tools out of the hands of local police departments, law enforcement offices are limited in the tools that they have available to promote safe streets.

HB 1041 and SB 526 will make our communities safer by empowering local police departments to use a tool the Pennsylvania State Police have been using effectively since 1961. These bills will improve the safety of pedestrians, bicyclists, motorists, and all others interacting with roadways patrolled by local police enforcement agencies.

Sincerely,
YOUR NAME HERE

Imagine: ZERO ROAD TRAFFIC DEATHS

2011-06-15T11:32:00.004-04:00

Learn More.

MONEY MONEY MONEY + How To Begin!

2011-06-13T16:08:00.003-04:00

June Newsletter is Packed with Grant Information and How to Guides. You don't want to miss this issue!

http://myemail.constantcontact.com/Plan-Your-October-Walk-Event.html?soid=1102617254371&aid=iXo5T2cwW0w

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A Letter From Transportation For America

2011-06-06T13:01:00.003-04:00

Shouldn't federal dollars build safer streets than this?

Imagine the horror of losing your child, your friend or your family member simply because they were walking in the wrong place at the wrong time. To those who haven’t experienced this kind of tragedy, it may sound paranoid and unlikely but the fact is, it happens – a lot.

From 2000 to 2009, 47,700 Americans were simply walking when they were struck and killed. Another 688,000 were injured in that same time period – meaning a pedestrian was hit by a car or truck every 7 minutes for the past ten years.

Join us in asking your lawmakers to support legislation that will ensure that new and reconstructed roads are built to be safe for everyone that uses them.
Despite the incredible magnitude of these avoidable tragedies, the federal government and many state departments of transportation have made a dangerous choice, prioritizing the movement of cars over the safety of all people, even in our neighborhoods.

Two-thirds of these deaths occurred on roads built to federal guidelines, typically with federal funding. Shouldn’t our federal transportation dollars build roads that are safe for all users?

We know that prioritizing safety with federal transportation dollars and policy saves lives. Efforts to improve vehicle design, encourage seat belt and child car seats, and discourage drunk and distracted driving have resulted in a 27 percent reduction in traffic fatalities over the last decade. But the dangerous conditions for pedestrians have largely gone unaddressed and fatalities have barely budged.

Clearly, the system is broken and it's time to fix it!

Ask your senators and representative to ensure that federal dollars don’t build roads that are “dangerous by design.” Ask your congressional delegation to support the Safe and Complete Streets Act of 2011, ensuring federal transportation investments take into account the needs of everyone using the road.

Our transportation system should work for everyone. It's time to fix it to make it safe, reliable, and accessible for everyone!

Sincerely,
Stephen Lee Davis
Deputy Communications Director
Transportation for America

Allowing local police to use radar will make our communities safer

2011-05-25T18:32:00.002-04:00

Pennsylvania is the only state in the nation that does not allow local police departments to use radar for the purpose of speed enforcement. In 2009 Pennsylvania suffered 32,669 speed-related car crashes, 538 of them fatal. According to the PennDOT Crash Facts & Statistics Report, these crash and fatality rates are higher than PAʼs rates of alcohol, careless, and distracted driver accidents combined.

HB 1041 and SB 526, both introduced this session, are similar bills that would allow accredited local police departments to use radar in speed enforcement.

Every year hundreds of motorists are killed in speeding-related accidents. Radar is a proven, effective law enforcement tool to stop drivers jeopardizing othersʼ safety by disobeying speed limits. By keeping these tools out of the hands of local police departments, law enforcement offices are limited in the tools that they have available to promote safe streets.

HB 1041 and SB 526 will make our communities safer by empowering local police departments to use a tool the Pennsylvania State Police have been using effectively since 1961. These bills will improve the safety of pedestrians, bicyclists, motorists, and all others interacting with roadways patrolled by local police enforcement agencies.

EMAIL YOUR STATE LEGISLATOR NOW: CLICK HERE.

Tell Congress: Don’t Sacrifice Safety

2011-05-24T15:41:00.005-04:00

Americans are dying on our roads every day – and our poorly designed roads are to blame.
We can’t let Congress cut the already meager funding for pedestrian and bike safety.
Tell your lawmakers not to risk lives. Protect and increase bike & pedestrian funding.

Click Here to Take Action!

If a jumbo jet went down every month, Congress would pass laws left and right. If a consumer product injured someone every seven minutes, the feds would shut down production.

Well, that’s exactly how many Americans are being killed and injured in the act of walking pedestrian-unfriendly streets, according to our report, out today. But in the case of pedestrian safety, our federal tax dollars actually go to build streets that are designed to be perilous to children, the elderly and everyone else.

And yet, right now, some in Congress are trying to kill funding for projects to make it safer to walk and bicycle!

Join us - ask your representative and senators in Washington to show us that they take pedestrian and bike fatalities seriously.

Our Dangerous by Design research found that more than 47,700 Americans were struck and killed while walking and another 688,000 were injured from 2000 to 2009. The highways-only lobby insists that pedestrian safety is a “frill” and a local responsibility. But 67 percent of these fatalities over the last 10 years occurred on federal-aid roads — roads eligible to receive federal funding or with federal guidelines or oversight for their design.

That’s right: Federal programs have encouraged state departments of transportation to prioritize speeding traffic over the safety of people in our neighborhoods and shopping districts.

The irony is that fixing these conditions is relatively cheap: Existing funds for that purpose – now targeted for elimination -- amount to less than 1.5 percent of the current federal transportation outlay. A policy of giving federal support only to “complete streets” that are designed for the safety of people on foot or bicycle as well as in cars would cost next to nothing.

Tell Congress: it's no time to start cutting funding that helps keep pedestrians safe.

Thank you for helping fix our transportation system to make it safe, reliable, and accessible for everyone!

End Distracted Driving

2011-05-23T12:14:00.001-04:00

On May 18, 2008, Jacy Good and her parents attended her graduation ceremony at Muhlenberg College in Allentown, Pennsylvania. On the way home, a young driver talking on his cell phone ran a red light, causing a tractor-trailer to swerve and crash into the Goods' vehicle. Jacy was critically injured, and both of her parents, Jean and Jay Good, were killed instantly. Jacy spent four months in the hospital and still spends much of her time in physical and occupational therapy.

In 2010, Jacy joined the board of FocusDriven, the first national nonprofit organization devoted specifically to raising awareness about the dangers of texting and cell phone use while driving.

For more information, please visit www.distraction.gov. To share your story, upload a video to YouTube and email the link to faces@distraction.gov.

‘Dangerous by Design’ report faults systematic inattention to pedestrian safety

2011-05-21T16:01:00.006-04:00

Repost of Kaid Benfield's article:

Kaid Benfield's Blog Switchboard, from NRDC
Transportation for America's website introduces its important new report, Dangerous by Design, with an attention-grabbing statistic:

"In the last 15 years, more than 76,000 Americans have been killed while crossing or walking along a street in their community. More than 43,000 Americans - including 3,906 children under 16 - have been killed this decade alone. This is the equivalent of a jumbo jet going down roughly every month, yet it receives nothing like the kind of attention that would surely follow such a disaster."

The report's central point, a critical one, is that this tragedy is not recurring merely because of accident: many of these deaths are preventable. A huge portion occurs along streets and roads that have been engineered exclusively or primarily for fast, efficient car travel, with little or no provision for people on foot, in wheelchairs or on a bicycle. The roads frequently do a poor job of accommodating public transit as well; many pedestrian injuries and deaths occur near bus stops.

Transportation for America (T4America) stresses that these facts are occurring with little attention other than hand-wringing in many jurisdictions precisely at a moment in our history when walking, bicycling, and taking transit are becoming more important. The public health community now recognizes that "active transportation" helps promote fitness and reduce obesity and related disease; environmental professionals know that we must reduce automobile dependence in order to reduce global warming emissions; and economic analysts advise that we can no longer afford the infrastructure necessary to underwrite continuing automobile supremacy in the context of a growing population.

Over the last several decades, according to Dangerous by Design (co-written with the Surface Transportation Policy Partnership), ever-widening arterial highways have drawn increasing numbers of shopping centers, drive-through services, apartment complexes and office parks. But the pressure to move as many cars through these areas as quickly as possible has led transportation departments to squeeze in as many lanes as they can, often designing out sidewalks, crosswalks and crossing signals, on-street parking, and even street trees in order to remove impediments to motorized traffic:

"As a result, more than half of fatal vehicle crashes occurred on these wide, high capacity and high-speed thoroughfares. Though dangerous, these arterials are all but unavoidable because they are the trunk lines carrying most local traffic and supporting nearly all the commercial activity essential to daily life. These roads have an enormous impact on residential neighborhoods, as well: For example, a recent AARP poll of adults 50 years and older found that 40% reported inadequate sidewalks in their neighborhoods and nearly half of respondents reported that they could not safely cross the main roads close to their home."

This report, which ranks metro areas on the degree of risk presented to pedestrians, also analyzes state and regional spending of federal transportation dollars on pedestrian safety. It finds that many of the regions in greatest need of improvement are, unfortunately, spending the least amount on pedestrian safety projects. Nationwide, less than 1.5 percent of funds authorized under current federal transportation law have been allocated for projects to improve the safety of walking and bicycling, even though pedestrians comprise 11.8 percent of all traffic deaths and trips made on foot account for almost 9 percent of total trips.

To be honest, I'm not a huge fan of ranking cities or states on their performance, because one can always quibble with methodology. But they are immensely popular with the media and thus have become a tried-and-true staple of our business. And they do provide a rough indication of where the greatest problems (or successes) lie. Here are the report's top ten most dangerous metro areas for walking:

1.Orlando-Kissimmee, FL
2.Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater, FL
3.Miami-Fort Lauderdale-Pompano Beach, FL
4.Jacksonville, FL
5.Memphis, TN-MS-AR
6.Raleigh-Cary, NC
7.Louisville/Jefferson County, KY-IN
8.Houston-Sugar Land-Baytown, TX
9.Birmingham-Hoover, AL
10.Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Marietta, GA

[Click Here to PA Fact Sheet.]

All but one or two (depending on how you count Louisville and Memphis) are sprawling Sun Belt locations. That's pretty much true for numbers eleven through twenty as well. The five safest, relatively speaking? Minneapolis, Boston, New York, Pittsburgh, and Seattle.

The researchers based the rankings on an index that corrects for the fact that cities where more people walk on a daily basis are also likely to have a greater number of pedestrian fatalities, by computing the rate of pedestrian deaths relative to the amount of walking residents do on average.

The report also highlights community actions that can work to lower the risk to pedestrians and cyclists, including street design, "complete streets," safe routes to school programs, and walkable neighborhoods. All of these should be promoted in the upcoming federal transportation reauthorization, say the authors, and I agree. Go here for the introduction and here to download the full report.

Kaid Benfield writes (almost) daily about community, development, and the environment. For more posts, see his blog's home page.

This is a repost: ‘Dangerous by Design’ report faults systematic inattention to pedestrian safety Kaid Benfield's Blog Switchboard, from NRDC

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Switchboard is the staff blog of the Natural Resources Defense Council, the nation’s most effective environmental group. For more about our work, including in-depth policy documents, action alerts and ways you can contribute, visit NRDC.org.

IT IS BIKE TO WORK DAY -- SET YOUR ALARM

2011-05-19T22:52:00.000-04:00

http://myemail.constantcontact.com/MAY-20---BIKE-TO-WORK.html?soid=1102617254371&aid=w2lRHkoBrn0

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Bicycling 1-2-3: FREE to children ages 6-13

2011-05-17T22:04:00.001-04:00

League of American Bicyclist' Bicycling 123 - Youth course

Saturday May 21
10:00 AM

Exeter May Days
Exeter Sr High School, Exeter Township [by tennis courts]
This is a skills course for youth up to age 13.

Fee: FREE to all children in Berks County ages 6-13

To register for this course, email both a parent and child's full names, phone number and child's age to info@walkbikeberks.org.

Note: We are able to provide some participants free helmets due to the generosity of AAA Reading-Berks. Limited sizes available to children who need a helmet.

Note: ALL participants must wear a properly fitting helmet to participate in our education rides.

Join, Ride, Win!

2011-05-17T15:42:00.004-04:00

May is Bike Month
Membership Special: $20.00 [Save 40%]
Checks or Money Orders may be made payable to:
WalkBikeBerks
PO BOX 6795
Wyomissing, PA 19610

Bike To Work Day, Friday May 20, 2011
6:45 AM Register Brentwood Trail Head
7:00 AM Ride to Berks County Services Building
8:00 AM Assemble at Berks County Services Building

Win Prizes! Bike Month Challenge

Help us make your neighborhood better for walking and biking. Join us today.

NEWS: Simple change can make area friendly to pedestrians

2011-05-17T10:09:00.001-04:00

Simple change can make area friendly to pedestrians (5/17/11)

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Reading's Mayor McMahon invites people to bike to work Friday - Berks Community Television - Berks County & Reading PA: Environment

2011-05-16T19:52:00.000-04:00

Reading's Mayor McMahon invites people to bike to work Friday - Berks Community Television - Berks County & Reading PA: Environment: "Mayor Thomas M. McMahon is inviting residents and commuters to
jump on their bicycles and ride to work on Friday, May 20, as part
of National Bike Month …"

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FRIDAY MAY 20 IS BIKE TO WORK DAY!

2011-05-15T09:50:00.003-04:00

Bike to Work Day

May 20, 2011 www.walkbikeberks.org

6:45 AM Registration Brentwood Trailhead

7:00 AM Ride to Berks County Services Building

8:00 AM Assemble at Berks County Services Building

Light Refreshments Provided

For more information, contact us at info@walkbikeberks.org

Bike Month Membership Special
Join for just $20.00 during May
~Make Checks or Money Orders payable to WalkBikeBerks~
WalkBikeBerks
PO BOX 6795
Wyomissing, PA 19610

TAKE ACTION for Safer Streets

2011-05-05T10:04:00.006-04:00

◦
I am home! A bit of sunburn and some tired legs -- I have completed 75 miles to our State Capitol on foot. I feel accomplished.

But my steps to the Capitol weren't just for my own sense of pride -- I walked to the State Capitol so that others can walk in their own neighborhoods -- safe from the real threat of serious injury or death simply because they have to walk across or along a street to get from one place to another. Our Streets are Dangerous By Design -- and I know that we can do more to save more lives.

By putting one foot in front of the other and walking forward toward safer streets -- I learned a few things from my journey:

Trails are transportation. There were many who I met along the way who were using the trails to commute to work or school. Rails-to-Trails are great pedestrian infrastructure -- scenic and safe; however, a seamless, connecting system would have made my 75 miles much easier.

Trails cross streets and people in cars need to be provided signs or street markings to let them know that vulnerable pedestrians might be on the road. (See trail crossing in the picture to the left.) Too often -- when the trails I walked crossed streets -- there was absolutely nothing provided to let the motorists know that I might be crossing the street.

Wide shoulders along rural roadways will save lives! Many bicyclists and walkers (including me) elect to travel roads that are less heavily traveled by cars and trucks because we feel safer "out of the way" of fast moving traffic. The problem I faced was, while walking along winding roads with rolling hills -- too often a car driver could not see me at all -- and I had absolutely nowhere to go to be out of the way of danger. The narrow roads drop off suddenly, with no space for a bicycle tire or person's foot to 'get off the road' -- and too often guide rails come right to the road's edge -- pinning me in front of a fast moving truck! It was scary out there!

There seems to be confusion in the design of infrastructure between urban, suburban, and rural systems. When I crossed from rural to suburban landscapes -- the infrastructure was patchy at best. Too often, sidewalks (something I was always relieved to see on my walk) were not connected to wide shoulders, a trail link, or each other. So -- what I found instead were sidewalks to nowhere. I felt safe and comfortable walking on sidewalks -- and it seemed to me by the expressions on drivers' faces -- they too were happier to see me on "real" pedestrian infrastructure and out of their travel lane. However, too often, the sidewalks ended ubruptly, and I had no choice but to return to the dangerous side of a street designed for fast moving traffic.

Now: What can we do about all of this? Really simple - and only a minute of your time today!

TAKE ACTION NOW: Click Here!

SAFE PASSING LAW

BRIDGES, SHOULDERS, ROAD SURFACE, ETC.

SAFE ROUTES TO SCHOOL

Pennsylvania is the most beautiful place to walk in the world. We will do well to build eco-tourism in our state. I am already eager to do this again next year: let me know if you would like to join me!

PA Walks & Bikes Summit -- MAY 4

2011-05-01T21:18:00.002-04:00

The annual PA Walks and Bikes Summit will be held next week on Wednesday May 4! If you have not yet registered, please do so now at this link. Please register ahead of time to ensure that we are prepared for you and, most importantly, that we have a lunch for you.

Register Now!

Schedule of Events

•9:00 – Arrive at City Island in Harrisburg for the ride and walk to the Capitol.
•9:30 – Ride and walk depart from City Island for the steps of the State Capitol.
•10:00 – Rally on the steps of the State Capitol.
•11:00 – 3:00 – Meetings with members of the General Assembly, as schedules permit, and literature drop. We will use Hearing Room 5 in the Keystone Building as our base location.
•12:00 – Keynote address and advocacy discussion over lunch. Hearing Room 5 in the Keystone Building.

Policy positions are available now

Are you curious about what our priorities will be next week at the Summit? PA Walks and Bikes is releasing a series of one-page policy positions that will guide our outreach. Many of them are available now. You can find our positions on important issues at these links:

•Safe bicycle passing
•Comprehensive transportation funding
•Safe routes to school

Check out the PA Walks and Bikes website for even more policy statements! They will be releasing policy recommendations on the following: a fully funded bicycle and pedestrian office, distracted driving laws, and regulations impacting your community's ability to add bike lanes to state roads.

Schedule appointments with your elected officials

If you are coming to the Summit, we encourage you to make appointments with your state senator and representative ahead of time to make the most of this opportunity. If you've never done this before, check out this link for step by step instructions to get an appointment with your elected officials or their staff. If you have any questions, contact Josh at pawalkbike@gmail.com or 717-856-2814 and he will help you out. See you next week!

Find Your Elected Officials

View Harrisburg Capitol Complex in a larger map

View Harrisburg Capitol Complex in a larger map'>View Harrisburg Capitol Complex in a larger map

Special Thanks to John B. at the BCGP for this content!

MOTHER LEADS FOUR DAY -- 75 Mile -- WALK FROM EARTH DAY TO PA STATE CAPITOL

2011-04-29T19:58:00.002-04:00

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
MOTHER LEADS FOUR DAY WALK FROM EARTH DAY TO PA STATE CAPITOL

Contact: Michele Barrett, mbarrett@walkbikeberks.org, 610-323-2999, 484-638-1391

Berks County, PA: 8:30 AM Saturday, April 30: From Earth Day to the Stairs of the Pennsylvania State Capitol Building, a suburban housewife and mother of two is beginning a four day journey (75 Miles) to bring attention to transportation needs of those who do not drive a car for every trip they make.

Founder of WalkBikeBerks, and now Safe Routes To School Coordinator for the organization, Michele Barrett will be walking to Harrisburg to draw awareness to the importance and the needs of those that bicycle and walk for transportation and recreation. " I am walking for Freedom, Mobility and Safety -- because the loss of even one more life on our transportation system is not acceptable. Recently, a news reporter asked me if we are doing enough to provide safety on our streets. I could only answer, 'When a person dies on the streets we pay for and build -- no -- we obviously have not done all that we can do.' Too often, we blame the victim of the collision, without ever asking: Was there any responsibility in the design of the street?"

In an effort to build a better transportation system that meets the needs of all road users, WalkBikeBerks was formed to bring Complete Streets and Safe Routes to School to Berks County PA. Now, Michele hopes to bring the message from Transportation for America's recent publication: Dangerous by Design, which can be found here: http://t4america.org/docs/dangerousbydesign/dangerous_by_design.pdf.

This walk to the PA State Capitol Building will end at the PA Walks & Bikes Summit. Along the Schuylkill River Trail: Thun Trail from Pottstown to RACC, other people will be joining Michele at various locations. She will be stopping in Birdsboro, PA on April 30th on her way to the Wyomissing Earth Day where WalkBikeBerks will be a presenter. Michele will stop in Birdsboro to highlight one of several Transportation Enhancements projects that will make locations in Berks County safer for pedestrians and all road users. Michele plans to be in Birdsboro mid-morning.

Participants in the walk are only asked to do one thing: please carry your own message for why walking -- Freedom, Mobility and Safety -- is important to you. Bring the whole family? Berks County has some beautiful trails. The weather forecast calls for a high of 69 degrees and sun.

Click here[http://www.schuylkillrivertrail.com/index.php?/trail/overview/pottstown_to_reading/] for Route Map, a total of about 20 miles from Pottstown to the location of the Wyomissing Earth Day event.

###

--
Help us make your neighborhood better for walking and biking. Join us today.
www.walkbikeberks.org

Bicycle Riding Courses for Adults and Children!

2011-04-27T00:16:00.004-04:00

Would you like to ride your bicycle more but feel timid riding around motor vehicles? Are you afraid of getting a flat and not knowing how to fix it? Would you like to get the best experience that can be had while riding your bicycle but something just doesn't seem right with your bike or how it fits you? Do you think you could benefit from some pointers on how to maneuver around obstacles and ride predictably?

If you answered yes to anyone of these questions then we have a class for you! These are active sessions, so -- you will not just be getting high quality classroom instruction, but -- also bike riding sessions for practice drills which will culminate in a group ride to put into practice everything you will have learned!

___________________________________________________

League of American Bicyclists "Traffic Skills 101"

Saturday, May 14

8:00 a.m. -- 5:00 p.m.

Alvernia University Upland Center

540 Upland Ave, Reading, PA 19611

Instructor: Benton Levengood

Fee: $35

To register for this course, email your full name, phone number and age to info@walkbikeberks.org.

________________________________________________

League of American Bicyclist' Bicycling 123 - Youth course

Saturday May 21

10:00 AM

Exeter May Days

Exeter Sr High School, Exeter Township [by tennis courts]

This is a skills course for youth up to age 13.

Fee: FREE to children ages 6-13

To register for this course, email both a parent and child's full names, phone number and child's age to info@walkbikeberks.org.

Note: We are able to provide some participants free helmets due to the generosity of AAA Reading-Berks. Limited sizes available to children who need a helmet.

Note: ALL participants must wear a properly fitting helmet to participate in our education rides.

Bike to Work Challenge Begins May 1

2011-04-24T23:10:00.003-04:00

WalkBikeBerks is sponsoring for the 3rd year our Bike To Work month challenge for Bike Month in May 2011!

If you live in Berks County or work in Berks County and ride your bike to or from work you may participate in our challenge. Every trip you ride your bike (to or from work) will get your name entered into a raffle during the month of May 2011. So, the more trips you have the better opportunity for you to win!

Also, if you get your co-workers involved, your place of employment may also win a raffle! During Bike To Work week of May 16th - May 20th any business located within Berks County that has the most employees participating in the commuter challenge will win a prize. All participating employees who commuted to / from work during Bike To Work week will be entered into a raffle for the prize.

How do you enter?
There are two ways you can track your trips and miles.

1. You may go to http://greenlightride.com/competition/view_challenge/140/ and register for WalkBikeBerks Bike To Work Month challenge. *Please note you must first register prior to entering the competition through the website.

Once you are registered and accepted into our challenge you may start entering your trips and miles for each day you commuted to or from work (please note in your profile your business name as a profile tag so we can track businesses participating). If you would like to get your co-workers involved create a profile for your company and have each co-worker join your team and enter the competition together!

2. If you do not want to log your trips online, you may use our spreadsheet to track your trips and miles and send back to info@walkbikeberks.org when completed. Click Here to download the spreadsheet to begin.

We will announce winners in early June once all the entries are in and tabulated. A listing of prizes will be posted soon, so come back often for updates or visit our website! Start spreading the news to your friends and co-workers!

Good luck and happy bicycling!
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How to Organize Bike Trains

2011-04-14T08:08:00.005-04:00

Free Webinar: Organizing Successful Bike Trains

May 5 at 1pm ET - register today

Walking school buses are popping up everywhere, but have you seen or heard of a bike train? Starting a bike train, a group of children and parents who ride to school together with other families, is a great way to get students actively commuting to school from farther distances. Bike trains have the same underlying principles as walking school buses but forming a consistent, sustainable bike train that allows students to safely bicycle to school while parents, teachers and administrators rest easy, requires a deft balance between organization, encouragement and training. This webinar hopes to tackle those hurdles and leave attendees with the tools to either tune up their current bike train or start one anew.
This webinar will focus on success stories from Tampa Bay, Florida; Portland, Oregon; and Washington, DC that will provide insight from the nuts and bolts of grassroots organization to bike trains that are arranged and endorsed at the multi-school level. Presenters will highlight their unique programs but also outline the steps necessary to create and organize a bike train that will make a difference and the tips and tricks to keep them running smoothly. Click here to register now!

Our presenters include:
Kiel Johnson, Bicycle Safety Educator, Bicycle Transportation Alliance (Portland, Oregon)
Jason Jackman, Program Planner Analyst, Center for Urban Transportation Research (Tampa Bay, Florida)
Parrie Henderson, Parent Organizer, Mt. Pleasant Peloton (Washington, DC)
David Cowan, Program Manager, Safe Routes to School National Partnership (Denver, Colorado)

Thanks to the SRAM Cycling Fund, we will be holding six webinars in 2011 on bicycling and Safe Routes to School. You can view our March webinar on getting bike shops involved in Safe Routes to School here.

Call to Action: Help us find the Driver of the Hit & Run

2011-04-11T07:55:00.004-04:00

A 25-year-old Pottstown man was walking on the shoulder of the roadway along Route 422 when he was struck by a hit-and-run driver. The collision took place on Route 422 [Benjamin Franklin Highway] in Douglass Township on Sunday about 2:30 a.m. while walking east with a friend. He was taken to Reading Hospital, then flown to the University of Pennsylvania Hospital in Philadelphia. We urge anyone with information to call police at 610-367-9474.

Robert Folwell and the Brentwood Trailhead

2011-04-09T10:21:00.004-04:00

On May 20, 2011 at 6:45 AM, Mayor McMahon and Robert Folwell of the SRGA will join WalkBikeBerks for our annual Bike Ride to celebrate Bike Month. We'll be meeting at the Brentwood Trailhead. Below is an excellent article to tell you more about the trailhead written by our guest speaker, Robert Folwell. Schuylkill River Greenway land deals benefit both industry and public access By Robert Folwell In 1998, Brentwood Industries approached Schuylkill River Greenway Association about the possibility of acquiring a piece of the Thun Trail right-of-way for parking to serve their operations, located on Route 10 (Morgantown Road). That conversation opened the door to a series of actions over the next several years during which time Brentwood acquired additional land totaling nearly 50 acres to develop an industrial park and to construct a new plant twice the site the size of their facility. To continue reading, click here.

BIKE MONTH

2011-04-07T19:18:00.005-04:00

WalkBikeBerks

Bike to Work Day

May 20, 2011 www.walkbikeberks.org

6:45 AM Registration Brentwood Trailhead

7:00 AM Ride to Berks County Services Building

8:00 AM Assemble at Berks County Services Building

Light Refreshments Provided

For more information, contact us at info@walkbikeberks.org

If you Run, Walk, or Bicycle in Berks County, Take Our Survey.

2011-04-05T16:41:00.002-04:00

Walk Bike Berks Travel Survey: Click Here to Begin.

Drivers Can Prevent the Death of Those Who Walk and Bicycle

2011-04-04T08:59:00.008-04:00

Be aware behind the wheel

Drivers -- we -- share the responsibility for preventing pedestrian-related deaths and injuries.

We Pledge To: Slow Down and Think about Who might be out on the road.

The difference between fatality rates of walkers increases from 5% at 20mph to 45% at 30mph.

When a driver slows, she might be able to stop before she hits another person. By expecting to see your neighbor walking a dog or a child on a bicycle -- and looking for them, you increase your chances of seeing them, and of not hitting them.

Saving a life today could be as easy as:

1. Slowing down.

2. Expecting to see people.

Complete Streets Champions Receive Legislative Leadership Award

2011-04-02T18:35:00.004-04:00

Complete Streets Champions Receive Legislative Leadership Award

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Volunteers: We Need Your Help

2011-03-31T13:25:00.003-04:00

Represent Walk Bike Berks by wearing your new member T-shirt when you volunteer at one or more of the following events for Earth Day:

Apr 30, 2011

Wyomissing Earth Day Celebration 2011
Happy Hollow Playground
10 AM - 2 AM
We need 3-4 volunteers willing to spend 1-2 hours tabling for WalkBikeBerks.
For more information, email info@walkbikeberks.org.

West Reading Earth Day Clean Up
10AM-2PM.
Community Garden, South 2nd Avenue and Chestnut Street in West Reading
Volunteers will be assigned to one of several teams to accomplish tasks in the areas of:
A. Clean trash & litter along the west shore of the Schuylkill River.
B. Apply fresh compost soil to garden beds in the West Reading Community Garden.
C. Clean trash & litter along the West Shore By-Pass.
D. Plant flowers & shrubs in various locations.
Free lunch and refreshments provided courtesy of Third & Spruce Cafe. All gloves, tools, trash bags, etc. will be provided. For more information, contact Dean L. Rohrbach, Elm Street Manager, at 610.685.8854.

May 1
Reading Earth Day Celebration
10 AM - 9 PM
Riverfront Park
We need 3-4 volunteers willing to spend 1-2 hours tabling for WalkBikeBerks.
For more information, email info@walkbikeberks.org .

Mount Penn Elementary School Wins Berks County Walk to School Challenge!

2011-03-24T21:33:00.005-04:00

Here is our letter of Congratulations to the Winner:
WalkBikeBerks ● PO Box 6795 ● Wyomissing ● PA ● 19610
February 23, 2011

Mount Penn Elementary School
Antietam School District
2310 Cumberland Ave.
Mt. Penn, PA 19606

Dear Mrs. Bleacher,

Congratulations! Your commitment to increase the number of students who use active transportation to and from your school each day is a remarkable achievement.
WalkBikeBerks would like to recognize you for the wonderful efforts you make every day to care for the health and safety of the students at Mount Penn Elementary.

WalkBikeBerks is awarding your school $500.00 to build better walking and bicycling for Mount Penn Elementary School. Please email info@walkbikeberks.org with a good time for us to present you and your students with the Walk to School Challenge Cash Prize of $500.00.

We applaud you for identifying walking and bicycling as every day activities that will help school age students maintain healthy body weights, breathe cleaner air, and prepare their bodies for a successful day of study while at school.

Please find the attached graphs which reveal the results of our Walk to School Challenge. You can see that Mount Penn is the winning school for the highest percentage of students who walk and bicycle to school for this competition! Well done! Your program is an excellent example for all of the school districts in Berks County. Your students, your staff, and your community should be proud that you are making student health and safety a priority.

We look forward to helping you continue to build on your past success. When you work to increase the number of students who walk and bicycle to school, fewer students may suffer from overweight/obesity related issues such as Type II Diabetes, asthma, heart disease, some cancers, and mental health concerns such as depression and anxiety. WalkBikeBerks remains committed to helping you increase the number of students who use active transportation to Mount Penn Elementary.

Sincerely,
Michele Barrett
Safe Routes to School Chair

Simulator Shows Students Dangers Of Texting While Driving - Regional News - Berks Story - WFMZ Allentown

2011-03-22T21:28:00.000-04:00

Simulator Shows Students Dangers Of Texting While Driving - Regional News - Berks Story - WFMZ Allentown

READING, Pa. -- If you are guilty of texting while driving, you may want to put down your cellphone.

Take This Survey

2011-03-22T17:13:00.001-04:00

Below is a brief survey (11 questions) about your opinions on the links between transportation and public health. We at Fenton will use your responses to inform our recommendations to APHA on ways the two fields can better communicate and work together.

http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/RDYFP2W

Thank you!

Celebrate St Patty's Day by Going Green [Transportation]

2011-03-17T16:22:00.001-04:00

RailstoTrails

SIGN THE PETITIONAmerica needs a transportation system that ends our dependence on oil, cuts pollution, and provides clean, efficient, and affordable transportation options while putting the country back to work.
Why Green Transportation?

Trails, walking, bicycling and public transit are critical elements of a safe, efficient and healthy transportation system. And yet, we currently invest far too little in these programs, while putting nearly 80 cents of every federal transportation dollar into roadways for automobiles. It’s no wonder, then, that so many Americans can’t safely and conveniently walk, bike or take transit to get where they’re going.

Need more reasons why you should act? You should know that increased investment in trails, walking and bicycling means:

More jobs per dollar for small local businesses:
Design, engineering and construction of walking and bicycling facilities such as trails create more good jobs per dollar than do other transportation projects, while keeping the profits closer to home.
Positive returns for the federal budget:
Active transportation investments save the federal government money by reducing the need to build more expensive transportation infrastructure, cutting federal health-care costs and creating jobs.
Greater travel choices for the American public:
A recent national poll found that nearly three-quarters of Americans feel they "have no choice but to drive as much as" they do, and two-thirds "would like more transportation options."
Health and safety:
By incorporating exercise into their daily routines instead of having to make time during busy lives, many more Americans will be able to reach the surgeon general's physical activity recommendations. Further, 13 percent of highway fatalities involve pedestrians and bicyclists; providing safe and convenient places to walk and bicycle increases demand and reduces crashes.
Reduced oil dependence:
Automobiles are responsible for 40 percent of U.S. oil use. Cutting miles driven—and reduced congestion with fewer cars on the road—is among the best ways to manage our oil-related economic, environmental and security vulnerabilities. Shifting short trips to bicycling and walking could save four to 10 billion gallons of fuel each year.

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$3M JURY AWARD IN MD. PEDESTRIAN DEATH

2011-03-17T09:43:00.001-04:00

THE COST OF INCOMPLETE STREETS:

-> Last week, a jury in Price George's County, Maryland, awarded $3.3 million to relatives of a woman killed by a motorist as she walked along a stretch of Pennsylvania Avenue that lacked pedestrian facilities. The jury found the state of Maryland liable in the wrongful death suit for not providing safe accommodations for pedestrians.

Read more: Click Here

Our Streets Are Dangerous By Design

2011-03-15T08:19:00.003-04:00

Dangerous By Design

Recently, several pedestrians in various locations in Berks County have been struck while walking across our streets. Too often, the victim is found to be at fault for walking where pedestrians are not allowed to walk. Such is the case with the following story reported in the Reading Eagle Newspaper:

"A woman and her adult son were struck by a car and injured Monday night while crossing the Fifth Street Highway near the Fairgrounds Square Mall in Muhlenberg Township, police said.

The 60-year-old woman and her 25-year-old son.... were walking to the mall and crossing the road ... when they were both struck by a southbound car ... Reading, police said.
...
[Driver] was not at fault, police said, adding that the area is clearly marked with a "No pedestrian crossing" sign

...Investigators said she had a green light and did not see the pedestrians in time to stop..."

In the report released by Transportation for America:
In the last 15 years, more than 76,000 Americans have been killed while crossing or walking along a street in their community. Children, the elderly and ethnic minorities are disproportionately represented in this figure, but people of all ages and all walks of life have been struck down in the simple act of walking. These deaths typically are labeled “accidents,” and attributed to error on the part of motorist or pedestrian. In fact, however, an overwhelming proportion share a similar factor: They occurred along roadways that were dangerous by design, streets that were engineered for speeding cars and made little or no provision for people on foot, in wheelchairs or on a bicycle.

The answer: Prevent deaths and promote health with safer design!

What is a Bike Train? And other videos on Bicycle Safety

2011-03-07T08:28:00.001-05:00

Start Your Own Walking Group

2011-03-02T13:01:00.001-05:00

How To Start a Walking Group on Howcast

PA Walks and Bikes Summit – May 4 10:00 AM

2011-02-28T11:05:00.003-05:00

PA Walks and Bikes Summit – May 4 10:00 AM
Posted on February 28, 2011 by Josh
Announcing the 3rd Annual Pennsylvania Walks and Bikes Summit – May 4, 2011 10:00 AM

Now is the time to start planning your trip to Harrisburg for to meet your elected officials, network with other advocates, and build support for walking and biking in Pennsylvania.

The centerpiece of the event will be a rally on the steps of the Capitol building at 10 AM. Other events are in the works, and a complete schedule and other travel information will be available soon.

Please note: we had earlier released a “save the date” to hold this event on May 3. Due to scheduling conflicts at the Capitol, this date is not available. We have reserved the Capitol steps for May 4, and we can confirm that the event will be a go on that day. Hope to see you then!

YOU have the power to end Distracted Driving -- and save lives.

2011-02-26T08:33:00.002-05:00

PennDOT has released the number of roadway deaths for 2010, and the results are not pretty. Both pedestrian and bicyclist deaths are up for the year compared to 2009. In total, 148 pedestrians lost their lives on our roads last year compared to 136 in 2009. 21 bicyclists lives were ended short, compared to 16 in 2009 and 8 in 2008.

Pennsylvania has not seen a more deadly year for bicyclists since 1998 when 23 deaths were reported. Let this be a somber reminder to our elected officials that Pennsylvania needs stronger distracted driving and bicycle safety laws.

Share this vision with me: Zero serious injuries and deaths as a result of distracted driving in Pennsylvania. Pledge to take responsibility for the motor-vehicle you are operating when you are driving.

Faces of Distracted Driving

2011-02-24T08:35:00.003-05:00

February 16, 2011
On July 17, 2009, 21-year-old Casey Feldman was struck and killed by a distracted driver as she crossed the street in Ocean City, New Jersey. To honor her memory, Casey's family and friends produced this video for the U.S. Department of Transportation's "Faces of Distracted Driving" series.

From the Page of the Secretary of Transportation, Ray Lahood at http://www.dot.gov/briefing-room.html.

Letter from The First Lady: Michelle Obama Supports Walking and Bicycling to School

2011-02-24T08:22:00.003-05:00

To read the letter from our First Lady, click here.

To learn more about all of the wonderful things that are happening because of the National Safe Routes to School Partnership, click here.

Remember: as you prepare for Spring, consider building your Safe Routes to School Team now. It's not too early to plan for your participation in Walk to School 2011. WalkBikeBerks is happy to help. Just send a message to info@walkbikeberks.org.

Ways to Involve Law Enforcement in Safe Routes to School

2011-02-22T08:56:00.002-05:00

This webinar will provide an overview of why it is important to seek law enforcement involvement in Safe Routes to School programs and how to best involve officers in SRTS efforts. The webinar will also provide information about a successful local effort that involves law enforcement in Safe Routes to School.
Katie Mencarini will kick off the webinar. She'll discuss ways to involve various types of law enforcement including community officers, school resource officers and traffic officers. She'll also give an overview of resources available for officers to help them be most effective in their invovlement in Safe Routes.
Following Katie, Laura Accetta will discuss some of the challenges and successes of a SRTS effort funded through the Weed and Seed Program. She'll also provided some general information and tips on community and neighborhood policing efforts.

Presenters:
Katie Mencarini, Planner, Toole Design Group, Contributor to Law Enforcement section of National Center for Safe Routes to School website

Laura Accetta, Weed and Seed Site Coordinator, Easton, PA

Register Now!
Tuesday, February 22, 2011
1:00 PM – 2:00 PM EST

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These webinars are part of the Safe Routes to School Coaching Action Network Webinar Series, developed by America Walks and the National Center for Safe Routes to School.

YOU can make walking and bicycling better in Berks!

2011-02-19T20:03:00.002-05:00

It's simple. Sharing your story can change the lives of others in Berks County. Tell us about yourself. You decide what you do and do not want to share online -- but know that your story will encourage others to try biking or walking more often.

Over the coming months, WalkBikeBerks will be posting photos and stories of those who choose to walk or bike in Berks County. Answer the easy questions below, and make a better Berks County for all of us. Send your photo and email to info@walkbikeberks.org with answers to the following questions:

Tell us about your first bicycle. What did you love most about riding that bike? In a word, what did that bike mean to you?
Tell us about the bike you own today. What do you love most about your bike -- and your bike ride?
Did you walk or ride your bike to school as a child? If yes, take a moment to describe your walk or bike ride to school.
What in a word, what do you miss about those moments?
Do your children / grandchildren walk or bike to school now? Why or why not?
If you could change anything about your bike route -- what would you change and why?
Will you consider joining us in October for Walk (Bike or Roll) to School Day in Berks County?
And again in May for Bike Month?

Thank you for helping more people walk and bike safely in Berks County.

BCTV: Special Guest -- Berks County Conservancy

2011-02-18T13:50:00.005-05:00

Click the Image to watch Mr. Lloyd from the Berks County Conservancy speak to Bob Hospidor about walking the trails in Berks County -- Neversink Mountain.

PUBLIC MEETING OF THE TRANSPORTATION AND INFRASTRUCTURE COMMITTEE

2011-02-17T11:46:00.002-05:00

Do you want a better transportation system? Then get involved in the process and tell your congressional leaders what you need to travel in your community and across your state. See public meeting details below.

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APA invites you to attend

A TRANSPORTATION BILL LISTENING SESSION

Congressman Mica is holding listening sessions and other meetings around
the country to inform the House Transportation and Infrastructure
Committee's drafting of a long-term reauthorization of the nation's
surface transportation programs.

The Committee is seeking input on how to consolidate and improve the
performance of programs, cut government red tape and streamline the
project delivery process, increase private sector investment in our
infrastructure, identify creative financing alternatives, and other
ideas for writing the legislation. The previous multi-year law
(SAFETEA-LU) expired in September 2009.

Radisson Valley Forge Hotel
Franklin and Adams Rooms, 1160 First Avenue, King of Prussia, PA
February 17, 2011

NOTE: This is a listening session of the Committee on Transportation and
Infrastructure, and not an official hearing of the Committee. Witnesses
have been invited to speak, but the public is invited to attend, and
reportedly will be able to submit written comments to the committee as
well.

* Who: Chairman John L. Mica, Rep. Patrick Meehan (R-PA) and other Members of the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee
* What: Public forum and listening session on long-term highway funding legislation
* When: February 17, 2011; 7:15 p.m.
* Where: Radisson Valley Forge Hotel, Franklin and Adams Rooms, 1160 First Avenue, King of Prussia, PA

Scranton City Council Chambers
340 North Washington Avenue, Scranton, PA
February 18, 2011

NOTE: This is a listening session of the Committee on Transportation and
Infrastructure, and not an official hearing of the Committee. Witnesses
have been invited to speak, but the public is invited to attend, and
reportedly will be able to submit written comments to the committee as
well.

* Who: Chairman John L. Mica (R-FL), Rep. Lou Barletta (R-PA),other Members of the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee
* What: Public forum and listening session on long-term highway funding legislation
* When: February 18, 2011; 8:00 a.m.
* Where: Scranton City Council Chambers, Scranton, PA

No RSVP information is available for these events.

Let's Move!: First Lady Column on Physical Activity

2011-02-16T08:52:00.002-05:00

Let's Move!: First Lady Column on Physical Activity

I remember when I was a kid, all my friends and I wanted to do after school was run around outside until dinner. And even then, we didn't really want to come inside. But now, with video games, the internet, and entire TV networks geared toward kids, there's a lot more competition for our children's free time. And as we've seen more and more, when kids aren't moving, when they're not active, they're less likely to grow up healthy — and it's a significant factor in our country's building epidemic of childhood obesity.

So in our first year of Let's Move!, we've worked hard to reignite the magic of play and get kids moving again. We've worked with sports leagues like Major League Baseball and the National Hockey League, with pro athletes and nonprofit leaders. And with Super Bowl MVP Drew Brees and gold-medal gymnast Dominique Dawes at the helm, we've established a revamped President's Council on Fitness, Sports, and Nutrition.

Kids are moving all over the country, from schools to our greatest national parks. Families have joined in as we reach for our goal of one million Americans to take the PALA Challenge. With this program, everyone, from a pre-schooler to grandma and grandpa, can earn the President's Active Lifestyle Award with just an hour a day of physical activity for kids and 30 minutes for adults. So we're working to set good habits that can continue long after the challenge is over.

Plus, more than 3,500 schools participated in Walk to School Month. Gyms have introduced family days with fun activities for the kids, and neighborhoods all across the country have broken ground on new playgrounds and parks for families. And the Departments of Interior and Agriculture have teamed up to get kids outdoors — from local parks and pathways to our beautiful national lands and waterways — with Let's Move Outside!

So Let's Move! isn't just the name of an initiative. Those two little words are a call to action — something we want kids to say more and more. Because playing around shouldn't be something they feel like they have to do — it should be something they want to do. The more they dance, the more they kick around the soccer ball with friends, chances are they're going to want to keep doing it even more.

That's what we're working toward — a future where kids are having fun, feeling better about themselves, and on the road to a healthier future. And if we as parents have to call a couple extra times to get them to come inside for dinner, that's not all bad either.

- First Lady Michelle Obama

This article is being distributed in celebration of the Let's Move! one-year anniversary and can be shared with your friends, neighbors and anyone else interested in solving the epidemic of childhood obesity materials. Check www.letsmove.gov for additional free materials, including copies of our new PSAs.

TONIGHT @ 8 PM

2011-02-15T19:55:00.002-05:00

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BCTV TONIGHT at 8PM
"Candidates' Forum"
Judy Schwank (D) & Larry Medaglia (R), candidates for the 11th District, PA Senate.
Call in with your questions for the candidates: 610-378-0426.
Special Election for 11th District (the late Senator O'Pake's district) to be held on Tuesday, March 15, 2011. Questions about where to vote, call: Berk...s County Election Services office at 610-478-6490.

Biking the Suburbs Conference: 2/12 Conshohocken, PA

2011-02-10T11:39:00.003-05:00

Biking the Suburbs Conference: 2/12 Conshohocken, PA
Thanks Josh!

This weekend, the Bicycle Coalition of Philadelphia is organizing the Biking the Suburbs conference to bring together cyclists who reside or work in Delaware, Chester, Montgomery and Bucks counties and want to be better informed on how to advocate for improved bicycling facilities and policies in their boroughs, towns or at the county level.

PA Walks & Bikes will be there giving a state policy perspective and talking about the Pennsylvania Safe Routes to School State Network. If you are interested in these areas, visit
http://www.pawalksandbikes.org/safe-routes-to-school/.

If you’re from this part of the state, this event will put you in touch with a network of cyclists interested in making our communities better places to ride.

Register now, and join the conversation.

WANTED: IRISH MUSICIANS

2011-02-08T13:56:00.002-05:00

WANTED: IRISH MUSICIANS
Must be available March 17

Call 610-323-2999 if you want to donate your talent to WalkBikeBerks.

TIME asks: How do we value walkable cities?

2011-02-07T16:51:00.004-05:00

TIME magazine 02/14/2011, inside back cover.
This link will help! http://www.nbm.org/intelligentcities/topics/city/poll-4.html

"According to AAA, Americans spend on average $8,485 each year on their cars. Seems like a lot of money, doesn't it? And most of that money leaves your local economy. What if you were able to get rid of a car and spend -- or invest -- that money in your community? What if 15,000 people decided to make that same decision? ..."
...
"What makes a city intelligent? You do."

*Intelligent Cities is a National Building Museum Project in Partnership with IBM, TIME, and funded by the Rockefeller Foundation.

Meet Me At the Crowne Plaza

2011-02-05T14:15:00.004-05:00

I just KNOW that you are planning to watch the Steelers VS Packers game tomorrow night. Please, watch the game with me! I'll serve you drinks and snacks...and you can relax and enjoy the game! A special thank you to community members who are stepping up to help us make the night a success for you!

Michele Barrett, Guest Bartender
Judy Schwank, Celebrity Bartender

Crowne Plaza
1741 Papermill Road, Wyomissing, PA 19610
6:30 - 8:30 PM

WalkBikeBerks will earn 10% of Sales and ALL tips/donations earned at the bar during the Super Bowl XLV .

$45,000 in grants were awarded Thursday

2011-02-04T07:41:00.004-05:00

In Partnership with the Berks County Conservancy, WalkBikeBerks received $7500.00 to create a management plan for Neversink Mountain.

To read the full news article, read the Reading Eagle.

Read about the work the Berks County Conservancy is continuing on Neversink Mountain.

Meet our new Directors

2011-01-31T14:22:00.000-05:00

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Please visit our About Us page on our website to meet our two new directors!

'Walkable communities' on the rise in Pennsylvania

2011-01-24T10:17:00.001-05:00

'Walkable communities' on the rise in Pennsylvania

Pittsburgh Tribune-Review -

Pennsylvania is ripe for environmentally friendly, walkable communities like those built or being constructed in the Pittsburgh area, a state report released last week concludes.

» Full Story on Pittsburgh Tribune-Review

RIDE 4 A REASON

2011-01-21T13:30:00.001-05:00

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Every now and then, something great comes across our inbox, that we simply have to share it with you. This is one of those events we felt compelled to share.

Mark Your Calendars and Get Ready To “RIDE 4 A CAUSE” on Saturday, Feb 5th
@ Valhalla Health and Fitness Club!

This will be one happening Indoor Cycling Event!

Valhalla has teamed up with the Leukemia/Lymphoma Society to raise money to fight blood-related cancers.
Here’s All The Exciting Detatils…
$30/Single Rider–ride 1 hour or up to 3 hours…your choice
$75/Team Ride of 3 people- 1 hour each rider…team reserves a bike
100% of the proceeds go to the Leukemia/Lymphoma Society
Open to Members and NON-Members
Sign-Up and reservation is specific to a bike number!
Registration Fee is due when reserving your bike…See Front Desk for Sign-up Sheet
6 Instructors will be teaching 30 minutes each
Free Event T-shirt

Please Join Us, we need all of the participants we can get!

What else is there to do on a cold, wintery February morning, but exerercise! Mark your calendars…RIDE 4 A REASON, February 5th

Why Safe Routes to School?

2011-01-18T12:11:00.001-05:00

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■Wilson School District parents are pushing for Safe Routes to their school.

2011-01-13T12:18:00.001-05:00

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Some Wilson School District parents are pushing to place a crossing guard at a Spring Township intersection where a student was struck by a car and seriously injured.
Read the full story in the Reading Eagle: Click Here.

A theme song for your winter workout?

2011-01-06T12:37:00.002-05:00

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Put One Foot In Front Of The Other
by Bass, Jules

I found the video! You'll love this tune!

Put one foot in front of the other
And soon you’ll be walking cross the floor
Put one foot in front of the other
And soon you’ll be walking out the door

You never will get where you’re going
If you never get up on your feet
Come on, there’s a good tail wind blowing
A fast walking man is hard to beat

Put one foot in front of the other
And soon you’ll be walking cross the floor
Put one foot in front of the other
And soon you’ll be walking out the door

If you want to change your direction
If your time of life is at hand
Well don’t be the rule be the exception
A good way to start is to stand

Put one foot in front of the other
And soon you’ll be walking cross the floor
Put one foot in front of the other
And soon you’ll be walking out the door

If I want to change the reflection
I see in the mirror each morn
You mean that it's just my election
To vote for a chance to be reborn

(repeat chorus twice)

This just in my inbox from Ladies Home Journal: walking is the best exercise!

2010-12-28T11:22:00.000-05:00

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Holiday Preparations

I've tried every newfangled exercise gizmo that's come along (did anyone else get Shake Weights for Christmas?), but none have stood the test of time quite as well as an old-fashioned pair of sneakers and a good stretch of pavement. Easier on your joints than running, walking provides a great cardio workout while helping you build muscle and burn fat. Get started on the walking program that's right for you and get ready to head into spring a little slimmer and, more importantly, healthier. Whether you want to complete a 5k for charity or scale your state's highest peak, LHJ.com can help you walk – and hike – off the weight.
• Why Walking is the Best Workout
• Prepare for a 5K
• Choose Your Month-Long Walking Plan
• Healthy Heart Walking Plan

Give the gift of better walking and bicycling

2010-12-21T19:37:00.002-05:00

Greetings!

Since 2008, WalkBikeBerks has committed to improving walking and biking in Berks County. We have achieved a number of accomplishments since then: Bike to Work Day events, Walk to School Day events , Youth Bicycle Rodeo, Adult Bicycle Skill Classes, partnered with BARTA for bike racks on buses, participated with Berks County in the 2010 Berks County Transportation and Pedestrian Plan, Helmet Safety programs with Birdsboro and Shillington Police Departments, and participated at various Earth Day events throughout the county.

This year we are especially proud of the fact that more schools and parents partnered and participated with WalkBikeBerks to celebrate Walk to School Day on October 6 than in past years. For the very first year, we were able to provide Pedestrian safety education to the entire Fleetwood Elementery School student body. We look forward to an even more successful 2011.

In order for WalkBikeBerks to continue our successes and to continue our work for you, we need your support. Please consider making a donation or become a member for $35.00 or more; by doing so you will be helping us further our mission to make walking and biking practical, convenient, and safe for residents and visitors of Berks County.

Donate here.

WalkBikeBerks wishes you a safe and happy New Year.

http://myemail.constantcontact.com/Look-What-WalkBikeBerks-Has-Accomplished-in-YOUR-Community.html?soid=1102617254371&aid=dX6xoNggOdg

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Berks County Elementary Schools Compete to win Safe Routes to school funds

2010-12-08T10:01:00.001-05:00

The competing schools have entered their data and now we are working to determine the winner of our $500.00 Safe Routes to School giveaway! Keep reading to find out who wins! http://myemail.constantcontact.com/Walk-Bike-Berks-Press-Announcement.html?soid=1102617254371&aid=afV7HjfK4EY

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Meeting tomorrow

2010-11-05T11:05:00.001-04:00

Monthly meeting tomorrow
11/06/10
9:00 AM
Holy Cross Church
North 5th St.
Reading, PA

Special guest from the Berks County Conservancy

See you there!
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The Berks County Transportation Planners are talking to Bicyclists and Walkers!

2010-10-21T08:12:00.003-04:00

Bicyclists tell county panel of problems they encounter

There are several ways for you to share your thoughts on the Plan with the Transportation Authority. Visit: http://www.co.berks.pa.us/planning/cwp/view.asp?a=1124&Q=506509 for complete information and to read the full draft plan.

You may choose to email, fax, or submit your comments in writing. You may also attend the next public meeting here:

Tuesday, October 26, 2010
7:00 p.m.
Spring Township Administration Building
2850 Windmill Road, Sinking Spring, PA 19608.

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Department of Education Sets New Active Transportation Regulations

2010-10-14T14:44:00.005-04:00

State Board of Education Approves New Nutrition and Activity Regulations for Schools
The Pennsylvania State Board of Education voted overwhelmingly to advance the most comprehensive school nutrition and physical activity standards in the country. These standards will significantly improve the nutrition environments in our schools and ensure that all children get at least 30 minutes of moderate to vigorous physical activity every school day. Click the following links to view a copy of the new standards and press release.

New State Standards:
http://www.saferoutespartnership.org/media/file/PA-BOE-Standards2010-04-30.pdf

Press Release:
http://www.saferoutespartnership.org/media/file/PA-BOE-foodactivitystandards-050610.DOC

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Free Webinar introducing the Walk Friendly Communities program

2010-10-12T16:15:00.002-04:00

WalkBikeBerks will help any community who wishes to become a Walk Friendly Community. GOOD LUCK!

PBIC News Brief
October 12, 2010
www.walkfriendly.org
Free Webinar introducing the Walk Friendly Communities program

CHAPEL HILL, NC — With the recent launch of the Walk Friendly Communities (WFC) program, the Pedestrian and Bicycle Information Center (PBIC) will present a free Webinar discussing the details of the program on:

Tuesday, October 19, 2010
1:00pm-2:00pm E.T.

Presented by:
Carl Sundstrom, PE, Program Specialist, PBIC and
Vivian Coleman, RLA, AICP, Pedestrian Program Manager, Charlotte Department of Transportation

To register, please visit www2.gotomeeting.com/register/571596451
This Webinar will provide an overview of the WFC program and deliver details of the application process. WFC is a recently-launched nationwide program with the goal of encouraging towns and cities throughout the United States to establish (or recommit to) a high priority for supporting safe walking. Developed by PBIC, the purpose of this program is twofold: to recognize existing walkable communities and to provide a framework for communities seeking to improve their walkability. Vivian Coleman, pedestrian program manager with the Charlotte Department of Transportation will discuss the WFC program from the perspective of an applicant community. The presentation will also cover key questions regarding the WFC Community Assessment Tool. This tool provides an objective measurement method to recognize communities that have achieved high levels of walking and low rates of pedestrian crashes, while also acknowledging communities that are making progress in achieving these goals through policies, projects and programs. Since there are many ways to achieve these outcomes, a range of questions in this tool captures the variety of factors that affect walkability. This program also provides information, feedback and guidance to communities regardless of whether they qualify for recognition as a WFC.

Walk Friendly Communities is a livability initiative jointly supported by the Federal Highway Administration and FedEx. A number of national partners collaborated with PBIC to develop and refine the program’s assessment tool, which was developed with funding from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. For more information, visit http://www.walkfriendly.org, or direct your questions to info@walkfriendly.org.
###Connect with PBIC on Facebook at www.facebook.com/pedbike

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PennDOT Recognizes International Walk to School Day and Reminds Walkers to Stay Safe

2010-10-06T19:20:00.001-04:00

PennDOT Reminds Students to Practice Safe Walking, Bicycling on Way to School; Recognizes International 'Walk to School Day'

HARRISBURG, Pa., Oct. 5 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- In celebration of International Walk to School Day on Oct. 6, PennDOT is asking parents and communities to promote safe walking and bicycling to school. October is also recognized as Walk to School month.
"Walking or bicycling to school is a great opportunity for exercise and promotes a healthy lifestyle," said PennDOT Secretary Allen D. Biehler, P.E. "However, it is also a necessity for many students across Pennsylvania. Students, parents and motorists need to continue to work together to ensure the safety of students on their way to and from school."

To Read the Full Article:

http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/penndot-reminds-students-to-practice-safe-walking-bicycling-on-way-to-school-recognizes-international-walk-to-school-day-104347518.html

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

2010-10-05T13:10:00.002-04:00

Berks County, Pennsylvania - October 5, 2010 - FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
8 Community Leaders in Berks County will celebrate safety and health through Walk to School Month celebrations

In an effort to fight childhood obesity, the nonprofit WalkBikeBerks will celebrate Walk or Bike (or Roll) to School Month throughout October. The effort will also show parents and children how physical activity can improve weight management and promote transportation equity.

http://myemail.constantcontact.com/Walk-Bike-Berks-Press-Announcement.html?soid=1102617254371&aid=afV7HjfK4EY

Contact: Nancy Kauffman, WalkBikeBerks, 610-582-6871
info@walkbikeberks.org
www.walkbikeberks.org/walk-to-school

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