Attention Teen Drivers and Parents: New Regulations Take Effect Tuesday

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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

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!

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!

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

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

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

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

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!

From RAILS to TRAILS....

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!

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

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

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

 

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

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

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.

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

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

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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

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

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

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

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

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Results for #RaquelNelson

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

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

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!

You are Invited to the Open House

Sunday

July 24

1-4 PM

Gilbertsville

Register now to let us know that you are coming.  

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

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

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