Today, in the Upland Community Center Room of Alvernia College, I had the pleasure of meeting some of Berks County's finest people. They were passionate, knowledgeable, experienced members our community who truly believe in the possibilities of our beautiful county. After three hours of very focused work, WalkBikeBerks moves forward with a new board of directors, an approved mission statement, established vision, and temporary bylaws. The session closed with members breaking into committees to brainstorm next steps. Their full reports will be posted on the yahoo listserv in the upcoming days.
It has been a long, exciting day. Before I rest, I must extend my thanks to those of you who participated today. I sincerely appreciate all that you have done...including the time you donated today. I feel blessed and look forward to the work ahead. I am impressed with our collective body and can finally take a breath. I now know that you are in this with me and that together we can make a difference. Thank you for your support and contributions. I am honored to have the responsibility you have offered me today.
Saturday, January 26, 2008
Walking, Biking Could cut Obesity, Global Warming, Experts Say
In a little-noticed scientific paper in 2005, Paul Higgins, a scientist and policy fellow with the American Meteorological Society, calculated specific savings from adopting federal government recommendations for half an hour a day of exercise instead of driving.The average person walking half an hour a day would lose about 13 pounds a year. And if everyone did that instead of driving the same distance, the nation would burn a total of 10.5 trillion calories, according to the scientist, formerly with the University of California at Berkeley. At the same time, that would cut carbon dioxide emissions by about the same amount New Mexico produces, he said.
To Read the Full Article in the Reading Eagle, go to: http://www.readingeagle.com/article.aspx?id=67979
To Read the Full Article in the Reading Eagle, go to: http://www.readingeagle.com/article.aspx?id=67979
Friday, January 25, 2008
WITF with Tim Lambert
Berks Bike Backers form new group 01/25/2008Tim Lambert(Reading) -- A new group is forming in Berks County with the goal of making walking and bicycling more practical and convenient. "WalkBikeBerks" will be a non-profit organization that reaches out to municipalities to help make walking and biking a safe transportation and recreation option for all county residents. Founder Michele Barrett of Exeter Township says she hopes the group can convince officials to create policies that support walking and biking infrastructure. She says she looks at the work as a quality of life issue. 03589_mbarrett2.mp3 Barrett says "Walk Bike Berks" plans to adopt bi-laws, establish its mission and elect officers at a meeting tomorrow at Alvernia College. It is slated to run from 2:00 p.m. until 5:00 p.m. and is open to the public. For more information, call 610-779-9702 or email walkbikeberks@yahoo.com.
Make Us Want to Stay, Students Say
Under a Thun Award Grant, 35 young people tell what it would take to make communities into places where they would want to live.
By Mike Urban, Reading Eagle
If Pennsylvania wants to hold onto its young people, it better start listening to them.
Many referred to West Reading's Penn Avenue business district as the ideal that other Berks municipalities should aim for a clean place where people can safely walk between locally owned entertainment venues, shops and restaurants.
The session was funded through the recent $5,000 Thun Award Grant provided by David L. Thun of Lower Heidelberg Township. Thun, who is involved with several organizations committed to improving Pennsylvania, said he wanted the students to learn about how they could better their communities and state, a lesson they don't often get in school. “It's time we give the young people an opportunity to tell us something rather than just the adults,” he said. Among the speakers were Amy Liu of the Brookings Institute, who showed just how quickly Pennsylvania's young people are moving out of the state, and Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist Thomas Hylton of Pottstown, who issued his plea for comprehensive planning to save cities, towns and countryside.
To Read the Full Article, go to: http://www.renewpa.org/downloads/reading_article.pdf
By Mike Urban, Reading Eagle
If Pennsylvania wants to hold onto its young people, it better start listening to them.
Many referred to West Reading's Penn Avenue business district as the ideal that other Berks municipalities should aim for a clean place where people can safely walk between locally owned entertainment venues, shops and restaurants.
The session was funded through the recent $5,000 Thun Award Grant provided by David L. Thun of Lower Heidelberg Township. Thun, who is involved with several organizations committed to improving Pennsylvania, said he wanted the students to learn about how they could better their communities and state, a lesson they don't often get in school. “It's time we give the young people an opportunity to tell us something rather than just the adults,” he said. Among the speakers were Amy Liu of the Brookings Institute, who showed just how quickly Pennsylvania's young people are moving out of the state, and Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist Thomas Hylton of Pottstown, who issued his plea for comprehensive planning to save cities, towns and countryside.
To Read the Full Article, go to: http://www.renewpa.org/downloads/reading_article.pdf
Can Reading become ‘Bike Friendly Community’? Yes!
http://www.readingeagle.com/article.aspx?id=47948
By Darrin Youker
Reading Eagle
"But of all the sights, sounds and excitement from the race day— it was a brief conversation that I had with a fellow cyclist that stayed with me the most.
I interviewed Emily Weidner of Temple specifically because she was walking around with a bicycle.Weidner biked in that day from Temple to take in the event. I rode in from my house in Laureldale— one of the few times I can actually bike to work.Weidner was enjoying the competition— but she dreamed of what Reading could become— a city that embraces cycling year-round.
Turns out, there’s a program called Bike Friendly Communities run by the League of American Bicyclists which recognizes municipalities that have made steps to become bicycle friendly.That includes programs like motorist education— improved roadways, and even bike-only paths on busy roads.No city in Pennsylvania has been named a cycling-friendly city.
'Let’s be first!' Weidner said."
By Darrin Youker
Reading Eagle
"But of all the sights, sounds and excitement from the race day— it was a brief conversation that I had with a fellow cyclist that stayed with me the most.
I interviewed Emily Weidner of Temple specifically because she was walking around with a bicycle.Weidner biked in that day from Temple to take in the event. I rode in from my house in Laureldale— one of the few times I can actually bike to work.Weidner was enjoying the competition— but she dreamed of what Reading could become— a city that embraces cycling year-round.
Turns out, there’s a program called Bike Friendly Communities run by the League of American Bicyclists which recognizes municipalities that have made steps to become bicycle friendly.That includes programs like motorist education— improved roadways, and even bike-only paths on busy roads.No city in Pennsylvania has been named a cycling-friendly city.
'Let’s be first!' Weidner said."
Berks County friendlier for Walkers, Bikers
The organization hopes 100 people attend a meeting this weekend and join their efforts to promote riding and hiking trails between communities.
By Erin Negley, Reading Eagle
Michele Barrett wants people in Berks County to have the option of leaving their cars at home when they head to work or other daily activities.Barrett recently founded WalkBikeBerks, a group that will try to make Berks more appealing to pedestrians and bicyclists.The group plans to meet Saturday at Alvernia College to select officers, write a mission statement and set broader goals.The 2 p.m. meeting in Alvernia’s Upland Community Center is open to the public.Barrett hopes 100 people will show up to become founding members.“What we really want to do is make walking and bicycling practical, convenient and safe transportation and recreation options for all citizens of Berks County,” Barrett said.Barrett expects the organization to ask local municipalities to adopt transportation and land-use policies that encourage sidewalks, bicycle paths and walking trails.
Connecting neighborhoods with walking paths and shared hiking or biking trails can improve residents’ quality of life and mobility, she said.The effort will also help people stay active and exercise more, she said.The group doesn’t envision building sidewalks everywhere. More rural areas might instead have road markings for bicycle lanes, for example, Barrett said.The hope is to develop an interconnected system of sidewalks and paths to allow people to bike or walk to work.Since forming in November, WalkBikeBerks has about 20 people actively involved.Barrett wants to recruit more members, start talking about how to obtain funds and eventually hire a staff member.•Contact reporter Erin Negley at 610-371-5047 or enegley@readingeagle.com.
By Erin Negley, Reading Eagle
Michele Barrett wants people in Berks County to have the option of leaving their cars at home when they head to work or other daily activities.Barrett recently founded WalkBikeBerks, a group that will try to make Berks more appealing to pedestrians and bicyclists.The group plans to meet Saturday at Alvernia College to select officers, write a mission statement and set broader goals.The 2 p.m. meeting in Alvernia’s Upland Community Center is open to the public.Barrett hopes 100 people will show up to become founding members.“What we really want to do is make walking and bicycling practical, convenient and safe transportation and recreation options for all citizens of Berks County,” Barrett said.Barrett expects the organization to ask local municipalities to adopt transportation and land-use policies that encourage sidewalks, bicycle paths and walking trails.
Connecting neighborhoods with walking paths and shared hiking or biking trails can improve residents’ quality of life and mobility, she said.The effort will also help people stay active and exercise more, she said.The group doesn’t envision building sidewalks everywhere. More rural areas might instead have road markings for bicycle lanes, for example, Barrett said.The hope is to develop an interconnected system of sidewalks and paths to allow people to bike or walk to work.Since forming in November, WalkBikeBerks has about 20 people actively involved.Barrett wants to recruit more members, start talking about how to obtain funds and eventually hire a staff member.•Contact reporter Erin Negley at 610-371-5047 or enegley@readingeagle.com.
Save Money and Reduce Stress, Ride the Bus
This just makes sense. With rising gas prices, congested work hour traffic on 422, and increasing intolerance between drivers, choosing alternate modes of transportation to get from one place to another is necessary. We support public transportation as another mode of travel. Ride the bus.
To Read the Entire Reading Eagle Article, go to:
http://readingeagle.com/article.aspx?id=77574
To Read the Entire Reading Eagle Article, go to:
http://readingeagle.com/article.aspx?id=77574
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