Liver Legs VI

The survey says... 

Where would you like to ride for Liver Legs VI??

The winner is - Big Boss Brewery!  Join us on Thursday September 13.  Don't forget to bring a lights for the 'Return to Space Mountain!'

Liver Legs VI!  The People's Legs!

All Paws on Deck! HepCat is here!

If you haven't yet registered for the HepCat, what have you been doing?  

Unlike those challenger races, it's locally grown.  It connects cycling, music, and furry critters.  If you haven't done an alley cat race it can be as chill or as strenuous as you want it to be.  You ride around the city on your bicycle with your friends completing various checkpoints.  Prizes are given for people who are fast, creative, or generally awesome.

First, second and third prizes will include cycling-related gifts from Oak City Cycling Project, Chrome Industries, State Bicycle Co., Bagaboo, Outlier, Knog, Baileyworks, Hold Fast and fyxaxtion.  You can probably win a prize just for wearing a cat suit or singing the MeowMix song!  It's only $20.  You probably spent more than that on your last trip to Tasty Beverage.

Don't want to ride but want to be involved?  They could use about 20 volunteers.

Mix in a couple of food trucks, delicious beers, pin a tail on me, and call it a day!

See you at 600 West Hargett St (between the train tracks) on Saturday September 8th!!

City Responds to Vehicles Parked in Bike Lanes

This photo was taken in January of 2012.  At this time there were only a few cars parking in the bike lane which, having a lived in bicycle friendly cities for most of my life, spiked a bit of outrage.  This led me to do a bit of research on this issue to figure out if it is actually legal to have both of these uses (parking and bike lanes) occupying one space.  It stands without reasoning that you would never allow cars to legitimately park in a travel lane for motor vehicles at all hours of the day?  Why would this be the case for a bicycle travel lane?  I've seen temporary situations (Madison, WI has lots of them) where cars can park during certain hours of the day but are restricted during others.  Raleigh also has this situation on Ridge road where for part of the day the lane is a bike lane and for part of the day the lane is a travel lane.  I sat on the issue for several months debating the best way to proceed.  Clearly these cars were not going to be ticketed, towed, or moved since Raleigh municipal code allows for parking in a bike lane.  I found that out from responses after reporting these issues on SeeClickFix.

Come August 2012, this situation is still in place and on my commute to and from work I can still only use the westbound bike lane, but the eastbound bike lane has become a parking lane.  From observation, it seems there are even more cars parking now than there were before.  Then, on another bike trip, I find cars parked on Anderson Drive too.  I realize that the city is well-meaning and had been wanting to look into this, but that their intention was to keep putting in bike lanes without addressing that they aren't even able to be utilized.  

On August 2, the following email details my research to the City of Raleigh Bicycle and Pedestrian Coordinator regarding this matter and the contradictions with State Statute:

Jennifer -
It is really unfortunate that cars are allowed to park in bike lanes in the City of Raleigh.  It has always been my understanding that vehicles are not allowed to park in a vehicular travel lane and I would like to hear the justification for Raleigh Municipal Codes allowance for parking in a bike lane.  Perhaps a City Attorney or the Law and Public Safety Committee (cc'd on this email) can help me understand the contradictions I outline regarding this matter.  I have no legal background but would like to get clarification on whether or not there is a contradiction here or if it is truly legally justified (however inappropriate) to allow cars to park  in a bike lane.  

Under state statutes, bicycles are defined as vehicles [§ 20‑4.01.].  A highway is defined as "the entire width between the property right-of-way lines of every way or place of whatever nature, when any part therof is open to the use of the public as a matter of right for the purposes of vehicular traffic."  Therefore a bicycle travel lane is a vehicular travel lane.  The terms "highway" and "street" being synonymous per the statutes, "No person shall park or leave standing any vehicle, whether attended or unattended on the main traveled portion of any highway..."  "[§ 20‑161.]

Under Raleigh Municipal Code under Obstructing traffic," it shall be unlawful for any person to stop, stand or park any vehicle upon a street in such a manner or under such conditions as to obstruct the free movement of vehicular traffic..." [Sec. 11-2171.]  Bicycles, being defined as vehicles, are obstructed by the parking conditions that have been created in a bike lane also under Raleigh City Code which states 'vehicular parking may or may not be allowed in a bike lane.' [Sec. 11-3003.]   

There is a contradiction occurring between the two sections of the Raleigh ordinance.  Bicycles being defined as vehicles under State statute enjoy the same rights and are subject to the same regulations that govern vehicular traffic, with some named exceptions.  Additionally, if municipal ordinance is deemed contrary to the article of the state statute, that it violates the Powers of local authorities [§ 20‑169.] 

Thank you in advance for your expertise and attention on this matter,

In response to the issue, Jennifer Baldwin has been working with the city's attorney's office and recognizes that there are "existing contradictions within the City Code as it relates to bicycle lanes and on-street parking" and the issue was referred to BPAC's planning committee for review.  The Planning Committee met on 8/14/12 to review the entire city code and references to or about bicycles.  They'll continue their review on 9/6/12 for anyone who would like to attend.  The meeting is in room 303 in the Raleigh Municipal Building at 6:00pm.  Hopefully this issue is resolved for all new bike lanes that are installed in Raleigh. 

Moving forward, all of Raleigh's bike facilities should be for... well, biking!

Leading by Example #BikeRaleigh

A perfect Bike to Work Day in Raleigh, NC.  We rode a loop from Centennial Mall around downtown Raleigh to raise awareness for cyclists and promote bicycling as a valid form of transportation.  It felt really good to be among such great leaders in Raleigh and to show support for this nationwide movement to promote bicycling as safe, sustainable, healthy, and well - easy.  I know that in NC we've come a long way in just a short time.  Following are some pictures from the event and a special thank you to a lot of the people at the event that I personally know who contribute a lot of time, effort, and energy into making bicycling just a normal way to get around.  (As it should be.  That's why it's a nationwide movement.) 

Mike Dayton is relentless in his efforts.  He's pictured below talking to the new Director of Bicycle and Pedestrian Transportation for NCDOT, Lauren Blackburn.  Mike sits on the Raleigh Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Commission and we're grateful to have him.  He consistently supports community events, advocates for better cycling here in the city, and is a great listener.

I feel like the following picture really captures the impetus for the event.  We are setting an example for sustainable transportation by being visible in our communities.  One of the best things you can do to advocate for bicycling in your community is to ride and be seen.  Show people by example that it is safe, fun, and healthy to ride for transportation and they will be motivated do the same. #BikeRaleigh

It was fantastic to see NCDOT come out to the event.  In particular I'd like to thank the Division of Bicycle and Pedestrian Transportation for showing support for the event.  Ed Johnson (NC Safe Routes to School Program, often threatened by funding cuts), Lauren Blackburn, Madeline Howell, and Robert Mosher attended and are pictured.

Also Representative Deborah Ross of NC District 38 thanked attendees for their efforts in sustainable transportation.   We need all the support from state representatives that we can get.  Thanks Deborah!

Julie White from the League of Municipalities encouraged us to thank Senator Rabon (R-Brunswick) for thinking logically about the gas tax cap.  While Rep. Justice (R-Pender) thinks we just need to have a "few less bike paths," so the state can focus more on bridges (as if the cost of those infrastructure projects were equal somehow?), Rabon is injecting some reality into the situation by opposing the cap until another revenue source is put into place. 

Thanks to Triangle Transit for putting in the effort and energy to always be at these kind of events to help make them successful.  The bike lights and other safety items that you bring are a great encouragement tool! I know that Michelle Parker is a mastermind behind promotion and education.  We are very grateful for your continued efforts for better bicycling in the Triangle!

With city staff , we can get support to foster the cycling community in our city.  I want to thank Jennifer Baldwin, the City of Raleigh Bicycle and Pedestrian Coordinator.  She puts a lot of effort into making cycling a real transportation option here in Raleigh.  She works with the state, she works with advocates, she fosters new ideas.  She works, she works, she works.

Funding the coordinator position full-time (take that Durham!), creating bike facilities, and spearheading this event is another way that the city continues to show it's support.

Others who were in attendance who I want to thank are City Councilors Gaylord & Stephenson, Charlotte Mitchell of BPAC, Deputy Director of Planning Ken Bowers, UDC Manager Grant Meccai, and Kenneth Withrow from NCAMPO.  If I missed you, it's just because I don't know you yet!

Thanks Raleigh!  Let's continue to grow this movement!