“Why are the roads so dangerous? And why are drivers going so fast?”
If you’ve tried to go somewhere on a major road by bike recently, you’ve probably asked these questions. At LMB, we’ve got a vision for where we’re going: a future where bicycling serves as an everyday option for more people to commute, get around and have fun, and makes life better for everyone.
But it’s not always easy to tell where we are on the long journey to get there, when it seems every week brings more tragic crashes on Michigan roads. We’re sharing five pieces of the map: five areas where we’re making a difference and the next step on the route is clear.
And – to be totally clear – we’re asking for your support to get us there. We rely on you – your energy, your ideas, your enthusiasm, and your dollars – to get us further down the road and travel the next mile toward better bicycling.
I’ll be honest: revenue at nonprofits like LMB isn’t always stable or predictable. This year, it’s changed pretty significantly, and falling short of our projections. We’re making some adjustments, but it’s not an overstatement to say that your donation is truly more impactful than ever! This month is The Next Mile, a special appeal with a goal of raising $15,000 in donations before Labor Day. Your special gift will ensure LMB’s advocacy work to improve bicycling in Michigan can continue.
Photo by Frankie Lopez. When you think about MDOT policy, do you think of freeways? or bike lanes? or both?
Mile 3: MDOT Policy
Where we are: Last year, bicyclist-involved crashes went up 10% in Michigan. In our comments on last year’s Five-Year Transportation Program and our open letter to MDOT director Brad Wieferich last fall, we noted that there are several ways MDOT could adjust their policies to make state-owned trunkline roads safer for people who walk and bike. We reiterated the importance of setting goals aligned with the Safe System Approach in our comment to the Governor’s Traffic Safety Advisory Commission.
It seems MDOT is listening: this year’s Five-Year Transportation Program includes an acknowledgment on page 11 that “MDOT strives to serve walking and bicycling needs where appropriate; however, where infrastructure is built out, these efforts are not without their challenges. This section [on Complete Streets] highlights key initiatives intended to elevate multimodal considerations in the transportation decision-making process.” There’s also a list of planned safety projects for non-motorized users on page 23.
Earlier this summer, LMB staff offered feedback on priorities for the Complete Streets policy revision underway at MDOT in a private listening session. We are also assisting MDOT as application reviewers on the Shared Streets and Spaces Grant program, and offering input on the Vulnerable Road User (VRU) Safety Assessment. I’m planning to present at the APBP conference in Detroit on Monday, Aug. 12 on “Barriers and Opportunities for Bike/Ped Safety on Urban Arterials” with several of the people involved in the initial assessment.
Where we’re going: There are several opportunities for us as a bicycling community to continue engagement with MDOT. Like any large organization, they do not turn on a dime – but they are turning toward a path that puts people and our safety first, and with continued input and pressure, we can keep them moving in the right direction.
You have three chances in the near future to bring your voice and insight to bear: through public comment on the Five-Year Transportation Program linked above (now to Sept. 3), through a public virtual meeting on the VRU Safety Assessment on Aug. 13 at 6-7 pm (reply if you’re available and interested), and through a brief survey open until Aug. 18. Will you share your perspective?
We see MDOT’s policies as a key factor in shaping their investments of around $3 billion in transportation funding each year, and making our state’s most important roads safe for people who walk and bike. As the components of a bicycle work together for a smooth ride, so do the parts of our strategy to make Michigan bicycling better.
This year, we’re seeing that strategy come together in so many ways. LMB is leading the way toward a state that embraces bicycling as a key element of transportation and recreation, and as a joyful way to live. If you share that vision – if that sounds like a journey that’s worth taking – we need you for the next mile.
Whether you can give $50, $5, $150, or $500, we need your gift.
Sincerely,
Matt Penniman
Communications and Advocacy Director
Communications and Advocacy Director
Categorised in: Advocacy