September 2021
Newsletter
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Hi {{ FirstName | default: 'Friend' }},
Happy autumn! So, the summer didn’t quite turn out as we’d hoped in terms of viral infection rates—all the more reason to spend time outdoors! I hope you’ve had an abundance of chances to walk, bike, run, or what have you, solo or with loved ones, during our soggy southern swelter (is it over yet?).
As we head into the fall, Bike Durham is gearing up for big things, in both community building and advocacy. For the former, you’re invited to join us at our annual fall blowout, now rebranded as Move-a-Bull City. There will be group bike rides and activities that reflect our multi-modal (+ walk & bus) emphasis, with food, music, and workshops, some geared to kids and families. Stay tuned for more details and mark your calendar for Saturday, October 16, from 8:30 a.m.–2 p.m.
Meanwhile, our advocacy team has its eye on the local elections in October and November, when voters will choose Durham’s next mayor and three City Councilors. We’ll post candidate questionnaires on our website so you can compare their responses. Durham has never lacked for ideological allies on the Council or among City staff, but progress on walkable, bikeable, and better-bus infrastructure has always been painfully slow. We’re looking for pressure points where we can push for a quicker build-out.
We’re also on the hunt for dedicated, plugged-in folks to join our board, so if you’re interested, please let us know here.
Safe travels,
-Marc Maximov, Board Chair
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#BetterBusProject
On August 5th, Bike Durham co-hosted a webinar with the City of Durham as part of the Better Bus Project, an ongoing initiative to improve bus access and bus service in Durham. You can watch the recording of the webinar here.
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Burch Avenue Neighborhood Walk Audits
Bike Durham and the Burch Avenue Neighborhood Association completed phase one of a 13-week project, which included two walk audits July 25, and August 4, in the Burch Avenue neighborhood with the goal of documenting, measuring, and translating traffic-related concerns into community-led implementations that promote neighborhood safety and well-being. The audits yielded positive results and exposed the need for several accessibility additions including adding sharrows on one-way portions of streets, adding double paint on several streets to separate parking from driving lanes, adding stop signs and roundabouts, among other suggestions.
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Why We Need Better Streets
Donna Permar, a resident of Durham and a long-time local advocate for safe places to walk and improved transit service, penned this recent blog post about the need for safer streets. In Donna's blog, she shares more about her vision loss the importance of GoDurham and proper sidewalk installations on her mobility.
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⭐Bonus feature: Embedded in the blog is a short video that features the importance of supporting transit for people with disabilities.
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Frosty Treats for the Hot Streets
On August 29th, Bike Durham hosted a community ride designed to cool you down on these hot summer nights. The Frost Treats riders biked for 5-miles bike to three of Durham's best spots for frosty treats: Locopops, Sugar Koi, and The Parlor.
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Welcome, New Board Member Dr. Naima Stennet
Dr. Naima Stennet recently joined the Bike Durham Board. Naima wants to help Bike Durham broaden education around health and wellness, and improve diversity among the cycling community. She's a proud NCCU alum and believes in the old adage that the closest thing to flying is riding her bicycle. Learn more about Naima here.
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Want to help? Join the Bike Durham Board
Bike Durham is actively seeking new board members. If you are interested in committing your time and energy to support building a more equitable transportation future in Durham, then Board membership is a way to affect change. Indicate your interest here.
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Sport Your Support for Bike Durham
Looking to upgrade your fall fashion? Bike Durham t-shirts with a fresh new design are available for purchase. Order yours today to wear your support for Bike Durham on your sleeve (or at least on the front of your shirt).
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Take Action
Bike Durham advocates at the local, state, and federal levels for your interests in a safe, affordable, sustainable transportation system for everyone. There are opportunities nearly every week to influence project designs, plans, policies, or funding priorities. To realize our vision, we need to build power together. Join our growing list of action takers.
State
Durham Bicycle & Pedestrian Advisory Commission is Seeking Representatives
The Durham County Commissioners are seeking applicants to fill three vacancies on the Durham Bicycle & Pedestrian Advisory Commission (BPAC). Applicants must live in Durham County (City residents are eligible). One of the vacancies is specifically for a resident who works or is a student at Duke University.
Additional information about boards and commission is here. A direct link to the application is here. The primary purpose of BPAC is to provide advice to the City Council and the Board of County Commissioners on bicycle and pedestrian issues. The Commission meets at 7:00 p.m. on the 3rd Tuesday of each month. Members serve without compensation. In addition to the monthly meeting, members are expected to be active in at least one committee. Committees also meet once a month and also sponsor special events. More information about BPAC is here.
If you need additional information, please contact the County Clerk’s Office at 919-560-0025 or send an email to BoardsandCommissions@dconc.gov.
National
Resolution for Zero Traffic Deaths: Your Help Needed
As we cheer the introduction of the first-ever Congressional Resolution calling for the national goal of Zero Traffic Deaths, we need your help to enlist supporters and ensure that this encouraging step translates to ACTION!
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📣Announcement📣
Durham is now able to accept gifts of public stock. If you are interested in making a gift of stock, please email director@bikedurham.org.
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Triangle Bikeway's Future is Uncertain
The proposed Triangle Bikeway would improve commuting by bike, making it a cheap, viable, sustainable, and downright enjoyable transit option. It’s unclear now, though, if the project will come to fruition or meet an untimely death. Read more in this recent Indy Week article.
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New Study: Bike Lanes Aren't Associated With Displacement
Bike lanes are often linked to the uprooting of BIPOC and low-income communities. New research offers a different perspective. Read more here.
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Wanting to improve your memory? Jump on your bike.
According to research by the Department of Neuroscience at the University of Geneva in Switzerland, 15 minutes of intensive cycling can improve your memory performance and who couldn't use a bit of help in the memory department? Read more about the study findings here.
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Copyright © 2021 Bike Durham, All rights reserved.
You are receiving this email because you signed up for our mailing list on our website or at a Bike Durham meeting or event.
Our mailing address is:
Bike Durham
P.O. Box 25236
Durham, NC 27702
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