What We Do Advocacy
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The Vermont Bicycle & Pedestrian Coalition is your voice for better bicycling & walking in Vermont. We are active in seeking policies, funding, and programs that support bicycling & walking.
VBPC Attends National Bike Summit by Judy Bond, VBPC board president
Judy Bond, VBPC board president, and Patrick Kell, executive director of the VT Mountain Biking Association, are shown at the National Bike Summit in Washington, DC, organized by the League of American Bicyclists. (Photo courtesy of Judy Bond)
Vermont Bicycle & Pedestrian Coalition board president Judy Bond and Vermont Mountain Biking Association executive director Patrick Kell represented Vermont at the 10th annual National Bike Summit hosted by the League of American Bicyclists. Over 700 bike advocates, retailers and industry members, including over 100 IMBA members, networked, attended educational sessions and met with their congress members and staff. The energy was amazing, especially with Google’s announcement of the new bike map application for Google Maps in response to the many requests for the app from the bike community!
In 2009, more bicycles than automobiles were sold in the United States, and many in the Federal Government are realizing that it is in our national interest to promote increased biking and walking.
Representative Jim Oberstar of Minnesota, Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood and others in the federal government reconfirmed that bike/ped/transit infrastructure improvements are an important part of transportation policy and are in our national interest. Laws to codify “Livable Communities”and “Complete Streets” so that folks can walk and ride where they live and work for short trips (thus replacing driving just a few blocks), and use public transport for longer trips are a cost effective way to reach their goals of improved health, cleaner air and reduced use of gasoline. Other bills will expand Safe Routes to School to high schools so that students do not have to drive, and fund the Land and Water Fund.
There are also many policy adjustments in the works, including the new Office of Livability in the Transportation Reauthorization Act, being made to ensure that good bike/ped/transit options are permanent and policy is coordinated. Over time, these changes will result in better land use, safer roads and better infrastructure for walking and riding.
Success Is No Accident “The Boulder Bike Story” is an inspiring and entertaining 10 minute-video that explains how Boulder, Colorado came to be one of the most bicycle-friendly cities in the U.S. Bikes Belong provided the funding for the video. It’s well worth watching. Click on the picture below to see the video.
Champlain Bridge: Bike/Ped Success!
by Judy Bond
New York and Vermont hosted a spectacular transportation event on December 28, 2009: the Champlain Bridge between Addison, VT and Crown Point, NY was demolished. The deteriorating condition of the bridge had been well known for several years, and the normal 5-year design, public review and permitting process had already begun. In October, however, the extreme "rubblization" of the cement piers was discovered during an inspection after the encrusting zebra mussels were scraped off. The bridge was immediately closed and the 2 state transportation agencies entered emergency mode.
The bridge was significant for its scenic location between nationally important historic sites, its original design and critical transportation linkage (the detour is 100 miles). The bridge was also notorious for its lack of any pedestrian access and too-narrow shoulders for cyclists.
The Public Advisory Committee (PAC) provides input to the state transportation agencies. Ivan Vamos, representing the NY Bicycle Coalition, and I, as a board member of the VT Bike/Ped Coalition, attended several PAC meetings. PAC members Rick Kehne and Rep. Diane Lanpher have also been very strong advocates for good bike/ped facilities. In December, the PAC reviewed 5 design options presented by Ted Zoli of HNTB, a renowned bridge engineer. After a little feedback from the PAC, one of the original designs was modified and presented to the public the next day. The Modified Network Tiered Arch has been approved as the final design, and will be the first of its kind in the world.
The two 11' vehicle travel lanes, two 5' multi-purpose lanes and two 5' raised sidewalks will be a huge improvement for pedestrians and cyclists. The multi-purpose lane allows room for 17' wide agricultural vehicles, bridge maintenance, and bicycles.
While good bike/ped access was important to PAC members and many within the transportation community, the very strong response by the bike/ped community was key in supporting their position. Thank you for the many email notes, attendance at the public meetings and the survey input.
Ferry service at the old location has begun and will run until the new bridge opens in the summer of 2011.
To view the demolition, go to https://www.nysdot.gov/
To view the designs that were considered, go to https://www.nysdot.gov/
“Complete Streets” Bill to Be Introduced. AARP Vermont will be working with key legislative leaders to introduce a bill to the Vermont legislature in January that will require all new road projects and road re-construction projects to provide accommodations for pedestrians and bicyclists. This initiative, commonly called “Complete Streets,” is gaining momentum across the country. Within New England, Maine and Connecticut have passed Complete Streets bills. New York is considering such a bill and the Vermont bill will be modeled on New York’s. A quote from the text of the bill reads as follows: “All transportation improvements shall improve safety, access, and mobility for all travelers, regardless of age or ability...and shall recognize bicycle, pedestrian, and transit modes as integral to the transportation system”. The Coalition supports this bill.
Legislative Update The Coalition will be working with Rep. Mollie Burke, a Progressive from Brattleboro, to introduce a new Safe Passing bill when the VT legislature convenes in January. Versions of this bill have been passed in over a dozen states and the Coalition has attempted in the last two legislative sessions to get the bill passed into law in Vermont. The bill will require motorists to allow adequate clearance when passing vulnerable roadway users (bicyclists, runners, walkers, people on horseback, etc. Volunteers who wish to assist the Coalition with its legislative efforts are always welcome and are encouraged to email This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it Some past initiatives: 1. Our top advocacy priority meets with success! The new Federal Transportation Bill brings over $29 million for bicycling & walking in Vermont! $5 million for Safe Routes to School, $5.8 million for the Lamoille Valley Rail Trail, $2 million for Island Line improvements in South Hero, $1.2 million for the Cross Vermont Trail, and $15 million or more for Transportation Enhancements local grant program. Wow! It all adds up to over $29 million in bicycle & pedestrian-related funding - for a mix of construction, education, and encouragement. Thank you to all our members of Congress -- especially Senator Jeffords (a key Senate proponent of Safe Routes to School), and to Congressman Sanders (especially for the Lamoille Valley Rail Trail and the Cross Vermont Trail funding). Senator Leahy also deserves recognition in particular for his vote in favor of a national Complete Streets policy (which unfortunately did not pass). 2. Lamoille Valley Rail Trail -- One high-priority project for the Coalition is the Lamoille Valley Rail Trail (LVRT) , a proposed 96-mile rail trail from St. Johnsbury to Swanton. This project will be a four-season recreation & transportation trail, a gem for northern Vermont. Although the Vermont Association of Snow Travellers (VAST) will hold the lease for this trail, bicycling, walking and horseback riding will be the modes of choice in the summer months. ATVs will not be permitted.
3. H. 334 - Ancient Roads legislation. This legislation proposed in early 2005 did not pass in the first session of the biennium. The Vermont trails community, including the Vermont Mountain Bike Association and the Vermont Bike Ped Coalition spoke up with concern about Ancient roads being extinguished without a second look:
Find your legislators' contact info at: http://www.leg.state.vt.us/legdir/legdir2.htm 4. Minor Bicycle Law Revisions (PDF). We're interested in making it legal to signal a right turn with your right arm, and to provide common sense exceptions for when bicyclists must ride to the right. Want to get more involved in setting the direction for our advocacy efforts? E-mail Nancy at - This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it Following are some of the positions that the Vermont Bicycle & Pedestrian Coalition have taken on present issues:
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