Advocacy
Alliance for People Powered Transportation
Building partnerships: One of our goals is to collaborate with other advocacy organizations like the Alliance for Walking and Biking, formerly known as Thunderhead Alliance. This organization is a North American coalition of grassroots bicycle and pedestrian advocacy organizations. They unite advocacy leaders to help them become more effective by sharing best practices and innovations. They strengthen organizations through resource sharing and training opportunities. They help advocates create organizations in underserved communities. Alliance organizations are working together to transform communities into great places to bike and walk. We are very happy to be a member of this organization and look forward to working with them in the coming year.
Nevada County Bicycle Master Plan Update:
A wide variety of local cyclists participated in the Bicycle Plan public workshops held by the Nevada County Transportation Commission and Alta Planning and Design. The Bicycle Master Plan update has been completed and approved by all agencies: Grass Valley, Nevada City, Nevada County, Truckee, and the Nevada County Transportation Commission, enabling these municipalities to apply for CalTrans funding for the improvements described in the plan. The Nevada County Bicycle Master Plan including other pedestrian and bicycle reports can be downloaded from the NCTC website: http://www.nctc.ca.gov/reports.htm
Bicycle Commuter Act (H.R.807, S.2635)
This bill, introduced by Earl Blumenauer (D, OR), would have provided a tax benefit to employers who offer cash reimbursements to employees to defray costs of riding to work. All it required was an amendment to the Transportation Fringe Benefit of the tax code to extend the definition of "transportation" to include bicycles. Employers are given the flexibility to set their level of benefit payments, and the bike commuter can use the money to pay for a bicycle, accessories, safety equipment, insurance, and locker or shower fees.
This provision passed a House vote, but then was stripped from the Energy Bill by the Senate as part of the Democratic senators' attempt to avoid a Republican filibuster.
California Complete Streets Bill:
The California Bicycle Coalition has introduced a bill to the legislature to require "Complete Streets" throughout California, i.e. all cities and counties will have to describe (in their general plan revision) how they will provide routine accommodation for pedestrians and cyclists. The bill will also require the Office of Planning and Research to provide Complete Streets guidelines. Here's a fact sheet on the bill: http://www.calbike.org/pdfs/AB1358_Fact_Sheet.pdf The Complete Streets Act of 2007 (AB 1358) introduced by Assembly Member Mark Leno will forever change the way our community transportation systems are designed and built. AB 1358 will ensure that community planners, developers and elected officials meet the needs of all users of the road. Please consider sending Assembly Member Mark Leno and your representatives a letter of support.
What are Complete Streets?
Complete streets are designed and operated to enable safe access for all users. Pedestrians, bicyclists, motorists and transit riders of all ages and abilities must be able to safely move along and across a complete street.
Grass Valley signage: In November 2006, signs were installed on the stretch of East Main Street between Idaho-Maryland and Richardson stating “BICYCLES ALLOWED USE OF FULL LANE”. Please join us in thanking the people listed below for their support for the proposal.
Gerard Tassone, former mayor
John Foster, Chief of Police
Chauncey Poston, Grass Valley City Councilor
Mark Johnson, Vice Mayor
Trisha Tillotson, Grass Valley Senior Engineer
City and county planning: APPT advocates for the inclusion of pedestrian and bicycle transportation in Grass Valley, Nevada City, and Nevada County planning