“Can We Park Your Bike?” Raising the Profile of an Alternative Transportation Group Summit on Transforming Transportation April 7, 2011 Michael Unsworth, Mid-Michigan Active Transportation Coalition P.O. Box 6253 East Lansing MI 48826

Mid-Michigan Active Transportation Coalition (MMATC) We’re a diverse group of citizens from Clinton, Eaton, and Ingham counties. We joined together in 2009 to promote policies, programs, and planning which integrate active transportation choices in the Mid-Michigan community.

MMATC Is Focused on 5 “E”s: Engineering Education Encouragement Enforcement Evaluation By doing so, we bring about positive changes in biking, walking, and transit infrastructure and to see an increase in the number of citizens who use these choices as an alternative to strictly automobile use.

MMATC Accomplishments Researched bike/ped crash incidents in terms of location, road system deficiencies, and judicial outcomes. Assisted Mid-Michigan Environmental Council with the regional Smart Commute Program, encouraging biking and walking to work. Provided input to regional and local officials at both long-term and short-term transportation planning meetings as well as project-specific forums. Monitored the progress of infrastructure changes to accommodate biking/walking/transit through the transportation planning process to ensure they happen. Communicated the importance of bike/walk/transit accommodation through various news articles.

Tri- County Area Population: 464,036 ( 3.6% growth from 2000) Major Jurisdictions: –12 Cities –15 Villages –48 Townships Commute to Work: 215, 412 –Drive alone: 173,333 (80%) –“Other Means”: 3,086 (1.4%) –All Other: 38,993 (18.2%)

VALET BIKE PARKING What is it? A secure parking location which gives people confidence to bicycle to public events

MMATC & VBP By enabling cyclists to travel to major events, MMATC demonstrates to a wide audience that cycling is a feasible transportation option when proper infrastructure exists.

VBP IN THE TRI-COUNTY AREA In 1999 the League of Michigan Bicyclists & the Tri-County Bicycling Association introduced VBP at East Lansing’s folk festivals bikes parked per day.

DIVISION OF RESPONSIBILITIES Bicycle Organizations: Infrastructure Folk Festival: Volunteers

2010: MMATC ADOPTS VBP TO RAISE ITS PROFILE MMATC Acquires The VBP Equipment

KEEPS THE DIVISION OF RESPONSIBILITIES Infrastructure : MMATC Volunteers: Event

PARTNERS WITH MORE EVENTS: OVER 600 BICYCLES SAFELY PARKED

MORE EVENTS = MORE VISIBILITY FOR CYCLING

MAJOR LESSONS LEARNED FROM 2010 EVENTS 1.Event planners must give priority to the location of the VBP area

MAJOR LESSONS LEARNED FROM 2010 EVENTS 2. VBP information must be incorporated into all event literature and publicity

MAJOR LESSONS LEARNED FROM 2010 EVENTS 3. Incorporate the MMATC “Brand” Into Banners and Print Materials

UNDER CONSIDERATION FOR 2011 Include other items: strollers, coolers, etc. Expand to MSU home football games

FOR MORE INFORMATION Valet Bike Parking: Mid-Michigan Active Transportation Coalition:

THANKS TO Lora Helou, MSU Museum Tim Potter, MSU Bikes Pat Harrington, VBP Coordinator Rory Neuner, Safe Routes to School Phil Wells, VBP Volunteer

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