John.Hopkins's blog

Seven more bicyclists completed the day-long bicycle-safety course designed by the League of American Bicyclists. Adam Schachner and Collin Worth organized it and David Henderson taught it on April 18. Congratulations to all concerned!

If you haven't already done so, please take a moment to tell the Metropolitan Center at FIU how you use Miami-Dade County's bikeways and trails. Perhaps you answered the survey at Bike Miami Days in March, or via the the Spokes 'n' Folks blog a couple of weeks ago -- in which case you can ignore this request. Otherwise, consider what Alejandro Martinez wrote:

"The [Metropolitan Planning Organization] is trying to design a program that is going to fit the needs of residents who are using these paths for cycling, rollerblading, commuting, etc. It’s a fairly short survey and should take no more than 5 minutes to complete."

You can find the survey at http://www.zipsurvey.com/LaunchSurvey.aspx?suid=36822&key=61B73B21 . And if you have questions, call Martinez -- or Dario Gonzalez -- at 305-349-1251.

It was great to see how popular the Green Mobility Network's bike valet was during yesterday's Deering Seafood Festival. Nearly 200 bicyclists used the free service, and for a while we had every available spot in the bike racks and along the fence filled. Thanks to the Deering Estate for inviting us in, thanks to all who stopped to chat and a warm commendation to GM board members Eric Tullberg and Tom Blazejack, who worked the full day. Hey, fellow members, it's time some of you stepped up to help in this important effort to make bicycling more attractive throughout South Florida. If you can help, just drop me a note by using the pull-down menu labeled "Contact."

By the way, six new people asked to join Green Mobility yesterday, and seven others asked to join our mailing list.

A committee from Green Mobility Network spent a recent morning exploring the Dadeland Gap, where there is no good way to ride a bike or to walk between the M-Path and the South Dade Trail. We had with us the plans for a project backed by both paths' owner, Miami-Dade Transit, to close the gap -- and we were eager to see them while looking at the actual site. We were disappointed.

Instead of the bicycle facility we perhaps naively anticipated, the plans for Phase I of the M-Path Extension are entirely for work to be done at Metrorail's Dadeland North station. The plans show new bulkheads to be built along the C-2 canal, with a walkway on the south bank giving transit passengers a third

Thanks to Jennifer for the video!

Early this afternoon, the U.S. Senate passed a greatly-amended H.R. 1, the stimulus legislation that contains a large slug of transportation spending. The anti-bicycle amendment from South Carolina got stopped, but as the bill goes on to a House-Senate conference committee, we need to be vigilant against similar mischief.

Please call your senators and representative and ask them to tell the Conferees to support Transportation Enhancements in the Economic Recovery bill. Tell them:
· Bicycle and pedestrian projects create jobs at the same or better rate than highway projects.
· These smaller projects can move quickly to hire local businesses and help local economies.
· Providing safe and convenient bicycle and pedestrian access gives families healthier and cheaper transportation options.
· Improving sidewalks and bike lanes can make a downtown a destination further helping the local economy.
· Better biking and walking options also help ensure greater energy independence, less pollution, and a healthier United States!

Lots of folk turned out Sunday for the third Bike Miami Day, enjoying the extra room to ride created by opening Flagler Street out to the Miami River. Lummus Landing was busy, with our bike valet, yoga classes, loaner bikes and the Mack Cycle & Fitness tent as attractions.

Terry Connor passes along this item from the BNA Daily Labor Report about the bicycle commuter tax break that took effect Jan. 1:

Effective Jan. 1, employees who commute to work by bicycle can be reimbursed for some of their expenses as part of the $700 billion financial sector bailout package (H.R. 1424) signed by President Bush in October. The reimbursement of up to $20 per month is considered a qualified transportation fringe benefit.

According to IRS Publication 15-B, Employer's Tax Guide to Fringe Benefits, commuters who travel to and from work by bicycle in a qualified month can be reimbursed by employers up to $240 per year for maintaining, repairing, storing, and buying bicycles. A qualified month is any month an employee “regularly uses the bicycle for a substantial portion of the travel between the employee's residence and place of employment.”

An employee who receives the biking reimbursement cannot receive other commuting benefits, including parking or transit benefits, in the same month.

Thanks to everybody who turned out on Saturday to celebrate the improved bicycle facilities on the Rickenbacker Causeway. We made some new friends, caught up with some

Once a Runner, a cult favorite among distance runners, is returning to print in April, thanks to Scribner's. There's a nice piece about the John L. Parker novel at Slate, http://www.slate.com/id/2206025/?from=rss.

There's even a trailer at YouTube: