Hi {{ FirstName | default: 'Friend' }},
On the Sunday before Thanksgiving, about 50 of us gathered at Westover Park for Bike Durham’s first observance of the World Day of Remembrance for Road Traffic Victims. It was a simple, yet powerful event where we remembered the 22 lives lost to traffic violence in Durham, offered our support for their loved ones, and called for action to make our streets safe for everyone. I invite you to read more about it and watch a video summary in Wednesday’s blog post.
As the calendar turns to December, I find myself reflecting on the highs and lows of this past year and on the importance of the work that we do together. I am grateful for each of you who support the vision for a transportation system that is safe, affordable, and sustainable for everyone. In this edition of the newsletter, we share stories about some of those peaks (e.g., Erwin Road, Move-A-Bull City, Safe Routes to School) and valleys (e.g., further delay of bike facility projects, end to partnership with two neighborhood associations) of the last three months. We also have an important local action for you to take.
I wish you a wonderful and safe end to the year, and hope that you can join us in riding or walking in the Durham Holiday Parade on December 17 (register here). Finally, I ask you to consider making an end-of-year gift to make our streets safer and our transit better.
Be well,
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John Tallmadge, Executive Director
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Progress on Erwin Road; Delays on Other Projects
Last month, the City painted the green bike boxes on Erwin Road at the intersection with Anderson Street. This is the most visible example so far of the safety improvements that we were able to gain through our advocacy with the City this summer. While many of the improvements that we asked for to improve safety for people walking, biking, and using transit on Erwin Road were not approved, we should celebrate the improvements that have been made. Without the voices of advocates calling for an Erwin Road that works for all users, it’s unlikely that NCDOT would have made any changes at all. Read a full update on our blog.
Unfortunately, a number of other projects that we've been eagerly anticipating have been further delayed to next year. The implementation of 8 miles of bikes lanes and buffered bike lanes through street repaving projects and the first phase of the Neighborhood Bike Route designation will now occur in 2023. The City's first two-way cycle track, slated to be installed on short segment of Duke Street between Jackson and Peabody Streets, has also been delayed to 2023.
We have met with staff leadership about these delays, and about making sure that we don't miss future opportunities to get new protected bike lanes and safer crosswalks through street repaving projects and have gotten positive responses that they are taking proactive measures to seize these opportunities and to move projects to completion more quickly.
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Safe Routes to School Program Successes
The 2022 Fall season was busy for our Safe Routes To School team! We have taught the Bike Safety curriculum to 3rd, 4th, or 5th graders at 6 Elementary schools reaching 485 students! October 12th was national Walk & Roll to school day, and we helped coordinate the participation of 17 DPS elementary schools. More than 10,000 students had the opportunity to walk during that week. The NCDOT Safe Routes To School team selected Eastway Elementary for bringing statewide attention (officials and tv coverage) to this important priority, celebrating one of the busiest and most active districts of the state.
Merrick-Moore Elementary was the first school in Durham to initiate the Strider Bikes program, where Kindergarten and 1st graders have balance-bike activities incorporated into their PE curriculum, with a new fleet of 25 bikes purchased and donated to the school by Bike Durham. In October, Kristen Brookshire, DPS Community Transporation Planner shared her thoughts on the importance of Bike Durham’s work in the elementary schools, enjoy her blog post here.
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Our Safe Routes to School program is funded through a contract with the City of Durham. Expansion of the program has also been made possible with gifts from Crum & Forste, Duke Health, and from many of our generous individual supporters who gave during the Pedals to Possibilities campaign this fall. We reached our $20,000 goal!
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Adult and Family Bike Riding Classes Coming Soon
At our educational team’s recent retreat, we worked on a series of Bike Riding and Safety classes and encouragement programs designed for adults and families. Staff will continue to develop details of the program for Board approval. We expect to introduce the first classes by May 2023, Bike Month! This builds on our recent sponsorship of seven new instructors through the League Of American Bicyclists’ League Cycling Instructor (LCI) training program. We are also incorporating many of the great ideas generated at our September Community meeting. Stay tuned for our new series of classes!
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A Brilliant Move-A-Bull City
On October 22nd, we had beautiful weather, a good turnout and a lot of fun at the Golden Belt campus. Highlights included two bike rides, a bus trip to Rofhiwa Book Café, e-bike and scooter test rides, GoDurham's electric bus, the kids' activity zone, and all of our outstanding partners and volunteers. A big thank you to our sponsors identified below.
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Bike Durham Experiences Setback in Work with Two Neighborhoods
In late October, our partnership with the Merrick-Moore Community Development Corporation and the Bragtown Community Association came to a premature end. We had worked together with the women who lead these legacy Black neighborhood groups and earned a grant from the Triangle J Council of Governments (TJCOG) to fund promotion of walking, biking, and transit use in their neighborhoods, as well as research into the obstacles faced by residents. We are disappointed that we were not able to recover from some early missteps, but respect the decision made by the leaders of these two neighborhoods. We will be participating in an assessment process led by TJCOG to learn from this experience and improve our preparedness for future partnerships with Black- and Brown-led organizations.
We remain committed to working with neighborhoods throughout Durham, and especially with predominantly Black and Brown neighborhoods, where safety concerns are the most acute. If your neighborhood would like to be involved with advocating for safe and healthy streets, please contact John Tallmadge - director at bikedurham dot org.
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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.
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Support New Development Rules for Better Access and Walkability
Last summer, the Durham Planning Commission initiated a process to change Durham’s development rules with the goal of making a more connected community. The Planning Commission needs to hear that there is strong community support before moving this recommendation to the City Council for approval. We already have 279 signers on the petition! Please add your name today.
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Volunteer Opportunities
We're seeking a volunteer for 3-5 hours per week with prospect of paid internship to manage communications related to ongoing and special events. To learn more, please see the volunteer page on our website.
Finally, we are actively recruiting for volunteers to serve on our committees, and on our Board. Please indicate your interest in volunteering with Bike Durham using this form.
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Durham Holiday Parade
On December 17 at 10am we will be participating in the Durham Holiday parade, biking and walking together with Black Girls Do Bike - Triangle Chapter, the Bicycle & Pedestrian Advisory Commission, and Durham elementary schools where we have taught classes.
Please join us!
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Bike Durham's 10th Anniversary
In 2023, we will be celebrating the 10th Year of Bike Durham's work to make Durham's streets safer for everyone. Stay tuned for details!
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Exclusive Opportunity for Bike Durham Members/Contributors
New and current members, look for your invitation to join Bike Durham’s leadership for an exclusive opportunity to learn about our upcoming priorities in 2023, share your ideas, and have your questions answered. Not a member? Join by noon on Monday, December 19th to be included.
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Thank You for Your Support on Giving Tuesday
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At Bike Durham, we are working for safe, affordable, and sustainable transportation for everyone, regardless of who they are or where they live. We are only successful when we come together as volunteers, staff, and supporters, to demand change. On Giving Tuesday, forty donors stepped up to contribute $2707 and unlocked our $1500 match from a long time business supporter helping us exceed our $3500 goal for the day.
We appreciate all of you and throughout December we will be sharing stories of our work and inviting you to financially support our mission. To make your year end contribution now donate below:
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Our mailing address is:
Bike Durham
P.O. Box 25236
Durham, NC 27702
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