Methods of the Bike Coalition of New Mexico...
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BCNM activities can be divided roughly into four categories, known a the "4E’s" of planning: Education, Encouragement, Engineering and Enforcement. Education and Public Awareness... Bicyclists, like pedestrians, suffer a disproportionate number of traffic-related crashes. However, trained bicyclists (e.g., those having taken the League Certified Cycling training provided by the League of American Bicyclists) suffer significantly fewer crashes. The Bicycle Coalition of New Mexico will provide bicycle safety training using their own trained instructors, and we will advocate that bike safety education programs should be provided in schools, health agencies and other community groups (e.g., Girl Scouts) for both children and adults. This training will include encouraging the use of helmets, which, when worn correctly, significantly reduce head injuries in the event of a crash. BCNM will provide for the training of certified instructors using the League of American Bicycle League-Certified Cycling curriculum, and other programs. As part of our Education programs, we will also:
Our informational outreach includes periodic newsletters, email alerts, and a Web site. We also distribute information at public fairs and other events. We intend to develop a group of volunteers who can speak in various public forums, including schools, businesses, and public agencies involved in transportation. We intend to speak to groups like 1000 Friends of New Mexico and the League of Women Voters of New Mexico to explain how bicycle transportation can play a role in the transportation for New Mexico, as well as to health agencies about how bicycling can improve public health. This work promotes safe bicycling by educating bicyclists and motorists about the laws pertaining to bicycling and about safe bicycling practices. It also promotes societal acceptance of bicycling which should lead to our desired goal of increased bicycling. It will be directed by the BCNM Board of Directors and carried out by staff and contract instructors with the assistance of interested volunteer cyclists from our mailing list. We promote Bike Month (May) and Bike to Work Day (in May), to coincide with the national activities sponsored by the League of American Bicyclists. Charter members of BCNM started this event in Albuquerque, New Mexico, in 1996, in Santa Fe, New Mexico, in 2000, in Los Alamos, New Mexico, in 2001, and in Las Cruces, New Mexico in 2001. Bike-to-Work Day efforts have included working with businesses and the public to generate a calendar of bike-related events for May, including bicycle safety training and a program of incentives to encourage cyclists to ride to work on Bike-to-Work Day. We organize sponsors, entertainment venues, advertising, etc. BCNM hopes to institute Bike-to-School days, as well, perhaps in conjunction with Walk-Your-Child-To-School programs. The activities raise awareness about bicycling and provide camaraderie to encourage new people to begin bicycling. BCNM intends to expand this event to other communities, and to involve as many members as possible in promoting bicycling at their individual worksites and schools. This activity is led by BCNM staff with heavy use of volunteers interested in sponsoring events at their local organizations and centered around specific events like Bike-to-Work Day in May. BCNM works with transportation planners, the state highway department and county and city public works departments to provide well-designed and safe bicycle facilities, which include roadways, as well as things like bicycle parking. As part of this effort we research the needs of cyclists in New Mexico and participate in transportation planning meetings. We work with transportation planners to identify funding for bicycle projects. We also disseminate information about state and local transportation plans and encourage bicyclists to provide comments during the public review process. As part of our work with transportation agencies, we encourage their personnel to follow established guidelines, such as those provided by the American Association for State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO) for all future roadway construction, and we encourage them to provide their engineers with continuing education on best practices for bicycle engineering and safety. This work ensures that roadways and other facilities are constructed in such a manner as to enhance the safety of bicyclists. Generally, this activity also benefits pedestrians and other non-motorized roadway and trail users, by fully vetting the various user needs. Because transportation funding is guided by a public process, this work also helps promote bicycle transportation by educating citizens on how they can help promote the building of facilities that many users can safely utilize. This work is carried out primarily by BCNM staff persons who meet with transportation and trails planners and engineers in city and state agencies. It also utilizes bicyclists on our mailing list as well as the public at large to speak to transportation agencies and Planning Commissions. BCNM will work with law enforcement agencies to enforce traffic laws as they pertain to both bicyclists and motorists. This effort will include public outreach about proper roadway and trail etiquette. Enforcement actions promote safe bicycling by encouraging users of roadways and other facilities to behave in predictable and responsible ways in accordance with accepted and well-vetted standards. Our work with law enforcement will be directed by the BCNM Board of Directors and carried out by staff, as well as through the use of volunteer cyclists who will bicycle with law enforcement personnel so that both bicyclists and law enforcement can gain greater understanding of one anothers needs and concerns.
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