Digital Working Session Wednesday Nov 4

On Wed Nov 4th, NolaCycle will be holding another working session to digitize the NolaCycle data.

We're building a database of our raw data (on the map sheets volunteers filled out) that can be used to GIS and online mapping programs. Bring a laptop with Excel and a PDF reader program. There will be some laptops available for those who don't have one. Please let Scott or Lauren know if you need a computer to borrow.

We're meeting at Flora's at Franklin and Royal in the Marigny. We'll be working from 6:30pm to 8:30pm. Flora's serves food and coffee drinks. If you haven't helped with digitizing before, please come at 6:30 so we'll have plenty of time to explain the process and answer questions.

Digital map working session tomorrow Oct 27th

If you have two free hours tomorrow evening, swing by my place (e-mail for directions) at 7:30pm to help build the data base for the digital map. We need LOTS of help on this since it's a very time consuming process. Please bring a laptop with Excel.

I'll make some of my specialty vegan chocolate cookies for volunteers (and yes, they are seriously just as good as non-vegan cookies. If you don't believe me, then come tomorrow and taste for yourself).

Plan B Bike Co-op is hosting a Halloween-themed Bike-In movie this Sunday

Straight from Plan B:

BEETLEJUICE!!! Sunday Night. Plan B Bike-In Movie, Halloween Edition. Bugs Bunny Cartoons, It's the Great Pumpkin Charlie Brown!, A Garfield Halloween. Cartoons start at 7:30 sharp, Movie after! Bake sale! Popcorn! Beer! Fall Drank treat! Only 2... DOLLARZ!!! Behind the Mardi Gras Zone. Repost if you love us!!!

Movies are screened on Architect's Alley (behind Mardia Gras Zone) in the Marigny.


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Pizza will be provided for volunteers this Sunday

If you enter data, we'll feed you pizza!!! After we finished at 6pm, we'll have some pizza delivered to Loyola for all our wonderful volunteers.

Let us know if you're vegan or have a gluten allergy so we can order something you can enjoy.

Digital Working Session THIS SUNDAY

If you'd like to help NolaCycle build this digtal database of street conditions (which will be used to make shapefiles of conditions and recommended bike routes), please come to Monroe Library at Loyola University this Sunday from 3 to 6pm. We'll be meeting in Multimedia Room 2 (MM-2).

You don't need a lot of computer knowledge to help with data entry. All we will be doing is putting information from the maps we filled out during mapping events into an Excel database. So if you can type, you can help! Bring a laptop if you have one, but some extra computers will be made available.

This is a map of Loyola's campus. The library is located in the middle of campus next to the Danna Student Life Center. E-mail Lauren if you have questions.

Loyola University Police Bike Auction October 1st - this Thursday!

Ever wonder what happens to all those bikes left behind at the end of each quarter? They end up being auctioned off by the university police department a couple times a year. This is a great opportunity to get a cheap "fixer-upper" that might have been abandoned because of a broken wheel or stolen seat.

Here's the official 411:

University Police will hold a bike auction on Thursday, October 1, 2009 beginning at 5:00 p.m. on the 4th floor of the Freret Street garage. Viewing of the bicycles will take place from 4:30p.m. until auction time. Bid opening will range between $20.00 and $50.00 depending on the condition of the bicycle. All bikes will be sold in an AS IS CONDITION and ALL SALES ARE FINAL. Checks will only be accepted from Loyola University community members. All other must pay CASH. Bikes must be removed immediately upon purchase.

N.O. Bike Polo Open

Check out New Orleans Hardcourt Bike Polo for more information as the date nears.

Mark your calendars - the first annual NOLA Bike Bash will be held November 20-22

The Metro Bike Coalition and N.O. Polo are planning the first annual NOLA Bike Bash for November 20-22. Events will be held around the city, including a polo tournament, group rides, repair clinics, film screenings, a BBQ, and a NolaCycle mapping event. More info to come soon!

NolaCycle Update, aka "What the heck have you been up to, Lauren?"

It's been a crazy and fast summer for me. As you probably gathered, I graduated from college and now I'm living in New Orleans permanently. I'm also working full-time for a non-profit organization. Add all that on top of a personal life, and things get pretty busy!

A quick run down of what's on the table for NolaCycle right now:
1 - Digitizing the NolaCycle data. We have a database! A database that needs information added to it... John DeFraites put together a database file we can add information to segment by segment. I'll be dividing up raw data maps this week and giving those to volunteers to start adding that info into the Excel file. Once everything is added, that can be turned into GIS shapefiles and KML shapefiles (for use with internet-based programs like Google Maps). If you're interested in helping with adding data, let me know. I have a list of about 10 or so people, but the more we have, the less time it will take.
2 - Fall mapping events. Soon we will be holding NolaCycle mapping meet-ups again! Gentilly, Lakeview, Algiers, and other areas of Orleans Parish that we're mapped last year will be mapped this fall and winter. That includes all areas of the East Bank north of I-610/Florida Ave (We mapped all of the southern half of the East Bank already). We did Algiers Point, but would like to continue the map further south. If some brave souls want to map Eastern New Orleans, that would be wonderful. Since I'm working full-time, I won't be able to head up as many mapping meet-ups as I used to. NolaCycle is going to need volunteers to help with this because Dan, Tom, and I cannot do it alone right now. If you want to help organize events in your neighborhood, e-mail Lauren (at) nolacycle.com and I'll help you get started. ***If you're in Jefferson or St. Bernard Parish, we'd really like for you to get involved and organize mapping events!***

Okay....that's it for now. I'll update more later.

St. Charles Ave and Harrison Ave getting new bike lanes

New Submerged Roads projects are starting every month or so at this point and 2 of the projects currently underway have received a fair amount of attention, St. Charles Avenue and Harrison Avenue. In addition to the resurfacing of these roads, both will have bike lanes as part of the final lane configuration.

The St. Charles Ave bike lanes will go for 1.4 miles between Carrollton and Nashville Avenues and will should see heavy use as St. Charles is already a popular route for cyclists. The Harrison Ave bike lanes will go for about 1 mile from West End Blvd to the Orleans Ave Canal. There will also be new bike lanes along Harrison through City Park between Marconi and Wisner Boulevards.

There are some quotes from Robert Mendoza in the article that are hopefully a positive sign that future road projects will continue to address bicycle and pedestrian needs.

For more details on the projects, read the Nola.com articles on St. Charles Ave and Harrison Ave.

Promote safe biking, walking

Check out today's Metro section of the Times Pic, for a letter to the editor from John Renne, President of the Metro Bicycle Coalition, regarding there recent passage of the Colin Goodier Bicycle Protection Act. This is in response to Monday's Times Pic story about the governor signing the bill into law.

Re: "Jindal signs bills for expanded seat belt use, bicycle safety," Page A2, June 29.

Our legislators and governor should be commended for supporting safety on our streets. The recent passage of the Colin Goodier Protection Act, which will require motorists to maintain a safe distance of at least 3 feet from bicyclists while passing, is sure to reduce crashes and save lives. The measure also protects bicycles from harassment by motorists and acknowledges our right to share the road.

While it is great to see our politicians supporting bicycling this year in the Legislature, we still have a long way to go toward making it safer on the streets of New Orleans. The Metro Bicycle Coalition has been working for safer streets, including more bike lanes, bike parking and overall awareness.

We envision a European-like city that will continue to attract families and young professionals. The next mayor should take cues from Mayor Michael Bloomberg of New York to make walking and biking a centerpiece of their strategy to revitalize this great city.

John Renne
President
Metro Bicycle Coalition
New Orleans

Governor Jindal signs 3 foot passing law

Governor Jindal signed the Colin Goodier Bicycle Protection Bill this afternoon. The law requires motorists to provide 3 feet of clearance when passing a cyclist on Louisiana's roadways as well as outlawing the harassment of cyclists. The law goes into effect on August 15, 2009. If you're interested in reading the exact language, check out this link or search for HB 725 at the Louisiana Legislature's website (www.legis.state.la.us).

Graphics & Digitizing Meeting July 1st

If you're interested in helping with the graphics, design, data entry, and digital outputs (GIS, GPS, iPhone apps, interactive online maps, etc., etc.), then come to the graphics/digitizing meeting Wednesday July 1st at 7pm. Please e-mail lauren@nolacycle.com for details about the meeting and where it will be held.

Goodier Bike Protection Bill Passes Senate

Shortly before 12:30 today, the Louisiana Senate voted unanimously to pass the Colin Goodier Bike Protection Bill (HB 725). According to the Louisiana Legislature's website, the bill has returned to the House without amendments from the Senate.

We'll update you all later today on the the final steps before the bill heads to Governor Jindal for his signature. Also check back for an update on the Complete Streets Study Resolution (SCR 110).