Wednesday, March 28, 2012

Reminder: This Saturday March 31st, Walk/Bike Summit in Burlington

From Local Motion

Saturday, March 31, 8:30 am to 1 pm

On Burlington's Waterfront in the Lake & College Building,
60 Lake Street (above Skinny Pancake) (at intersection of College St.)
Burlington, Vermont

Walkers and bikers come together! On March 31, residents, planners, volunteers and public officials will meet for inspiration, to share resources and get more people walking and bicycling in Chittenden County. The 2012 Walk/Bike Summit, hosted by the Chittenden County Regional Planning Commission and Local Motion, will feature workshops on bicycle commuting, innovative facilities, effective advocacy tactics, national trends and more. Participants will hear from local, state, national and international experts on exciting trends, discover new resources to get around our region, and talk to leaders about turning ideas into action.

Directions to Lake & College Building, 60 Lake St., Burlington

Walk or bike to the event! Take a CCTA bus! Share a ride and park in the public lot behind ECHO, for free at the College St. waterfront lot, for free at the Union Station lot (with the yellow booth), in the garage behind Macy’s, or use on-street metered parking. Click here for a map of Burlington parking.

AGENDA

8:30 – 9:00 Sign in and Schmooze – light breakfast buffet

9:00 – 9:50 Opening Remarks and Advocacy Awards

9:55 – 10:45 Workshop Session 1

10:45 – 11:00 Break

11:05 – 11:55 Workshop Session 2

12:00 – 12:45 Keynote Speaker, Jeff OlsonAlta Planning+Design

12:45 – 1:00 Wrap Up


Workshop Choices

Session 1

There’s no better time than right now to work with your town in improving walking and biking. Join local leaders to learn how you can be successful in advocating for Complete Streets projects to make your community accessible for everyone.
Communities across the globe have found on-the-ground solutions to some of the issues facing our own projects in Vermont. See what’s worked in getting more people walking and biking and how we can apply those same design techniques in your town.
  • Historical Perspectives on Bicycling in Burlington, 1870-1920 - Luis Vivanco, UVM
This presentation shares stories and images from an ongoing research project on the early history of bicycling in Burlington during the period 1870-1920.

Session 2

  • Improving Walkability and Livability in Riverside/Underhill Flats: An Experience with the Active Living Workshop – Kari Papelbon, Town of Underhill
The Towns of Jericho and Underhill came together in 2011 to apply for a grant through AARP to host an Active Living Workshop.  Led by the Walkable and Livable Communities Institute, this unique community event provided the opportunity for landowners and neighbors to plan for improved walkability and livability in the Riverside/Underhill Flats Village Center.  Learn about the process, the experience, and future steps to make the vision a reality.
Learn the nuts and bolts of commuting by bike: how to pick a bike, what to wear, how to be visible and predictable, dressing for the weather, riding in traffic, and more. Put what you learn into action during exciting statewide bike challenge that opens for registration on April 1 and runs May through August. All workshop participants will come away with a kit for promoting the challenge to friends, neighbors, and coworkers, as well as tips and resources for making bicycling a regular part of their own commute.
Hear the latest on federal funding for walking and biking, the political process surrounding these funding/policy streams, and advocacy efforts from Rails-to-Trails Conservancy to ensure that our leaders recognize how walking and biking are part of livable, desirable communities.


Speaker Bios

Jeff Olson, Principal of Alta Planning + Design, is an architect and planner who has been involved in greenways, open space, active living and alternative transportation projects for more than 20 years. He has had a diverse career with experience in the public, private, and non-profit sectors. His unique vision and leadership ability are important assets to projects ranging from regional planning to site-specific projects and programs. He is an avid bicyclist and skier who has the perspective of a parent with three young children.
Kari Papelbon is the Zoning and Planning Administrator for the Town of Underhill and is well served in that role by her Masters degree in Public Administration from the University of Texas, San Antonio.  She draws upon her previous experience as a Planner with the Water Resources department of the San Antonio Water System and positions in the Texas A&M University System.  She is also a certified Floodplain Manager through the Association of State Floodplain Managers.  She lives in Winooski with her husband and three cats, has been known to knit on occasion, and loves the beach.
Chapin Spencer, founding Executive Director of Local Motion, has been leading the charge for better walking and biking in Chittenden County and beyond for more than a decade. He grew up in Wilmington, Delaware, graduated with honors from Trinity College in 1993, and then came to Burlington in 1994 for an Americorps*VISTA placement with the Burlington Community Land Trust. He never left. Chapin lives in Burlington with his sweetheart Rebecca Grannis, their daughter Zia and two huskies Diego and Osirus. Over the years he has volunteered for a variety of local nonprofits and won several leadership awards for his contributions. In his free time, he is an avid swing dancer, ultimate Frisbee player, and outdoor enthusiast.
Kartik Sribarra, Director of Policy Outreach at Rails-to-Trails Conservancy (RTC), directs the organization’s advocacy efforts and federal transportation reform initiatives to maintain and grow the federal investment in trails, walking and bicycling. He manages RTC’s online advocacy and policy messaging and content, national organizing and establishment of partnerships. Kartik received his Masters in Urban and Regional Planning from Portland State University and his Bachelor’s from the University of Rochester. He has a background in an array of cause-based work, including human services, civic engagement and environmentalism. He enjoys bicycling, playing ultimate Frisbee and the mandolin, gardening, cooking and just being outdoors.
Jason Van Driesche is the Director of Advocacy & Education for Local Motion. He is responsible for building and expanding Local Motion’s highly successful BikeSmart program, the Safe Streets Collaborative, and other initiatives designed to make biking and walking safer and easier. He lives in Burlington’s South End, and wishes his bike ride to work were a little longer – a five minute commute is too short!
Luis Vivanco is Associate Professor of Anthropology at the University of Vermont. He is currently conducting research for a book on bicycles and culture.
Jennifer Wallace-Brodeur is AARP Vermont’s Associate State Director for State and Community Development. She leads the organization’s livable community agenda and focuses on engaging AARP and its members in local level policy work including the successful statewide campaign for Complete Streets legislation; leading a statewide project called Transporting the Public, which identified how we can improve our transportation system for those who cannot drive or would like to drive less; and leading the Burlington Livable Community Project, which provides a vision and action plan to prepare for an aging population in Burlington. Prior to working at AARP, Wallace-Brodeur was a public policy and political consultant for over 10 years, specializing in grassroots mobilization, strategic planning, and campaign management. Wallace-Brodeur has a BA from Bowdoin College. She lives in Burlington with her husband and two sons.

Brought to you by:

For further information, contact  Bryan Davis , Transportation Planner, at  802-660-4071 x17.

No comments:

Post a Comment