By Lisa Hardy, Environmental Planner

May is National Bike Month, and there is no shortage of great reasons to choose to bike: get exercise, save gas money, avoid the stress of driving, cut down on greenhouse gas emissions, and receive a Bike Commuter Tax Benefit. For 56 years, National Bike Month has been a movement to get people biking more and more safely. Yet, the US bike movement has been around longer than that! Back in 1880, the League of American Bicyclists was founded as the League of American Wheelmen. Over time the Wheelmen became the League of American Bicyclists, all along advocating for cyclists’ rights.
 
Next week, May 14-18, is Bike to Work Week, and next Friday, May 18, is Bike to Work Day. For more information about the benefits of biking to work, check out this booklet which includes helpful tips for bike commuters.
 
Virginia has a very active bicycle advocacy group, the Virginia Bicycling Federation. The VBF website has great information about road rides and trail rides in Virginia, safety tips, and advocacy work. You can also check out the Tidewater Bicycle Association for rides in Hampton Roads.
 
Locally, the Hampton Roads Transportation Planning Organization staff is working to research best practices in bike and pedestrian planning across the United States and worldwide. The research scan will be expanded to develop a comprehensive inventory of existing non-motorized facilities in the Hampton Roads region. The development of the inventory will also include an objective analysis of the existing facilities and an understanding of the users of the system. The broad review and subsequent analyses will help develop multi-modal strategies for a safe, efficient and sustainable transportation system. The Hampton Roads Planning District Commission staff is participating on trail planning committees which aim to overlap or connect biking, walking, boating, and horse riding trails within and beyond the region.
 
Review these six Rules of the Road from the League of American Bicyclists to help prepare yourself for a safe and fun bike ride. For more educational resources, visit the League’s Ride Better page or sign up for a Smart Cycling class.
 
1. Follow the law.
Your safety and the image of bicyclists depend on you. You have the same rights and duties as drivers. Obey traffic signals and stop signs. Ride with traffic; use the rightmost lane headed in the direction you are going.
 
2. Be predictable.
Make your intentions clear to motorists and other road users. Ride in a straight line and don’t swerve between parked cars. Signal turns, and check behind you well before turning or changing lanes.
 
3. Be conspicuous.
Ride where drivers can see you; wear bright clothing. Use a front white light and red rear light and reflectors at night or when visibility is poor. Make eye contact with drivers. Don’t ride on sidewalks.
 
4. Think ahead.
Anticipate what drivers, pedestrians, and other bicyclists will do next. Watch for turning vehicles and ride outside the door zone of parked cars. Look out for debris, potholes, and utility covers. Cross railroad tracks at right angles.
 
5. Ride Ready.
Check your tires have sufficient air, brakes are working, chain runs smoothly, and quick release wheel levers are closed. Carry repair and emergency supplies appropriate for your ride. Wear a helmet.
 
6. Keep your cool.
Road rage benefits no-one and always makes a bad situation worse.

By Robert Lawrence, Senior Regional Emergency Management Planner
 
Virginia’s Hurricane Preparedness Sales Tax-Free Holiday Shopping week is May 25-31. Virginians are provided an opportunity to purchase hurricane and flood preparedness equipment tax-free. No sales tax is charged on the purchase of many items that can be used to prepare homes and businesses and to fill emergency supply kits during Virginia’s Hurricane Preparedness Sales Tax Holiday.   All retailers participate, according to Virginia law.

A sample of items exempt from sales tax includes:
•    Batteries, including cell phone batteries
•    Battery-powered light sources, such as flashlights and lanterns
•    Bottled water of all types and sizes, including flavored, carbonated and vitamin waters
•    Battery-powered and/or hand-crank radios, including those with electrical power option
•    Weather band radios and NOAA Weather Radios
•    First aid kits
•    Carbon monoxide and smoke detectors
•    Fire extinguishers
•    Tarps, plastic sheeting, plastic drop cloths, duct tape
•    Water storage containers, including coolers, buckets, barrels, canteens
•    Storm shutter devices
•    Portable generators
For a complete list, go to http://www.tax.virginia.gov/Documents/2011%20List%20of%20Exempt%20Items%20(2).pdf.
 
"Ensuring your home, vehicle, and business has an emergency kit is a vital part of preparing for hurricanes and other disasters," said Curtis Brown, Emergency Management Administrator for the HRPDC.  "As demonstrated by Hurricane Irene and Tropical Storm Lee last year, Hampton Roads is vulnerable to severe weather.  Please take the time to prepare your families, communities, and businesses by participating in this year’s Tax Holiday. It is a cost-effective approach to preparedness."

Hurricane season starts June 1.  Additional information about preparing for hurricane and flooding season is available at www.ReadyVirginia.gov

By Sara Kidd, Senior Environmental Planner

Saturday, June 2, 2012, will mark the 20th anniversary of National Trail Day. Each year, the American Hiking Society presents this celebration with events taking place in all 50 states. The purpose of National Trails Day is to increase national awareness of trails and celebrate all of the hard work that has gone in to creating over 200,000 miles of trails in America. Typical events include activities such as hiking, dog walking, bike riding, trail maintenance, birding, wildlife photography, geocaching, paddle trips, trail running, trail dedications, health-focused programs, and children’s activities.

Currently, one event is scheduled in Hampton Roads for June 2 at 9:00am to clean up the beach and trails at Back Bay Wildlife Refuge. Individuals and groups can still register an event at http://www.americanhiking.org/NTDRegisterYourEvent.aspx

By James Clary, Economist

Seasonally adjusted payroll employment in Hampton Roads expanded by 3,100 jobs in March (+ 0.42%). This was the best single month for growth since January 2007. The metropolitan employment report, released Wednesday May 2nd, also revised the payroll estimate for February, increasing it by 1,200. This combination indicates an improved labor market and gives hope for a strong period of regional recovery. Employment still requires significant gains before returning to prerecession levels; payrolls remain 40,100 jobs below the prerecession peak of July 2007. Using reasonable estimates for recovery, the region might not return to previous levels of employment until October 2018.

The unemployment rate in the region has declined significantly over the past 6 months; declining from 7.32% in October 2011 to 6.45% in March 2012 on a seasonally adjusted basis. This decrease has been driven by growth in the number of employed persons, and unlike the nation, Hampton Roads’ civilian labor force has expanded over the past year, and now stands at 848,954. The number of unemployed persons has declined by 2,800 since March of last year, and by 6,100 since October, indicating that recovery might be accelerating in the region.
 
Industry and Employment

The construction industry still continues to be weak in the region declining by 16,200 over the past five years and by 2,700 jobs over the last year alone. Several industries have grown throughout the recession in this region including federal employment as well as healthcare and social assistance. Other industries saw declines during the recession but have begun to recover; including cyclical industries like retail sales (still down 5,600 jobs since 2007, but gained 3,800 since Mar 2011). This indicates that the recovery might have taken hold in Hampton Roads.

By Katie Cullipher, Senior Environmental Education Planner

For more than 35 years, the American Water Works Association has celebrated Drinking Water Week, a unique opportunity for water professionals and the communities they serve to join together to recognize the vital role water plays in our lives. This year, Drinking Water Week is May 6th through 12th and we're celebrating by inviting Hampton Roads citizens to Take Back the Tap! We have access to safe, clean, tap water whenever we need it, so let's celebrate by choosing tap over expensive bottled water alternatives.

All week long, the askHRgreen trailer will be staging Take Back the Tap events at various locations across Hampton Roads. We'll be giving away FREE reusable water bottles and encouraging all residents to be good stewards of the environment by decreasing reliance on bottled alternatives. Join us at one of these locations near you from 11:00 AM to 3:00 PM:

• Sunday, May 6th - Landstown Shopping Center, Virginia Beach
• Monday, May 7th - Greenbrier Parkway Buffalo Wild Wings, Chesapeake
• Tuesday, May 8th - Harbour View Kohl's, Suffolk
• Wednesday, May 9th - MacArthur Light Rail Stop, Norfolk
• Thursday, May 10th - City Center at Oyster Point, Newport News
• Friday, May 11th - Williamsburg/James City County Community Center, James City County
• Saturday, May 12th - Peninsula Town Center, Hampton

TapIt Hampton Roads!

askHRgreen.org is also excited to launch TapIt Hampton Roads during Drinking Water Week 2012. TapIt is a water bottle refilling network that allows you to fill your reusable bottle on the go. Simply take your reusable bottle into any of our partner cafes and fill it up with clean tap water for FREE! TapIt’s GPS locator shows you the closest places to fill your bottle based on your current location. Download the FREE iphone app here.

Isn't it time we take back the tap to protect our wallets, our heath and our community? Help prevent pollution and decrease waste by choosing tap over bottled water and show your appreciation for the value and vital role of drinking water by supporting public infrastructure so we can continue to enjoy clean, safe, affordable tap water for generations to come!