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 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!

By Julia B. Hillegass, Public Information and Community Affairs Administrator

Last week marked the debut of the inaugural issue of Green Living, your guide to everything green in Hampton Roads! Plans for this special section sprouted last year when the folks at askHRgreen.org were brainstorming ways to reach Southeastern Virginia residents with simple steps they can take to make our Hampton Roads region a more sustainable and vibrant place to live. In addition, we wanted to share information about the great programs our municipalities have in place to help you be good environmental stewards whether it’s at home, in the yard, at work, in school—or around the neighborhood.

Encouraging people to find their “inner green” is the premise behind askHRgreen.org, a region-wide public awareness campaign of the Hampton Roads Planning District Commission and the 16 cities and counties we serve. The campaign features a website, www.askHRgreen.org, with page after page of “Good to Know” information, easy-to-do green practices, an interactive calendar highlighting regional events, community resources and the “Let’s Talk Green” blog, written by a team of local experts who work in the region’s municipal utility and environmental divisions. We encourage you to visit both the site and facebook.com/askHRgreen, and join the dialogue!
 
Green Living is an extension of our website, and we hope you find the news helpful. If you missed it in your paper last week, you can still access this great resource at:    http://www.bluetoad.com/publication/?m=22707&l=1

In this issue, look for info about:

• The Great American Cleanup (April 27-28), a region-wide event in the national spotlight
• Money-saving lawn and landscaping techniques
• A cool green video contest that could win you a fantastic trip
• Why we should “take back the tap” and drink tap water
• A two-page “Green Living” layout to help you target hot “green” spots at home and in your yard
• Why you should keep your drains “fat free”
• How educators can earn cash for their classrooms
• The askHRgreen.org calendar of green things to do

So dig in, enjoy and remember Green Living the next time you need a little green inspiration.

By Julia B. Hillegass, Pubic Information & Community Affairs Administrator

The Commission took the following actions at the Quarterly Commission Meeting on April 19, 2012:

Public Comments:  Mr. Ellis W. James of Norfolk encouraged localities to express opposition to coal fired power plants in the area due to their impacts on air and water quality in Hampton Roads.

Minutes:  The minutes of the March 15, 2012 HRPDC Executive Committee Meeting were approved as part of the consent agenda.

Treasurer’s Report: Approved as part of the consent agenda.

Regional Reviews:  Approved as part of the consent agenda.

Other items approved under the Consent Agenda:

Southeast Coast Saltwater Paddling Trail (SECSPT) MOA:  The SECSPT is an interstate blueway connecting Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina and Georgia.  The MOA was developed in order to specify the responsibilities of the project partners in the four participating states.

Amendment No. 1 to the Regional Solid Waste Plan for Southeastern Virginia:  The amendment modifies the list of permitted and proposed facilities, as well as better characterizes operations of the Waste-To-Energy (WTE) facility.  In addition, the amendment clarifies the solid waste throughput of the WTE to more accurately reflect design certification and actual operation.

Resolution: Designating April 23 – 28, 2012 as Affordable Housing Awareness Week

Final Report for the Hampton Roads Watershed Roundtable:  This report has been prepared to document the activities of the regional watershed roundtable to date and to recommend a course of action for the group moving forward.

City of Poquoson Multi-Hazard Mitigation Plan:  At the request of the City of Poquoson, the HRPDC intends to submit a grant application to FEMA to update the Multi-Hazard Mitigation Plan in accordance with the Code of Federal Regulations 44, Title 201.6.

Regular Agenda:

FY 2013 Draft Budget:  Ms. Nancy Collins, CFO, presented the draft budget for next fiscal year.  Key items of note include a 10% overall decrease in the budget, while allowing for a potential 2% merit increase for staff which will be voted on separately in June.  This is so that PDC staff can be in alignment with what localities are able to provide to their staffs.  Additionally, it was noted that the HRPDC has a 25% overhead rate and operating expenses are 8% of the total budget.  Commissioners expressed appreciation for submitting a budget that was less than previous years and noted that we were the only regional entity to do so.

FY 2013 Unified Planning Work Program (UPWP):  Chairman Shepperd reviewed key items in the UPWP and applauded the variety and amount of work being conducted by staff.  During discussion of this item, Ms. Jones (JC) suggested adding private sector representation on the soon to be formed Regional Steering Committee for the Housing and Transportation Study.  The UPWP was approved with the recommendations.

HRSD Regional Consolidation of Sanitary Sewer Assets:  Mr. Ted Henifin, HRSD General Manager briefed the Commission on the need for a study to evaluate the costs and benefits of regionalization of sanitary sewer assets, stressing the overriding consideration should be for area ratepayers.  Mr. Henifin’s presentation can be viewed on the HRPDC website.

Chesapeake Bay TMDL:  Phase II WIP Comments:  Principal Water Engineer, Ms. Whitney Katchmark, provided a review of the key comments and issues associated with the Phase II WIP.  A draft letter was approved for the Chairman’s signature.  Any edits from the technical committee will also be circulated to the Commission for further review and approval.  Ms. Katchmark’s presentation can be viewed on the website and the draft letter is included in the agenda note for this item.

Chairman Shepperd reviewed the three-month tentative schedule of topics, noting that the May HRPDC meeting will be cancelled to allow ample time for the HRTPO retreat.  He also reviewed Project Status Reports and Advisory Committee Summaries, including an additional PSR attachment and item of correspondence.

Mr. Thomas Smigiel introduced Norfolk’s newest Commissioner; Ms. Angelia Williams.

There being no further business, the meeting was adjourned.

By Katie Cullipher
Senior Environmental Education Planner

We use water every day without ever thinking twice about the safe, clean supply that flows freely from our faucets here in Hampton Roads. In fact, we often take for granted the fact that whenever we need it, tap water is there for us. However, for some people in our community, losing water service is a harsh reality because a sudden crisis has temporarily left them without the resources to pay their bill. In some cases, these individuals have experienced a personal crisis such as death, disability or unemployment.  The Help to Others (H2O) program is there to provide relief.

H2O is a community-based program that assists people in crisis through the generosity of donations. The H2O program was created through the partnership of the region’s cities and counties, the Hampton Roads Sanitation District and the Hampton Roads Planning District Commission. Through donor contributions Help to Others is able to provide a one-time helping hand to individuals in need. Please help keep everyone’s faucets flowing by donating to the Help to Others program. All donations are tax-deductible and 100% of contributions go directly to helping a local family in crisis. That’s why we say, when one person donates, another is helped.

Learn more about the Help to Others program and donate today at www.shareH2O.org.