Students with Disabilities Testify in Lansing

On the morning of September 11th, four young students with disabilities from Programs to Educate All Cyclists (PEAC) arrived in Lansing to testify for safer roadways. Conor Waterman, age 12, Katie Birchmeier, 12, James Kleimola, 22, and Abby Wegner, 25, shared stories describing the importance of safe roadways for their lives.

James Kleimola, 22, faces the challenge of cerebral palsy and a cognitive impairment. “I have CP and a cognitive impairment. I won’t get a driver’s license and I use my bike to get around.” Like James, who lives independently at Eastern Michigan University, many individuals with disabilities are vulnerable users for much of their traveling time, and face the risk of an encounter with a motor vehicle.

House Bills 4792 and 4799, also known as the “Vulnerable User” bills, would increase penalties for motorists who injure or kill vulnerable users--defined as pedestrians, individuals using mobility devices, and cyclists.

John Lindenmayer of the League of Michigan Bicyclists testified at the hearing on the danger of roadways currently for vulnerable users. “Crashes involving vulnerable users make up 17% of crash fatalities, while only 1.7% of all roadway crashes.”

As an organization, PEAC believes in empowerment through cycling and independent transportation. Through the Active Transportation Initiative, PEAC works with students in Wayne, Macomb and Oakland Counties to safely navigate both roadways and the bus system.

John Waterman, Executive Director, explains why PEAC is so passionate about this bill: “Walking and cycling are the key to true independent travel for individuals with disabilities. The development of complete streets has encouraged this mode of traveling and made cycling more accessible. The missing link right now is enforcement and recognition of the responsibilities of motor vehicles for the safety of all travelers. Passing the vulnerable user bill will actually create a more accessible community for all citizens.”  

PEAC’s young advocates, along with many others from the disability, cycling and pedestrian communities will continue to push for the passing of this legislation, as the bill moves into the House of Representatives. 

Conor Waterman

James' Speech

Katie B. 

                                                Katie, Laura, Monica, Conor, John, James, Abby and Laura

Youth with Disabilities Push for Vulnerable User Bill

Cyclists and individuals with disabilities across Michigan are teaming up to increase access to communities everywhere. There are currently two bills (HB 4792 and 4799) in the House of Representatives that will raise penalties of motorists injuring or killing vulnerable users--that is anyone walking or using a bicycle or mobility device. The League of Michigan Bicyclists explains what these bills would mean:

“Modeled after accepted European standards and containing penalties similar to those used in numerous states and communities across the country, this legislation creates enhanced penalties for drivers who injure or kill a vulnerable roadway user, defined as a bicyclist, pedestrian or wheelchair user. The enhanced penalties include community service, driver-improvement education, fines, and jail time, as well as a mandatory one-year license suspension. These would only apply if a driver committed a moving violation resulting in the injury or death of a non-motorized user who was following Michigan traffic laws” (www.lmb.org, full article can be found here).

Why does this law matter to the disability community?

James, 22, is a young advocate from Programs to Educate All Cyclists (PEAC). James faces the challenge of cerebral palsy and a cognitive impairment, and is living independently at Eastern Michigan University. When discussing the Vulnerable User bill, James stated “I just want to be safe getting around on my bike. I don’t want to be hit by a car. I want drivers to stop and look.”

Others are also speaking out. Jessica is a student who participated in PEAC’s Active Transportation Program, where she learned to operate the fixed route bus system in her community. She has often felt concerned about her safety while on the roadways as a pedestrian. “We just want drivers to think before they act.”

John Waterman, Executive Director of PEAC, is passionate about raising awareness of this issue.

“Without a legal ramification, motorists will continue to drive carelessly around vulnerable users. We don’t want to see anybody getting locked up, but this law will be excellent at raising awareness about the real issue that is affecting vulnerable travelers. It will make drivers responsible and accountable for their driving habits. Making our roadways safer is a way of increasing independence and increasing access to our communities for individuals with disabilities, and this is an incredibly important bill.”

Join all of us in this important legislative push toward making our roads safer for individuals with disabilities. PEAC will be traveling to Lansing with our young advocates on September 11th for the first hearing of this bill. You can help to strengthen the voice of the disability community by emailing the representatives on the Criminal Justice Committee:

Kurt Heise (R) Committee Chair, 20th District (KurtHeise@house.mi.gov)

Joseph Graves (R) Majority Vice-Chair, 51st District (JosephGraves@house.mi.gov)

Kenneth Kurtz (R) 58th District (KennethKurtz@house.mi.gov)

Mike Calton (R) 87th District (MikeCallton@house.mi.gov)

Ed McBroom (R) 108th District (EdMcBroom@house.mi.gov)

Margaret O’Brien (R) 61st District (MargaretOBrien@house.mi.gov)

Klint Kesto (R) 39th District (KlintKesto@house.mi.gov)

Stacy Oakes (D) Minority Vice-Chair, 95th District (stacyerwinoakes@house.mi.gov)

Rose Mary Robinson (D) 4th District (rosemaryrobinson@house.mi.gov)

John Kivela (D) 109th District (johnkivela@house.mi.gov)

Brian Banks (D) 1st District (brianbanks@house.mi.gov)

Joy Brewer, Committee Clerk (joybrewer@house.mi.gov, 517-373-8474)

Additionally, please sign up here to receive email updates from PEAC about this legislative push.

We all share the sentiment of young advocate Connor Waterman: “I don’t want to get squashed on the road.” It is time to step up as the disability community and have our voices heard. 

What is my goal for the Celebration? Riding 100 Miles!

The Celebration of Cycling has always been PEAC's end-of-summer block party. It is a time when all of the parents and students of our Summer Program can come together, enjoy a beautiful September Saturday and ride along Hines Drive.

The awesome thing about Celebration of Cycling is that for some of our PEAC families, this is the first time that they have had the opportunity to ride together. For some families, it is their first tour, others have ridden the route many times and are experts on our 12-mile traffic free route. However, whether you are a novice or an old pro, all of our families are riding together and celebrating something great; the goals that the students set at the beginning of the summer.

At the beginning of each summer, our students set goals which include learning to balance and ride a two-wheeled bike, becoming a stoker on one of our tandems or mastering steering a tricycle. In addition to these goals, they set goals for the Celebration of Cycling; these goals help them strive for greatness all summer long on those hot summer days.

This year, we are asking you to set goals for yourselves, so that you celebrate along with our students and can also feel the great sense of accomplishment on September 14th!

One of our long time PEAC supporters, Wes Grose, has used the Celebration of Cycling to return to cycling after a major heart surgery.

Wes says:

     I have always felt that I do my best when I am striving toward a specific goal. In May of 2000, I was recovering from heart by-pass surgery. Both my cardiologist and cardiac surgeon asked about my plans for the future. I told them that I would return to work and that I wanted to do a 50-mile bike ride in September. Both doctors thought I was over-reaching and cautioned me to be careful and not over do my training.

I had participated in the Celebration of Cycling and knew it was the place to realize my goal. My friend Brian spent a lot of time helping me ride back into good physical condition. When September rolled around, I was ready for the Celebration. I accomplished my goal. I emailed the photos of me and my bike at the end of the ride to both doctors. It was a big day for me. A Celebration.

The Celebration of Cycling is all about realizing goals. The participants of PEAC programs all have goals. It could be as simple as learning how to pedal a tricycle or staying on the back of a tandem. the goals can be riding a bicycle, improving riding skills, learning to ride in traffic, or how to use their bike to get to work or the local store. Many activities that most of us take for granted are the goals and great achievements of the PEAC participants. We celebrate the progress toward these goals in September at the Celebration of Cycling. Providing part of the financial means to turn these goals into reality is what the Celebration of Cycling is about.

This year, set a goal for yourself and celebrate it at the Celebration of Cycling ride. Ride a new personal best distance or average speed. Learn to be a tandem captain and ride with a stoker who is blind of a PEAC summer program participant. Volunteer to help with the Celebration of Cycling. Encourage a non-cyclist friend to ride with you. Set a goal outside of your comfort zone and celebrate achieving your goal. It is a great feeling. Ask any PEAC participant or volunteer.

See you in September.

Wes Grose

                           
                         This is a picture of Wes, participating in the 2011 PEAC Spooky Ride.

We ask you to accept Wes's challenge and pick a goal and CELEBRATE IT with us on September 14th. Also, take your challenge one step further and email liz@bikeprogram.org and we will post your goal on our blog and facebook page and then pictures of your success following the ride!

Register for the 21st Annual Celebration of Cycling!
http://www.eventbrite.com/event/5331105480