I am excited to help promote the upcoming meetings for the new Iowa Bicycle and Pedestrian Plan.  You may know we have been working off the Iowa Trails 2000 plan that is over a decade old and is sorely in need of updating.  Many of the trail corridors have been built or identified.  In addition, there is a lot of new technology that can help us improve bicycling.

A few of the key updates we will see in the plan include new performance measures and policies.  This will be a big influence on how this plan is built over the next decade.  Expect to see an emphasis on reducing crashes and increasing number of bicyclists.  Also, find policies like complete streets that will help assure bicycle components will be included in the future infrastructure.

Finally, the plan will address Iowa bicycling as much as it will Iowa DOT facilities.  We need to help shape our communities as much as we need to shape a state system.

Bring your thoughts and ideas to the following meetings.

Monday, Nov. 4, 2013
5 to 7 p.m.
Iowa Department of Transportation’s District 6 Office
Conference room A
5455 Kirkwood Blvd. SW.
Cedar Rapids, IA 52404

Tuesday, Nov. 12, 2013
5 to 6:30 p.m.
Iowa Department of Transportation’s District 5 Office
Materials training conference room
307 W. Briggs
Fairfield, IA 52556

Monday, Nov. 18, 2013
5 to 7 p.m.
Des Moines Area Metropolitan Planning Organization
Burnham conference room
420 Watson Powell Jr. Parkway, Suite 200
Des Moines, IA 50309

Tuesday, Nov. 19, 2013
5 to 7 p.m.
Wilbur Aalfs Library
529 Pierce St.
Sioux City, IA 51101

Monday, Nov. 25, 2013
5 to 7 p.m.
Iowa Department of Transportation’s District 4 Office
2210 E. Seventh St.
Atlantic, IA 50022

Tuesday, Nov. 26, 2013
5 to 7 p.m.
Mason City’s City Hall, second floor conference room
10 First St. NW
Mason City, IA 50401