Orthotic insoles while your riding

We all know that when we ride our bikes we rely a quite considerable deal on our feet to push the pedals that why it is important that we look after our feet as best as we can. If we sustain injury or develop a ailment such as plantar faciitis it could mean that we could be off the road for weeks if not months (in some more serious injury's indefinitely . So what exactly can you do to help prevent injury's and foot pain and problems from occurring? Well it doesn't take much rather all you need to do is wear something that something is orthotic insoles (sport insoles) these insoles help support your feet and heel including your plantar fascia. It is the plantar fascia that when inflamed or injured will cause plantar faciitis to occur.

Orthotic insoles have been specially design to help prevent such problems as these from developing because of arch support a way in which the insoles actually give support to the arch of you feet (because as you may have seen you feet are not flat but have arch in them).
It is important that this arch is supported because if you think about it it has a lot to support itself.. gravity pushing down on your feet and arch plus the added pressure and shock when you push down when you walk run or peddle your bike.

It is best to get some gel orthotic insole to prevent the problem from happening in the first place.

Read more at jhbootcamp where you can buy orthotic insoles from

New Share The Road Billboards!

This is the first "share the road" billboard thanks to effort by Travis County Sheriff Greg Hamilton and Reagan Advertising. This one is located at 24th and Rio Grande Sts.

Current Closures and Detours...

As of Jan 16th, here's some of the current closures and detours that are affecting bike routes in and around Austin.

1) Johnson Creek Bike Underpasses are still closed but construction is advancing. Trail will be rebuilt once water pipe construction is completed. (the repair project is funded by the COA Clean Water Project.

2) Town Lake Trail - North side near YMCA - Cesar Chavez underpass still open - The construction is not nearly done. It has three plastic barricades and heavy equipment blocking the trail. (Michael Cosper, 1.5.08.)

3) (coming soon) Shoal Creek Greenbelt Trail between Gaston Avenue and 24th St. Portions of this trail segment will be detoured onto the sidewalk that runs on the west side of Lamar Blvd. for Clean Water Project work (pipe replacements) Following completion of the project, the trail will be resurfaced (purvious concrete) between Gaston and 24th (similar to portions resurfaced below 24th St and between 29th St and Gaston)

(Send us more, add a comment to this post.)

Call 311 to report Parking in Bike Lanes

The City Bicycle Program would like to make sure that YOU know that we have three badge-toting parking enforcement officers (with citation books) and we are ready to write some tickets.

If you see a car parked in the bike lane, and there are SIGNS posted that state that parking in the bike lane or at that segment of the roadway is illegal, please call 3-1-1 to report the exact location of the illegally parked vehicle. We have organized with 3-1-1 to get these complaints funneled directly to the Bicycle Program (they are no longer being sent to APD) where one of the three parking enforcement officers can field check the designated segment of roadway for vehicles, and write citations to those vehicles that are illegally parked.

Please help us to keep illegally parked cars free of our bicycle lanes so that we may all ride safely and comfortably.

Thank you,

Call for BAC Alternate Members (due 1/16/08)

Per the BAC action at the December meeting, the deadline for submitting applications for Alternate membership has been extended from Wednesday, December 19 at 5:00 PM until Wednesday, January 16 at 5:00 PM. Should you or anyone you know be interested in applying, please complete and submit the attached application to Annick Beaudet or myself prior to the stated deadline.

The next BAC meeting will be held on Thursday, January 17 at 6:45 PM. An agenda will be distributed prior to the meeting, which will include an item to appoint the remaining 6 of 10 Alternate members by the full BAC.

Sincerely,
________________________________

Eric Dusza
Planner III, Bicycle & Pedestrian Program
Public Works Department | City of Austin
Phone (512) 974-6504 | Fax (512) 974-7222
eric.dusza@ci.austin.tx.us | www.cityofaustin.org

APPLICATION FOR MEMBERSHIP
CITY OF AUSTIN BICYCLE ADVISORY COUNCIL

Name: __________________________________________________________________
Address: ________________________________________________________________
City: ___________________ State: _____________________ Zip: _________________
Preferred Phone: ______________________ Other Phone: _______________________
E-mail Address: __________________________________________________________
Date of Birth: ____________________________________________________________
Occupation: ___________________ ____ Employer: ____________________________

1. Do you reside within City of Austin boundaries? 0 No 0 Yes

2. Education (Schools attended, degrees earned, training received):
____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

3. Do you currently hold elective office? 0 No 0 Yes: _________________________

4. Affirmative Action information: This information is voluntary, and is being collected both for statistical reporting purposes and to assure diversity on the Bicycle Advisory Council.

0 Male 0 Female Racial/Ethnic Background: ______________________________

5. List any major paid employment and volunteer activities, which may relate to service on the Bicycle Advisory Council: Dates (from/to) Employer/Volunteer Activities Responsibilities
____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

6. Do you have any special skills or experience that will help you as a member of the Bicycle Advisory Council?
____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

7. Why do you want to serve on the Bicycle Advisory Council?
____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

8. List names, addresses, and phone numbers of two people who may be contacted as references:
____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

9. Describe your bicycle use (check all that applies):

-- I bike for transportation year-round

-- I bike for transportation in good weather

-- I am a regular recreational rider

-- I occasionally ride for fun and/or exercise

-- I bike with my family

-- I seldom ride my bike

-- Other: ___________________________________________________________

10. Additional comments:
____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Reminder: BAC Mtg Thu 1/17 @ 6:45 pm

january 2008
Bicycle Advisory Council Meeting Agenda
8th floor conference room, One Texas Center
505 Barton Springs Road.
-- Meeting open to the public - any and all interested are welcome to attend!

1. Introductions – 6:45 to 6:50

2. Review and Approval of December Minutes – 6:50 to 6:55

3. Items from BAC – 6:55 to 7:40

-- Review of Existing BAC Members Attendance and Possible Action of Removal
-- Appoint Remaining Alternate BAC Members
-- Consider moving the meeting time earlier on the same day. (6 pm vs. 6:45 pm)
-- Bike Boxes (Jonathan Horak)

4. Items from Staff – 7:40 to 7:55

-- Distribution of Final Version of “Parking Modification Guidelines”
-- North Acres Bridge Project Update
-- Bike Lanes on the E. 7th Street Bridge over Tillery
-- 311 Debris in Bike Lane Update
-- BAC Recommendation – STP MM Application

5. Announcements/Adjourn – 7:55 to 8:00

6. Proposed Items from Staff for Future Meetings:

-- "Sharrows"
-- LAB Ride/Celebration

Federal Grant funding for Bicycle Projects - Campo Hearings

The City of Austin Bicycle & Pedestrian Program currently has two projects up for consideration for federal grant funding. The projects are:

A bicycle bridge in the Mopac Corridor over Barton Creek (between Loop 360 and Southwest Parkway, where there is currently no northbound shoulder). The project will serve both recreational and transportation cyclists and open up a wider array of training and bicycle commuting opportunities. See location map below.
An 8’ wide shared use path on Del Curto and Lightsey Roads, near South Lamar Boulevard. This area is on a popular bicycle route with many neighborhood attractors nearby, also making it a perfect candidate to serve pedestrians, and recreational as well as transportation cyclists. See location map below.
There is 5.39 million grant dollars available, and many competing projects; public input on the projects is the last step in the decision making process. You may view all projects at www.campotexas.org.

If you feel passionate about any of these projects PLEASE come and make your opinion known at these community meetings for public input, at any or all of the following times and locations:

Wednesday, February 20, 6-8 PM, Austin: One Texas Center, 505 Barton Springs Road, #325

Thursday, February 28, 6-8 PM, Round Rock: Griffith Library, 216 E. Main Ave.

Wednesday, March 5, 6-8 PM, San Marcos: San Marcos Activity Center, 501 East Hopkins Street

Monday, March 17, 6 PM, Austin, UT Austin Thompson Conference Center: 2405 Robert Dedman Drive and it is located on the southwest corner of Dean Keeton and Red River.

Please forward this e-mail to any others you feel would be interested.

The intended impact of these projects are to improve the quality of life in Austin by improving air quality and traffic congestion, and providing affordable, multi-modal transportation, to name a few.

Thank you,