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Take Action — Help pass New York State’s ‘Complete Streets’ Bill

Jason Crane — Mon, 21 Jun 2010 17:28:13 +0000

A message from the New York State Bicycling Coalition and the Tri-State Transportation Campaign:

(June 21, 2010) — In Albany, bicycling advocates are working overtime to help assure the passage of a Complete Streets law—sweeping legislation that will create more livable, bikeable and walkable communities across the state. This proposed law would direct the state Department of Transportation to consider bicycle and pedestrian accommodations in the planning and development of state, county, and local roads and other transportation facilities. NYBC is working closing with the Tri-State Transportation Campaign, AARP and other groups to get this legislation passed.

On June 17, the Senate passed the bill 53-3. Unfortunately, Assemblyman David Gantt of Rochester has amended the Assembly version of the bill in a way that would render the legislation useless in its impact.

The only way to get this process back on track is if we can get bicycling advocates — particularly those in Rochester, where Assembly Gantt is based — to make their voices heard!

Visit NYBC’s Take Action! page to learn how you can help secure the passage of this bill.

Rochester Bicycle Master Plan Presentation tonight

Julie — Tue, 25 May 2010 13:29:39 +0000

Be there at 5:30! More information here.

A Call to Action – Passing Rule NYS

Richard DeSarra — Tue, 27 Apr 2010 12:48:38 +0000

The statewide initiative to enact a safe passing law for cyclists is stalled in the state Assembly’s Transportation Committee. We need your help to convince Transportation Committee Chairman David Gantt to allow the bill to move forward.

The bill would require drivers to give cyclists a three-foot buffer when passing. Gantt’s staff maintains we don’t need to enumerate the distance. They say a bill requiring that motorists pass at a “safe distance” would suffice.

But requiring a “safe distance” for passing is too ambiguous and does not provide a clear point of reference for the driving public. The bill emerged last fall after Greenburgh resident Merrill Cassell was sideswiped by a Beeline bus on Route 119 and killed when the bus ran over him.

The bill – A10697 – is patterned after laws in 15 states, which require the three-foot buffer. The latest to enact the three-foot law is Mississippi. Others are Arizona, Arkansas, Colorado, Connecticut, Florida, Illinois, Louisiana, Maine, Minnesota, New Hampshire, Oklahoma, Tennessee, Utah, and Wisconsin. Similar laws have been proposed in nine other states.

We need to let Gantt know that the cycling community wants the three-foot passing law.

The main purpose of the law is to educate the public about how far is a safe distance to pass bicyclists. Many motorists believe that just avoiding contact with a cyclist is required. Many motorists are unaware of the danger of passing a cyclist too closely. It can result in hitting the cyclist, or startling the cyclist and resulting in a crash to avoid the car.

Law enforcement officials in states where the law is in place say it has been an effective educational tool. It gives officers, government officials and civic groups the opportunity to inform motorists of the safe distance.

You can email Gantt at GanttD@assembly.state.ny.us
You can call his office at 518-455-5606
You can fax a letter to 518-455-5419
You can send a letter to Assemblyman Gantt at
LOB 830
Albany, NY 12248
518-455-5606

Thank you for your support.
Richard DeSarra
New York Bicycling Coalition and Rochester Bicycling Club

A bicycle built for two … lighter guys (Part 2)

Jason Crane — Thu, 21 Jan 2010 01:51:31 +0000

(Be sure to read Part 1 before you read this post. It may not help, but it probably won’t hurt.)

An elevation map of the completed portion of our ride.

It doesn’t look all that bad when you map out the elevation on the graph above. A few hundred feet of climbing, a couple 4% and 5% grades, but not too bad.

Oh wait, I forgot that there were 400+ pounds of Rotarians on one bike. That’s why it was so hard.

The plan was a simple one: Keep the gears low. Have the SAG wagon stop every couple miles and wait for us to pass. Take a break whenever necessary. Don’t fall of the bike, get crushed by a tractor trailer or keel over from the exertion. No problem, right?

We rode and climbed and rode and climbed. A few miles along, there was our SAG wagon. Pren gave us the mileage count (there was no computer on the bike) and we kept going. We had enough air in our lungs to chat most of the time, and we told each other about our careers, our families, and why we would never, ever, ever, ever, ever volunteer for anything at Rotary ever again. Ever. Really.

Bill and me, smiling through our tears.

You know how when you have a really nice bike seat that’s like a couch cushion and you’ve been riding it for years and then you switch to a hard bike seat with no cushy properties at all and your rear end really hurts? No? Well I do. The seat on the tandem was apparently an unpadded piece of steel, possibly studded with spikes. I neglected to wear padded cycling shorts under my clothes. I never do, because the seat on my Xtracycle is so comfortable that I could bike naked if I wasn’t afraid Marlin Perkins would be overhead in a helicopter with a dart gun.

This bike seat, though, would have been better suited to transporting prisoners during the Spanish Inquisition. A few miles on this thing and they’d be converting to Catholicism faster than you can say, “Fetch the comfy chair!” I could go only a couple miles at a time before I had to stand up and stretch my … um … whatever it is that stretches down there.

Bill, meanwhile, had seat issues of his own. His seat wasn’t actually screwed tightly onto the bike, and it was constantly shifting position, forcing Bill to hang on for dear life like a rodeo rider on a bucking bronco. To Bill’s credit, he never said a word about it. Hey wait a minute — he kept offering to switch seats. Biiiillllllll! (Picture me shaking my fist.)

Another few miles, more hills, Pren in the SAG wagon. Nine miles (halfway there), more hills, Pren in the SAG wagon. Twelve miles, more hills, no Pren, but he must be just up ahead. Thirteen miles, more hills … uh … where’s Pren, exactly? I’m sure we’ll see him over the next hill. Nope. Maybe the next one. Nope. Maybe–

What’s that noise?

At about 13 miles we heard a sharp metallic pinging sound, followed immediately by a rubbing sound. (Excuse all the technical language.) I don’t know about other physical activities, but those sounds usually don’t accompany successful cycling trips. We hopped off the bike to see what was what, but we didn’t spot anything. I thought it might be the rear brake, which I’d had to disconnect and then reconnect when we changed the tire at the gas station back in Part 1. Soon, though, Bill figured it out: We’d broken a spoke and the wheel was becoming less round than is ideal for a wheel. The rubbing sound was caused by the now elliptical wheel wobbling into the brake pads.

I don’t know how well you know Bill and I, but although we’re renowned for our looks, charm, virility and spring-fresh scents, we are not, apparently, known for our brains. “What the heck,” quoth we in beautiful harmony, “it’s only six more miles. And we’ve got no tools! And our SAG wagon is missing! Let’s do it!”

We were entering East Greenbush, which meant a long downhill into the town of Rensselaer before we crossed the Hudson River and reached Albany. Bill suggested we go slowly down the hill, using only the front brake and the gears to control our speed. I did my best. We made it gently down the first hill and up the next.

Well, we made it most of the way up the next hill. At about 14 miles into the trip, we heard, and I quote:

Hisssssssssssss…

I’m sure you’re way ahead of me here, but unless you’ve brought a snake on your bike ride, hissing ain’t great. The wheel, which had been rapidly deteriorating, finally got to the point where it pinched the tube, which popped, letting out the air in our rear tire.

We pulled into the first driveway we came to — a Burger King. We had no means of repairing the bike, and no SAG wagon. Even better, as I might have mentioned earlier, Bill didn’t have the cell phone number of the SAG wagon driver, so we had no way to contact him. Nor did we have any idea where he was. “Maybe he went on to the auction without us,” we thought.

We sat in a booth in the Burger King, where I put on a paper crown while we tried to figure out what to do next. I used Bill’s cell phone to call my wife, but she wasn’t home. While I was calling her, I noticed that the phone was nearly dead. Bill said he’d charged it fully before we left. We hadn’t reckoned on the cold, though, which must have sapped the battery. We probably had enough charge for one more phone call.

It was then that Bill remembered that he had the number for Wolfert’s Roost Country Club, where our fellow Rotarians were having lunch and the auction at that very moment. Also at the meeting was Greg, who had brought his pickup truck for the express purpose of delivering the tandem bike to the winning bidder after the auction. Bill called the Roost, the Roost found Greg, Greg found us, and all was well.

As we crammed into the cab of Greg’s truck, we inquired about the health and safety of our SAG wagon driver. “He’s in the buffet line at the Roost,” Greg said. Ah.

Within a few minutes we were at the club, where we entered to thundering applause. We auctioned off the bike (and many other items) to raise more than $5,000 for various international projects, including ShelterBox, clean water projects, and Rotary’s nearly complete effort to eradicate polio from the face of the planet.

In the days since our ride, Bill and I have received even more money than was pledged to us, which will enable the club to buy a third Shelter Box.

Richard, who won the bike, discovered that in addition to the broken spoke, we’d also bent the axle of the rear wheel. He had it repaired and all is well. He will now be tormenting his teenage daughter by making her ride tandem with him.

My rear end has recovered, and Bill and I are already planning our next adventure. It will probably involve bikes. And maybe weight loss. And definitely cushier seats.

A bicycle built for two … lighter guys (Part 1)

Jason Crane — Wed, 20 Jan 2010 02:17:15 +0000

First, some background points that will help make the story clearer:

I’m a member of Rotary, and specifically a member of the Rotary Club of Albany. I love Rotary, not least because being a Rotary exchange student in 1991-92 completely changed my life and led to most of what I’ve done since. I also appreciate the way my membership and activity in Rotary helps me have a positive impact in my own community and around the world.
Rotary is involved with an organization called ShelterBox, an international disaster relief charity that delivers emergency shelter, warmth and dignity to people affected by disaster worldwide. It’s an incredible organization, and you should give them some money if you can, and maybe see if your workplace or school would be interested in sponsoring a box. Right now, they’re on the ground in Haiti providing immediate shelter:
This year, the Rotary Club of Albany gave approximately $2,400 to ShelterBox from the 2008 edition of our annual auction. That’s enough to buy 2.4 boxes.

And so, the story:

At a Rotary meeting several weeks ago, Charlotte, the president of our club, announced that she had a tandem bike to donate to the 2009 auction. The bike was used by two people during the Cycling The Erie Canal event. These two folks rode the tandem from Buffalo to Albany. When they got to Albany, Rotarians from my club were there to give all the riders rides to their hotels or to the train station. The tandem crew surprised the volunteers by donating their tandem bike for use at our auction. Cool, right?

So now this bike was at Charlotte’s house, and she didn’t have a way to get it the 16 miles to Albany. Either my fellow Rotarian Bill Corbett or I — I’m not sure who gets the blame — suggested that we should ride it. (You make recognize Bill’s name because he’s contributed to RocBike in the past.) I chimed in to say that we should be paid for doing so through charitable donations toward the auction proceeds. Everyone in the room agreed to pay us $16 each ($1/mile) if we rode the bike from Niverville to Albany. We agreed. It was on.

The auction was supposed to happen in December, but a blizzard ended up canceling our meeting, and we rescheduled for January 6. Bill and I met that morning at Wolfert’s Roost Country Club, where we hold our meetings. Another Rotarian gave us a ride to Niverville to get the bike. That person was also going to serve as our SAG wagon in case any problems occurred.

It’s at this point that I would like to make note of one difference between drivers and cyclists. Our club president, who drives from her house to the meeting, told us it was 16 miles. It’s actually 19.4 miles. That doesn’t mean much when you’re driving, but when you’re riding in 20-degree weather up big hills, those extra miles count. And no, 19.4 miles isn’t that far. Bill and I have both ridden farther than that on many occasions. (See here and here for the tale of my most recent long ride, which was also a fundraiser.) But it’s far enough, as you’ll see.

Our first mistake occurred in Charlotte’s kitchen. Pren, our SAG driver, got Bill’s phone number and put it in his cell phone. Then he asked Bill a question that would resonate later on: “Do you want my number?” Bill replied: “No, I’m not going to be calling you.” Foreshadowing, anyone?

Bill and me with the bike in the garage

We encountered the next problem as soon as we looked at the bike — the rear tire was flat. We already knew this, though, so Bill had brought a pump. As it turns out, this was the only useful item either of us had brought along. All of the other useful things that became necessary later on? Not so much.

Bill pumped up the tire, we said our goodbyes, handed over the life insurance paperwork, and prepared to ride to Albany. We got as far as the end of the driveway before the rear tire was flat again. Luckily, the donors of the bike had also donated two brand new tubes. So we got out our tire levers and–

Oh wait, we didn’t have any tire levers. Nor did we have a wrench to take the wheel off. As it turned out, neither did Charlotte or her husband Paul. Not to worry, though, down the road about a half-mile was a gas station. Off we went, pushing the bike. Surely, even in this day and age, a gas station would have a wrench or two, right?

Wrong. The gas station attendant had a screwdriver large enough for a sword fight, but no wrenches. As it turns out, though, the cycling gods were with us, because there in the gas station parking lot was a Snap-On Tools truck. Yes, a truck with every kind of wrench and useful implement known to man was parked at the out-of-the-way country gas station to which we happened to push the bike. Within a few minutes we had the tire changed and inflated and we were pedalling toward Albany.

It was cold that day. Very cold. And windy. Very windy. And I made what can only be classified as a rookie mistake. Having never ridden a tandem before, I told Bill that he could choose his seat — front or rear. He chose the back because, as it turns out, he’s not an idiot. He knew that it would be much nicer to have a very large guy blocking the wind for 20 miles than to be the windshield. (In his defense, he did offer to switch after several miles, but by that time I had warmed to the role and was enjoying being in front. That decision also saved me from the blame for … well, I’m getting ahead of the story.)

In the next installment: 400+ pounds is heavy … we climb and we climb … the SAG driver and the buffet line … axle me no questions and I’ll tell you no lies … we meet the Burger King and obtain his crown … and more!

READ PART 2

Rumble Strips, a Hazard to Cyclists

Richard DeSarra — Mon, 09 Nov 2009 20:24:02 +0000

***ACTION ALERT***
NYSDOT Proposing Widespread Use of Rumble Strips on Secondary Highways, Posing New Hazards to Bicyclists

Contact NYSDOT and Your Legislators—Urge NYSDOT Not to Jeopardize the Safety of Its Roadway Users!
CURRENT NYSDOT POLICY: Do not install rumble strips on secondary roads except in rare instances
PROPOSED NYSDOT POLICY: Installation of rumble strips will be the preferred practice in the design of all secondary roads with a few exceptions

RUMBLE STRIPS are a well-documented hazard to bicyclists. Accepted practice nationwide dictates that rumble strips be used only sparingly on roads permitting cycling

NYSDOT is proposing an Engineering Instruction (EI), titled “Secondary Highway Audible Roadway Delineators – Guidance and Policy,” which is at variance with the practices recommended by the Federal Highway Administration, The American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials, and other standards setting agencies. Such national agencies generally recommend if rumble strips to be used on two-lane roads if there is a documented run-off-the road accident problem—and then, used only as a last resort due to the hazards they may create for other roadway users, including bicyclists.

Contact NYSDOT and your legislators to urge NYSDOT to not issue the proposed policy. Ask them to work with groups, such as the New York Bicycling Coalition, organizers of bicycling tours and events, and local cycling clubs to construct a less hostile policy that better balances the needs of motorist and bicyclist safety.

BACKGROUND: Rumble strips, as illustrated, are audible roadway delineators or indentations in the shoulder pavement that make sound when a car runs over them at high speeds. While an important safety tool used to prevent run-offs on high-speed Interstates and other limited access highways, they are a well-documented hazard to individuals on bicycles and should be used only sparingly on roads permitting cycling. NYSDOT is proposing to replace current stated policy — not have rumble strips on secondary roads except in rare instances — with a new one declaring “installation of shoulder rumble strips to be the preferred practice in the design of all secondary highways” with a few exceptions.

In short, the proposal would have NYSDOT install rumble strips (with certain exceptions) on secondary roadways throughout New York State, compromising bicyclists’ safety and the quality of riding surfaces on thousands of miles otherwise scenic roadways. National practice is to have rumble strips nowhere with some exceptions on secondary roadways. By taking the opposite tack, NYSDOT’s policy promiscuously promotes rumble strips, going far beyond what is seen as efficient deployment. Aside from the policy’s cost implications, it is unwise. It means rumble strips in urban areas, creating or adding to the din. It means rumble strips on roads with speeds too low to generate sound. Rumble strips also mean higher maintenance costs for the taxpayer. And, of course, they pose a danger to cyclists by causing spills, erratic avoidance maneuvers, or causing them to avoid the shoulder and ride mingled in automobile traffic.

A check of other states with such secondary highway policies shows they require an accident analysis be done before such rumble strip use; the proposed NYSDOT policy does not. Other states specify where rumble strips are used, have at least 5 feet of paved shoulder between them and any guardrail; the proposed NYSDOT policy does not. Other states say not to even consider rumble strips unless there are high speeds and high traffic volumes: while the proposed NYSDOT policy does have speed and volume thresholds, they are considerably lower than those of any other state. There are dozens of other such examples in this EI where the proposed policy varies from generally accepted practice.

Action Alert from NYBC (Continued)

Contact NYSDOT and your legislators to urge NYSDOT to not issue the proposed policy TODAY. Call, write, or email (or utilize all 3 methods of communication) your Assembly Member, State Senator and the Commissioner of Transportation.

WHO REPRESENTS ME?

Prefer to mail?
Simply send a postcard (28¢ each at your nearest US Post Office) to your legislators and the Commissioner. For an investment of 84¢, you have the ability to improve bicycling throughout New York State, including in your village, town or city. Or, if easier, just stuff a copy of this notice in an envelope (adding personal comments if you wish) and mail (44¢ postage) it off to the Commissioner and elected representatives..

WHO REPRESENTS ME?

Who’s my Assemblyperson?
Click here to search by Zip Code http://assembly.state.ny.us/mem/

Who’s my NYS Senator?
Click here to search by Zip Code http://www.nysenate.gov/senators

At the above sites, clicking on the highlighted names will bring you directly to the legislator’s official website where you may make comments.

How to contact NYSDOT:
Website: Click here to email NYSDOT https://www.nysdot.gov/about-nysdot/contact
Or write: Commissioner Stanley Gee
NYS Department of Transportation
50 Wolf Rd.
Albany, NY 12232

About the New York Bicycling Coalition
The New York Bicycling Coalition is dedicated to preserving New York State’s wide and smoothly paved shoulder network as an important asset for use by the State’s residents (bicyclists and pedestrians) as well as visiting cyclists. Since 1992, the New York Bicycling Coalition (NYBC) has served as the only statewide, not-for-profit organization of its kind advocating various “Share the Road” education and safety initiatives on behalf of both cyclists and motorists, while working to assure highway, street, and transit facilities are amenable to bicyclists and pedestrians. Support Our Efforts to Increase Bicycling and Pedestrian Safety and Access Today by joining online: http://www.nybc.net/donate

Bicycles and civil disobedience

Jason Crane — Fri, 28 Aug 2009 19:59:20 +0000

The Guardian is featuring a story today by Peter Walker about the bicycle as the vehicle of civil disobedience. Here’s an excerpt:

So what is it that makes the bicycle and the demonstration such good companions? To me, there are two factors at play.

Firstly, if you’re in a group, there is something undeniably liberating about riding around a city surrounded by cyclists. I’ve never been on a Critical Mass ride, so going to Blackheath was a strange sensation – no longer a vulnerable solo rider lined up against the massed metal forces of the motorised traffic, I was part of an entity too big to ignore or shove unthinkingly into the kerb.

Second, if you’re a solo campaigner in an urban environment then the bike is the mode of transport most guaranteed to get you to your protest on time and – perhaps more important still – give you the best chance of slipping away from pursuing authorities. When I worked for another news organisation in Beijing I’d regularly pedal to meetings or protests, nipping down narrow lanes to shake off the unmarked police cars, which routinely trail foreign journalists in China.

Veer

Ethan — Fri, 15 May 2009 14:31:05 +0000

Many thanks to Bob for getting us an exclusive showing of Veer.

Veer is a documentary about the Portland, Oregon, bike scene. It is large and multifaceted. They follow a couple of groups around, from the DIY bike repair shops, to the lobbyists, to the synchronized mini-bike dancers, to the bike chariot racers. There’s a lot, so it’s worth seeing, whether you ride your bike or not.

I think people in Oregon are perhaps too interested in riding mini-bikes (kids bikes) and tall bikes. But at least they’re having fun. And that’s what I think is important. The majority of this documentary is about people having fun on bikes and changing what riding a bike means. They talk about how it’s not just about fitness or transportation anymore.

If Veer is meant to be inspirational and make you think about the bike community in your city, I think it sets the bar unreasonably high. Portland has been building their bicycle community for decades. I didn’t see anyone in that documentary whining about being passed too closely by a car, or crying about a lack of bike lanes. In fact, one guy got a ticket for breaking traffic laws and actually shook the officer’s hand. Cyclists in Portland are responsible riders. In Albany, we’re still struggling to get people (drivers and cyclists alike) to recognize that bikes belong in the streets.

Welcome to Bike Month

Ethan — Fri, 01 May 2009 14:38:16 +0000

Lately I’ve gotten a smidge more involved in things. At the very least I’ve started writing more helpful articles. Turns out, they are only helpful for starting heated debates. Which is really very disappointing. It makes one think that nobody really wants to change anything, they just want to get upset tell everyone how terribly they’ve been treated.

Gandhi said “be the change you want to see in the world.” I think about this every day. I’ll write an article about riding with traffic, and then I’ll go out and I’ll see somebody riding against traffic, and I hope they see me, riding with traffic, and I hope they get the hint. I’ll write an article about obeying red lights, and not riding like a jackass, and I hope that every time I stop at a red light and be courteous to the other people on the road (and I mean drivers, too), that they see that, and recognize that. I hope that for every drunk-in-the-afternoon college jock who sarcastically calls out “nice bike,” there’s some kid who sees a grown up riding a bike with his lunch in a basket on the back and thinks “that’s cool.” I hope that a driver sees me signaling my intention to turn, or waiting for a green light, or stopping for a pedestrian in a crosswalk, and says “whoa, a cyclist who is not a self-righteous punk.”

(To be honest, I always thought this was the point of Critical Manners. That as a group we would teach each other how to ride safely and responsibly, and we would show the rest of the world that not everybody on a bike is a jerk. And maybe we could get some new people to show up once in a while, and if we were nice to them, and made friends with them, maybe they’d stick around and learn something and pass it on.)

I don’t think we all have to go to Capital Hill with bikes and signs and protest. What we all have to do is be nice and ride our bikes. Be nice. Ride your bike. Ring your bell. Wave to other cyclists. Say “hi” to people raking their lawns. Be happy, smile, and enjoy riding your bike.

Bike Month Is Gaining On You

Ethan — Tue, 28 Apr 2009 18:14:46 +0000

Friday is the first day of Bike Month. I am super psyched about what’s going on in the capital region. Write ups on the Albany Bicycle Coalition, and Bike Albany.

Also received this by email, from the NYBC:

In order to promote cycling, advance traffic safety, and raise awareness of bicycling and pedestrian-related issues amongst our elected representatives currently in session, the New York Bicycling Coalition has organized a full roster of Bike Month activities in the Capital District. Exciting activities include bicycle safety education courses and LCI Training Seminar; a bicycle-themed art show; “Two Wheels Good” film festival; the ever-popular SIGMA Commuter Contest; National Bike to Work Day; and the National Ride of Silence. Please consult the full calendar (attached) and refer to www.nybc.net for more information and ways to get involved.

5/1-5/2: Traffic Skills 101. Taught by certified LCIs, this 9-hour curriculum gives cyclists the confidence they need to ride safely and legally in traffic or on the trail. Covers bicycle safety checks, fixing a flat, bike-handling skills and crash avoidance techniques. Recommended for adults and children above age 14, this fast-paced 2-day course prepares cyclists for a full understanding of vehicular cycling. Location: SUNY Albany Downtown Campus, 135 Washington Ave. Draper 147. For full details and course registration info, visit http://nybc.net/?page_id=3 .

5/1-5/22: “Grand Tour: Bicycle, Transportation & Travel” Art Exhibit. Upstate Artists Guild, 247 Lark St., Albany. Opening Reception & Urban Ride 5/1/09, 6-9PM. Note: special bicycle-themed art & reception at Downtube Bicycle Shop, 466 Madison Ave., Albany. 1st Friday Ride, hosted by the Albany Bicycle Coalition, will stop at Exhibit and other 1st Friday art venues. Donations accepted to benefit ABC & NYBC. For more information, visit: http://upstateartistsguild.org/GrandTour.

5/8: “Two Wheels Good” Bike Film Festival. The Sanctuary for Independent Media, 3361 6th Ave., Troy; 7 PM. Collection celebrates all aspects of bicycle culture, from competitive mountain biking to urban “alleycat” racing to daily commuting, bike polo, and Critical Mass. Selection includes a variety of filmmakers and spans genres from documentary to narrative, animation to sports, art & music videos. Co-sponsored by NYBC and Troy Bike Rescue; valet bike parking available. Admission by donation ($10 suggested, $5 student/low income). See www.mediasanctuary.org for details and directions.

5/8-5/10: Bike to Albany’s Tulip Festival. A highly anticipated spring tradition, over 200,000 tulip bulbs will blossom into a sea of colors amidst of thousands of attendees Mother’s Day weekend in Washington Park. The City of Albany is taking a step forward to promote green initiatives and reduce congestion on the roadways by encouraging attendees to RIDE, rather than drive, to the event. Designated racks and valet bicycle parking and will be available at the Willett & Madison Ave. entrance and featured as part of the Tulip Festival Wellness Garden, promoting wellness of mind, body, spirit, and planet. Steiner’s Sports will be on-hand to offer free safety checks and quick tune-ups to keep you rolling. Visit http://www.albanyevents.org for full schedule of activities.

5/13: Driver’s Ed. For Cyclists: a FREE Hands-On Training For Educators. 7AM – 2:30PM, Six Flags Great Escape Lodge, Queensbury. Educators who work with children grades 4 and up will gain the skills and instructional techniques necessary to teach students in P.E. classes, after-school programs and summer camps. Topics such as age-appropriate bicycle handling skills, bicycle laws, cyclist’s responsibilities, proper bike and helmet fitting, the use of gears and breaks and how to avoid crashes will be covered. Participants will also receive instructional materials and have an opportunity to take part in hands-on skill drills. Training is co-sponsored by NYBC, GTSC, Glens Falls Hospital and Upper Hudson Primary Care Consortium NYSDOH Healthy Heart Programs, the Cornell Local Roads Program, and Bike New York.

5/14: SIGMA Commuter Contest. This exciting competition pits bicyclists against motorists and transit riders during rush-hour traffic to determine the most efficient means of transportation. For the past 5 years, the bicyclist has been the winner–join us this year to see if we can make it 6 in a row! Start time: 5PM sharp. Location: Starbucks to Starbucks (10 N Pearl St., Albany to Stuyvesant Plaza, 1475 Western Ave.). Fabulous prizes courtesy of Sigma and Steiner’s Sports.

5/14: VEER the movie. Two showings! 7:30 & 9:15 pm. The Madison Theater (Albany). Special one-night screening of new documentary of the Portland, OR cycling community. Sponsors include: CK Cycles, Steiner’s Sports, The Downtube, The Dead Presidents Lounge, Bomber’s Burritos, Lark Tavern, 518prints.com, UrbanVelo.org. $6/($5 for ABC & NYBC members). Membership is free and you can sign up at the door. ABC will also be collecting $$ donations for the KONA AFRICA BIKE PROGRAM.

5/15: National Bike to Work Day. Sponsored by the League of American Bicyclists, individuals across the country are encouraged to commute to work by bike. The Saratoga Healthy Transportation Network is sponsoring the “First Annual” Saratoga Bike To Work Challenge. Companies with offices/workplaces in Saratoga County are encouraged to form Bike To Work Teams and compete for the highly coveted “The Gear Head Trophy.” To register, go to www.healthytransportation.org. For more information and resources on bicycle commuting, visit www.nybc.net.

5/16: Club Picnic, Ride and Swap Meet. 10AM, Colonie Town Park. The Mohawk Hudson Cycling Club invites all local cyclists & their families to come celebrate Capital Bike Month with the club and meet some new cyclists/friends. Rides of varying categories (casual, tour, mountain bike); potluck lunch; post-ride swap meet. Consult the Ride Calendar on http://webmhcc.org for full details.

5/20: National Ride of Silence. 6PM. Start location: Corning Preserve, Albany. 12 mile route will pass ghost bikes commemorating the deaths of 3 local cyclists. For more details, visit www.rideofsilence.org or www.nybc.net .

5/29-5/31: LCI Training Seminar. Becoming a League Cycling Instructor (LCI) certified to teach BikeEd is a great way to help cyclists in your community. If you are an experienced cyclist and would like to teach others, consider taking the next step towards certification and help bring the joy of safe cycling to others. NOTE: Road I is a prerequisite for a certification seminar. For full details and course registration info, visit http://nybc.net/?page_id=3. Co-sponsored by NYBC, Bike New York, and the League of American Bicyclists.

Nominations Currently Being Accepted for NYBC’s Commuter of the Year Award
NYBC is seeking nominations for its annual Bicycle Commuter of the Year Award. Bicyclists of any age who are NYS residents and commute to work or school on a regular basis are encouraged to apply. Submissions should include a brief written description, in 50 words or less, of why the person nominated is worthy of the award; deadline is Monday,May 11th. Winners will be announced on National Bike to Work Day: Friday, May 15th, 2009. Entries may be sent to: New York Bicycling Coalition, P.O. Box 8868, Albany, NY 12208 or e-mailed to Claire Nolan, NYBC Board Member, at cbnolou@yahoo.com

Celebrate National Bike Month: enter our 2009 Bike Giveaway and help make New York a more bicycle-friendly state!

Win a new Originate Urban Cyckel, generously donated by CK Cycles, and ride in style. Join or renew your membership to NYBC from now until August 31st, 2009, and your name will be automatically included in our 2009 Bike Giveaway drawing!

Grand drawing to be held September 1st, 2009. For official rules, photos, and other details, visit www.nybc.net .

It’s going to be a fun month.

WSJ says “Get Rid Of Your Car” ?!

Ethan — Tue, 06 Jan 2009 15:05:53 +0000

Yeah. Wow, right? Read it.

Biker Gives Appalachian Towns a Voice

Jason Crane — Fri, 02 Jan 2009 17:31:17 +0000

From Alternet:

Trip is to protest mountaintop removal mining
by Brittney Moore

Sam Evans wants the voices of Appalachian families near coal mining sites to be heard, so he’s cycling to Washington, D.C., to hand-deliver protest letters written by mining communities.

“The bike ride for me is just a way to take the voices of the people who aren’t being heard right now and take them to Washington, D.C.,” said Evans, a third-year law student at the University of Tennessee. He plans on leaving Tennessee Jan. 9 and arriving in Washington, D.C., Jan. 20.

Evans won’t be alone for the 750-mile trip. Missy Petty of Conservation Fisheries Inc., a nonprofit organization that rescues endangered fish species, will join him for the first half of the trip.

Evans and Petty plan to stay in homes close to coal mining sites to see for themselves the impact mining has on nearby communities, then gather letters protesting mountaintop removal mining. Evans will hand-deliver the letters to the Natural Resources Defense Council, which will give the letters to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.

“We just want people to be aware of what’s going on in their own backyards and want them to care,” Petty said.

Read the rest of the article

Update on the Helderberg Rail Trail

Jason Crane — Mon, 27 Oct 2008 20:12:48 +0000

This was on the Albany Bicycle Coalition mailing list today:

I wanted to update you on the progress of the Friends of the Rail Trail group I’ve been helping to get organized. Jack Madden and I have been working with the Mohawk Hudson Land Conservancy (MHLC) to get a Friends Group started. So at least for the short term, the Friends group, which will most likely be called the Friends of the Hudson-Helderberg Rail Trail (FOHHRT is the acronym I like; calling it “fort” for short), has been created as a committee of the MHLC.

We can really use more volunteers who want to help with the friends group, especially folks who live in Albany and Voorheesville or New Scotland areas; most of our current volunteers are Bethlehem residents.

We are looking for a couple of people who would be willing to take on leadership roles, and lots of people who are willing to help out with less of a time committment. Even though the trail is about 2 years from being completed according to the county, we can use help starting soon.

We’re considering the following committees: Membership and Fundraising, Community Outreach and Publicity, Engineering and Maintenance, Safety and Security, and perhaps a Volunteer committee as well (though volunteers would serve on each committe really).

Here’s what volunteers would be helping with:

Working with Albany County officials and members of the public to advise on the trail’s design and construction.
Raising public awareness of the trail’s existence, and promoting it’s use.
Calming concerns of local residents about trail safety, security, costs, etc.
Helping establish proper signage for the trail (including visibility and directional signage, and related business oriented signage—such as bike shops, local eateries and cultural opportunities, and more), brochures, maps and other resources.
Coordinating volunteer efforts for the trail such as garbage cleanup, planning events, etc.
Encouraging bicycle awareness, safety, and maintenance among community members (as well as that of other non-motorized wheeled transit—i.e. rollerblades, skateboards, strollers, etc.)
Working toward linking the trail with other rail trails, pedestrian paths, and community assets.
Partnering with local community groups, businesses, or other entities.
Working toward establishment of adequate and safe access to the trail, auto parking, and other infrastructure and services necessary for full use of the trail.
Helping raise funds as needed for ongoing maintenance or security costs, signage, interpretive brochures for trail users, etc.
Working with law enforcement officials and members of each of the communities along the trail to assure appropriate patrolling and safety of the trail for users, and prevention of motorized vehicle use along the trail

Anyone who can help with any of this or would like to join this group, please email me at raindan33@gmail.com.

Thanks very much!

Dan Rain, co-chair, Friends of the Hudson-Helderberg Rail Trail Committee, MHLC

State senator nearly hits bicyclist in NYC

Jason Crane — Fri, 19 Sep 2008 01:26:03 +0000

Bruce Wilbur pointed out this post from No Impact Man:

AN OPEN LETTER TO NY STATE SENATOR JEFF KLEIN, WHO YESTERDAY CALLED ME A F—ING ASSH-LE AFTER NEARLY HITTING ME WITH HIS MERCEDES:

You’re never going to believe it folks, but today I had another close call on my bike, but this time the driver was New York State Senator Jeff Klein of the 34th Senate District in the Bronx. What follows is an open letter to the Senator which I will deliver to him today.

I am asking Senator Klein to meet with me and the Executive Director of Transportation Alternatives, the New York City organization that advocates for bikers and pedestrians. Since the Senator has now had first hand experience, we’d like to talk to him about policies that would help keep bikes and cars from tangling with each other.

Bloggers and journalists, please feel free to repost the letter in its entirety (being sure, of course, to attribute it to Colin Beavan at NoImpactMan.com).

Readers, please email this post to every New Yorker you know.

New York State citizens, please register your thoughts on the incident I will describe below with Senator Klein and the leader of the New York State Democrats. I will give contact details below. Please also ask Senator Klein to honor my request to meet with him.

The rest of the letter and all the relevant contact information is at Colin Beavan’s No Impact Man site.

If you’re in a hurry, you can reach Senator Klein at:

718-822-2049 or jdklein@senate.state.ny.us

Cyclist comes to Albany to promote organ donation

Jason Crane — Mon, 25 Aug 2008 02:12:00 +0000

Richard Gates is a heart transplant recipient. He’s also on a bicycle tour from Cleveland to Boston to promote organ donation. And tomorrow (Monday), he comes to Albany.

According to the Albany Times Union, Gates “plans to stop at Albany Medical Center Hospital at noon Monday and may meet there with staff and a support group.”

You can find out more about Richard Gates and his tour at tourdesecondchance.com. And if you’re free at noon, it might be nice to head down to Albany Med and welcome him to our fair city.

Right Hook

Jason Crane — Wed, 20 Aug 2008 19:00:39 +0000

Rochester Mayor Bob Duffy talks about “zero tolerance” crime policy

Chuck and Gary sent me links to the following story:

Cop nearly right-hooks cyclists in Rochester (Channel 10)

Chuck also included these comments:

Check out the video from last night’s channel 10 news. The cyclist was nearly “hooked” by a police cruiser, and the officer decided that the cyclist was not following the “rules of the road”. The written story and commentary stated that the cyclist “darts out from the side”. Clearly, he was simply continuing to travel in his original direction. I think that the cyclist’s mistake was to not take the entire lane.

Dave Moulton wrote about this story on his blog today.

What do YOU think? And what should we do about it?

Stolen bike in Albany (UPDATE)

Jason Crane — Thu, 31 Jul 2008 04:24:22 +0000

Eric is still looking for his bike. Here’s a photo:

Guest Essay: Dan Lill: Fix a flat and then some

Jason Crane — Wed, 30 Jul 2008 00:59:40 +0000

Jason sez: I asked Dan Lill from R Community Bikes in Rochester to tell us about what they do and why. Thanks, Dan!

What started out as one man’s offer to fix a flat tire in the parking lot of a homeless shelter has developed into an incorporated, not for profit, volunteer army that provides more than five hundred bicycles to Rochester’s neediest citizens every year. Who would have thought!!

Bill Danza was serving lunch at St Joseph’s House of Hospitality when he was asked if he could do some minor bike repair for a guest. Bill willingly responded and soon drew a crowd in St. Joe’s parking lot. Bill promised to return the next week and out of that offer and with the assistance of many new volunteers over the years, has come what is now known as R Community Bikes. While the weekly repair and give away of bikes continues, RCB now has its own rented warehouse in one of Rochester’s poorest and most neglected neighborhoods.

Several times each week volunteers working at the warehouse receive donated bikes, patch tubes, adjust gears, true wheels, sort parts and otherwise ready bikes for distribution to those in need. Most importantly, they also greet recipients and hear their stories of need and then try to match the recipient to his/her new found “Cadillac” as the bikes are often called. Bikes are very frequently the most affordable means of transportation to jobs, schools, church, programs and meals at local social service agencies. These agencies also form an important link between individuals and RCB since referral letters are required before a bike can be obtained. This helps insure that bikes will be given to the most needy and most likely to benefit from them.

The current list of agencies referring clients numbers near thirty and ranges from shelters to community centers to refugee resettlement programs. The need is obvious and is growing as our economy continues to suffer. Those most in need seem to suffer first and most and RCB’s goal is to help level the playing field – if only in a small way.

To date this year, RCB has given out more than 400 bikes between our Wednesday program at St Joseph’s and our main location at the warehouse. This monumental task is possible only because of our volunteer base which numbers nearly one hundred as a list but with 15 -20 coming in each week. They are a varied group bringing bike skills for sure but also so much more. We have, among our group, fund raisers, carpenters, printers, electricians, computer experts, grant writers, clerical staff, teenagers, retirees, educators, students, the under and unemployed, bikers, nonbikers, the rich and the poor. The group is varied for sure but all committed to our mission of service to the community.

R Community Bikes is always looking for new volunteers to help us address our mission. We are also in need of specific bike tools, office supplies and for sure monetary contributions since we are a totally not-for-profit organization. Information can be obtained at rcombikes@yahoo.com; at our website: rcommunitybikes.net; by calling Dan at (585) 865-9872; or by visiting us at 226 Hudson Avenue in Rochester.

STOLEN: Red Track Bike

Jason Crane — Mon, 28 Jul 2008 14:02:39 +0000

This came in this morning on the Albany Bicycling Coalition listserv:

Red Track Bike *STOLEN*
Frame – “Romic”
White handlebar grips
No Brakes No Gears
Red tires
Stolen from New Scotland Avenue Neighborhood between the hospitals near Ridgefield Park
If you have any information or if you would like to see a photo – please e-mail Eric or call 518-209-6477

Donating bikes

Jason Crane — Sun, 27 Jul 2008 23:57:43 +0000

A couple weeks ago, a call went out on the Albany Bicycling Coalition mailing list looking for bikes to donate to Iraqi refugees living in Albany. I decided that I didn’t really need four bikes, particularly since I ride my Xtracycle almost all the time, and the other bikes just sit in the basement. So I made arrangements to donate the bikes, and then Bernie and I brought them to the collection point with the Packet Boat (Xtracycle). Here’s a little slideshow of the trip:

And here’s a link to a larger version:

080727 Donating Bikes

Trek’s Go By Bike Challenge

Jason Crane — Sun, 20 Jul 2008 01:21:11 +0000

[Albany] Common Council endorses Capital Bike Month

Jason Crane — Tue, 06 May 2008 01:26:46 +0000

Joshua Poppel of the New York Bicycling Coalition wrote about tonight’s Albany Common Council meeting in his first post for RocBike.com. (Welcome, Joshua!) The meeting was attended by a half-dozen cyclists — Mary Lou, Joshua, Andrew, Tom, George and me. Mary Lou, Joshua and I each spoke during the public comment period, thanking Councilman Calsolaro for his resolution and commenting on the state of cycling in Albany.

Mary Lou talked about the job of educating drivers to respect cyclists, and mentioned several of the events coming up during Capital Bike Month. I talked about the difficulties of cycling around the city of Albany, particularly for a family that’s trying to go car-free, which means riding with little kids. Joshua talked about the importance of the council’s endorsement of bike month, which he referred to as a no-cost way for the city to encourage cycling and smart transportation alternatives.

Later in the meeting, when the resolution came up for a vote, every member of the council co-sponsored it, and three of them spoke out in detail — Councilmembers Dominick Calsolaro (Ward 1), Corey Ellis (Ward 3) and James Sano (Ward 9). All three thanked the cyclists for coming to the meeting.

Councilman Sano said he’d recently looked through his garage and found five bicycles. He said he came up with enough parts to build one for himself. “I realized that I know how to work on bikes,” he said. Then he donated the rest of the bikes to Troy Bike Rescue.

Councilman Ellis said he knew a man who’d recently found a job and who then went to Troy Bike Rescue to build up a bike so he could ride to work. A few days later the man came in again. Councilman Ellis asked him whether something was wrong with the bike, and he said that he’d been hit by a car on the way to work. Councilman Ellis called on the Common Council to work to make Albany a safer place for cyclists.

Following the meeting, Councilman Ellis came over to us and said it was important for us to show up at the upcoming meeting for the city’s comprehensive plan. As soon as I locate that on the city’s site, I’ll be sure to post it.

TAKE ACTION! Please contact your member of the Common Council and thank them for sponsoring the resolution. You’ll find all their contact information here.

Here are photos from tonight’s meeting:

[Albany] Bicycle Commuter of the Year nominations due TODAY!

Jason Crane — Mon, 05 May 2008 11:26:09 +0000

From the Albany Times-Union:

ALBANY — The New York Bicycling Coalition is seeking nominations for the organization’s 2008 Capital District Bicycle Commuter of the Year Award.
The coalition is asking that submissions include a brief written discussion, in 50 words or less, of why the person nominated is worthy of the award. The deadline is May 5.
Winners will be announced during Capital Bike Week, May 12-16.
Entries may be sent to: New York Bicycling Coalition, P.O. Box 8868, Albany, NY 12208.
Entries also may be e-mailed to: cbnolou@yahoo.com.

[Albany] Capital Bike Month events start today!

Jason Crane — Fri, 02 May 2008 16:35:37 +0000

Come one, come all! The full events calendar is at NYBC.net.

Friday, May 2

5:30 – 9:00 p.m.: Urban Ride & Grand Opening of “Dream Wheels” exhibit at UAG Gallery, 247 Lark St., Albany. Show runs 5/2-5/23. Proceeds benefit NYBC and the Albany Bicycle Coalition. Urban ride departs at 5:30pm from Civil War Memorial in Washington Park (intersection of Henry Johnson Blvd. & State St.). 12-mile route featuring ABC’s Albany Bike Map and proposed bike routes; returns to UAG gallery for Grand Opening Gala.

Sunday, May 4

10:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m.: Free “Open House” Day and BBQ at SMBA Trails. Team LUNA Chix of Upstate NY and the Saratoga Mountain Bike Association (SMBA) will be co-hosting several mountain bike rides throughout the day for various ability levels on the SMBA trails in Saratoga Springs. [NOTE: You are not required to be a SMBA member to attend this event.] Beginners, intermediates, and experts all welcome and encouraged to attend. For more information, visit www.saratogamtb.org or contact john@saratogamtb.org or treesawmtb@yahoo.com.

[Albany] Capital Bike Month 2008

Jason Crane — Mon, 28 Apr 2008 21:20:41 +0000

Jason sez: Here’s what’s happening in Albany during Capital Bike Month. More info is at NYBC.net.

DOWNLOADS

EVENTS

May 1st-31st

“Let’s Celebrate Bike Month!” Poster Contest for kids. Submissions accepted 5/1/-5/28; awards ceremony 5/31 during bicycle safety education class at Guilderland Public Library (see 5/31, below). Co-sponsored by the Guilderland Public Library and Altamont Free Library. Free and open to all children ages 4-17 throughout the Capital District. Prizes & giveaways sponsored by Plaine and Son and the Mohawk Hudson Cycling Club.

Friday, May 2

Sunday, May 4

Monday, May 12

5:30 p.m.: MHCC presents “Warm up for Bike to Work Day” Ride. Check your legs and practice your commuting route with the added benefit of increased safety in numbers that fellow cyclists can provide. Meet at 5:30pm at CDTA Delmar Park & Ride (intersection of Route 32 & 52, Delmar) for 13 mile round-trip venture from Delmar to Empire State Plaza in downtown Albany. Ride departs at 5:45pm. See www.webmhcc.org or contact kjempie@earthlink.net for more details.

Tuesday, May 13

9:00 – 10:30 a.m.: Legislative Breakfast. LOB Room 211A. Similar to the League of American Bicyclist’s National Bike Summit, this is an opportunity to learn about the latest state legislation pertaining to bicyclists and pedestrians, voice your concerns, and interact with your local and state representatives. Co-sponsored by CK Cycles. RSVP to nybc@nybc.net by Friday, May 9th.

10:45 a.m. – 11:30 a.m. Ride around the Capital. Following the breakfast, there will be a short ride around the State Capital and downtown Albany area.

5:00 – 8:00 p.m.: “Tune Up Your Bike Night” and Free Repair Clinics at Troy Bike Rescue, 15 Trinity Place, Albany, NY 12202. For more information, call 518.986.2256, email troybikerescue@gmail.com, or visit www.troybikerescue.org.

Wednesday, May 14

5:30 p.m. – 8:00 p.m.: Bicycle Rodeo for Kids and Families. Free bike safety checks and helmet giveaways for children; one child’s bike will be donated to recipient of “Citizen’s Award,” chosen by Boys & Girls Club (B&GC). Location: Boys & Girls Club, 400 Craig Street, Schenectady. Co-sponsored by Plaine and Son and the Boys & Girls Club of Schenectady.

Thursday, May 15

5:00 p.m.: Commuter Contest: car vs. bus vs. cyclist. Location: Starbucks to Starbucks (downtown Albany to Stuyvesant Plaza). Fabulous prizes & swag courtesy of Steiner’s Sports. For more information, email nybc@nybc.net.

Friday, May 16

Bike to Work Day. 6 staging areas with mapped routes and bicycle escorts to downtown Albany; 3 rally points with designated bicycle parking; and a “commuter buddy” program offered to cyclists who choose not to ride alone. Co-sponsored by Downtown Albany BID, CDTA, O.G.S., Sports Signup, Sandwiches to Go, Steiner’s Sports, The Down Tube, Elevate Cycles, Easern Mountain Sports, Steuben Athletic Club, Capital District YMCA and Bruegger’s Bagels. Register in advance at biketoworkalbany.org.

7:00 p.m.: Film showing of “Contested Streets” at Guilderland Public Library (2228 Western Ave., Guilderland, NY 12084). Brief discussion to follow. Free and open to the public. Co-sponsored by Guilderland Public Library & New York Bicycling Coalition.

Saturday, May 17

10 a.m. – 3 p.m.: “Savvy Cyclist” Road Class. Location: University at Albany, 1400 Washington Ave., Albany, College of Arts & Sciences Bldg. Room 123. This course is offered free of charge and brought to you by NYBC and a grant from the Governor’s Traffic Safety Committee. RSVP to nybc@nybc.net by Thursday, May 15th to reserve a space.

Wednesday, May 21

6 p.m.: Ride of Silence (Albany). Start location: Corning Preserve (downtown Albany). 12-mile route will pass ghost bikes commemorating the deaths of 3 local cyclists. For more details, visit www.rideofsilence.org or email Claire Nolan or Sue Troll.

Saturday, May 31

10:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.: Safe Cycling for Kids (and Their Parents) Workshop. Guilderland Public Library. Winners of Bike Month poster contest announced and prizes distributed. Fun for the whole family! For more information, contact Jennifer Ogrodowski, Guilderland Public Library, at (518) 456-2400, ext. 34 or Judith Wines, Altamont Free Library, (518) 861-7239.

April 8 is “Travel Differently Day”

Jason Crane — Fri, 04 Apr 2008 23:55:23 +0000

From the Rails-To-Trails Conservancy:

Rails-to-Trails Conservancy (RTC) has a host of fun suggestions to get you walking and biking around town! And if you’re already doing so regularly, this is your chance to be part of a larger event, and inspire others to enjoy active transportation.

April 7-13 is National Public Health Week (NPHW). RTC is a partner and this year’s theme is “Climate Change: Our Health in the Balance.” All around the country, individuals will be making the connection between personal health and the health of our planet, and how both can be improved by walking and biking more, and driving less.

In particular, Tuesday, April 8, is “Travel Differently Day.” Organizations and communities around the country are encouraging individuals to walk or bike instead of drive. NPHW’s online calendar lists events around the country in which you can get involved. Find out about a local event and join the movement to improve your health and the climate at the same time.

If a “Travel Differently Day” event isn’t happening in your area, check out RTC’s online trail-finder and discover a rail-trail near you that can put you on the path of active transportation.

Finally, do you want to make walking or biking a more regular part of your life? Take the Burn Calories, Not Carbon! pledge and make your voice heard. By pledging to walk and bike more and drive less, you send a message to your political leaders that you want more transportation choices in your community.

Thank you and have fun “traveling differently,”

Rails-to-Trails Conservancy

On Tuesday, I have a staff meeting in Saratoga. I’m going to celebrate “Travel Differently Day” by riding my bike to the train station and then getting to Saratoga by train rather than car.

April 8 is “Travel Differently Day”

Jason Crane — Fri, 04 Apr 2008 23:54:52 +0000

From the Rails-To-Trails Conservancy:

Rails-to-Trails Conservancy (RTC) has a host of fun suggestions to get you walking and biking around town! And if you’re already doing so regularly, this is your chance to be part of a larger event, and inspire others to enjoy active transportation.

April 7-13 is National Public Health Week (NPHW). RTC is a partner and this year’s theme is “Climate Change: Our Health in the Balance.” All around the country, individuals will be making the connection between personal health and the health of our planet, and how both can be improved by walking and biking more, and driving less.

In particular, Tuesday, April 8, is “Travel Differently Day.” Organizations and communities around the country are encouraging individuals to walk or bike instead of drive. NPHW’s online calendar lists events around the country in which you can get involved. Find out about a local event and join the movement to improve your health and the climate at the same time.

If a “Travel Differently Day” event isn’t happening in your area, check out RTC’s online trail-finder and discover a rail-trail near you that can put you on the path of active transportation.

Finally, do you want to make walking or biking a more regular part of your life? Take the Burn Calories, Not Carbon! pledge and make your voice heard. By pledging to walk and bike more and drive less, you send a message to your political leaders that you want more transportation choices in your community.

Thank you and have fun “traveling differently,”

Rails-to-Trails Conservancy

On Tuesday, I have a staff meeting in Saratoga. I’m going to celebrate “Travel Differently Day” by riding my bike to the train station and then getting to Saratoga by train rather than car.

Shameless plug

Julie — Fri, 04 Apr 2008 19:31:33 +0000

Well, in a little behind-the-scenes conversation at Team RocBike, Jason actually accused us of having become…motorists (due to the paucity of posting here of late). Jack, as is his right, responded with righteous indignation.

I, however, did not. Sad to say, my winter months were full of more driving than cycling. My excuses? I took on an extra teaching gig in the ‘burbs, necessitating several 13 hour days with no way to be everywhere I needed to by bike (or bus) commute; I have a 17-year old daughter who required (until she recently got her license) rides for herself, her trumpet, and her 20 pound backpack to various musical performances and events throughout the 7-county area; and, well…I don’t like to bike on ice, which is mostly what we had throughout January and February. (p.s. if you think I’m exaggerating about the length of my days, the weight of DD’s backpack, or the locations of her performances…I’m not.)

So now I atone for my sins (and you get to help!). I’m participating in the Adore Your City bike ride and community service project to raise funds (and do some physical labor) for Rochester’s “Clean Sweep” project. I have to raise at least $180! Please consider sponsoring me through PayPal, at my45thyear@yahoo.com.

Our friends over at Full Moon Vista are organizing the ride. Registration deadline was April 1…I don’t know if they’re still taking riders or not, but give them a call if you’re interested in riding yourself!

Here’s to much more riding in April!

Reporting road hazards

Jason Crane — Tue, 18 Mar 2008 04:25:07 +0000

RocBike reader and cycling guru Richard DeSarra sent along this handy form to use to report road hazards:

Road Hazard Reporting Form (PDF)

Google Maps for Cyclists

Adam — Fri, 29 Feb 2008 19:55:53 +0000

Many of you are familiar with the usefulness of Google Maps for planning bike trips. It’s designed primarily for use by motorists, but with a few tricks it makes finding your way somewhere by bike very easy.

Start planning your trip by clicking on the “Get directions” tab under the Google Maps search bar. Enter your start and end addresses, and Google offer you its best guess on how you want to get there, which will often take you over highways:

Luckily, there’s a checkbox called “Avoid Highways” that you can click to have Google Maps find the shortest route that doesn’t use highways:

But it gets even better. Many cyclists feel that traveling on back roads can be more pleasant and safe than sticking to high-capacity arterial roads. Google Maps puts you on the major arterial roads when it can, but lucky for us, the interface allows you to click and drag your route and find better ways to get to your destination:

This should take one-way streets and “no left turns” into account, so you hopefully won’t run into any surprises on your route. Click the “Link” button to generate a link to save or share. Click “Print” to print out a handy guide you can put in your pocket. And then get on your bike and try it out! Google Maps was quite useful in helping Caitlin and I figure out our morning route across Rochester.

There’s plenty of room for this web application to improve. Since it isn’t built for cyclists, it has no information on mixed use paths or bike lanes. Sites like byCycle.org and Bikely have built some interesting services on top of Google Maps, but wouldn’t it be cool if there was a “Bike There” feature as part of the Google Maps interface?

In fact, there is an online petition you can go sign right now (thanks, Nicole!) to ask Google to do just that! I don’t know how effective these online petitions are, but at the very least it lets the Google Maps team know that there are thousands of people out there who would love to use this feature.

Bike to Work Week in Rochester, NY?

Adam — Fri, 08 Feb 2008 17:30:57 +0000

The blogs are abuzz over this year’s Bike to Work Week. Do you think Rochesterians can get fired up about biking to work? Can a weblog like RocBike.com fan the flames of the bike commuting movement in our fine city? I say we find out!

Want to help? We’ve got three months to pull this off! I’ll go about building a little section to this site explaining the purpose of Bike to Work Week, what bike commuting is all about, and featuring businesses, government agencies, blogs, civilians, and other organizations that help us out. We’ll want to start talking to local businesses — from bike shops to smoothie bars — about holding special events or free giveaways for bike commuters during the week. We’ll also want to think about promoting a couple rides that week to get people interested in the social aspect of bike riding.

The League has some great materials on their site, including an organizer’s kit and various brochures. Take some time to look things over, think about what you’d like Bike to Work Week to be like and what you’d like to do to promote it, and if you’d like to help, leave a note in the comments or e-mail me at .

Guest Essay — Youth Bike Share Program (Eric Larsson)

Jason Crane — Sun, 02 Dec 2007 01:40:52 +0000

Jason sez: Eric Larsson has contributed links to the daily list before. Here’s his first essay. Welcome, Eric!

Rochester needs a youth bike program.

I like the earn-a-bike model. Kids come to the shop, learn a hands-on repair curriculum working on donated bikes, and ride away on a bike of their own (with a helmet on their head). Two great examples are Bikes not Bombs and Recycle a Bicycle. We could go well beyond that. Maybe incorporate a local chapter of Trips for Kids. It could offer adult classes and a community workshop like the Broadway Bicycle School. If a few engineers, welders and machinists stepped up to the challenge it could be a human powered business incubator something like the Center for Appropriate Transport.

Rochester has all the elements to build and support something great: a well-developed bike culture, a large population of college students, a vibrant network of non-profit organizations, and plenty of kids to serve.

If I wasn’t so old and lazy I wouldn’t be writing this — I’d have already launched a youth bike program in Rochester. But, I co-founded one in Worcester, Massachusetts ten years ago, and now it’s time to step aside while the new talent steps forward. I’m happy to offer up free advice tempered by experience. I’ll share some good contacts. I might make a few phone calls or go to a meeting. I will make one concrete promise: I’ll secure at least one startup grant for anyone serious enough to take this on. Why wait? Let’s roll!

Bike Santa Giveaway

Jason Crane — Mon, 26 Nov 2007 12:42:37 +0000

This announcement was on the Rochester activist list this morning:

Bike Santa and the Bike Repair Helpers Spring into Action, Giving Away Bicycles to Kids Organized Through the First Genesis Missionary Baptist Church on Dec. 8th at Santa’s Bike Shop, 226 Hudson Ave.

Contact: Dan Lill via e-mail or by phone at (585) 865-9872.

Santa’s Bike Shop (226 Hudson Avenue) will be giving away bicycles to approximately 30-40 kids @ 226 Hudson Avenue at 10am, Saturday December 8th. FHF Exec. Director Andrew Stankevich will be dressed up as a clown making balloon animals for neighborhood kids. The kids have already been pre-selected; no more kids are needed.

In addition to servicing individuals from the immediate neighborhood and from referrals through area nonprofits, Santa’s Bike Shop will be providing free bicycles to the boys and girls through the First Genesis Missionary Church (292 Hudson Avenue), an immediate neighbor of the Hudson Ave. bike shop. Dan Lill (“the bike santa”) said, “We got the sled out of the basement and were gearing the reindeer up so that I could fly from house to house, drop down the chimney and leave bikes under the Christmas trees for all of the nice boys and girls of the poverty-stricken Upper Falls neighborhood. However, after coordinating an extensive feasibility study, Friends Helping Friends determined that it would be most efficient to partner with another neighborhood organization and invite kids to the warehouse so that we could better customize the bikes for each individual kid.”

Missionary Vera Crumpler (First Missionary Baptist Church/Citywide Youth Crusade) said, “I organized all of the kids who really wanted bikes for Christmas, but their moms and dads couldn’t afford to buy them one. The kids will come with their parents to pick up their bicycle.”

Andrew Stankevich will be performing as a clown and making balloon animals for neighborhood kids during the bike giveaway. “We’ve got our own strategic initiative to combat crime & violence in the “crescent” of Rochester. It’s called neighbors working together to spread God’s love by giving away free bicycles,” said Stankevich.

Cruiser ride in Rochester TONIGHT!

Jason Crane — Wed, 14 Nov 2007 05:05:00 +0000

Join us tonight (Wednesday) for a fun-filled Cruiser Ride through Rochester neighborhoods. Cruiser rides are laid-back moving social gatherings with music, lights, and all sorts of bikes, and all are welcome! No agenda — just good fun, good friends and good ridin’. Be sure to bundle up as we approach the colder season, but don’t overdo it. You’ll warm up as we ride. And if you don’t, the post-ride beer or hot chocolate will help. Meet outside of Monty’s Krown at 8 p.m. Monty’s Krown is at 875 Monroe Ave in Rochester, right near 490. (If you want to eat first, several of us will be at Dogtown Hots at 691 Monroe Ave around 7 p.m. They have vegan fare, in addition to regular hots.)

Here are photos and more from the last two rides:

Attention suburban cyclists! (Again!)

Jason Crane — Wed, 14 Nov 2007 02:37:14 +0000

Jason sez: Someone responded to Amy from the Messenger-Post Newspapers, but there’s been a snafu, as Amy relates:

Hello y’all. It’s the reporter again.

I’d like to thank whoever replied to my posting, however, unfortunately I lost your email. I believe I deleted it in an email clean out frenzy on Friday, as our IT guy here is constantly “riding” our butts to keep our systems from being bogged down.

I apologize if my initial email made it sound like I believe being a bike commuter is hard. My purpose is to talk to someone who does it and to talk about the benefits and the challenges to riding a bike. Yes, the internet is a great way to do research, as in this case where I was able to identify a source to tell the story. However, if you are at all familiar with our newspapers, you would understand that I can’t write a story based on research off the Internet. I need a local source who can illustrate the story for my readers. The Internet can be useful to fill out my story with fun facts, but I can’t just write a story based on facts taken from the Internet.

Who knew that my request for a source to help tell others about what it’s like being a bike commuter could possibly elicit a negative response. I hope that’s not reflective of the commuter community in general.

Thank you for your help and again, if you corresponded with me via email last week, can you please resend me your contact information so we can get the ball (or bike) rolling.

Whoever you are, please contact Amy via e-mail.

Calling all suburban cyclists!

Jason Crane — Thu, 08 Nov 2007 14:28:59 +0000

The Messenger-Post Newspaper chain is looking to do a story on bicycle commuting, and they need YOUR help. If you commute in the burbs — particularly one that has a Messenger-Post paper — please contact Amy. Here’s the info:

Hello there … I’m Amy Cavalier, a reporter with the Messenger Post newspapers. I’m attempting to find bicycle commuters from the burbs of Rochester. The reporters at our papers would love to
do a story about the trials, tribulations and benefits to life without a car…and how to make bike commuting easier. I think this is a topic of interest, particularly with gas prices on the rise constantly.

If you can be of any assistance, feel free to contact me at 394-0770 ext. 243, or if you want to post this on your website, you can send anyone who might have a good story to tell my way.

Thanks so much for your help,
Amy

Rochester cyclists–Hold the Mayor to his word

Julie — Wed, 31 Oct 2007 21:20:15 +0000

While I was browsing today on my lunch hour at Greenwood Books, I got a chance to hear Mayor Duffy on our local NPR affiliate, WXXI. He was on the talk show, 1370 Connection.

A caller complained about there being too many cyclists on downtown sidewalks. Mayor Duffy agreed, and said, “I’m really interested in creating bike lanes downtown for bicyclists.” Okay, that quote may not be his exact words, but you get the gist.

So, let’s hold the Mayor accountable to his words…emails, letters, phone calls…maybe a more organized effort, particularly in light of Jack’s comments about the Midtown Plaza site.

Blog Action Day: Take that, Exxon!

Jason Crane — Tue, 16 Oct 2007 02:49:13 +0000

This essay is part of RocBike.com’s contribution to Blog Action Day

I don’t know how much money you make, but ExxonMobil made $39.5 billion in profit — profit! — in 2006, more than any other company. If ExxonMobil were a person — which it isn’t, despite the prevailing notions in both American law and media coverage — it would have landed a pretty sweet gig, clearing $18,990,384.61 an hour. If, like me, you’re not good with commas, that’s just about 19 MILLION DOLLARS AN HOUR IN PROFIT.

It’s important to say again that we’re talking about what ExxonMobil gets to keep and use to buy politicians, er, or whatever they like. Plasma TVs. Small countries. Paramilitaries to keep the natives in line. Y’know, the same kinds of things you and I buy.

But ExxonMobil is a publicly traded company, so at least its shareholders can influence the company’s direction, right? Sure. Just check out these snippets from the article I linked to above:

While other companies have become more “green,” more gay-friendly and more willing to give stronger voice to shareholders, ExxonMobil (Charts, Fortune 500) continues to go its own way. Like his predecessor, Lee Raymond, chief executive Rex Tillerson seems disinclined to bow to today’s conventional wisdom about how big corporations are supposed to behave.

[snip]

Last week, the California state teachers retirement fund, the state treasurers of a half dozen states, labor union pension funds and socially-responsible mutual funds said they would withhold their votes for an Exxon director, Michael Boskin, because he wouldn’t meet with them. Boskin, a Stanford economics professor, chairs the board’s public issues committee. He didn’t respond to an e-mail seeking comment, but a company spokesman said Boskin communicates regularly with shareholders and that he helped arrange a day-long meeting for institutional investors with top ExxonMobil officials. The investors say they want access to the directors, as well.

[snip]

But the shareholder discontent is about substantive issues, too.

The most prominent is climate change. General Electric (Charts, Fortune 500), Wal-Mart (Charts, Fortune 500), DuPont (Charts, Fortune 500) and oil companies Conoco-Phillips and BP (Charts) have called for strong federal regulation of greenhouse gas emissions. They accept the scientific consensus that global warming is a threat, that it’s caused by man-made activity and that forceful remedies are required.

ExxonMobil won’t go that far. In its corporate responsibility report issued last week, the company says: “Because the risk to society and ecosystems from rising greenhouse gas emissions could prove to be significant, strategies that address the risk need to be developed and implemented.” It goes out to lay out a set of principles that it believes make sense in addressing climate change. You can read more here.

But the company has upset some environmentalists by providing financial backing (albeit small amounts) for groups that challenge the conventional wisdom on climate change.

The Heartland Institute, a free-market think tank, publishes a newsletter called Environment and Climate News. Sample headlines: “Fears of Melting Polar Ice Are Discredited,” “Record April Freeze Hits U.S.” (!), “Scientists Urge Gore to Cool His Global Warming Rhetoric,” “When Will We Tire of the Fear Mongers?” ExxonMobil gave $115,000 to the Heartland Institute in 2006.

Another group on Exxon’s support list is the George C. Marshall Institute. The climate change page on its Web site displays such headlines as “Storm Guru: Oceans, Not CO2, Cause Global Warming,” and “Earth’s Climate is Seesawing, According to Climate Reseachers.” The institute got $85,000 last year from ExxonMobil.

[snip]

On governance issues, ExxonMobil opposes Monks’ resolution that asks the company to separate the jobs of chairman and CEO. It opposes a proposal from Lucian Bebchuk, a Harvard Law school professor and prominent critic of excessive CEO pay, asking the company to give more power to its independent directors to approve executive compensation. It doesn’t want to give shareholders a vote on executive comp, either.

ExxonMobil also opposes a resolution asking the company to adopt in writing a non-discrimination policy against gays and lesbians. More than 80 percent of Fortune 500 companies (and 98 of the biggest 100) have done so. While Exxon says it opposes any form of discrimination, you have to wonder why the company won’t put its position in writing, and what kind of signal that sends to gay or lesbian employees or prospective employees.

I’m not sure if you’ve noticed, but the cheapest gas you can buy where I live in upstate New York is about $3 a gallon. When I moved back to the U.S. from Japan in 1999, I distinctly remember filling up my tank in South Carolina for about $.75 a gallon. In the meantime, we’ve invaded and occupied a country with a ton of oil. Not only has that Iraqi oil not paid for the invasion, which costs U.S. taxpayers $430 million a day, but we’re still paying four times more for gas than we did eight years ago. (And we’ve, y’know, also killed a lot of people.)

So what can we do?

If you’re reading this site, you’ve already figured out one huge way to give ExxonMobil, Big Oil and the Bush junta the kick in the sensitives they so richly deserve. Take my small contribution:

Miles biked since June: 1,176
My car’s gas mileage: 18 miles per gallon
Gallons saved by biking: 65

Big deal, right? All that biking I’ve done over the past four and a half months has resulted in me saving a small enough amount of gas that I could probably carry it on my Xtracycle if I didn’t go too far.

But now consider this: According to a 2002 government study (reported by the League of American Bicyclists), 57 million people rode a bike in 2002. If the average of all the trips they made was only 5 miles a person, that would still be 285 million miles traveled by bicycle. The average gas mileage in the U.S. was 21 miles per gallon in 2005. That means that if 57 million people each ride just five miles in a year, they’ll collectively save 13.5 million gallons of gas ! Even if they all only ride one mile and then quit, they’ll save 2.7 million gallons of gas!

So there you have it. Millions of gallons of planet-destroying gasoline saved, lives improved, wars averted, health increased, happiness escalated. What are you reading the rest of this for? Go ride your bike!

P.S. — If you’re a visual learner, here’s an easy choice:

(Photo by Jill from Up In Alaska)

Which side are YOU on?

Blog Action Day: Paper or Plastic is the Wrong Question

Julie — Tue, 16 Oct 2007 02:13:55 +0000

This essay is part of RocBike.com’s contribution to Blog Action Day

According to The Consumer’s Guide to Effective Environmental Choices from the Union of Concerned Scientists, the 3 priority areas for consumers in reducing environmental impact are: transportation, food, and household operations. These are the 3 areas in which individual consumers can have the most impact, with transportation being numero uno.

The 5 specific recommended actions to reduce your transportation impact are:

1. Choose a place to live that reduces the need to drive.

2. Think twice before purchasing another car.

3. Choose a fuel-efficient, low-polluting car.

4. Set concrete goals for reducing your travel.

5. Whenever practical, walk, BICYCLE, or take public transportation.

I admire people who are completely car-free, and aspire to be one some day. But I haven’t quite figured out how to make that happen. I have been able to figure out how to: live less than 2 miles from my place of work, drive a 12-year old car that’s well-maintained (at least as far as keeping it running clean; don’t talk to me about the rust), bike, walk, or bus whenever feasible (inconvenience is not allowed as an excuse, but needing to go to off-campus meetings, pick up and deliver offspring, carry very heavy loads, are allowed reasons for driving).

If you ask me, a much more environmentally significant question than paper or plastic is: Do you absolutely have to drive? Put another way: Bike, walk, or bus?

p.s. Another reason why paper or plastic is the wrong question–your own re-usable cloth bag is a better answer.

Call for Submissions to Rochester Critical Mass Zine

Adam — Fri, 12 Oct 2007 18:39:42 +0000

A “Zine” is a Do-It-Yourself low-cost photocopied & stapled booklet, a homemade alternative to a commercially published magazine (check out the Bike Zines listed in RocBike’s sidebar below, although Urban Velo appears to be the only home-printed Zine in that list). Zines are a great way of getting fresh ideas out into the community, and they can be distributed in public places as a form of advocacy.

Some folks involved with Rochester, New York Critical Mass are collaborating on a monthly Zine tentatively titled “ROCin’ the Road,” and they’re looking for submissions! The first issue’s theme will be “10 Things I Love About Biking in Rochester.” If you would like to contribute your list of 10 Things, or an essay, or some artwork, send it to rochestercriticalmass@gmail.com by Sunday, October 21st. Anyone interested in even more in-depth collaboration (editing and photocopying) should write to Caitlin courtesy that address.

I look forward to posting “ROCin’ the Road” here on RocBike when it is published. Until then, you can list out the Things You Love About Biking in [Your City] in this post’s comments, and though there’s no guarantee that your list will fall into the hands of the zinemakers, I’m sure RocBike readers would love to share the good bike vibes.

Take Action! Tell Secretary of Transportation that bicycles aren’t a “waste”

Jason Crane — Fri, 17 Aug 2007 03:02:39 +0000

From the League of American Bicyclists:

– Transportation Secretary Mary Peters talks about infrastructure problems and travel initiatives.

– Peters cited “bicycle paths” as a prime example of the waste

Last night on the PBS NewsHour with Jim Leher, DOT Secretary Mary Peters was interviewed by Gwen Ifill.

Peters, when asked about a possible gas tax increase, repeated President Bush’s response – No, there can be no tax increase because Congress is wasting the money they already get. Peters cited “bicycle paths” as a prime example of the waste because bicycles are not a transportation use of the gas tax money.

It is disappointing that the administration is attacking Jim Oberstar for his efforts to get the Minneapolis bridge repaired along with raising all the funding for transportation maintenance, by using Oberstar’s support for bicycles as a weapon.

The League of American Bicyclists feels strongly that this should not go without a response and we have sent a letter to Secretary Peters voicing our view. Click here to view our response.

For those of you who feel strongly about bicycling issues, we would also urge you to contact the Secretary to share your personal viewpoints.

To view a copy of the program click here

In case you’d like something to use as a guide, this is the letter I wrote:

Your comments on PBS regarding funding for bicycle infrastructure were very disturbing. I commute to work every day by bicycle in Rochester, NY. We have almost no bicycle infrastructure in most of our city, which makes my commute much riskier than it needs to be.

As a cycle commuter, I feel like I’m doing the right thing for our country and our planet. It saddens me to hear someone like you, who has such an impact on transportation policy, downplay the vital importance of alternative modes of transportation.

It only takes a moment to see that our world needs to change. We can’t keep burning fossil fuels and paving over everything. That’s not the world I want to leave to my two sons.

Please help all of us cyclists by publicly retracting your statement and reaffirming your commitment to cycling.

Thank you.

Take Action! Tell your senator to support bicycle commuting

Jason Crane — Wed, 15 Aug 2007 01:57:12 +0000

From CommuteByBike.com:

When the U.S. House of Representatives recently passed the landmark energy legislation about two weeks ago, they also included the bike commuter tax benefit. The Commuter Benefit for bicyclists amends the IRS code to include “bicycles” in the definition of transportation covered by fringe benefits so that employers can receive a tax benefit to provide $20 per month in incentives to employees who bike to work. This would be under the same program by which employers provide transportation benefits such as Commuter Checks and EcoPass programs for public transit.

The House and Senate are now meeting to reconcile the differences between the House and Senate versions of the Energy Bill. Contact your U.S. Senator and ask them to support inclusion of Bike Commuter benefits in Senate Bill 1419, the “Renewable Fuels, Consumer Protection, and Energy Efficiency Act of 2007.”

Take Action!

Jason Crane — Tue, 24 Jul 2007 20:06:02 +0000

From the League of American Bicyclists:

Contact your Congressional Representative

Support the Priorities Established in SAFETEA-LU

Oppose the Mica Amendment to H.R. 3074

Sorry for the extremely short notice, however we just received word that Congressman Mica, (R- FL), will be offering an amendment to H.R. 3074, the fiscal year 2008 Transportation-HUD Appropriations Act, that strikes a provision that is necessary to ensure that rescissions of unobligated highway contract authority are implemented in a manner that does not undermine the priorities established in the Safe, Accountable, Flexible, Efficient Transportation Equity Act: A Legacy for Users (“SAFETEA-LU”).

In implementing previous rescissions, some States have consistently chosen to target specific programs for disproportionate cuts, programs such as Transportation Enhancements, and Congestion Mitigation and Air Quality, which are both major sources of funding for bicycle related projects.

For those of you who have a chance, please call your Congressional Representative immediately to oppose the Mica amendment to H.R. 3074.

Thank you in advance for your efforts.

TAKE ACTION: You can locate your rep, get the phone number, and learn more about the bill at the League of American Bicyclists site.