Dear Club Members,Chat Members and New York State Voters:

As a WCC member, cycle enthusiast, and pedestrian, please consider
the proposed five years of improvements for safer bicycling and
walking, for all NYS residents and vote YES on proposition #2 on
November 8th.
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> For more information on Proposition #2, read item number #2.
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> 1. NYBC receives Traffic Safety Award from AAA: On October 6th, 2005
the Automobile Club of New York presented the New York Bicycling
Coalition (NYBC) with the Outstanding Achievement Award in Traffic
Safety. In recognition of their efforts to educate motorists on
safely sharing the road with bicyclists and pedestrians, AAA of NY
awarded NYBC with their annual award in the Organization category.
"It's a real honor to receive this prestigious award from AAA," said
NYBC Executive Director, Joshua Poppel. "They are a wonderful
organization to work with and we look forward to partnering with them
in the future on more Share the Road programs."
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> For more information on the award or the Share the Road program
contact NYBC at 518-436-0889.
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2. *****Vote Yes! Rebuild and Renew NY Transportation Bond Act: *****
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> NY Bicycling Coalition (NYBC) urges a YES vote on the Transportation
Bond Act, Proposition 2 on November 8th.
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> Last spring NYBC urged State Legislators to add bicycling and
walking as categories to their draft of the Bond Act legislation and
we were delighted to receive a positive response. Language
authorizing “pedestrian and/or bicycle trails, pathways and bridges
that serve transportation needs” was added as a part of the
legislation. Though a percent of the $2.9 billion proposed five year
program was not specified, $53 million in bicycle and pedestrian
projects (about 2%) were identified in the program. The projects
listed include sections of the Erie and Champlain Canal Trailways, the
Bronx River Greenway and The State Bikeway.
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> The funds projected for the Bonds five year program are tied to a
broader Transportation Improvement Program (TIP) that includes many
projects that are more bicycle and pedestrian sensitive due to DOT
policy improvements. Adequate road shoulders, safe for bicyclists, as
well as sidewalks where needed, are a component of the highway and
bridge improvements scheduled in the program. Bicycle and pedestrian
interest groups are working with transportation project planners to
bring these improvements about. In addition, many mass transit riders
strongly support the Bond Act, which addresses their needs.
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> Further analysis shows that the Bond Act is only a part of the total
program that needs to be considered. Sixty six (66) projects listed on
the State TIP (5 year program) specifically serve bicycling, trails
and “greenway” interests. This list, prepared by DOT, totals
nearly $190 million. The list includes projects funded by the Bond
Act, as well as those funded by annually appropriated State and
Federal programs. Some specific additional projects are also listed in
the new Federal five year transportation program SAFETEA. These
projects that are needed for safety, health, and transportation equity
in many NY communities deserve strong support so national fiscal
strategies do not cannibalize them.
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> vote YES on proposition #2 on November 8th.

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