ctbike : Messages : 1857-1886 of 1886

This Friday, November 27, Critical Mass will ride in Hartford once again.
Quoth Dave Snyder, Critical Mass is "a bicycle ride on the last Friday of
every month to celebrate the bicycle and to dominate the streets for a
change...to experience what it's like to feel safe and surrounded by fellow
cyclists."

The bicycle will indeed reign supreme on the streets as we tour
beautiful Hartford.

We meet at the carousel in Bushnell Park, the ride st at 5:30 PM.
The ride is about 1 to 1-1/2 hours long and is conducted at a leisurely
pace to easily accommodate cyclists of all abilities.  Bring along friends
if you wish.

The Bushnell Park Carousel is visible from Trinity Street near the arches, near
the intersection of Trinity Street and Ford St. GPS coordinates are
N41.76497 W72.67896

We'll see you there!

DreW

Reply | Forward | Messages in this Topic (5)

#1885

From: "Drew P." <drewrailleur807@...>
Date: Mon Nov 23, 2009 6:23 am
Subject: Bicycle Ride in Hartford this Friday

drewrailleur807@...

This Friday, October 30, Critical Mass will ride in Hartford once again.
Quoth Dave Snyder, Critical Mass is "a bicycle ride on the last Friday of
every month to celebrate the bicycle and to dominate the streets for a
change...to experience what it's like to feel safe and surrounded by fellow
cyclists."

The bicycle will indeed reign supreme on the streets as we tour
beautiful Hartford.

We meet at the carousel in Bushnell Park, the ride starts at 5:30 PM.
The ride is about 1 to 1-1/2 hours long and is conducted at a leisurely
pace to easily accommodate cyclists of all abilities.  Bring along friends
if you wish.

The Bushnell Park Carousel is visible from Trinity Street near the arches, near
the intersection of Trinity Street and Ford St. GPS coordinates are
N41.76497 W72.67896

We'll see you there!

Drew

Reply | Forward | Messages in this Topic (5)

#1884

From: david bonan <bicyclereporter@...>
Date: Mon Nov 23, 2009 4:09 am
Subject: a proposal

bicyclereporter@...

i was thinking the other day about what our funds are. reason being was along the lines of travel reimbursement for members who advocate for safe bike/ped at various town/countywide public hearing, ie. me, dianne, ray, linda in norwalk, etc.

we all work, we all have money and if i'm out of line here, please let me know.

i just thought if there could be a transportation fund (sans car travel) in the case of either� taking the train (county wide only). or if a cyclist (ahem) is stranded in inclement weather and needs to take the train to his/her destination (forum or home).

thoughts?

dave

#1883

From: david bonan <bicyclereporter@...>
Date: Mon Nov 23, 2009 4:06 am
Subject: monroe meeting

bicyclereporter@...

hey folks,

looks like the rain will pick up throughout the day and since the wind will be 11mph with 45 degrees, i will not be going. i can ride no problem, but damn, wind and cold rain is not the most desirable way to spend my night, i have all of winter to look forward to!

that being said, someone closer should go. the only problem i have with 25 is the shoulder widths on both sides of the road in Stepney (and after the Monroe Green near the swamps on the right side). it's a plague elsewhere, where the righthand lane is literally 1.5 widths and unrealistic. if you narrow it by a foot or 2, the shoulder would be more safe. otherwise, i'm okay with everything else; never had much of a problem on this road.�

dave

#1882

From: david bonan <bicyclereporter@...>
Date: Sat Nov 21, 2009 3:41 am
Subject: Re: Bike Blender

bicyclereporter@...

okay.

the restaurant is called Habana Outpost and it's in brooklyn and it has a w bus in the rear courtyard with a kitchen inside it. the bicycle blender is used for drinks.

on a second note, the interior is all tile, so it feels like you are someplace tropical.

http://www.cafehabana.com/locations.htm

but they are closed for the season and won't open until april 17th.

dave

#1881

From: Paul Hammer <pauldhammer@...>
Date: Fri Nov 20, 2009 10:04 pm
Subject: Re: Bike Blender

pauldhammer

Offline

www.fireboxrestaurant.com

Hi, Sandy -

I used my Yahoo! search engine to look for "Bike Blender in Connecticut" and found a reference to one at the Firebox Restaurant at Broad Street’s Billings Forge in Hartford in an article on bike blenders in Green Life (http://agreenliving.net/can-you-bike-your-way-to-power-small-appliances/).

There article also points to one site which has information about how to make your own blender (www.instructables.com) and mentions the Juice Peddler as one vendor of bike blenders.

I couldn't locate the site for the Juice Peddler readily but I did find a site advertising the Fender Blender (www.bikeblender.com)

Here's the contact information for Firebox:

Firebox Restaurant

559 Broad St
Hartford, Connecticut 06106

(860) 246-1222

I didn't look closely beyond these few entries, but there were many others. Even if there is no bicycle blender in Connecticut available for your use, I'm betting that you could find one in a neighboring state or that an accessory which makes a bike into a blender could be shipped to you in short order (perhaps the whole apparatus is available on loan or for rent). .

I'll leave it at that for now but let me know if you haven't gotten what you want when you want it and I will give it a second shot. I have a feeling that someone in Connecticut's cycling community will come up with the right solution for you.

May the road rise to meet you! May the wind be always at your back!

Paul D. Hammer
- Past President, Connecticut Bicycle Coalition
- President, Bicycle Education, Entrepreneurship and Enrichment Programs (BEEEP!, Inc.)

From: Sandy Fry <sfry@...>
To: ctbike@yahoogroups.com
Sent: Fri, November 20, 2009 3:29:51 PM
Subject: [ctbike] Bike Blender

Does anyone know of anybody in Connecticut who has a bike blender? Looking for one for a safe routes to schools event.

Sandy Fry
Principal Transportation Planner
Capitol Region Council of Governments
241 Main Street
Hartford, CT 06106
860-522-2217, X220

#1880

From: david bonan <bicyclereporter@...>
Date: Fri Nov 20, 2009 9:27 pm
Subject: Re: Bike Blender

bicyclereporter@...

bike blender?

hmmm....i know of one at a solar powered restaurant in nyc.

#1879

From: david bonan <bicyclereporter@...>
Date: Fri Nov 20, 2009 9:27 pm
Subject: Re: public hearing on rt 25 monday

bicyclereporter@...

i've ridden 25 numerous times, but now i have to get up early and ride the important pieces and take notes before the meeting. ie. shoulder widths, crossings, etc.

from brookfield center to the flagpole, it's okay. it's my reg route to bport, (302, 25, 111).

dave

#1878

From: LINDA HOZA <lhoza@...>
Date: Fri Nov 20, 2009 8:45 pm
Subject: Re: public hearing on rt 25 monday

lindahoza

Offline

Super!

On Fri, Nov 20, 2009 at 3:22 PM, david bonan wrote:

Since that is such a direct route for cyclists and is, unfortunately, pretty rotten to ride, it would be nice if someone could get by to voice that opinion.

consider it done. i plan on being there. especially for the rail trail that ends at 25 and you still have an unsafe crossing to old mine park.

Also mention that Public Act No 09-154 (complete streets bill) stipulates (1.5.b) “accommodations for all users shall be a routine part of the planning, design, construction and operating activities of all highways…”

ok.

dave

#1877

From: "Sandy Fry" <sfry@...>
Date: Fri Nov 20, 2009 8:29 pm
Subject: Bike Blender

s_fry

Offline

Does anyone know of anybody in Connecticut who has a bike blender? Looking for one for a safe routes to schools event.

Sandy Fry
Principal Transportation Planner
Capitol Region Council of Governments
241 Main Street
Hartford, CT 06106
860-522-2217, X220

#1876

From: david bonan <bicyclereporter@...>
Date: Fri Nov 20, 2009 8:22 pm
Subject: Re: public hearing on rt 25 monday

bicyclereporter@...

Since that is such a direct route for cyclists �and is, unfortunately, pretty rotten to ride, it would be nice if someone could get by to voice that opinion.

consider it done. i plan on being there. especially for the rail trail that ends at 25 and you still have an unsafe crossing to old mine park.

Also mention that Public Act No 09-154 (complete streets bill) stipulates (1.5.b) �accommodations for all users shall be a routine part of the planning, design, construction and operating activities of all highways��

ok.

dave

#1875

From: LINDA HOZA <lhoza@...>
Date: Fri Nov 20, 2009 8:01 pm
Subject: RE: public hearing on rt 25 monday

lindahoza

Offline

http://www.newstime s.com/local/ article/State- officials- in-Monroe- on-Monday- to-hear-257962. php

Agreed! Maybe Deborah or Diane will be there?

On Fri, Nov 20, 2009 at 2:49 PM, Ray Rauth wrote:

Since that is such a direct route for cyclists and is, unfortunately, pretty rotten to ride, it would be nice if someone could get by to voice that opinion.

Ray Rauth

___________________________________

From: ctbike@yahoogroups. com [mailto: ctbike@yahoogroups. com ] On Behalf Of david bonan

Sent: Friday, November 20, 2009 1:50 PM

To: ctbike@yahoogroups. com

Subject: [ctbike] public hearing on rt 25 monday

#1874

From: Ray Rauth <rayrauth@...>
Date: Fri Nov 20, 2009 7:49 pm
Subject: RE: public hearing on rt 25 monday

rayrauth@...

http://www.newstimes.com/local/article/State-officials-in-Monroe-on-Monday-to-hear-257962.php

Since that is such a direct route for cyclists and is, unfortunately, pretty rotten to ride, it would be nice if someone could get by to voice that opinion.

Ray Rauth

From: ctbike@yahoogroups.com [mailto:ctbike@yahoogroups.com] On Behalf Of david bonan
Sent: Friday, November 20, 2009 1:50 PM
To: ctbike@yahoogroups.com
Subject: [ctbike] public hearing on rt 25 monday

#1873

From: david bonan <bicyclereporter@...>
Date: Fri Nov 20, 2009 6:49 pm
Subject: public hearing on rt 25 monday

bicyclereporter@...

http://www.newstimes.com/local/article/State-officials-in-Monroe-on-Monday-to-hear-257962.php

#1872

From: diane lauricella <dlauricella24@...>
Date: Thu Nov 19, 2009 9:09 pm
Subject: Norwalk River Valley Trail Citizen coalition forming to assist city and region

dlauricella24

Online Now

Dear Present and Future Friends of the Norwalk River Valley Trail:

(Second mailing)

You have been identified as a stakeholder and leader who is part of a community group that may be interested in helping work to build the Norwalk River Valley Trail. With the challenging economic climate, we know that we will all have to work together in order to obtain funds to assure the trails completion in our lifetime.

What: Let's Plan a Forum! Organizational meeting of core community leaders to plan for a Winter 2010 River Trail forum. We will briefly explain the status of this long-planned trail. We will add names to this list of stakeholders and begin to engage the community and our government officials in order to continue the trail!

When: Saturday, November 21, at 10 am-11:00 am. Please RSVP...we will have other meetings but need your input to ascertain your groups' availability and interest now....Please identify who in your organization could represent your group as future meetings occur.

Where: Wendy's Restaurant at corner of Route 123 and Riverside Avenue.

There's plenty of parking and we will be towards the back in the larger dining area.

Please consider stopping by for a little while! Several of us have begun planning for a citywide/regional forum this winter that will introduce the benefits of this trail to the community at large. Know that your skills as a community leader will help make sure that the citizens work along side of our government officials so that together we can plan for and construct additional portions of the Norwalk River Valley Trail in addition to important future connections with the Merritt Parkway Trail, etc.. We will contact and meet with the government entities soon thereafter, including our elected officials.

Currently, the trail ends at a park near Mott Avenue and it picks up again north of Route 123 behind the new CL & P power station. It again ends on Broad Street, and could be connected to the planned connector at the Merritt Parkway as well as trails along the Norwalk River in Wilton.

This project has great potential as a way to keep healthy, enjoy the great outdoors and the river valley, and act as a commuter pathway.

Please try to join us at Wendy's Restaurant at the junction of Route 123 and Riverside Avenue at 10 am!!

Regards

Diane Lauricella 203-858-1537

#1871

From: Ray Rauth <rayrauth@...>
Date: Wed Nov 18, 2009 9:08 pm
Subject: FW: Action Alert: Fight proposed NY state rumble-strip policy

rayrauth@...

This in from the Westchester County Bike/Ped coalition.

Pretty dreadful. I undersatnd that CT (so far) is only interested in rumble strips on limited access highways.

Ray Rauth

SCBC Community Relations Representative

From: Michael Oliva [mailto:westchesterbikewalk@...]
Sent: Wednesday, November 18, 2009 9:29 AM
To: Michael Oliva
Subject: Action Alert: Fight proposed NY state rumble-strip policy

As our court case against the state on the Route 100 rumble-strips wends its way through state Supreme Court, the state DOT has now proposed making rumble strips the preferred design on all two-lane roads in New York. This is terribly flawed state policy, and we need to tell the DOT to shelve this ill-conceived plan that would turn New York into one of the most unfriendly places to ride bicycles in the US.

Below is the letter I sent today to state DOT Commissioner Stanley Gee. Please consider sending your own. You can also email your remarks at https://www.nysdot.gov/about-nysdot/contact

You should also contact your state legislator to urge their support for our position. You can find out who represents you in the Assembly at http://assembly.state.ny.us/ and in the Senate at http://senate.state.ny.us

Yours fighting back,

WCC President Dave Wilson

Commissioner Stanley Gee

NYS Department of Transportation

50 Wolf Rd. Albany, NY 12232

Dear Commissioner Gee,

As president of the 1,400-member Westchester Cycle Club, and co-founder of the Westchester Putnam Bike Walk Alliance, I write to oppose the proposed changes in NY State transportation policy to make rumble strips the preferred practice in the design of all secondary roads, with a few exceptions.

We believe that such a policy will make our roads less safe for cyclists who use the roads for transportation and recreation. The state’s installation of rumble strips on Route 100 in Yorktown and Somers have already caused several injuries by riders who crashed to the pavement when they had to negotiate the rumble strips and lost control of their bikes. The rumble strips have also caused severe deterioration to the shoulder surface, and will require remediation far quicker than it would have without installation of the strips.

Your proposed policy is at variance with the practices recommended by the Federal Highway Administration, the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials, and many other standard-setting agencies. They all recommend installing them on two-lane roads only when there is a documented history of drift-off road accidents.

This policy is unnecessary, and will prove costly to the state.- both in maintenance and in the costs to cyclists, who are certain to be injured by this wrong-headed highway safety initiative.

We urge you to reject the proposal, a highway safety initiative that will make our roads less safe for thousands who use the roads on bicycles.

#1870

From: Mark Abraham <matissepicasso@...>
Date: Tue Nov 17, 2009 3:40 am
Subject: NYC Bicycling Up 66% in 2 Years After Installation of 200 Miles of Bike Facilities

newyorknewhaven

Offline

http://bikefriendlyoc.wordpress.com/2009/11/10/nyc-bicycling-up-66-in-2-year-after-installation-of-200-miles-of-bike-facilities/

#1869

From: Ray Rauth <rayrauth@...>
Date: Mon Nov 16, 2009 5:57 pm
Subject: State Street Closure

rayrauth@...

Mainly for you ECC guys, I suppose.

Ray Rauth
SCBC Community  Relations Representative

Daytime Closure of State Street between Lawrence Street and James Street in
New Haven for Utility Work beginning Wednesday, November 18, 2009

The Connecticut Department of Transportation is announcing the upcoming
daily closure of the State Street Bridge over the Mill River between
Lawrence Street and James Street in New Haven on November 18 through
November 20, 2009.

For more information, please visit the ConnDOT website:
http://www.ct.gov/dot/cwp/view.asp?a=2135&Q=450834

#1868

From: Mark Abraham <matissepicasso@...>
Date: Sat Nov 14, 2009 4:46 am
Subject: Proposed Policy Statement on the Eligibility of Pedestrian and Bicycle Improvements Under Federal Transit Law

newyorknewhaven

Offline

E9-27240 Bike Funding.pdf

FYI -- document attached/below may be of interest to some. Good stuff coming out of the new administration.�

Someone at the ECC public meeting on Monday reported that approval was recently given to fund SLMs (sharrows) using FTA grants as well.� Can someone confirm this , and explain how that happened?

Mark

--

Proposed Policy Statement on the Eligibility of Pedestrian and Bicycle Improvements Under Federal Transit Law
Federal Register / Vol. 74, No. 218 / Friday, November 13, 2009 / Notices

Excerpt:

"The distance stated in FTA�s existing guidance is too short.

��While distance is very important for pedestrians, on
average they will walk further than the
anecdotal rule of thumb of 400 meters
used in many planning applications.�� 28

Research indicates that pedestrians are
willing to walk at least one-half mile to
train stations or other forms of reliable
public transportation when the
environment surrounding the station is
safe and well-designed.29

That equals a
fifteen minute walk at a pace of two
miles per hour. A one-half mile
catchment area is a conservative
estimate of the distance a pedestrian is
willing to travel to a public
transportation stop or station.

FTA has
reason to believe that pedestrians are
willing to spend more than fifteen
minutes walking to public
transportation stops and stations: A
study published in the American
Journal of Preventative Medicine
concluded that Americans who use
public transportation spend a median of
nineteen minutes daily walking to and
from public transportation; and people
in high-density urban areas were more
likely to spend approximately thirty
minutes walking to and from public
transportation daily.30

Applying the same timeframes to
bicyclists yields at least a three mile
catchment area. Bicycle paths would
extend further than a pedestrian facility
and still be functionally related because
��bicyclists are willing to travel much
longer distances than pedestrians,
largely due to higher average speeds
attainable by bicycle.�� 31

Inasmuch as
the average bicycle commuter travels at
ten miles per hour,32 FTA proposes a
bicycle catchment area of three miles
from public transportation stops and
stations.

...

For purposes of determining whether
a pedestrian or bicycle improvement has
a physical or functional relationship to
public transportation, regardless of
whether it is funded as a capital project
or public transportation enhancement,
all pedestrian improvements located
within one-half mile and all bicycle
improvements located within three
miles of a public transportation stop or
station shall have a de facto physical
and functional relationship to public
transportation.

1 of 1 File(s)

#1867

From: david bonan <bicyclereporter@...>
Date: Fri Nov 13, 2009 8:50 pm
Subject: Great new reflector decals, easy to use

bicyclereporter@...

folks,

3M Scotchlite just came out with great reflectors for clothing and components and it retails at $12.99

Lightweight Power Reflectors (for clothing and gear, contains 60 pieces)

Made in the USA,

www.lightweights.org

#1866

From: Paul Hammer <pauldhammer@...>
Date: Fri Nov 13, 2009 1:25 pm
Subject: RE: Theft at Devil's Gear Bike Shop

pauldhammer

Offline

Hello, all -

I recently posted comments re: the theft at Devil's Gear Bike Shop on the New Haven Independent' s website and the New Haven Youth Discussion Group list-serve. I thought I would share these thoughts with you (see posts and links below).

In Peace,

Paul D. Hammer

- President, Bicycle Education, Entrepreneurship and Enrichment Programs
(BEEEP!, Inc.)
- Past President, Connecticut Bicycle Coalition
tel. 203-927-8467

NEW HAVEN INDEPENDENT POST
(see article and all comments at www.newhavenindepen dent.org/ archives/ 2009/11/cops_ 20_teens_ b.php)

Here are some lessons I derive from this sad incident.

Matthew Feiner is a righteous man and has every right to ask why someone would steal from him.

It is necessary to instill morals in our youth so that they will themselves be righteous, but it is not sufficient.

The reasons people steal include needing or wanting a material object, having to supporting a habit, or desiring a thrill, and it often does involve peer pressure.

Further, some people steal because they believe they can get away with it, either because they think they are good thieves or because they believe the consequences for their actions will be at most a slap on the wrist, or both.

We need to inform young people about the consequences of their actions by having convicts and ex-convicts serve as mentors to them (this does happen here and there but we need more of this).

We need to provide youth with more outlets for their energy and other means to satisfy their wants and needs.

These outlets include after-school programs, mentoring programs, jobs and opportunities to start micro-enterprises, and more donations of and subsidies for goods young people want and can often not afford, like bicycles.

Some progress has been made in getting new and recycled bicycles into the hands of poor people in New Haven and young people in particular.

For example, Devil's Gear recently provided bikes to young people in cooperation with Junta for Progressive Action, Bikes for Kids, and the New Haven Dept. of Youth Services.

This is only one of many ways in which Matthew has given back to his community.

The New Haven Bicycle Collective has made it possible for refugees, low-income bakery workers and youth in Fair Haven to obtain recycled bicycles, many of which were abandoned bikes donated by Yale.

We need to develop a comprehensive strategy to address the epidemic of lawlessness in our city,and particularly when it comes to youth, for they are the future.

That involves developing alliances between businesses, foundations, educators, social service and recreation providers, police, citizens' anti-crime organizations and other individuals and groups that comprise the fabric of civil society in our fair city.

Let's get to work.

POST ON NEW HAVEN YOUTH DISCUSSION GROUP LIST-SERVE (you may go to http://gnhcommunity.ning.com/group/nhyouthdiscussiongroup to sign up; post shown above may also be found there)

I will say as someone who has been a bicycling advocate, tour leader and safety educator for many years that if we put new and recycled bicycles in the hands of every young person who wants one there would be fewer bike thefts.

Not only do young people regularly steal bikes but in New Haven there have been incidents of gangs on bicycles attacking people, which prompted a community group in the Dwight/Edgewood neighborhood to form an armed bicycle patrol of Edgewood Park and environs.

Bikes should be used for commutation, recreation,fitness and as a means of deriving income from bicycle-related businesses, not for committing crimes.

We need to see that our kids are occupied with creative and productive activities under watchful (but not overbearing) supervision. And yes, we need to show kids that there are consequences for their actions...in this case, not juvenile detention I would hope, but community service, as in helping with a charity bike-a-thon or learning how to fix bikes and recycling used bikes to put them in the hands of low income people in our fair city.

#1865

From: david bonan <bicyclereporter@...>
Date: Fri Nov 13, 2009 7:33 am
Subject: bike pittsburgh comic book

bicyclereporter@...

http://bike-pgh.org/101/03.html

#1864

From: Mark Abraham <matissepicasso@...>
Date: Fri Nov 13, 2009 5:43 am
Subject: Bike Pittsburgh's free 30-page comic book about bike commuting

newyorknewhaven

Offline

http://bike-pgh.org/101/

#1863

From: Mark Abraham <matissepicasso@...>
Date: Thu Nov 12, 2009 10:28 pm
Subject: Sign letter to USDOT

newyorknewhaven

Offline

Ask the Obama administration to get behind Complete Streets!

Sorry for preaching to the choir, but good to take a few moments to sign and/or forward this --

---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: Ilana Preuss, Transportation for America <info@...>
Date: Thu, Nov 12, 2009 at 12:58 PM
Subject: Only one day left to demand safer streets
To: matissepicasso@...

Mark,

Since I wrote you Monday, we have some exciting news to share: My team has just scheduled a meeting with U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood to discuss pedestrian safety.

It's a great chance to get the administration on board with addressing a glaring problem with our streets. Each month, on average, more than 400 pedestrians are killed in America - that's roughly the equivalent of a jumbo jet crashing every single month!

We need our meeting with Secretary LaHood to make a big impression - so we're going to deliver our "Demand Safer Streets!" petition to him in person during the meeting.

Please add your name before MIDNIGHT tomorrow so we can deliver your signature on Monday along with thousands of others we've already collected from people across the country.

- Ilana

��

Dear Mark,

Poorly designed roads like the one below are at the heart of pedestrian deaths.

More than 76,000 Americans have been killed while crossing or walking along a street in their community in the last 15 years.

Today, our new report shows many of these "accidents" have one thing in common: They happened on roadways that were "Dangerous by Design" - engineered for speeding traffic and little or no provision made for people on foot, in wheelchairs, or on a bicycle.

The good news is that we can fight the problem at the root with strong leadership and more resources from the White House for "Complete Streets" - streets designed with all road users in mind.

Ask U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood to make safer streets a priority!

One-third of Americans either can't drive or choose not to. Yet, most communities around the country are laced with roads that are inhospitable, at best, to people traveling by foot. Children, older Americans, and minorities are especially at risk.

In the 52 largest metro areas annual spending of federal funds on bicycle and pedestrian projects averaged just $1.39 per person!

Nationwide, less than 1.5 percent of funds authorized under the current federal transportation law have been spent on projects to improve the safety of walking and bicycling. It's a ridiculously low figure when you consider that pedestrians comprise 11.8 percent of all traffic deaths and trips made on foot account for almost 9 percent of total trips.

We need a new approach to safety - one that makes sure that all transportation projects take into account the needs of everyone traveling on the roads, not just motorists. In Congress, the Complete Streets Act of 2009 would do just that, and similar policies are being adopted in states and cities across the country.

Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood has already proven his strong interest in safety with a distracted driving initiative and his creation of a new Safety Council. Because the Department of Transportation holds the purse strings, if Secretary LaHood adds Complete Streets to his list of safety priorities, we can ensure that every road project takes into account the need for safe travel by everyone - including vulnerable pedestrians.

Ask the Obama Administration to take up the call for safer streets!

Changing the status quo is never easy, but with your help we can make our streets safe and accessible for everyone. Thank you for your continued support!

Sincerely,

Ilana Preuss
National Outreach Director
Transportation for America

��

You're receiving this newsletter because the email address matissepicasso@... is signed up with Transportation for America. Unsubscribe here.

Transportation For America info@...
1707 L Street NW #1050 Washington, DC 20036

#1862

From: Mark Abraham <matissepicasso@...>
Date: Mon Nov 9, 2009 8:13 am
Subject: WFSB TV: "Pedestrians Fight For Crossing Signals, Several Deadly Crashes Have Been Reported In Recent Years"

newyorknewhaven

Offline

http://www.wfsb.com/video/21545874/index.html

WFSB TV had a great feature broadcast this weekend about College & North Frontage.� The interview features Jason Stockmann: http://www.wfsb.com/video/21545874/index.html

In case you are not familiar with this intersection:

1. In the wake of several injuries and fatalities, immediate, specific changes were requested by 3000+ individual petitioners on three different petitions to the City of New Haven between 2006 and 2008.
2. Oncoming traffic often averages close to 45 miles per hour or more, and constantly runs red lights.
3. The curb geometry allows vehicles to fly around the corner at high speeds, even as pedestrians try to cross concurrently.
4. There are no pedestrian signals and very wide streets, making the street extremely difficult to cross.
5. The intersection is marked by tall weeds and poor designs that completely obscure the visibility of oncoming traffic (in fact, other nearby intersections, like Church and North Frontage, are even worse in this regard).
6. The intersection is located on a major pedestrian route.� It is within a block of the largest hospital in the state, which has just undergone a $500 million expansion, adding even more pedestrian and vehicular traffic.

I hope that immediate action will be taken to improve these conditions before more pedestrians are injured or killed here.� 76,000 pedestrians have been killed over the past 15 years in the United States, and New Haven has seen a disproportionate share of the recent injuries and fatalities.

Even if you have already signed all three petitions, http://www.seeclickfix.com/issues/23.html is one place where you may document your concern.� Perhaps a media strategy using TV, radio, news articles, national stories, and individual local residents sharing detailed stories on SeeClickFix will help persuade ConnDOT or the city to fix this situation.

Best regards,

Mark Abraham
203 500 7059

---------- Forwarded message ----------

Pedestrians Fight For Crossing Signals

Several Deadly Crashes Have Been Reported In Recent Years

#1861

From: central connecticut bicycle alliance <ccba@...>
Date: Sat Nov 7, 2009 2:02 am
Subject: letter to the editor

mtbikes66

Offline

http://www.courant.com/news/opinion/editorials/hc-digbrflets1106.art3nov06,0,932759.story

charlie

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#1860

From: Mark Abraham <matissepicasso@...>
Date: Sat Nov 7, 2009 1:15 am
Subject: Great news from CCBA!

newyorknewhaven

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Great news from CCBA!� They are hiring their first staff person, and reference a transformation into a statewide organization to promote walking and bicycling.�

This is great news for all of us!

Wish CCBA luck in this transition to a staffed 501(c)3.�

As many of you know, CCBA was the model that Elm City Cycling, Inc. used when it conducted its 2007 citywide organizational survey, incorporated, and applied to be a 501(c)3 organization.� Thank you to Sandy Fry and the others at CCBA for their help, and for their great ongoing work across the state!

Mark Abraham
203 500 7059

---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: Central Connecticut Bicycle Alliance <ccba@...>
Date: Fri, Nov 6, 2009 at 8:09 PM
Subject: CCBA November 5 News, Advocacy & Events
To: matissepicasso@...

Central Connecticut Bicycle Alliance

Headlines for this issue:

Alliance for Biking and Walking Awards CCBA $15,000 Matching Grant
CCBA Hires Interim Executive Director
Cyclocross Event a Success
Ice Bike To Work Series is Back for 2009-2010
Bike Touring Destination:� The Great Allegheny Passage

Alliance for Biking and Walking Awards CCBA $15,000 Matching Grant

The Alliance for Biking and Walking, the North American coalition of over 150 grassroots biking and walking advocacy organizations, announced on November 3, 2009, that the Central Connecticut Bicycle Alliance (CCBA) was selected to receive a $15,000 matching grant.� CCBA was one of only five organizations selected out of 76 that submitted grant proposals.� These funds will help CCBA transform from a regional to a statewide advocacy organization for biking and walking, promote the implementation of the recently enacted Connecticut Complete Streets law, and broaden its bike education program.� CCBA plans to raise the matching funds through a major fundraising campaign in early 2010.� The funds awarded by the Alliance were provided through the generous support of SRAM, Planet Bike, Bikes Belong, and 42BELOW.

CCBA Hires Interim Executive Director

CCBA has hired MaryEllen Thibodeau as Interim Executive Director.� MaryEllen currently serves as Secretary and member of the CCBA Board of Directors.� She will serve as CCBA�s first staff member as CCBA works to broaden and strengthen its role as a biking and walking advocacy group.� MaryEllen, a graduate of the University of Connecticut School of Law, has over 20 years experience as a corporate lawyer and is an avid cyclist and walker.� In 2006, she and her husband celebrated their 35th wedding anniversary by cycling 3850 miles across the United States (yes, they are still married).� MaryEllen retired from the practice of law in 2008 and is thrilled to be able to work to promote biking and walking as an integral part of Connecticut�s transportation system.� You can reach her at methibodeau@....

Cyclocross Event a Success

The cyclocross event at Riverside Park in Hartford on Oct 25th was a success. Great turnout, great weather.� Click here for pics: cyclocross.� Read here for Brendan Mahoney's first hand report.

�Ice Bike To Work Series is Back for 2009-2010

Its getting nippy in the mornings and almost dark on the way home from work already.....� Time to start the CCBA Ice Bike series and make sure you are all set with lights, spikes, ski goggles and whatever advice you may need from your fellow chilly weather commuters.� There are fewer of us in the late fall and winter on the streets, so getting together is even more important!� Breakfast is on you this time around, meet us all at JoJo's on Pratt Street in Hartford last Friday of the month to say hi to old friends, meet new ones and show Hartford that you can really bike all year round.� The event schedule will be posted on the CCBA website on the Bike Everywhere calendar.

Bike Touring Destination:� The Great Allegheny Passage

The power of trails was illustrated in a recent New York Times article highlighting the Great Allegheny Passage (GAP), a 132-mile rail trail that travels through spectacular scenery and historic sites from the suburbs of Pittsburgh to Cumberland, MD.� The grades are moderate, as tunnels and bridges built for the railroad level the mountainous terrain.� Riders can pick up the C & O Canal trail in Cumberland and continue onto Washington, DC,� a total of 335 trail miles. Future plans include continuing into downtown Pittsburgh.� Read more:

Biking Coal Country's Tracks and Tunnels
By DAN WHITE�

P.O. Box 270149 * West Hartford, CT 06127-0149 * unsubscribe

#1859

From: Mark Abraham <matissepicasso@...>
Date: Fri Nov 6, 2009 5:28 am
Subject: Philadelphia: Bicycling up 38% during SEPTA Strike

newyorknewhaven

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http://blog.bicyclecoalition.org/2009/11/bicycling-up-38-during-septa-strike.html

#1858

From: david bonan <bicyclereporter@...>
Date: Thu Nov 5, 2009 7:34 am
Subject: Re: Merritt Parkway Trail -- Another Response Richard Stowe

bicyclereporter@...

richard was in dc at a conference.

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#1857

From: Mark Abraham <matissepicasso@...>
Date: Thu Nov 5, 2009 5:01 am
Subject: Brilliant Dutch PSAs

newyorknewhaven

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http://www.copenhagenize.com/2009/11/drive-with-your-heart.html

I agree PSAs like these are more effective than most "road safety campaigns" -- which generally attempt to shift responsibility to the usual victims (pedestrians), ironically even though the victims are often too young to even read or understand the advertisements.

Mark