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
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
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).
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.
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.
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)
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
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).
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…”
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…”
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.
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…”
Ray Rauth
___________________________________
From: ctbike@yahoogroups. com [mailto: ctbike@yahoogroups. com ] On Behalf Of david bonan
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.
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…”
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
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!!
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, NY12232
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.
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
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.
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
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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
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
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:
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.