Resoultion Of The Common Council Proclaiming May 2011 As Bike Month In The City Of Albany

All cyclists are indebted to Council Members Leah Golby, Dominick Calsolaro, and Anton Konev and to the entire Albany City Common Council for their unanimously proclaiming May 2011 as “BIKE MONTH IN THE CITY OF ALBANY.” This official designation – combined with the City’s implementation of the Albany Bicycle Master Plan – supports Albany’s growing reputation as a cycle-friendly community.

You can support Bicycle Month 2011 by participating in the 25+ events lined up for the month.

Start with a ride at Bike Expo 2011 on Sunday, May 1, 2011, 9:00 AM – 4:00 PM at the Corning Preserve – Boat Launch. There will be three rides –10 mi (casual), 25 mi (casual), 50 mi (quick). Free. All Welcome.

Read more on the resolution after the jump.

Council Members Golby, Calsolaro, and Konev introduced the following, which was approved:

Resolution Number 20.42.11R

RESOLUTION OF THE COMMON COUNCIL PROCLAIMING
MAY 2011 AS
BIKE MONTH IN THE CITY OF ALBANY
WHEREAS, in 2009, the City of Albany, in partnership with the Capital District Transportation Committee (CDTC) completed a Bicycle Master Plan identifying a network of bicycle routes to improve cycling as a viable mode of transportation throughout the City; and

WHEREAS, the network will support a safe and healthy transportation alternative that is paramount to achieving sustainability and enhancing the quality of life in the City; and

WHEREAS, in 2005 nearly 25% of major injuries and fatalities on New York roadways were pedestrians and bicyclists, almost twice the national average; and

WHEREAS, numerous surveys have found that the number one reason people do not cycle as a mode of transportation is because of their fear of sharing the roadway with automobiles. Addressing concerns about personal safety and comfort is the key to creating a city where cycling is recognized as both a mode of transportation and a recreational activity; and

WHEREAS, in April 2010 the CAPITAL COEXIST website (www.capitalcoexist.org) was launched. This localized education campaign is geared towards cyclists and motorists safely coexisting when using the region’s roadways. Capital Coexist was developed by the CDTC in response to the Albany Bicycle Master Plan and public requests for bicycle education and safety information; and

WHEREAS, the Capital Region Bike Rack program administered by CDTC and the Capital District Transportation Authority oversaw the successful installation of 176 bike racks in 2010, and has processed applications to approve an additional 91 bike racks in 2011 in the City of Albany; and

WHEREAS, the Mayor’s Office of Energy & Sustainability was established by Mayor Jennings in 2010 to coordinate energy conservation and efficiency initiatives among the municipal departments and to drive community wide efforts to become a more livable and sustainable city. The office’s website is http://www.albanysustainability.org; and

WHEREAS, in 2007, the world’s foremost authority on climate change, the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), declared that the “Warming of the climate system is unequivocal, as is now evident from observations of increases in global average air and ocean temperatures, widespread melting of snow and ice and rising global average sea level” and that “human influence is very likely the leading cause of global warming;” and

WHEREAS, the City of Albany’s Greenhouse Gas (GHG) Emissions inventory, available on the Office of Energy and Sustainability, website found that 21% of total community GHG emissions are generated from transportation. This percentage can be reduced by community members making the choice to walk, bike or ride the bus more frequently; and

WHEREAS, the League of American Bicyclists, the New York Bicycling Coalition, Capital Coexist, the Albany Police Department, the Albany Bicycling Coalition, and others are promoting greater public awareness of bicycle operation and safety education in an effort to reduce accidents, injuries and fatalities for all; and

WHEREAS, in communities across the country, a movement is growing to complete the streets. States, cities and towns are asking their planners and engineers to build road networks that are safer, more livable, and welcoming to everyone; and
WHEREAS, instituting a “complete streets” policy ensures that transportation planners and engineers consistently design and operate the entire roadway with all users in mind – including bicyclists, public transportation vehicles and riders, and pedestrians of all ages and abilities; and
WHEREAS, Section 152 of the New York State Traffic Law defines “traffic” as “Pedestrians…vehicles, bicycles and other conveyances either singly or together while using any highway for the purpose of travel;” and

WHEREAS, in summary, three key components of the New York State Traffic Law that
relate to bicycling are:
• Bicyclists must ride with traffic and thus travel in the same direction as motor vehicles.
• A bicycle is a vehicle and as such must observe all traffic laws and obey all signals, signs, and pavement markings.
• Bicyclists must signal to turn on a roadway, a bike lane or bike path; and

WHEREAS, at the National Bike Summit in March 2010, the U.S. Secretary of Transportation, Ray LaHood stated, “Today, I want to announce a sea change. People across America who value bicycling should have a voice when it comes to transportation planning. This is the end of favoring motorized transportation at the expense of non-motorized;” and

WHEREAS, there is a month of events to promote bicycling, including: The National Ride of Silence on May 18th, the Commuter Contest on May 19th, National Bike-to-Work Day on May 20th and the Albany Police Department and PAL 2011 Bike Rodeo on May 22nd .
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that the City of Albany Common Council hereby proclaims May 2011 as Bike Month in the City of Albany, urges all motorists and bicyclists to follow New York State’s Vehicle and Traffic Law, share the road respectfully and responsibly, and urges our New York State legislators to strengthen the New York State Vehicle and Traffic Law to improve safety of bicyclists on our roads; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that a copy of this resolution be sent to New York State Senator Neil Breslin and New York State Assembly Members Ron Canestrari and John J. McEneny.
Resolution Number 20.42.11R was Co-Sponsored by Council Members Bailey, Commisso, Conti, Fahey, Freeman, Herring, Igoe, Jenkins-Cox, O’Brien, Rosenzweig, Sano and Smith.
Passed by the following vote of all the Council Members elected voting in favor thereof:

Affirmative ¬¬– Bailey, Calsolaro, Commisso, Conti, Fahey, Freeman, Golby, Herring, Igoe,
Jenkins-Cox, O’Brien, and Smith

Affirmative – 12. Negative – 0. Abstain – 0.

I, John C. Marsolais, City Clerk and Clerk of the Common Council, do hereby certify that Resolution Number 20.42.11R was passed at a meeting of the Albany Common Council on April 21st, 2011.

In Affirmation thereof, I hereto set my hand and affix The Seal of the City of Albany this 29th day of April, 2011.

S/ John C. Marsolais
Clerk of the Common Council

Written by Lorenz Worden