Albany COMMON COUNCIL Proclaims Bike Month 2015

Albany COMMON COUNCIL Proclaims Bike Month 2015 – Once again, the Common Council of the City of Albany has promoted Albany as the place for people on bicycles by proclaiming May as Bike Month 20. The resolution follows:

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Council Member Golby introduced the following:

Resolution Number 21.42.15R

RESOLUTION OF THE COMMON COUNCIL PROCLAIMING MAY 2015 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, in April 2012, the Albany Common Council adopted the “Albany 2030” Comprehensive Plan which supports promoting and implementing the Bicycle Master Plan; and

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

WHEREAS, in 2013 the Albany Common Council adopted a Complete Streets Ordinance and the Albany Police Department convened a Traffic Safety Stakeholders’ Committee that is continuing to work and focus on Engineering, Education and Enforcement efforts to promote safer streets for all users of the road; and

WHEREAS, in partnership with CDTC a Complete Streets Guidebook is being drafted, as required by the Complete Streets ordinance; and

WHEREAS, since the inception of the Bicycle Master Plan in 2008, the City of Albany has added or improved 17.4 miles of bicycle infrastructure, which includes multi-use paths, shared use markings (sharrows), signage, and bike lanes throughout the City of Albany; and

WHEREAS, the number of bike racks in Albany have increased to 344 throughout the city with an estimated total of 1446 bicycle parking spaces, all regular route Capital District Transportation Authority buses are equipped with bike racks; and

WHEREAS, each year the League of American Bicyclists (LAB) recognizes bicycle friendly communities with Platinum, Gold, Silver and Bronze level awards, and recognizes communities that are on the right track with Honorable Mention. The City of Albany received Honorable Mention in 2012 as a “Bicycle Friendly Community” from LAB for efforts to become more bicycle friendly. LAB feedback report stated that they were, “…impressed with the growing commitment to make Albany, NY a great place for bicyclists. The Honorable Mention given by the reviewers reflects their view that some of the key building blocks of creating a Bicycle Friendly Community are in place…;” and

WHEREAS, the LAB feedback report provided numerous recommendations to the City of Albany to make the city more bicycle friendly such as promoting active transportation by reducing traffic speeds, providing “protected bicycle infrastructure, such as cycle tracks, buffered bike lanes or parallel shared use paths” along arterial and collector roads, making intersections safer for bicyclists, and more; and

WHEREAS, in 2014, CDTC implemented the first region-wide “Bike to Work Day Workplace Challenge” where 350 people registered for bike to work day across the region, amounting to over 3,500 bicycle miles, replacing about 148 gallons of fuel, 2,900 lbs. of CO₂, and burning about 159,000 calorie. And, the City of Albany Employees team won in Albany County for having the most riders participate; and

WHEREAS, the Mayor’s Office of Energy & Sustainability was established 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, which includes promoting and supporting  bicycling and other active transportation. The office’s website is http://www.albanysustainability.org; and

WHEREAS, in 2011, the Albany Common Council, recognizing the Livingston Avenue Bridge’s potential to connect a growing network of statewide multi-use trails, including the New York State Canalway Trail, the Albany County Rail Trail, and the proposed Rensselaer County Trail, passed a resolution urging State and Federal partners to re-establish the Livingston Avenue Bridge walkway at such time that the bridge is replaced 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 crashes, injuries and fatalities for all; and

WHEREAS, the Albany Police Department will participate in “Bike to School Day” and bike rodeos across the city along with the Police Athletic League; 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, there are numerous events to promote bicycling, including: The Earth Day lunch time bike parade on April 22nd, The CDTC “Commuter Workshop” on Thursday April 30th, The Albany Bike Expo 2015 on Sunday, May 3rd, Bike to School Day on May 6th, National Bike-to-Work Day and the Capital Moves Bike to Work Challenge on May 15th, and The Ride of Silence on May 20th;

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that the City of Albany Common Council hereby proclaims May 2015 as Bike Month in the City of Albany, urges all motorists and bicyclists to follow New York State’s Vehicle and Traffic Law, and share the road respectfully and responsibly.

To:                  Mr. Nala Woodard, City Clerk

From:              Leah Golby, Council Member

Re:                  Request for Common Council Legislation

Supporting Memorandum

Date:               April 20, 2015

RESOLUTION NUMBER 21.42.15R

TITLE

RESOLUTION OF THE COMMON COUNCIL PROCLAIMING MAY 2015 AS BIKE       MONTH IN     THE CITY OF ALBANY                                                                          

GENERAL PURPOSE OF LEGISLATION

To promote bicycle safety and awareness for bicyclists, pedestrians and motorists, and to promote the environmental and health benefits of bicycle riding during bike month and throughout the year.                                                                                                                           

NECESSITY FOR LEGISLATION AND ANY CHANGE TO EXISTING LAW

It is important that members of the public understand bicycle safety. No change to existing law.  

EXPLANATION OF DEADLINE OR REQUESTED TIME FRAME FOR PASSAGE

It is requested that this be passed prior to May to provide ample time to promote May as Bike Month.