Be thankful for . . .

• Municipal leaders who try to make our roads safe for pedestrians and bicyclists.
• The police and other first responders who attend to crashes involving pedestrians and bicyclists . . .  and for their investigations which help prosecute perpetrators and develop safer streets.
• Drivers who slow down and are careful when they are near pedestrians or bicyclists.
• District attorneys who have the courage and the endurance to prosecute those who cause death or injury on the road.
• Pedestrians who, no matter how tedious it is, wait until it is safe to cross the street.
• The Town of Bethlehem for its work on the Blessing Road and Cherry Avenue multi-use paths. 
• Bicyclists who set the example by riding courteously and within the guidance of the law and to say or wave a “thank you” when shown courtesy by a motor vehicle driver.
• Departments of public works who are out there every day keeping the roads safe with signage, signalization, plowing, pavement markings, ADA ramps, cleaning, and “pothole” repair.
• State, county, and municipal elected and appointed officials who are responsive to the unsafe conditions of our roads and who promote laws and programs to improve them. 
• Those who come to safety awareness-raising events or to other forums to promote roadway safety such as the World Day of Remembrance.
• Our bicycle shops and bike rescuers who do their best to help us keep our bicycles in a safe and roadworthy condition at a fair price.
• Those who work many long (unremunerated) hours to organize or continue advocacy organizations.
• Engineering and transportation specialists who work with municipalities to develop plans for safety-oriented road designs.
• Albany’s Department of General Services for its efforts in keeping the South End Bikeway free of glass.
• Motor vehicle drivers who do NOT honk at, tailgate, turn in front of, yell at, or pass too closely to people on bicycles.
• Trail “ambassadors” who help on our trails by providing guidance, encouragement, and clean up.
• Print and broadcast media for highlighting roadway safety and reporting and analyzing crashes involving pedestrians and people on bicycles.
• The Town of Bethlehem for installing and maintaining its network of wayfinding signage for cyclists.

… and, most importantly, to all road users who recognize that, and act as if, the roads are for all to use without fear of injury or death.

Revised 12-5-24