Author Archives: Lorenz M. Worden

by Lorenz M. Worden | July 28, 2012 · 4:50 pm

Midtown Lane Sharing

Implementation of the Albany Bicycle Master Plan recently took a step forward with the installation of Shared Lane pavement markings on the repaved section of Western Ave. from N. Allen (“The Point”) to S. Main Ave. The makings also continue south of S. Main’s new surface. One might assume that the repaved S. Main from Manning/Bradford/Kent to Western Ave. will also get the markings. This is in line with Albany’s marking road surfaces as it repaves them. Marking about 0.8 miles might seem a small step except that the four involved heavily trafficked intersections – Allen/Madison/Western, Western/W. Lawrence, Western/S. Main, and S. Main/Madison – will benefit from these helpful warnings to both cyclists and motorists. These markings also pave the way for the planned reconfiguration of Madison Ave. into Albany’s premier east-west bicycle corridor – 2 bicycle lanes, 2 parking lanes, 2 driving lanes, and 1 turning lane).

Shared Lane Marker in Use

So, get off that couch and take a self-guided tour of Albany’s bicycle amenities!

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Filed under Activism, Bicycle Boulevards, City Review, Local Bike Rides

by Lorenz M. Worden | June 22, 2012 · 12:59 pm

What Do You Think?

Project Ideas for the Albany Bicycle Coalition – In looking ahead, the Albany Bicycle Coalition considered 2012 and 2013 project. These are merely ideas and should not be interpreted as plans. Please provide your own thoughts.

Bicycle Boulevard (e.g., Manning Blvd and west via Berkshire Blvd, etc.) –

What are the rules or nationwide standards?
Work with city?
Raise “sponsored by . . .” funds for the signs
Develop a proposal

Gateways to Albany – Improve selected entry points to the city working with the City of Albany and the neighboring community governments/bicycle groups.

Bicycle Summit – Draw together bicycle and related groups for a summit on cycling and community development.

Mohawk-Hudson Bike-Hike Trail Signage-Albany Entrances – Improve signage for access to the north and south ends of the MHBHT at the boat launch and USS Slater entrances.

Urban Rides – Meetup Group to host a series of “summer evening” rides with could include the following –

Tastee Freeze (or Kurver Cream) Ride – with modest discount at shop
History Ride(s) – Each with, say, 3 stops and some intermediate ride-bys. Could do several of these, depending on interest.
The Albany “No Hills” Causal Ride – Ending with self-financed pizza, coffee, beverage.
Bicycle Amenities Rides – Need two.
Coffee Shop Ride(s) – (e.g., Tierra, 5^th Annual Daily Grind-Daily Grind Ride).
ABR-TBR Ride – with party at the midway point

Route 378 (S. Troy) Bridge Clean Up –

Adopt the bicycle path from Troy to the Mohawk-Hudson Bike-Hike Trail
Schedule clean up event in the media
Clean it up
Post an “adopted by . . . “ sign

Organize a youth road-skills rider program in conjunction with Albany district, charter, and private schools.

Develop road-skills cycling programs in conjunction with City of Albany agencies.

Washington Park Car-Free Saturdays

Bicycle Expo 2013

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Filed under Article

by Lorenz M. Worden | May 31, 2012 · 10:10 am

Pedal Powered Compost Pickup – 20 Day Assist for Bike/Compost Kick starter

For more info, go to: food-cycle-building-soil-with-pedal-power

What we want to do: Food Cycle, a project of Troy Bike Rescue

Troy Bike Rescue

and Collard City Growers, is a bicycle compost delivery project employing neighborhood youth. It diverts household and restaurant food and yard waste back into the ground on our urban farm all by way of the transportation of the future: The bicycle!

Food Cycle will create a hyper-local compost network that lays the groundwork for a self-sustaining, scalable enterprise. We need the help of financial backers for initial investment.

How we’ll do it:

Build cargo bikes and trailers from recycled bikes and parts
Grow food in the garden
Collect food scraps and other organic material from neighborhood households and businesses by bicycle
Pedal the loads to the large compost bins at our garden site
Use the finished compost to build more soil in our garden
Bikes and trailers will also be used to deliver fresh produce to people in the neighborhood and beyond

Who we are: Collard City Growers is a grassroots demonstration garden and composting project located in North Central Troy. We turned a vacant lot located in a brown fields-designated area into an urban garden, drawing upon resources from the community and the Upstate New York region to grow produce and the next generation of growers.

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Troy Bike Rescue is a collective of bicycle enthusiasts committed to removing bikes from the waste stream and putting them back into use. TBR operates a volunteer-run community bike space where we organize:

DiY bike repair nights – Open Shop
Hands-on bicycle education –Learn & Earn
Sliding scale bicycle adoption by Suggested Donation

Mobile workshops

We help to build bicycle community in the capital region through hands-on education.

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Filed under Activism, Bike rescue, Fundraising, Support the Cause

by Lorenz M. Worden | May 27, 2012 · 4:28 pm

Community Bike Ride/Critical Mass 5-25-12

CM Mass 5-25-12

This past Friday, May 25, 2012, Cynthia, Sharon, Jim, Bruce, David, and Gus joined up for a “no hills” urban bicycle ride on a beautiful late spring evening. We rode about 6 miles at a relaxed pace with a route that included Lark, Central, Washington, Western, S. Lake, New Scotland, Academy, Heldeberg, Sycamore, New Scotland (again), Maple Wood, Fair View, Partridge, Clinton Robin, Central, and Henry Johnson ending up back at the Monument in Washington Park. With the coming 3-day weekend, the 5:30 motor vehicle traffic was only moderate and the Park was not the usual “rush hour” bedlam. A good time was had by all.

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Filed under Activism, City Review, Critical Mass, Events, Local Bike Rides, Rides, Support the Cause

by Lorenz M. Worden | May 21, 2012 · 3:22 pm

Silent Ride in Tribute to Cyclists Killed on the Road

ROS State Ed Bldg 5-16-12

Albany’s 6^th Annual Ride of Silence was on Wednesday, May 16 starting at 6:00 PM and 6:30.

Cyclists gathered at Albany’s Corning Preserve/Boat Launch and at West Capital Park/NYS Education Building for a silent tribute to riders killed or injured while cycling on local roads. The 20 riders were accompanied by a bicycle police officer from the University at Albany.

The slow-paced procession left the Corning Preserve/Boat Launch at 6:00 p.m. and then visited Jose Perez’s bicycle on Broadway at Quay St. The 12-mile round-trip route then met up with riders near the NYS Education Building and visited two more fatality sites. We finished up with two flat tires and a refreshing downpour as we cruised in town on Central Ave.

The Ride of Silence, which is held during National Bike Month, reminds us all – cyclists and motorists – to be considerate on the road for the safety of all. The ride also shows respect for those who have been killed or injured while cycling.

The first Ride of Silence was organized in 2003 to honor a Texas cyclist killed by a bus. Events are now held across the nation and in other countries, including Australia, Canada, and Scotland. For a list of locations and more on the history of the event, go to http://www.rideofsilence.org.

Across the nation, more than 600 cyclists are killed on the road every year. Local fatalities for whom there are ghost bikes include the following:

Nicholas Richichi, 53 – Oct. 19, 2007, Fuller Rd., Guilderland
Diva De Loayza, 40 – June 6, 2007, Western Ave., Albany
Alan Robert Fairbanks, 72 – Oct. 29, 2006 (later died), Mohawk-Hudson Bike-Hike Trail and Route 5S, Rotterdam
Jose Perez, 60 – Aug. 3, 2006, Quay St., Albany
Joel Melnikoff, 49 – July 3, 2006, Rt. 32, Bethlehem
David Ryan, 32 – June 29, 2004, Riverview Rd., Rexford
Robert Zayhowski, 43 – July 16, 2000, Rt. 66, Sand Lake