On Friday, November 14th, local members of the NYS Safe Streets Coalition, Albany Bicycle Coalition, Walkable Albany, Capital Streets, Families for Safe Streets, New York Bicycling Coalition, elected leaders, officials and others gathered in recognition of the victims of traffic violence in Albany County and the World Day of Remembrance for Road Traffic Victims. The event was held in Academy Park across from Albany City Hall.
Speakers included:
Ed Brennan, President Albany Bicycle Coalition
Sandy Misiewicz, Executive Director Capital Region Transportation Council
David Galin, Chief of Staff for Albany Mayor Kathy Sheehan
Patty Sawyer, mother of Roger Sawyer, killed by a speeding driver on Washington Ave Ext
NYS Senator, Pat Fahy
Jake Eisland, Chief of Staff for NYS Assemblymember Gabriella Romero
James Rath, Capital Streets
Jackie Gonzales, Capital Streets and Walkable Albany
Bill Ferris, AARP NY
Albany Mayor-Elect Dorcey Applyrs
Erica Schneider, of Parks and Trails New York
Together we read the names of pedestrians and cyclists who have died in traffic collisions in Albany County since 2020. We are asking our City, Village and Town governments to commit to Vision Zero, the elimination of needless deaths and serious injuries caused by traffic crashes. All people in Albany County have a right to safe transportation.
Traffic violence in Albany County is preventable but has gotten consistently worse.
In 2022 Albany County saw the most traffic crash fatalities and serious injuries since data recording and presentation began in 2014 by the Institute for Traffic Safety and Management. This was surpassed in 2023 and surpassed again in 2024. See https://itmsmr.org
Falling fatalities and serious injuries in the City of Albany and other places that have instituted policies to reduce speeds and make roads safer show that local governments can reduce these tragedies.
The deaths in the last year of Gregory Browne, Charles Allendorph, John Bonds, Felipa Martinez-Garcia, Migdalia Aulet, and too many others were not accidents and were preventable.
Traffic violence is a preventable public health crisis. There are proven strategies, including safer speeds and safer road design that save lives and prevent serious injuries. On World Day of Remembrance for Road Traffic Victims, communities all over the globe organized events to demand change. Helsinki, with the same sorts of arterials and highways that Albany County has and over twice the population, just celebrated a year without a traffic fatality. They achieved this because they made a commitment to Vision Zero and took the actions necessary to save the lives and limbs of their citizens. The Cities, Towns and Villages of Albany County need to make that commitment to the people that live here.
Albany Social Cycling and Albany Bike Valet are two incredible additions to Albany. OK, Albany Social Cycling has been around a couple years, but more and more people are just discovering it. ASC started with a small group of riders connected with Matt McGowan and his Freewheel Bike Shop meeting up Thursday evenings in Washington Park. These free Thursday rides have become the place to be for people of all ages and riding abilities, with all kinds of bikes.
Albany Social Cycling meets by the Washington Park Playhouse at 6:30 pm. For the remainder of the season bring well charged bike lights. Its casual. You don’t need to deck out in spandex.The ride routes are well planned. They are leisurely and social. Nobody is racing. Newcomers are made to feel welcome. Many rides visit local businesses, for hot dogs, ice cream and the like.
Albany Bike Valet saw its debut at the Upper Madison Street Fair. It is the brainchild of Albanian Brook Caro. Members of Albany Bicycle Coalition, Walkable Albany and Capital Streets chipped in time to help with this great new free service. The service offers a secure, monitored parking for cyclists at Albany events. Like a coat check service for bikes. Forget about finding a parking space for your car. Enjoy biking to an event and leave your bike with Brook and friends. You won’t even need bike locks and cables.
The Bike Valet’s first gig exceeded expectations, with 47 bikes safely parked. Anne Savage of New York Bicycling Coalition and the folks organizing the Upper Madison Street Fair were a big help making the Bike Valet debut so successful. We heard many folks without bikes say what a great idea it was. Many of them will be looking for the bike valet service when they leave their cars home for the next event.
On October 2nd I joined about 60 other riders on a well planned Park-to-Park Social Cycling route around the City. I was especially glad to see several new Albanians found and joined the ride. A recent arrival from Oklahoma remarked how much she is “enjoying Albany”. City leaders take note of those magic words! If you want to bring and keep people in Albany, support services and activities like the Bike Valet and Albany Social Cycling.
Albany Bicycle Coalition sent the following email letter to the Town of Bethlehem and NYS Dept. of Transportation (DOT) on March 12, 2025. The area under discussion can be seen in Google satellite view.
The new Blessing Road multi-use path is scheduled to be extended this spring, to the Slingerlands Bypass Route 85 traffic circle. We applaud the work of the Town of Bethlehem to build the multi-use path along the length of windy and narrow Blessing Road, which will separate pedestrians, joggers, and cyclists from obvious traffic dangers. However, Albany Bicycle Coalition has some serious concerns about the safety of cyclists and pedestrians who reach the southern end of the path and then attempt to continue further. If the path simply comes to a sudden end at the traffic circle, leaving users to fend for themselves, it would be worse than the Watervliet multi-use path at 23rd St which crosses the I-787 ramps. In October 2024, a young woman cyclist was struck and killed trying to cross a ramp there. Whatever design decisions are made now may determine whether a similar tragedy happens here in Bethlehem.
A) Traffic from Albany approaches the traffic circle at 55+ mph. Although the posted speed limit drops to 45 mph a few hundred feet before the circle, this is still far in excess of what cyclists and pedestrians are accustomed to. Traffic is very heavy at all times of day. B) The speed limit from Maher Road to Blessing Road is 45 mph throughout. In reality, speeding through a traffic circle at 45 mph is inherently unsafe. C) Although there are small yellow “15 mph” advisory signs near the circle, they are not prominent. Based on observing actual motorist behavior (absent oncoming traffic), they are either ignored, or not even seen. D) Crosswalk markings within the traffic circle are obscured by the “YIELD” text plus large directional arrows in every lane. It’s a visual jumble; to motor vehicles, the crosswalks are essentially invisible. E) The design isn’t a typical “roundabout.” The route from Delmar to Albany is mainly straight. Combined with two lanes throughout the circle, this encourages drivers to speed right through and even accelerate as they pass over the crosswalk. F) Bethlehem motorists bound for Albany are mainly concerned with avoiding other cars. When accelerating out of the circle, there is not enough time to notice people using the crosswalk; and there’s not enough space for a vehicle to stop without being rear-ended. G) Driving to Albany, the circle has two lanes with the option to go straight; they quickly merge to one lane after passing over the crosswalk. A distracting high-speed merge dance occurs exactly where drivers need to pay attention to the crosswalk. Current signage approaching the circle from Delmar tells drivers that both lanes can be used for Albany – which exacerbates the merge situation. H) There are no traffic control signals of any kind, anywhere in the area.
There are numerous design improvements that could help reduce the dangers. Here is a suggested list, ordered from basic and cheap (lower speed limits), to long term (a new bike-pedestrian bridge). 1) 30 mph speed limit approaching the traffic circle. Most drivers – but not all – voluntarily slow down. New speed limits would thus not be an imposition. It would simply require a few new signs, and approval by DOT (NYS Department of Transportation). This is also key for options #4 through #7 below. 2) Revise the lane signage approaching from Delmar. Left lane should say: Blessing Road Only. Right lane should say: Route 85 Only. Currently, Albany-bound cars jockey for position in both exit lanes – which makes it basically impossible to pay attention to the crosswalk. Proper signage would encourage merging in advance. 3) Relocate pavement’s directional arrows and/or “Yield” text. Currently the crosswalks are functionally invisible to drivers in a standard sedan; arrows, crosswalk, and “Yield” are so crammed together that visually they are indistinguishable. 4) Modify the exit lanes heading for Albany. Currently the exit from the circle is a straightaway, over the crosswalk to the 55mph zone. Instead, the exit lanes could be redesigned to have enough angle/curvature to discourage speeds over 30 mph. This may also require increasing the overall diameter of the circle. Those steps could even make it possible to eliminate the left exit lane bound for Albany, so that all merging takes place prior to the circle and within it. Other traffic calming methods could be employed here as well, such as a raised crosswalk or textured pavement. 5) Extend the safety island further northeast and move the east crosswalk further away from the circle. Staggered crosswalks are an engineering design that addresses the queuing space and driver attention problems of crosswalks at traffic circle exits. 6) Pedestrian-activated flashing crossing lights. These “Rectangular Rapid Flashing Beacons” (RRFB) are another standard approach when multi-use paths cross a major traffic artery. Note that this would only be effective if posted speed limit signs were lowered (item #1 above). As noted above in “C,” the small 15 mph advisory signs are not effective; only a standard black-on-white rectangular speed limit sign will get drivers’ attention. 7) Dynamic speed display signs. “Your Speed” electronic displays have been shown effective in slowing drivers down (e.g. NHTSA report). This would be done in conjunction with lower speed limits (item #1 above). Such signs could be installed permanently, or at least during the transition period.
Any of the above would help address an inherently unsafe situation in the short term. Ultimately however, the following should be the long-range plan: 8) Dedicated bike-pedestrian bridge. Precedents exist for such a bridge: (1) bike-ped bridge over Albany Shaker Road near the airport (Google Maps Street View); (2) the well-known rail trail bridge over New Scotland Road in Slingerlands. A bridge would not be feasible by this summer. However, it would be transformational for the entire area, and thus deserves ongoing effort. * A bridge would enable a truly-safe route – for all ages and abilities. * It would be key to a long-distance cycling network – something the Town, County, and CRTC have worked towards for years. It would instantly supply the missing link for a long-distance cycling route from southwest Albany, all the way to the Albany County Helderberg Hudson Rail Trail, for both commuters and recreation (potential route on Google Maps). (Details: begin at Russell Road; continue along the Blessing Road path; cross Route 85 on the new bridge; continue over an existing bike-pedestrian bridge south of the circle, which also accesses the boat launch recreation area; along a gravel road to New Scotland Road; New Scotland Road to Thackeray Drive; local streets to the upcoming Cherry Avenue multi-use path; conclude at Albany County Rail Trail.)
Do the Town of Bethlehem and DOT have existing plans for making the traffic circle area safe? Are funds currently allocated for implementing safety features? What do you think of the potential design improvements that we suggested above?
Every November, Albany Bicycle Coalition participates in the World Day of Remembrance for Victims of Traffic Violence. We meet in front of City Hall to commemorate bicyclists and pedestrians who lost their lives in our region. Our hope is to avoid adding any further names to that list.
Please feel free to contact us to further discuss options and plans.
Ed Brennan, President Albany Bicycle Coalition
Chester Bennett, vice president
Mark Maniak, secretary
Glenn Sandberg, designer CapitalNYBikeMap.com
Ordinance 24.81.24 – Active Transportation – A proposal to update Albany’s bicycle ordinance and expand it to encompass other types of active transportation will be discussed at the City Council Law Committee Meeting on Thursday, February 6, 5:30 PM in Common Council chambers. Submit your comments well before the meeting. You may also register to speak at the meeting. Do both at the Common Council website.
l Members Farrell and Zamer introduced the following:
ORDINANCE 24.81.24
AN ORDINANCE AMENDING CHAPTER 359 (VEHICLES AND TRAFFIC) AND CHAPTER 251 (PARKS AND RECREATION) OF THE CODE OF THE CITY OF ALBANY IN RELATION TO THE OPERATION OF ACTIVE TRANSPORTATION IN THE CITY OF ALBANY
The City of Albany, in Common Council convened, does hereby ordain and enact:
Section 1. Article I (Bicycles and Motor Vehicles) of Chapter 359 (Vehicles and Traffic) of Part II (General Legislation) of the Code of the City of Albany is hereby amended to read as follows:
Article I
Bicycles and All Motor Vehicles
§ 359-1 Alarm bells for bicycles.Definitions
All persons riding or propelling with the feet a bicycle, tricycle, velocipede or other vehicle of propulsion on the public streets or avenues or in the parks of this City shall attach to and carry on such vehicle an alarm bell, which said bell the persons shall ring or sound on approaching and within 30 feet of the intersection of any street or avenue proposed to be crossed. For purposes of this Article, the following terms shall have the following meanings:
Bicycle
A two or three wheeled device upon which a person or persons may ride, propelled by human power through a belt, a chain or gears, with such wheels in a tandem or tricycle, except that it shall not include such a device having solid tires and intended for use only on a sidewalk by pre-teenage children. Bicycles with Electric Assist are not bicycles for purposes of this Chapter.
Bicycle with Electric Assist
A bicycle as defined in § 102-c of the New York State Vehicle and Traffic Law.
Electric Scooter
A device weighing less than one hundred pounds that (a) has handlebars, a floorboard or a seat that can be stood or sat upon by the operator, and an electric motor, (b) can be powered by the electric motor and/or human power, and (c) has a maximum speed of no more than twenty miles per hour on a paved level surface when powered solely by the electric motor. Wheelchairs or other mobility aids used to provide transportation for a disabled person, whether or not powered by electricity, are not electric scooters for purposes of this Chapter.
Light Electric Vehicle
Any small and lightweight electric vehicles, not exceeding 100 pounds, such as electric bikes, electric scooters, and electric skateboards.
Other Human Propelled Device
Any human powered device not included in the definitions of “Bicycle” or “Pedestrian” herein, including, but not limited to, skateboards, roller skates, unicycles, and similar devices.
Pedestrian
Any individual walking or traveling in a wheelchair or other mobility aid used to provide transportation for a disabled person.
Unregistered Motorized Device
Any vehicle that cannot be registered or operated on New York State sidewalks, streets or highways. This definition does not include light electric vehicles and bicycles as defined in this Chapter, and it does not include wheelchairs and other mobility aids used to provide transportation for a disabled person.
§ 359-2 Speed limit for bicycles. Public Roadways
No person using a bicycle, tricycle, velocipede or other vehicle of propulsion on the public streets or avenues or parks of this City shall propel such vehicle at a rate of speed greater than eight miles an hour, and all such persons shall observe the law of the road. Light Electric Vehicles,Bicycles, Electric Scooters, Bicycles with electric assist, and other Human Powered Devices may be operated upon the public roadways of this City consistent with New York State Vehicle Traffic Law Article 34.
§ 359-3 Number abreast limited. All Terrain Vehicles
No greater number of persons than two abreast shall parade or ride in the streets or avenues or parks of this City at any time on such bicycles, tricycles, velocipedes or other vehicles of propulsion. Nothing herein shall permit the use of All Terrain Vehicles, as defined in chapter 357 of the Code of the City of Albany, to operate on the streets, sidewalks, paths, or public property of the City of Albany.
§ 359-4 Riding on sidewalks prohibited; exceptions.
No person shall ride any bicycle, tricycle, velocipede or other vehicle of propulsion on or over any footpath in any of the parks, or on or over any of the sidewalks of any of the streets or avenues in this City, except if it is to go into a yard, lot or building; provided, however, that the foregoing provision of this section shall not apply to children under 10 years of age; and provided further that this section shall not be so construed as to prohibit the riding of any bicycle, tricycle or similar vehicle upon or over the unpaved portion of the sidewalk of any such street or streets outside of the thickly settled part of the City as shall be designated in writing by the Mayor. Every designation so made as aforesaid shall be filed with the Chief of Police and may be revoked by the Mayor at any time in his discretion.
A. Pedestrians shall have right of way on all sidewalks in the City of Albany.
B. While passing pedestrians on a sidewalk, users of bicycles or other human propelled devices as defined in this Article shall not:
(1) Exceed 5 miles per hour
(2) Operate a bicycle or other human propelled device within four feet of a pedestrian.
C. When the operation of bicycles and other human propelled devices cannot be exercised with due care, users shall stop and dismount until operation with due care is possible.
D. Light electric vehicles, and motor vehicles may not be operated on any sidewalk in the City of Albany except if it is to go into a yard, lot, or building.
§ 359-5 Operation of motor vehicles generally.
A. It is required that all motor vehicles operated within the City of Albany be in good and safe operating condition, and each shall be operated only:
1. While having a valid New York State Certificate of Inspection affixed on the vehicle in the proper location.
2. While in full compliance with Article 9 of the Vehicle and Traffic Law of the State of New York, as amended, which article is fully incorporated herein by reference.
3. While in full compliance with Article 10 of the Vehicle and Traffic Law of the State of New York, as amended, which article is fully incorporated herein by reference.
4. While in full compliance with Article 2 of the Transportation Law of the State of New York, as amended, which article is fully incorporated herein by reference.
5. While in full compliance with Article 6 of the Transportation Law of the State of New York, as amended, which article is fully incorporated herein by reference.
6. While in full compliance with Article 21 of the Tax Law of the State of New York, as amended, which article is fully incorporated herein by reference.
7. While in full compliance with Article 49 of the Code of Federal Regulations, as amended, which article is fully incorporated herein by reference.
8. While registered in accordance with Article 14 of the Vehicle and Traffic Law of the State of New York, as amended, which article is fully incorporated herein by reference.
B. No motor vehicle may operate within the City of Albany if that vehicle has been determined to be in an unsafe condition by a certified New York State inspector or by a person certified by the State of New York to conduct such inspections.
C. No motor vehicle may operate within the City of Albany if it has been determined that the vehicle should be put out of service by a New York State Department of Transportation inspector.
§ 359-6 Driver restrictions.
No person shall operate or drive a motor vehicle nor permit another person to operate or drive a motor vehicle unless the person driving or operating the motor vehicle is duly and properly licensed with a license for the class of vehicle being operated which is in full force and effect and valid pursuant to Articles 19 and 20 of the Vehicle and Traffic Law of the State of New York, as amended, which articles are fully incorporated herein by reference.
A. Definition of “motorized scooter.” For purposes of this section, the term “motorized scooter” shall mean any wheeled device that is designed to be stood or sat upon by the operator, is powered by an electric motor or by a gasoline motor that is capable of propelling the device without human power, is less than 24 inches in height and is not capable of being registered with the New York State Department of Motor Vehicles. For the purposes of this section, the term “motorized scooter” shall not include wheelchairs or other mobility aids designed for use by disabled persons, electric- or gas-powered devices not capable of exceeding 15 miles per hour or “electric personal assistive mobility devices” defined as self-balancing, two-non-tandem-wheeled devices designed to transport one person by means of an electric propulsion system.
B. No person shall operate an motorized scooter unregistered motorized device on public streets or roadways in the City of Albany pursuant to the New York State Vehicle and Traffic Law.
CB. Any person who violates Subsection B of this section may be liable for a civil penalty in the amount of no more than $1,000. Authorized employees of the Police Department shall have the authority to enforce the provisions of this section. In addition, such violation shall be a traffic infraction and shall be punishable in accordance with § 1800 of the New York State Vehicle and Traffic Law.
DC. Any motorized scooter unregistered motorized device that has been used or is being used in violation of the provisions of this section may be impounded and shall not be released until any and all removal charges and storage fees and the applicable fines have been paid or a bond has been posted in an amount satisfactory to the Chief of Police.
ED. No person shall sell, lease or rent an motorized scooter unregistered motorized device to another person in the City of Albany without informing such buyer, leaser or renter, in writing, that the motorized scooters unregistered motorized device as defined in this section chapter are illegal to be driven on public streets or roadways pursuant to the New York State Vehicle and Traffic Law. Further, anyone selling, leasing or renting motorized scooters unregistered motorized device shall, at his or her place of business, post a sign not less than 8 1/2 inches by 14 inches stating their illegal use on public streets and roadways pursuant to the New York State Vehicle and Traffic Law.
FE. Any person who violates Subsection D of this section may be liable for a civil penalty of no more than $1,000 for each violation. Each sale, lease or rental of a motorized scooter in violation of Subsection D shall be deemed a separate violation. Authorized employees of the Department, the Police Department, and of any other agency designated by the Mayor shall have the authority to enforce the provisions of this section.
Section 2. Section 359-24 (Vehicle Use on Areas Designated for Bicycles) of Article II (Regulations) of Chapter 359 (Vehicles and Traffic) of Part II (General Legislation) of the Code of the City of Albany is hereby amended to read as follows:
§ 359-24 MotorVvehicle use on areas designated for bicycles.
Except as provided in § 359-23 above and § 25.05 of the Parks and Recreation Law, no motor vehicle shall be operated on a path, lane, shoulder or portion of a slope that has been designated for the use of bicycles.
Section 3. Section 359-112 (Drivers to exercise due care) of Article XII (Vehicle and Traffic Controls) of Chapter 359 (Vehicles and Traffic) of Part II (General Legislation) of the Code of the City of Albany is hereby amended to read as follows:
§ 359-112 Drivers to exercise due care.
A. Notwithstanding the provisions of any other law to the contrary, every driver of a vehicle shall exercise due care to avoid colliding with any bicyclist, pedestrian or domestic animal upon any roadway and shall give warning by sounding the horn when necessary. For the purpose of this section, the term “domestic animal” shall mean domesticated sheep, cattle and goats which are under the supervision and control of a pedestrian.
B. Approaching h Horses.
(1) Notwithstanding the provisions of any other law to the contrary,eEvery driver of a vehicle shall exercise due care to avoid colliding with any horse being ridden or led along a public highway.
(2) Every driver of a vehicle shall, at a reasonable and prudent speed, approach a horse being ridden or led along a public highway so as to avoid frightening such horse and shall pass the horse at a reasonable distance.
(3) No driver of a vehicle shall sound the horn when approaching or passing any bicycle, light electric vehicle,other human powered vehicle, pedestrian, or domestic animal being ridden or led horse on a public highway.
Section 3. Section 251-7 (Use of bicycles, tricycles, and vehicles in Washington Park and Beaver Park) of Article I (Public Grounds Designated as Parks; Government and Care of Parks and Parkways) of Chapter 251 (Parks and Recreation) of Part II (General Legislation) of the Code of the City of Albany is hereby amended to read as follows:
§ 251-7 Use of bicycles, tricycles and vVehicles in Washington Park and BeaverCity Parks.
A. No animals, bicycles, tricycles or motors or vehicles shall be permitted to either stand, congregate or loiter upon the driveways of these parks or in any other parts thereof to the obstruction of the way or to the inconvenience of or interference with travel therein, except on such occasions as may be specially designated by the Superintendent Commissioner of Parks Recreation.
B. Neither shall bicycles, tricycles, motors or vehicles go together in numbers or abreast, except in pairs, to the inconvenience, obstruction or interference with the driving public.
C. No part of such Washington or Lincoln parks shall be used for a place of instruction in the use or management of any vehicle. including bicycles, tricycles and motors, and drivers or wheelmen must turn to the right hand in passing, and in all cases bicycles, tricycles and motors must carry lighted lamps after dark.
D. No vehicle drawn by horses, or propelled in any other way, including bicycles, tricycles and motors, shall travel or use the park roads at a greater rate of speed than eight miles an hour, and on short curves four miles an hour.
E. The use of bicycles, tricycles or vehicles of any kind is not permitted on the paths or walks of these parks.
FD. The Commissioner of Parks and Recreation shall regulate the parking of motor vehicles within and upon the roadways of Washington Park city parks in connection with special events and theatrical events held therein and may establish and collect fees to offset the expense thereof.
E. The Commissioner of Recreation shall, in coordination with the Active Transportation Planning Commission, designate times and days where park traffic is expected to be low to permit instruction in the use of non-motor vehicles in Washington and Lincoln Parks.
Section 4. This ordinance shall take effect 30 days after enactment.
APPROVED AS TO FORM THIS
26TH DAY OF JULY, 2022
_____________________________
Corporation Counsel
To:
Shaniqua Jackson, City Clerk
From:
Jake Eisland, Research Counsel
Re:
Common Council Legislation
Supporting Memorandum
Date:
May 23, 2024
Sponsor:
Council Members Farrell and Zamer
ORDINANCE 24.81.24
TITLE
AN ORDINANCE AMENDING CHAPTER 359 (VEHICLES AND TRAFFIC) AND CHAPTER 251 (PARKS AND RECREATION) OF THE CODE OF THE CITY OF ALBANY IN RELATION TO THE OPERATION OF ACTIVE TRANSPORTATION IN THE CITY OF ALBANY
GENERAL PURPOSE OF LEGISLATION
To improve the safety and easy of using Active Transportation on the streets and in the parks of the City of Albany.
NECESSITY FOR LEGISLATION AND ANY CHANGE TO EXISTING LAW
Albany’s Code pertaining to vehicles is old and outdated, offering more deference for horses than pedestrians or users of Active Transportation. This legislation adopts state definitions for various types of vehicles and ensures certain laws only apply to motor vehicles,
Furthermore, bicycles and other human propelled devices are safest when they are in a protected lane separated from motor vehicles. The National Highway Transportation Safety Administration suggests minimizing sidewalk riding in order to be visible and predictable to drivers. However, when there is no protected lane, as is too often the case, the sidewalk can be the safest choice when traffic volume or speed is high. Nonetheless, pedestrians always have the right of way on sidewalks and bicycles, and other human propelled devices on the sidewalk are safest when they maintain speeds similar to pedestrians.
This year, ABC and our partners Capital Streets, WalkableAlbany, VocalNY, VocalAlbany, and WeAreRevolutionary are proud to participate in #WeekWithoutDriving from September 30th to October 6th, a challenge that invites us to experience the everyday realities of those who, by circumstance or choice, do not drive.
Nearly a quarter of people in the United States, including individuals with disabilities, young people, seniors, and those who cannot afford the costs associated with car ownership navigate their lives without personal vehicles. Their experiences highlight the importance of connected, accessible, reliable public transit and safe, active transportation options for all.
Your participation is easy and can be done with as little as one trip that you would normally take by car and sharing your experience on social media with the campaign tags (#WeekWithoutDriving, #518WeekWithoutDriving). For details see Week Without Driving.
We’re asking you to become an active participant in #WeekWithoutDriving by taking one trip, one day, or even a whole week without the use of a personal vehicle and sharing your experiences on social media. Our goal is to get people to experience different means of transportation as well as to help highlight the specific challenges involved in active transportation.
How to Participate – Participating is easy and can be done with as little as one trip that you would normally take by car. Examples:
Take the bus to work.
Bike with the kids to school.
Walk to the convenience store.
Use a bikeshare to get to a doctor’s appointment.
Using Public Transportation – Routes can either be planned using Google Maps and Apple Maps by selecting a destination that you want directions to and then selecting the bus icon to find a route by public transit. You can also plan a route in the CDTA Navigator App or plan the route yourself using the schedule and bus routes on the CDTA Navigator App or website.
Once you have your route planned, you can pay your fare in cash in person ($1.50 for regular bus service, and $2.00 for BUSPLUS), using the navigator app ($1.30), or getting a physical navigator card at any of these retailers.
Biking – You can access CDPHP bikes through the CDPHP Cycle app. There you can find bikes and unlock them for use.
Albany Bicycle Coalition 