Category Archives: Article

Tour de Parc

Our Bicycle Month 2011 community bicycle ride for May 11, 2011 was the “Tour de Parc” planned and led by Claire.

We started from two locations, joining up at the Henry Johnson Memorial at Madison and Willet in Washington Park for a quick ride to Christa’s Community Garden plot in Lincoln Park where Christa showed the developing fruits of her labor in her new plot. John then pointed out Beverwyck Creek as it can be heard flowing beneath a utility cover.

We next used the Holland Ave. Shared Lanes to cruise over to Ridgefield Park to check out the clay courts, the dirt pile, and our lighting as dusk was fast approaching. By the time we got to Westland Hills Park, dusk had arrived as we rode through the peaceful wooded path for another stop at the kiddy pool re-build project. Leaving Westland Hills, we again crossed a now-calm Washington Ave. soon to arrive at Brevator Park for another stop and explanation of the spray pool.

By this time of evening, even Western Ave. was mostly light traffic as we rode on it to Colonial and then down to Buckingham Lake (or Rafts Pond) and Park.

At this point, just after 9:00 PM, John headed off to the ‘burbs while Perry, Claire, Christa, and Lorenz circled the pond, cruised though beautiful Albany neighborhoods, and headed back downtown via New Scotland Ave. Even though there was a spring chill in the air, the well-lighted streets of the city combined with many charming neighborhoods made for a relaxing and pleasant ride.

Our next ride will be on a completing different theme – the National Ride of Silence to commemorate local riders killed on the road.

Written by Lorenz Warden

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This And Next Week In Bike Month May 15th – 21st, May 22nd – 28th

May 15th – 21st

What: Historic Mansion Tour
When: May 15 Sun. 10:30 AM – 3:00 PM
Where: Albany Heritage Area Visitor’s Center
 
What: Tune Up Your Bike Night
When: May 17 Tue. 5:00 PM – 8:00 PM
Where: 15 Trinity Place, Albany
 
What: Moonlight Ride (Full Moon – 5/17)
When: May 17 Tue. 8:30 PM – 11:00 PM
Where: Albany Soldiers and Sailors Memorial – Washington Park
 
What: Ride of Silence (National)
When: May 18 Wed. 6:00 PM – 9:00 PM
Where: Corning Preserve Boat Launch and NYSED
 
What: National Bike to Work Day
When: May 20 Fri.
Where: Everywhere
 
What: ABC Community Bicycle Ride #3
When: May 20 Fri. 7:00 PM – 9:00 PM
Where: Albany Soldiers and Sailors Memorial – Washington Park
 
What: PAL Bike Rodeo
When: May 21 Sat. 10:00 Am – 1:00 PM
Where: Corning Preserve Boat Launch
 

May 22nd – 28th

What: East Greenbush Community Enhancement Workshop
When: May 23 Mon. 7:00 PM – 8:00 PM
Where: Town Hall, East Greenbush, NY
 
What: Tune Up Your Bike Night
When: May 24 Tue. 5:00 PM – 8:00 PM
Where: 15 Trinity Place, Albany
 
What: Moonlight Ride (Full Moon – 5/17)
When: May 17 Tue. 8:30 PM – 11:00 PM
Where: Albany Soldiers and Sailors Memorial – Washington Park
 
What: Pedaling Toward a Healthier Planet
When: May 25 Wed. 7:00 PM – 8:00 PM
Where: 807 Union Street, Schenectady, NY
 
What: ABC Community Bicycle Ride #3
When: May 25 Wed. 7:00 PM – 9:00 PM
Where: Albany Soldiers and Sailors Memorial – Washington Park
 
What: ABC Public Meeting
When: May 26 Thurs. 7:00 PM – 8:00 PM
Where: Chapel and Cultural Center, LaSalle School, 391 Western Ave, Albany, NY
 
What: Critical Mass (Community Bicycle Ride)
When: May 27 Thurs. 5:30 PM – 7:00 PM
Where: Albany Soldiers and Sailors Memorial – Washington Park
 
What: Troy Bike Rescue FundraiserABC Public Meeting
When: May 28 Sat. 2:00 PM – 8:00 PM
Where: The Sanctuary for Independent Media, 3361 6th Avenue in North Troy, New York
Comments: Troy Bike Rescue is having a fundraiser at the Sanctuary for Independent Media and we would love for you to be there.  We would also love for you to take a moment to invite any friends who would like to support our work by forwarding this email or spreading the word.
 
What: Bike Month Alley Cat – Bike to China Charity
When: May 28 Sat. 7:00 PM – 11:00 PM
Where: Albany Soldiers and Sailors Memorial – Washington Park
Written by Chris Belsole

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For The Betterment Of East Greenbush

Here at ABC we got an e-mail recently informing us on a meeting happening in East Greenbush. From the e-mail:

“The Town of East Greenbush will be holding a public workshop on May 23rd @ 7pm in the Town Hall to discuss potential ideas for new recreational amenities in the town. Such amenities as park improvements, trails, bike paths and other recreational improvements residents would like to see are being considered for discussion. The public is invited to come and share ideas. Check the town website for more information or updates. Thanks!”

For more information visit the meeting’s official site.

Honestly I love when people alert us to these kinds of things. We are called Albany Bicycle Coalition, but when we have a chance to help citizens outside of Albany we take it. We could change our names to the Capital Region Bicycle Coalition, but ABC is too good of an acronym to give up.

If anyone out there has any tips on bike news or improvement projects feel free to drop us a line or send us an e-mail. We are always glad to hear from you.

Written by Chris Belsole

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Presents From ABC?!

Sure, over the months I have been writing for this site, almost exclusively, I have alerted you to a lot of free stuff in hopes that you would read this blog more. Totally self serving? Yes, but I can live with that. After a stop yesterday at Broadway Bicycle Co. to test out some road bikes, and oh man were they sweet, I am happy to announce that I have some free stuff to give away! Introducing the limited edition, biodegradable, recyclable, USA born…

bottle from the Broadway Bicycle Co!

Yes indeedaly doodely, we have legitimate swag to give away. So how do you get your hands on one of these puppies? It’s simple. Just attend any ABC bike month event, and if you see me with a big bag bursting with bottles just shout ALBANY BICYCLE COALITION DOT COM, and I’ll know who to give the bottles to. Just kidding, you get a bottle just for being awesome on a bicycle.

Written by Chris Belsole

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“Historic Mansions Bicycle Tour,” Sunday, May 15 at 10:30 AM

The Albany Bicycle Coalition continues to celebrate Bike Month with the second “Historic Mansions Bike Tour.” It will be a variation of last year’s ride. Plan accordingly: wear a helmet and bring water and a spare tube.

Sunday May 15th at 10:30 AM, meet us at the Albany Heritage Area Visitors Center on Broadway across from the Palace Theater. Our group is friendly and our pace is casual. One rider on last year’s inaugural Sunday morning tour, exclaimed, “I never would have thought about riding my bicycle in downtown Albany before today,” and another, “I never knew these old mansions were right here in Albany.”

We will visit the last of the 18th century homes built by the wealthy and powerful Dutch families of Rensselaerwyck including Van Rensselaer’s Cherry Hill, Revolutionary War hero Philip Schuyler’s Pastures and General Abraham Ten Broeck’s Prospect. Ride with us back in time and hear the fascinating stories each one of these houses has to tell. Two of our scheduled stops are taking part in New York’s “Heritage Weekend Event” and will be offering open houses, historical re-enactors, and vendors.

Optional get together and lunch follows.

For more info on the ride, call John at 518-225-4209. For more info on the “Heritage Weekend Event,” visit http://www.heritageweekend.org.

See you on Sunday May 15!

Written by Lorenz Worden

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