Albany Bicycle Coalition

by Lorenz M. Worden | March 17, 2015 · 5:44 pm

Breaking the Ice – Ride #1 South End Bikeway Link

PRE-RIDE – We kicked off the monthly series of planned orientation rides on the proposed South End Bikeway on Saturday, March 7, 2015. Nine intrepid riders – with the youngest being 18 months old – met under the (pounding) I-787 at the Boat Launch/Row Center in the Albany Corning Preserve. We started with a League of American Bicyclists mini “Safe Cycling” course sponsored by the Albany Bicycle Coalition. We had several adults and one youth for the class which featured a description of the full course, helmet selection and fit, pre-ride “ABC Quick check of our bicycles,” signaling, “rock dodge,” and scanning (to the rear).

HEADING OUT – Leaving from the start of the Erie Canalway Trail and the Mohawk-Hudson Bike-Hike Trail, we headed along the current multi-use pathway to the central parking area where we learned about the $8-million Albany Corning Preserve project and the proposed South End Bikeway Link. He pointed out the “flyover” – an adaptive re-use of an unneeded I-787 ramp into a multi-use “high line-like” parkway for people on bicycles and on foot. This would connect the waterfront to Clinton Ave. as well as to the bike-hike path over the new Livingston Avenue Bridge that, in turn, would open a water-level route to Rensselaer and to S. Troy.

A LITTLE ICE – With temps in the high teens, we were bound to, and did, encounter a few icy spots but a little walking or a steady had on the bars got us through that so when we arrived at our next orientation spot at the Slater we were all nicely warmed up. At the Slater, we looked at the terminus of the Albany County path and then to the 1.8-mile on-street gap separating us from the Albany County Helderberg-Hudson Rail Trail head on S. Pearl.

TERMINUS – With the sun getting warmer and warmer, we headed south past the choke point at the U-Haul on Broadway toward Island Creek Waterfront Park (with its potential as a spot where people can begin their rides or walks) where we again paused to look at the planned off-street crossing, the Island Creek Waterfront Park, the UA Alumni Row Center, and the proposed full-service marina on Broadway.

A LITTLE HISTORY – Just before the rough-and-tumble railroad crossing, we looked at the reported site of Fort Nassau, the tank bombs, and the off/on ramps for I-787, one of which will be the protected bicycle lanes for the South End Bikeway Link. We swung around to western ramp, noted the super wide shoulder, and went on to S. Pearl. We stopped at Mt. Hope Drive to hear about Ezra Prentiss, Joel Rathbone, and other historical notables who lived in or settled the area. We learned about the now-vanished Kenwood village and gained an appreciation for the powerful history of the immediate area and how it will enrich the SEBL’s value for all. We observed how critical would be enhanced signalization at Mt. Hope and Pearl to facilitate people crossing form the west side of S. Pearl (from the 2-way cycle track) to the I-787 ramp, one lane of which will become the protected bicycle lanes.

CRAZY STREET – While heading toward the end of our tour, even the experienced road riders noted the aggressive, on-your-tail, outta-my-way behavior of the people in cars and trucks and how meaningless the shared lane markings and “share the road” signs were in helping us along. In covering the route, we noted with sadness the loss of life – Jose Perez (2006) and Qazir Sutherland (2013) in the very streets we are trying to bypass on our preferred route. This enhances the urgency for protected bicycle lanes by this fall in time for the Albany County Helderberg-Hudson Rail Trail opening.

START HERE – At the intersection of South and Old South Pearl, we looked at the railroad overpass, the area of the planned 12-car parking lot, and the to-be-closed pedestrian tunnel under the roadbed. Crossing under the railroad overpass, we swung onto Binghamton St., went to the end, and learned about the Mohawk and the Mohicans. While we did not spot the promised bald eagle, we did see a red-tailed hawk.

TANK BOMBS – At this point, we made our way speedily back on our route, using the eastern I-787 ramp. Our plans to return via Broadway were dashed by the stopped fleet of DOT 111s on the crossing. We noted sadly that yet another 103-tanker train had yet another derailment in Illinois. With 34,500 gallons in each car, the explosion/conflagration caused evacuations in a one-mile radius where the Galena River joins the Mississippi. (By the way, if about half of those gallons was converted to gasoline [the rest being waste, heating oil, spillage, plastic bottles, etc.] an Escalade could go 1,326 miles – well worth it Commissioner Martens!) In any case, we returned to our starting point via Quay St.

For info, go to:

https://www.facebook.com/albanybikewaylink

https://www.flickr.com/albanybikewaylink

https://www.twitter.com/albanybikeway

https://www.facebook.com/albanybikewaylink

Leave a comment

Filed under Activisim, Bicycle Boulevards, Bike Lanes, Rides, South End Bike Link

by Lorenz M. Worden | March 12, 2015 · 6:53 pm

Time is Running Out – Protected Bicycle Lanes Needed in Albany

If we want protected and/or separated bicycle lanes, we need to push for them. Remember, if you are getting this e-mail, it is likely that you are already interested in cycling or in supporting cycling. However, please recall that protected bicycle lanes may not be for YOU but they are for those who want to ride but who are unaware of this campaign.

Please support your desire for progressive bicycle facilities by writing to the mayor (or the addressee you prefer).

The Honorable Kathy Sheehan

Office of the Mayor

City Hall, Rm. 102

24 Eagle St.

Albany, NY 12207

If you live, work, or do business in the City of Albany, you should feel more than comfortable writing to the mayor. If not, write to your town supervisor or other official instead.

Author a to-the-point letter on why you want safe protected or separated cycling facilities in the City of Albany. Your request could be in general or specifically for both Madison Ave. AND the link connecting the new Albany County Helderberg-Hudson Rail Trail to the re-built Quay St. protected bicycle lanes at the Albany Corning Preserve.

Use your own arguments or chose from the following Protected Bicycle Lane benefits:

Protected Bicycle Lanes shield people on bicycles with a physical barrier. They are the safest, most inviting way to ride.
Local business benefit from Protected Bicycle Lanes.
Safer for all – 40-50% fewer crashes for people on bicycles, on foot, or in cars.
Protect people on bicycles with a physical barrier. Ordinary bike lanes not protected from traffic.
Less pollution and wear and tear on streets.

If you want a sample letter to get you started, go here.

If you want to review and use other points, go here.

Sign and mail your letter.

If you have additional addresses (e.g., town supervisor, Common Council member, NYS Assembly or Senate member, neighborhood association) who you think need to get behind Protected Bicycle Lanes, send then each a similar letter/e-mail.

If you do not feel that protected bicycle lanes are a good fit for part of Albany’s bicycle route system, would you write to support your own ideas for making a better place for people on bicycles? How about: education about on bicycles for people in cars, way finding signage, conventional bicycle lanes, re-engineered roadways and intersections, bike boxes at some intersections, advance green lights for people on bicycles, maintenance of existing bicycle and shared lanes (e.g., Clinton Ave. and Western Ave. in Guilderland), special training for police officers on investigating crashes involving people on bicycles hit by cars, removing pejorative laws that impeded cycling, adding “no bicycles” signage on sidewalks, city-sponsored League of American Bicyclists “smart cycling” classes, or whatever else you think will help.

After you’re done and if you have not done so already, “like” both of these Facebook sites:

Leave a comment

Filed under Activisim, City Review, protected bicycle lanes

by Lorenz M. Worden | March 12, 2015 · 4:43 pm

Sample Letter Promoting Protected Bicycle Lanes

Dear Advocate:

This is a sample letter to elected officials asking them to embrace and implement Protected Bicycle Lanes in the City of Albany.

If you live, work, or do business in the City of Albany, you should write to the mayor. If not, write to your town supervisor or other official. Adjust the letter as you see fit. Use your own arguments or chose from these following benefits: Protected Bicycle Lanes shield people on bicycles with a physical barrier; they are the safest, most inviting way to ride; local business benefit from Protected Bicycle Lanes; they are safer for all – 40-50% fewer crashes for people on bicycles, on foot, or in cars; they protect people on bicycles with a physical barrier; and they lower less pollution and wear and tear on streets.

If you want to review and use other points, go here. (Follow these additional links for info on Protected Bicycle Lanes or on the South End Bikeway Link )

*** TEXT ****

The Honorable Kathy Sheehan

Office of the Mayor

City Hall, Rm. 102

24 Eagle St.
Albany, NY 12207

Dear Mayor Sheehan:

I am writing to ask that you support installation of Protected Bicycle Lanes as part of the Madison Avenue Traffic Calming project and include them in the design of the proposed South End Bikeway Link.

In studying this issue, I am convinced that installation of protected/separated facilities for people on bicycles will be a great benefit to the City of Albany in terms of economics, livability, and safety. Other cities across the US have installed Protected Bicycle Lanes and report that they have paid off handsomely.

Both of the projects cited simply will not reach their potential without your administration’s aggressive action. Madison Ave. can become a major bikeway linking the downtown with many venues on Madison Ave. and, ultimately, out Western Ave. to Guilderland’s bicycle lanes. The street will be safer for all users – without a reduction in parking, drive time, or expense. The South End Bikeway Link linking the new Albany County Helderberg-Hudson Rail Trail to the revamped Albany Corning Preserve “bike way” and the Mohawk-Hudson Bike-Hike Trail/Erie Canalway Trail can only work if there are facilities to help people work their way through this heavily traveled area. In both cases, we have the space and the need.

I hope that you will give these projects you utmost attention.

Sincerely,

Leave a comment

Filed under Activisim, protected bicycle lanes

by Lorenz M. Worden | March 8, 2015 · 1:18 pm

Bike Fit Seminar – Savile Road – 3/26/15

RSVP – 477-5000 or 439-4766

Dr. Richard Shade joined the office of East Greenbush Chiropractic in 2009. Dr. Shade is here to provide quality chiropractic care for you, your friends, family, and those in need of specialized care. Dr. Shade attended college at Greenville Technical College and received an Associate of Science degree. His chiropractic education was completed at Sherman College of Chiropractic in Spartanburg S.C. After graduating from Sherman, he completed extensive postgraduate studies at the world renowned Pierce Chiropractic Clinic in Spartanburg S.C. with Dr. Walter “Vern” Pierce Sr., author, lecturer, and inventor. His externship was completed in Hendersonville N.C. with Dr. W.V. Pierce Jr.”

Leave a comment

Filed under Article

by Lorenz M. Worden | March 1, 2015 · 4:00 pm

Sometimes I Take the Sidewalk

From “Let’s Go Ride a Bike,” 8/29/09

Bikes belong in the street, not on the sidewalk. In fact, it is illegal for anyone over the age of 12 to ride on a sidewalk in Chicago*. Riding in the street is generally safer because you are visible, while on the sidewalks you encounter pedestrians, cross streets, alleys, and parking lot entrances where drivers don’t expect to see bikes. Riding in the street is also generally faster and smoother, on better-maintained pavement instead of concrete blocks. Finally, riding in the street sends the correct message to drivers: that bikes belong.

Despite all of this, sometimes I take the sidewalk. Very rarely and only on the arterial streets when there is no way around them. This is the type of Chicago street where you’ll find the Targets and the McDonalds. Four lanes, two in each direction, no shoulder, definitely no bike lane, high speeds, and ginormous potholes. Meanwhile, the pedestrian-free sidewalks beckon. For these reasons, if I absolutely cannot avoid taking these streets, I usually ride on their sidewalks.

The most recent sidewalk expedition was on Thursday night, as my destination was on an arterial street and it’s the only way to get across the highway and river dividing the east and west sides. On top of everything, it was dark and raining. After studying Google maps in preparation for the trip, I decided that I would take side streets as far as possible and then hop on the sidewalk.

I am more interested in getting from point A to point B safely than in sending a message or exuding street cred (which is hard to exude on an Omafiets, anyway). 98% of the time it is safer to ride in the street, and even when I decide to take the sidewalk, it is only safer if I follow these rules:

Ride slowly.
Watch out for pedestrians and either slow to a crawl or walk your bike past them (if a sidewalk has a lot of pedestrians, don’t even try riding your bike on it).
Keep an eye out for alleys, driveways, parking lots or any other place from which a car could spring. Be extra cautious and look both ways.
At cross streets try to cross with the light in the cross walk. Assume that drivers do not see you. They certainly don’t expect anything faster than a pedestrian. Look over your shoulder for turning traffic.

This particular ride was more stressful and took longer than normal rides in the street because I had to slow and stop at so many intersections. Although I passed no pedestrians, I passed a few bikes – a couple on the sidewalk and a couple in the street. Did I feel a little sheepish when I passed the street riders? Sure, but not sheepish enough to throw myself in a situation where I did not feel safe.

The problem is that the city traffic design completely disregards bikes at the most dangerous areas, such as crossing rivers and highways. (Read about this problem in more detail at Chicago Bike Blog, where the author eventually decides to take arterial street sidewalks for a particular route with her son). So for those who are passionately against sidewalk riding under any circumstances, I respect that, but don’t hate the player, hate the game.

SOURCE: Let’s Go Ride a Bike, 8/29/09

__________

*NOTES: New York State appears to be typical in that the Vehicle and Traffic Law 5 does not regulate sidewalk bicycling. It appears that the General Municipal Law (Section 180) 6 states that NY municipalities can regulate bike riding on sidewalks. They cannot require that bicyclists use a sidewalk instead of a public roadway, but they can impose limits to sidewalk bicycling. ALBANY CODE – § 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.