Albany Bicycle Coalition

This one comes from Mary Lou:

“Yesterday APD launched a Pedestrian Safety initiative. I’ve attached their press release. I don’t know if any TV stations picked it up yet, but the All Over Albany website posted something yesterday and there’s some interesting discussion. I think it will be important to have to ABC voices chiming in — and they may already be! Here’s a link to the “All Over Albany” piece: Red Light Stop“

We here at the Albany Bicycle Coalition support any push to make the roads safer for everyone weather they be bike, pedestrian, or yes even motorists. I think we can all agree that running red lights in Albany is a rampant blight on our ability to be safe on the roads. It has gotten to the point where when the light turns green I look both ways to see if there are any cars zooming by because the light was still orange.

Not being a native of Albany when I moved here a little over a year and a half ago I was appalled when I saw how people drove up here. Even my own friends, who I assumed were safe drivers, ran the lights. When questioned they said, “That’s how people drive up here.” When the wrong becomes the norm it is time for a change.

Written by Chris Belsole

Come one, come all to the (first?) Upper Madison Ave. Street Fair this Sunday where we will block off the street between N. Allen and W. Laurence to make room for the most fun you’ve had since the Reagan administration.

Come chat with us and lean about the multitude of things, blog posts to follow, that are happening at the Albany Bicycle Coalition. Next to ABC will be yours truly representing the Albany Bicycle Rescue (ABR) where we will doing minor repairs and giving tutorials on bike repair and safety.

“Silly Pet Tricks (register day of event)

Bouncy Bounce

Bicycle Rodeo (kids’ bike activity)

Albany Bike Tech (free minor bike repairs)

Let’s Drum, hands on fun activity

Vintage Car Display

$1 Massage

5-minute Mini Hairdo Makeover

Bike Polo with NEU Officers

On stage, enjoy the sights and sounds of the Guided Footsteps dance group, Annie and the Hedonists, the Landfill Mountain Boys, Golden Notes a capella group, swing dancers, and Emmaus African and Youth Choirs. Bring a lawn chair to set up in front of the stage.

There will be a host of shopping opportunities as artists, crafters, local farmers and food vendors display their wares. You can even come away a winner from 50-50 raffles and valuable prizes.

Call 518-438-5484 for latest information, including cancellation in case of rain and check Pine Hills NA http://pinehillsna.org and Steamer 10 www.steamer10theatre.org websites for program updates. Also, look for us on facebook (Pine Hills NA and Upper Madison).”

Written by Chris Belsole

I just received a call from on the Friends of the Mohawk-Hudson Bike-Hike Trail asking the conditions of the trail on the Albany side. Since they do most of their events on the Schenectady side I can completely relate. There are a lot of events going on with our neighbors to the north, but to get there I would have to ride fifteen miles. That plus the twenty plus miles I would have to ride after that does not a good ride make. Sadly I could not answer the call for information so I pose it to you.

How is our part of the bike trail doing? Is it good to ride on? I plan to ride it this Saturday so hopefully it is cleared up by then if not sooner. If you have any information you can post it here or on their facebook page.

Written by Chris Belsole