Tag Archives: advocacy

by Lorenz M. Worden | November 2, 2015 · 1:05 pm

Dress Sharp to Be Sharp

ABC T in Classic Colors

Dress sharp to be sharp – wear the “ABC colors.”

You can now order Albany Bicycle Coalition apparel through our new online store. Simply go to https://albanybicyclecoalition.com/ , click on “ON-LINE ABC STORE,” and select and order the items you want. We currently are offering men’s and women’s long- and short-sleeved T-shirts in various sizes and colors. All products are emblazoned with ABC’s logo that is recognized around the world.

All products are locally sourced and reasonably priced. A portion of the revenue will help fund ABC’s advocacy projects.

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Tagged as advocacy

by Lorenz M. Worden | October 14, 2015 · 11:44 am

Parking Day in the City of Albany ~ PBLs Forever!

Green Lane in Albany – Fri, 9/18/15, 11 AM – 4 PM

The Protected Bicycle Lane Coalition and Albany Bicycle Coalition coordinated on a Protected Bicycle Lanes demonstration project as part of “Parking Day” in the City of Albany. Our exhibit was coordinated with Parks & Trails New York that had a campsite set up just at the end of the PBL green lane. This suggests that acceptable in-city facilities for people on bicycles will enhance there access to parks and trails that surround our urban areas. PTNY was also promoting its “Close the Gaps” initiative to have all on-road portions of the Erie Canalway Trail replace by trails for by the time of the bicentennial of the beginning of Erie Canal construction – July 4, 2017.

“Parking Day” is to illustrate alternative uses for street space – uses other than as a tax-subsidized, frequently free place for people to store their motor vehicles.

The Details:

Thanks to Jim’s inventive genius and Rossana’s artistry with sidewalk chalk, ABC+PBLC had a credible full-scale Protected Bicycle Lane demonstration project on Washington Ave. on Parking Day, 9/18/15.

From 11 AM until around 3:30 PM, Claire, Jim, and Rossana were on duty to greet the visitors and explain how PBLs “work.” We were impressed with the number of positive comments – “way to go,” “I agree with this,” “good idea,” “when are we going to have these in Albany,” and so on from the many passersby.

We also noted several questions about the new Albany County Helderberg-Hudson Rail Trail and how it will be accessed from Delmar, Voorheesville, and Albany.

Photos Below –

Official schedule:

Friday
September 18
Event: 11 am – 4 pm

#1 – Jim demonstrating his “Mark I – Corn Starch Lane Builder.” We experimented with different exit hole sizes in the trough. Several passes were need followed by a gentle brooming to get the material spread evenly and into the surface depressions.

Mark I – Corn Starch Lane Builder

#2 – The full lane covering three parking spaces of about 20 ft each.

5-ft lane with buffer

#3 – Rossana tries out the PBL – so secure that she felt no need for a helmet. Note entryway. The lane is “NATCO-regulation” 5 ft wide with a 3 ft buffer consisting of paint (chalk) and PVC delimiters. (As a result, we are just outside the 7 ft. Albany standard parking lane.

Trail Run!

#4 – After a relaxed, safe ride, Rossana arrives at her camping place, courtesy of Parks & Trails New York and just in time for the ever-vigilant Time Warner Cable News reporter to record this first-time event in Albany.

Safe Arrival at Camp

Close the Gaps Ride

Close the Gaps Ride – The Bike Barn Cycles and Parks & Trails New York collaborated on a “Close the Gaps” ride on 9/22/15. PTNY runs the annual Cycle the Erie Canal bike tour and advocates for finishing the 360-mile Erie Canalway Trail from Buffalo to Albany. The trail is 78 percent complete as an off-road trail. There are still critical sections that need to be closed – including Broadway in Watervliet. When the gaps are finished, the Erie Canalway Trail will be the longest of its kind in the country – with safe, enjoyable bicycling and hiking from one side of New York to the other.

Parks & Trails have collected postcards from trail riders over the past year asking the Governor and other decision makers to Close the Gaps. They plan to drop them off at the Capitol after the ride. They’ll have cards at the start for you to sign one and plan to take a group photo at the pedestrian bridge in Albany.

PTNY also provided snacks at the pedestrian bridge. Be sure to check out those Bike Barn riding shirts.

OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA

Riding In Albany – 1st Friday

Brick’s Barber Shop

Pushin’ PBLs with Mirim Going to Portland ME

Cruisn’

Through the Park

Mom

On Patrol

Great Day

Safer on the Sidewalk

Back pack

Cruising in the Park

Sidewalk Rider

Nice Day

Secured at Healthy on Lark

Too Young for the Street?

Dad

As Ye Sow, So Shall Ye Reap

The Albany Times Union delivered a frequently heard complaint about the behavior of people on bicycles with respect to “rules of the road” (or, put more simply, using common courtesy and common sense).

In a Letter to the Editor that seems supportive of cyclists’ concerns and of redesigning roads with their safety in mind, the author calls out cyclists for ignoring the traffic law

The next time you are riding in the presence of people in cars or on foot, why not stop for the red lights and stop signs, ride on the right with traffic and the correct direction on one-way streets, and use your bright cloths, lights and hand signals?

If we expect those with no interest in riding a bicycle to be supportive of proper facilities for people on bicycles, we need to be good ambassadors for the cause.

++++++TEXT OF LETTERS TO THE EDITOR ++++++

Cyclists Must Also Obey Traffic Laws

Letters to the editor – September 2, 2015

I’m sorry that Benjamin Wells and his brother “don’t feel safe biking around Albany” (Aug.18 and I can understand the position of the advocates for dedicated bicycle lanes on Madison Avenue. However, I would like to remind bicyclists that they are supposed to follow the rules of the road.

We have seen many bicyclists fail to stop for stop signs and red lights. Others don’t use hand signals and therefore make unexpected turns. Although it is contrary to the law in New York, as we were driving on Sand Creek Road on Aug. 24, a man was riding his bicycle facing traffic, instead of with the flow of traffic.

I hope that if bicycle lanes are constructed on Madison Avenue or elsewhere, bicyclists who are using them understand that they, too, must take responsibility for their personal safety by obeying the traffic laws.

Judy Madnick, Albany

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Tagged as advocacy, City Review