5th Annual Albany Bike EXPO 2015
Sunday, May 3
- 10 AM – 4 PM
- Raffles and Prizes – Vendors – Entertainment
- Lakehouse – Washington Park – Albany
- Free Event
Tag Archives: advocacy
5th Annual Albany Bike EXPO 2015
Upper Madison Street Fair and Protected Bicycle Lanes – Winners!
Staff from the Albany Bicycle Coalition was on duty at this year’s Upper Madison Street Fair (9/21) with a special mission – to educate the public on how Protected Bicycle Lanes can be integrated into the Madison Ave. streetscape.
Using a 1:87 scale model and an accompanying handout, ABCers were able to show how removing two of the current travel lanes for people in cars provides room for a 2-way protected cycle track on the north (Washington Park, College of St. Rose) side of the street. 
This 3-lane configuration – a downtown motor vehicle lane, and uptown lane, and a left turn/emergency lane seems to have gained universal acceptance. The issue of accommodation for people on bicycles seems to have settled on the 2-way Protected Bicycle Lane model with parked cars providing a physical barrier between the bicycle lanes and people traveling in cars.
In the re-design, there will still be motor vehicle parking on both sides of Madison Ave. and travel lanes that are the same width as currently. The bicycle lanes will each be 4.5’ wide with a 3’ painted buffer separating them from the parked cars. Incidences of “dooring” will decrease or disappear. The protection afforded by a row of parked cars will entice hesitant riders to use Madison Ave. as their “go-to” cycling route.
Find our more at the Madison Avenue Traffic Calming Facebook page.
Filed under protected bicycle lanes
Advocacy Day in Albany – August 22
Midmorning, Mayor Sheehan and other dignitaries introduced CarShare in Albany in front of City Hall. 
The CarShare staff presented the Mayor with an honorary key fob device that allowed her to try out on of the six cars currently available. In her comments, Mayor Sheehan cited the advent if CarShare as one example of “ . . . the beginning of a transformation to a livable, walkable, bikeable Albany. To find out if CarShare is for you, go to Capital Car Share. 
Under an ever-increasing rainfall, staff from Parks & Trails New York delivered hundreds of postcards from supporters of PTNY’s “Close the Gap” program. Cards came from riders of this year’s Erie Canalway Trail ride who came from NYS, other states, and several foreign countries. 
These were augmented by cards from the public – all calling for New York State to complete the entire trail by “closing the gaps” – the 80 some miles that currently are on roads and highways. The wisdom of completing the trail is justified on several levels not the least of which is the economic benefit to communities along the trail
Photos: Mayor Sheehan Tries CarShare, A nice new, red CarShare Ride, Close That Gap!
Filed under Article
Bread & Honey and Traffic Calming Too
The new Bread and Honey bagel, bread, and coffee shop at 809 Madison Ave. hosted a recent meeting on Madison Avenue Traffic Calming. 
The proprietor, Naomi, having had a near-death experience in the “Bermuda Triangle” (intersection of Quail and Madison Ave.), was very interested in the proposed re-do of Madison Ave.
This is an expected response from small business owners who can only benefit from slower traffic, more bicycles, and more pedestrians. Her interest was amplified by having been one of many with a bad Madison Ave. experience.
A delicious Bread and Honey bagel and coffee suggests that there will be many more visits. One authoritative member of the group also attested to the baguettes’ deliciousness.
The staff says that a bicycle rack is in the plans (a convenient fence is just east of the shop) and that a shop sign will be installed soon.
As a bonus, Bread and Honey is the exclusive local vendor for Gimme! coffee, a roaster and wholesaler with retail outlets in Ithaca, Brooklyn, Trumansburg, and Manhattan – and now Albany. Here’s a little promo from their website: “Gimme! espresso bars are found in New York City and Upstate New York. We served our first shot of “world-class neighborhood coffee to go” in 2000 at our Cayuga Street [Ithaca] location. Since then, we’ve opened a few small cafes, usually favoring worn spaces that call for a little revitalization. Each place feels “like a Gimme!” while showing its own local style. We’ve been amazed and inspired by how neighborhoods come alive and people come together when there’s a new gathering place on the block.”
Bread and Honey is just west of Quail St. on the north side of Madison so stop in a support your local business.
Filed under Activism, Feature, Support the Cause
COMPLETE STREETS – Albany Passes Ordinance – June 3, 2013
AN ORDINANCE AMENDING
CHAPTER 323 – STREETS & SIDEWALKS, NEW ARTICLE VI IN – COMPLETE STREETS
Passed: June 3, 2013
Council Members Golby, Calsolaro, Conti, Fahey, Konev, O’Brien, and Sano introduced the following, which was approved:
Ordinance Number 2.11.13 (As amended) – An Ordinance Amending Chapter 323 (Streets And Sidewalks) of the Code of the City of Albany by Repealing Article VI (Street Improvements) in Its Entirety and Replacing it with a New Article VI in Relation to Complete Streets
The City of Albany, in Common Council convened, does hereby ordain and enact:
Section 1. Article VI of Chapter 323 of the Code of the City of Albany is hereby repealed in its entirety.
Section 2. Chapter 323 of the Code of the City of Albany is amended by adding new Article VI to be entitled “Complete Streets.”
Section 323-88. Legislative Findings – The City of Albany Common Council finds that the mobility of freight and passengers and the safety, convenience, and comfort of motorists, cyclists, pedestrians – including people requiring mobility aids, transit riders, and neighborhood residents of all ages and abilities should all be considered when planning and designing Albany’s streets. Integrating sidewalks, bike facilities, transit amenities, and safe crossings into the initial design of street projects avoids the expense of retrofits later. Streets are a critical component of public space and play a major role in establishing the image and identity of a City. By encouraging good planning, more citizens will achieve the health benefits associated with active forms of transportation while traffic congestion and auto related air pollution will be reduced. The goal of this law is to improve the access and mobility for all users of streets in the community by improving safety through reducing conflict and encouraging non-motorized transportation and transit.
Section 323-89. Complete Street Design.
A. For all street construction, reconstruction, or resurfacing projects (as per Section C(2)) that are undertaken by the City and not covered under the New York State Complete Streets Law contained in Section 331 of the Highway Law, the department planning such project shall consider the convenient access and mobility on the street by all users of all ages, including motorists, pedestrians, bicyclists, and public transportation users through the use of complete street design features in the planning, design, construction, reconstruction and resurfacing, but not including maintenance or emergency projects.
B. Complete street design features are roadway design features that accommodate and facilitate convenient access and mobility by all users, including current and projected users, particularly pedestrians, bicyclists and individuals of all ages and abilities. These features may include, but need not be limited to: sidewalks, paved shoulders suitable for use by bicyclists, lane striping, bicycle lanes and improved bicycle parking and storage, share the road signage, street and sidewalk lighting, crosswalks or median refuges, road diets, pedestrian control signalization, bus pull outs and improved pedestrian access to bus stops, curb cuts, raised crosswalks and ramps and traffic calming measures; and recognize that the needs of users of the road network vary.
C. This section shall not apply if it has been determined and set forth in publicly available documents that one of the following exists:
(1) use by bicyclists and pedestrians is prohibited by law, such as within interstate highway corridors; or
(2) the cost would be disproportionate to the need as determined by factors including, but not limited to, the following: land use context; current and projected traffic volumes; and population density; or
(3) demonstrated lack of need as determined by factors, including, but not limited to, land use, current and projected traffic volumes, including population density, or demonstrates lack of community support; or
(4) use of the design features would have an adverse impact on, or be contrary to, public safety.
Section 323-90. Development of guidelines; Reporting requirements.
A. Guidelines will be developed by the Department of General Services, Division of Traffic Engineering, and the Division of Planning with stakeholder input and shall include street typologies, design guidance, and implementation.
B. No later than two years after the final adoption of Complete Streets Guidelines and biennially thereafter, the Department of General Services shall publish a report showing how it has complied with this Article and improvements made to the roadways of the City.
Section 3. This ordinance shall take effect January 1, 2014.
APPROVED AS TO FORM
December 28, 2012
_____________________
Deputy Corporation Counsel
TO: Nala Woodard, City Clerk
FROM: Leah Golby, Council Member
RE: Request for Common Council Legislation Supporting Memorandum
DATE: June 3, 2013
ORDINANCE NUMBER 2.11.13
TITLE: AN ORDINANCE AMENDING CHAPTER 323 (STREETS AND SIDEWALKS) OF THE CODE OF THE CITY OF ALBANY BY REPEALING ARTICLE VI (STREET IMPROVEMENTS) IN ITS ENTIRETY AND REPLACING IT WITH A NEW ARTICLE VI IN RELATION TO COMPLETE STREETS
GENERAL PURPOSE OF LEGISLATION: This ordinance adopts a “Complete Streets” program for the City of Albany requiring that roadwork be planned to consider all users of City streets and not just automobiles. It is consistent with Albany 2030, the City’s Comprehensive Plan which references “Complete Streets.”
NECESSITY FOR LEGISLATION AND ANY CHANGE TO EXISTING LAW: This legislation insures that complete street design principles are utilized throughout our City. In 2011, Governor Cuomo signed similar legislation that applies to all City projects that are funded with state and federal dollars. This legislation expands the New York State law to cover all road projects of the City.
FISCAL IMPACT: Dependent upon the number of street projects and necessary improvements.
Filed under Activism, City Review
Albany Bicycle Coalition 