Tag Archives: complete streets

by | January 10, 2015 · 1:59 pm

Rally for Albany’s South End Bikeway Link – Urgency and Benefits

Rally For Albany’s South End Bikeway Link  – Urgency and Benefits

  1. Wednesday, January 21, 2015
  2. 6:00 to 8:00 pm
  3. Albany Public Library – Main Branch
  4. 161 Washington Ave.
  5. Parking lot in rear of library on Elk Street and on the street (street meters go “off” at 6 PM).

Join other stakeholders to discuss the recreational and economic benefits “the link” offers to connect local residents and neighboring communities. Together, our voices can be heard to build a safer path to the Hudson River/downtown Albany.??????????????????????

Advocates and stakeholders will meet on Wednesday, January 21, 2015, 6-8 pm, Albany Public Library Main Branch, Auditorium, 161 Washington Ave., Albany.

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By mid October, the 128-year-old Albany Susquehanna coal hauling rail line re-opens as a multi-use path for people on bicycles, walking, or running. It will stretch 9.3 scenic miles from Albany’s Port at Rt. 32/South Pearl St through Delmar to the Village of Voorheesville. While from Western New York, the 360-mile Erie Canalway/Mohawk-Hudson Bike Hike Trail abruptly stops at Albany’s waterfront Corning Preserve. Between the trails lay a 1.5-mile gap — one that forces cyclists onto rushing car commuters on Route 32 and neighborhood streets that are lacking any facilities for people on bicycles except for a few shared lane markings on S. Pearl St.

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by | October 13, 2014 · 5:09 pm

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.???????????????????????????????

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by | October 8, 2014 · 3:00 pm

Pop-Up Protected Bicycle Lanes ~ A “Parking Day” Wonder

The UA Graduate Planning Student Association (GPSA) hosted 2-way Protected Bicycle Lanes as its contribution to Parking Day in the City of Albany. This was an impressive demonstration and a model for what we plan for Madison Avenue Traffic Calming.??????????????????????????????? ???????????????????????????????

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by | April 19, 2014 · 2:07 pm

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. Bread & Honey 4-18-14 COMPThe 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.

Gimme Coffee rectangle 4-19-14 COMPAs 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.

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by | August 16, 2013 · 3:27 pm

Madison Ave. Traffic Calming & NYS DOT Transportation Enhancement

The Albany Bicycle Coalition provided a letter of support for the City of Albany’s application for NYS DOT Transportation Enhancement Program funds to assist with the “Madison Avenue Road Diet.” The letter follows:Cycling - Madison 8-16-13 COMP

August 16, 2013

Ms. Joan McDonald
Commissioner
New York State Department of Transportation
50 Wolf Road
Albany, New York 12205

Dear Ms. McDonald:

The Albany Bicycle Coalition unequivocally supports the Madison Ave. Road Diet application for the Transportation Enhancements Program. This will allow for restriping, traffic light retiming, paving, and constructing cycling and walking enhancements. The Madison Ave. Road Diet consistently has had strong community interest. With completion of the feasibility study and with appropriate funding, the City and the community are prepared to move forward with a new, calmed Madison Ave.

The City of Albany completed a Bicycle Master Plan in December 2009. It identified Madison Ave. as a “Major Bikeway” needing infrastructure improvements for all bicycle riders. With its current configuration of two travel lanes in each direction, the existing roadway simply cannot function as a major bikeway.

The proponents of the plan believe a road diet will have multiple advantages, included but not limited to increased safety for all, more efficient traffic flow, improved access between uptown and downtown, and reduction in emissions from motorized vehicles.

We strongly support the Madison Ave. Road Diet application for the Transportation Enhancements Program to assist with the restriping, light retiming, paving, and bicycle and pedestrian enhancements.
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