Central Connecticut Bicycle Alliance

What is it? - On Wednesday, March 13, the Bicycle Commuter Act was re-introduced into both the House and Senate. The bills seek to amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to extend the transportation fringe benefit to bicycle commuters.

How can I help? - Send a letter supporting the bicycle commuter language to your congressional delegates using this handy web page by the League of American Bicyclists! - LINK 

What's in the Bill? - Section 10 of the General Transportation Bill states: "...five million dollars for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2008, and five million dollars for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2009. (b) The proceeds of the sale of said bonds, to the extent of the amount stated in subsection (a) of this section, shall be used by the Department of Environmental Protection for the purpose of establishing a Connecticut Bikeway grant program for municipal grants. For the purposes of this section, "bikeway" means any road, street, path or way which is specifically designated for bicycle travel, even if such road, street, path or way is shared with other modes of transportation. (c) Such grants shall be used for planning, design, land acquisition, construction, construction administration and promotional materials for new bike trails."  

More info - Link to the full bill text - TEXT LINK. 

Why is this important? - This portion of the transportation bill earmarks state money directly for the multi-use paths and on-road bike lanes in both 2008 & 2009. This is something that hasn't been done before in Connecticut and will help fund much needed projects critical for bike friendly commuting and recreation. This funding would also be important momentum in closing the Connecticut gaps in the East Coast Greenway!  This funding fits perfectly with the CT DEP's "No Child Left Inside" program.

What can you do? -  Contact you legislator in the Connecticut's House or Senate. Ask that they support Bill 6366, Section 10! Find your legislators by town - LINK.   You could also contact Governor Rell and let her know how important this bill is to multi-modal transportation and environmentally friendly recreation.

Comments or Suggestions? -  You can also supply that input on the bill to representative David McCluskey.  Representative McCluskey is responsible for the incorporation of this language into the general Transportation Bill.\

What is it? - "Rescission" is a federal budgetary term that refers to the cancellation, in whole or in part, of budget authority previously granted by Congress. Essentially each state is required to “give back” a certain amount of unspent money on a proportional basis.  Transportation Enhancements (TE) are a major source of funding for bicycle facilities and programs in cities and communities across your State. Since 1991, the program has helped to fund bike lanes and trails for bicyclists, bike racks on buses, and bike education programs.  Many states chose to do this by drastically cutting their TE programs.  Your action is needed by April 15th!

How can I help? - Send a letter to Governor Rell urging not to unfairly target bicycle related project with rescissions.   Easy to do when you use this handy web page by the League of American Bicyclists! - LINK 

Background – Don’t forget to e-mail your comments to the DECD agency!  This advocacy effort concerns the traffic planning at Roberts St./Silver Lane intersection, I-84 Roberts St. ramp and Route 2 ramps at High and Willow Sts. to facilitate 5.7 million sq.ft. of mixed use development at Rentschler Field in East Hartford.   All of these improvements and planned new roadways could benefit from a dose of smart planning for multi-modal (including cyclist and pedestrian considerations) traffic patterns and road designs.  This plan also addresses the extension of the Charter Oak Greenway.

Link to DECD Roadway Improvements Study - LINK 

How can I make a difference? – Make some noise!  Ask about bicycle and pedestrian considerations.  Email your comments on these proposed “improvements” to the planning agency that wrote the report – the DECD.  Cyclist and pedestrian advocate support at the Public Info Session will be invaluable.  Spread the word!

Public Info Session / Nov 9th Results – Great first steps! Four of the six speakers at this session spoke about bike / ped issues!  The Hartford Courant published an article about the bicycle comments - Bicyclists Hope To Preserve Access.

Email your comments to the DECD - peter.simmons@po.state.ct.us

What's the message? - Start with the CCBA Statement - Link to CCBA Statement

Background - The CT DOT and the DOT's Bicycle & Pedestrian Advisory Committee are going to update the state's outdated bicycle map.  They are looking for your ideas and the CCBA is going to gather them up and make an official recommendation.

Here is a link to the existing bike map - LINK

Send your comments to Martha Page, Advocacy Committee Co-Chair.

Let the DOT know that you need a bike / pedestrian crossing on the Putnam Bridge!  This bridge is slated for resurfacing in 2007 and a full deck replacement in 2009-2011.  At this time the DOT is not planning on including a bike / ped crossing.

Contact the DOT Bridge Design @ Timothy.Fields@po.state.ct.us.

Here is the recommendation that the CCBA sent to the DOT - LINK

What: The Trust for Public Land is held a meeting to collect citizen input on preservation and responsible use of the Connecticut River watershed. The CCBA advocates the development of a multi-use path along the river from Enfield to Saybrook.  The CCBA discussed the value of multi-use path for environmentally friendly transportation and recreation.

How: You can contact the Trust for Public Land and let them know you would utilize and value a multi-use path.  If a particular portion of multi-use path along the river corridor is especially important to you, let them know!

Plus: A bike / ped crossing at the Rt. 3 Putnam Bridge could serve as a key crossing for this envisioned multi-use path.   Contact the DOT and let them know that this crossing is critical to multi-modal transportation in Central Connecticut.

Issue: The Hartford-New Britain Busway and several train related items are associated with the submitted "Transportation Strategy."  Bike advocates should be pushing the DOT on bike racks on buses and dedicated bike space on trains.  The revised strategy is required to be submitted to Governor and General Assembly not later than January 1, 2007.

What to do: E-mail the TSB with your comments on bike accommodations on buses and trains.  While your at it, you might ask how bike and pedestrian modes of transportation are captured in the state's transportation strategy.

Contacting the TSB: Robert Hammersly, Phone - (860) 594-2073

Issue: The DOT is buying oodles (300+) of new train cars for the Metro-North Railroad's New Haven line and the state Department of Transportation's Shore Line East corridor.   NONE of the cars have dedicated space for bicycles.  Including bicycle parking in the final design of the rail cars is a cost-effective investment in our multi-modal public transportation system.  

What to do: CCBA members and CT bicycle advocates should tell the DOT what they think about Bikes on Trains.

More Info: Link to a very thorough article AND Contact Information for the CT DOT

What: The CCBA would like to have at least one cyclist representative at each large employer in the region. 

Why: The cyclist representative will work with us to try to get CCBA & Bike to Work info onto intranet and other internal corporate communications, will help CCBA communicate with health and wellness staff within the organization, and in general, will help give bike to work a point of contact at the company. The goal will be to help every Central CT employer to become more bike friendly. 

Contact: Interested? Send an email to Sandy Fry.

What: A relaxed, fun, downtown bicycle amble with some bike advocacy flavor.  This isn't a CCBA event, but it sure is fun.  Please follow the "Rules of the Road" and be a good ambassador for cyclists.

When & Where: Last Friday of every month, 6PM, meet at the Bushnell Carousel in downtown Hartford.

The CCBA recently presented its endorsement of the Act Concerning An Appropriation For The East Coast Greenway at the February 2nd Legislative Public Hearing in Hartford.  CCBA Endorsement - LINK.

Bus Drivers & Bicyclists - This communication was provided to CT Transit to help educate bus drivers on their rights and responsibilities with regards to bicycle commuters - CT Transit Educational Communication.

Bikes on Buses Update: Aside from this small step, it will be a while before bike racks are on buses in the Hartford Area.  Last word from the DOT was that it would be another year and a half to two years before bike racks were installed here.  The reasoning was that they were waiting for the next order of "new" buses to include bike racks.  Not sure what the logic was, but that's what the DOT said.  If you don't agree and want to help push - Contact the DOT.

Ever Thought "I really wish my town was more bicycle friendly" - Well, Glastonbury cyclists are doing something about it.  A group of concerned cyclists and bike commuters have been working with the town government to put together a plan that will guide Glastonbury in years to come.   You can do this in your city or town! Ask the CCBA how. - Link to Glastonbury Plan

CCBA Educational Communication for CT Transit Bus Drivers - This one sheet educational flyer on driver responsibilities with regards to bicyclists was presented to CT Transit and forwarded to bus drivers in a monthly safety communication.  If you have a bad experience with a CT Transit bus, don't hesitate to report it (CT Transit Website).

No Child Left Inside - CTDEP Initiative endorsed by the CCBA

Planned Hartford to New Britain Busway

CCBA Public Safety Committee Introduction - This is the one page CCBA introduction that was presented at the Public Safety Committee meeting on September 13th, 2005.  This will be provided by CRCOG for the attendees to read.  The plan is to get invited to actually present at the December meeting and begin working directly with communities to address cyclist safety on the roads.

Simsbury Rail Trail Status

A thorough study and collection of crime data with regard to multi-use paths.  

"The research that has been conducted, along with anecdotal evidence, suggests that converting an abandoned rail corridor to a trail actually tends to reduce crime by cleaning up the landscape and attracting people who use the trail for recreation and transportation." 

There are oodles of other resources on our Links Page.

What: Late notice, but don't miss it!  The DOT is holding public information sessions on the statewide SAFETEA plan. 

SAFETEA-LU?  What is that? - SAFETEA-LU reaffirms the Federal government’s commitment to make America a safer, healthier nation through broad funding eligibility for bicycling and walking projects.  More about SAFETEA and how it affects bicyclists - LINK

When / Where? - Leaving Elizabeth Park Pond House Restaurant at 7PM - MAP

What else can you do? - If you personally know a cyclist that was killed, you can post their memorial on www.rideofsilence.org.  The real solution is public roadways that accommodate all forms of transportation - become a member and / or volunteer with the CCBA Advocacy Committee and help make this ride unnecessary.