Cycling

RCA Meeting Agenda

Date:  May 17, 2011
Time: 7:00 – 9p.m.
Location: U of R Georgen Hall Room 108

Map Link: http://www.rochester.edu/maps/ (River Campus)

Think Bicycling as Transportation

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Bike Week 5/20-27
Ride of Silence 5/18
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Next Meeting: June 21 at RIT

Check the RCA web site calendar for any last minute changes

Please RSVP Richard at rdscomm@rochester.rr.com if you plan to attend.

May 18, 2011
Meet: 6:30 p.m.
Start Time: 7:00 p.m. throughout North America
Start Location: Town of Penfield Highway Dept. on Jackson Road
Cyclists will ride in a slow, 10 mile silent procession to honor cyclists who have been killed or injured while cycling on public roads.
Ride of Silence is sponsored by the Rochester Bicycling Club. It is a North American event now in its seventh year.
The ride will be escorted by Karwowski Escort Service. The Monroe County Sheriff Zone A will be present at the start.
Contact:
Andrew R Stewart
mine48565@mypacks.net
585 729-7008 cell

APRIL 28, 2011   9-11 AM
West Capital Park, Albany
(next to the State Capitol Building)

NOTICE:
Each year the NYS Bike Summit brings together bicycle advocates, coalition partners and allies to gather in the State Capital.  We demonstrate that bicycling is important for human health, for the environment for our economy and our communities!  We want investments to enable people of all ages and skill levels to ride safely on the road.   We will recognize Bike Champions – legislators and others.   We will be calling for passage of the crucial “Complete Streets Bill”.  If it rains we will gather in The Well of the Legislative Office Building (across the street from West Capital Park).
Much more information about the NYS Bike Summit is available at  www.nybc.net including;

1. EVENT AGENDA
2. PRESS RELEASE
3. NYBC’s LEGISLATIVE PLATFORM

Contact Brian Kehoe    brian@nybc.net   518-436-0889

Rochester’s Bicycle Master Plan Project
The City of Rochester wants to make it easier for you to get around on your bicycle. The Bicycle Master Plan project was completed in January 2011. The plan’s recommendations will serve as a framework for the city’s future investment in bicycle infrastructure. Thank you to everyone who provided comments, attended public meetings, and got excited about bicycling in Rochester!
About the Project
The City developed a long-term master plan for bicycling infrastructure and services.
Sprinkle Consulting (with SRF & Associates and EDR as sub-consultants) was selected through a request for proposal process and produced a plan that:

• identified best practices for bicycling infrastructure and services,
• assessed their feasibility for local application,
• identified appropriate locations for bicycle facilities,
• and recommended bicycle-supportive policies.

While the City of Rochester and Monroe County received an “honorable mention” from the League of American Bicyclists’ “Bicycle Friendly Communities” program in 2009, the goal is to achieve full “Bicycle Friendly Community” status from the group.
http://www.cityofrochester.gov/article.aspx?id=8589943115

National Geography sponsored author Dan Buettner recently studied the happiest communities worldwide and profiled several of them in his book “Trive”. He looked at them with regard to an extensive study of economics, sociology and individual interviews with experts in the field as well as residents. He found that two of the four cities he profiled were very strong bicycling and walking communities. What cities did he find were the happiest? Copenhagen, despite their weather and long winters, and St. Luis Obispo. St. Luis Obispo has a strong culture of individual entrepreneurialism, and civic involvement. The were the first city in the US to ban smoking, and also banned food drive throughs, watch out Dunkin Donuts!

In the final section of the book he makes recommendations on how to make a happy community. Walking and biking trails and lanes are important parts of a happy healthy community. It is interesting reading and Check out his book “Thrive” for some insight on tips for creating more happiness in your life.
A brief article on St. Luis Obispo is noted below: Scott

http://www.kcet.org/updaily/socal_focus/transportation/madonna-inn-bike-path-30265.html

DenDekker Withdraws Statewide Bike Licensing Bill
March 3, 2011
Today, NYS bicyclists showed their rising political clout, and NYBC and its members were right there in the fight! Only a few days ago, New York State’s bicyclists first heard about a proposal to require that every bicycle in the State have a license.  This bill had many problems; in a time of severe fiscal constraint it would have added a costly layer of bureaucracy.  Also, contrary to its stated intent, the required licenses would have done nothing to stop bicycle theft.  Improving safety for bicyclists, motorists and other road users is more effectively achieved through education and investments in balanced infrastructure.
Today, the bill’s sponsor, Assemblyman Mike DenDekker, withdrew bill #A05429.  His statement about that mithdrawal can be found here:   http://www.streetsblog.org/2011/03/03/dendekker-withdraws-statewide-bike-license-bill/
NYBC staff and members made their objections to this bill loud and clear in emails and phone calls to DenDekker’s office.   Brian Kehoe, NYBC Program Manager, provided statements to a variety of media outlets describing how this bill would have discouraged people from bicycling and produced no benefits.   NYBC’s statement in opposition to the bill can be found at:   http://www.nybc.net/wp-content/uploads/NYBC-State-Legislative-Platform.pdf
Congratulations NYS bicyclists!

The City’s efforts to improve and develop new shared use walking and biking trails, especially along the Genesee River, include plans to convert

the abandoned historic Erie-Lackawanna Railroad Bridge over the Genesee River into a Rails-to-Trails pedestrian bridge.

About the Project

The converted Erie-Lackawanna Railroad Bridge over the Genesee River will connect the east and west bank Genesee Riverway Trails. The Genesee Riverway Trail is an urban multi-use trail adjacent to the Genesee River, used primarily by bicyclists, pedestrians, and cross-country skiers. This project will further the effort to connect the trail to various neighborhoods and business districts by linking the University of Rochester and Strong Memorial Hospital, the City’s largest employer, on the east bank with its westside neighbors.

Licensing Bicycles in New York State
If you are interested in reading this very short bill here is the link.
http://assembly.state.ny.us/leg/?default_fld=&bn=A05429%09%09&Summary=Y&Actions=Y&Votes=Y&Memo=Y&Text=Y
You will notice that it doesn’t provide for any real benefits to the cycling community.

Rochester Transportation meeting gets national attention, and Jon gets his picture taken!
http://blog.tstc.org/2011/02/23/the-public-speaks-at-federal-transportation-town-hall-in-rochester/
The meeting was also mentioned with an entry in “Streetsblog”, the national grassroots transpo blog:
http://streetsblog.net/2011/02/24/rochester-residents-left-out-of-transpo-bill-hearing-create-their-own/

While Rochester searches for its next mayor to take office and begin the arduous task of planning the City’s future, Reconnect Rochester is taking the issues to the candidates and the candidates to the people.

Mayoral Candidates Discuss Rochester’s Future

Tuesday, March 1, 2011 at 7:00pm

1000 University Ave. Rochester

Gleason Works Auditorium

Rochester Bike Week 2011 is coming soon!
If you are interested in participating, our next scheduled Volunteer meeting is at RIT’s Innovation Center (Google Map Directions)on Sunday, February 20th from 4pm – 5pm Please come to this meeting with a list of all the local bike shops, bike clubs, and local Rochester businesses you have connections with or are willing to reach out to. FYI: Your connections/list will be the foundation for our outreach campaign.
We look forward to seeing you at the next volunteer meeting!
RCA Bike Week 2011, Director

R Community Bikes Inc. (RCB) is a 501c3 charitable organization which provides refurbished bicycles to needy children and adults in our community.

This service is provided free of charge but RCB depends on the generosity of individuals who donate bikes.

If you have an old bike in your garage or basement please consider donating it to RCB.

Last year RCB provided 2,474 bikes to our brothers and sisters of Rochester.

For R Community Bikes to continue this ministry, more bikes are needed.

Visit www.rcommunitybikes.net, email to rcombikes@yahoo.com or call 865-9872 for more information.

Thank you.

Rochester Cycling Alliance Advocates…

If you missed the volunteer meeting last Sunday you still have an opportunity to find-out more and participate in 2011. The next meeting will be held on Monday, February 7th at 7pm – LOCATION: RIT Center for Student Innovation RM: 1100.

RIT Center for Student Innovation.

Google Map Directions available at: http://maps.google.com/maps/ms?ie=UTF8&hl=en&msa=0&msid=217907132599489201628.00046c64b3d338283858d&t=h&source=embed&ll=43.085564,-77.679884&spn=0.008259,0.022724&z=16&iwloc=00046c652a700dba32e55

In line with our objectives for the 2011 Bike Week our volunteer needs will follow three main tracks:

Meeting details below.

Bike Week 2011 planning is upon us once again! As the Rochester Bicycle Master Plan Project (http://www.cityofrochester.gov/bikeplan/) takes shape, the RCA is looking to grow Bike Week 2011 and build more community partners in an effort to put Rochester on the bicycle friendly map. We are currently recruiting volunteers for the following positions:

1. Bike Shop / Bike Club Ambassador (4 volunteers needed)

· (Duties) To make contact with all local bike shops and bike clubs to solicit the following: donations/sponsorships, ride and event support for Bike Week, and to secure distribution sites for Bike Week flyers.

2. Community Relations Ambassador (4 volunteers needed)

· (Duties) To identify and contact potential community and business partners that can benefit from helping Bike Week grow in their area. For example, Neighborhood Associations (NA) may be a good partner, due to their political influence and ability to disseminate information to their NA members. Once relationships are established we need to solicit the following: donations/sponsorships, ride and event support for Bike Week, and to secure distribution sites for Bike Week flyers.

3. Ride Leaders / Support (6 volunteers needed)

· (Duties) To lead and or support bicycle rides at their planned times. Make sure all participants are safe and accounted for. Leaders and support will also be responsible for maintaining an accurate sign-in sheet used for tracking and recording the number of participants on each ride, while also documenting the ride through photographs.

BIKE WEEK VOLUNTEER OBJECTIVES

Build Relationships

The Rochester Cycling Alliance is just that…an alliance of cyclists in Rochester. However, we cannot have a very strong alliance if we are not actively seeking and building support from the community of cyclists that live and work in Rochester. As volunteers connect with shops, clubs, businesses, and communities we want to inform our target communities about the RCA, Bike Week, and the Rochester Bicycle Master Plan Project, while providing multiple levels of involvement. The three volunteer positions listed above are very public positions and require volunteers that can leverage established relationships with our targeted communities or have the ability to develop the necessary relationships.

Secure Involvement, Donations and Sponsorships

Ambassadors will be supplied with our 2011 Bike Week Donation/Sponsorship letter to deliver to each potential bike week partner. The letter will detail how shops, clubs, businesses, and communities can participate at various levels and even financially or through in-kind donations (time or product). The letter should be delivered in person, rather than mailed, in order to help establish a face-to-face relationship with the potential partner. Our goal is not to make money with this effort, but to solicit involvement and funds to help cover the 2011 Bike Week event expenses. As the RCA develops into a 501c3 (non-profit entity) this year, we will be able to receive and appropriate tax deductible donations from contributing partners.

We look forward to seeing you at the Volunteers meeting! Please feel free to email me with any questions.

Thanks!

Jason Hammel

jasonjhammel@gmail.com

RCA Bike Week 2011, Director

It may only be January, but the Rochester Cycling Alliance is already thinking ahead to Bike Week 2011, May 20-27. We want to build on the successes of last year’s Bike Week by expanding the event and bringing in more community partners to get the message out that bikes belong on Rochester’s streets.

But we can’t do it alone! We have several volunteer positions that need to be filled to make sure that Bike Week 2011 is a success. We’re holding a volunteer meeting this Sunday at 7 pm for anyone interested in helping out. Join us at the RIT Center for Student Innovation (map) to find out how you can help.

In line with our objectives for the 2011 Bike Week our volunteer needs will follow three main tracks:

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