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Comrades- they’re on to us!

“Colorado Republican gubernatorial candidate Dan Maes knows you might think bicycles and bicycle riding are harmless, but beware: “That’s exactly the attitude they want you to have.”

The Denver Post reports that Maes, a Tea Party friendly candidate facing former Rep. Scott McInnis in the August 10 Republican primary, has come out against a public bicycle program run by the city of Denver. Denver’s mayor, John Hickenlooper, is the presumptive Democratic nominee, and a cycling supporter.

“This is all very well-disguised, but it will be exposed,” Maes said at a small campaign rally last week, according to the Post. “These aren’t just warm, fuzzy ideas from the mayor. These are very specific strategies that are dictated to us by this United Nations program that mayors have signed on to.”

http://tpmdc.talkingpointsmemo.com/2010/08/co-gov-goper-maes-hickenloopers-bike-love-is-a-un-plot.php?ref=fpblg

-Bill Collins

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River Meadow Crossing

Allen Kerkeslager helped me find an even better link to connect the RITtweenway with the Genesee Valley Greenway, and Jay Jackson pointed out that a bike ferry could be a way cool and relatively easy way to get the job done.   
 Here is the site we are talking about in google maps.  On the east side of the crossing, the land is reportedly owned by developers planning to create a pond and preserve in the big open areas, and on the west side some unused NYState owned property seems to be waiting for our new lease on life.
The crossing would connect  the “River Meadow Preserve” to an asphalted former water testing facility reportedly owned by New York State.  The landing would offer  near-perfect access to to the Genessee Valley Greenway either via Scottsville Rd and Brook Rd, or southwest by way of the road that exteds from right across the landing.
.  Here is the eastward looking view back to River Meadow Dr.

As for how the crossing would be implemented, one could imagine a bicycle/pedestrian bridge or even a small cable ferry (which could be designed and built by RIT faculty and students!)  
·      River Meadow Crossing 
  • would create new recreational options for local residents,  
  • would create a short and safe bike-commute to and from RIT and RIT’s new Global Village
  • would create a scenic and efficient 10 mile bike ride to downtown Rochester via RIT, Park Point and the Rochester Greenway.
  • would make us essential links in the emerging Rochester-Williamsport Greenway
  • would establish Henrietta, RIT, and Rochester as leaders in the  transition to more ecological, economical, and healthy  life styles. 
  • would enrich the community. 



The “Rochester Bicycle Ecology” is  a flagship project of RIT’s Center for Student Innovation (which I now direct.) 
●     We have been promoting the under-appreciated “Rochester Greenway” that connects Henrietta with Downtown Rochester by way of RIT and the Lehigh Valley North Trail.
●     We organized last October’s Rochester Cycling Summit , helped found the Rochester Cycling Alliance  and  helped put theRochester-Williamsport Greenway on the agenda for NY and PA planners. 
●     In less than a year, we’ve had significant impact, and this  summer we are working with the Rochester Cycling Alliance to stimulate and coordinate a  “Greater Rochester Active Transportation System“.
 
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U.S. Bicycle Route System – FAQs – Adventure Cycling Association

U.S. Bicycle Route System – FAQs – Adventure Cycling Association: “USBRS – Frequently Asked Questions
1. What is the U.S. Bicycle Route System?
2. What are the advantages of having a U.S. Bicycle Route?
3. Is there demand?
4. Who is funding this initiative?
5. Are there any existing routes?
6. How are routes decided upon?
7. Who oversees/maintains the U.S. Bicycle Route System?
8. What does designation mean?
9. What stipulations are there for developing U.S. Bicycle Routes?
10. What if the best route or an important connection is not on a road managed by the State Department of Transportation?
11. What is AASHTO?
12. What is the Adventure Cycling Association?

1. What is the U.S. Bicy”

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"Safe Passing" Law passes NYS Legislature

A bill that mandates cars to pass a bicyclist at a “safe distance” passed the Legislature yesterday:
http://www.democratandchronicle.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=2010100630006

Thanks to Richard, Harvey, and all the other NYS cyclist advocates that worked hard to get this bill passed! Hopefully the governor will sign, but it appeared to pass both houses with more than 2/3 vote, so an override shouldn’t be difficult, if it comes to that.

-Bill Collins

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"Safe Passing" Law passes NYS Legislature

A bill that mandates cars to pass a bicyclist at a “safe distance” passed the Legislature yesterday:
http://www.democratandchronicle.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=2010100630006

Thanks to Richard, Harvey, and all the other NYS cyclist advocates that worked hard to get this bill passed! Hopefully the governor will sign, but it appeared to pass both houses with more than 2/3 vote, so an override shouldn’t be difficult, if it comes to that.

-Bill Collins