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Lilac Festival Bike Valet

Heading to the Lilac Festival this weekend? R Community Bikes is providing a Bike Valet service for festivalgoers at Mindful Body Pilates & Yoga – just $2!

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RCA Meeting Agenda

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

Sign in
Welcome and Introductions
Standing Committee Reports:
Communications
Events & Rides
Advocacy
Education
Public Meetings Reports:
City- 5/16 University Ave
Special Projects:
Symposium 4/27 –
Interest forms on SanDisk

Announcements:
Bike Week 5/20-27
Ride of Silence 5/18
We have a checking a/c
New Business:
Next Steps:
Symposium – All
Greentopia 9/17 & 18 (Bridges Ride) – ?
Wegmans East Ave Store Passport – Richard
501(c) (3) filing – Richard
Join LAB – Richard
Guest Speaker:

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.

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Ride of Silence

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

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Rochester Bike Week needs your help!

Rochester Cycling Alliance is promoting another Rochester Bike Week May 20th – May 27th with the theme “A Community in Motion.” This year we are advocating for the Rochester Cycling Community at large to develop and promote their own events during Bike Week.
If you are interested, click on this link (CLICK HERE) and fill out the form. Once the form has been completed and reviewed we will contact you for any further details and then post your event on our website.
PLEASE NOTE: each ride organizer will be solely responsible for his/her event, including the development and logistics of the event to be listed below. Rochester Cycling Alliance (RCA) does not assume any responsibility for the event you decide to organize. RCA will not post any events that are not geared toward making Rochester a bicycle friendly city.
For any questions regarding Bike Week please email: BikeWeek@rochestercyclingalliance.org.
Thank you for getting involved!

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THIS WEDNESDAY: the First Greater Rochester Active Transportation Symposium

Walk, Bike, Smile, Thrive
Jon Schull
Scott Macrae
Walking and biking is good for your health, good for your state of mind, good for Rochester.    And its about to get better.
Less than a year after the newly-formed Rochester Cycling Alliance began advocating for comprehensive bike-friendly planning and development, the City of Rochester has developed and released a Bicycle Master Plan that will encourage better bike lanes, neighborhood greenways, and urban trails, and stimulate similar developments in neighboring municipalities.  The Town of Brighton has just received a planning grant from the federally-funded Genesee Transportation  Council to develop a plan for bikeable and walkable connections between the University of Rochester, RIT, MCC, and downtown Rochester. 
And on April 27, forward thinking planners, leaders, and citizens will come together for the firstGreater Rochester Active Transportation Symposium , to celebrate a rich set of geographical and demographic assets, ripe for integration.  
The Greater Rochester Active Transportation Symposium  will feature national leaders who will report on how active transportation planning in cities like Madison Wisconsin, and Minneapolis Minnesota has made roads safer, expanded transportation options, and increased community liveability and attractiveness, especially for young people critical for regional vitality and growth. 
The April 27 Greater Rochester Active Transportation Symposium  will also include over 13 workshops, rides and fun events designed to help citizens and local leaders adapt these lessons to our own city.  
Consider the facts.  The average Rochester family spends 19% of its income on transportation–about $8,000 a year.  Yet over half of our trips are 5 miles in duration or less–perfect for biking.   If even a fraction of our car commutes became bike commutes, effective family incomes could increase by thousands of dollars, and most of those dollars (hundreds of millions of dollars!) would circulate in Rochester’s economy, rather than Saudi Arabia’s.   And by the way, mental alertness and fitness would increase along with life expectancies and productivity (cyclists live 2 years longer on average and lose 15% fewer days off work due to illness).   
Rochester’s leaders  and planners are attending the symposium because they are ready, willing, and able to listen and respond to forward-looking cyclists and community builders.   But they need to know that the community supports and understands the incredible potential of active transportation planning for Rochesterian cyclists and non-cyclists alike. 
So here’s what you can do to help make this vision a reality.  
·      Understand it.   Attractive bikeways and walkways create and preserve thriving communities populated by energetic and forward thinking citizens.    Energetic and forward thinking citizens create and sustain livable cities with rich transportation options, less obesity and heart disease, lower carbon footprints, less dependence on foreign oil.  (Its not rocket science.  Its better.)
·      Know that realizing this vision need not be expensive.  Portland Oregon’s entire cycling infrastructure was built for less than the cost of a single mile of urban expressway (and Portland now saves twenty times that much money per year in miles not driven).   
·      Ask for it.  While the health benefits of cycling outweigh the safety risks 20 to 1, those benefits today go to those  who are willing to brave roadways that are often scary and unappealing.  Ask for better walkways and bikeways.  
·      Join us at the Greater Rochester Active Transportation Symposium Wednesday, April 27th  and help us marry an emerging global vision with emerging local opportunities 
·      Vote with your feet.  Bike more, walk more, smile more. You’ll feel better, and you’ll help the community thrive.
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NYS Bike Summit


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

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Celebrate Earth Day with Reconnect Rochester and the Sierra Club

13th Annual Environmental Forum, Sustainable Production: Rochester’s Cutting EdgeThis Thursday evening Reconnect Rochester will be at the Sierra Club’s 13th Annual Environmental Forum, “Sustainable Production: Rochester’s Cutting Edge”. Come out and see us at our table and hear two nationally recognized leaders on sustainable production and manufacturing. Happy Earth Day!

Read more

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U.S. Congressional Transportation Tour Coming to Rochester

House Transportation & Infrastructure Committee Chair John Mica will visit Rochester and Cortland on Thursday as part of the field hearings and listening sessionsexternal link being held around the country by the Committee on the next federal transportation bill.

While the hearings are open to the public, testimony is via invitation only. Members of the public will be allowed to bring written testimony to share with staff at the hearing, or mail in their testimony directly to the House Transportation & Infrastructure Committee. The Rochester hearing was originally scheduled for February; local advocates held their own transportation town hallexternal link to get more inclusive input, and delivered it to Rep. Mica.

Rochester Field Hearing (co-hosted by Rep. Tom Reed)

Thursday, March 24, 9-11am
Rochester International Airport [mapexternal link]
Rochester, NY

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Rochester's Bicycle Master Plan

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

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Happiest Cities are Biking Cities

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

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Candidates Square Off on Rochester’s Future

A Blueprint for Rochester's Future: A Community

Mayoral hopefuls Thomas Richards (Democrat), Alex White (Green Party), and William A. Johnson Jr. (Independence and Working Families)
Over 200 people turned out and submitted questions ranging from planning to poverty.

This past Tuesday evening Reconnect Rochester co-sponsored a Mayoral forum on issues related to land use, neighborhood urban planning, transportation, development and revitalization. Bill Johnson, Tom Richards, and Alex White went toe to toe and Rachel Barnhart (WHAM 13 News) moderated.

In all, well over 200 people turned out and submitted questions ranging from planning to poverty. The event was the first extended, in-depth forum of Rochester’s mayoral campaign and was covered by several local news outlets including YNN, WROC, and the D&C.

Now, in the famous words of sportscaster Warner Wolf, “Let’s go to the video tape!” And let us know what you think of the candidates’ responses in the comments section.

Read more

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DenDekker Withdraws Statewide Bike Licensing Bill

DenDekker Withdraws Statewide Bike Licensing Bill 022811dendekker.jpg
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!

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Erie Lackawanna Rails-to-Trails Pedestrian Bridge on the Genesee Riverway Trail

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

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Rochester Transportation meeting gets national attention, and Jon gets his picture taken!

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/

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Mayoral Candidates to Discuss Rochester’s Future

Rochester's race for Mayor is on!

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.

Read more

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How Transit Options Make for a Cool Place to Live… Even Jersey

By now you’ve probably have heard of this thing called transit-oriented development (T.O.D.) external link. If you haven’t you might be living in a cave. Or you might live in Rochester. Sorry—cheap shot.

No worries, let’s get you up to speed with this quick video from the Streetfilms crew. It shows how investment in public transit, along with some zoning changes, has made the New Jersey Hudson River waterfront a new boomtown. The area has attracted some $5 billion in residential development since light rail came in.

According to Robert Cotter, director of city planning for Jersey City, “That’s a testament to transit-rich development… The communities that have access to fixed rail are going to be the richest in the coming century.”

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Next Bike Week Meeting

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

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Congressional Field Hearing in Rochester on Transportation and Infrastructure.

Rep. John Mica, Chairman of the U.S. House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee will hold a Field Hearing in Rochester on February 18, 2011 regarding reauthorization of The Safe, Accountable, Flexible, Efficient ransportation Equity Act: A Legacy for Users (SAFETEA-LU), enacted August 10, 2005. SAFETEA-LU authorized $286.4 billion for Federal surface transportation programs for highways, transit, and bicycles and pedestrians for the 5-year period, 2005-2009. The latest continuing resolution for extending funding will expire on March 3, 2011.

Transportation Equity Town Hall

Presentation and Roundtable with members of:
Tri-State Transportation Campaign
UPROSE
Empire State Future
WE ACT for Environmental Justice
February 17th, 2011
Rochester Central Libraryexternal link
Kate Gleason Auditorium
115 South Avenue
6-8 PM
(RSVP to the Facebook Eventexternal link and tell a friend!)
AND…

U.S. House Transportation & Infrastructure
Field Hearing in Rochester

Chairman Rep. John Mica (R-FL) & members:
Tom Reed (R-NY)
Richard Hanna (R-NY)
(RSVP to the Facebook Eventexternal link and tell a friend!)

For Information & RSVP:
Ya-Ting Liu
Tri-State Transportation Campaign
(212) 268-7474
yating@tstc.org

https://img.skitch.com/20110216-b77i3qbwn783r44726ds4a9wyh.jpg