Great news! The Senate passed the SB 191, the Vulnerable User bill at 10:19 pm on May 30 by a unanimous vote. Now we need the House to bring the bill up for a vote too, and pass it. Please contact House Leadership and your State Representative to get the bill passed this year. There are just 5 days left to get the Vulnerable User Bill, SB 191, passed in the 2013 legislative session, which ends June 5.
So is the fourth time the charm? It could be, if all of you on our distribution list take just a few minutes to let your legislators know you want this bill passed, finally, this year. ................................................................................................................................... SB 191 Encourages Safety. Safer Conditions Encourage More Cycling and Walking. By raising awareness of the rights of cyclists and pedestrians to share the road and creating penalties for reckless driving that kills or injures vulnerable users, SB 191 will create safer conditions for everyone. Safer conditions encourage more people to get around by bike or on foot-and that's good public policy. Adopting SB 191 will make Connecticut a more Bike-Friendly State, and that's good for the economy, the environment, and our health. Getting a Vulnerable User bill passed is Bike Walk Connecticut's top legislative priority. It's also the first order of business on Connecticut's Bicycle Friendly Report Card, issued by the League of American Bicyclists. Connecticut is becoming more bike friendly, moving up in rank from 20th place in 2012 to 18th place in 2013. We can do better though, and we should. The Vulnerable User bill is good public policy. Let's make this the year we pass it. Thank you for speaking up for a bikeable, walkable Connecticut! Together, we can make good things happen. Bike Walk Connecticut issued the following alert to members of the Connecticut House of Representatives on May 31, after the Senate passed SB 191 the previous night.
Please Raise and Pass SB 191, the Vulnerable User Bill-- This Year! With just 6 days left in the 2013 legislative session, Bike Walk Connecticut urges you to raise and pass SB 191, the Vulnerable User bill. Now that the Senate has passed the bill, it's up to you! The cycling and pedestrian community is highly committed to seeing this bill passed this year. SB 191 Encourages Safety. Safer Conditions Encourage More Cycling and Walking. By raising awareness of the rights of cyclists and pedestrians to share the road and creating penalties for reckless driving that kills or injures vulnerable users, SB 191 will create safer conditions for everyone. Safer conditions encourage more people to get around by bike or on foot -- and that's good public policy. Adopting SB 191 Will Make Connecticut a More Bike-Friendly State. It's also the first order of business on Connecticut's Bicycle Friendly Report Card, issued by the League of American Bicyclists. Connecticut is becoming more bike friendly, moving up in rank from 20th place in 2012 to 18th place in 2013. We can do better though, and we should. Being More Bike-Friendly is Good for Economic Development, the Environment, and Public Health. Being more bike-friendly is good for our environment, good for our health, and good for our pocketbooks. It's also good for the state's economy. Cycling is good for tourism. It's also a key ingredient in transportation-oriented development, vibrant communities and thriving, resilient commercial districts, and in attracting and retaining younger workers and the creative class who insist on realistic transportation options beyond the car. The Fourth Time's the Charm. This is at least the fourth year the Vulnerable User bill has come before the legislature. Every year the bill has enjoyed broad bipartisan, bicameral support. The Vulnerable User bill is good public policy. Let's make this the year we pass it. Thank you for working together for a more bikeable, walkable Connecticut. Sincerely, Kelly Kennedy, Executive Director Bike Walk Connecticut For Safer Streets, Bike Walk CT Urges Legislators to Pass "Vulnerable User" Bill by June 55/30/2013
Bike Walk Connecticut's top legislative priority is to get the Vulnerable User bill, SB 191, passed in the 2013 legislative session. We urge legislative leaders to bring the bill to a vote, and pass it, before time again runs out.
------------------------ May 30, 2013 Sen. Donald E. Williams, Jr., President Pro Tem Sen. Martin Looney, Senate Majority Leader Sen. John McKinney, Senate Minority Leader Rep. J. Brendan Sharkey, Speaker of the House Rep. Joe Aresimowicz, House Majority Leader Rep. Lawrence F. Cafero, Jr. House Minority Leader Re: Please Raise and Pass SB 191, the Vulnerable User Bill Dear Legislative Leaders: With just a few days left in the 2013 legislative session, Bike Walk Connecticut urges you to raise and pass SB 191, the Vulnerable User bill. SB 191 Encourages Safety. Safer Conditions Encourage More Cycling and Walking. By raising awareness of the rights of cyclists and pedestrians to share the road and creating penalties for reckless driving that kills or injures vulnerable users, SB 191 will create safer conditions for everyone. Safer conditions encourage more people to get around by bike or on foot—and that’s good public policy. Adopting SB 191 Will Make Connecticut a More Bike-Friendly State. Adopting a vulnerable user bill is not just Bike Walk Connecticut’s top legislative priority, it’s also the first order of business on Connecticut’s Bicycle Friendly Report Card, issued by the League of American Bicyclists. Connecticut is becoming more bike friendly, moving up in rank from 20th place in 2012 to 18th place in 2013. We can do better though, and we should. Being More Bike-Friendly is Good for Economic Development, the Environment, and Public Health. Being more bike-friendly is good for our environment, good for our health, and good for our pocketbooks. It’s also good for the state’s economy. Cycling is good for tourism. It’s also a key ingredient in transportation-oriented development, vibrant communities and thriving, resilient commercial districts, and attracting and retaining a younger workers and the creative class who insist on realistic transportation options beyond the car. The Fourth Time’s the Charm. This is at least the fourth year the Vulnerable User bill has come before the legislature. Every year the bill has enjoyed broad bipartisan, bicameral support. The Vulnerable User bill is good public policy. Let’s make this the year we pass it. Thank you for considering these views and for working together for a more bikeable, walkable Connecticut. Sincerely, Kelly Kennedy, Executive Director Bike Walk Connecticut Bike Walk Connecticut is hiring a temporary, part-time administrative assistant. This position runs for five months, from June 2013 through November 2013, for up to 20 hours per week on a flexible schedule.
What we need: This position requires a mature individual who can work independently, is committed to producing accurate, high quality work, and who has strong business computer skills (including a high degree of comfort with Excel, Access, and various online platforms) and an appreciation for our mission. Good writing skills and a flair for producing polished, well-designed work products a plus. What you'll do: This position will include administrative and support tasks such as helping with member management, correspondence, record-keeping, online research, helping to prepare electronic newsletters, some event planning/project management assistance. Position reports to Executive Director. Compensation: $10-12 per hour, depending on skills and experience. Contact: Please email resume and cover letter detailing your relevant experience and availability to Kelly Kennedy, Executive Director, at kelly.kennedy@bikewalkct.org before Wednesday, June 5. Thanks to good weather, and even more to the growing ranks of bike-friendly residents, we had an awesome turnout for Bike to Work Day 2013! Thanks to every single one of you who participated, and thanks to Mayor Segarra, Commissioners Esty, Smith and Redeker, and Senator Beth Bye for leading by example. And thanks to Fox CT and Colin McEnroe for helping us get the good word out! Special thanks to Sandy Fry and the whole Bike to Work Committee for all your planning and generous dedication. After adjusting for a few duplicate entries, we had 687 people pledge to bike to work on May 17, and our estimates are that twice as many people probably participated. Bike to Work Day celebrations were held at 25 locations across the state -- up from 14 last year. Some 150 - 200 people attended the Hartford Old State House event alone! CLICK HERE FOR THE LIST OF PARTICIPANTS! Total Pledges: 687 Individuals at 176 different employers
Total Miles Ridden One Way, by all pledgers: 4,949. That's a whole lot of savings on emissions and gas! Longest Commute Award: Chris Adams, 65 miles one way from Old Saybrook to Hartford! Top 20 Organizations - Ranked By Participation
1. Dept. of Children & Families: 215 participants, 800 miles 2. Dept. of Energy and Environmental Protection: 37 participants, 367 miles 3. Pratt & Whitney: 27 participants, 261 miles 4. Dept. of Transportation: 26 participants, 229 miles 5. Dept. of Public Health: 20 participants, 181 miles 6. Travelers: 19 participants, 223 miles 7 (tie). Hartford Steam Boiler: 14 participants, 116 miles 7 (tie). Cycling Sports Group/Cannondale Bicycles: 14 participants, 125 miles 8. Aetna: 13 participants, 128 miles 9. Trinity College: 11 participants, 41 miles 10. United Technologies Aerospace Systems: 10 participants, 136 miles 11. Dept. of Developmental Services: 8 participants, 82 miles 12. Yale University: 8 participants, 30 miles 13 (tie). Prudential: 6 participants, 60 miles 13 (tie). UConn Health Center: 6 participants, 31 miles 13 (tie). Cigna: 6 participants, 37 miles 13 (tie). UnitedHealth Group: 6 participants, 44 miles 13 (tie). Dept. of Motor Vehicles: 6 participants, 26 miles 14. ESPN: 5 participants, 87 miles Connecticut leads the nation (again) in the number of Trails Day events happening on Saturday, June 1st and Sunday, June 2nd. That's right - Trails Day is such a big deal in Connecticut that we now need to make a whole weekend out of it. Thanks to our friends at the Connecticut Forest and Park Association (CFPA) for leading this effort. Through the involvement of land trusts, watershed associations, conservation commissions, CFPA volunteers, and many others, there are 259 events that will be held in 152 towns over that weekend. There are walking, biking, paddling, equestrian, trail-work, and other events scheduled to celebrate and preserve the many truly amazing outdoor recreational opportunities we have in Connecticut. The big question is, what will you be doing? For more information:
The Alliance for Biking and Walking is bringing its Winning Campaigns Training to White Plains, NY from August 2-4. Led by longtime advocates and national experts, the training teaches participants how to:
DOT Attorney Judith Almeida raised spirits with her common-sense May 20, 2013 decision to keep Flower Street, Hartford open to cyclist and pedestrian traffic. The street is at issue because of CTfastrak construction and train traffic. Bike Walk Connecticut is gratified by Attorney Almeida's thoughtful decision.
Bike Walk Connecticut's VP, Chris Brown, a Frog Hollow resident, was an ardent supporter of maintaining bike and pedestrian access at Flower Street. Read the DOT decision here, and the Hartford Courant story by Don Stacom here. Bike Walk Connecticut recognizes Hartford's Flower Street as a crucial north/south route for safe bike and pedestrian travel between Capitol and Farmington Avenues.
As such, we support the DOT Hearing officer's October 2012 decision that Flower Street should remain open during and after construction of CT Fastrak. Subsequent proposals to reverse this decision and re-route bicyclists and pedestrians eastward to Broad Street put these vulnerable users at too high a risk of injury for these to be considered responsible alternatives. Bike Walk Connecticut's support of the goals of CT Fastrak continues. But rather than build transportation infrastructure that will again separate and divide the city, we believe that a solution that allows Flower Street to remain open is imperative. Let's summon up our collective yankee ingenuity to craft a thoughtful, visionary solution that supports the people who live, work, and do business in the neighborhoods around Flower Street. After all, this is about making Hartford a more bikeable, walkable, liveable city. |
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