Today's CT Mirror features a very good story by Mark Pazniokas on a first step to better coordinate the bicycle and pedestrian work of DOT and DEEP. With our focus on active transportation, Bike Walk Connecticut would like to see more comprehensive, deliberate, and strategic integration of multiuse greenways and complete streets efforts, connecting both to transit for a truly multimodal transportation system befitting the wealthiest, best educated state in the US. --------------------------------------------------------------- With Cash for Bike Trail, New Era Begins at ConnDOT By Mark Pazniokas, CT Mirror, Sept. 29, 2015 The Connecticut Department of Transportation will mark a milestone today when the state Bond Commission authorizes $5.1 million to construct a missing piece of the New Haven-to-Northampton, Mass., bicycle trail in Farmington. For the first time, the DOT will wholly fund a section of a regional trail system that evolved from a series of municipal projects financed by a mix of federal dollars and local matching funds, a formula that long has frustrated advocates of mixed-use trails. The funding signifies the start of the DOT delivering on a promise to play a stronger role with the Department of Energy and Environmental Protection in the completion of Farmington Canal Heritage Trail and another major system, the East Coast Greenway. Read the full story here. Related: CT's Transportation Bonds Attract Buyers
NEW BRITAIN - Wheels were turning in New Britain Sunday for the 'Discover Connecticut' bicycle tour.
The group's 'Bike Walk Connecticut' and 'Bike New Britain' hosted a bicycle tour at Walnut Hill Park and through the different New Britain neighborhoods to show bikers why the city is one of seven official bicycle friendly communities. The tour also included a brunch at the New Britain Museum of American Art. All proceeds benefit Bike Walk Connecticut , Bike New Britain and the New Britain Police Athletic League. Full Fox CT story here. The state Bond Commission meets on Sept. 29 to approve bonding to finance a number of projects, including $8.3 Million for "Urban bikeway, pedestrian connectivity, trails and alternative mobility programs." This is what our advocacy does: it gets bike ped projects on the front burner. Assuming it gets approved, the $8.3 million bond request will break out this way:
Bike Walk CT's advocacy work will continue to focus on those things, including how the bike ped safety planning grants will be awarded. Read more here and on CT News Junkie. by Erica Schmitt for the New Britain Herald NEW BRITAIN — It’s no longer a secret: the city is a bike-able kingdom.About 250 cyclists made their way from Walnut Hill Park to Batterson Park and through the historic Little Poland neighborhood on the first Discover New Britain Bicycle Tour Sunday. The tour, sponsored by Bike Walk CT, included 10-, 25- and 50-mile routes, the last of which took riders into Southington and Berlin. Their red ended with brunch on the patio of the New Britain Museum of American Art — a newly bike-friendly city landmark. That was an added treat for Merrill Gay, a member of the New Britain Board of Education. “This is the best organized ride I’ve been on all year and finishing at the museum was like the frosting on the cake,” he said. Bicycles hand-painted by local artists are available for rent at the NBMAA for a $10 refundable deposit. Users get a lock and a helmet for their bikes, which they are free to take on a self-guided journey for the day. Read the full story... Online registration for the Discover New Britain Bicycle Tour closed at midnight on Sept. 23. But you can still be part of the fun! Arrive early on Sunday and register then! (Please bring exact change, check made out to Bike Walk CT, or credit card.) By Don Stacom
Volunteers from Bike Walk Connecticut are offering a fresh way to see the city on Sunday: the "Discover New Britain" bike tour. Novice riders, veteran cyclists and all those in between can participate in the ride. Each participant can choose to do a 10-, 25- or 50-mile route. The trips will highlight the city's parks and many of its neighborhoods. The routes will incorporate bike trails as well as city streets. Depending on their route, riders may be on the CTfastrak, Hanover Pond, Quinnipiac River Gorge and Farmington Canal bikeways. Some groups will visit Batterson Park, Willow Brook Park and the Shuttle Meadow, Wassel, Kenmere and Hallmare reservoirs; others will see Hubbard Park, Merimere Reservoir, Hanover Pond and the Quinnipiac Gorge. Read the full article. Hurry, online registration closes at midnight on Wed. Sept. 23 This is the last call to register for Sunday's Discover Connecticut Bicycle Tour in New Britain! The forecast looks good with a partly sunny day and seasonable temps in the mid 70s. So beat the registration lines on Sunday and register ahead before midnight tonight! The ride begins and ends in historic Walnut Hill Park at the New Britain Museum of American Art and concludes with "Sunday Brunch" at the Museum. Free admission into the Museum is also included with your ride fees, and live music and a limited cash bar is also included. Your registration fee supports efforts to make Connecticut a better place to bike and walk. Discover New Britain Bicycle Tour Sunday, Sept. 27, 8:30 am Walnut Hill Park, New Britain 10, 25 and 50 mile routes Registration includes brunch at the New Britain Museum of American Art. Cost: $45 for members and nonmembers after Sept. 17. $10 for youth age 12 and under, through Sept. 27. Routes: 10 mile 25 mile 50 mile routes (See all three here.) Register at: http://bit.ly/DiscoverNewBritainRegistration About the Ride: Our Discover New Britain routes are designed to be enjoyed as a tour, not a race. The rides feature urban and rural scenery, including historic New Britain neighborhoods like Little Poland, the stunning residential architecture around Walnut Hill Park, and of course the acclaimed New Britain Museum of American Art. Whether you live in New Britain or have never experienced it, we are sure you will DISCOVER something that you never expected to find. Depending on the tour you select, you’ll experience four different bikeways (CT Fastrak, Hanover Pond Trail, Quinnipiac River Gorge, and the Farmington Canal), and you’ll visit other parks like Batterson Park and Willow Brook Park; the Shuttle Meadow, Wassel, Kenmere and Hallmare Reservoirs; Hubbard Park and Merimere Reservoir, and Hanover Pond and Quinnipiac Gorge. The 25- and 50-mile tours will have a few climbs, but the brunch after the ride will make it all worthwhile! For more information: please contact Christine Skelly, Discover CT committee chair, at DiscoverCT@bikewalkct.org or 860.977.1404, or visit www.bikewalkct.org/discover-ct-ride-series. Bike Walk Connecticut works to make Connecticut a better place to bike and walk.
Our mission is to change the culture of transportation through advocacy and education to make bicycling and walking safe, feasible, and attractive for a healthier, cleaner Connecticut. Bike Walk Connecticut PO Box 270149 West Hartford, CT 06127 www.bikewalkct.org Speak up to make sure active transportation and complete streets are fully integrated into the I-84 project!
Watch this NBC CT video with Doug Greene, then DISCOVER the answer yourself on Sunday! Ride details here.
Bike ped advocates have another opportunity for a day of learning, sharing and networking at the 2015 New England Bike-Walk Summit on Thursday Sept 24 in Worcester.
Program: Engineering, design, advocacy strategies, and much more - it's all in there! Between the topics, the presenters, and the field session, this is the best New England Summit yet. Click here to download the latest draft of the program. Registration: To register click this link and secure your spot. The New England Bike-Walk Summit is coordinated by the East Coast Greenway Alliance. SUNDAY SEPT 20TH: NCC racing comes to Hartford on a new downtown course! For the first time, the National Criterium Calendar includes a stop in Connecticut. Top teams from throughout the country will battle for over 40 miles to make it to the top step of the podium. In other categories, a top finish in Hartford will surely be the highlight of a racer's season. COME WATCH PRO STUNT RIDER CHRIS CLARK Free shows all day in Hartford! Professional stunt cyclist Chris Clark has competed around the world and entertained thousands at events like the Gravity Games, the Vans Warped Tour, New York’s Time Square Parade, and the Olympic Games! Each show is followed by an autograph session and giveaway of sponsor and event items. SHOW TIMES: 10:15AM, 12:15AM, 2:30PM THE POWDER RIDGE URBAN MOUNTAIN BIKE RACE IS BACK! Race mountain bikes over man-made obstacles from Powder Ridge Ski Area The CT Cycling Festival transformation of downtown Hartford is complete with this unique urban mountain bike race event. The CCAP is partnering with Powder Ridge Ski Area to make this event awesome! The CT Cycling Festival benefits the CT Cycling Advancement Program. For details, visit http://www.ctcyclingadvancement.org/2015-ct-cycling-festival/ |
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