In only a few more years, the longest interstate rail trail in New England will be complete, but what does that mean for tourism and economic development in the region? There are lessons to be learned from NY and keynote speaker, Fran Gotcsik of Parks,Trails New York has first-hand knowledge about not only what happened there, but how it came to be. Saturday October 18, 2014, 9:30 AM Eno Hall 754 Hopmeadow Street Simsbury, CT Cost is $20 and includes a box lunch. State and local goverment officials from along the entire 84 mile corridor, tourism and hospitality industry officials, advocates and the press are all invited. There will also be an optional, guided bike tour of the area. Click here for the agenda and information about the keynote speaker and the bike tour. Please register at: http://www.eventbrite.com/e/the-interstate-trail-summit-tickets-12405957553?aff=es2&rank=15 Following are links to the ride routes for this event:
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This story was provided by the Public News Network, and distributed to radio and tv outlets throughout CT.
HARTFORD, Conn. – It's a new law that underscores the need for local drivers to yield the right of way to those sharing Connecticut roads on bikes, using wheelchairs and on foot. Careless drivers injure hundreds of people in the state each year, says Kelly Kennedy, executive director of Bike Walk Connecticut. She says she hopes the new Vulnerable User law will get the state up to speed with neighboring states about the need to yield to non-motorized people who are sharing the road. Read the full story or LISTEN here. Hartford Courant Editorial, 10/15/14:
Connecticut's "vulnerable user" law, which took effect this month, most likely won't solve all the problems associated with the various uses of public streets and highways. But it's a good start, especially if it opens the door to a discussion of how we can be more respectful of one another's presence on the roads. The law imposes a $1,000 fine on motorists who, in failing to "exercise reasonable care," injure or kill a so-called "vulnerable user of a public way." Those users include pedestrians, bicyclists, highway workers, people on horseback, those in wheelchairs, skateboarders, roller skaters and the drivers of farm tractors. Read the full editorial at http://www.courant.com/opinion/editorials/hc-ed-vulnerable-users-law-respects-all-who-use-ro-20141014-story.html "In a democracy, everybody gets the government they deserve." Elections matter. On November 4, you can have an impact on Connecticut's quality of life. Your vote counts. Pledge to Register and VOTE! Then spread the word. #BikeWalkVoteCT DISCLAIMER: Bike Walk Connecticut never supports or opposes candidates or political parties. Trinity College professors (and Bike Walk CT members) Johannes Evelein and Dario del Puppo are teaching a freshman seminar on Sustainability, Cycling and the City of Hartford. Three of those students are working on a Get Out the Vote (GOTV) project with Bike Walk CT. Meet Lucian, Georgia and Elizabeth. My name is Lucian Cascino and I am from Jamaica Plain, MA. I am taking the Cycling and Sustainability course to gain a better understanding how I personally can help create change to promote more sustainable living. Living in the city of Boston I often would prefer to bike places rather than drive. It was simply more efficient. From there I grew to appreciate cycling as a form of transportation. As I gained a better understanding of these issues it became clear that there was a need for improved infrastructure to support cycling and sustainability. Hello everyone! My name is Georgia Mergner and I am a freshman attending Trinity College. I am from Caldwell, New Jersey, where I attended James Caldwell High School. During my time there I competed as a varsity athlete in soccer, lacrosse, and swimming, and also was a very active member in my community and my parish. When I knew I had the ability to take Cycling, Sustainability and the City of Hartford as a class, I couldn’t have been more thrilled to get involved. The need to increase biking and walking infrastructure into our communities for the sake of the environment as well as our health as a community is an issue that is very important to me, and by taking this course I hope to bring that issue to the attention of others. I am so excited to become a part of Bike Walk Connecticut! My name is Elizabeth Searls and I'm from Wayzata, Minnesota. During my senior year in high school, I took an environmental science elective class because I thought it was a subject that everyone should be educated about. This class quickly became my favorite due to my incredibly passionate teacher and the richness of the content. I was stunned about how little I knew about the current status of our environment and past struggles we have gone through. Prior to this class I felt as if I had general knowledge about environmental science, but I learned I was incredibly wrong. This misconception made me even more intrigued to learn in depth about our environment and how we can improve the way we are living. So when I saw a seminar regarding these issues, I felt obligated to sign up for Cycling, Sustainability, and the city of Hartford. I left as if I would be able to share my knowledge from my elective class with my peers and learn more about environmental science in a concentrated area, such as Hartford. The long overdue passage of the Vulnerable User law and Bike Walk CT are getting press coverage. Student reporter DANIELA BRIGHENTI wrote a particularly good story for the Yale Daily News.
Bike Walk Connecticut was invited to work on a project this fall with the Connecticut Office of Tourism to capture interesting and engaging views of the state – through a cyclist’s eyes! The state will use our cycling footage (either video or photo) for the CTvisit social media accounts to help both residents and visitors see the state from a different perspective. We'd love your help! Here's how you can get involved for your photos or videos to be considered being featured:
In case you're unfamiliar, Connecticut has an enthusiastic and robust community of more than 200,000 fans / followers across Facebook, Twitter, YouTube and Pinterest. Tickets Going Fast for Bike Walk Connecticut's Annual Dinner and Silent Auction, Monday, November 2410/8/2014 Please join us on Monday, November 24, 2014 at Central Connecticut State University for Bike Walk Connecticut's Annual Dinner and Silent Auction! Tickets are going fast, so don't wait too long! Prices increase after October 15. Please join us on Monday, November 24, 2014 at Central Connecticut State University for Bike Walk Connecticut's Annual Dinner and Silent Auction! And start thinking about these great Silent Auction items! Zulu Nyala Luxury Accommodation in South Africa for 2 is back; we have two beach vacations for auction (Marthas Vineyard + Rhode Island); and 2 round trip coach airline tickets for domestic travel. Stay tuned for more announcements soon. Details at Bike Walk CT > Events > Silent Auction.
Hartford, Conn. (October 1,2014) - From 2006 to 2012, a total of 10,793 pedestrians and cyclists were killed or injured while using Connecticut roads, according to federal and state crash data registries. Now Connecticut has a law that helps hold accountable careless drivers who injure or kill pedestrians, cyclists and other non-motorized "vulnerable users" of the state's roads.
The Vulnerable User law, Public Act 14-31, was signed into law on May 16, 2014. It takes effect today on October 1, 2014. Bike Walk Connecticut, the advocacy organization that works to make Connecticut a better place to bike and walk, pressed for the bill to be adopted this year. The Vulnerable User law requires a fine to be imposed on reckless motor vehicle drivers who cause the death or serious injury of a pedestrian, cyclist, wheelchair user, or other vulnerable users who were using reasonable care. The fine is capped at $1000. Bike Walk Connecticut's Executive Director, Kelly Kennedy, is quick to point out that "While the fine is in no way equivalent to the harm that reckless drivers can cause, the law is a step in the right direction. It reinforces the message that everybody needs to be vigilant, responsible and respectful of the fact that they're sharing the road with others." Fast Facts on the Vulnerable User Law
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