Bike Walk Connecticut’s mission is to “change the culture of transportation, through education and advocacy, to make bicycling and walking safe, feasible and attractive.” We know that’s why our members invest in us.
So in the next year or two, how exactly will we “move the needle” so that biking and walking in Connecticut is safe, feasible and attractive? Collaborating with DOT and others on the following advocacy priorities will help us move the needle in ways that will make a real difference for active transportation and truly make Connecticut a better place to bike and walk. These advocacy priorities are based largely on recommendations from the League of American Bicyclists in Connecticut’s Bike Friendly Report Card, where Connecticut ranked 22nd in 2015. Adventure cycling documentary coming to Cinestudio in Hartford January 21 “Inspired to Ride,” a stunning documentary about the inaugural TransAm Bike Race held in 2014 on the TransAmerica Trail, will screen at Cinestudio on the campus of Trinity College in Hartford on Thursday, January 21 at 7:30 p.m. The event is sponsored by Bike Walk Connecticut as its annual cycling film night. “Inspired to Ride” is the followup film from the creators of the wildly popular and award-winning film “Ride the Divide,” as well as their second film, “Reveal the Path.” On June 7, 2014, forty-five cyclists from around the world set out on the inaugural TransAm Bike Race, a 4,233-mile cross-country, self-supported race from Astoria, OR, to Yorktown, VA. The route roughly follows the TransAmerica Trail as created by the Adventure Cycling Association, traversing through ten states in a transcontinental adventure of epic proportions. “Inspired to Ride” follows closely the journey of a handful of these cyclists as they prepare, compete and experience what riding 300 miles a day feels like with only a few hours of sleep each night. They will rely solely on their fitness, meticulously chosen gear and mental fortitude to get them to the finish. And to make it even more interesting, they will be entirely self-supported – no crew, no follow vehicles and no prize money waiting at the end. These athletes will endure agonizing climbs iin the Rockies, driving winds in the Great Plains and sawtooth switchbacks in the Appalachians all for a pat on the back, potential bragging rights and a cold beer when it’s over. Some are out to make history and set records, while others are simply trying to finish. The filmmakers used the latest technology to give the audience an incredibly immersive experience while these cyclists speed along the TransAmerica Trail, revealing its varied landscapes, intriguing locals and captivating stories which dot this path to discovery. Advance tickets to the screening are $12 at www.imathlete.com/events/inspiredtoride. Tickets at the door will be $15. Cinestudio is located at 300 Summit St. on the campus of Trinity College in Hartford. To view the trailer or for more information about the film, go to www.inspiredtoride.it. For additional information, contact Garry Harrington at 603-209-5010 or gharrington3165@hotmail.com. This could be the beginning of the end of our "wider, straighter, faster" design paradigm that yields deadlier roads and enables sprawl Today, December 7, is the final day to submit comments to the FHWA in support of its proposal to simplify the 13 road design criteria that were developed 30 years ago with primarily the car in mind. Please click here to add your name to the list of supporters that Transportation for America is collecting to give to the FHWA. It takes just a minute. The FHWA proposes removing 11 of the 13 criteria for lower-speed sections of the national highway system. According to the LAB, this proposed rule change will make it far easier for communities with NHS roads to improve those roads in implementing their own complete streets policies and bicycle-friendly goals. Tell the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) thank you for making it easier for cities and communities to build complete streets that are safer for everyone by sending this letter. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- For more background, see below: COMMENT ON FHWA PROPOSAL TO ELIMINATE 11 OF 13 CONTROLLING DESIGN CRITERIA by Mark Plotz in the National Center for Biking & Walking's 10/21/15 newsletter Thirty years ago the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) designated 13 controlling criteria for roadway design for the purpose of ensuring the efficient and safe operation of the National Highway System (NHS). State DOTs were also encouraged to adopt these standards and many did so because, well, bureaucracies are conservative and risk-averse. As a result, the 13 Controlling Design Criteria (CDC) became the law of the land, and whenever a designer wished to deviate from them, he/she had to enter into the process of requesting a formal design exemption, the outcome of which was uncertain—other than knowing it would add delay and cost to a project. The effect is that we got one-size-fits-all designs regardless of context or community wishes. The Federal Highway Administration is revisiting the 13 criteria and is requesting comment on a proposal to eliminate all but 2 (Design Speed and Structural Capacity) for NHS roadways under 50 mph. Under this proposal it will be:
Should the proposed rule change become policy, the percentage of roads affected will be small. That said, the ripple effect could be huge if/when state DOTs follow suit—and why shouldn’t they, as these proposed changes could yield significant cost savings and myriad other benefits. Be sure to tell FHWA what you think by December 7, 2015. You should write in. This is big. For more background, see:
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