Despite the cancellation of the 2020 National Bike Summit this week, Bike Walk Connecticut still met with staff on Capitol Hill via conference call on Tuesday, March 17, 2020 to ask for support on various bike/ped legislative proposals.  We organized these meetings as part of the National Bike Summit’s Lobby Day. Click here to download fact sheets provided by the League of American Bicyclists related to each of the 'asks' below.

Our requests to Senators Chris Murphy and Richard Blumenthal included these three ‘asks’:

• Support for a vision test in any automated vehicles and oppose a potential 10-year safety regulation vacuum.
• Co-sponsor the Cycling Safety Bill being worked on by Senator Schatz (D-HI) that implements recommendations from National Transportation Safety Board’s (NTSB) 2019 bicycle safety report.
• Co-sponsor the national Complete Streets bill introduced by Senator Markey (D-MA).

We proposed the following requests to Connecticut Representatives Joe Courtney, John Larson, Jim Himes, and Rosa DeLauro (we hope to meet with Rep. Hayes soon):

• Support for a vision test in any automated vehicles and oppose a potential 10-year safety regulation vacuum.
• Co-sponsor the Transportation Alternatives (TA) Enhancement Act (HR 5231) that improves the TA program’s effectiveness and efficiency by increasing access to technical assistance and funding to local governments.
• Co-sponsor the SAFE Streets Act (HR 3040) that improves how bicyclist and pedestrian fatalities are addressed in areas where fatalities are occurring.

All Connecticut Legislator offices indicated interest in our requests, and we now await their response.  We appreciated the time that office staff generously provided us to discuss these bike/ped proposals.  Connecticut’s Senate and House offices also received fact sheets regarding these issues.

A special thank you from Bike Walk Connecticut to Bruce Donald from East Coast Greenway and Laura Baum for participating in these discussions.

A public hearing has been scheduled for March 2, 2020 on Raised Bill No.5324, which covers multiple bicycle and pedestrian topics (see details below). 

Transportation Committee Public Hearing
Monday, March 2, 2020 - 11:00 AM
CT Legislative Office Building (LOB), Room 1E
210 Capitol Ave, Hartford, CT

Resources

• Guidance on reaching our State Legislators and testifying at public hearings.
• Full agenda (PDF) for the Transportation Committee Hearing
• Bill status and general info
  
• Full text of the bill (PDF)
  
• Legislation Office Building information and directions

Raised Bill No.5324 "An act concerning pedestrian safety at crosswalks, speed limits in municipalities, fines and charges for certain violations, and the greenways commemorative account."
To (1) require motorists to grant the right-of-way to pedestrians who affirmatively indicate their intention to cross the road in a crosswalk;
(2) allow local traffic authorities to establish lower speed limits on streets under their jurisdiction by holding a public hearing regarding such speed limits and providing notification of such speed limits to the Office of the State Traffic Administration;
(3) increase the fine for operating a motor vehicle while using a hand-held mobile telephone or electronic device;
(4) increase the additional fee provided to municipalities for certain traffic violations;
(5) establish a fine for opening the door of a motor vehicle in a way that impedes the travel of a pedestrian or a person riding a bicycle; and (6) establish the greenways commemorative account.

On Friday February 14, 2020, Bike Walk Connecticut partnered with the town of Wethersfield, and South Windsor Walk & Wheel Ways to conduct a 'Teach The PE Teachers' bicycle education workshop at the Webb Elementary School in Wethersfield. Physical Education teachers from elementary schools throughout Wethersfield participated. This workshop provides the resources, tools and instruction that educators need to implement a comprehensive bicycle safety and skills program for 4th grade elementary school students.

Thursday, January 30, 2020
Old Judiciary Room, Connecticut State Capitol
Hosted by Bike Walk CT

It was standing room only, and we successfully indicated to CT's Legislators that improved bicycling and walking have widespread public support in reference to:
   - Proposed 2020 State Legislation
   - CT2030 Transportation Plan
   - Complete Streets
Big thanks to our excellent speakers: Rep. Roland Lemar, Co-Chair Transportation Committee, Rep. Cristin McCarthy Vahey, Tom Maziarz, CT DOT, Mike Morehouse, Fitzgerald & Halliday and a special thank you to Rep. Roland Lemar for sponsoring this event.

Resources

• Visit our Advocacy page to see our full list of priorities
• Download Tom Maziarz slide presentation (PDF)
• Watch video from the event (via Simsbury Community Television & Steven Mitchell)

​2019 Discover CT Bicycle Tours
THANK YOU to all riders, marshals, partners, sponsors and volunteers in New Britain (Sept 15) and Falls Village (June 23)!

In preparation for the Discover CT Bicycle Tour in New Britain on Sunday, September 15, the ride marshals enjoyed a group ride this weekend along the scenic 25-mile route.