|
Congratulations to the Town of Portland, whose Board of Selectman unanimously approved a Complete Streets Policy. You may read in full below. 
Some of you may remember that BWCT member Ray Rauth walked Route One last summer to highlight the dangers of the Boston Post Road. Rauth recently completed a report highlighting key takeaways from the walk, which Bike Walk Connecticut is thrilled to share. Many thanks to Ray for his ardent commitment to exposing and redressing the dangers of Connecticut's streets for walkers and cyclists, and for allowing us to share his report here.
APPLICATION
2017 DISCOVER CT Ride Series Bicycle Tours Co-Hosted with Bike Walk Connecticut Bike Walk Connecticut is currently seeking applications for Discover CT, its annual program of bicycle tours in bicycle-friendly communities throughout Connecticut. The Discover CT Ride series introduces more people to the pleasures of cycling by hosting organized events that highlight safe, scenic, interesting, historical, cultural, and bike-enjoyable routes. These rides allow cyclists to discover new communities and rediscover their own neighborhoods, representing a day of exploration, fun, and cycling camaraderie. BWCT CONTRIBUTES:
Nomination & Application Period: Closes Friday, February 3, 2017 Meetings with Community Candidates: February 6-February 16, 2017 Announcement — 2017 BWCT Rides: February 28, 2017 questions? Contact bikewalkct@bikewalkct.org  The Connecticut Statewide Transportation Study is collecting information about everyday transportation choices and travel patterns in the state of Connecticut. The study reaches out to Connecticut residents to understand their travel behaviors including how they travel, where they go, why they travel, and how long it takes. This information is vital for transportation agencies in the state including the Connecticut Department of Transportation to not only understand how the existing transportation system serves the residents of the state but also to plan for future transportation needs.
The data collected in this study will be used primarily to develop and update a statewide transportation model that will allow CTDOT to study how the transportation system is impacted by growth, development and other changes in communities and regions across the state. The results from the model will allow planners and policymakers to make informed choices about which transportation infrastructure (including roadways, bridges, rail systems, bus routes, pedestrian and bicycle facilities) to maintain and develop. Reliable and viable travel options enhance the quality of life of residents and promote economic vitality of businesses, and this study will help transportation agencies in the state of Connecticut meet these objectives. You'll need to request to participate in the study (unless you were already selected at random). Email help@cttransportationstudy.org to ask for a password and access to the survey. Act quickly because the survey is open only for a short time. Visit https://cttransportationstudy.org for the survey page. Good news: the Judiciary Committee recently voted unanimously to move HB 5403 out of its comittee, a step toward getting it voted on. HB 5403 would increase penalties for drivers that don't yield to pedestrians in crosswalks or don't use due care to avoid hitting a pedestrian or cyclist. The bill is now being reviewed by the Legislative Commissioner's Office. Next, we'll want the House to bring the bill up for a vote. Stay tuned for the possibility of more action alerts. In addition to thanking the full Judiciary Committee for its for backing this bill, we say thank you to Stamford Rep. Terry Adams, the original proponent of the concepts behind this bill, and to cosponsors Rep. Cristin McCarthy Vahey, 133rd Dist.; Sen. Beth Bye, 5th Dist.; Rep. Steven Stafstrom, 129th Dist.; and Rep. Mitch Bolinsky, 106th Dist.  Minnesota laws get it right. That's why it's been the least dangerous place for pedestrians. See http://www.autoinsurancecenter.com/the-worst-places-to-be-a-pedestrian.htm .
|
|||||||
(c) 2012-2016 Bike Walk Connecticut | PO Box 270149, West Hartford, CT 06127 | bikewalkct@bikewalkct.org