Tuesday May 19: A RIDE ABOUT BICYCLE SAFETY

Looking for a ride tomorrow morning?  Want to show your support for the Bike Bill? You can do both--tomorrow, May 19!

Can't ride from New Haven?  Consider riding to the State Capitol on your own (or better yet, with friends!) to arrive between 12 noon and 1 pm to join other cyclists in their show of support for the Bike Bill.

Details:  A group ride leaves tomorrow at 8am from the flagpole on the New Haven green and treks roughly 40 miles to the state capitol in Hartford to remind our representatives in the legislature that we are extremely excited about SB502, “the bike bill,” and that it’s passing will have immense ramifications for the health and well-being of communities statewide. In addition, we get to look forward to a beautiful ride through many communities and enjoy some amazing pizza at the end!

Below is a link to the google maps route that the ride will take. The majority of it will be on dedicated pedestrian routes such as the Farmington Canal Heritage Trail and CT FastTrack multiuse path and/or the East Coast Greenway, a route specifically designed for pedestrians and cyclists by our amazing partners in the East Coast Greenway Alliance. There will be three sections on-street where we’ll share the road with automobile traffic, the longest being 7.5 scenic miles through Southington and New Britain.

Google Maps Route:  http://bit.ly/1EMxIKl

Rest Stops at 9:45 and 11:15: The itinerary calls for the first rest stop at Lock 12 in Cheshire at the end of the initial completed portion of the Farmington Canal Heritage Trail, around 9:45am. The second will be at Roger’s Pick-Your-Own Orchard at 249 Longbottom Rd in Southington, at about 11:15 am. Then, on to the Capitol!   

Organizers will provide cue sheets with the numbers of our ride marshals and sag wagon support to all riders, as well as providing snacks and water and the beginning as well as at both rest stops. While the organizers will have various tools, patch kits, and even spare bicycles in the event that one needs to be switched out mid-ride, all riders should bring at least one replacement tube that will fit your bicycle, as well as any additional items you are easily able, such as a canister or two of compressed air, tire levers, or a patch kit.

As of right now the weather forecast for Tuesday calls for showers later in the day and into the night.  Riders will return from the Capitol between 2pm and 3pm via chartered bus, with transport for all bicycles.

Thank you so much for your support of improving cycling in CT! please feel free to email Ray with any questions, concerns, ideas, etc.  

Ray Willis
Board, Bike Walk CT
City of New Haven  Dept. of Transportation, Traffic & Parking
RWillis@newhavenct.gov
(203) 410-0077