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After years of getting tantalizingly close, advocates for pedestrians and cyclists are campaigning again to pass a "vulnerable user" law in Connecticut.
The goal is to make careless motorcyclists, car drivers and truckers behave more responsibly on the highways. Read the full article in the Hartford Courant here. “Study after study reveals that more people would be willing to make more trips by bike or on foot if they felt they could do so without taking their lives in their hands.” That comment at a legislative hearing by Kelly Kennedy, Executive Director of Bike Walk Connecticut, highlights the reason behind proposed legislation that would “help hold accountable careless drives who injure or kill non-motorized users of the road.”
Read the full article on the Connecticut By the Numbers site here. Hartford, Conn. (March 5, 2014) - For the fifth consecutive year, the Connecticut General Assembly is considering a bill to help hold accountable careless drivers who injure or kill pedestrians, cyclists and other non-motorized “vulnerable users” of the state’s roads. Bike Walk Connecticut, the advocacy organization working to make Connecticut a better place to bike and walk, supported the bill again this year in testimony before the legislature’s Transportation Committee on March 5. The bill, SB 336, would allow reckless drivers to be fined up to $1000 when they cause the death of or injury to a pedestrian, cyclist or other “vulnerable user” who uses reasonable care on the road. From 2006 to 2012, a total of 10,793 pedestrians and cyclists have been killed or injured while using Connecticut roads, according to federal and state crash data registries. 
A majority of vulnerable user accidents occur along “arterial” roadways—streets that are designed for speeding traffic with little or no provision for people on foot, on bicycles or in wheelchairs. Excessive speed, distracted driving, and occasional outright driver hostility too often play a role in these tragedies.
Study after study reveals that more people would make more trips by bike or on foot and drive less if they felt safer in traffic. Passing the Vulnerable User bill, and then enforcing it, will raise awareness across the board about the need to be alert for the various users of our public roads. Vulnerable User legislation is good public policy. Making Connecticut a better place to bike and walk will reduce traffic congestion; create more vibrant town centers; save money; and give us cleaner air and a healthier population. In the last two years, the Vulnerable User bill has had broad legislative support and passed the Senate unanimously, but it was not brought to a vote in the House in either year. Bike Walk Connecticut and its members urge readers to ask their legislators to pass the Vulnerable User bill, SB 336, early this legislative session and get the bill across the finish line this year. Sources: http://www-fars.nhtsa.dot.gov/; http://www.ctcrash.uconn.edu/;http://www.tstc.org/reports/danger12/; http://t4america.org/tag/dangerous-by-design # # #Bike Walk Connecticut (bikewalkct.org) is a member supported, not-for-profit organization that works to make Connecticut a better place to bike and walk. The Waterbury Observer reports on Bike Walk Connecticut's Effort to Make CT a Better Place to Bike/Walk and our support for the vulnerable user bill. (March 8, 2014)
 Hartford, Conn. — February 7, 2014 — Bike Walk Connecticut elected Laura Baum as the nonprofit organization’s president.
Baum joined the Bike Walk Connecticut Board in 2013, shortly after she moved to Connecticut from Portland, OR. She holds a masters degree in urban planning from the University of Minnesota and worked as the residential outreach specialist for St. Paul Smart Trips, a small, nonprofit organization that works to improve access and mobility in St. Paul, MN. Baum designed and ran an individualized social marketing program to support and encourage people in St. Paul to walk, bike and ride transit. She has also volunteered with BikePGH, a citywide nonprofit that works to make Pittsburgh a place that is safe and accessible for biking and walking. Baum currently works as a project manager at Wesleyan University where she works on the Wesleyan Media Project, a program that tracks advertising in federal elections. She lives in Middletown with her husband and daughter. “"I am eager to help Bike Walk Connecticut work to make this state a safer and more fun place to bike and walk,” said Baum. “From educating kids, to promoting complete streets, Bike Walk Connecticut is making a difference every day and I'm proud to be a part of it." Baum took over as president on January 15, replacing outgoing president MaryEllen Thibodeau, who will remain on the board through December 31, 2014. Bike Walk Connecticut is a member-supported non-profit organization making cycling and walking safe, feasible and attractive for a healthier, cleaner Connecticut. For more information, visit www.bikewalkct.org or contact Bike Walk Connecticut’s Executive Director, Kelly Kennedy at Kelly.Kennedy@bikewalkct.org or 860.904.2420. Hartford, Conn. (October 17, 2013) - Bike Walk Connecticut will celebrate its 2013 accomplishments at its Annual Dinner and Silent Auction on Tuesday, November 12 at Central Connecticut State University.
Guest Speaker DECD Deputy Commissioner Kip Bergstrom will discuss the important and growing role of active transportation in Connecticut's economy at the event. Kip has 30 years of experience as a strategist, business executive, economic development professional and place-maker. His DECD portfolio includes the development of the innovation economy, statewide branding, as well as the arts and culture, historic preservation and tourism functions. The event kicks-off at 5:30 p.m. with a silent auction, networking and cash bar, dinner the the evening's program will follow. There will be a wide variety of silent auction items up for bid. Some of the big ticket items include a South Africa Photo Safari for Two and aMother's Day Weekend Trip to Martha's Vineyard. All proceeds from the event will benefit Bike Walk Connecticut, your voice for bikeable, walkable communities. Registration: Bike Walk Connecticut Members:$40; $45 after November 5 Nonmembers: Nonmembers: $60; $65 after November 5 Tables of 10: $400; $450 after November 5 For more information, visit: http://www.bikewalkct.org/annual-dinner.html Bike Walk Connecticut is a member supported, not-for-profit organization that promotes bikeable, walkable communities for a healthier, cleaner Connecticut. For more information contact Bike Walk Connecticut's Executive Director, Kelly Kennedy at kelly.kennedy@bikewalkct.org or call 860-904-2420. Hartford, Conn. (October 8, 2013) - Students throughout Connecticut will participate in International Walk to School Day tomorrow (October 9, 2013).
Hundreds of students in the state will walk and bike to school tomorrow with parents, teachers community leaders from their homes or other designated sites. The event will begin with kids, parents and community leaders walking from their homes or from designated starting points. International Walk to School Day is a global event that involves communities from more than 40 countries walking to school on the same day. It began in 1997 as a one-day event. Over time, this event has become part of a movement for year-round safe routes to school and a celebration-with record breaking participation-each October. Not only is walking to school a fun family activity, there are plenty of other benefits too. As of today, the following schools and towns in Connecticut are participating:
For additional information, visit these web sites: Bike Walk Connecticut - www.bikewalkct.org CT Safe Routes to School - www.walkitbikeitct.org Walk to School Day - www.walkbiketoschool.org Bike Walk Connecticut is a member supported, not-for-profit organization that promotes bikeable, walkable communities for a healthier, cleaner Connecticut. For more information contact Bike Walk Connecticut's Executive Director, Kelly Kennedy at kelly.kennedy@bikewalkct.org or call 860-904-2420.  Photo courtesy of Real Hartford. Real Hartford posted a great recap of the bicycle-packed weekend in Hartford, which included Bike Walk Connecticut's Discover Hartford Bicycle Tour.
Click here to read more and check out all the great pics from the weekend!  Photo courtesy of Big Joe's Soap Box Blog. Big Joe's Soap Box Blog gave a full report of the 2013 Discover Hartford Bicycle Tour.
Click here to read the details of his experience. The Hartford Courant published an article titled "A Weekend of Biking in Hartford" that features all the bicycle-themed events taking place the weekend of Bike Walk Connecticut's Discover Hartford Bicycle Tour on September 21, 2013.
Click here to read the article. |
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