 Hartford, CT (April 30, 2014) - Bike Walk Connecticut is promoting bike commuting all around the state on May 16-National Bike to Work Day. Bike commuting reduces traffic, avoids pollution, saves gas-and burns calories! More than half of the U.S. population lives within five miles of their workplace, making bicycling a realistic, fun way to get to work. Rookies, veteran commuters and everyone in between are encouraged to pledge to Bike to Work on May 16 at www.bikewalkct.org/bike-to-work.
What: More than 20 Bike to Work Day breakfasts and events are scheduled incities, towns and at companies around the state on May 16. Nearly 20 separate meetups are also scheduled throughout the state. State government agencies are in on the action too, competing for the "Commissioner's Cup." When: May 16, 2014, National Bike to Work Day Hartford Event: Old State House (East Lawn), 800 Main Street, Hartford, 7 to 9 a.m., Program at 8 a.m. Held Rain or Shine. Who: Bike Walk Connecticut with State Senator Beth Bye; DEEP Commissioner Rob Klee; DPH Deputy Director Kathleen Lewis; DAS Deputy Commissioner Martin Anderson; and Insurance Deputy Commissioner Anne Melissa Dowling at program at Old State House in Hartford Statewide Events: Other Bike to Work Day events will be held all across the state. For details, see: http://www.bikewalkct.org/event-locations.html Meet-ups: For a full list of meet-ups throughout the state, see: www.bikewalkct.org/meet-ups Contact: Tara Cantore tara@bikewalkct.org 860.904.2420 Kelly Kennedy Executive Director kelly.kennedy@bikewalkct.org 860.977.1179 Bike Walk Connecticut, a statewide, not-for-profit membership organization, works to make Connecticut a better place to bike and walk. 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.  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.  Thank You to Our 2013 Sponsors! Hartford, Conn. (September 3, 2013) - The 2013 Discover Hartford Bicycle Tour will take place Saturday, September 21, 2013 starting at Bushnell Park in Hartford.
The sixth annual tour will take place in conjunction with Hartford's Envisionfest, a celebration of Hartford's arts, food and culture. Hosted by Bike Walk Connecticut, the tour is a fun, family-friendly, leisurely ride that welcomes cyclists of all abilities to explore our capital city's diverse neighborhoods, architectural and cultural gems and parks by bicycle. Riders may choose to ride a 10-, 25- or 40-mile route. Attractions across each route vary, however, some of the highlights along the way may include: Bushnell Park, the Soldier & Sailors Memorial Arch, the Wadsworth Atheneum, the Mark Twain House, the Butler-McCook House and Gardens, the Colt building, the Bushnell, Riverside Park, Keney Park, Pope Park, The Hartford Circus Fire Memorial, Trinity College, Charter Oak Landing, the Artist Collective, Goodwin Park, Cedar Hill Cemetery, Elizabeth Park and more! We have added a new addition to the 40-mile route for 2013. This year the 40-mile option will head into East Hartford, Manchester, South Windsor, Windsor and back into Hartford, which will add even more attractions for cyclists to see during their ride. When: Saturday, September 21, 2013. Check-in and late registration: 7-8 a.m. Opening ceremonies: 8:45 a.m. Ride leaves: 9 a.m. Ride returns on your own schedule. Cost through September 18: $30 Bike Walk Connecticut members; $40 non-members; $10 for youth under 18. After September 18 registration is $45 for members and non-members and $10 for youth under 18. More information and registration is available online at http://www.bikewalkct.org/discover-hartford.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 and/or for press images, contact Bike Walk Connecticut's Executive Director, Kelly Kennedy at kelly.kennedy@bikewalkct.org or call 860-904-2420.
Hartford, Conn. (July 22, 2013) — The 2013 Discover Hartford Bicycle Tour will take place Saturday, September 21, 2013 starting at Bushnell Park in Hartford.
The sixth annual tour will take place in conjunction with Hartford’s Envisionfest, a celebration of Hartford’s arts, food and culture. Hosted by Bike Walk Connecticut, the tour is a fun, family-friendly, leisurely ride that welcomes cyclists of all abilities to explore our capital city’s diverse neighborhoods, architectural and cultural gems and parks by bicycle. Riders can choose to ride a 10-, 25- or 40-mile route. Attractions across each route vary, however, some of the highlights along the way may include: Bushnell Park, the Soldier & Sailors Memorial Arch, the Wadsworth Atheneum, the Mark Twain House, the ButlerMcCook House and Gardens, the Colt building, the Bushnell, Riverside Park, Keney Park, Pope Park, The Hartford Circus Fire Memorial, Trinity College, Charter Oak Landing, the Artist Collective, Goodwin Park, Cedar Hill Cemetery, Elizabeth Park and more! When: Saturday, September 21, 2013. Check-in and late registration: 7-8 a.m. Opening ceremonies: 8:45 a.m. Ride leaves: 9 a.m. Ride returns on your own schedule. Cost through September 18: $30 Bike Walk Connecticut members; $40 non-members; $10 for youth under 18. After September 18 registration is $45 for members and nonmembers and $10 for youth under 18. More information and registration is available online at www.bikewalkct.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 and/or for press images, contact Bike Walk Connecticut’s Executive Director, Kelly Kennedy at kelly.kennedy@bikewalkct.org or call 860-904-2420. Hartford, CT (May 10, 2013) – Bike Walk Connecticut is promoting bike commuting all around the state on May 17, National Bike to Work Day. Bike commuting reduces traffic, avoids pollution, saves gas—and burns calories! More than half of the U.S. population lives within five miles of their workplace, making bicycling a realistic, fun way to get to work. Rookies, veteran commuters and everyone in between are encouraged to pledge to Bike to Work on May 17 at www.bikewalkct.org/bike-to-work.
WHAT: More than 20 Bike to Work Day breakfasts and events are scheduled in cities, towns, and at companies around the state for the morning of May 17. Nearly 30 separate meetups are also scheduled around the state. State government agencies are in on the action too, competing for the “Commissioner’s Cup.” WHEN: May 17, 2013, National Bike to Work Day HARTFORD EVENT: Old State House, 6:30 AM to 9 AM. Program at 8 AM. Rain or shine. STATEWIDE EVENTS: Other Bike to Work Day events will be held across the state. For details, see www.bikewalkct.org/event-locations. MEET UPS: For the full list of Meet Up locations, see www.bikewalkct.org/meet-ups. WHO: Bike Walk Connecticut, with Commissioners Jim Redeker (Transportation), Catherine Smith (Economic & Community Development) Dan Esty (Energy & Environment), and Hartford Mayor Pedro Segarra at the Hartford Old State House program. SPONSORS & PARTNERS: Bike Walk Connecticut, Travelers, The Village Ride, City of Hartford, Newington Bicycle, Berlin Bike, Bicycles East, REI, Suburban Ski and Bike, DEEP, and the City of Hartford. Bike Walk Connecticut, a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit organization, promotes bikeable, walkable communities for a healthier, cleaner Connecticut. Bike to Work on May 18: It’s Easier Than You Think! Morning Events in Hartford and West Hartford5/14/2012
MEDIA RELEASE For Immediate Release  Hartford, CT (May 14, 2012) – Bike to Work Day is May 18, and Bike Walk CT invites bicyclists to take part in events in Hartford or West Hartford. The weather looks good for Friday, but Bike to Work events will be held rain or shine. Bike commuting novices and veterans alike are invited to join Commissioner of Energy and Environmental Protection, Dan Esty, at the West Hartford and Hartford events. For the second year in a row, Commissioner Esty is doing the 35-mile ride from his home in Cheshire to West Hartford, then continuing on to Hartford. Asked why he backs bike commuting, Esty says “Cycling is a healthy, cheap, and environmentally-friendly alternative to driving to work. Any day that begins with a bike ride is a good day!” Bike to Work Breakfast at REI in West Hartford REI is sponsoring a free breakfast beginning at 6:30 am, with a ride departing for the downtown Hartford event at 7:15 am. REI is located in Blue Back Square, at 71 Raymond Road, West Hartford. Click here for map and directions. Or Join Bike Walk Connecticut at the Old State House in Hartford Bike Walk Connecticut will provide free breakfast to bike commuters from 6:30 am to 9 am, with a short program at 8 am. The event will be held on the east lawn of the Old State House, where numerous rides will be converging from all directions. Check http://www.bikewalkct.org/bike-to-work/meet-ups/ for the full schedule. Need Bike to Work Tips? For tips on biking to work, visit our tips page at www.bikewalkct.org and see the full list of bike to work activities at http://www.bikewalkct.org/bike-to-work. For more information contact Sandy Fry, Bike to Work and National Bike Challenge Chair for Bike Walk Connecticut at sfry@crcog.org , or Kelly Kennedy, Bike Walk CT Executive Director, at kelly.kennedy@bikewalkct.org. Bike Walk Connecticut is taking the lead to encourage bike commuting in Connecticut. Bike commuting reduces vehicle traffic, avoids pollution, saves gas—and burns calories! We are a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit organization dedicated to making bicycling and walking safe, feasible and attractive for a healthier, cleaner Connecticut. Visit us at www.bikewalkct.org. 
MEDIA RELEASE For Immediate Release  Hartford, CT (May 1, 2012) - Get out your bike—and don’t forget your helmet! Whether you are an occasional bicyclist, a regular bike commuter, a charity rider, mountain biker, or bicyclist of any type, take the National Bike Challenge! With May designated as National Bike Month and May 18 as National Bike to Work Day, Bike Walk Connecticut is taking the lead to encourage bike commuting. Bike commuting reduces vehicle traffic, avoids pollution, saves gas--and burns calories! Coinciding with National Bike Month is the launch of the National Bike Challenge (www.nationalbikechallenge.org), an online tool to inspire and empower millions of Americans to ride their bikes for transportation, recreation, and better health. The challenge runs from May 1 to August 31 and has a goal of “uniting 50,000 people to bike 10 million miles.” The challenge website makes it easy to log bike trips, whether they are commuting, for errands, for recreation or by mountain bike—any trip by bike counts. You’ll be eligible for prize drawings after logging just three days on your bike. You can even download a mobile app to keep track of your miles. Cyclists can compete in the challenge as an individual, as part of a workplace, as part of a community, or as part of a 10-member team. Connecticut will compete in the National Bike Challenge against other states on a points per capita basis. Bike Walk Connecticut is coordinating the state challenge and aims to make sure that Connecticut is well represented. To register your company for the challenge, go to www.endomondo.com/registration/organizations and enter the requested information. This lets coworkers select your company name from the dropdown menu when they register for the challenge. It also lets your company compete against businesses around the country. To register yourself for the challenge, go to www.nationalbikechallenge.org. Enter the basic information requested, then select your company name from the dropdown menu. Your company will compete against other businesses, and Connecticut is competing against other states. When you record your rides at the National Bike Challenge website, the online tool tallies the miles you’ve ridden, the calories you’ve burned, the money you’ve saved in gas, and the greenhouse gases you’ve avoided. All your bike rides, whether they are commuting, for errands, for recreation or by mountain bike, can be entered in the challenge. Then, be a Part of Bike to Work 2012: It’s Easier than You Think! Don’t forget, there will be many Bike to Work events during May and throughout the summer. Check www.bikewalkct.org/bike-to-work to find an event near you. Bike Walk Connecticut is a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit organization dedicated to making bicycling and walking safe, feasible and attractive for a healthier, cleaner Connecticut. Visit us at www.bikewalkct.org.
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