Cycle in the City 10/2

Wow! It is almost October.

The next, and last for the year, ride will be next Sunday, October 2nd, beginning around 9 am at the Creek Walk trailhead in Armory Square (Jefferson Street on the circle around the M.O.S.T.)

The short route (10 miles) is relatively flat with the major hill being on Summit Avenue going to Upper Onondaga Park.

The long route (16 miles) follows the short route but with a 6 mile loop that has significant hills since it passes by the lower entrance to Onondaga Community College.

The maps can be found at http://www.ongov.net/health/documents/October2016Routes.pdf

On the long route, John Allen plans to lead the loop in the opposite direction than indicated on the map. This means that the uphills will be steeper and the downhills less steep but longer. It is safer because it avoids speeding down Glenwood Avenue past the Bellevue Country Club and having to stop to check the traffic on Bellevue and it avoids the steep downhill on McDonald Rd that, to him, could result in a serious accident, and having to stop at Velasko Rd. Anyway, we have done the route in the map direction twice, but never in this direction. Walking part of the hill is permitted.

Hope to see you for the rides.

Funds Available for Extending Lake Trail and Creekwalk, and enhance the Connective Corridor

From an article by Mark Weiner in today’s Post-Standard:

The federal government will provide almost $10 million to extend the Onondaga Creekwalk in Syracuse and build a new section of the recreation trail looping around Onondaga Lake.

The grant money also will pay for $475,000 worth of additions to the Connective Corridor linking Syracuse University to downtown, New York’s two U.S. senators said Wednesday.

The $10 million had been earmarked for other Syracuse-area transportation projects in 2005, but for unexplained reasons it was never spent. Federal rules blocked the grants from being used for other projects.

U.S. senators Charles Schumer and Kirsten Gillibrand backed legislation that gave the Federal Highway Administration and state Department of Transportation the flexibility to repurpose the money. The grants will help pay for:

› An extension of the Onondaga Lake recreation trail for 2.8 miles from the New York State Fair area to the southern shore in Syracuse. The federal government would provide $5 million toward the $13.3 million project. When complete, it would connect the lake trail with the Onondaga Creekwalk and Erie Canal trail.

› An extension of the Onondaga Creekwalk from Armory Square south for 2.2 miles to West Colvin Street. The federal government would provide $4 million for the pedestrian and bike trail along Onondaga Creek.

› About $475,000 worth of improvements on East Genesee Street as part of the Syracuse Connective Corridor. The corridor provides bike paths and other infrastructure to link Syracuse University with downtown Syracuse.

Under new federal rules, the Federal Highway Administration can now redirect federal funds earmarked for specific projects if the money remains unspent for more than 10 years.

Schumer had previously supported Onondaga County’s application for a $10 million competitive federal grant for the lake trail project, but the county did not make the final cut for funding. Contact Mark Weiner by email or at 571-970-3751.

Cyclists pedal along the west shore trail around Onondaga Lake last year. Money will go to make improvements and extend the trail. Michael Greenlar/mgreenlar@syracuse.com

Remaining Bike Month Events Announced

Bike Month Events

May is National Bike Month, sponsored by the League of American Bicyclists and celebrated in communities from coast to coast. Established in 1956, National Bike Month is a chance to showcase the many benefits of bicycling — and encourage more folks to giving biking a try. Syracuse will be celebrating Bike Month through the end of May. Several events are planned  throughout the City. This Bike Month there are five remaining events for you to choose from:

Cycle in the City Part 1: Ride

When: Sunday, May 15th from 10:00am – 11:30am

Syracuse’s Cycle in the City free monthly guided bike ride program kicks off its 2016 season by giving participants the options of 5, 10, or 15 mile rides that will depart from the Creekwalk Trailhead at the MOST.  For more information contact Bob at bdougher11@gmail.com.

Cycle in the City Part 2: 40 Below Cycle Syracuse Bike Celebration

When: Sunday, May 15th from 11:30am – 1:30pm

Join bike riders all along the 100 block of Montgomery Street for a pop up gathering of cyclists and bicycle enthusiasts from across Central New York.  Cyclists can enjoy free bike parking and relax outdoors with food and beverage on sale from Recess Coffee, J Ryan’s and Wolff’s Beirgarten.  In collaboration with 40 Below and Cycle in the City, the event will begin immediately following the ride on Sunday morning (see event above).

Bike to Work Day, and Lunch Time Cycle in the City Ride

When: Wednesday, May 18th from 12:00 pm – 12:45 pm

Bring your bike to work on Wednesday and join in the lunchtime ride, presented by Cycle in the City. The ride will start and end at the Creekwalk Trailhead at the MOST and will take participants through Downtown and up to the University neighborhood.  The ride will last about 30 minutes and will be a great lunchtime activity.  For more information contact Bob at bdougher11@gmail.com.

Downtown Living Tour Bike Share

When: Saturday, May 21st from 12:00pm – 5:00pm

Be a part of Syracuse’s first public bike share program, organized by 40 Below.  40 Below volunteers will be stationed at three stops along the Downtown Living Tour. Tour-goers will have an option to participate in the bike share program, and ride from Tour Headquarters, located at 110 Walton Street to select tour stops along the route.

The cost will be $5 per individual to ride for the afternoon.  This is a great opportunity to learn about Syracuse’s bike culture first hand!  For more information about the Downtown Living Tour, please visit downtownsyracuse.com/downtownlivingtour

To sign up, click here.

Cuse Cruise

When: Wednesday, May 25th from 6:15pm – 8:15pm

This event will be a slow bike ride that is perfect for children 12 and over who are comfortable riding on the street.  The slow pace will give riders a unique perspective of Syracuse and its neighborhoods.  This 10 mile ride will start and end in Hanover Square.

To sign up, click here.

Bicycle Commuting 101 Workshop Cancelled

Unfortunately, this workshop has been cancelled due insufficient participant numbers to meet the minimum numbers set by the leaders, who were driving in from Albany.

Perhaps we will attempt this again.

Do take part in the rest of local Bike Month activities, which will be listed shortly.

The Syracuse Metropolitan Transportation Council will host a public meeting this Thursday, December 3 at 5:30 p.m. to share potential permanent route options for connecting the Erie Canalway Trail between Camillus and DeWitt, as well as conceptual ideas for transforming specific locations along these routes.

The meeting will take place at the Museum of Science & Technology (500 South Franklin Street) in Syracuse (use entrance across from Sound Garden).

Crucial DPW Committee Meeting on Monday

THE CITY OF SYRACUSE COMMON COUNCIL DPW COMMITTEE MEETS MONDAY NOVEMBER 30TH AT 5:00 PM in Common Council Chambers to Discuss the University Bike Plan.

The Council has been asked to approve funds for designing and implementing this project and there are many questions about it and there is also opposition to it.

If you want to have improved bike infrastructure in the University Area, then please come to this meeting and demonstrate and voice your support.

Cycle in the City Ride Sunday Oct 4th

The October Cycle in the City ride will be this coming Sunday (October 4th) at 9 am beginning at the trail head of the Creek Walk in Armory Square (Jefferson Street). This is the last ride for this year.

Both the short ride and the long ride will use the same route, with a couple of extensions to make the long route longer. The short route is about 11.6 miles long. The long route has an additional loop of about a mile and then a ride out the Creek Walk to Onondaga Lake (and back) at the end.

The route uses a few streets that we have not used (or used much) including Milton Avenue, Green Street, Butternut Street, and Rugby. The routes should be on the City and County (Health Dept) website in the next day or two, hopefully, at http://www.ongov.net/health/documents/October2015Routes.pdf

Setting Our Focus for the Coming Year

Our September BikeCNY meeting is scheduled for this coming Tuesday, September 15th, at 5:45 in the upstairs meeting room at Beauchamp Library.  Beauchamp is on E. Colvin Street at the corner of S. Salina.

As a group whose purpose is to advocate for improvements in cycling infrastructure, we see much work to do. The focus of this meeting is to prioritize our activities and set goals for the coming months and, possibly, years. Some of the issues before us are–

• more bicycle infrastructure, including bike lanes for Euclid, connecting existing bike infrastructure, Creek Walk phase 2, Canal Trails
• increased safety through better infrastructure, such as adding bike boxes, bike traffic lights
• education of bicyclists and other road users, including news editorials, bike rodeos, bicycle commuter training
• Bike Month 2016 events
• be an advisory committee to the new city transportation planner and DPW/traffic planning
• assist the city in applying for Bike Friendly City status
• collaborate with other groups who are promoting bike safety, bike infrastructure, etc.

You may have other ideas. Please join us to share your thoughts and concerns.

Cycle in the City – Sunday Sep 13th

Join a bevy of other folks, both new and experienced cyclists, for another Cycle in the City

When: Sun, September 13, 10am – 12:00 pm

Where: Creekwalk Trailhead, Jefferson St., at the west end of the Armory, Downtown, Syracuse, NY (map)

CYCLE IN THE CITY is a series of FREE guided bicycle rides through Syracuse on various Sundays throughout the year. The last two for 2015 are this coming Sunday, September 13, and Sunday October 4. Please note the new location. The Rides this Sunday start at 10:00 a.m. No registration is required. The Basic ride is 13 miles, but there is also an 18 mile route.

Helmets are required! Riders must be age 12 or older. Questions? Call 435-3280.

Here is a link to the ride maps for this Sunday.

http://www.ongov.net/health/documents/Sept2015Routes.pdf

Routes will be posted the week before each ride at ongov.net/health

Cycle in the City this Sunday 8/16

Cycle in the City

Free Guided Bike Rides in Syracuse

Choose a 10 or 16 mile Ride.

Rides start at 9am, Sunday August 16 at Jefferson Street in Armory Square at the Creekwalk Trailhead.

MUST WEAR A BICYCLE HELMET

RIDERS MUST BE 12 OR OLDER

Route for this Ride: http://www.ongov.net/health/documents/August2015Routes.pdf

Other dates:  September 13, October 4

For more information call 435-3280