Please come to a DPW Committee meeting to give support to the proposed Euclid Bike Lane plan. The meeting is this Tuesday, July 11th at 5pm in the Common Council Chambers, on the third floor of City Hall, 233 East Washington St. 13202

Members of BikeCNY were given an opportunity to review the current plan and were pleased. We believe it will create a much safer cycling experience and is an acceptable compromise with those who believe that parking must be maintained.

We can expect that there will members of the loyal opposition in attendance, making their position known.  A strong presence by bike lane supporters will help the plan move forward.  

 

Cyclists, City of Syracuse Want Bike Lane Reopened | WRVO Public Media

This news report on the covered-over cycle track on University Avenue aired on WRVO on March 23rd. (Note that the audio is cut short. There is additional paragraph in the text that was originally aired.)

Cyclists, city of Syracuse want bike lane reopened | WRVO Public Media.

Tomorrow: Advocates Ask Albany to Guarantee Bike/Ped Funds | Streetsblog New York City

Two BikeCNY members are hoping to make it to this event. May the snow and wind stop.

Tomorrow: Advocates Ask Albany to Guarantee Bike/Ped Funds | Streetsblog New York City.

Moving DeWitt

Moving DeWitt is hosting discussions that began in January to gather information about ways to make the Town more pedestrian and bicycle friendly.  Bike CNY and other Syracuse groups are planning to contribute to the process.

Advocacy Day

Active Transportation Advocacy Day

Tuesday, February 3, 2015
Concourse – Empire State Plaza

Registration Ends Today!!

Join the New Yorkers for Active Transportation (NY4AT) coalition in meetings with our state senators and assembly members to tell them all New Yorkers, regardless of age or ability, need access to trails and community infrastructure that supports safe and healthy biking and walking.

Just REGISTER and then show up at the Concourse at the Empire State Plaza in Albany on Tuesday, February 3 at 9:00 a.m. for bagels and coffee. (We’ll send a more detailed agenda and a room location as we approach February 3.)

Begin with a morning briefing with experienced active transportation advocates, legislators, and staff from State transportation agencies. Following the morning program, you’ll join a team of fellow active transportation supporters in meetings with legislators throughout the day.

There is no cost to participate, but registration is required. Prior to Advocacy Day, we will email you your legislative appointments, team assignments, background information and talking points.

Stand Up for Biking and Walking in New York!
Register Today!

New Yorkers for Active Transportation (NY4AT) is a coalition dedicated to achieving equitable funding and policy for non-motorized transportation, including complete streets, community multi-use trails, and safer and increased levels of bicycling and walking in New York’s cities, villages, and towns. The coalition is coordinated by New York Bicycling Coalition, Tri State Transportation Campaign and Parks and Trails New York.

If you have questions about this campaign, please contact NYBC by phone at 518-436-0889 or email at nybc@nybc.net.

Biking in Syracuse in the Winter

An article just appeared in the Syracuse New Times about cycling in the winter in Syracuse. Here it is: http://www.syracusenewtimes.com/two-wheeling-tundra/

Wow! Pittsburgh’s Bike/Ped/Transit-friendly Mayor

From the description by the creators of this video:

Pittsburgh’s Mayor Peduto Wants to “Leapfrog” Your City in Bicycling & Livability

from STREETFILMS on Vimeo.

Mayor Bill Peduto is putting the rest of the United States on notice. His city is on the rise and he fully intends on implementing bicycling, walking and complete streets policies that enhance and make his city more attractive to young talent and business. For the first time in over half a century, Pittsburgh is expecting an increase in residents as the trend in the number of people moving back to cities grows.

In September, the ProWalk ProBike ProPlace conference took place in Pittsburgh and the energy of the city was on display as was Mayor Peduto, who was very active at the event. The hope local advocates have for the mayor is apparent as Pittsburgh has implemented its first true protected bike lanes downtown and is looking to create a more multi-modal city that more fairly balances transportation modes.

When talking with the Mayor it's immediately obvious how well-versed in urbanism and the history of cities he is. Even so, he went on a study tour with The Green Lane Project to experience some of the best bicycling in Denmark this past summer.

Our interview with Mayor Peduto touches on quite a few topics of Streetfilms' audience will love. There is a real momentum: cities across the country have been electing mayors who understand one of the keys to growing a city is having equitable transportation policies that work for all people.

Diane Rehm Show on Cycling Safety Today

Here’s the link to listen to the show.  There was some concern that the majority of the time would be spent looking at a recent safety study, the validity of which has been questioned… but it was an interesting and mainly positive discussion.

http://thedianerehmshow.org/shows/2014-10-30/sharing_the_road_adapting_to_a_new_culture_of_cycling

Update on Syracuse Bike Lanes

Paul Mercurio, Syracuse’s traffic planner and bike coordinator, met with us yesterday and reported a number of projects in the works.

Some of What’s Going On Now

A new cycle-track going in now on Waverly and Comstock, to connect the University Ave. cycle-track with Euclid Ave. There have been some changes to the intersection of Euclid and Comstock (now there’s a northbound turn lane into campus and a new bike box coming out of campus) and more will happen in the next few months or early spring.

All new projects will use epoxy paint, instead of latex, which wears off so quickly. Epoxy will be installed by contractors, as the city does not yet have the equipment to use epoxy.  It is anticipated that the city will have its own epoxy-paint sprayers in a year or two.

Plans are in the works for bike lanes on Salina Street, from Adams to Water Streets. The design calls for the bike lane between parked cars and the curb. While not as good as a cycle-track, it does separate the cyclist from moving vehicles.

Current work on the Connective Corridor through downtown is drawing to a close for the winter. But the plan is for a bike lane that makes its way to Fayette Street west of State St., then turns into a sharrow for the remaining blocks to Salina St.

West St now has separated bike lanes through much of its length. Further refinements, including signage and signals, will be coming. Treatment of Onondaga St. at the south end of West St. is being studied.

This new activity — and more that I know I have forgotten — is well-appreciated.  Obviously, there is much more to be done.  A high priority for BikeCNY is on creating connecting bicycle infrastructure throughout the city, so that people can use their bikes to get safely from north to south and east to west.

We encourage you to join us in making this happen.

Meeting with Syracuse Traffic Planner Paul Mercurio on 10/21

After a long pause, BikeCNY started meeting again this past summer.  (After an even longer pause, I updated the website.)

We will be meeting at 5:30 on Tuesday, October 21, 2014 at the Brady Faith Center, 404 South Ave.,
Syracuse, New York 13204. (Across from the Southwest Community Center).

Come join us!