Email Newsletter 10/11/00

Contents:

UPCOMING MEETINGS:
* Next MB/PV meeting IN NORTHAMPTON Wed. 10/11
* Northeast Bicycle Advocacy conference 10/28 (Hartford)
* Greenfield's Franklin County Bikes! 10/20

NEWS:
* Ground broken for UMass RT Connector
* Easthampton: Manhan RT bids opened
* Northampton: Elm St. "nub-outs" nearly completed
* Northampton Transportation Committee approved
* Norwottuck RT in the Globe

OTHER EVENTS:
* Critical Mass Friday 10/27 -- Halloween Ride!
* Bike Week 2001 (May 13-19) planning under way

Dear Pioneer Valley MassBikers,

Hope you're all enjoying the beautiful colors. Here's an update on some bike-related issues taking place in the Pioneer Valley this month:

UPCOMING MEETINGS:

* Next MB/PV meeting IN NORTHAMPTON Wed. 10/11

The next monthly meeting of MassBike/Pioneer Valley will take place

Wednesday 11 October
7:00 - 9:00 pm
Watson Room, Forbes Library, Northampton

Top agenda item is how to help the Northampton extension of the Norwottuck Rail Trail move forward -- currently in limbo as cars on Damon Rd. take precedence over bikes. Other items include advance planning for Bike Week 2001 (already!!).

(Following meetings Nov. 8, Dec. 13...)

* Northeast Bicycle Advocacy conference 10/28 (Hartford)

The Connecticut Bicycle Coalition and the Thunderhead Alliance (of bicycle advocacy organizations) are organizing an advocacy workshop for Oct. 28 in Hartford. MassBike is heavily involve in promoting and planning the event. Some advocacy heavyweights are presenting, including Richard Olken (Bikes Belong), John Kaehny (NYC's Transportation Alternatives), and Jeff Miller (from Bicycle Coalition of Maine). If you're interested in attending, or presenting, contact MassBike Executive Director Tim Baldwin at bikexec@massbike.org.

* Greenfield's Franklin County Bikes! 10/20

The new Franklin County Bikes! group meets at the People's Pint in Greenfield the 1st and 3rd Friday of each month at 1 p.m. Next meeting 10/20. Email thepeoplespint@hotmail.com for more info.

NEWS:

* Ground broken for UMass RT Connector

At last! On a bright, sunny afternoon at the former Victory Supermarket site on University Drive in Amherst, a cast of luminaries including US Congressman John Olver, State Rep. Ellen Story, State Sen. Stan Rosenberg, and MassHighway District 2 chief John Hoey attended the historic and long-awaited groundbreaking of the UMass Rail-Trail Connector, which will link the Norwottuck RT to the UMass-Amherst campus. Many arrived by bike to celebrate the event, which included speeches by all of the above and more.

Read the article in the Daily Hampshire Gazette at
http://www.gazettenet.com/09192000/news/29680.htm

* Easthampton: Manhan RT bids opened

Although it was reported in last month's newsletter that awarding of the bids for the Manhan Rail-Trail had been delayed, the bids had in fact been opened, and the project does appear to be moving forward.

>From Steve Donnelly:

Bids for the removal of railroad ties and preparing the trail for paving were opened on 8/29/00. There were 6 bids. Low bid was $188,500.00 from Makin Construction of Greenfield. MA Highway will review bids, and hopefully give the order to proceed within approximately 6 weeks. If all goes well, the work will commence this year before winter. Hopefully bids for paving and finishing will start in the spring, resulting in a paved bike path some time next year (again, that's if all goes well).

* Northampton: Elm St. "nub-outs" nearly completed

Traffic along Elm St. is already noticeably calmer, thanks not only to the new "nub-outs" (sidewalk extensions at pedestrian crosswalks) -- but also to the temporary road closures imposed to allow their construction! Work began on the last set of nub-outs this week; striping of the new bike lanes is scheduled to begin once the nub-outs are completed.

* Northampton Transportation Committee approved

The Northampton City Council has approved two of the top priority recommendations of the Mayor's Task Force on Safer Street: the establishment of a permanent Transportation Committee, and the preparation of a citywide Transportation Plan. Both moves will help the city to develop a transportation system that is balanced among different modes, including bicycling and walking, and that safeguardes the city's ecological, economic, and public health.

The new committee will include five citizens appointed by the mayor; efforts are underway to make sure at least one bicycle advocate is among them.

* Norwottuck RT in the Globe
http://www.boston.com/dailyglobe2/274/living/Freewheeling_into_fall+.shtml

OTHER EVENTS:

* Critical Mass Friday 10/27 -- Halloween Ride!

Come celebrate Halloween by bicycle! Wear an outrageous costume to the next Critical Mass ride.

Date: Friday, 10/27 (next ride Friday 11/24, day after T-day)
Place: Amherst Common
Time: 5:15 (meet)/5:30 (ride)
Route: Route 9 over the Coolidge Bridge to Northampton

* Bike Week 2001 (May 13-19) planning under way

Yes, it's already time to start planning for Bike Week 2001! This year's inaugural events were a huge success, and MassBike will once again be helping to organize an even bigger success in 2001. Come to the Oct. 11 MB/PV meeting and/or contact Catherine Ratte (cratte@pvpc.org; 413-781-6045) to help out.