Email Newsletter 08/08/01

Contents:

UPCOMING MEETINGS:
* Next MB/PV meeting Wed. 8/8 -- Smith College, Northampton
* Northampton Transportation Committee Tue. 8/21
* Joint Transportation Commission Wed. 9/12

NEWS:
* Northampton Rail-Trail: Challenge grant issued
* Norwottuck Rail-Trail completion: "more study"
* Manhan Rail-Trail forges ahead
* UMass Rail-Trail extension: construction nearly finished
* "My bike" on-line -- profiles of PV bicyclists
* MB/PV webmaster needed!

OTHER EVENTS:
* Anti-SUV rally Fri. 8/10, Northampton
* MassBike Freedom Ride Sat. 8/18 -- Northampton-based!
* Critical Mass ride Fri. 8/31 -- New routes?

Dear Pioneer Valley Bicyclist,

UPCOMING MEETINGS:

* Next MB/PV meeting Wed. 8/8 -- Smith College, Northampton

MassBike/Pioneer Valley meets on the 2nd Wednesday of every month at 7:00 pm. (Next meetings: Sept. 12, Oct. 10,...)

Place: Room 304, Seelye Hall, Smith College, Northampton
Date: Wed. Aug. 8
Time: 7:00-8:30 pm

Agenda:
-- Northampton extension of Norwottuck RT
-- Northampton Rail-Trail Challenge Grant!
-- MassBike Freedom Ride planning
-- Form new "Friends of Northampton Rail-Trails" group?

As usual, pot-luck refreshments provided and consumed by you and us.

* Northampton Transportation Committee Tue. 8/21

The Northampton Transportation Committee meets every three weeks or so. Next meeting is in the hearing room on the 2nd floor of City Hall, Tuesday, 8/21, from 5-6:30 pm. Open to the public.

* Joint Transportation Commission 9/12

The JTC "comprises representatives from local, regional, and state governments, as well as private groups and individuals" and sets transportation policy for the whole Pioneer Valley region (from www.pvpc.org). Next meeting is at PVPC headquarters in West Springfield, Wed., 9/12 at 10:15 am, but is preceded by a tour of Union Station in Sprinfield, soon to be rehabilitated into a new multi-modal transportation center (bus/train -- and bike?). Call PVPC to reserve a hard-hat (really!) at 413-781-6045.

NEWS: ====

* Northampton Rail-Trail: Challenge grant issued

Here's a chance for us all to support the completion of a vital link in the region's bikeway network. It's also a great opportunity to grow MassBike's mission, make new contacts and increase membership, and spread the word about transportation priorities in the Pioneer Valley and beyond.

>From Wayne Feiden , Northampton Director of Planning:

The City of Northampton needs your help to connect Northampton Bike Path with King Street. We received a $1,000 donation and a $4,000 challenge grant to help connect the city rail trail/bicycle path to King Street. We will receive the challenge grant if we receive donations matching the grant by December of this year.

As you may know, the Northampton Bike Path ends at State Street. From State Street there is a smaller trail to Stop and Shop. Stop and Shop has agreed to build a bicycle spur around the edge of their parking lot to their entrance road at King Street. To make this trail extension really work, we need to fund two small improvements:

1. Add a pedestrian cycle to the traffic signal at King Street. There is currently no pedestrian cycle, making it a very dangerous intersection.

2. Build a small trail extension from the Northampton Bike Path to the entrance to Stop and Shop.

Contributions will help make these two projects a reality. It will also help build momentum for the bigger project of connecting the Northampton Bike Path with the Norwottuck Rail Trail, with Downtown Northampton, and with the Manhan Rail Trail in Easthampton.

Contributions should be made to the City of Northampton and delivered to my attention, 210 Main Street, Room 11, Northampton, MA 01060

Wayne Feiden, AICP Director of Planning and Development City of Northampton

* Norwottuck Rail-Trail completion: "more study"

The Damon Rd. crossing continues to be a sticking point in the completion of the Norwottuck nearly to downtown Northampton. A temporary at-grade (level with the road) crossing will include a new pedestrian-activated stoplight. The City has called for the crossing to be moved north, which will require redesign; we think the current location is fine, from the standpoint of both safety and traffic flow. The plans are now almost at 100% and construction could begin almost immediately, but redesign could set the schedule back a year or more. Meanwhile, the City wants a bridge or tunnel crossing in the long-term. MassHighway has agreed to fund the $88K needed to study both the crossing and the bridge/tunnel option. We look forward to seeing the results of the study, and predict it will show an at-grade crossing to be a fine solution, and obviously much cheaper than a million-dollar bridge. However, a bridge crossing may be a foregone conclusion. Either way, don't expect ground-breaking any time soon.

See recent articles in the Daily Hampshire Gazette at

DEAD://www.gazettenet.com/07102001/news/4032.htm
DEAD://www.gazettenet.com/07132001/opinion/4179.htm (Editorial)
http://www.gazettenet.com/08032001/news/4950.htm

* Manhan Rail-Trail forges ahead

>From Stephen Donnelly :

Here's the scoop on the Manhan:
- 100% design is completed!
- we anticipate bids to go out in time for construction to actually begin in the spring
- Easthampton is in the process of installing bike racks around town in anticipation of the trail
- we are having a 'silent auction' fundraiser at the Easthampton Fall Festival at the high school on September 29 and 30. All are welcome. Thanks, Steve

* UMass Rail-Trail extension: construction nearly finished

Ride the Norwottuck across Snell Street in Amherst and you'll see that Snell Street is actually being moved! This will accommodate the new ramp off the Rail-Trail and take the trail to University Drive, which the new trail spur will parallel all the way to UMass. Most of the new trail is already graded and paved, with completion expected as early as next month (?). Before the snow flies, cyclists will be able to ride car-free almost all the way between Northampton and UMass (with Damon Rd. to downtown N'ton being the remaining missing link).

* "My bike" on-line -- profiles of PV bicyclists

Check out the fabulous, inspired and inspiring photos of and quotes from BikeWeek participants on the MB/PV and BikeWeek websites at

http://www.pvbikeweek.com/mybike/

* MB/PV webmaster needed!

Speaking of websites, we're losing one of our stars, MB/PV webmaster Abby Schoneboom, to the concrete jungle; she's starting grad school in NYC.

Is there anyone out there with good internet skills and a passion for bike advocacy who could take on the post of MassBike/Pioneer Valley webmaster? A few loyal MassBikers, notably (MP), have stepped into the breach, and Abby has already started training sessions. But if some computer guru is ready and willing to take over or lend a hand, please reply to pvweb$NO$SPAM$@massbike.org and to Abby at abby@hampshire.edu.

To see what Abby's done with the website, check it out at:

www.massbike.org/mbpv

Thanks for all the wonderful work, Abby!

OTHER EVENTS:

* Anti-SUV rally Fri. 8/10, Northampton

A protest against the sale and use of gas-guzzling sport utility vehicles has been planned for this Friday in front of the Toyota and Lincoln-Mercury dealerships on King St. in Northampton. The protest is being organized and led by Religious Witness for the Earth (www.religiouswitness.org), which led a similar protest last month in Lynn, MA that received broad media coverage (e.g., http://tdc-www.harvard.edu/massbike/email/archive/200106/0054.html)

Members of MassBike/Pioneer Valley will be joining the demonstration, which takes place from 3-6 pm. Come join us! It will be a peaceful, respectful rally intended to focus on educating people about the environmental effects of their consumer choices. Passersby will be encouraged to sign an "SUV Pledge" promising never/never again to buy an SUV until their fuel economy is dramatically improved.

There will be (oops! was) a poster and puppet making party at First Churches Northampton (129 Main St.) Tue. Aug. 7 from 4-7 pm.

For more info, contact Rev. Kelly Gallager at 585-0586 or Rev. Rich Fournier at 585-1551, or email SUVpledge2001@hotmail.com.

* MassBike Freedom Ride Sat. 8/18 -- Northampton-based!

This is a real showcase opportunity for MassBike/Pioneer Valley, and I hope our membership will really turn out in force to ride or, better yet, to volunteer support for the day or at least part of it. The one-day tour, which evolved from the week-long, state-wide MassBike Tour of years past, is a fund-raiser and a bully pulpit for advertising MassBike's mission: Bikes Belong!

Be sure to check out the Freedom Ride webpage at

http://www.massbike.org/events/mbt2001/

>From Tim Baldwin, Executive Director of MassBike:

Hello Mass Cyclists,

The Mass. Bike Freedom ride is Saturday, August 18th, in the very happening town of Northampton. The Bike Freedom ride is the annual cycling celebration of the Massachusetts Bicycle Coalition, and proceeds will benefit making Massachusetts a better place to ride a bike.

The ride is not a race, and will have cycling activities for all, including a 100 mile century tour, a 100k ride, and a short family route. You can find out more about the ride at www.MassBike.org, and you can register online at www.BikeReg.com.

In addition, we're looking for volunteers to help support the ride. As a volunteer, you'll get MassBike's everlasting love, a t-shirt, food and fun, re-imbursement for travel, and an invitation to a post-race party sponsored by the Northampton Cycling Club (thank you NCC!).

Please contact Tim at bikexec@massbike.org if you're interested in helping out. Many thanks! Listed below are our volunteer opportunities:

Registration - 3-5people from 6:00am to 11am
Food Stop Cummington - 3 people (7am-12pm)
Food Stop Hawley - 2 people (8am - 1pm)
Food Stop Shelburne - 2 people (to assist McCusker's Market) (9am -2pm)
Roving Sag for century tour - 2 cars
Roving Sag for Family Ride - 1 car
Bike Rodeo, Rodeo registration, Helmet check - 4 people to assist Noho
Police (12-4pm)

* Critical Mass ride Fri. 8/31 -- New routes?

Has the original Pioneer Valley CM run its course? Time for a change? Tired of riding on Route 9?

Here's a suggestion that has come up several times in recent months: Instead of riding between Amherst and Northampton, we could hold two rides, each one WITHIN the two towns. This could enhance the celebration-like feeling of critical mass, allow for more people to hear its message, let us hand out literature more easily, and save folks an unneccessary round-trip (of course you could still do it if you want to!). What do you think? Vote with your feet!

Date: Friday, 8/31 (next ride Friday 9/28)
Place: Amherst Common ***AND*** Northampton's Pulaski Park
Time: 5:15 (meet)/5:30 (ride)
Route: You decide!