Email Newsletter September 14, 2005
Issue 52

UPCOMING MEETINGS:
* Next MB/PV meeting Wed. 9/14, N'ton
* Leeds RT hearing Wed. 9/21, N'ton

NEWS:
* Bike safety educators still on a roll!
* Norwottuck Rail-Trail extension: construction to start (again) THIS MONTH!
* Northampton bike lanes -- bad design repeated
* New "Share The Road" signs on Route 5

OTHER EVENTS:
* Kevin J. Pecor Foundation fundraiser Sun 10/2, Chicopee
* 2005 New England Velomobile Rally Sat 10/8, Hatfield
* MassBike Communication workshop Sat 10/8, Boston area
* Smith College Transportation Fair, Thu 11/10, N'ton

====================================================================

Dear Pioneer Valley Bicyclist,

Maybe it's just the seasonal return of students, but it seems to me
there are more bikes than ever on the roads these days. Could it be
related to the $3/gallon signs at local gas stations?

At the same time, Ralph Sturgen's recent bike safety class observed
more than 80% of cyclists in downtown Northampton riding the wrong way
(against traffic), riding on the sidewalk, or otherwise demonstrating
egregious ignorance of laws and risks governing bicycling in
Massachusetts. At least one was even a police officer.

So: If you're not already a MassBike member, or you need to renew your
membership, please join online at www.massbike.org. We have lots of
work to do!

UPCOMING MEETINGS:
==================

* Next MB/PV meeting Wed. 9/14
------------------------------

Date: Wed. Sept. 14 (next meetings: Oct. 12, Nov. 9,...)
Time: 7:00-8:30 pm
Place: Seelye Hall 304, Smith College, Northampton

Agenda:
-- Introductions/visions
-- Upcoming meetings
-- Rail Trail updates (E'ton, N'ton, Belchertown...)
-- PV Joint Transportation Commission
-- Bike Education classes: update and plans
-- N'ton bike lanes
-- N'ton bike parking
-- Planet Bike lights, revisited

Additional agenda items? Email to james@ast.smith.edu

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

* Leeds RT hearing Wed. 9/21, N'ton
---------------------------------------------

In June the Northampton city council unanimously approved taking by
eminent domain title to the abandoned rail line extending from Look
Park to the Williamsburg line. Now the design for the future rail
trail needs to be settled.

Please come to the public hearing Wed. Sept. 21 at 7pm to provide your
input. Do you want an asphalt path? Stone dust? Part one, part the
other? How wide? Wood fences vs. chainlink vs. none? Any other
issues?

Leeds RT hearing
Wed. 9/21, 7-9 pm
JFK Middle School
Bridge Rd., Northampton

NEWS:
====

* Bike safety educators still on a roll!
----------------------------------------

New Pioneer Valley League Cycling Instructors Ruthy Woodring and Ralph
Sturgen have not only been spreading the gospel of how to bike safely
in traffic with beginners, they've also been helping to "train the
trainers" -- preparing other PV cyclists to take LCI classes so they
can spread the gospel themselves. Thanks to all of them for their
efforts in Northampton, Easthampton, and beyond.

Here's a link to the Springfield Republican article on Ralph's class:

http://www.masslive.com/search/index.ssf?/base/columnist-0/1124265044240720.xml?csww

Interested in taking a class or becoming certified to teach one
yourself? Contact Jami Albro-Fisher at <jami@lrnconsulting.com>.

* Norwottuck Rail-Trail extension: construction to start (again) THIS MONTH!
----------------------------------------------------------------------------

On August 18, we celebrated the official groundbreaking of the
Norwottuck Rail-Trail extension with Lt. Gov. Healey, Secretary of
Transportation John Cogliano, Northampton Mayor Clare Higgins, and
other officials. Local TV and newspapers all covered the event, which was
marked by sunny skies, shiny new shovels, and mutual accolade from all
parties for overcoming the countless obstacles to the project over the
last 15 years.

As of this writing, we have no confirmed report of actual construction
yet taking place. But we remain optimistic that in the VERY NEAR
FUTURE, we'll see some progress on the ground. Stay tuned!

* Northampton bike lanes -- bad design repeated
-----------------------------------------------

The City of Northampton made the progressive move two years ago of
striping bike lanes on both Bridge St. and South St. Unfortunately,
they failed to consult MassBike on the design, and several serious
flaws showed up in the new lanes: they hug the curb, even when a
bicyclist shouldn't; they allow wide motor vehicle travel lanes,
encouraging speeding; they have no "bike lane" markings. More
unfortunately still, despite MassBike's pointing out the lanes'
shortcoming several times last year and adoption by the city of a set
of explicit bike lane standards, the city has repainted all the bike
lanes in their inadequate configuration.

If you agree that bike lanes on South St. and Bridge Rd. should be
designed better, call the Northampton mayor's office at 587-1249 to
register your opinion.

* New "Share The Road" signs on Route 5
---------------------------------------

Responding to a written request from MassBike, MassHighway has posted
"Share the Road" signs along Route 5 between Northampton and
Easthampton, a busy stretch of highway with narrow shoulders and
high-speed traffic. While the signs are partly hidden by vegetation,
we hope that they will remind drivers to watch for cyclists, and we
commend MassHighway for their action.

OTHER EVENTS:
=============

* Kevin J. Pecor Foundation fundraiser Sun 10/2, Chicopee
---------------------------------------------------------

Volunteers are needed to help staff a MassBike table at this annual
event. Kevin's mother, Sheila, has been a strong supporter and ally
of MassBike in the last three years, and was awarded the 2004 Bike
Advocate of the Year award for her efforts to strengthen state laws
protecting bicyclists.

Contact James Lowenthal <james@ast.smith.edu> to volunteer.

For more info:

http://www.kevinjpecor.org/

* 2005 New England Velomobile Rally Sat 10/8, Hatfield
------------------------------------------------------

Think a recumbent bike is as way-out as bikes get? Think again!

For more info: www.velomobiles.net.

* MassBike Communication workshop Sat 10/8, Boston area
-------------------------------------------------------

How should MassBike/Pioneer Valley communicate its efforts to the
press and the public? How should we advertise our presence and grow
our organization? Please consider attending this workshop by MassBike
Executive Director Dorie Clark and bringing new ideas back to the Valley.

* Smith College Transportation Fair, Thu 11/10, N'ton
-----------------------------------------------------

This annual fair in the Campus Center aims to educate the Smith
community about transportation options. MassBike has been invited to
staff a table from 11-3:30. Volunteers are needed! Please contact
James Lowenthal <james@ast.smith.edu> to help out, esp. 11-12 and
2-3:30.