More and more people are turning to bikes, e-bikes and e-scooters for transportation, recreation and health. At the same time we are seeing more campaigns and complaints against active transportation. You may recall President Trump’s argument that congestion pricing wasn’t needed in NYC. Instead, he claimed NYC needed to make more room for motor vehicles by eliminating bike lanes.

(Sometimes advocacy works!) November 2024 February 2026 In November of 2024, at our commemoration for the World Day of Remembrance for Victims of Traffic, Albany Bicycle Coalition, Capital Streets and Walkable Albany joined in calling for an Albany County law to require motorists to give bicyclists, pedestrians and other vulnerable road users 3 feet of space when passing.

Sadly, it was recently reported that a man died when an e-bike he was riding was involved in a crash with a motor vehicle on Clinton Avenue. The crash happened Sunday, January 3rd at 1:10am. We wish to express our sorrow to this man’s family and friends for their loss. We do not know the specifics of the crash at this time, however, it can be said that such tragedies are happening with greater frequency.

On Friday, November 14th, local members of the NYS Safe Streets Coalition, Albany Bicycle Coalition, Walkable Albany, Capital Streets, Families for Safe Streets, New York Bicycling Coalition, elected leaders, officials and others gathered in recognition of the victims of traffic violence in Albany County and the World Day of Remembrance for Road Traffic Victims.

Albany Social Cycling and Albany Bike Valet are two incredible additions to Albany. OK, Albany Social Cycling has been around a couple years, but more and more people are just discovering it. ASC started with a small group of riders connected with Matt McGowan and his Freewheel Bike Shop meeting up Thursday evenings in Washington Park. These free Thursday rides have become the place to be for people of all ages and riding abilities, with all kinds of bikes.

Albany Bicycle Coalition sent the following email letter to the Town of Bethlehem and NYS Dept. of Transportation (DOT) on March 12, 2025. The area under discussion can be seen in Google satellite view. The new Blessing Road multi-use path is scheduled to be extended this spring, to the Slingerlands Bypass Route 85 traffic circle. We applaud the work of the Town of Bethlehem to build the multi-use path along the length of windy and narrow Blessing Road, which will separate pedestrians, joggers, and cyclists from obvious traffic dangers.

Ordinance 24.81.24 – Active Transportation – A proposal to update Albany’s bicycle ordinance and expand it to encompass other types of active transportation will be discussed at the City Council Law Committee Meeting on Thursday, February 6, 5:30 PM in Common Council chambers. Submit your comments well before the meeting. You may also register to speak at the meeting.

At least 41 states and the District of Columbia require motorists to give bicycle riders at least 3 feet of space when passing. New York is one of only 9 states that still does not define the distance for (safely) passing a bicyclist.  At last count, the only other states are Alaska, Idaho, Iowa, Missouri, Montana, New Mexico, Texas, and South Carolina.

How the Grinch Stole Christmas Safety [Choir of pedestrians and bicyclists:] “I’m dreamin’ of a safe Christmas just like the ones I used to . . . (gulp) . . .  (gasp)  . . . YIKES!“ [Grinch:] “Hey, you bicyclists cut the din, Can’t you see the mood I’m in? 25 miles per hour, Sure turns me sour. Slow down for schools?

Albany Bicycle Coalition helped lead Albany’s 3rd World Day of Remembrance for Victims of Road Traffic on Friday, November 15th in Albany’s Academy Park. The event was held in cooperation with Walkable Albany, Capital Streets and many individual volunteers. We had our largest turnout ever with about 60 attendees.  Friends and family of victims helped us understand those lost as living persons and not just statistics.

Municipal leaders who try to make our roads safe for pedestrians and bicyclists. The police and other first responders who attend to crashes involving pedestrians and bicyclists . . .  and for their investigations which help prosecute perpetrators and develop safer streets. Drivers who slow down and are careful when they are near pedestrians or bicyclists.

This year, ABC and our partners Capital Streets, WalkableAlbany, VocalNY, VocalAlbany, and WeAreRevolutionary are proud to participate in #WeekWithoutDriving from September 30th to October 6th, a challenge that invites us to experience the everyday realities of those who, by circumstance or choice, do not drive.  Nearly a quarter of people in the United States, including individuals with disabilities, young people, seniors, and those who cannot afford the costs associated with car ownership navigate their lives without personal vehicles.

The Albany City Council is considering major changes to its age-old City ordinances on bicycles. It is currently before the “Laws, Buildings and Code Enforcement Committee.”  The Common Council sponsors are Ginnie Farrel and Deborah Zamer.  At the request of Council Person Farrell, ABC reviewed the existing City Code and advocated for many of these changes back in 2022.

12/20/23 (Map coordinates in parentheses.) The NHTSA FARS system is not yet available for incidents after 2020. Later data are from the Albany Times Union (TU). 2001 August 20, 2001– Lajuan Jordan, 24, of Central Avenue, passenger in an SUV was pronounced dead at the scene of the accident on Central Avenue at Lansing Road, Colonie. (42.

2013 – 2023 Unidentified Pedestrian – 11/8/23 (age 67) Two cars hit and killed the victim near Exit 2 on southbound I-787 in Albany. The man was struck by one car as the vehicle tried to merge into traffic at 7:16 PM. State Police said the driver was initially unaware the vehicle had hit someone. The man was then struck by a second vehicle and died at the scene.

At Long Last – Bike Lanes on New Scotland Ave. – The Ride – Sixteen happy riders departed from Martell’s Restaurant off New Scotland Ave. for an ABC-hosted tour of the new bike lanes running from O’Neill Rd. to Manning Blvd. After starting at Martel’s on a fine late autumn day, the group headed to Washington Park over Albany city streets with and without bike lanes.

Introduction – On Friday November 17, 2023,the Albany Bicycle Coalition, Walkable Albany, and Capital Streets, held a demonstration for Albany City Victims of Traffic Violence as part of the World Day of Remembrance for Road Traffic Victims. Elected leaders and city officials gathered with us along with people around the world to remember those needlessly killed and seriously injured in crashes.

For background on the Rt. 85v Bridge, go here and here. Here are a couple views of the new Helderberg Hudson Rail Trail bridge work site: The project site with one buttress/sidewall of the motor vehicle road completed (taken from the bike/ped detour across Rt. 85). Building the forms on the SE buttress/sidewall (from the Voorheesville side of the cut).

Riders Sign In Putting on warm clothes On a chilly May evening a group of riders set out on the Capital Region’s annual Ride of Silence to commemorate the deaths of bicycle riders. As in past years, Albany Bicycle Coalition ride leaders used Ghost Bike sites as the stopping points for the ride. At each site, riders were briefed on the circumstances that resulted in the death.

Notes on Deceased Cyclists Whose Ghost Bike Will Be Stopping Points in the 2023 Ride of Silence. 5/17/23 – Ride of Silence – Wed, 5:30 PM. Albany Bicycle Coalition will hold its annual Ride of Silence to commemorate cyclists that have been killed or seriously injured. The ride will leave Corning Preserve Boat Launch in Albany at 5:30 PM. Persons wanting to join the ride later may meet the group when it passes by the Boat Launch again between 6:15pm and 6:30pm.

The Bottom Line – If New Yorkers want safer streets, they are going to have to “stand up and be counted” against those forces that – knowingly or otherwise – stand in the way of this goal. The Backstory – Once, a long time ago, the statewide municipal speed limit was 25 mph. The highway limit was 50. Somewhere along the way to our present state of roadway mayhem, the municipal limit was raised to 30 and the highway to 55 (1974).

As with many organizations, the Albany Bicycle Coalition has evolved its public presentation over the years. This is particularly true in the case of its business card. The first card was quite abstract and contained little information other than a website and a Google phone number. It was designed by Bob who was also instrumental in getting the Albany bicycle coalition’

Friday, 11/18/22, is World Day of Remembrance for Road Traffic Victims. The Albany Bicycle Coalition, Walkable Albany, and others will gather at noon near the capitol in Albany. We will recognize the victims of traffic violence in the City of Albany and the World Day of Remembrance for Road Traffic Victims. We will read the names of pedestrians and cyclists who have died in traffic collisions in Albany since 2017.

The fine fall weather provides opportunities for some nice riding whether for recreation/exercise or errands/work. Here are tips to encourage your riding and to keep you safe: Check your lights front and rear. “Too many lights” are just about right in the low-light, fall and winter conditions. Your lights are primarily to make you visible (both day and night), but also to avoid hidden ruts, potholes, and bumps in the street.

“Vanity, thy name is gumwall.” With apologies to Ecclesiastes and Shakespeare for this corruption of a misquote, no one, not even the tire experts at “Bicycle Quarterly” suggests that there is any performance benefit to gum wall or tan wall tires. The more accurate and true quote fits here: “vanity of vanities, all is vanity”

Albany Bicycle Coalition joined many other Safe Streets Coalition members at today’s [10/3/22] NYS Assembly Transportation Committee Hearing on Complete Streets.  Under consideration were two bills not passed last session that would expand the types of road projects that are given Complete Streets consideration.  I spoke with respect to Assembly Member Rivera’

OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA

Once again, the Albany Bicycle Coalition hosted the region’s Earth Day Ride, and as in past years, we offered climate and ecology insights focused on positive activities and facilities in our area. Video highlights – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EOhttDdB_JE We finished sign-in by 1:00 PM on Saturday, April 23 at the Corning Riverfront Park Boat Launch.

The approaching spring weather suggests that trips to the nearest multi-use path are in the near future. With that in mind, it’s time to remind ourselves that multi-use means just that – people will be there with a multiplicity of modes of transport ranging from babies in carriages to mobility devices to road warriors on carbon-fiber bikes. It is a good time to review some of the appropriate protocols or rules for using a multi-use path.

The 85-Percentile Rule is a guide for setting speed limits but one that must be used with a great deal of discretion to prevent creation of unsafe road and streets. ++++++ 85-Percentile Rule – No, it’s not where you were on the math SATs but a way of setting speed limits on roads and streets. Departments of transportation define the 85-percentile speed as the speed at or below which 85 percent of all vehicles are observed to travel under free-flowing conditions.

Concerned Town of Colonie residents and cycling/walking advocates are pushing for a multi-use path from the British American Blvd. bike lanes at Rt 7/Troy-Schenectady Road, across River Road to the Mohawk-Hudson Bike-Hike Trail (MHBHT). This path would provide a safe connection for bicycles and pedestrians and avoid the hazardous current route along Route 7 and Rosendale Road.

Your support is essential to the success of a major new roadway safety campaign. Even if you do not ride a bicycle and do not walk except to and from your car, roadway safety still has to be a concern. Please take a few minutes to sign on to the campaign here – http://nysafestreets.org.  and select TAKE ACTION. As motor vehicles have grown larger, with increases in distracted driving and speeding, more cyclists and pedestrians are being seriously injured and killed.

Edge Lane Roads clarify positioning and priority on roads too narrow to provide a reserved travel space for people on bicycles or pedestrians. When pedestrians or bicyclists are present, motorists must yield to those in the Edge Lane before passing. Terminology – Edge Lane Roads are known also as Advisory Bike Lanes, Dash Bike Lanes, Bicycle Advisory Shoulders, or Shoulder Lanes.

TO: Friends of Cycling and Good Living in the Capital Region: The salutation “Friends of Cycling and Good Living in the Capital Region” expands our collective focus beyond just bicycles. We all need to engage in the larger issue of livable cities. This movement benefits all – residents and visitors – whether they be walking, riding, bussing, jogging, skateboarding, or just sitting.

How the Grinch Stole Christmas Safety [Choir of pedestrians and bicyclists] “I’m dreaming of a safe Christmas just like the ones I used to . . . (gulp) . . .  (gasp)  . . . YIKES!“ [Grinch] Hey, you bicyclists cut the din, Can’t you see the mood I’m in? Bicycles, bicycles everywhere. Riding around without a care.

Dear Friends of Albany Bicycle Coalition, We hope this finds you well and able to be out on your bike. We wanted to give you a quick update on what our activities have been during 2021 and ask for your support to assist us in 2022. After having to cancel our rides in 2020, this year we bounced back to again sponsor a number of rides and in 2022, we aim to bring back our popular Earth Day ride!

“Knowledge is no guarantee of good behavior, but ignorance is a virtual guarantee of bad behavior.” – Martha C. Nussbaum [SOURCE: https://www.azquotes.com/author/18217-Martha_C_Nussbaum] Election Day 2021 was a sad day in Bethlehem for people in cars, on foot, in wheel chairs, on public transit, and on bicycles and for business growth. “No” votes came from 4,461 (56 percent) “anti” people vs.

Get Out and Ride While the Leaves are Falling While COVID-19 has eliminated several bicycle-related activities, the fine early fall weather provides plenty of opportunities for social distanced rides. Looking ahead, there is some nice riding in fall and winter whether for recreation/exercise or errands/work. Here are a few riding tips to encourage your riding and to keep you safe: Check your lights front and rear.

A utilitarian cyclist, Deborah Carpenter, who (apparently) was struck down by a motor vehicle while riding home from work. The crash was near 847 Loudon Rd, Colonie. She was left in the road alive but in a coma and in critical condition. Deborah faithfully rides her bicycle to and from work. Photo courtesy of the Times Union From the report, it is hard to conceive that this was a bicycle-only event.

Stephen and Harriet Myers Residence – Underground Railroad House Getting Ready to Ride On the picture perfect Sunday afternoon, August 15, the Underground Railroad Education Center and the Albany Bicycle Coalition jointly conducted an Arbor Hill/West Hill “Slow Roll” bicycle ride. The fun, safe, low-stress, low-speed bicycle ride took advantage of numerous bicycle lanes, trails, and low congestion streets in the neighborhood.

John Lynch – 7/20/21 – John was active in the Capital Region bicycle scene and was heavily involved in Troy Bike Rescue as a volunteer and board member. He always had a happy word or smile to share. The fatal crash occurred on Washington Ave. in Kingston. Bike-Friendly Kingston held a memorial ride for John on 7/23/21. One of the comments at Bike-Friendly Kingston, NY | Facebook was “I want to share my appreciation to everyone who attended this event and helped make it happen.

Co-Sponsored by the Albany Bicycle Coalition and the Underground Railroad Education Center. Join us for a leisurely tour of Albany’s Arbor and West Hill outdoor treasures.  Sunday, 8/15, 1 PM. Start and finish at the Meyer’s Residence/Underground Railroad Education Center, 194 Livingston Ave., Albany. Take a RIde! This will be a 3.

On May 19, 2021, seventeen riders commemorated the annual Ride of Silence to honor those injured or killed while riding their bicycles. Following the international standard of the third Wednesday in May, riders toured the four ghost bike sites within the city of Albany. The list of four riders we honored appears below in the order visited. The Ride – The Albany Bicycle Coalition has planned and hosted this ride since 2008 – with the exception of 2020.

On 2/20/21, the Albany Bicycle Coalition sent a follow-up letter to Mayor Sheehan on a number of proposals that we submitted between 2016 and 2020. It is our position that each of these – albeit each with a primary focus on cycling – would add immeasurably to the safety, convenience, ambience, and economic vitality of the city regardless of their benefit for people on bicycles.

Good News! – The Monkey Wards Way Connector linking Rt. 32/Broadway in Menands at the former Montgomery Ward retail store and warehouse and the Mohawk-Hudson Bike-Hike Trail just south of Troy is now open. This is a fine addition to the trail network.  There is still a little work to be completed (e.g., control panels for the bicycle-pedestrian crossings at Broadway).

Rossi Junction – Honoring a Crucial Bicycling Activist – New York’s network of bike trails, paths, and routes that we enjoy today did not just materialize. In the 1990s laws were enacted that allowed the federal Highway Trust Fund to be used for bicycle and pedestrian needs. Afterwards, public investment in bicycle infrastructure exploded.

OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA

The Albany Bicycle Coalition, Inc. welcomes the opportunity offered by the development of the City of Albany’s Albany Bicycle-Pedestrian Master Plan to present its transportation ideas for the future of our city. Rather than an organization-level response, individual members submitted their comments on the November 2020 Draft to the City of Albany.